Dioramos FAQ v1.01 (5/25/01) by Gene ------------------------------------ Dioramos (PS) 1-4 Players 1 Disc Genre: Board Game (Table) Memory: 1 Block Multitap, Analog Control Support 1) Introduction 2) Frequently Asked Questions 3) How to play 3.1) At the Main Menu 3.2) Controls 3.3) Screen Layout 4) Game Rules 4.1) Offense / Defense 4.2) Weapons 4.3) Movement 4.4) Game Squares 4.5) Items 4.6) Game System 5) Characters 5.1) Character List 6) Story Mode Strategy 7) Secrets 8) Miscellaneous / Et Cetera 1) Introduction ---------------- This game is an original fantasy board game for the Japanese Playstation that was released in Japan on November 30, 2000 for 5800 yen. It is the first game of the series. 2) Frequently Asked Questions ------------------------------ Q) I can't play this game with my modded PS! Why not? A) I don't know. I am playing the original game on a Japanese PS. If anyone has any help here, please let me know. But, I don't have any PAR codes or any help. Q) What is the game like? A) It is a board game. You have to rely on a lot of luck and skill, but there is quite a lot of strategy involved in the game too. Surprisingly enough, this is a board game where you have to destroy your opponents, not gather gold or reach a pre-determined square. Q) Is it any good? A) Yes, it's fun. Here are the good and bad points: + Control is simple, quick and easy to learn + Loading times are short during the game + Game is fairly fun and competitive + Character design is interesting + Many items and weapons + Every character can play Story mode (high replay value) + Movies are high quality - Can't exit to title or load during a map (soft-boot only) - Can't skip past the inane dialogue - Only saves in the first memory card location! - Graphics are a bit blocky during the game - No difficulty options - Story mode is a bit repetitive, same maps, different order - Computer AI could be improved 3) How to play --------------- This is a board (tabletop) game. Your objective is to eliminate your opponents. You attack each other using weapons and special attacks. You can also gather better weapons and items on the board to use against your opponents. The winner is the last surviving player. 3.1) At the main menu --------------------- Here are the selections available at the main menu: Story Mode ---------- This is a one-player series of battles against various opponents. First, choose your character and then you will see the map select screen, with save on the right. After completing Story mode with that character, you can access them in Battle and Story modes. Battle Mode ----------- Battle mode is for one to four players. You can choose any map that you have bought from the shop. You can use any of the characters that you used to beat Story mode or any of the original four. Any of the items and weapons that you bought from the store can also be found here. Shop ---- At the end of each completed map in Story mode, you receive Gold. You can use the Gold to buy items, weapons and maps for use in Story and Battle modes. You also receive a smaller amount of Gold in Battle mode. Options ------- Here are the options that you can choose: Save - Save Options Load - Load Options Ghost - Sets the Ghost on or off Vibration - Sets the vibration on or off for analog controllers SE Volume - Sets the level of volume for sound effects BGM Volume - Sets the level of volume for the background music Sound - Stereo or Mono sound Return to Title Screen 3.2) Controls ------------- Joystick is used for moving the cursor or selecting in the menus L2 - Toggle weapons L1 - Rotate view R2 - Change to View Mode R1 - Rotate view Triangle - Use and Item Square - Hold for Offense menu Circle - Skip messages and move in the game board X - Cancels and Hold for Defense menu Select - Help Start - Skip movies and toggles the Charge Gauge 3.3) Screen Layout ------------------ In the top left, you will see the current character, their weapons, status, etc. In the bottom left, you will see the charge gauge In the bottom right, you will see the HPs of all the players In the top right, you will see the current menu 4) Game Rules ------------- These are the basic rules that govern the game: 4.1) Offense / Defense ---------------------- At the start of each map, every character selects their defense. At the start of each turn, before accessing the dice menu, you can change your defense or attack options in the respective menus. To do this, hold the button and press the direction of the option that you wish to select. When attacking your attack and the defender's defense determines the outcome. If you choose Attack and your opponent chooses Dodge, then they may be successful in dodging the attack, resulting in no damage. If you choose Lunge and your opponent chooses Counterattack, then they may be successful in countering your attack, taking no damage and forcing it back on you. Attack damage depends on your Charge gauge, Weapon and character's POW as well as the defender's actions. When you leave your zone of attack and enter again, you get another attack. There are four options in the Attack menu: Special - Use your selected weapon's special attack Lunge - High damage attack on another player if within range Attack - Attack another player if within range Charge - Charges character's Charge gauge at the start of the next turn. There are four options in the Defense menu: Dodge - Avoids all of the damage received (if Opponent chose Attack) Defend - Lessens the damage received Counterattack - Repel attack and counter (if Opponent chose Lunge) Protect Item - Enemy characters cannot steal items 4.2) Weapons ------------ Swords are the closest attack weapons. Spears are used to attack only when you have stopped moving. Bows are long-range attack weapons. Staves are similar to Swords in close combat, but have offensive ranged Magic attacks. Unarmed is when the player chooses not to use a weapon. Range Effects: -------------- Swords / Unarmed PX Spears X XXX XXPXX XXX X Bows X XXX XXXXX XXX XXX XXX P XXX XXX XXX XXXXX XXX X Staves X X XXX XXX XXXXX XXPXX XXXXXXX XXX XXXXX X XXX X 4.3) Movement ------------- Movement on the game board is achieved by accessing the dice menu. A random number appears from 1 to the character's maximum movement. The character must move this number of squares on the game board, but may choose their direction at intersections. Movement may be adjusted through items and special effects. On different maps, characters may wrap their movement from one side to another or jump from levels, etc. The character may also move with the aid of items or special attacks. 4.4) Game Squares ----------------- There are several types of squares or locations on the game board. When landing on these squares, different effects are applied: Normal square - No special effect Heal square - Character's HPs are slightly restored. Cure square - Character's status is returned to normal. Weapons square - Character receives a random weapon. Item square - Character receives a random weapon. Charge square - Character's Special Gauge is increased. Warp square - Character is transported to another Warp square. Curse square - Character is cursed (see System for more info). One-way square - Character movement cannot go against the direction of the arrow. - It slowly disappears after each time you pass against it. 4.5) Items ---------- Items may be stolen from other characters, obtained from special attacks, or by landing on an item square. Most characters may hold a maximum of three items. You can use as many items as you want per turn. There are Rare items that may give you special abilities like regeneration, increase your HP maximum, etc. Some of the Rare items are character-specific. 4.6) Game System ---------------- The following are extra rules that apply in the game: Ghosts Once a player dies, a turn later they may return to haunt the map once again as a ghost. As a ghost, the player may not be harmed in any way. But, they are not affected by the squares that they land on, nor may they use items or weapons or even attack. But, if they land on the same square of another living player, they will curse them. If a player is cursed for the third time by a ghost, the ghost is destroyed with the player. Curses A player may be cursed by a special effect, by landing on a Curse square or by having a ghost land on the same square as they occupy. If a player is cursed three times, they are removed from the game, regardless of their HPs. Status There are four different types of character status besides the normal one: Poison: character loses HPs every round Paralysis: character cannot change Offense or Defense Curse: three curses and you are removed from the game Blindness: character cannot see their movement dice Stealing When you land on the same square as another player, you can steal an item from them. Each character has two original items. You can steal one of these items or any other item that they are currently carrying. But, you always have the possibility of stealing one of their original items, regardless of the items that they are currently carrying. The original items are useless and are basically considered a failure because you cannot use them in the game. If you get an item, the box will exit the left of the screen, while if you fail, the box will exit the bottom of the screen. It will say GET in both cases, so watch where the box leaves the screen as it is the only way to tell if you are successful. If you land on a square with multiple players, you will get the choice of stealing an item from all of them. 5) Characters -------------- There are 11 characters to play in the game. However, there are only four players available at the start--Zekshi, Falgas, Fuma and Galgar. After completing story mode, new characters are available. Tink, your guardian is the only character in the game that is not playable. 5.1) Character List ------------------- HP - Maximum HPs AT - Attack Power POW - If POW is low and the weapon's weight is heavy, SPEED is lowered. For close attacks POW is added to Attack power SKILL - If SKILL is high, more damage can be inflicted with bows SPEED - If SPEED is high, character receives more turns than other characters MAG - Attack power with Special attacks MOVE - Maximum movement for the character on the game board Notes - Other important information Falgas - The Knight HP - 4200 AT ----- POW - 270 SKILL - 55 SPEED - 55 MAG - 45 MOVE - 6 Notes - High HPs, and great with hand-to-hand weapons. Zekshi - The Sorceress HP - 3500 AT ----- POW - 90 SKILL - 75 SPEED - 80 MAG - 95 MOVE - 6 Notes - High magic and high speed, but weak. Fuma - The Traveller HP - 3600 AT ----- POW - 120 SKILL - 65 SPEED - 99 MAG - 60 MOVE - 7 Notes - Due to his high speed, he receives free turns very often, well rounded. Galgar - Tiger Creature HP - 4000 AT ----- POW - 150 SKILL - 99 SPEED - 66 MAG - 67 MOVE - 6 Notes - Due to his high speed, he receives free turns often. Good with bows. Faefan - The Monk HP - 4300 AT ----- POW - 390 SKILL - 1 SPEED - 57 MAG - 25 MOVE - 6 Notes - Powerful unarmed, but doesn't improve much during a battle because of this. He can use other weapons, but he inflicts little damage. The Japanese Actress HP - 3700 AT ----- POW - 140 SKILL - 80 SPEED - 70 MAG - 82 MOVE - 6 Notes - Her ghost wears a wig! Well rounded. Krishna - The Blood Warrior HP - 3900 AT ----- POW - 230 SKILL - 65 SPEED - 65 MAG - 40 MOVE - 6 Notes - The most well rounded character, still strong with hand-to-hand weapons. The Goblin HP - 3500 AT ----- POW - 180 SKILL - 10 SPEED - 99 MAG - 50 MOVE - 5 Notes - Can't use other weapons. Receives an item if lands on a weapon square. High speed and receives free turns often. He can carry four items. The Robot HP - 4200 AT ----- POW - 280 SKILL - 99 SPEED - 55 MAG - 55 MOVE - 6 Notes - Can't use other weapons. Receives an item if lands on a weapon square. The Robot has a soul! High skill and can inflict high damage. He can carry four items. Dullahan - The Centaur HP - 3900 AT ----- POW - 230 SKILL - 50 SPEED - 55 MAG - 30 MOVE - 8 Notes - Can't use other weapons. Receives an item if lands on a weapon square. His starting weapon is good, but doesn't really improve during a battle. He can carry four items. Lich - Death HP - 4000 AT ----- POW - 110 SKILL - 75 SPEED - 68 MAG - 99 MOVE - 6 Notes - Can't use other weapons. Receives an item if lands on a weapon square. Great with Magic! Special attacks can be devastating! Can carry four items. 6) Story Mode Strategy ----------------------- Most of the maps are fairly easy. Since you can't change your character after you've started, the only choice at the start is your weapon. Most of the early maps, I tended to use a bow because it kept me at a safe distance from my enemies and I could attack multiple opponents in a round rather easily. I tried to complete a map a couple of times first. If I had a lot of problems, I would buy a better weapon to aid me. But, don't hesitate to buy a new weapon. There is no sense to frustrate yourself too much. You should spend the gold when you have it. If you play all of the characters all the way through, you will have lots of gold leftover. So, don't worry. Finally, let the computer opponents fight each other as much as you can. Have patience and clean up the leftovers. Sometimes, you will be weak after destroying a couple of computer opponents, but one will remain who is very strong. Try and flee. Let the computer ghosts curse the last one to death. There are ten maps to play in Story mode. The order and characters that you will fight will vary from character to character. In the final map, you will fight a mirror of your character. The enemy will have better items and weapons than you, plus they will heal after every round. But, don't worry. It isn't too hard. The computer rival doesn't tend to be too smart in this map, so it ends up being easier than expected. When you complete the story mode, you receive a new weapon, item and new character to play in all of the modes. 7) Secrets ----------- After clearing story mode you can get the 12th character. There is a special Kuranagi weapon to get it you must buy the Imp sword and use it on the last boss. After that, you will have the Kuranagi weapon. 8) Miscellaneous / Et Cetera ----------------------------- Thanks to Ponos making this interesting game. This FAQ is not associated with Ponos, Sony, or any of its products either software or hardware. The respective companies retain all copyrights of their products mentioned in this FAQ. If you liked this game, try Culdcept Expansion + Expansion Plus (PS), Culdcept Second (DC) or Gaiamaster(PS, DC) too. Sorry, but I had to use Japanese characters for this FAQ. If you have any suggestions on formatting please let me know. Feel free to email any advice or suggestions! Due to time constraints, do not expect a reply on email. Other FAQs written by me: - Tetris with Cardcaptor Sakura: Eternal Heart (PS) - The Typing of the Dead (DC) - The Great Khan Game (Card game) - Hundred Swords (DC) - Advanced World War (DC) - Gaiamaster (PS) - Culdcept Expansion (PS) -- 5/25/01 Gene(intv@canada.com)