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What is this?
Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City is the third entry in the Etrian Odyssey series, which are first person dungeon crawlers inspired by games like Wizardy. These games are pretty notorious for being pretty brutal with regards to difficulty. One of the main aspects of the series is drawing your own map, which is done on the touch screen. With the exception of the Untold series, the plot is very minimalistic and none of the characters you can create have any in game backstory whatsoever. They are blank slates, and you're intended to come up with their personalities and whatnot with your imagination. There are currently eight games in the series right now. Nine with Etrian Odyssey V being announced.
Spoiler Policy
These games don't have a lot of story, but this aside from the remakes, this is probably the EO game that has the most plot. So don't spoil any of it. That goes for game mechanics and classes as well. If I haven't talked about it in an update or within the thread itself, don't talk about it. Simple. Feel free to talk about the other games, though use spoiler tags for the more spoilery stuff there.
Note From Years After This LP Started
It has been several years since this Let's Play has been made. I've been making some renovations to this LP, and it took long enough that HD remasters of the DS trilogy released. This LP covers mainly the DS version, but a few changes have been made to the HD version of the game, some pretty significant. I'll note whatever changes in the remaster comes up if it's big enough (AKA not a mere typo correction), but this LP will prioritize the DS version of the game. As such some strategies that opened up in the HD version won't be applicable to this version. And I'll be sticking with the DS version of any names as to not contradict the sheer amount of screenshots with the original names. As an example I'll still refer to a certain class as "Prince/ss" instead of "Sovereign."
Game Mechanics
Stats, Formulas, and Common Skills
Damage Types
Ailments and Binds
Action Speed
Random Encounters, Battles, and Items
Limit Skills
Maps and Encounter Data
Gathering From Item Points
Pasaran Hunting
Class Showcases
Prince/ss
Gladiator
Hoplite
Buccaneer
Ninja
Monk
Zodiac
Wildling
Arbalist
Farmer
Shogun
Yggdroid
Databases
Stratum 1 Enemies
Stratum 1 FOEs and Bosses
Stratum 2 Enemies
Stratum 2 FOEs and Bosses
Stratum 3 Enemies
Stratum 3 FOEs and Bosses
Stratum 4 Enemies
Stratum 4 FOEs and Bosses
Stratum 5 Enemies
Stratum 5 FOEs and Bosses
Stratum 6 Enemies
Stratum 6 FOEs, Bosses, and Dragons Database
Quest Enemies and Bosses
Sea Quest Bosses
Sea Quest Allies
Pasarans
Updates
Update 1: A Stormy Adventure Begins
Update 2: Preparations
Update 3: Preparations: The Other Five Classes
Update 4: Cartography
Update 5: Mission Complete
Update 6: On the High Seas
Update 7: Meregho Saeno
Update 8: Meregho Saeno, Part 2
Update 9: Formido Oppugnatura Exsequens
Update 10: Try, Try Again
Update 11: Gathering
Update 12: Tragedy Strikes?
Update 13: An Unreasonable Task
Update 14: Cruel Roamer
Update 15: Don't Pet the Deer
Update 16: Preparing for the 1st Boss
Update 17: Narmer
Update 18: Catch That Catfish!
Update 19: Under the Sea
Update 20: Ambushed
Update 21: Preparing for Ayutthaya Port's Sea Quests
Update 22: Hammerhead
Update 23: Manhunt
Update 24: Welcome to Etrian Odyssey
Update 25: Guild Tidehunt, Ace Defectives
Update 26: Ghost Ship
Update 27: The North Ocean and Preparing for the 2nd Boss
Update 28: Ketos
Update 29: The Deep City
Update 30: Unarmed and Not That Dangerous
Update 31: The Star Doors
Update 32: Running's Not as Fun as Hitting
Update 33: Hot Hot HOT!
Update 34: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire
Update 35: The Deep Ones
Update 36: The Deep City's History
Update 37: Corotrangul
Update 38: Line in the Sand
Update 39: Through the Scorching Heat
Update 40: Golem
Update 41: Golem, Part 2
Update 42: Sea Charting
Update 43: Race to the Gate
Update 44: Preparing for the 3rd Boss
Update 45: Gatekeeper
Update 46: The New Recruit
Update 47: Preparing for the 4th Stratum
Update 48: Retirement
Update 49: Wrong Way
Update 50: The Starry Shard
Update 51: Wicked Queen
Update 52: Manticore
Update 53: RIP Manticore
Update 54: Brevity
Update 54 and a Half: Okay, Not That Brief
Update 55: Actually That Brief
Update 56: Amarantos
Update 57: Watch Out Below!
Update 58: Preparing for the 4th Boss
Update 59: Kirin
Update 60: Preparing for Trade City Damavand's Sea Quests
Update 61: Ruin Caller
Update 62: Sealing Away the Ruin Caller
Update 63: The Moon Doors
Update 64: Blinding Light
Update 65: Preparing for Tower of Victory's Sea Quests
Update 66: King Penguin
Update 67: Bon Voyage
Update 68: A Secret Date
Update 69: Blind and Muddy
Update 70: Foxy Roadblocks
Update 71: Sisters
Update 72: Suicide Curse
Update 73: The Final Trek
Update 74: The Abyssal King and His Servant
Update 75: Failure
Update 76: Do-Over
Update 77: The New Recruit 2.0
Update 78: Shin
Update 79: The Final Trek... Again
Update 80: The Deep Princess and Her Warrior
Update 81: My Innermost Apocalypse
Update 82: The True Path
Update 83: The Progenitor
Update 84: Welcome to the Post-Game, Enjoy Your Stay!
Update 85: Scylla
Update 86: Schrödinger’s Eggs
Update 87: Slip Sliding Away
Update 88: Kraken
Update 89: Anemone
Update 90: Leviathan
Update 91: Deep Darkness
Update 92: Pitfall Minefields
Update 93: Alraune
Update 94: Drake
Update 95: Dragon
Update 96: Wyrm
Update 97: The Final Voyage
Update 98: You Spin Me Right Round, Baby Right Round
Update 99: Elder Dragon
Update 100: The End of Raging Waves
Update 101: Fluffy Puffy Loose Ends
Update 102: The Tentacular Trials
Update 103: How Not to Design a Boss Fight – Part 1: The Wake-Up Call
Update 104: Once Is Never Enough
The Grand Finale
More Etrian Odyssey Stuff
My completed LP of EO2, if you want to know what one of the previous games were like.
theshim had an EO3 LP that was unfortunately abandoned. Archives are needed to view.
Tyty had an LP of EO4 that was also unfortunately abandoned. The first Etrian Odyssey game on the 3DS.
Rea has completed an LP of Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold (With yours truly handling Story Mode). This is the 3DS remake of Etrian Odyssey 2.
Character List
Chilblain's character: Faye the Monk (Age 15)
A lady with a burning sense of justice that just doesn't stop, she's looking to bulldoze through the labyrinth on determination alone.
She'd try to walk through a brick wall if you told her she didn't have the willpower to do so.
theshim's character: Cassandra the Hoplite (Age 31)
Mature, sensible, and straightforward, Cassandra got into adventuring out of a desire to keep her friends from doing truly stupid things. Times have changed and people have moved on, but she still retains that protective streak, though some might call her overly conservative (or, behind her back, a coward). Though generally levelheaded, she is secretly extremely excited to explore new places and make discoveries, and works to build friendships and trust with her guildmates...which can lead to friction with people she thinks are "irresponsible" or who "lack commitment". Has somewhat unreasonable standards. Likes cats. Dislikes fish.
Level Seven's character: Sidney the Arbalist (Age 34)
As a hunter of monsters, he decided to pick Armoroad's unexplored labyrinth as his next territory to conquer. Currently looking for a new guild to join as the last one didn't work out. Suicidally overconfident, he'll challenge every enemy he runs into given the chance. He's doing this to get some bragging rights against another hunter who had some fame slaying some wrathful dragons.
Endorph's character: Akatsuki the Ninja (Age 14)
Far across the eastern sea, on a small island shrouded by mist, there exists a tiny, insular clan: the KUROI KIBA (Translator's Note: Kuroi Kiba means Black Fang). Masters of ninjitsu, assassinations, and illusion, the Kuroi Kiba have had a small hand in every war known to history... though the Kiba themselves aren't mentioned in any texts.
Born with no memories of his parents and no family to his name, Akatsuki was adopted, named, and trained by a disgraced 'failure' of an assassin - a one eyed, no-armed killer named HAYABUSA-SENSEI (Translator's Note: Sensei means teacher). He came to look to Hayabusa-sensei as a father, but the man's advanced age meant he wasn't long for this world. On his death bed, as the sakura petals fell (translator's note: sakura means cherry blossom), Hayabusa-sensei made one final request of his student.
"Go to the west," he croaked. "Across the sea. See the world that I was never able to explore. Help those I was never able to help."
His surrogate father's words clinging to his ears, Akatsuki fled in the night, carrying only his katana and a kokoro wish. (Translator's note: Kokoro means heartfelt.)
Related GIFs:
cdyoung's character: Asteria the Zodiac (Age 33)
An aspiring astrologist and scholar, Asteria always looked to the stars for guidance and inspiration.
She hails from a kingdom that has been known to have severely unstable weather and as a result, Asteria has dedicated a bit of her studies into learning about phenomena related to the sky and clouds, resulting in a preference for Volt based magic.
She's not an idealist, or a pessimist, she considers herself a realist and generally has an analytical or sophomoric response to questions and likes making weather based puns.
Tyty's character: Scott the Buccaneer (Age 21)
Decided to be a pirate, but turned away from the life while he was still getting his sea legs to make a more honest living when he heard of the treasures of the labyrinth. Despite his very brief stint in piracy he knows quite a few sea shanties and is more than capable of manning a ship. Somewhat cocky and arrogant, with a bit of a silver tongue, as to be expected of a pirate. Likes rum.
blizzardvizard's character: Alice the Farmer (Age 14)
Alice never asked for this. She was just tending to her garden when she fell into a hole and found herself trapped on an alien island. She went to this building full of tough-looking people, trying to find someone who can help her go home and also to look for shelter, since christ she almost got killed by a butterfly, the hell's wrong with this place but she was mistaken for an aspiring adventurer. Alone and homeless, she decided to stay so she can at least get a bunker to sleep in, and tag along adventurers while trying to find her way home.
Orange Fluffy Sheep's character: MEGAQUEEN Susan the Princess (Age 13)
The daughter of a relatively well-to-do fish salesman, she knows exactly two things:
1) how fishing works
2) she wants to be the Grand Matriarch of the Entire Universe
Seeing the labyrinth as a chance to recruit some fine servants, as she'll naturally take the role of person who tells them what to do, and to expand her sphere of influence from just her family's allowance to the known cosmic reaches, she joins the guild. She insists being referred to by her suitably dramatic title that she plans to use when she rules all creation, and says that must be yelled at all times in deference.
MEGAQUEEN is not actually all that bad of a boss, and can't help but see her peons as human beings, rather than the disposable pawns her position would demand. She's just been told to chase her dreams and was never told that ruling the entire universe is perhaps somewhat implausible of a dream.
Her real name is Susan, a name she laments as being far too dull for the future-greatest ruler to ever live.
W.T. Fits' character: Rose the Gladiator (Age 26)
Having grown bored with fighting other people, Rose has journeyed to Armoroad to test herself against some of the most deadly enemies in existence - the monsters of the Yggdrasil Labyrinth. Tends to be a bit reckless, but tries to reign it in when things start getting serious. Has a very competitive personality, constantly seeking to establish a friendly rivalry with anyone who'll put up with her doing so. Scared of bees and other stinging insects.
Arcade Rabbit's character: Fang the Wildling (Age 10)
A young boy from the tribe of Wildlings from some far off, unexplored lands. His love for animals is unmatched even by the others of his tribe, but he soon grew to wonder about the other amazing animals living elsewhere in the world. Stowing away on the nearest ship, he quickly makes for the Labyrinth to learn all about the wonderfully horrifying monsters that live there. Fun, personable, but has never been to a city as big as this one. He's fascinated by the monsters of the maze and quickly tries to make friend with every horrifying monster they meet. But when the creatures inevitably bite back, he's quick to call on reinforcements. He loves everything the monsters do, no matter how horrible or violent it is and is always there to give words of encouragement to them. Even if its the enemy monsters who are doing it to the rest of the guild.
Ragnar Homsar's character: Charlotte the Shogun (Age 25)
Charlotte insists that she's the child of Etrian nobles, taken and raised by the Duchy of High Lagaard due to "ancient dragon powers."
...she was raised by people from Lagaard, that much is true. However, everything else is patently false; she was raised by a well-off but not noble family after having been adopted from an orphanage. From an early age, Charlotte demonstrated an aptitude for tactics: she would routinely best her adoptive father at chess, and preferred studying archives of maps and battle plans to language and mathematics. She's terse in communication and not that fantastic with numbers, but her ability to pinpoint even the smallest weak point in an enemy's strategy is only matched by Lagaard's highest military minds. Her actual combat abilities are less than ideal, but still passable enough that she could realistically participate in a battle while also leading it.
Charlotte's also an absolute sucker for romance. Not a quality you'd exactly expect in someone well-versed in military tactics, but she is absolutely enamored with seeing other people fall in love. She routinely tries to play matchmaker for people who are close to her, and keeps a massive journal of the current happenings between the would-be couples...which also consists of her eavesdropping in on their conversations. She even rates the current status of each of her gambits, giving them ranks of C to S. She believes fully in something she calls "the power of bonds;" essentially an idea that soldiers who feel affection for one another perform better on the battlefield than those trained to be mindless drones of war. Whether her fascination with romance is derived from this philosophy or the other way around is up for debate.
Charlotte began her career as an explorer training as a Ronin in Etria; however, the profession lacked two crucial things for her. The first was a focus on cooperating with one's allies; the other was modest clothing. She wasn't that big a fan of the chestwraps that seemed to be common among Ronin her age. She eventually travelled to Armoroad, where she studied to be a Shogun, finally finding a profession she excelled at. However, she found herself out of work for a long while, due to the Senatus's strict rules about what guilds could recruit Shoguns. A commander without an army is akin to a brain without a body, after all. Months passed, almost a year, before word reached her of a guild finally authorized by the Senatus to recruit Shoguns: Guild Tidehunt. An excellent opportunity...after all, she'd already been studying Tidehunt's members while at the Butterfly Bistro.
Mr. Vile's character: Smith the Yggdroid (Age 0x1C)
It turns out that when a giant telepathic tree tells you how to make robot supersoldiers and you have an underwater city that needs cleaning, knowledge of how to make said robot supersoldiers tends to get co-opted. One of the results of which is Smith. Armed only with his trusty cyber-mop, Smith was tasked with cleaning and maintaining the Deep City, which is no small task even for an untiring robot - the roof tends to leak, see. Despite many attempts to join the Yggdroid army, Smith was always denied his rightful calling and pointed straight back to that stubborn stain in the hallway carpet. So when he happened to overhear a conversation about a guild on the surface looking for robot recruits, Smith quietly finished cleaning up the latest spillage, slung his mop bucket over his back and headed straight for Armoroad. As a janitor, Smith does not have the array of lasers and blades that come standard on most Yggdroids, but he's hoping to pick up a few combat tips from the guild members and put his natural robotic strength to use.
Thanks to being repeatedly rejected from the army, Smith has cultivated an amiable, easygoing personality just to spite those uptight military droids and their synthesised "AFFIRMATIVE" barks. Everyone knows they only do that to show off anyway. While he's generally amiable enough to get on with just about anyone (outside the Deep City military, anyway), don't let him see you littering or generally making a mess. Just don't.
Fanart
MShadowy shows how MEGAQUEEN plans to conquer the universe.
Not necessarily fanart, but Orange Fluffy Sheep came up with a very apt writeup for the post-game superboss. (Well, everything before the "AI Script." Everything past that point was my own writing.)
Orange Fluffy Sheep submitted this in regards to the censorship of the almighty MEGAQUEEN in one update.
Orange Fluffy Sheep also submitted this in regards to her gun-toting prowess.
rinzukodas made an artist's depiction of the events of update 105, the fated (imaginary) showdown between Alice and the Abyssal God.
Soundtrack for your Listening Pleasure
