Sword Art Online - Q & A

[ZGMF-X10A]

How is loot distributed?
What about boss loot? Is it last hit? (episode 2, Kirito did last hit I think and got the cloak)
What about exp when raiding like a boss?

What is the advantage of being in a party?
lets say 5 people in a party, only 1 person can attack at once and they would need to switch for the next person to attack. Wouldn't 5 people soloing dps the monster faster? Only con I see is if your low on hp, you can switch out so that another member can take damage.

[Xacual]

Originally Posted by ZGMF-X10A

How is loot distributed?
What about boss loot? Is it last hit? (episode 2, Kirito did last hit I think and got the cloak)
What about exp when raiding like a boss?

What is the advantage of being in a party?
lets say 5 people in a party, only 1 person can attack at once and they would need to switch for the next person to attack. Wouldn't 5 people soloing dps the monster faster? Only con I see is if your low on hp, you can switch out so that another member can take damage.

As far as I know loot is distributed how one would expect, but apparently floor bosses have a special loot that is given to the person that gets the last hit too.

More people is obviously safer, even if you're not all able to attack at the same time.

[Clarste]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

Ingame it didn't change. The first time they used the nerve gear it copied there real appearance.

Currently in real life they look older than in the game.

Well, not really. They look way skinnier and more malnourished. The body doesn't grow much under these conditions (being in a coma with an IV).

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by ZGMF-X10A

How is loot distributed?
What about boss loot? Is it last hit? (episode 2, Kirito did last hit I think and got the cloak)
What about exp when raiding like a boss?

What is the advantage of being in a party?
lets say 5 people in a party, only 1 person can attack at once and they would need to switch for the next person to attack. Wouldn't 5 people soloing dps the monster faster? Only con I see is if your low on hp, you can switch out so that another member can take damage.

Several people can attack at once if some of them have long reached weapons (spears and staffs). And the switching itself is advantageous as the change in tactics disorients the mob.

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by ZGMF-X10A

How is loot distributed?
What about boss loot? Is it last hit? (episode 2, Kirito did last hit I think and got the cloak)
What about exp when raiding like a boss?

What is the advantage of being in a party?
lets say 5 people in a party, only 1 person can attack at once and they would need to switch for the next person to attack. Wouldn't 5 people soloing dps the monster faster? Only con I see is if your low on hp, you can switch out so that another member can take damage.

(1) As far as I know, it set how EXP and Loot is distributed in parties. Solo players get all the loot, though.
(2) Boss Loot is distributed equally among all parties inside, except for the LA Bonus (or Last Attack Bonus)
(3) See (2)
(4) You get all the EXP like a boss

(5) Ability to switch after executing the attack, in which the one you switch can attack the mob again, eliminating cooldown almost completely. This also confuses the AI as its target changes.

(6) No, as several Skills can attack multiple players in front. And there's that cooldown in skills too (it makes you a bit "paralyzed" unless you Switch)

That should answer everything...

[Awrya]

Originally Posted by ZGMF-X10A

How is loot distributed?
What about boss loot? Is it last hit? (episode 2, Kirito did last hit I think and got the cloak)
What about exp when raiding like a boss?

What is the advantage of being in a party?
lets say 5 people in a party, only 1 person can attack at once and they would need to switch for the next person to attack. Wouldn't 5 people soloing dps the monster faster? Only con I see is if your low on hp, you can switch out so that another member can take damage.

In Asuna's guild, whoever gets loot keeps it, saves trouble. Solo players naturally get all the loot.

The amount of EXP you get depends on your damage done, unless it is different for bosses.

[StellarCell]

Spoiler for Alicization RATH, STL and Fluctlight:

Can someone explain the Fluctlight thing to me? So basically it's the thing that flows inside the tube that protects the brain cells that connect to each other?

And also, the Soul Translator, it can translate what you feel in the virtual world and the output would be then turned into a tangible thing and simultaneously, it can input something into you?

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by StellarCell

Spoiler for Alicization RATH, STL and Fluctlight:

Can someone explain the Fluctlight thing to me? So basically it's the thing that flows inside the tube that protects the brain cells that connect to each other?

And also, the Soul Translator, it can translate what you feel in the virtual world and the output would be then turned into a tangible thing and simultaneously, it can input something into you?

Spoiler for The spoilered reply, duh:

Fluctlight is the technology that came about from copying (and I mean copying) the quantum from your brain cells (and they mean the very inside of them) to the server, creating a perfect copy of some sort. STL (or Soul Translator) is the technology doing all the work of copying your "soul" and all the data coming from it (it can only interpret memories -- which includes data you have acquired via 5 senses) STL Units also serve as a VR terminal.

I think everything else can be answered by that paragraph alone, yes?

[Wild Goose]

In short,

Spoiler for Alternate explanation:

It's essentially Ghost Dubbing.

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by Wild Goose

In short,

Spoiler for Alternate explanation:

It's essentially Ghost Dubbing.

Spoiler for Ha!... Yes:

Although I would argue that, while the Soul is techically "copied" to the server, the server itself can't really "save" it, due to some... potential limits.

[Wild Goose]

Originally Posted by ronelm2000

Spoiler for Ha!... Yes:

Although I would argue that, while the Soul is techically "copied" to the server, the server itself can't really "save" it, due to some... potential limits.

Well, that's true, but the essential concept is more or less the same. Though I have to wonder whether Kawahara was inspired to do this after watching IDOLATOR...

Certainly, Kayaba's voice in the first episode is essentially Togusa mixed with random Stand Alone Complex cyber-villain...

[StellarCell]

Can someone clarify this for me?

Spoiler for AI top down and bottom up:

So there are 2 kinds of AI, one is the one that gathers information and "grows up" through interacting with other people, using simple questions and answers.

The other one is the one with real adaptability, the one that grows up like a human. Is that right? But aren't those two similar?

[chaos_alfa]

Originally Posted by StellarCell

Can someone clarify this for me?

Spoiler for AI top down and bottom up:

So there are 2 kinds of AI, one is the one that gathers information and "grows up" through interacting with other people, using simple questions and answers.

The other one is the one with real adaptability, the one that grows up like a human. Is that right? But aren't those two similar?

Tag your spoilers a bit better please...

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

Tag your spoilers a bit better please...

I don't know... it seems to be tagged right...

Originally Posted by StellarCell

Can someone clarify this for me?

Spoiler for AI top down and bottom up:

So there are 2 kinds of AI, one is the one that gathers information and "grows up" through interacting with other people, using simple questions and answers.

The other one is the one with real adaptability, the one that grows up like a human. Is that right? But aren't those two similar?

Spoiler for Reply:

Top Down AI is almost purely statistical, compared to a Bottom Up AI which learns from the simple things to the complicated ones like a real human. The main difference between these two is that the Top Down AI is error prone, while the Bottom Up AI is error tolerant.

[chaos_alfa]

Originally Posted by ronelm2000

I don't know... it seems to be tagged right...

Spoiler for Reply:

Top Down AI is almost purely statistical, compared to a Bottom Up AI which learns from the simple things to the complicated ones like a real human. The main difference between these two is that the Top Down AI is error prone, while the Bottom Up AI is error tolerant.

I meant be a bit more specific from which part in the series the spoiler is.

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

I meant be a bit more specific from which part in the series the spoiler is.

Why? The caption of the spoiler explains what the spoiler is about, no more no less. In fact, taken by itself, it does not really contain ANY LN related spoilers of any kind, just a tech issue that's related to SAO LNs...

But in case you (or another someone) didn't catch it, it's vaguely related to Vol. 9 - Vol 10. [Alicization Arc].

[chaos_alfa]

Originally Posted by ronelm2000

Why? The caption of the spoiler explains what the spoiler is about, no more no less. In fact, taken by itself, it does not really contain ANY LN related spoilers of any kind, just a tech issue that's related to SAO LNs...

But in case you (or another someone) didn't catch it, it's vaguely related to Vol. 9 - Vol 10. [Alicization Arc].

I'm just nitpicking, but I haven't read vol 9 & 10 yet. So I assumed it had something to do with

Spoiler for SAO arc:

Yui.

It's more or less a warning for when you use spoiler tags for bigger spoilers.

[ronelm2000]

Originally Posted by chaos_alfa

I'm just nitpicking, but I haven't read vol 9 & 10 yet. So I assumed it had something to do with

Spoiler for SAO arc:

Yui.

It's more or less a warning for when you use spoiler tags for bigger spoilers.

Well... how did we end up to this again?

Yeah, you're nitpicking.

Spoiler for Response to Spoiler:

The question had nothing to do with Yui. :P

Although...

Spoiler for The basis of spoiler captions:

Spoiler captions are designed to summarize what the spoiler is. No big no less. Examples:

Spoiler for Vol 8 - 9:

This wouldn't make sense would it? It's because Vol 8 -9 has NOTHING to do with this spoiler.

Spoiler for cryptic stuff that only LN readers know about:

<<insert spoiler on Vol 8 - 9 that had nothing to do with the cryptic stuff>>

^ this is wrong as well, because well.... it had nothing to do with it.

Spoiler for Vol 8 - 9:

<<insert tech-related spoiler>>

^ this is safe, however, one could call it nitpicking... or over-counterspoiling.

Spoiler for Tech Name:

<<insert specific tech-related spoiler>>

^ I personally go for this when talking about tech questions.

Spoiler for Tech Name + Vol X:

<<insert specific tech-related spoiler corresponding to Vol X spoiler>>

^ this as well

Spoiler for about above:

<<insert some spoilers that's more spoilery than the above>>

^ obviously wrong it should be something like...

Spoiler for about above + Vol X or Scene name:

<<insert some spoilers that's more spoilery than the above>>

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by ronelm2000

Why? The caption of the spoiler explains what the spoiler is about, no more no less.

Actually, this is extremely important. You are wrong.

Originally Posted by SAO Spoiler Policy

Properly-labelled spoiler tags means you must identify the NATURE of the spoiler:

• the purpose of the spoiler (i.e. comparison to the current episode)
• where the spoiler comes from (i.e. the novel/manga/game/another story/etc.)

[...]

From this point forward, failure to either use a spoiler tag for comparisons, or to give it a proper label as defined above will result in the automatic ban.

Clearly, I've been slacking off on the ban department, as demonstrated by this thread (which I had been trying to avoid precisely to avoid being spoiled). But you and everyone else must label your spoiler tags properly. It is not just "what it is about".

[chaos_alfa]

Originally Posted by ronelm2000

Well... how did we end up to this again?

Yeah, you're nitpicking.

Spoiler for Response to Spoiler:

The question had nothing to do with Yui. :P

Although...

Spoiler for The basis of spoiler captions:

Spoiler captions are designed to summarize what the spoiler is. No big no less. Examples:

Spoiler for Vol 8 - 9:

This wouldn't make sense would it? It's because Vol 8 -9 has NOTHING to do with this spoiler.

Spoiler for cryptic stuff that only LN readers know about:

<<insert spoiler on Vol 8 - 9 that had nothing to do with the cryptic stuff>>

^ this is wrong as well, because well.... it had nothing to do with it.

Spoiler for Vol 8 - 9:

<<insert tech-related spoiler>>

^ this is safe, however, one could call it nitpicking... or over-counterspoiling.

Spoiler for Tech Name:

<<insert specific tech-related spoiler>>

^ I personally go for this when talking about tech questions.

Spoiler for Tech Name + Vol X:

<<insert specific tech-related spoiler corresponding to Vol X spoiler>>

^ this as well

Spoiler for about above:

<<insert some spoilers that's more spoilery than the above>>

^ obviously wrong it should be something like...

Spoiler for about above + Vol X or Scene name:

<<insert some spoilers that's more spoilery than the above>>

It seems you tag your spoilers correctly, but StellarCell spoiler tag which I quoted could be better.

Originally Posted by StellarCell

Spoiler for AI top down and bottom up:

So there are 2 kinds of AI, one is the one that gathers information and "grows up" through interacting with other people, using simple questions and answers.

The other one is the one with real adaptability, the one that grows up like a human. Is that right? But aren't those two similar?

It doesn't say where the spoiler comes from and it indicates

Spoiler for Light Novel - Aincrad arc and Vol 8 & 9:

there are going to appear two types of AI in the Sword Art Online series.