Basic Information

If you're clicking this link you're probably wondering what DQotS has in store for you and if it's worth investing your time into. Well, you've come to the right place! This page will cover basics such as the **Battle System**, **Customization**, and **Gameplay overview**.

## Battle System

DQotS is a turn-based JRPG centralized around cooldowns (or what this game references as **Charge Time (CT)** in order to unleash powerful abilities to destroy your enemies. Much like other entries in the series, buffs/debuffs and elements play a large role in inflicting damage allowing for some flexible play-styles.

#### UI Overview

* **1 - Character Status**: This contains the **status** of your party members, including **HP, Buffs/Debuffs** and **Levels**. Buffs/Debuffs are located directly below the HP bar. Notice the green icon/green font used for the 'ARMA' and "SAGE' levels, these indicate the classes have revocated.

* **2 - Skill Reel**: This is the **Skill Reel** where all of your usable skills are located. Skills that are ready to used light up and lightly flash while those still charging will be grayed out with a circle forming around them. It is possible to change the reel to only display skills that are fully charged under the game options.

* **3 - Enemy Information**: The enemy's **HP**, **Buffs/Debuffs**, currently queued action and next action CT is displayed here. Buffs are located to the upper-left of the number. Bosses have two types of telegraphed attacks, the one on top of the HP bar (**Anger** in this case) is a reaction-based attack and will trigger instantly once the current queued action is completed. The attack undergoing CT charging is the next queued skill, typically doing large damage.

* **4 - Turn Timer**: Some battles have a turn limit that must be reached to obtain special prizes which is displayed here.

* **5 - More Options**: From left to right. Auto enables/disables **Auto Battle**. **Stamps** are the primary method of communication during multiplayer. **Items** display the items you have brought on your quest. Once you use an item this option becomes grayed out for a period of time. **Fast Forward** fast forwards the gameplay and **Pause** pauses the game.

#### Battle Basics

Battles come down to lowering the enemies' HP to zero before yours is lowered. All enemies/allies have auto attacks that are executed once per turn, in addition to whatever skills are used. There are mechanics to help boost your overall damage, such as Skill Chaining and CT bonuses that are covered within the Mechanics page.

## Customization

DQotS offers a wealth of customization options where you can choose how your party develops. There is no *right or wrong*, no *guidebook* or *meta* to follow; you decide what works best. Content is balanced around you deciding how smart you plan your party though!

A breakdown of how much you can customize is as follows:

* **Your Team**: You are given access to three party members once the game begins. You can change anything about them, their name/gender, look and specializations. Everything you do on each character is unique to that character, for example, you cannot level one vocation on one character and then have it apply to another.

* **Vocations**: During Chapter 2 of the main story you will reach **Alltrades Abbey** which grants you access to changing **vocations**. These are the jobs/classes of this game and where much of the customization shines.

* **Equipment**: Equipment is primarily found through either events or the **Gacha**. Weapons, helmets, upper/lower armor, shields and accessories can all be equipped, each offering different skills/abilities to allow your party to grow

* **Skills**: Skills can be removed from equipment and added to other pieces of equipment (with restrictions) to be tailored to each battle. Do you want to put Heal on your Paladin so they can heal in addition to tanking? You can! A more in-depth explanation of limitations can be found in the |Mechanics page.

* **Upgrading**: Equipment and skills each come with their own individual levels that can be upgraded with the items corresponding to them.

## Gameplay Overview

The basic ebb and flow of the game is to progress through the story, level up your characters and participate in weekly events. Much like other Dragon Quest games, and one of the unique aspects this game has is its unique take on **grinding**. Most gacha games expect you to be max level and continuously tosses out difficult endgame bosses to match your stats. DqotS takes a different approach in order to emulate the gameplay style of the series in which grinding/leveling up is part of the experience.