New Player Guide Part 3

Update on 22 May 2017: With the release of the Fiel Powerlevel system, please be informed that it is now super easy to level. Any team of 4 units can reach 99 in about 3 hours. This means no more resetting on the hire screen. Please keep that in mind. A lot of the below info can be useful but know that meta safety now requires multiple deathmarch units (e.g. Lancer with catapault) for guaranteed safety from niche detachments like medic bottle burst. Most of the dual no escape 4 challengers (requires 3+ deathmarch or 2 deathmarch lancers to dodge) are in Fiel so you should be safe there.

Part 3: Guide to Multiplayer

Multiplayer forms a large part of the game’s fun. Oddly, you never fight against a real player directly. You engage their units controlled by an AI (with instructions from the player) and you compete in races of speed clearing in operations during war.

a)	The 4 factions

You have to pick a faction to join war. It is a temporary choice lasting 1 to 5 days and can be prematurely changes at some gold cost. Factions with lower lands offer bigger gold and royal (capital city currency) bonuses. Ultimately mid/late game neither are valuable so its often a personal choice who you support. We do hope you will support fiel or at least remain an ally of Fiel who will come back home in our hour of need even if you travel the lands as a mercenary.

The below is accurate as of 9 Sep 2016.

Landerth:
The default choice for new players, they are characterised by desire for conquest in the name of zealous justice in the lore. Fiel calls them hypocrites based on the suffering of displaced refugees their wars have wrought. From a game presepctive, they have a massive 40% of normal players who only play 1-2 ops a day. This gives them immense advantage on their war fronts if they’re not separated by 3-4 ways. Likely the dominant choice by default.

Fiel:
This is our faction and we are characterised by being the protector of the refugees in lore. Our entire motivation to fight is to stop tyrants who won’t listen to reason Arguably the only good faction in the lore. Despite Landerth’s natural advantages, Fiel has reduced them to 0 lands twice in the month of August taking advantage of forced 4 ways to split their forces. We are a fairly active faction (20+% of players) and there’s always someone in discord. Our strength is our coordination and camraderie.

Magion:
Characterised by a dedication to magical research and occasionally unethical research practices. There is some discrimination against non magic users in the lore. Not a particularly active faction 10+% and largely led by the discord member Monokuma who favours punishing treaties like no retreat. It can be a good place to hunt for hero due to the lower player count.

Valkyr
Characterised by a martial religion that encourages valor in war in return for afterlife rewards. There is discrimination against non combatants in the lore. Not a particularly active faction 10+%. Some of our Fiel spies often visit for hero rewards and they tend to favour punishing treaties like no catapault treaties.

b)	Capitals
There are 4 capitals each tied to one of the 4 factions. Without a contract you may visit all. With a contract you may not visit any that you are actively warring against.

c)	Voting
Of particular importance is voting. All country specific quests, detachments and war op participation grants influence up to 9999. You may vote on who the faction invades next and what treaty (unique buff) is applied. The more influence you have, the more your vote matters.

d)	Research
Research is done by donating materials (from trading post or on travel quests) for improving either the current war’s armaments or the next day’s shop inventory. Weapons and pyroxene is particularly popular for research. You are capped at around 70k seconds per research type. Once you get 0.12 per donation, you’ve hit your daily cap. This ensures that no single player can carry a nation’s research. Do read the postgame guide on donating before you donate. It is generally not recommended for newer players to donate much, simply horde mats. If you're feeling generous, the rule of thumb is as follows

1) If research is at 200% come back later
2) If research is at 150%-200% donate 5k and check back later (donate in blocks of 2-4 as cap is 3600s, do not donate 10+ its wasted)
3) If research is <150% donate 10k and check back later
4) Repeat the above until you reach your cap of 0.16 (or other decimal bonus) which occurs around 70k-80k

e)	National Shop
The national shop contains randomised gear and pyroxene based on the previous day’s research. It is recommended that you visit often to spend royals on L51 gear when available and the daily pyroxene.

f)	Trading Post
The trading post gives easy to acquire materials for royals. Selection is based on the number of lands the nation has. This is a good place to get daily mats for donation.

g)	Blacksmith
Blacksmithing can be useful but don’t over focus on it. A bit is suggested during the levelling guide.

h)	Plaza
The plaza has a trader (3rd person) who will trade mats for upgrade items. These are sold for 9600R at shops. Do not donate these 4 items. This should be done where possible until you have a moderate stockpile of upgrade items. Occasionally some of the other NPCs will give you items, even rare ones like scrolls. Talk to them where possible.

i)	Faction Leader
Faction leader will reward you with a random reward every few quests or operations you attend. This is a way to obtain rare items.

j)	National Relationship Rank
There is also a relationship rank which affects how shiny your F to S rank appears in the leaderboard. It ranges from bronze to gold. This cumulates in a 20% discount on your active contract faction.