Buying Symbols for Fun and Profit

[Ben-Ra]

4.1 Symbols

Several disclaimers/comments. First off, I know it's been a long time since my last column, and I'm sorry. In fact, this column is not complete, and some of the information may be in accurate. I'll note these with this: !D! If you spot anything that looks fuzzy, incomplete or inaccurate and I haven't marked it as such, please reply and quote the section in question so I can explain/edit/whatever. I've been working on this for a while off and on, but some of the info is proving hard to come by, so I figured instead of wait a couple of months to get everything 100% I'll go ahead and post it now so the majority of the info can get out, especially since symbols seem to be a confusing area of the game for so many people. As usual, any comments or questions are welcome, and if I don't like them I'll just delete them (kidding!).

New terms
TM = total magic (the amount under your current g onscreen)

This column is intended to be a comprehensive discussion of symbols. How they work, how to use them, how to stop them and deck design. Essentially, symbols are like stocks or shares. There are symbols for each of the four colors, and the value of each color is tied to the total value of the lands of that color. If a map has multiple areas, each area has its own symbol value. The initial value of symbols is based on the initial value of the lands in that area. The value increases when cepters level up land and create/increase chains. The value can also decrease if lands are reduced in level or chains are diminished. There are also cards which increase or decrease symbol value. Also, the cepter with the most symbols of a given color/area gets a lap bonus equal to 10% of your total value in symbols.

So how do you get symbols? There are four ways. The easiest and most common way is to purchase them at a temple. Obviously, this requires there to be a temple on a map for this to be possible. You can purchase a maximum of 50 symbols at one time at a temple. If you are lucky, you can get symbols at a shrine, but of course shrine effects are random so it's nothing you can count on. The creature Sanctum Guard gives you 5 symbols, which are the same color as the land the battle took place on, if it destroys the opposing creature. The item Coin of Piety gives you 10 symbols, which are the same color as the land the battle took place on, if your creature destroys the enemy. Overall, buying symbols at a temple is the only reliable method of acquiring them.

Since symbols are so closely related to land values, it's important to have a thorough understanding of that first. Each territory possesses a base value. The base varies from as low as 50 to as high as 150( !D! I haven't seen last 5 maps so don't know if they have values below 50 or above 150). Base values can vary within a map or an area. So what makes territory value increase? Two things: lands increasing in levels and chains increasing or being created. Lands being leveled up is straightforward enough. When a cepter spends g to increase a land's level, that increases its value by an amount equal to the total spent on the leveling up (which is itself equal to the land's current value), plus a multiplier based on the size of the chain it is part of (assuming it is). This value is of course added to the cepter's TM. Increasing/creating a chain adds a multiplier to the value of all land in the chain. The chart below shows all possible land values.

Let's take a closer look at the relationship between land value and TM. Whenever you place a creature on a land (either an unoccupied one, or in the case of successful invasion), you spend g equal to the creature's cost, plus the cost of any item used in the case of a battle. In turn, the value of the land is added to the cepter's TM, as long as he maintans possession of that land. Also, every territory a cepter controls, regardless of its value, adds +20g to his lap bonus. What this means is that it is possible to spend more occupying a territory than it is worth at the time. It's also important to note that leveling up land does not increase your TM unless you have a chain, since leveling up in an unchained state costs as much as the land's value increases. Of course, if an opponent pays toll, you make g, and you do get more lap bonus as well.

Okay, so symbol value is tied to the value of all lands of that color in an area. That means that increased chain and level is needed to increase symbol value. But there's one more thing! If a land changes color , then its value is added to the total land value for that color thus (potentially) increasing it. Of course, the color it changed from just lost land value, so its symbol value may go down as a result.

The base value of the symbol is related to the total base value of all territories of the color within the specified area. Symbol value increases as territory value increases. In turn, for every 100g the value of the land goes up, the symbol value for that color will increase by 1. ( !D! I've read this figure +100/+1 on several Japanese sites, and my studies have shown it to be true...most of the time. Sometimes the, though, the symbol value doesn't go up as much as it should. It's very frustrating, but thus far I haven't been able to pin down the source of the discrepancy. It was one of the main reasons I hadn't released this yet).

Example: red symbols are originally worth 10g. Goligan has a single red land worth 100g and increases it from level 1 to 3, thus making its value 400. Since the value of that land increased by 300, the symbol value increases by 3 to 13.

The value of a territory also goes up if a chain is created or increased, up to a point. Increases to a chain past five do not increase value for every territory, although the value of the land becoming part of the chain is increased (if it became part of a chain larger than the chain it previously belonged to, unless that chain was five or above). Chains can have a big effect on symbol value because all the lands in the chain go up in value by virtue of the chain increasing. Keep in mind that a chain does not begin until a cepter owns at least two lands of a given color in an area. Also, allies share chains in alliance battles (if Ryvern and Goligan are on a team, and Ryvern has two red lands and Goligan has one, between them they have a 3 chain).

Example: red symbols are worth 15g. Goligan has two red lands currently, each valued at 200 (from an original value of 100). He acquires a third red land in the area, which will be worth 300 since it is part of a 3-chain, and the two lands previously worth 200 each go up to 300 as well. The total increase in the value of red lands is 400 (100x2 for the increase in the lands he already had, and an increase of 200 against the base value of the land he just got). Therefore, the red symbol value goes up by 4, to 19g. ( !D! these values are simply for illustration purposes, the numbers aren't accurate).

See the chart below for exact toll/land values based on initial value, level, and chain.

(chart)

Base Value: 50
lvl | no chain | 2 chain | 3 chain | 4 chain | 5 chain |
1 | 10/50 | 15/75 | 18/90 | 20/100 | 22/110 |
2 | 30/100 | 45/150 | 54/180 | 60/200 | 66/220 |
3 | 80/200 | 120/300 | 144/360 | 160/400 | 176/440 |
4 | 240/400 | 360/600 | 452/720 | 480/800 | 528/880 |
5 | 640/800 | 960/1200|1152/1440|1280/1600|1408/1760|

Base Value: 80
lvl | no chain | 2 chain | 3 chain | 4 chain | 5 chain |
1 | 16/80 | 24/120 | 28/144 | 32/160 | 35/176 |
2 | 48/160 | 72/240 | 86/288 | 96/320 | 105/352 |
3 | 128/320 | 192/480 | 230/576 | 256/640 | 281/706 |
4 | 384/640 | 576/960 | 691/1152| 768/1280 | 844/1408|
5 |1024/1280|1536/1920|1843/2304|2048/2560|2252/2816|

Base Value: 100
lvl | no chain | 2 chain | 3 chain | 4 chain | 5 chain |
1 | 20/100 | 30/150 | 36/180 | 40/200 | 48/240 |
2 | 60/200 | 90/300 | 108/360 | 120/400 | 132/440 |
3 | 160/400 | 240/600 | 288/720 | 320/800 | 352/880 |
4 | 480/800 | 720/1200 | 904/1440| 960/1600 |1056/1760|
5 |1280/1600|1920/2400|2304/2880|2560/3200|2816/3520|

Base Value: 120
lvl | no chain | 2 chain | 3 chain | 4 chain | 5 chain |
1 | 24/120 | 36/180 | 43/216 |

( !D! the rest of the charts will be added, I promise).

Symbols decrease in value for the exact same reasons. If a land's level drops, or a cepter's chain decreases, the value of the land goes down and so does that of the symbols, using the same formula. Remember, if a cepter releases a land (usually due to not having enough g to pay a toll), the land returns to its original value, and if that land was part of a chain, the value of the other lands may go down as well. Also, if a creature occupies a land that is leveled up, and it moves to a different territory or dies (without a new creature occupying it), the land maintains the value it gains from being leveled up, but loses any value it had as a result of being part of a chain (if it was part of one).

[Ben-Ra]

So now we know what makes symbol values go up and down naturally. There are also cards which affect symbol value, or interact with them in some way. These are listed below, followed by commentary. Information from ExMortis's FAQ as usual.

Dancing Doll (S) (NC)
ST:20 HP:20 G:30
Territory[70] Lowers value of the symbols by 20%

Sanctum Guard (E - beat Kazatega stage in story mode twice) (NC)
ST:40 HP:40 G:70
First Attack
If opponent is destroyed, user will gain 5 symbols of the same element of the
territory where the battle took place.

Heat Imp (S) (RC)
ST:20 HP:20 G:10 + Discard
Territory[50] Decrease symbols that the opposing Cepter has by 40%, and self
destruction.

Lung (R) (BC)
ST:0 HP:30 G:50 + 2xBlue
Land Limit: xRed
Item Limit: xWeapon xArmor
During battle, ST and HP become the number of Blue symbols that the Cepter
owns.

Raksas (R) (GC)
ST:50 HP:30 G:70 + Green
If destroyed, the opposing Cepter loses 30% of its most common symbol.

Coin of Piety (S) (I)
Accessory G:0
After winning the battle, gain 10 of the same symbol element as the territory
where the battle took place.

Offering Doll (N) (I)
Accessory G:0
Depending on if the User wins invading or defending a territory, the element
symbol value of the creature will increase by 30%.
(IE, your Red creature wins in battle, Red symbols increase by 30%)


Aurora (S) (SP)
Global Effect G:50
Increase value of all the symbols 20%.

Corruption (R) (SP)
Single Effect G:90
Target enemy Cepter will lose number of symbols x10G in magical powers.

Disbelief (R) (SP)
Global Effect G:90
All the Cepters lose the number of their symbols x5G of magical powers.

Eclipse (S) (SP)
Single Effect G:60
Take 20 symbols of the element that the target Cepter has most. Target Cepter
gains the number subtracted x10G.
(The symbols are lost, not so much "taken.")

Grace (N) (SP)
Single Effect G:30
User will gain 15% of total magical powers that the target Cepter has in
symbols.

Pressure (N) (SP)
Global Effect G:70
Lower all the symbol values 30%.


Shine (R) (SP)
Single Status G:150
Increase value of all the symbols 50% for two rounds.

Soltis (E) (SP)
Single Effect G:80
Choose and regain one of the seven elements.
(choose from the following effects:
Good Luck: for the next two rounds, you do not have to pay toll fees when you
stop on an opponent's territory.
Remove Curse: All the Status effects on creatures and land will be removed.
Affection: You gain rank x200G in magical powers.
Hope: You draw two cards from the book.
Great Depression: All of the symbol values decrease by 20%.

Darkcraft (E - 45 medals) (SP)
Global Effect G:70
The Cepter that has the most symbols will lose 30% of the most owned symbols.

You can divide these into three basic categories. Those that increase or decrease symbol value, those that make a cepter gain or lose symbols, and those that make someone gain or lose g based on symbols. Additionally, one might consider spells that increase or decrease a land's level/value (Leshy, Meteor), or even those which change a land's type (since that may increase or decrease a chain) to affect symbol value as well. Generally speaking, spells are the most useful, since they don't require any particular condition (such as victory in battle) to activate.

Those that increase symbol value are relatively straightforward. You usually want to use them after you've purchased a significant amount of symbols. Of course, it's best to use them at a time when you probably won't be buying any more symbols (either you're selling them or you're about to win). They are generally only useful to someone who is using symbols.

Those that decrease value are a little trickier. They can be used early in the game to make symbols cheaper (and thus more can be bought earlier), or they can be used later to hurt people who have a lot of g invested in symbols. Soltis is multi-functional so it's a good to have in almost any deck anyway, and probably one of the best anti-symbol cards.

Those that make a cepter gain symbols are very limited since they add a specific number (as opposed to a % increase in value), and they both require an enemy to be destroyed. Granted, Sanctum Guard can be reused, but the fact that she only gives 5 each time means it's pretty inefficient. On the other hand, if the symbol value is even 10 (which is pretty low), you gained 50g for winning a fight, which isn't too bad. And of course you can only have one in a deck. Coin of Piety gives twice as many symbols but since it's an item it means the creature you're using it on has to be able to destroy the opponent without any real assistance. Not impossible, but likely to be difficult. Works well with creatures who can have big stats such as Soul Collector, Leoknight, or Gouda.

Those that make a cepter lose symbols obviously have a single purpose: to hurt someone using symbols. They should only be included in a deck if you suspect/know an opponent will be trying to win using symbols, although Raksas is a decent (not great) creature by itself, so it at least has a function outside of being anti-symbol. Eclipse is also sort of dual purpose in that a cepter both loses symbols and gains g. If the relevant symbol value is lower than 10 at the time the spell is used, the target cepter actually makes a profit. Overall it's still more of an anti-symbol card, though.

Those that make a cepter gain or lose g based on symbols vary a bit. Grace is usually used by someone with a lot of symbols so that they can gain a lot of g, obviously, but it could also be used by an opponent to profit (though since it's reliant on someone else's actions, instead of your own, it's riskier). Corruption and Disbelief are pure anti-symbol cards.

Lung doesn't really fit into any of the other categories. His use is relatively specific. He either needs to be in a blue deck or probably one with Gold Idol, because of the double LR. And of course you have to buy blue symbols, and a lot of them, for him to be worth anything in a fight (especially since he can't use weapons or armor). If your deck isn't focused on blue symbols, don't use him.

[Ben-Ra]

Whew...that's a lot of info on symbols! But now we're going to discuss what really matters: how to use them and how to stop someone from using them.

Symbols can be used either as your main/only strategy for winning, as a secondary/dual strategy, or just to keep yourself from walking around with too much g (because in some neighborhoods, all the locals are packing Drain Magic). Symbols are just like the stock market, you want to buy low and sell high. Of course, there isn't a direct need to sell them at all (since they add to your TM), but there may be circumstances, good or bad, which prompt you to. The most important thing to keep in mind about symbol decks (playing them and playing against them) is that once you've got two-thirds of the magic goal in symbols, and you have Shine in hand, you win (as soon as you can reach the castle, of course). If the primary function of your deck is the acquisition (and subsequent value increase) of symbols, which to buy is going to depend a lot, probably entirely, on your opponents. In general, symbol decks work best in 4-player games, since there are more players trying to increase land value at the same time. If your deck uses symbols in combination with a different strategy (probably creatures and land acquisition), you can buy symbols in the color(s) you play, with a greater likelihood that those symbols will increase in value. if your deck is "symbol-only" (no real creatures to speak of), you either need to know in advance what colors your opponents play (easy against the computer or people you know well), or try to figure it out as quickly as possible. The more colors your opponents play, the harder it is, and in some cases it may be necessary to diversify your purchases quite a bit. If you are playing against a single opponent or someone who knows well how symbol decks work, they will probably do everything they can not to increase land value in a single color, or for all colors. Maps which have multiple areas make the question of which symbols to buy even harder, and they give canny opponents another way to stifle your growth, since they can spend money leveling up things in areas you don't own symbols in.

I'm of the belief that symbols are best as an exclusive strategy, because if you're spending g on stuff like creatures and items, that's less money you'll have to buy symbols, especially in the early game. Symbol decks generally revolve around a few types of cards. Money gain, symbol value increase, and toll avoidance. Movement spells can also help since they help you to lap faster and get to the next temple faster (important in the early game especially). It is possible to include some symbol value decrease cards for two purposes, to make value low in the beginning (so you can purchase as many as possible before the value starts to rise), or so you can use the spell Suppression and make sure your opponents don't use them on you. Symbol decks are relatively straightforward to play, though it helps to be able to do math on the fly and know how much you'll gain from Grace, and so on. You just spend the early game buying symbols and the later game increasing their value, casting spells to gain money to buy symbols and spells to avoid tolls when necessary. There are some advanced tactics you can use, such as lowering values before you buy, mentioned above. Additionally, you may get a reasonably good amount of symbols, raise their value with an Aurora or two, then cast Shine when you're near a temple, and sell what you have at the superhigh price. However, this carries the disadvantage that unless you're about to win (in which case you wouldn't need to sell the symbols, just Shine when you get near the castle), you'll need to buy symbols back, which takes time, especially since you can only buy 50 at a time. Still, if the circumstances are right you can net a large profit this way. This works best on maps with more than one temple (so you can buy back quicker). If your opponents are using anti-symbol spells, you can use Suppression, or for anti-symbol creatures you can pack some direct damage. Be wary of direct damage, though, because if you kill a creature which is part of a chain of 2-5, you will probably lower the value of that color of symbols. Usually it will be worthwhile (Dancing Doll can destroy symbol decks), but it's something to keep in mind.

Buying symbols with a non-symbol deck is easy enough, you usually buy symbols of the color(s) that you are playing and intend to level up (which will increase your value). Works best in the late game, especially if you have a lot of cash since an opponent landed on a big toll. When buying symbols, you should save enough g so that you can afford to play creatures and items for a few turns, or enough to get to the castle/fort. No sense making yourself vulnerable to a big toll or invasion by an enemy. Generally single-color decks get the most benefit from buying symbols. There are times when a combination of symbols, leveling up and the symbol lap bonus can give you a win, so being observant and aware of how symbols will affect your value can really pay off.

Example: magic goal is 9000g. You have 2500 g in cash (opponent just landed on Old Willow), 7715g in TM, and no symbols. You have 10 creatures on the board. You hit the temple and buy 50 red symbols currently valued at 25g apiece (value 1250g). On your way to the castle you pass by one of your red lands (base value 80) and level it from 1 to 5, which costs 1200 and increases the land value by 1200, so the symbols go from 25g to 37g(value 1850g). TM=8315g. You hit the castle, your lap bonus is 300(base)+200(10 creatures)+185(10% symbol value)=685. Your TM is 8315+685=9000g. You win!

The features, layout, and land values of a map can all have an effect on how a symbol deck works. Some cards and tactics are more or less effective on each map. Below are listed the relevant features of each map that has a temple (the only ones you should be playing a symbol deck on, obviously), notes on how they affect the deck, and what opponents can do on those maps to hinder you.

(list of map stuff) ( !D! which will be added!)

So you know how to win with symbols. How do you defeat them? Outside of metaing (using anti-symbol cards), the best thing to do is to avoid increasing symbol values too much for a specific area or color, especially if your opponent already owns symbols for them. Of course, that can make it difficult to get lands with big tolls to hurt your opponents. One way around this is to level up lands that are multi-element or neutral (if available), which doesn't increase any symbol values. Another is to shoot for quantity over value, which is more effective in 1-on-1 games. In a 3- or 4-player game it may be in the best interests of the non-symbol players to agree not to raise symbol values too much in hopes of defeating the symbol player. Dirty, but it works. Also, if you have cards which steal money from an opponent like Drain Magic or Pain, try to use them as early as possible to reduce the amount of symbols they can buy early while prices are cheap. If you are using discard spells/effects, in the early game focus on their cards which gain money, and in the mid to late game focus on spells which increase symbol value. Another card which you can use to your advantage is Land Transfer, which sells off land for a profit, if that land was part of a chain (otherwise you're just getting back what you put into it, and the spell costs 20g as well). You can take land, build up a chain, level one of them up as high as possible, then sell it off. You gain profit, and the symbols will go down when you sell off. If you have extra g (probably in the mid- to late-game), you can also buy symbols yourself, which means that when they raise symbol value you'll profit as well. Which symbols to buy can be a tough choice. The symbol user has probably bought the same color(s) as the one(s) you're playing, so if you buy those, you won't get a lap bonus (since he'll have more than you most likely), but if you buy your own, at least you can make their value go up by leveling stuff up. On the other hand, if you're using some of the strategies of avoiding chains and value increase from above, you could even try to bait the symbol user into investing in something you invest in. There are a lot of potential mindgames at this point, and while the differences may seem minute, they can have a big effect on how it all plays out.

[Ben-Ra]

Aside from verifying/cleaning the above, I'll also be adding some more stuff, like a couple of symbol decks. Again, please post any comments or questions you have about the column so I can tweak it to perfection.

[Korvan]

Great column! I'd just like to add that it appears that symbols have a maximum value of 99.

[gimpyjim]

I thought I read somewhere that if you own the most symbols of a color then your creatures in that color get more of a land bonus than other peoples?

[OWell]

gimpyjim said:

I thought I read somewhere that if you own the most symbols of a color then your creatures in that color get more of a land bonus than other peoples?

That is symbol bonus.
Symbol bonus is included in bonus to get a castle every one lap.

The items of this bonus are as follows.
* Abbreviate "Magic Power" to "MP".

- "Base Bonus" = "Default MP" + [ "Default MP"/ 10 x ("Number of Lap(s)" - 1) ] .
- "Territory Bonus" = "Number of Territory(s)" x 20 .
- "Symbol Bonus" = "Number of Symbol(s) to own" / 10 (*1).

*1) This is the qualification of only those who have the symbols of a color (attribute of a element).
It is invalid when there are those who own the color of the number same otherwise.


Review:

Value of a land is determined by the following two. It is the magnifications of "Basic Value" and the "Number of chains with a territory of the same kind".
The number of chains is the number of the same colors owned simply. Area is not related.

1 Chain -> x1 / 2 Chains -> x1.5 / 3 Chains -> x1.8 / 4 Chains -> x2 / 5 Chains and more -> x2.2 .


Value of one symbol of a certain area is proportional to what totaled value of the same kind land(s) in the area.
It is simply shown by the following expression.

- "Default Symbol Value" = "Sum value of the same kind lands" / 40 . ...(1)
- "Symbol Value" = (1) + ( "A fluctuated of "Sum value of the same kind lands" " / 100) .


Related subject :
www.the-nextlevel.com/board/showpost.php?p=609599&postcount=101


- "Base Bonus" = "Default MP" + [ "Default MP"/ 10 x ("Number of Lap(s)" + 1) ] .