Wayfarer of Time Wikipedia Page

[daveyd]

Maybe it's just me, but when I want to learn more about a game one of the first places I check is Wikipedia.

That said, the page for Growlanser IV could use some revising / expansion.

If you don't want to bother registering / editing the page yourself feel free to post suggested revisions here and I'll try to incorporate them. Please remember to keep anything relatively spoiler-free.

[kratoscar2008]

Originally Posted by daveyd

Maybe it's just me, but when I want to learn more about a game one of the first places I check is Wikipedia.

That said, the page for Growlanser IV could use some updating. I added in the NA release date but I'm not very experienced with wikipedia... I attempted to add a pic of the PSP cover art but was unsuccessful. Perhaps a separate page for the PSP version should be created or at least Growlanser Wayfarer of Tiime should redirect to the existing page. At the very least, the page should have a "Gameplay" section as most games do. I could attempt to write one but maybe someone who has played the Japanese PS2 version would be better suited (I assume the battles are similar to GL III but perhaps there is changes).

If you don't want to bother registering / editing the page yourself feel free to post suggested revisions here and I'll attempt to add them.

Just let me finish some homework and i will post my experience with the game.

[kratoscar2008]

Differences of the battle system in relation with Growlanser 3:

1. The magic system suffered some changes.
A) First the level of magics has been reduced from max 9lvs to max 5lvs (depending on the magic some only reach a lv1 or Lv3 maximum).
B) you cant assign multiple targets for example in Grow 3 you cast a level 3 attack up and choose three differents targets, in Grow 4 an attack up lv3 can only be casted on one target.
C) independing of the magic Lv the mp cost is the same (example a lv1 cure cost 4 mp and a lv5 cure still cost 4 mp) however the higher the lv the time to cast it increases and so the strenght of that magic.
D) Cooperation magic is still the same the difference is that now you can cast support or offensive cooperation magic (example Coop-Cycle up or Coop-Sleep). However some enemies (mostly Bosses) dont need to cooperate to cast high level magics.

2. The ring and gem system suffered some changes:

A) you can equip rings like equipping armor. You dont need a ring Master Shop or money to change rings.
B) The ring slots can increase its level (example a 9-8-7 ring can become a 9-9-9 ring by defeating enemies). Also the slots now have colors that must match with the now too colored gems.
C) Now gems has colors that describe the abilities you can learn:
Green: Magic abilities (example cure ice barrage rust)
Yellow: skills abilities (example Hp up Mp up attack wait down)
Red: Technic abilities (example Dash Thievery Perimeterpulse)
you must match the color of the ring slot with the gem slot (example yellow slot with yellow gem) to learn it faster otherwise the learning speed is cut in half.

3. The World exploration system changed:
The exploration in towns, Dungeons and world map are similar to the first growlanser. The enemies can be seen walking on the world map and you can avoid them. The dungeons arent randomly generated (except the Bonus Dungeons) and are unique.

4. New vacation system
The vacation system is almost the same as the Original Growlanser where players spend time with the party to form bonds. Completing some characters backstory unlock things like ultimate armors skills and one of the possible 40+ endings.

5. Fate System
As a game based on War lives are spected to be lost however some characters can be saved from that dreadful end. The fate system allow players to save some characters from dead based on the actions and desicions the player make and ultimately get some additional endings.

6. New Limit Ability System
Limit abilities are like final fantasies limit break. Depending on specifics circunstances some character activates their limit abilities that are varied some are special attacks or extremely useful support magic.

Thats all i can remember for now daveyd. Myenglish is not very advanced so edit this as you see fit.

[daveyd]

Originally Posted by kratoscar2008

Differences of the battle system in relation with Growlanser 3:

1. The magic system suffered some changes.
A) First the level of magics has been reduced from max 9lvs to max 5lvs (depending on the magic some only reach a lv1 or Lv3 maximum).
B) you cant assign multiple targets for example in Grow 3 you cast a level 3 attack up and choose three differents targets, in Grow 4 an attack up lv3 can only be casted on one target.
C) independing of the magic Lv the mp cost is the same (example a lv1 cure cost 4 mp and a lv5 cure still cost 4 mp) however the higher the lv the time to cast it increases and so the strenght of that magic.
D) Cooperation magic is still the same the difference is that now you can cast support or offensive cooperation magic (example Coop-Cycle up or Coop-Sleep). However some enemies (mostly Bosses) dont need to cooperate to cast high level magics.

2. The ring and gem system suffered some changes:

A) you can equip rings like equipping armor. You dont need a ring Master Shop or money to change rings.
B) The ring slots can increase its level (example a 9-8-7 ring can become a 9-9-9 ring by defeating enemies). Also the slots now have colors that must match with the now too colored gems.
C) Now gems has colors that describe the abilities you can learn:
Green: Magic abilities (example cure ice barrage rust)
Yellow: skills abilities (example Hp up Mp up attack wait down)
Red: Technic abilities (example Dash Thievery Perimeterpulse)
you must match the color of the ring slot with the gem slot (example yellow slot with yellow gem) to learn it faster otherwise the learning speed is cut in half.

3. The World exploration system changed:
The exploration in towns, Dungeons and world map are similar to the first growlanser. The enemies can be seen walking on the world map and you can avoid them. The dungeons arent randomly generated (except the Bonus Dungeons) and are unique.

4. New vacation system
The vacation system is almost the same as the Original Growlanser where players spend time with the party to form bonds. Completing some characters backstory unlock things like ultimate armors skills and one of the possible 40+ endings.

5. Fate System
As a game based on War lives are spected to be lost however some characters can be saved from that dreadful end. The fate system allow players to save some characters from dead based on the actions and desicions the player make and ultimately get some additional endings.

6. New Limit Ability System
Limit abilities are like final fantasies limit break. Depending on specifics circunstances some character activates their limit abilities that are varied some are special attacks or extremely useful support magic.

Thats all i can remember for now daveyd. Myenglish is not very advanced so edit this as you see fit.

Thanks Kratoscar, this will definitely be useful when I start gameplay section and I'm sure everyone who is curious what changes were made will appreciate. Don't worry man, your English is much better than my Spanish. But I wonder when you say "suffered some changes" do you mean to imply that you didn't like these changes?

[kratoscar2008]

Originally Posted by daveyd

Thanks Kratoscar, this will definitely be useful when I start gameplay section and I'm sure everyone who is curious what changes were made will appreciate. Don't worry man, your English is much better than my Spanish. But I wonder when you say "suffered some changes" do you mean to imply that you didn't like these changes?

Not really i liked them. Remember that my english need some work. The only thing i didnt like was the Cooperation support and offensive magic since i have never got to meet the person who teach it and some monsters are really annoying with that.

[daveyd]

I added a gameplay and combat section to the Wikipedia page. Please take a look and let me know if anything is inaccurate, unclear, or overly redundant.

I hope to eventually include a screenshot or two but uploading images on Wikipedia is a bit of a pain.

[kratoscar2008]

Originally Posted by daveyd

I added a gameplay and combat section to the Wikipedia page. Please take a look and let me know if anything is inaccurate, unclear, or overly redundant.

I hope to eventually include a screenshot or two but uploading images on Wikipedia is a bit of a pain.

There is only one bonus dungeon so you must change that and point out that the dungeons are unique and arent random generated (like again in Growlanser 1). But overall good work. I will summit a review tomorrow in the Neoseeker forum because today my Schedule is very thight.

[kratoscar2008]

the battles itself got changes too:

1. Now both normal and history encounter use a star system. At the beggining of battle you get one star the star system works to give extra experience depending on the following:

a) After an enemy is defeated you are awarded a star.

b) After dealing a critical blow you are awarded a star.

At the end of battle depending on how many starz you have you receive experience bonus. Do note that the number of starz awarded is different for all characters depending on the above conditions those characters fullfil.

2. Now mission battles have a counter that begins in 50+ and as the battle pogress it decreases to reach a - counter. This affects the Missions fullfilments like as follow:

Mission Failed: Not completes the mission complete parameters and counter turns negative.

Mission Clear: Either dont complete mission complete conditions and the counter dont turn negative or viceversa.

Mission Complete: Complete the mission complete conditions and the counter dont turn negative.

There daveyd i just remembered that sorry that i didnt remember that sooner.

[daveyd]

Originally Posted by kratoscar2008

the battles itself got changes too:

1. Now both normal and history encounter use a star system. At the beggining of battle you get one star the star system works to give extra experience depending on the following:

a) After an enemy is defeated you are awarded a star.

b) After dealing a critical blow you are awarded a star.

At the end of battle depending on how many starz you have you receive experience bonus. Do note that the number of starz awarded is different for all characters depending on the above conditions those characters fullfil.

2. Now mission battles have a counter that begins in 50+ and as the battle pogress it decreases to reach a - counter. This affects the Missions fullfilments like as follow:

Mission Failed: Not completes the mission complete parameters and counter turns negative.

Mission Clear: Either dont complete mission complete conditions and the counter dont turn negative or viceversa.

Mission Complete: Complete the mission complete conditions and the counter dont turn negative.

There daveyd i just remembered that sorry that i didnt remember that sooner.

Thanks I'll try to incorporate some of that tomorrow. I'm also going to add in the characters new to the PSP version, but all that is on Growlanser realm site.

One more gameplay aspect I might wish to elaborate on is the romance / dating sim element. I know you mentioned the vacation system. Does the romance / friendship otherwise work similarly to Growlanser III? Are all of the female characters romance-able? Or males for that matter?

[kratoscar2008]

Originally Posted by daveyd

Thanks I'll try to incorporate some of that tomorrow. I'm also going to add in the characters new to the PSP version, but all that is on Growlanser realm site.

One more gameplay aspect I might wish to elaborate on is the romance / dating sim element. I know you mentioned the vacation system. Does the romance / friendship otherwise work similarly to Growlanser III? Are all of the female characters romance-able? Or males for that matter?

Work similar to growlanser 2 when the game comes to a point (in the final vacation) where you must choose the character you want to get the ending with and after that you face the final battle and get the ending. You know male endings are friend ending and women (including familiars) are love endings. However there are some characters that you must fullfill some requirements that make some endings mutually exclusive (some even require to complete about the last 1/4 of the game). I dont know much about the psp changes but i guess that applies to some more characters.

[daveyd]

Alright one more question and then I think I'm set: what is the setting / wolrd of the game like? Is it basically a medieval fantasy world like Growlanser 1-3? I know I read a few references about advanced technologies and thought I might have seen a screenshot with a mech / cyborg, but perhaps it was just fancy armor.

[kratoscar2008]

Originally Posted by daveyd

Alright one more question and then I think I'm set: what is the setting / wolrd of the game like? Is it basically a medieval fantasy world like Growlanser 1-3? I know I read a few references about advanced technologies and thought I might have seen a screenshot with a mech / cyborg, but perhaps it was just fancy armor.

Again its like growlanser 1. The setting is medieval but it seems that before the angels strike it was advanced (In grow 1 the same applies to featherians and Growsians Technologies). The game world is in another dimension separated like in grow 2 and 3 worlds (It seems that grow 4 is in our world since Alejandro Magno is mentioned so our history applies to Grow 4 world). The dungeons have the same background as Grow 1 when it appears that previous civilizations are more advanced that current one. So that cyborg you saw whas an Ancient Machine.

[CoarseDragon]

Good work on the Wiki and in this thread.

[kratoscar2008]

Originally Posted by CoarseDragon

Good work on the Wiki and in this thread.

Thanks we do hope you want to give the franchise a chance. If you have PS2 try to get Growlanser Generations and give it a try. Spread the word with your friends so Grow 4 can be a success.

[daveyd]

OK, I have added a lot of updates to the page, based largely on input from Kratoscar2008 and Lucethira. Please take a look at it, Growsians, and let me know if anything is unclear, inaccurate, requires elaboration, etc.

Overall I'm pretty satisfied with it. I may still try to add a screenshot from one of the cutscenes. Obviously once the game is actually released and professional reviews come out I will be sure to add a "reception" section.

[Rebel40000]

Shouldn't the title of the page reflect that of the English title? That's how Growlanser V is.

[daveyd]

Originally Posted by Rebel40000

Shouldn't the title of the page reflect that of the English title? That's how Growlanser V is.

Done.

[kratoscar2008]

Good job Daveyd its awesome what you did there if Growlanser 4 is a succes i know because why and for who it is. You are

[kratoscar2008]

Everyone that hasnt seen the wikipedia page do it

If something is unclear ask here.