THE iDOLM@STER 2 Gameplay Thread

[mariokirby]

Thank you for you help Naryoril and Daverost.  I really appreciate it.

2) Yes, if you choose the "right" answer you get the opportunity to buy the charm of this area. you only get the this choice if you don't have the charm of that area yet.

I think you meant pick the "left" answer if you want the opportunity to buy the amulets.

And also, what did you mean when you said 2/2/6 burst pattern? 

If you don't have an amulet, it's trickier. I guess you can try to maintain your multiplier, but that's not easy to do. Honestly, for your first game, through, I'd recommend balancing all stats and picking up the three decay rate amulets. This minimizes point loss until you can focus on two stats, which you should do from every game after that. If you're balancing all three, just appeal in order. I wouldn't bother bursting for a while.

2) As stated, it's for amulets. I wouldn't bother with these until the second half, when your schedule tends to be a lot more open since you don't have lessons to worry about. You'll probably be running a lot of performances for money at that point anyway, so just look out for the ones that have the amulets you need. (You'll want the three decay rate amulets and at least one of the two voltage increasing amulets, if not both.)

 However, don't many people recommend raising two stats instead all three of them?  Is there enough time in the game to raise all three stats?  Or do the stats carry over in the next playthrough?

For the amulets, you can only equip one amulet, right?   So, in what concerts would a Decay amulet and a Voltage increasing amulet be useful?

[Cael K.]

And also, what did you mean when you said 2/2/6 burst pattern? 

Let's see if I remember things correctly.

First off, different characters give different patterns when they Burst. For example, I think Chihaya gives 6 Vocal, 2 Visual, and 2 Dance. Furthermore, your score while Bursting is dependant only on your Danketsu, and not your stats.

So, basically the two-stat strategy is tank whatever stat you get the most of during a Burst, pump the other two, and make sure you equip a charm that has those decay the least. Your non-Burst appeals will feed the stat you tanked, which you won't use much until you Burst, when it doesn't matter how much you've ignored or pumped it.

[Daverost]

However, don't many people recommend raising two stats instead all three of them?  Is there enough time in the game to raise all three stats?  Or do the stats carry over in the next playthrough?

For the amulets, you can only equip one amulet, right?   So, in what concerts would a Decay amulet and a Voltage increasing amulet be useful?

You don't have to raise stats to cap. Level 15 or 16 for your ranking is enough. Only do it for your first game, though. Go for two stats once you can manage your multipliers better in future games. You can't expect to apply standard game tactics to your first run. You're not set up for it. Read through the beginner guide on the strategy site for some ideas on how to handle your first run.

http://imas2.wota.info/strategy/beginners-guide

For amulets, use voltage amulets for high level festivals and decay amulets for everything else.

[Naryoril]

I think you meant pick the "left" answer if you want the opportunity to buy the amulets.

 However, don't many people recommend raising two stats instead all three of them?  Is there enough time in the game to raise all three stats?  Or do the stats carry over in the next playthrough?

Ok, in this context my word choice was horrible. I meant "right" as in "correct".

If you already have a multipier decay rate amulet, then you can go with 2 stats. Personally i tried to get a decay rate amulet as fast as possible on my first playthrough and then went for 2 stats.

[mariokirby]

The Beginner's Guide says to raise all three stats in the first half of the game.  My question is: If I'm going to obtain the Decay Amulet on my First Playthrough anyways, then wouldn't it be better to just raise two stats? Then that way by the time I obtain the Decay Amulet, I would already have gotten a head start since I've been increasing the two stats from the beginning.  I'm not sure if that is correct.

[Cael K.]

Depends on how much you suffer now or later, so it's really up to you. Honestly, the game's not overly difficult (you're playing Normal, right?) so you can get away with two stats from the start, I'd think. If you want that amulet as fast as possible, these are where you can find them. Look 'em up on a map if you need to know where they are.

神奈川 - Kanagawa
長野 - Nagano
徳島 - Tokushima

Honestly, if it's your first playthrough, don't worry so much and experiment. That's where everything gets put together.

[Daverost]

You're honestly a little too focused on your stats. You'll have enough to do what you need to do and your first game is a throwaway anyway. Focus on getting outfits, accessories, and amulets, then focus on making enough money. If you don't want your run to be a failure, try to get an area award or two and see if you can't get enough fans for the grand award. (Should be easy if you do Festivals or something for money.)

I'm honestly not even sure it's possible to get a true ending on your first game (I guess it could be with enough sales state changes and some know-how, but I don't think a first-timer can), so you really don't need to sweat the small stuff so much this time through.

[mariokirby]

Okay, So I am in Week 8 and my unit Status has a music note.  Whenever Chihaya speaks there are music notes around her.  The Guide says that if I do a Vocal Lesson then something might happen.  So I did a Super Vocal Lesson just to make sure I can get a Perfect+Bonus.  However, the next week, nothing really special happens and the unit status is still the same and Chihaya has music notes around her when she speaks.  Was something special suppose to happen if I did a vocal lesson?

[Daverost]

No one really knows what those statuses do.

[mariokirby]

I see.  Also, just out of curiosity, what does get carried over in the second playthrough? I'm guessing costumes, accesories, amulets, and money.  What about the vocal, dance and visual stats, image level, memory level?

[TheTanStar]

All stats (except Producer Rank) do not carry over. That's the standard for the games.

[Logan]

Around what week does Ritsuko become available as a guest character?

[TheTanStar]

The same week that she unlocks for S4U: The end of Week 30. You need the achievement/trophy to use her of course.

[Logan]

Ah, I must have messed up something then. Woops. Thanks, though!

[mariokirby]

I have two questions...

1.  Okay, I'm on Week 11 and I'm trying to get the amulet that is suppose to appear in the Nagano region.  However, there aren't any concerts that are in that region.  In what week does a concert in Nagano appears?

2.  I don't understand the image level.  If the max is 16, so does that mean I have to raise all the stats to the max? Or do I only raise just one stat? I don't understand.  The Guide was not clear on this.