This Is Not a Bug but a Game Feature-Chapter 87: Game Guide
"This is a game that emphasizes character development and team collaboration, but clearly, players haven’t grasped this point..."
After the early access release, Chen Ba also paid attention to the feedback from players.
However, the feedback can only be described as difficult to articulate.
Many players approached "Divine Grace Continent" with the mindset of a traditional RPG "lone hero", ending up being beaten to a pulp by monsters, complaining about the game’s difficulty settings being too high.
The forum was filled with wails.
Quite a few players were complaining about being tricked by NPCs, losing all their equipment and money, or getting slaughtered by monsters, unable to even defeat a wild boar...
Only a few players realized that this was a game focusing on team development and started recruiting and training NPC teammates.
These players are the smart ones.
They knew that early on, the Hero’s level is quite low, with little equipment and attributes, making fighting monsters very challenging.
At this time, recruiting any NPC teammate could be very useful. Even the worst initial NPC attributes can handle basic monsters, at least they won’t be slaughtered by wild boars.
Before reaching level 10, the Hero needs NPC assistance for leveling up, saving some money to buy a set of equipment, barely qualifying to "solo" wild monsters.
To put it bluntly, it’s also a beginner’s tutorial.
The reason for this design is mainly to make players understand that going solo won’t achieve great things; the Hero eventually needs to form a squad.
Unfortunately, most players misinterpreted Ba’s intentions, thinking of themselves as the best in the world, only to be sent to reflect on their mistakes by wild boars...
The Hero Squad can be filled with 5 members.
Early on, it’s unnecessary to fill the squad; simply pulling an NPC with "Follower" level affection into the team allows the Hero to level up normally to 10, and gather some decent equipment.
After reaching level 10, the game’s freedom will increase, most features will be unlocked.
At this stage, players can generally solo monsters, gather materials and resources. Only then can players genuinely engage with the core gameplay of "Divine Grace Continent".
What is the core gameplay?
Recruiting teammates and developing them! Forming various Hero Squads based on each player’s unique preferences...
"There are already guides on the forum!"
Lu, being the studio’s informant, has many sources of information. He ran to report to Ba as soon as guides appeared on the forum.
"So fast? Let me see!"
Chen Ba was surprised, not expecting the forum to have strategy guides less than 24 hours after the early access release.
Respect indeed?
In such a short time, did someone truly understand "Divine Grace Continent"? Could they really be a gaming genius?
Guided by Lu, Chen Ba quickly found a popular thread posted on Tianba Community two hours ago that already garnered 181 replies.
The title was quite attractive.
["Divine Grace Continent" NPC Development Teaching! Latest Team Composition, Career Selection Illustrated Guide!]
The author’s nickname was [Venerable Cowherd], a name Chen Ba faintly remembered from their regular activity on the community.
Simply put, it looked familiar.
Could it be a high-ranking member of Cowherding Sect?
Too lazy to ponder the relationship between this poster and Cowherding Sect, Chen Ba directly looked at the post content.
"As everyone knows, ’Divine Grace Continent’ is a game that values team development; players need to recruit NPC teammates and develop them..."
"So the question is, how can players compose teams to maximize their strength? How should different compositions be developed?"
"Let’s talk about early stages, casually recruit two civilians in the Royal City with initial affection reaching Follower Level, proceed to level 10, then you don’t have to worry about them. [Image]"
"After reaching level 10, you can proceed to clear nearby Skeleton Camps, fetching profession advancement materials, minerals, furs, Magic Crystal Stones, and other resources."
"With resources and materials in hand, players need to recruit suitable teammates and build battle strength."
"Here, it’s quite recommended for players to grind the affection level with the Royal Palace Guard Captain; although their growth potential is generally average, they are very useful for early-stage transitions..."
The illustrated guide included text introductions and corresponding game screenshots.
Chen Ba took a glance.
This Venerable Cowherd is indeed skilled, positioning a Royal Palace Guard Captain at the front, with the Hero and other NPCs as spell-casting damage dealers in a one-tank-three-magic-one-heal team.
This kind of team works very well.
Moreover, the Royal Palace Guard Captain doesn’t require too many resources to become battle-ready early on, saving a lot of time and effort.
The only downside according to Venerable Cowherd is that the Royal Palace Guard Captain’s affection isn’t easy to grind. Moreover, this NPC probably can’t be used all the time, needing to be replaced with higher potential NPCs later.
So consider changing the strategy.
Abandon the Royal Palace Guard Captain, let the Hero tank at the front, cultivate a secondary tank and support, then develop two mages or archers.
This team composition might cost more resources but the advantage is it can be retained throughout the game, even to the final clearance.
There’s no optimal strategy!
Venerable Cowherd mentioned in the guide that unique NPCs have growth potential differences, but they aren’t exaggerated.
Theoretically, even recruiting random old men and women from the street into the squad, pouring resources into them, changing their professions and crafting equipment isn’t unfeasible.
Therefore, he only recommended several practical options that save resources and time, without claiming them to be the optimal choice.
Purely looking at personal preference!
The gender, age, identity, or even profession of NPCs is irrelevant; the important thing is they don’t die, as dying means losing everything.
Simultaneously.
Venerable Cowherd also warned those wanting to build harems in the guide, to pay attention to the real-time affection changes of NPCs.
"...’Divine Grace Continent’ surprised me so much that I suspect these NPCs are actually controlled by Ba behind the scenes because otherwise, how could they be so intelligent?"
"No more nonsense, let’s talk speculation!"
"Personally, I suspect there is affection judgement between NPCs too. In other words, they have their own loves and hates."
"While building harems, make sure not to let the backyard catch fire! Having a wife run away isn’t the worst; the worst is when she runs away wearing the set of equipment you gave her..."
With evidence!
In the picture, Venerable Cowherd purchased a whole set of sparkling blue equipment for one of his NPC wives.
Consequently, the second wife had a grudge against the first wife; shortly after the second wife was married in, the first wife ran off in that set of good equipment. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to give [Venerable Cowherd] 50 gold coins as a breakup fee.
Chen Ba: "..."
Alright, alright!
It’s time to pin this post at the top so other players can mock this sucker.
Guide post?
This is clearly a lesson learned through blood and tears! Everyone knows what a full set of good equipment means at this stage, no need to elaborate!
