Anyone know how to get started in EP1? I just keep passing days and nothing happens cause the dungeons are impossible.
Episode 1 is harder than episode 2 for a few reasons. Mostly the fact that you don't get any help or access to an AoE attack early on.
There's a few things that you can do to mitigate this (And with Episode 2, same principles apply, but Michael's existence helps a lot):
1. Check your inventory at the start of the game and equip the GC that's in there. It'll add 10% stats at level 1.
2. Remember to equip the item that boosts all your stats on level up (The beginner one sells at the Hunter Guild Store for 1k SL, which you can buy immediately, and is the second last necklace in the 2nd menu from the girl who sells items at the top counter) Those numbers stack up hard, as they add stats every time you level up. The beginner one also gives some starting stats too.
3. You can run away from enemies, then run behind them to encounter them with preemptive strike.
4. You start with a little yen in your bank account (about 1000) and if you can get the man with the gacha for the GCs working, you can save and try your hand at turning with the money in the account - You should end up with a turn or two, and if you land a SR or better, you'll massively increase your level 1 stats.
5. TP matters a LOT in the game - buying the most expensive TP food at the convenience store (618 yen, found at the back, 50 food filled per char) will give you max (or near max) TP, and in turn maximum stats.
6. If you don't want to tear your hair out from all the traps, (And the traps WILL drive you batty) spend your first 1000 SP into the trap dodge skill, and remember to turn it on. (If you want more income, the next 1000 should go into the stripping skill to strip the corpses for more loot.)
If all else fails, and you have successfully cleared another Episode, you can backport a clear save file to Episode 1. Although you won't get immediate access to your overpowered characters (EP2 characters, equipment, money and items only become playable once you clear the main plot to EP1), ALL GC counts will carry across immediately. This means the first GC you equip will most likely be more powerful (and you SHOULD be massively abusing those gacha machines in EP2 anyway!) and should basically turn you into a level 1 minigod for long enough to get to level 10 and get your AoE spell, then you focus getting strength by upgrading your weapon/potion stat ups/level ups then proceeding to one shot everything that's level 30 or less.
Oh, and for EP1 specific tips, if you have less than 500 yen total between your bank account and what's on you at the end of a day, Edge (the cat) will bail you out by depositing another 500 yen the next day. When you're broke, trying to turn the gacha machine will give you 1 worldly point per day, and at the R18 shop, on the first shelf a search point will appear which will give you 3 worldly points when she complains she hasn't the money to pay for it.
Episode 2 doesn't have this, cause Emi is a big girl and can work like everyone else (and Michael AoEs everything to death, so you don't get stuck in this corner)
This matters, because if you go back home to the shrine on the weekend via taking the train, you'll lose 5 worldly points the first time you go home to the shrine proper. You need to go home once and try to promote (To raise the level cap) to find out how to, and you can also go back to the shrine to get stats. (Each time you go back for training, the day/night cycle progresses)
The reason I bring this up, is because to be able to work at the masseur the girls at the school suggest, you need at least 5 worldly points (and at 10 points, you get a title that gives you some small stat up %) and you need to work at the masseur to get suggested to work at the photo shoot, to join the girl's club...