The Tome of Creation: a guide to character design =(^.^)=

Greetings, dear reader! (or deer reader, in case you are a hoofed mammal)
You have stumbled upon the Tome of Creation, another masterpiece written by the great me: Nicolas J. Red_Fox.
This one is about the art of creation. The creation of Toram Online characters to be precise.
In the following chapters I will explain the process of creating your own unique characters.
The chapters will all be linked in this post, so that you can easyly find and read them.
Answers to frequently asked questions are also gathered right below.

Chapter 0 - The Character Creation Screen: (the post below this one)
Chapter 1 - Weapon Mastery: http://www.toramonline.com/index.ph...-guide-to-character-design.44448/#post-459642
Chapter 2 - Another Hand, Another Weapon: https://toramonline.com/index.php?t...-guide-to-character-design.44448/#post-466878
Chapter 3 - Odd Choices: https://toramonline.com/index.php?t...-guide-to-character-design.44448/#post-492055
Chapter 4 - The Pen and the Sword: wait for it...


Nani the FAQ!

Q1: Can you explain how <insert skill name> works with <insert weapon type>?

Spoiler

A1: There are other threads that explain skill effects and combat mechanics in absolute detail. I will not explain those here, unless it is explicitely needed. And even then it will be less detailed than in the other guides

Q2: Can you give me a build for <insert weapon type> with <insert skill name> that can DPS, tank and support?

Spoiler

A2: Hell no!

Q3: Which weapon stat is better, hjfkdfl or kvghgd?

Spoiler

A3: How should I know? Find it out yourself.

Q4: Why are you so rude?

Spoiler

A4: I am not rude. You are stupid.

Q5: What is the answer to life, the universe and everything?

Spoiler

A5: 42.

Q6: Notice me, senpai~

Spoiler

A6: *stares at your pantsu*

Q7: Isn‘t this all basic info everyone knows?

Spoiler

A7: Sshhh!!! Don‘t tell anyone!

Q8: I have a question that is not listed here.

Spoiler

A8: Feel free to ask There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

 

Chapter 0 – The Character Creation Screen

The first step of creating a new character is to decide the character‘s appearance and weapon inheritance.
Of course most of your choices do not have to be final, but every change comes at a price. Some are quite affordable, others will cost a fortune.
Here is a quick run-down:

Body Height
Determines the size of the character‘s body. The scale always remains the same, which means you cannot make your boobs look bigger by decreasisng Body Height, because they will get smaller as well. Likewise, a bigger body will have bigger boobs, but they will still look the same size.
To change Body Height you need a Magical Stadiometer, which can be created at the NPC Synthesist for a few material points. Body Height is the cheapest parameter to change.

Colour
The characters skin, hair and eye colour.
To change any of those, 2 specific Colour Gems are required. You can find those as treasures in the Guild Maze. They are among the common treasures, so you can usually get all of them on the Consignment Board for 10K spinas each.
Changing Colours is an investment, but still quite affordable.

Shape
The character‘s facial expression, hair style and eye pattern.
Changing any of those requires a Catalogue, made from 10 Tattered Pages found in the Guild Maze. Those are the rarest treasures, so they are quite costly on the Consignment Board.
Since hair style consists of 3 separate parts, a Hair Catalogue (for 1 of the 3 parts) requires only 10 Tattered Pages.

Gender
Male or Female. cannot be changed by any means.
A Gender Switch Stone is required to change it. It is a very rare treasure in the Guild Maze, and very expensive on the Consignment Board. But it does not change your hair, so you could end up with a male character wearing a girly hair style.

Weapon Inheritance
Decides the character‘s starting weapon, unlocks the 1st tier weapon skills and assigns 1 skill point to the basic attack skill of that skill tree.
This cannot be changed, except with a Reset Item from the Orb Shop.


In addition to the required items, you also have to pay a small spina fee.
It is also possible to substitute missing items with 1 orb each, but usually this is more expensive.
Deleting the character and creating a new one lets you change all parameters for free

In the last step before entering the game world, you can choose whether you want to start the Story Quest for that character from the beginning or skip to the latest progress of your other characters.
Skipping the Story Quest will not give you any rewards and the character still starts at Lv1. So it is recommended to not skip the Story Quest, to benefit from the huge exp rewards, even if it is annoying.

 

Isn't this all basic info everyone knows especially for the people who are left on this forum? And anyone who is here has probably already made a character ._.

 

and that's why it's chapter 0 and not 1
i just don't want to leave anything out

 

I'm pretty sure they added this thing a while ago, and it can be obtained in Guild maze. I just can't find the news that says so...

 

Whats the purpose of this topic? there are two options to make a char do a super duper hyper rasengan gomu gomu no weebo character (thats 5% of the players) and the do a lolitrap character (that is 100% of the player)

 

Iirc it was with the release of darkness and magic warrior skills.

 

nani?!
i will update it today

the purpose is to make a new and better version of my old "Ultimate Class Guide". it is the fundamental explanation to every build, starting from lv1. (since most build guides are made by hackers who start the game at lv150 with everything maxed out and unlimited spina ressources )
deciding the character's appearance is part of the process, so it has a rightful place here.
i'll also make a chapter about cosplay

 

Chapter 1 – Weapon Mastery

Your Weapon Skill Tree is set now, but your Main Weapon may offer you yet another choice:
Swords (not Katana), Shooting Weapons and Magic Weapons have 2 different weapon types.
Those are a 2-handed and a 1-handed weapon each. The 2-handed weapons hold an advantage over the 1-handed weapons, but the 1-handed weapons can equip a Sub Weapon, which will be covered in Chapter 2.

With this, the number of weapon types increases from 6 to 8 (or 9?), and each one of them is completely different from the others. Once chosen, you may not change it.
While it is technically possible to equip any weapon type on any character, it is strongly advised to not equip weapons of different types. That is because any weapon (or sub weapon) specific abilities will be unusable when you have a different weapon equipped.
Even if the other weapon can use the same skills (e.g. 1-handed and 2-handed Sword), the weapons still have different stat growth and the stats that are best with the one weapon can be ineffective with the other weapon.

Here is a quick overview of the 8 weapon‘s unique properties:

1-handed Sword
Attack power increases equally with STR and DEX, although DEX is recommended in the beginning as it also increases accuracy.
1h Swords can equip all 5 Sub Weapons and also become the unique weapon Dual Swords.
The stat growth is well balanced and can go in any direction, giving the 1h Sword the most choices.
It‘s weakness is the well balanced stat growth. Since it can go in any direction, it does not excel at any of them, making the power growth rather slow.

Dual Swords
Technically a Sub Weapon, but also a Main Weapon.
Learning the Dual Sword Mastery skill is required to unlock this option. Both, Main and Sub Weapon are 1h Swords.
While the weapon itself is still categorized as 1h Sword, it is at the same time also the Dual Swords weapon. Like the other weapon types, it has it‘s own unique stat growth, attack pattern and Weapon Skill Tree.
Attack Power increases differently for the Main and Sub Sword.
The Main Sword attack power increases with DEX, STR and AGI, the Sub Sword attack power increases with AGI and STR.
Damage calculation is done for each sword individually, Attack MP Recovery is doubled since each attack counts as two attacks, one with the Main and one with the Sub Sword.
The weakness of Dual Swords is their long attack time. Since they attack twice, they also need twice as much time to finish the attack movement.

2-handed Sword
Attack power increases with STR and DEX.
Weapon Attack and attack range are higher than for 1h Swords. Attack growth is also faster, since STR increases attack more than DEX. Sub Weapons are unavailable.
It‘s weakness is the lack of Sub Weapons. They cannot equip Shields to raise defence, and equipping a defensive sword trades off attack power.

Staff
Magic power is higher than other weapons. Attack power increases with STR and INT, although the weapon is better at attacking with magic. Staves can equip all 5 Sub Weapons, although 1 of them is not functional without certain skills.
Physical and magic power growth is fast, and with the Sub Weapons they can go in any direction, like 1h Swords.
Magic fails when you get hit while casting and physical attacks are rather slow.

Magic Device
Magic power is higher than other weapons. Attack power increases equally with INT and AGI. Sub Weapons are not available.
Weapon Attack is lower than a Staff, but Stability and attack range are higher. Side effects of magic attacks are also much stronger.
It‘s weakness is the lack of powerful physical skills, other than the normal attacks.

Bow
Highest attack range of all weapons. Attack power increases with DEX and STR.
Only 2 Sub Weapons are available. Greatly benefits from equipping Arrows.
It‘s weakness is the lack of defence.

Bowgun
Ranged weapon, attack power increases with DEX and grows very fast. Weapon Attack and stability is lower than a Bow, but can equip all 5 Sub Weapons. The power bonus of Arrows is less effective than for Bows.
Despite being a ranged weapon, it can also adapt to close combat. Like 1h Swords and Staves, it can go in any direction.
It‘s weakness is the low Stability, which makes damage random.

Knuckles
Magic power is higher than other weapons, but physical power is lower.
Attack power increases with AGI and DEX. Highest attack speed of all weapons, can equip all 5 Sub Weapons. Well balanced stat growth and skills, Jack of all Trades but Master of none.
It‘s weakness is the low physical attack.

Halberd
Attack power increases with STR and AGI. Longer attack range than a 2h Sword, highest Weapon Attack of all weapons.
Magic power growth is different from other weapons and a grows slower. Only 2 Sub Weapons are available.
It‘s weakness is the low accuracy, you have to raise it with equipment.

Katana
Attack power increases with DEX and STR, magic power growth is different from other weapons and a grows slower.
Only 1 Sub Weapon available, but becomes much stronger when no Sub Weapon is used.
Low Weapon Attack, but powerful abilities. Additional movement is possible after attacking.
It‘s weakness is the low base attack, making it reliant on skills.


The Main Weapon Skill Trees are Blade Skills (1h and 2h Sword), Dual Sword Skills (DS, must be lv30 to unlock), Magic Skills (Staff and MD), Shot Skills (Bow and Bowgun), Martial Skills (Knuckles), Halberd Skills (Halberd) and Mononofu Skills (Katana).
Your first Skill Point is already set to the Skill Trees basic attack skill. Raising that skill to Lv5 will unlock 2 more skills, and naturally the skill will be most powerful at Lv10.
Regardless of whether you want your character to play an offensive or defensive role, it is recommended to master that skill first before learning other skills.
The exception to this are the Magic and Mononofu Skill Trees.

For Magic, the most important skill is MP Charge.
It restores MP, which is required to cast spells, your normal weapon attacks are not magical.
This is especially important for Staff users, since their attack speed is low. Magic Device users can also recover MP by attacking normally, but it is still recommend to learn MP Charge as well.

For Mononofu Skills, the most important skill is Two-handed.
This skill will greatly boost your attack potential when you have no Sub Weapon equipped.
Since Katanas have low base attack, this ability is very important.
Once you have learned the skill you cannot (should not) equip a Sub Weapon.
But if you want to play the Katana strictly defensive, you should not learn this skill so that you can use a Sub Weapon. This unlikely case will be covered in Chapter 3.

Once you have mastered your first skill, you can learn other skills as you like.
Skills of the Main Weapon Skill Tree are usually the most powerful.
And even if you don‘t need the strong attack skills, because your character shall fill a different role, you still might want the passive and buff skills, so there is no way to not use the Main Weapon Skill Tree.

Everything else will be explained in other Chapters.
And remember Kids, point the sharp edge away from you, and never hit your face with a sword.

 

Thank god im not the only one who knows it’s 42.

 

Chapter 2 - Another Hand, Another Weapon

Sub Weapons can be equipped to all 1-handed weapons, although not all of them are available for all Main Weapons and some of them are only functional with certain conditions.

Just like the Main Weapon overview, here are the Sub Weapons:

Dagger
The easiest to use and most versatile Sub Weapon. Available with 1h Sword, Staff, Bowgun, Knuckles, Halberd and Katana.
Daggers are the only Sub Weapon without any negative side effects. They also come with many different stats, suited for almost every play style.
Equipping a Dagger also allows the usage of exclusive Dagger Skills, which focus on increasing the number hits to deal more damage.
The Dagger's Weapon Atk stat is only factored in Dagger Skills and does not increases your character's atk. To compensate, it is factored twice: As addition to base atk and as fixed damage increment. The effect of the Dagger's Stability is still unknown, as all Daggers up to now have 0% Stability.

Shield
Technically not a weapon, but armour. Available with 1h Sword, Staff, Bowgun and Knuckles.
Shields provide additional defence and also resistance when you refine them. Most Shields have Guards stats and some other defensive qualities, but there are also shields with offensive stats.
Equipping a Shield reduces your Attack Speed by 50%, but you can negate this effect by learning Shield Mastery. The other Shield Skills increase your HP, Defence and Resistance, and you can even attack with the Shield.
Shields also add bonus effects to Knight Skills.

Arrow
Arrows are most effective with Bows, but can also be useful to other weapons. Available with 1h Sword, Staff, Bow, Bowgun, Knuckles and Halberd.
Equipping an Arrows reduces your Defence (and Magic Defence) by 25%, this cannot be avoided. The Arrows Weapon Atk and Stability is directly added to those of the Bow. This effect is halved for Bowguns and negated for other weapons. Other stats on the Arrow still apply, as long as they are not restricted to specific weapon types. The Arrows Element replaces the Element of Bows and Bowguns and counts as 2nd Element to certain Shot Skills.
With an Arrow equipped, it is possible to use Shot Skills with weapons other than Bow or Bowgun.
Arrows also add bonus effects to Hunter Skills.

Magic Device
Available with 1h Swords, Staff, Bowgun and Knuckles.
Equipping a Magic Device as Sub Weapon reduces your Attack by 15%. All stats of the Magic Device are negated.
If your Main Weapon is not as Staff, the Weapon Bonus for Magic Devices will be applied to Magic Skills and Holy Light.
Magic Devices are required for most Magic Blade Skills, which will also lower the Attack reduction to 5% and make the MDs Element and Refinement Value usable.

Knuckles
Available with 1h Sword, Staff and Bowgun.
Equipping Knuckles as Sub Weapon reduces your Magic Attack by 15%. All stats of the Knuckles are negated.
The Weapon Bonus for Knuckles will be applied to attacks from the Martial Skill Tree and Holy Fist.

Katana
Only Available with Bow.
There are no negative side effects, but all stats of the Katana are negated.
The Weapon Bonus for Katanas will be applied to Mononofu Skills.

1h Sword
Only available with 1h Sword after learning Dual Sword Mastery.
All stats of the 1h Sword except Weapon Atk, Stability, Element and Refinement Value are negated. Weapon Stability and the effect of Refinement are halved.
Your Weapon will become "Dual Swords", Accuracy and Critical Rate decrease, but can be restored by learning Dual Sword Mastery and Dual Sword Control.
The full explanation of DW mechanics can be found here: https://toramonline.com/index.php?t...-guide-to-be-the-best-kirito-i-mean-dw.32950/

Attention: Reflex and Flash Blast are usable by 1h Swords and receive a bonus effect for 1h Swords. The first one refers to the Main Weapon, while the second one refers to the Sub Weapon. So only Dual Swords receive the Weapon Bonus!

Light/ Heavy Armour
Technically not Sub Weapons, but I still list them here because they have similar effects.
Every Armour can be remodelled to Light or Heavy exactly once, for the price of 10k Spinas.
Wearing Remodelled Armour allows you to use Armour Mastery skills, which increase the Remodelled Armour's abilities.
Remodelling Armour also changes the Armour's appearance, but you should never choose to remodel because of the looks, but because of the stats.

Light Armour increases your base Attack Speed and Dodge, while decreasing your base Defence (and Magic Defence).
It also increases Evasion Rate by 10% and decreases Guard Rate by 20%, effectively disabling Guard.

Heavy Armour increases your base Defence (and Magic Defence), while decreasing your base Attack Speed and Dodge.
It also increases Guard Rate by 10% and Guard Power by 25%, and decreases Evasion Rate by 20%, effectively disabling Evasion.
The 25% increase in Guard Power are negated when you equip a Shield!


That is all about the basics of weapon choice. In the next Chapter I will finally explain something new
And remember Kids, hold up the Shield in front of you, and always keep your crotch covered.

 

*cough* *cough* Luxen users *cough*

 

.......... Three words. Equipment Synthesis and Avatars.

 

The last of the tome series...

 

equipment synthesis cannot change light or heavy appearance

the Tome of History is still here as well.
and now that the others are gone, i will reincarnate my old guides as new tomes

 

Ah, right

 

True, but not the point... Focusing lens on selecting apps that would look better w/ Light or Heavy Remodel, deppnds on taste, then applying... And, can't remember that guy using more than 4 words like that, so...

 

Chapter 3 - Odd Combinations

Certain Main/Sub Weapon and/or Skill Tree combinations are initially better than others, but usually there is always a way to make things work.
These are the odd combinations that are counter-productive by default, but can be useful under the right conditions and circumstances:

Shield + Heavy Armour
The Guard Power bonus from Heavy Amour is negated when a Shield is equipped, but the bonus Guard Rate still applies.
There are Shields with higher Guard Power than the Heavy Armour bonus, but very low Guard Rate.
With Heavy Armor you get a Guard Rate like other Shield users and also high Guard Power like Heavy Armour users.

Shield + Light Armour
This is a tricky one. Since Light Armour lowers Guard Rate by 20%, most Shields become useless.
But there are Shield types like the Phalanx Shield, which have no Guard stats at all and provide Barriers instead.
While Barriers are considered less powerful because of the cooldown, you can still use those Shields with Light Armour without loosing stats.
And since Light Armour users tend to get hit less often, the Barriers can be preserved for when they are needed instead of disappearing on the first hit.

Bowgun + Arrow
Bowguns profit less from Arrows than Bows and as far as Shot Skills go, Bows are better at everything. Still using an Arrow instead of one of the other Sub Weapons (and skills) unavailable to Bows seems to be a bad choice at first glance.
But it still is the only Sub Weapon that can increase the Bowgun's low Stability, and they boost the power of Hunter Skills.
In Hunter Skills, Bowguns hold the advantage over Bows. Since Bowguns can reach their full attack and magic attack potential with just DEX and INT, their power grows faster and they can substitute STR with AGI or VIT.
For Bowguns, the Status Ailments inflicted by the traps make up for the lack of Status AIlments from Shot Skills and their adaption to mid- and short-ranged combat makes placing traps and using Kick easier.

Katana + Dagger
Most of the Katana user's strength comes from the Two-Handed skill, which requires an empty Sub Weapon Slot.
Equipping a Dagger makes this skill unusable, but since all it does is to provide an increment of attack power during critical hits, it does not do much for defensive/supportive oriented Katana builds. The additional stats provided by Daggers can be more helpful for those builds.
Damage-wise, Dagger- and Assassin Skills would still be slightly stronger than Knuckle users. While Katana's don't have the Knuckles' speed advantage, they have parrying skills and extended movement.

Staff + Magic Device
MDs provide no bonus effects to Staff skills at all.
The only build where this is usable is one that includes Magic Blade Skills.
Those are specifically for MD Sub Weapon users and most of them can be used by all 1-handed weapons, allowing "Magic Warrior"s with weapons other than swords.


Martial Skills without Knuckles
Of course they are weaker when used without Knuckles, but for weapons without access to Flinch, Tumble or Stun, this is the only way to get them.

Magic Skills without MD/Staff
All other skills are physical, there are no other magic abilities that are not restricted to specific Weapon Types.
Knuckles have the same high magic attack stats as Staves and MDs, and considering their lower attack stat they could make good use of some magic.
2h Swords can pump up their magic attack with Sword Conversion from the Magic Blade Skill Tree.


That would be all for today.
And remember Kids, don't put Bananas together with Tomatoes, it will make them spoil very quick.

 

I'd have to disagree with this, out of all 3 sub weapon, MD has the best advantage, yes you need to utilize resonance but it's also the same case for all other sub, there are no particular advantage of shield, arrow and dagger skill for a mage. You can't p. Def on finale cast, guardian may give you guard rate boost and ampr boost but who cares about that, dagger skills won't hit, arrows reduce your Def. Sure you can use the bonus Stat from those extra sub weapon but they are pale in comparison to resonance's advantage. Magic warrior mastery also gives some matk bonus. So you couldn't really say it's the worst combo since it's more useful than other subs when the skills are also taken into account. In comparison with the other combination of weapon+sub, there is no real demerit of using magic device as a sub to staff.

Also finale cast looks really cool with MD sub

 

that is not what i mean.
initially, MD sub only reduces atk by 15% and does nothing else.
other weapons get the skill bonus for magic, but staves do not.
without a magic book, which is rare and not available early on, it does nothing.
i saw people using it because "it's a magic weapon so it must be for staff" and "because i want pretty wings" even though the description on the equip screen clearly states that is does nothing and the 'wings' won't extend either. daggers, arrows and shields all provide additional stats.