Re: Multiplayer Gaming
I'll stick to PSU. and to answer the questions:
1) The grinding is extremely boring after around level 70, but most people tend to just go to White Beast which gives about a level a mission in the later levels and ranks. All in all, Grinding is boring as shit. And as for how the game plays, it's also Real-Time, so at least you're seeing what's happening while you're killing an enemy.
2a) The techs are a bit more advanced than PSO:BB. The three spells and elements now play an important role in the game. There are six elements, Fire and Ice, Lightning and Ground, Dark and Light. Each set opposes each other, so an ice monster takes more damage from a Fire spell and vice-versa. Each element has a multitude of spells. the standard are like PSO, but then there's the "Ra-" spells, which are projected ahead of you and strike a small area, the "Gi-" spells, which project themselves around you to a certain radius to do damage, then there are the "Dam-" spells, which are "Streams" of an element, that do damage with multiple hits. the most powerful are known as "Nos-" spells, which vary from spell to spell. so far, there are only 3 of them, two of which are a ball of the element, the third releases multiple "lines" which snake across the ground. Each of the Nos- spells home in on targets, and the two ball-like attacks can home in on flying targets. There are healing spells such as Resta and Giresta, The latter being able to heal, revive fallen allies, and cast a spell which gradually heals them over time. There is also a spell to remove very bad status effects, as well as the standard buffs and debuffs. The best thing about spells, though, in my opinion, is that they change appearance and get larger and more powerful as you use them more. [/end rant]
2b) skills are a much different story from techs. Skills start out with only one combo, but as you level them up higher, they gain more and more combos. Example: Rising Strike, for the Saber, starts only doing 2 hits. Level it high enough, and another two hits are unlocked.
3) Synthesis in PSU isn't all too spectacular, but finding the items can get a bit boring. But, there are hundreds of different armor and weapon designs, all of which can be sold through your own player shop if you don't need them. This has either made PSU more boring, or less boring, I for one can't tell. All I do know is, more people play it because they don't have to work their asses off on a boring mission trying to find items.
4) It tends to get annoying if you stay in a populated server for too long, but I always shift to the unpopulated servers for peace and quiet and some solo farming. 60% of people on PSU either: a) try to force their worthless shit they're trying to sell on you, b) troll you for playing this game (WoWfags are always vandalizing my Room.) c) Try to get you to give them money because they are lazy bastards, or d) Just hang around and goof off. (Fourth floor of the Guardians colony is where you'll find these people.)
Sorry for the rant, but that's all the info I've gathered on PSU for people who might be interested.