Character recruitment...

[Zacewing]

So, I dunno if I want Eriko or Reiji as my 5th party member, so can someone tell me the pros and cons of each character and how to recruit them?

[DamageCity]

Well aside from their personalities I think Reiji is more offensive than Eri, Eri is more of a solid overall spellcaster.

[Kakizaki]

^I think you are also pretty limited as far as equippable Personae are concerned with Reiji - and you will have to grind a lot to really get the most out of him.

[Iris]

Reiji is less easily worked into a strategy for a lower-level party, but he's got stronger connections to the plot on the SEBEC route.

[Zacewing]

So Elly is easier to use, but Reiji has more ties to the plot? And how do you recruit each of them?

And is it true that Takahisa is playable in the Snow Queen Quest?

[Karkarov]

So Elly is easier to use, but Reiji has more ties to the plot? And how do you recruit each of them?

And is it true that Takahisa is playable in the Snow Queen Quest?

Yes that is true, some characters are Snow Queen only. In my recollections of the past.... Reiji (who was originally Chris) is also long term a better character in my opinion. His end game persona were very potent and he definitely is tied to the plot in a big way. Also the fact is he is one of the characters that is exclusive to the "real" plot, Elly can be used in either...

[Soushi_Grapple]

I need some help regarding character recruitment.

I want Yukino, but I think she's SQQ only; in which case I already messed up and need to start a new game (only 2 hours in at least...). <-- Do I need to restart? I was under the assumption you needed to get the other optional characters to do the SQQ [I remembered reading that for the original, could be mistaken.]

Otherwise, what character should I get and which ones do I have to choose from?

Thanks in advance

[Enzeru]

On how to get the SQQ:

http://persona1.wikidot.com/sqqprep

And, IIRC, these are the characters available in the SQQ:
Not required:

Nanjo
Brown
Elly

Required:

MC (Duh)
Ayase
Yukino

[Soushi_Grapple]

So, first time playing, how do I get Yukino? (I want to do the SEBEC quest first for the plot, then SQQ..) Do I need to get Ayase first?

[Inzaghi]

So, first time playing, how do I get Yukino? (I want to do the SEBEC quest first for the plot, then SQQ..) Do I need to get Ayase first?

Yukino is the only character you can't get as a permanent member in the SEBEC plot. She's mandatory during the SQQ, though.

[Soushi_Grapple]

Alright.. I think I got it... Looks like I'll start over so I can get Reiji since hes plot oriented. Who do I miss if I pick him? Who is required in the SEBEC plot?

Is it possible to get (for SEBEC route):
MC
Reiji
Maki
Elly
?? another mandatory char I assume

Also, is there a New Game+ or do you lose everything when you start a new game? (Since it seems SQQ is better to play after 1 playthrough but seems to be initiated at the start of the game..)

Sorry for all the questions.. its really confusing.

[Inzaghi]

Alright.. I think I got it... Looks like I'll start over so I can get Reiji since hes plot oriented. Who do I miss if I pick him? Who is required in the SEBEC plot?

You have 4 mandatory characters on the SEBEC route (Main, Mark, Maki, and Nanjo), so if you go with Reiji as your 5th you'll have to turn down Elly, Brown, and Ayase. Also, if you haven't played P1 before, you might not want to try for Reiji on a first playthrough--doing so means you'll have to go through a few dungeons without a 5th party member, which can make things harder on you.

Is it possible to get (for SEBEC route):
MC
Reiji
Maki
Elly
?? another mandatory char I assume

No, you can't have both Reiji and Elly in your party, see above.

Also, is there a New Game+ or do you lose everything when you start a new game? (Since it seems SQQ is better to play after 1 playthrough but seems to be initiated at the start of the game..)

There's no NG+ in this, but stuff does get unlocked on a second playthrough if you have a cleared save file.

[Soushi_Grapple]

Hmm.. well, I'd rather it be more difficult than having to play the game twice. Not really fond of Persona replaythroughs. Then again, I really wanted Elly. Guess I'm stuck in the same boat as the OP...

Think I'll go with this route:
MC
Maki
Mark
Nanjo
Reiji

and then for SQQ:
MC
Ayase
Yukino
Elly
Nanjo

So, lastly, nothing (stats levels things of that sort) carries over to a new game? =/ (just random stuff unlocked?)

[Zacewing]

I think I'm gonna go with Reiji on my SEBEC playthrough and I'll recruit Elly on my SQQ playthrough.

EDIT: Also, when you have the option to recruit a character, do they ask you if they can come with you subliminally or do they just straight up ask "Can I come with you?" and you have to answer Yes or No? Cause I don't want to end up accidentally recruiting Hidehiko or Ayase.

[Enzeru]

They simply ask. Just keep saying no to all of them. However, if you didn't meet the Reiji requirements, Ayase forces herself onto you. Going through the game with "only" 4 party members until you get Reiji isn't actually too hard, as the time when you get him is just where the whole "thinking about what you do" aspect comes in. At least, it wasn't hard for me, who played Persona 3 and P4 on the lowest difficulties and still found certain bosses hard. xD

[Karkarov]

In all fairness it is harder to get Reiji than the others but like many noted he is VERY in tune with the plot. Also in my opinion long term he is a stronger character... However Elly is probably the best choice among the others as character ability goes and she even appears in persona 2.

If you do go for Reiji my advice is this... take advantage of the crazy high encounter rate and level grind your party a little higher than you might think you need. It will pay off in spades long term and honestly at later portions of the game you will have to do it regardless anyway. May as well get used to it now :)

[Zacewing]

So how do I recruit Reiji?

[Karkarov]

So how do I recruit Reiji?

I pm'd you how since I didn't feel posting it would be appropriate.

[Zacewing]

I missed out on Reiji. Phooey. T_T

Should I restart my game in order to get him or should I just wait until I start a 2nd playthrough to get him? Considering the fact that I haven't even gotten to the first boss yet...

[Karkarov]

If you haven't even started the factory yet I would just start over if it is something you definitely want to do. I myself had to can my first play through way back in the day because I wanted elly on my team but messed it up.

[Soushi_Grapple]

I went with Reiji path and the only trouble I had was in the school the 2nd time around, when you get him. Otherwise it wasn't too bad on Beginner.

[SugarComa]

This is my first attempt at P1 and I got halfway through the factory before I did some research and found out I actually had a choice in my party members xD

/restart. Sigh. Loving the game, tho, so no real big :)

Is anyone changing up the battle formations? I keep moving people around and have each of the data slots set with something different. After every 10 battles or so, I notice a glaring flaw in my formation and try to fix it, only to replace it with another... I would like to stick with two formations that cover all the bases and that I can easily switch between during battles. I had Brown as my 5th, but I plan on trying to get Reiji for my restart. Hopefully that will help out the formations.

Thoughts? (If I should create a new thread for this, please let me know)

[Zacewing]

Well, it's hard to make a flawless formation. I just use this as my battle formation.

Main Mark Nanjo
Maki


Also, I'm at the "alternate" St. Hermelin (after the SEBEC Building). Can I recruit Reiji now or do you visit the school again as a dungeon later?

[Karkarov]

Now, he is somewhere on the second floor.

[Zacewing]

I GOT REIJI I GOT REJI -dances-

[CoarseDragon]

This is my first attempt at P1 and I got halfway through the factory before I did some research and found out I actually had a choice in my party members xD

/restart. Sigh. Loving the game, tho, so no real big :)

Is anyone changing up the battle formations? I keep moving people around and have each of the data slots set with something different. After every 10 battles or so, I notice a glaring flaw in my formation and try to fix it, only to replace it with another... I would like to stick with two formations that cover all the bases and that I can easily switch between during battles. I had Brown as my 5th, but I plan on trying to get Reiji for my restart. Hopefully that will help out the formations.

Thoughts? (If I should create a new thread for this, please let me know)

I am changing Battle Formations all the time. Because of the way EXP is in this game and my trying to keep balance in the party levels I change almost every battle.

[Zachalmighty]

Yeh I don't quite understand XP gain, is it based on who does the most damage?

[SugarComa]

This is my first attempt at P1 and I got halfway through the factory before I did some research and found out I actually had a choice in my party members xD

/restart. Sigh. Loving the game, tho, so no real big :)

Is anyone changing up the battle formations? I keep moving people around and have each of the data slots set with something different. After every 10 battles or so, I notice a glaring flaw in my formation and try to fix it, only to replace it with another... I would like to stick with two formations that cover all the bases and that I can easily switch between during battles. I had Brown as my 5th, but I plan on trying to get Reiji for my restart. Hopefully that will help out the formations.

Thoughts? (If I should create a new thread for this, please let me know)

I am changing Battle Formations all the time. Because of the way EXP is in this game and my trying to keep balance in the party levels I change almost every battle.
Yeah, the uneven EXP gain is really starting to show itself... All well! I'm super thankful for the data slots, now ^^

[SugarComa]

Yeh I don't quite understand XP gain, is it based on who does the most damage?
That's the way it seems to me... The more impact a character has on the battle, the more EXP they get, kinda thing

[Soushi_Grapple]

Yeah, watch out for those choices that affect getting your ultimate personas later too. I think I clicked the Blue button, whichever one Maki says to push... I thought it was the right choice but I'm already too far past that to bother restarting again.

[Guni]

I always wanted Yukino as my fifth character, I remember when I was a kid I would look all over her her in the school but never found her.:(

But usually I take Eriko or Reiji.

[Zacewing]

I may have asked this before, but I don't think I got an answer, so...

Is it true that Kandori is playable in the SQQ? If yes, how do I recruit him?

[MomoChan]

I always wanted Yukino as my fifth character, I remember when I was a kid I would look all over her her in the school but never found her.:(

But usually I take Eriko or Reiji.

I was the same way before, until I realized that it was never possible in the SEBEC arc. Yukino's an SQQ exclusive.

I always picked Reiji instead.

[Zacewing]

You guys are so cruel.

I need to know if you-know-who is playable or not and how to recruit him so I know whether I should recruit Brown or not. D:

I chose Elly as my 4th party member...

[Guni]

You guys are so cruel.

I need to know if you-know-who is playable or not and how to recruit him so I know whether I should recruit Brown or not. D:

I chose Elly as my 4th party member...

How to recruit:

SEBEC CHAPTER:
1.Main Character (automatic)
2.Maki(automatic)
3.Kei Nanjo(automatic)
4.Mark(automatic)
5.Brown(police station)
6.Elly(don't take Brown, go to the subway recruit her there)
7.Ayase(say no to Brown and Elly(you can skip elly) go to the factory recruit her there)
8.Reiji(1.Go to the school science lab(right of front door) and talk

to the teacher wearing the brown suit. He will tell you of

someone going in and out of a sealed classroom on the second

floor. Doing this triggers the door to room 2-7 to unlock.

2.Go to room 2-7 of the high school and see Reiji acting

suspicious. He will leave the room when you see him.

3.Go to room 2-1 of the high school and talk to the male

student who is there. He will tell you about someone partying

at the factory. The person he is talking about is Reiji.

4.Go to the Joy Street(biggest mall)and enter the Yin & Yan shop. Talk

to the female customer wearing jeans, this is Reiji's mother.

She will ask you if you know her son Reiji, answer Yes, you

know him. She will then ask you if you will be his friend,

answer OK, you'll be his friend. Leave the Yin & Yan shop

without talking to Reiji's mother a second time. If you talk

to her a second time, she will ask you if you've seen Reiji

yet and that will ruin your ability to get him.

5.Go to the Judgement 1999 in the Joy Street(the big mall). Talk to

Mark's two band members(standing next to Mark). They will

tell you of seeing Reiji at the factory.

6.Go to the factory, Reiji will be there if you've done the

above steps in order. When Reiji sees you he will leave.

7.Proceed through the game as usual, until you are finished

with the hospital(first dungeon you needed to do).

8.As soon as you leave the hospital, try to enter the Sebek

building from the west. There will be a roadblock set up in

front of the building that you can enter(similiar to a room).

Upon entering the roadblock you will once again see Reiji.

As before, Reiji will leave when he sees you.

9.Proceed with game again as usual, until you get to the cells

in the police station. Upon releasing Mark and Brown from the

cells, tell Brown that, No you will not take him with you.

After sending Brown away, leave the police station.

10.After leaving the police station, head into the subway. In

the subway you will find a room with Elly in it. Upon

talking to Elly she will ask if you want her to go with

you. Tell her, No you will not take her with you. After

telling Elly to leave, exit the subway.

11.Proceed to the factory as usual. Upon arriving at the factory

you will find Ayase. Ayase asks if she can go with you. Tell

her, No you will not take her with you. If you've done all

the above steps in order, at this point Ayase will tell your

party that she hopes you all die, and then she leaves.

12.Now, with only 4 characters, proceed through the underground

passage, beat the Sebek section of the game, and go to the

alternate reality(Maki's world). When the school transforms

(turns into a dungeon after finding Maki and Yosuke), look

for Reiji in the Art room on the floor above where you start

the dungeon. When you arrive in the Art room, Reiji will

be seen killing an ogre, then he will talk to your party.

Finally, after agreeing to work together, Reiji will join

your party.)

SNOW QUEEN CHAPTER:
1.Main Character(automatic)
2.Yukino(automatic)
3.Ayase(automatic)
4.Elly(you have the option to recruit her by going to the library)
5.Kei Nanjo(you have the option to recruit him by going to the infirmary)
6.Brown(if you haven't selected a fifth member, go to the cafeteria, watch the scene play out, after the scene you have the option of recruiting Brown)

As for Pros & Cons, well not much I can say really,I'm not too good explaining stats and weaknesses and stuff , but I'll give it a try.

Well Maki & Alana are not too good at Offense and they don't have a lot Hp compared to other characters. But Maki is good for long range attacks and has great amount of Sp.
Brown is probably the worst negotiator of all characters, but his gun attacks are pretty good.
Elly has great amounts of Hp & Sp.
Mark has great offense and has High Hp.
Nanjo umm has good amount of Sp, Is also one of the best negotiators.
Yukino don't know what to say about her. I guess you can compare her a bit to the Main Character.
Reiji has the best starter persona which is strong against everything except Holy attacks, he is also a good negotiator and good at offense.
Main Character I don't know depends how you build him.

Hope this helps!

[Zacewing]

Not really, because I read on Wikipedia and the Megami Tensei Wiki that a younger version of Kandori is playable in the Snow Queen Quest, and I wanted to know how to recruit him. But I guess nobody knows so I guess I'll just go with Brown.

[Kakizaki]

^I have never, ever heard that.

Can you please link to the wiki in question? I have looked through one of them and see no mention of this.

[Zacewing]

^I have never, ever heard that.

Can you please link to the wiki in question? I have looked through one of them and see no mention of this.

http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Takahisa_Kandori

During the Snow Queen Quest, Takahisa joins the party as a younger reflection of his St. Hermlin High School days. He wields a one-handed sword and uses Massacre as his persona, who is later revealed to be Nyarlathotep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Revelations:_Persona#Takahisa_Kandor i

In the "Snow Queen" quest, a surreal vision of Takahisa appears as an ally of sorts, wearing his crisp St. Hermelin school uniform (despite having graduated many years beforehand).

In battle, Takahisa fights using a one-handed sword. His Persona is Massacre, which is later revealed to be a guise of Nyarlathotep.

[Kakizaki]

^Are you sure that isn't just during an event.

I have several Japanese guide books that deal with MIP including the World Guidance, and I have seen nothing that echoes this.

[Zacewing]

Well the "joins the party" bit gives the impression that he becomes playable.

[Guni]

Well the "joins the party" bit gives the impression that he becomes playable.

I've never heard of that, not even in the japanese version. the entry in wikipedia, states that Takahisa is an ally of sorts, yeah he does help the party, but never joins them in battle.

In battle, Takahisa fights using a one-handed sword. His Persona is Massacre, which is later revealed to be a guise of Nyarlathotep. Yeah this is how he fights when you fight him in the SEBEC CHAPTER. Doesn't say that he's playable.

In the http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Takahisa_Kandori, well you have to keep in mind that anyone can edit the content written there(or in any wikia and wikipedia), so the person who wrote it is probably wrong.

But whatever man just go for Brown.:bs:

[Zacewing]

Yeah, I've already gone for Brown.

[unknown]

Eriko is the best.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/aerozero_bucket/5debf74bce04867ecc9976c27ceecc132e3.jpg

[Zacewing]

Eriko is the best.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/aerozero_bucket/5debf74bce04867ecc9976c27ceecc132e3.jpg

Almost true. Reiji's better. :(

[unknown]

Let me rephrase that, she'll always be the best...in my heart ;_;

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x165/arcstuff/ba4f8a95114431efbff226293446d8eb-1.jpg