ROLE PLAYING GAME BASICS [201]

Master Child of Light's RPG elements! Learn about stats (HP, MP, Attack), leveling up, skills, abilities, and the combat timeline to defeat your enemies.

This game is a role-playing side-scrolling adventure where you follow the story by completing objectives and traveling across the world. A handy feature in the PAUSE MENU provides a couplet to guide you to your next objective.

Quests are a minor part of the game. Non-player characters (NPCs) with a yellow exclamation point over their head offer small missions for extra items. Party members also bring quests when they join. These quests are optional and can be tracked in your inventory.

STATS are numerical indicators of your character's power. They increase with LEVEL UP, STARDUSTS, or SKILLS. Key stats include:

• HITPOINTS (HP): Your HEALTH. Damage reduces HP; reaching 0 results in a GAME OVER for the party. Recover HP with items, healing magic, WISHES, or your FIREFLY.
• MAGIC POINTS (MP): Fuel for magic spells. Offensive magic damages enemies, while BUFF spells enhance allies. Spells consume MP; insufficient MP prevents casting.
• ATTACK: Determines DAMAGE from PHYSICAL ATTACKS.
• MAGIC POWER: Determines DAMAGE from MAGIC ATTACKS.
• DEFENSE and MAGIC DEFENSE: Reduce incoming physical and magic damage, respectively. Enemies have hidden stats; high defense may require alternative tactics.
• DODGE: Affects evasion chance.
• CRITICAL: Affects chance of dealing extra damage.
• SPEED: Determines how often you can act in battle. Higher speed can be crucial in fights.

LEVELS indicate character power and progression. Defeating enemies grants EXPERIENCE POINTS, leading to LEVEL UP. Leveling up increases stats and provides a SKILL POINT to spend in the SKILLS MENU for customization. Skills allow learning new ABILITIES, increasing stats, or improving existing ones. You can specialize in certain skill trees later in the game.

ABILITIES are your 'moves' in battle. Options include using ITEMS, FLEEING, SWITCHING PARTY MEMBERS, or using the ACT option for character-specific abilities. All characters can DEFEND to reduce damage and speed up their turn, and perform a standard PHYSICAL ATTACK. Other abilities include MAGIC ATTACKS, HEALING AND BUFF SPELLS, and those that cause STATUS EFFECTS.

Combat turns are managed on the TIMELINE. Your SPEED STAT and the SPEED of different moves determine turn order. Actions are chosen when a character reaches a certain point on the timeline and are executed when they reach the end. Injuring a foe between these points can INTERRUPT their action and KNOCK them BACK on the timeline, preventing them from attacking.