See, that's where it seems to fall apart for me. Whether I follow Goblin's guide from super early on, or the one by Fruit Smoothie, I get to day 12 or so with no issues, typically even being ahead on EE generation compared to the guides, but then I can't break the vulnerabilities I'm supposed to be able to break, like at all. Like they're breaking things on days 12 or so, and I'm here on Day 18 still unable to break it with the strategy they've been saying to use. Now, it's been a while since I tried Goblin's guide, but I tried FS's earlier today, had an extra 2 EE by day 12 compared to his guide, but was unable to break the vulnerabilities as the most important part of the guide, the day you make huge progress, has almost no actual detail about the fight itself, and no combination of moves I make can reproduce the sort of numbers he was getting.
For breaking stuff. couple of things
1) If you following early game guides that are for perfect runs - you should have 2 capture 4 turn commander likely by day 8 or 9. And enough points to do some decent upgrades. 2/4 will break t1 2/5 will break t2. so as long as you have corresponding commander you just sit on the turn you got it and train in it's usage. i.e. if you failed to break intended level of vulnerability - you restart.
2) Standard warning - do not install any damage types on commander - 4 different damage types interact with each other so focusing on 1 is useless in early game.
3) Fights will be different depending on your enemy composition so there no way to give examples unless you upload save so someone not lazy can run it and give step by step. For starters i can suggest that you try using commander on one of the girls and see which order of actions gives you best numbers at the end. Grind/Caress/Pummel/Humiliate, C/G/P/H or P/C/G/H those 3 are ususally the standard sequences
4)Take note of extermination/evacuation counter. one of the main things to understand is as long as those are not at 100% battle continues. As long as someone is surrounded Battle continues. IMPORTANT. as long as someone was put into Surround while those counters are not at 100% - you can put them into surround again later, granted that you have a way to prevent battle from ending when they'll exit the surround.
anyone who was surrounded after counter have reached 100% will fly away and be out of reach for capture.
Total noob here, I read the guide readme included in the game files but I admit I felt a bit overwhelmed. What are some decent starter strategies? It says Pain or Disgust in early battles, but then there's this stuff about vulnerabilities, do I have to break the core one first or can I just break whichever? And I break vulnerabilities by using what they're actually weak to, right? And what about distortions, is that something to consider on a first go? So confused lol, but I can see the appeal, I just don't know if I really understand anything.
There some strategies through the thread including step by step ones. someone can link their prefered ones i guess so i'll answer other questions.
> It says Pain or Disgust in early battles
out of 4 stats pain and disgust are 2 types of damage that straight up provide surround opportunities. Shame only provides them when combined with any of the others and Fear only works when another girl is surrounded. that is why.
> do I have to break the core one first or can I just break whichever?
Technically whichever. But there is friendship/rivalry mechanics based on order. When a girl get her core vulnerability broken game runs a check if another girl that have that same vulnerability as minor have it broken at this moment. If it is broken, then girls can relate to each other and their friendship get stronger. If not - they cant relate to each other and get more estranged. Friendship levels affect how fast they reinforce each other and how final battle progresses.
> And I break vulnerabilities by using what they're actually weak to, right?
In information screen game tells you what you need to achieve to break each vulnerability
> And what about distortions, is that something to consider on a first go
I wouldn't bother. Distortion puts a lot of restrictions on actions you can take, so until you figured out what are you actually doing i don't think you will have a lot of success with them.
> I just don't know if I really understand anything.
There are a lot of guides through the thread, so try looking things up. Some of advice i gave to person above are alos might be useful to you when you are done learning the basics
