I got bored and randomly ran some statistics tests on the character availability (by game) in the Dungeon. Noticing there were a lot of under-represented series (that are DL-ranked), I threw out some suggestions in hopes to see a few more games get their chance in my favorite ‘team setting’ tourney here at the DL boards.
Characters by Game:
AtL2 1
BoF1 4
BoF2 7
BoF3 3
BoF4 4
CT 6
DQ1 1
DQ4 3
DQ8 3
EB 1
FE7 4
FE8 4
FF1 3
FF4 4
FF5 5
FF6 4
FF7 2
FF8 1
FF9 2
FFX 3
FFX2 1
FF12 1
FFT 9
FFMQ 1
G2 1
LoD 2
Lufia1 1
Lufia2 3
Lunar1 5
Lunar2 3
Pers 1
P2 1
P3 3
PKMN 4
PS4 7
Suiko1 4
Suiko2 1
Suiko3 7
Suiko4 1
Suiko5 3
SaGa 4
ShF1 1
ShF2 1
SH1 2
SH2 3
SH3 1
SD3 4
SOM 2
SMRPG 4
SO2 2
SO3 4
SoA 2
ToD 1
ToP 1
TotA 1
VP1 2
VP2 3
WA1/F 3
WA2 1
WA3 1
WA4 4
WAXF 1
XG 2
XS 2
Generic Count: 20
Characters per Series:
AtL 1
BoF 17
Chrono 6
DQ 7
EB 1
FE 8
FF 36
Grandia 1
LoD 2
Lufia 4
Lunar 7
Pers 5
PKMN 4
PS 7
Suiko 16
SaGa 4
ShF 2
SH 6
Seiken 6
SMRPG 4
SO 6
SoA 2
Tales 3
VP 5
WA 10
Xeno 4
Unplayable games:
AtL4
AtL1
BGs
BoF5
Brig
CC
DDS
Dis
Dis2
FE9
FF3
G1
G3
GS
LoL
LoL2
OB
PS1
PS2
ToE
ToS
VH
Unplayable Series:
BGs
Brig
Dis
GS
LoL
OB
VH
Chrono: Wow, nearly the entire playable cast is available for Dungeon use. This makes sense as this is a cast with a lot of synergy, so it works out well in the Dungeon. My only suggestion here is to add some characters from Chrono Cross. They represent a well-known game, and their only drawback is that they don't come with a lot of skills. If you allow CC characters to use Elements of their own affinity, you can create some really interesting healers/buffers/statuswhores who are elementally-reliant. Also, the Field Effect mechanic means that after any CCers use an Element, anyone else who uses the same element will get a power boost (and likewise, it reduces the opposing element's damage). The effect is even stackable. For a high-end option, use someone like Serge (White Elements are pretty brutal and versatile, though a bit rare - maybe Heavy?) and for a low-end option, try Glenn (Middle?). These two also have a Double Tech for added potential synergy.
Grandia: Wow, only Millenia is worthy of being in the Dungeon, huh? You have four characters from SD3, but only one from Grandia? I don't think this reflects playership...
As some suggestions, Liete from G1 would be a Crowley-like Millenia - she would come with a lot of powerful spells (including SBE-like super-status Enclose), though scaled to the floor. Probably Heavy. Justin or Feena could be interesting two if you made it so they gained 1 Mana Egg element per the first four floors. Grandia1 magic has some quirky effects that would work well with a fighter or a mage. Not powerhouses though, I'd peg them at 2s?
G3 has some fun offerings. Dahna's a neat Light mage, who specializes in status-weapon whoring and a counter-attack ability. She also gets Mana Spring (MPcost=0) eventually. Yuki/Ulf would be interesting if given SkillBook Twinkability. They could eventually build up to be 8-hits-per-attack beasts with their personal buffing specials (Slow to build, so 2.5s). Hect is another super-status user with Freeze, not to mention gamebest damage (though limited resources, probably still a 3 or 3.5).
FE series: There's 8 weird ranking choices in here, I think. Not bad, but there really -could- be an FEer for each tier, for varying effectiveness. A player can fill their team with whatever shade of countering, weapon-triangle goodness they want. Marisa and Lyn on the same tier is a bit silly though.
FE9 is ranked now, so it would be cool to see some FEers with Skills get into the action. Suggestions include:
Ike (Heavy?), Ellincia (Puny healer variant), Titania (a better Marcus), Astrid (Level advantage for the midgame, there aren't a lot of middle-focused Dungeon participants, so she could be useful to some teams, Middle), Tanith (Reinforce Skill summons 3 puny mooks to be meatshields or tack on some extra hits, could have some interesting applications. Probably a 3.5 or 4 though), Lethe (Speedy, decent damage fighter with a turn-limit. The penalty is devastating, but she could have uses in a speed team. I'd peg her as a Light with the de-transformation problem, so she'd be an interesting Light slugger), Tibarn/Naesala (High-speed, High-damage - pure physical, and with a wind weakness. Physical Crowley variants, could very well be 3.5 or 4.0-level though). For the record, I'd only add one or two of these.
Phantasy Star series: Well, only Phantasy Star IV characters are available… And this makes sense, it’s blindingly clear that it’s the most played and best entry to the series. Though we have 7 out of 9 playable characters ranked, I believe? Just seems like a lot proportionally. I suppose you could also add in a PSI or PSII character to fill in some Light options. My suggestion: PSII Josh Kain – he’s a semi-decent physical fighter with a little bit of magic. But his real use is as a Robot-slayer. Very situational, but if you make him a 1.0 or 0.5, he could find room in a few parties.
Tales series: You have 3 Tales healers ranked, which makes sense as they’re the most versatile of the Tales cast. As it’s a pretty widely-played series, I’d personally suggest that you add one or two more options. Elemental physical attack options are pretty common for Tales fighters and that makes them semi-unique and useful for any team that wants to try being element-heavy (especially with that new sealstone!). Examples include Chester (ToP) and Luke (TotA), Luke could be especially useable with Tear’s FOF-inducing earlygame spells. I think the most interesting option would probably be Kratos/Zelos from ToS, though. He starts out as kind of powerful physically AND magically… and can double as a Healer. Eventually, he starts getting EXgem skills and finally gets the Last Fencer to deal double damage to humans, which is a pretty awesome midlate game pickup. Kratos even eventually gets some decently powerful holy magic, so a Kratos/Zelos option would be a strong earlygame, lagging midgame, great lategame choice (2 or 2.5? They’re never devastating and they don’t get revival).
Xeno series: No problems with the options available, but I just had a vague idea pop into my head and I thought I’d mention it. Would it be possible to get a Xenogears character who could use their Gears in the dungeon? I’m not sure how it would work out, but the idea just sounded interesting.
BGs: Unplayable, but I don’t know enough about the game to make any suggestions. Just seems kind of sad that there are ranked series that are completely unplayable in the Dungeon.
Brigandine: But Brig makes for a pretty good example of why. None of the characters are particularly interesting mechanics-wise compared to other Dungeon choices. I remember Salamander was a Capsule monster choice at one point, he could be brought back as a Light? Well, with some flexibility, a Brig choice could be viable. If you made a faceless ‘Rune Summoner’ character (or just used one of the Lords), you could make a Godlike-level character who gets to summon progressively stronger monsters to battle through the dungeon. For example, if you just used Lance, then he would start with a Salamander (overpowered, I know), and then by floor 3, he could continue using the Salamander, or could trade him in for two weaker monsters (more hits, but more easily killed). By floor 5, he could evolve those monsters, or trade them in again. I’d never let him use more than 2 monsters, but it’s an interesting way to boost party size. You could even have it so that ‘Lance’ takes up two party slots, but still only costs 4.0 (or 4.5 if you feel like making something higher). Hmm.. it sounds REALLY broken (needs some kind of balancing), but considering that people were asking for FFT Mediator (with recruiting options!), it seems like something players would like.
Disgaea series: Really well-played series, and a non-FE option for counters. Not to mention the ability to pick up allies to keep them protected. Could rank some Generics - Dis Ninja gets roughly a million counters and Godly Evade… he even dodges healing, so that could be problematic. Or you could rank one of the story characters. Flonne would be an interesting choice (especially if you’re allowed to teach her magic in-dungeon or choose which weapon she gets). She’d be a healer with a “Lift” method of the Cover materia. She could even still cast healing magic while she did this. Etna and Laharl just make for fun options for using Disgaea counters/Lift/versatile weapons/mechanics. A random Prinny would be a fun Puny – can use him for crap damage, as a meat shield, or Throw him to his doom for massive damage! (It can even splash, so it’s GT/MT) I’d make it so anyone with hands is allowed to throw him. Taro or Hanako from Dis2 also make awesome buffing options (I’d make them Light, though).
Golden Sun: I thought you used to have some GS characters available? Isaac or Ivan are good options in general. You could even offer a ‘mix-and-match Djinni’ GS character so that players can make their GS character into the class of their choice. The various different permutations for classes are easy to find online (GoldenSun wikia), so the only thing that would be necessary is to set which Djinni are received per floor. Players could change up their class between each floor. Obviously a High Heavy or Godlike for that style.
LoL series: I thought you had some LoL characters available before, too? Noa’s charm effects are still the most notable unique thing about LoL1. She doesn’t get them until midgame, but if you allow her to learn some Seru magic, she could be potent throughout the Dungeon due to her ridiculous speed. Probably a Middle option for a Healer/Status whore with a little bit of damage. Aftergame, she can pick up the Wind Special Seru (Summon) to get more damage (speed goes down when she’s using it though). Since LoL2 actually seems to be more widely played here in the DL, those characters are an option, too.
Ogre Battle: It’s a single game, so I can see how you’d overlook it, but it’s widely played. The characters don’t have a lot of options and rely on class-changing. I’d rank one of the generics here. Though I’m not an expert on the game, so I can’t give any specific suggestions.
VH: Even less of an expert, but I know the main has multiple class change options, so that could make for an interesting option.
Final Fantasy series: There are a lot of these in the Dungeon, and a lot of them are generics. But… considering that the Dungeon needs lots of well-known characters, I have no complaint about the overwhelming number of FF characters available. My only suggestion here is that FF3 needs a representative now that it’s ranked. Pick your favorite generic! I like Geomancer personally. One dimensional and somewhat random, but fun!
