Thank you for purchasing Phantasy Star Online. Please note that this software is designed only for use with the Dreamcast console. Be sure to read this instruction manual thoroughly before you begin playing. Note: "Phantasy Star Online" will hereafter be referred to as "PSO." CONTENTS PROLOGUE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -02 BASIC CONTROLS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -03 SOFTWARE KEYBOARD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 04 SAVING - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 04 STARTING A GAME - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -05 CHARACTER CREATION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -05 CHARACTER TYPES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 07 MODE SELECTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -08 ONLINE NETWORK STRUCTURE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -09 THE WORLD OF PSO ONLINE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 A TOUR OF PIONEER 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13 PLAYING PSO - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16 GAME DISPLAYS AND MENUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19 OPTIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27 ACTIONS USED IN PSO - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27 WEAPONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -29 ARMOR & SHIELDS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- 30 PSO requires a memory card [Visual Memory Unit (VMU) sold separately]. 15 blocks are required to save the main game file and 30 blocks are required to save the guild card file. Additional bloc ks are required to save any downloaded files. This game saves automatically when you quit. While saving or loading data, never turn the Dreamcast power OFF, attempt to remove the memory card or disconnect the controller. For details about saving, see p. 4. 1 PROLOGUE Faced with the imminent destruction of their home world, a large-scale evacuation plan known as the Pioneer Project was established to find a new home planet. Unmanned probes sent into deep space discovered a habitable planet they dubbed Ragol and the first interstellar transport ship Pioneer 1 was sent to establish a colony. After confirming Ragol was suitable, the initial colonists began preparing the planet starting with construction of the central dome. 7 years later... Pioneer 2 completed its long voyage with the main wave of refugees aboard but just as they entered orbit and opened a communications link with the Central Dome, an enormous explosion occurred. All contact with the men and women of Pioneer 1 was lost. Exactly what happened on Ragol? What is PSO? PSO is a network RPG. Online you will meet a variety of people from all over the world. Overcome language barriers by using the five language "word select" feature that enables communication with users whose language is different from your own. Organize a team to play the game online or embark on Hunter's Guild quests, all the while chatting to exchange information. Of course you don't have to be online to play PSO. There is also an offline mode that enables gameplay. Online or offline, we hope you will enjoy the exciting world of PSO. Never touch the Analog Thumb Pad or the Triggers L/R while turning the Dreamcast power ON. Doing so ma y disrupt the controller initialization procedure and result in malfunction. TRIGGER L BASIC CONTROLS PSO is a one-player game (four-player when playing online). Connect the controller to be used to Control Port A. TRIGGER R Insert a memory card (sold separately) into Expansion Socket 1 of the controller. To return to the title screen at any time during gameplay, ANALOG THUMB PAD simultaneously press DIRECTIONAL PAD and hold the A, B, START BUTTON X, Y and Start Buttons. CAUTION X BUTTON Y BUTTON B BUTTON A BUTTON When using the Jump Pack (sold separately), always be sure to insert the Jump Pack into Expansion Socket 2. It is not possible to play PSO without a memory card so be sure to insert one before starting gameplay. TITLE SCREEN/ GAME MENUS/ SHIP SELECTION SCREEN CHARACTER SELECTION VISUAL LOBBY/ WITHIN THE CITY IN BATTLE ANALOG THUMB PAD DIRECTIONAL PAD (D-PAD) TRIGGER L TRIGGER R A BUTTON B BUTTON X BUTTON Y BUTTON SELECT SELECT NOT USED NOT USED ENTER CANCEL NOT USED NOT USED GAME START RETURN ROTATE CAMERA ROTATE CAMERA MOVE CHARACTER SELECT CAMERA VIEW (Reset to behind character) NOT USED ENTER CANCEL DISPLAY INFO TOGGLE ACTION PALETTE USE LOWER ACTION PALETTE USE RIGHT ACTION PALETTE USE LEFT ACTION PALETTE DISPLAY SOFT KEYBOARD/WORD SELECT (TOGGLE = X) DISPLAY THE MAIN MENU START BUTTON 2 3 SOFTWARE KEYBOARD Use the software keyboard to chat with o ther players while playing PSO or connect a Dreamcas t Keyboard (sold separately) to Control Port B, C or D. D-PAD/ANALOG THUMB PAD - - - - Select Characters SOFTWARE KEYBOARD ENTER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Enter (to display t ext) B S or B BUTTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Delete 1 Character X BUTTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Toggle Screens EXIT or Y BUTTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Close Keyboard SIGN or TRIGGER L/R - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Toggle Symbols STARTING A GAME TITLE SCREEN MENU Once the title screen appears, press the Start Button to display the title screen menu. Use *@ to select a mode and press A to enter your selection. Select to begin a new game starting from character creation. Select the memory card to which you want to save the main game data. Only one main file (one character) can be saved to any one memory card. If a PSO file already exists, you will be asked whether to overwrite the older file. Also, it is not possible to save game data without a memory card. NEW GAME SAVING A memory card is required to save PSO game data. 15 blocks of free space are required to save the main game file and 30 blocks are required to sa ve the guild card file. Additional blocks are required to save any downloaded files. To save your game data, select "Quit Game" from the main menu. Never attempt to turn OFF the Dreamcast power, remove the memory card or disconnect the controller while saving. Also, the data may not save correctly if the memory card is removed/re-inserted during gameplay. Select to continue playing a pr eviously saved file. Once the memory card selection screen appears, use *@$ ^ to select the memory card containing the PSO file you wish to play and press A. A mini-menu with the options "OK" or "DELETE" will appear. Select load ("OK") or delete the file. Press B to cancel. CONTINUE OPTIONS WEBSITE SAVING ONLINE When playing online, select "Quit Game" from the main menu. To confirm disconnection from the N etwork, use *@ to select "YES" or "NO" and press A to enter and save your game. If you are playing with a team, you will disband from the team. At this time, any experience points gained in battle or items collected, etc. will be saved. If you disband from your team while on a quest and should the team complete the quest without you, the entire team may not be eligible to receive the reward unless all members go to claim it together. Here you can modify the various game settings. See p.27 for de tails. Use this link to access the official PSO website or the SONICTEAM homepage. CHARACTER DATA CHARACTER CREATION You will need to create a character whenever you start a new game. SAVING OFFLINE When playing offline, select "Quit Game" from the main menu. You will be asked if you wish to sa ve. Use *@ to select "YES" or "NO" and press A to enter. SELECT A CHARACTER TYPE Use $ ^ to select the type of character (see p. 7) you wish to use and press A to enter. A brief summary is displayed under each profession/species header alongside a graph indicating the attributes (see p. 6) of each character. Press A again to proceed to the CHARACTER CREATION screen or press B to cancel and return to the pr evious screen. CAUTION If you quit the game without saving properly (via "Quit Game" on the main menu)or if for any reason you are disconnected from the server while playing online, any items or money (Meseta) held, left in the city or game field will be lost. 4 5 CHARACTER CREATION MODIFY YOUR CHARACTER To customize the appearance of your character, use *@ to select a modification item (see below) and press A. Then use $ ^ to select a style for that item (the available settings will vary among different character base types). Use L/R to rotate the character. Press A or B to return to the pr evious screen. Note that if you press the Start Button while on the CHARACTER CREATION screen, all of your settings will be erased and you will return to the CHARACTER SELECT screen. Once you press OK your character will be assigned one of the 10 available SECTION IDs. Press A to continue. (It is not possible to cancel after entering OK.) CHARACTER TYPES CHARACTER PROFESSIONS In the world of PSO each of the nine character types is one of three species (human, newman or android) whose profession is either Hunter, Ranger or Force. While members of each profession start out with the same equipment level, the attributes of each character vary according to their species. FORCE Proficient with techniques, we are best suited for combat support. FOmarl Force+Human I am able to handle techniques quite well and I have the most balanced growth potential as a Force. HUNTER we excel in close-range combat. Proficient with blade weapons, HUmar Hunter+Human I am well-versed in close-range combat, have a balanced growth potential and can handle some recovery and attack techniques. Beginner oriented. HUnewear Hunter+Newman My TP is higher than HUmar's so I have a much better balance between technique usage and close-range combat skills. Intermediate orientated. HUcast Hunter+Android Among all the characters I have the highest HP. As Hunters go, I have the most attacking power, and can use a variety of different weapons. However, I can't use any techniques because I have no TP. MODIFICATION ITEMS FACE HEAD Select a facial type. Select a head type. (Androids only) (Androids only) FOnewm Force+Newman I can use all techniques and am proud to have the highest TP level. Once I learn a variety of techniques, I can become a leader on the battlefield. Advanced oriented. PROPORTION Use *@ to adjust the height and $ ^ to adjust the body size. BODY COLOR Select a body color. Select a hair (or hat) style. Use $^ to adjust the color with the RGB bars. HEAD CHARACTER NAME Input a name for your character. Press A to display the software k eyboard. After inputting a name, press A again to enter. Note that you can not select OK to proceed without inputting a name. AUTO Press A to automatically create a character at random. Press A again to create a different character, and so on. OK Select to enter the character modifications. COSTUME SKIN Select an outfit color. Select a skin color. RANGER we excel in long-range combat. Proficient with gun-type weapons, FOnewear RAcaseal Ranger+Android I too am famous for my optimal accuracy rate and can can use all weapons but no techniques. While RAcast may have more attacking power, I have the best defense power. Force+Newman My TP level and technique usage is the same as FOnewm's but I have more defense power. My slightly lower HP makes me a bit weaker in close-range combat. Advanced oriented RAmar Ranger+Human Though shooting is my speciality, I can also do some attack and recovery techniques. My growth potential is the most balanced of all the Rangers. Intermediate orientated. RAcast Ranger+Android I am famous for my optimal accuracy rate. I can use all weapons but no techniques. I have more attacking power than any other Ranger. The character attributes g raph will give you a general idea of the strengths CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES GRAPH and weaknesses of each character type for the following attributes: HP Hit TD 6 Health Points availability. Accuracy rate when attacking. Technique Damage - rate at which TP decreases when used. TP AC AD Technique Points availability. Armor Class - level of defense against enemy attac k. Attack Damage - level of damage inflicted upon enemies. 7 MODE SELECTION After you have created your character you will proceed to the mode selection menu. Use *@ to select whether to play PSO online or offline and press A. The content and how to proceed will vary according to which mode is selected. ONLINE NETWORK STRUCTURE CONNECT ONLINE SHIP SELECTION Each SHIP is comprised of various BLOCKS from which the city can be accessed. It ...