Regarding combat - combos and chains.

Hello folks,

So I'm new and still learning but having fun, however I feel like combat is a little unclear to me. I know it's very basic MMO style but I would like some clarification on combos and chains. Whilst I'm still only level 8 the combo system isn't clear to me. When combating monsters I get the dotted lines around certain skills but I'm not sure if this is a combo. I'm currently playing as an archer and finding it a little confusing. Maybe I'm thinking it's more complicated than it is. I'd appreciate it if someone could explain the combo system a little bit for me. :D

The other thing I'm a little unclear on his chaining, from what I can tell you start a chain by killing one creature than killing a second which begins a chain. Trouble is I noticed it as first when I was killing level one and level two creatures but I can't seem to get a chain going at all now. I'm a little baffled. Like I said, it's probably obvious but I'd still appreciate a little clarification on this.

For archer (also some casters), it's just that you successfully triggered a skill trait's effect aka a proc while classes like tank and melee have similar stuff but they are more of an actual combo as they are obtained through successful skill execution in a pattern. For you case I think you are referring to the Heavier Shot trait, whenever you use Heavy Shot skill you will have a chance that your Straight Shot will flash the dotted lines that you mentioned, if you use Straight Shot when it's flashing ( which it's called Straighter Shot) it will always deal critical damage. You can check out the skill and traits description under Additional Effect to see which triggers what for effective combat.

As for Chaining, you can only obtain combat chaining by defeating monsters of your level and above, regardless of the order or type of monsters you defeated (Like defeating Monster B after two chains of monster A won't break the chain). Anything below that will not get you chain succession, this also won't break you chain.

Long explanation but I hope it helps.

Oh I see, makes sense I guess once you think it through. The combat tutorial wasn't exactly clear on how it all worked so I wanted to know for sure. I guess combos generally aren't an archers sort of thing when I think about it. Thanks for clearing up chains to, though I could swear I've battled monster the same level or higher than me and not got any sort of chain bonus. I noticed in the chat box the description of (32% of EXP earned) which baffled me at first, does it always get displayed on the UI like it did at the bottom when you're chaining enemies.

Thanks for your help KinnisonArc, it's greatly appreciated.

If you successfully get a chain you will be rewarded with EXP bonus, the 32% EXP you mentioned could include the chain bonus. It also includes into total the following : Food bonus, Free Company action bonus, bonus from your highest combat class level (example : you have lv30 archer for highest and you played a level 5 pugilist, you should get bonus based on your archer level), rested exp, etc.

Archer essentially gets combos, with their skills that proc bonuses for other skills. The only difference is that in a combo the next skill gets the effect 100% of the time.

Thanks Urthdigger.