Darkspore Compilation: Manual

[AtimZarr]

Compilation Links

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2556&hilit=+Darkspore+Compilation

Darkspore Compilation: Link, Poll and News

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=8297&p=72437#p72437

Darkspore Compilation: Information

[AtimZarr]

Post 1: Compilation Links

Post 2: Table of Contents

Post 3: Introduction, Darkspore summary and system requirements

Post 4: Tutorial, User Interface, Genesis and Classes

Post 5: The Editor

Post 6: Darkspore Threat Levels and Fighting Darkspore

Post 7: Inventory, Helix Computer, Galaxy Map and Options Menu

Post 8: Reserved

Post 9: Reserved

Post 10: Reserved

[AtimZarr]

Introduction

Hello, this is the Darkspore Compilation: Manual. In this version of the Darkspore Compilation, this thread will be showing you information in a manual sort of format.

I will be explaining the game in details such as what this button does and what features are available. For information on planets, heroes, enemies and so on, go to this link here: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=8297

This is an old thread, and I am recycling stuff here, so please do not necro, if that necro was unneeded (example: useless comment). That would be bad.

Summary

Darkspore is a game where you travel the galaxy, unlocking dozens of genetic heroes, all with unique special abilities and attacks. You will take these Heroes and modify them with gear, increasing their stats to make them stronger. When you have geared your heroes, you will place assemble them into squads and enter levels with these squads of heroes.

Your goal is to reclaim all the planets from the evil Darkspore hordes that have captured the galaxy. You will use these heroes, switching between them, coordinating attacks and creating various strategies and solutions to fight the AI directed Darkspore.

Upon completing a level, you can leave and collect your reward, or continue fighting and receive a higher reward. However, if you lose, all rewards are lost. It's risk versus reward.

You can also take your powerful heroes and take them into PvP arenas to battle other players to see whose hero is stronger. Or, you can team up with your friends and battle the Darkspore together!

Information

Rating: T (For blood and violence)

Developer: Maxis

Publisher: EA

Genre: Sci-Fi Action RPG

Platforms: PC

Modes: Single Player, Multiplayer, Death Match

Darkspore requires at least the following settings on your computer:

FOR WINDOWS XP
* 3.0 GHz P4 or Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent or faster
* 2 GB RAM
* A 256 MB Video Card with support for Shader Model 3.0
* The latest version of DirectX 9.0c
* Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3
* Up to 10 GB of hard drive space
* Broadband Internet Connection Required

FOR WINDOWS VISTA
* 3.0 GHz P4 or Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent or faster
* 2 GB RAM
* A 256 MB Video Card with support for Shader Model 3.0
* Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 2
* Up to 10 GB of hard drive space
* Broadband Internet Connection Required

FOR WINDOWS 7
* 3.0 GHz P4 or Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent or faster
* 2 GB RAM
* A 256 MB Video Card with support for Shader Model 3.0
* Up to 10 GB of hard drive space
* Broadband Internet Connection Required


Supported Video Cards
---------------------

Video card must be 256MB or more and contain these chipsets or better:
NVIDIA GeForce 8800
ATI X1900
Intel® HD Graphics

Laptop versions of these chipsets may run comparatively slower.

[AtimZarr]

Controls

-Left click to move
-Right click to attack at current location

-Hold left click and drag to move
-Hold left click on enemy to attack

-Option in menu to disable left click attack.

-Press 1 to activate Unique ability (Starter)
-Press 2 to activate Variant ability (Unlocked ???)
-Press 3 to activate 1st Squad ability (Unlocked ???)
-Press 4 to activate 2nd Squad ability (Same as above)
-Press 5 to activate 3rd Squad ability (Same as above)

-Press "I" to open Inventory (Select item, press "Drop" to drop the item)
-Press "O" to open Objectives (Does not work in Tutorial)
-Press "C" to open character information (Shows equipped loot, stats and abilities)
-Press "ESC" to open menu (Does not pause game)

-Press the spacebar to activate Overdrive (Useable on 2-1 and up (?))
-Press "N" to view next teleporter on the mini-map (De-activates when logged out)

-Press "Q" to switch 1st hero
-Press "W" to switch 2nd hero
-Press "E" to switch 3rd hero

User Interface

Located at the bottom:

Options: This is NOT a pause button. This allows you to change some settings (including disabling blood). you can also logout from here, exit game or abort mission.

Hero Profile: This displays information about your hero, including abilities, stats, equipment and backstory.

Objectives: Displays the Objectives of the current level. Achieving this Objectives will grant you special rewards at the end.

Inventory: Displays all loot, as well as equipment. You can use a search option to find specific loots, and filter. Select loot and press "Drop" to drop the item. You cannot equip during levels.

The Experience Bar:

-Killing Darkspore gives you experience

-Get enough experience to level up (Crogenitor Level)

-Crogenitor Level allows you to unlock upgrades and heroes

-Experience gained can be increased by special items and co-op

-Maximum level is 100

Action Bar:

Auto Ability: The ability that the Hero uses on default whenever it attacks an enemy.

Unique Ability: An ability that is unique to this hero and all its variants (explained later)

Variant Ability: An ability used from a certain Variant of a hero.

Squad Ability (3 of them): An ability that is shared with other Heroes in the same squad Squad abilities can be modified from special loot.

Passive Ability: An ability that affects you passively, without having to activate. Not displayed on the Action Bar, but on the side of the screen.

Health and Power

Health = Green

Power (Used for abilities) = Blue

-Mouse over health bar to view hit points, same for Power
________________________________________________________________________________________

-Health can be restored from these methods:

-Health Capsules (Dropped from enemies, restores 10%, can be modified, shared in co-op, affects all heroes)

-Abilities

-Health Leech items (Restores health based on damage done)

-Power can be restored similarly

-Enemies sometimes drop Resurrection Capsules (Resurrects one hero, shared in co-op)

-Health, Power and Resurrection Capsules all disappear if unused

Genesis & Classes

Bio: Uses biological based effects. Effects such as healing, poisons and animal/pet life.

Cyber: Uses cybernetic based effects such as guns, lasers and other similar gadgets.

Necro: Uses necrotic based effects such as life-draining, soul collecting and terrifying effects.

Plasma: Uses plasmatic based effects such as burning, shock and stun.

Quantum: Uses quantum based effects such as time warping, gravity manipulation and speed alteration.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Each hero also falls into one of the three class types.

Sentinel: High health, tanks, AoE, survivability, uses Strength

Ravager: Quick, melee, range, rogue-like, dodge, uses Dexterity

Tempest: Ranged, support, damage, resistant, uses Mind
________________________________________________________________________________________

Each hero combines a genesis with a class type.The first hero you unlock: Blitz the Storm-Striker, is a Plasma Ravager.

Enemies the same genesis as you will always deal critical hits to you (Reverse is untrue)

Hordes

-A Horde is an ambush, sometimes found randomly in the level, always found at the end.

-Horde is made of 3-5 waves

-You cannot escape a Horde, enemies and players can enter Horde, but cannot leave

-Hordes found during a level always end with a Mutation Agent

-Hordes found at the end of a level always spawn a Captain (Second last wave)

Hordes often spawn a large amount of "Elite" enemies. These enemies deal more damage, have more health, and have more effective abilities.

They also have special effects, called "Affixes" that grant them powers unavailable to normal Darkspore.

For a list of Affixes, click here:http://forums.darkspore.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5184

-Captains at the end of a level have several affixes. Bosses do not have an affix.

Arsenal

Default log-in location is the Arsenal. You can select, unlock, view, and place Heroes from here.

-All heroes are on a platform, and can be added to a Squad platform. 3 heroes can be added to a Squad platform. Heroes in a squad platform can be used during a level. Every time you enter a level, you must select a squad.

-Beside the Squad platform, are individual hero platforms. Mouse over these heroes to edit/view. You can scroll through the list of heroes, and sort them by genesis.

-Solid heroes = unlocked
-Blue holographic heroes = available for unlock
-Red holographic heroes = unavailable for unlock

The first three heroes available for unlock are:

Zrin the Sunfist (Plasma Sentinel)

Goliath the Energy Guardian (Cyber Sentinel)

Wraith the Spectre of Vengeance (Necro Sentinel)

[AtimZarr]

Editor

The Darkspore Editor is very similar to the Spore's Captain Editor. Click on this thread to see some heroes people customized: viewtopic.php?f=24&t=130

The Editor is split into 3 pieces:

-Equip (Normal loot that boosts stats)

-Paint (Customize your hero)

-Detail (Add special non-stat items)

Edit

Loot can be obtained from the following sources:

-Enemies

-Cashout Rewards

-Players dropping items

-The Parts Store/Weapon Store

All items are categorized based on rarity/colour:

White: Common item

Green/Yellow: Uncommon item

Blue/Orange: Rare item (Rarified)

Purple/Dark brown: Epic item (Purified)

All items have an item level (ilvl). This determines the stats and powers of the said item. The higher the ilvl, the better it is. Your Hero's level is based on the average equipped ilvl.

Equipment is broken up into 7 groups:

Weapons: Increases basic damage.

Hands: Generally increases attack speed, channeling speed, health leech, power leech and grants other stats.

Feet: Generally increases movement speed and resistance to slows and snares as well as other stats.

Offense: Increases offensive stats such as critical strike rating and other stats.

Defense: Increases defensive stats such as Genesis resistance and other stats.

Utility: Increases several stats.

Your hero can only have (generally) one item from each category equipped at a time. There are exceptions such as when a Hero has no hands, they may have an extra Defense slot instead. That means you could equip two separate Defense items.

Mousing over the loot will display its stats, name, ilvl and rarity. It will also compares the potential equipment with the current equipment, and below that are the changes that will occur if the item is added.

Stats

All heroes have a stat capacity, which limits their total stats gained from loot. This limit can be increased by purchasing Genetic Upgrades from the Store.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Here is a list of stats from Darkspore Wiki

http://darksporegame.wikia.com/wiki/Cha ... _%26_Stats

Detail

Details are special items that give no stats, but can give your hero a unique look. Any item can become a detail item.

You will need to go to the Inventory, and select any item, and press 'Turn Detail". The item will then lose all its stats and genetic requirements. You can then add that item to any hero as a detail item.

You can equip 6 unique detail items (Start with 3, purchase to 6). You can have the same duplicate item up to 10 times. Meaning a total of 60 detail items per hero can be equipped!

[AtimZarr]

Grouping

You can play with other players by inviting them to your group. There are a few ways to do this:

-Search the player's name on the "Friends List" button found at the bottom left of the screen above the chat. When the player is found, right click and select "Invite" and it will sent an invitation to that player.

-Navigation has a invite option which you can click and select the player you are looking for.

-Type in "/Invite ___"

-Or through Matchmaker, which pairs you up with random players however.

You can make groups of 4 players and can chat in Party Chat by typing (once) "/P" and then press the space bar. Party Chat can only be seen by other Party Members.

Navigation

Navigation is where you can play Campaign and PvP. You can also select the difficulty of Campaign from here as well.

PVP

PvP is unlocked at Crogenitor Level 10 from the Store for free. This feature will allow you to fight other players with your squad. The players are scaled during a match.

1v1 PvP can only be done through custom games.

2v2 PvP can be either done manually, or you can search for players via the matchmaker. Winning non-custom 2v2 matches award DNA.

PvP matches are done out of 3. First player/team to reach 2 victories will win the match. A leaderboard screen will also show up, displaying various stats.

For PVP strategies, go to this thread:http://forums.darkspore.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1045

Campaign

3 Difficulty settings:

Onslaught (First difficulty/Normal/Follows storyline)

Invasion (Unlocked after finishing Onslaught/Hard)

Apocalypse (Unlocked after finishing Invasion/Very hard)

Threat Levels are simply the level you are currently on and it also determines the level difficulty. Example threat levels are: 3-1, 4-2, 7-2, 15-3

The Threats reach up to 4 before entering a new threat, so it would go like this: 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, and then 2-1. Difficulty settings are placed into these Threats, as shown below:

Threat Levels: Start | End

Onslaught: 1-1 | 6-4

Invasion: 7-1 | 12-4

Apocalypse: 13-1 | 18-4

Endless Play 18-4| Forever

Endless Play is unlocked after completing Threat Level 18-4, but does not count as a separate difficulty setting. The Threat Levels on that go by something like this:

18-4^1, 18-4^2, 18-4^3 and so on.

You can use the Matchmaker system to automatically search for other players. Here is how the Matchmaker works: http://forums.darkspore.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5975

Each Threat Level has a recommended Squad Level. But that is not the minimal Squad level you need to complete the level, it is possible to complete a level that has a higher recommended squad level.

The Squad Level is displayed in the Arsenal of all your squads. It is an average of all hero levels in that squad.

Enemies

Throughout the level, you will face various Darkspore enemies. There are different types of enemies, all with different abilities. Here are the different types of enemies:

Minions: Basic Darkspore enemies found commonly throughout the level.

Lieutenant: Advanced Darkspore enemies found rarely throughout the level. They have increased damage and health.

Elite: Stronger versions of Minions or Lieutenants. Along with their normal abilities, they also gain prefixes. These prefixes provide special effects. Some elites can have more than one prefix. Here is a link of prefixes:

Captain: These are mini bosses found at the end of levels. They are similar to Elites since they also have prefixes and are stronger versions of Minions and Lieutenants, but have much higher health and damage.

Boss: These are very powerful enemies found at the end of X-4 Threat Level. They have unique abilities from other Darkspore and have much higher health and damage. Here is a link of all bosses:

Here is a link of all enemies: http://darkspore.com/minions

DNA

Enemies sometimes drop DNA when defeated. DNA can be used for:

-Purchasing items/weapons
-Equipping items
-Purchasing upgrades

Obelisks

Obelisks are special objects that 3 are added in each level you do. When clicked on, they drop an item and sometimes Catalysts. The location of these Obelisks are randomized.

There is also Health Obelisks found in the final area of a level. When activated, they drop several Health and Power capsules. Use them as a last resort, as sometimes there is an objective to not use Health Obelisks in a level.

Catalysts

Catalysts are sometimes dropped from enemies and Obelisks. They can boost your heroes in various ways based on the Catalyst colour.

When picking up Catalysts, they go to the Catalyst Grid found at the bottom left. Aligning Catalysts in the grid (dragging them around), can grant bonuses if they are aligned on colour.

During Co-op, the chance of finding Catalysts is increased, but you should share them with other players as well. You should only pick up Catalysts that would prove most beneficial to your squad.

Ask other players if they need a certain Catalyst. Click and drag on a Catalyst you have to drop it onto the field for others to use.

Overdrive

Killing Darkspore fills your Overdrive meter. When it is completely filled, press the Spacebar to activate. Upon activation, you will be given these bonus effects.

50% less damage

Shared passive abilities

Increased attack speed

Immunity to debuffs

Increased damage

No power cost for abilities

No cooldown for abilities

Killing enemies during Overdrive will extend its duration. Some equipment can be used to extend Overdrive effectively.

You cannot switch heroes during Overdrive.

End of a Level

When the final Darkspore has been killed from the Horde, you will be sent to a screen where you will select to "Cashout" or to Continue. On this screen, you will see what enemies you will face (there are a maximum of 6 kinds of enemies per level, not counting Mutation Agents or Bosses).

Results

The Results button will display a leaderboard of stats and information that pertains to the previous level you just completed, and the entire chain. You can also see other player results.

Medals

Completing (or attempting to complete) objectives will increase the chance of receiving a rare item when cashing out. There is a "Daily" objective. This objective changes each day.

There are also Standard and Secret. Standard change each time you enter a Threat Level. Secret is accessible when completing all other objectives. This secret objective is how fast can you complete the level

When Cashing out, the game will give you a chance of receiving a rare item based on objectives completed and medals. There are 3 types of medals: Bronze (1 star), Silver (2 stars) and Gold (3 stars).

Cashing Out

When deciding to Cashout, you will be taken to a screen where it will calculate your chance of receiving a rare item based on medals.

There is also "Daily Bonus". This bonus increases the chance of rare items once per day, on the first completion of a level.

When the chance has been calculated, it will roll a number between 1 and 100. Once the number has been rolled, it will display the item you received.

In Co-op, you can check what other players received as well.

Here is how medals work mathematically (post by Maxisyegg)

Gold medals are worth 6%.
Silver medals are worth 3%.
Bronze medals are worth 1%.
Add it all up, then divide by the number of planets you did.
Add 0%/3%/6%/10% based on the chain length.
Multiply by 150% if your daily bonus is active. (Daily bonus is a bonus you get once per day when rolling)

That's your rarified chance.

Multiply the rarified chance by a percentage based on the threat rating you finished on. (0% if it's 2-4 or before. At 3-1, it's 2%. At 18-4, it's 20%.)

That's your purified chance

You can increase the amount of items (maximum of 4) that you can roll for by continuing to the next Threat Level rather than Cashing out.

However, when choosing to continue, the next level will be harder than the previous (because you are going to a higher Threat Level) and if you die in the next level, you lose all your Cashout rewards and are sent to the Arsenal.

Scaling

During co-op, the game scales for all players. Loot is also scaled either up or down, depending on the player who picks it up.

Cashout loot's ilvl depends on the level of the player and not the level he/she is currently doing.

If a player leaves during a level, the game will automatically adjust.

[AtimZarr]

Inventory

You can search for specific items in the inventory. You can search using:

-Search option (Must know name)
-Filter by high to low ilvl
-Filter by low to high ilvl
-???
-???

Click on an item (or a group of items) and click sell to vendor the items. Buyback is possible and is unlimited, but is resetted every time you log off.

You must purchase upgrades chronologically, so you cannot unlock the final Inventory upgrade without purchasing the first one.

Parts Store

-Purchase a variety of gear

-Randomized every hour or so

-Unlimited stocks of each item

-A message appears telling you the Store is refreshed in-game

Weapons Store

-Purchase weapons for each hero

-Feature unlocked at level 6

-Updates every 3 Crogenitor Levels

-Green quality weapons

Helix Computer

-Profile
Contains statistical information and activities

-Friends List
View friend profiles

-Leaderboard (PvE and PvP)
View various stats and filter them

Galaxy Map

-Contains information on all Darkspore planets

-Planet information unlocked when you first reach there

-DB's Palace is not included

Options Menu

-Not a pause menu during gameplay

-Option to disable blood

-Option to enable "Insane Grass" (No function)

-Other options (audio, brightness, etc)

-Abort Mission (During gameplay)

-Logout/Quit Game

[AtimZarr]

Reserved

[AtimZarr]

Reserved

[AtimZarr]

Reserved

[Pelicanthor]

Sounds good, I like the idea of having a thread like this on these Forums!
Goodluck




I voted Spoffits, as it is neither of the other 2.

It is Zelem, their is no ZY-lem or ZEE-lem, just ZE-lem.

[Altyre]

I voted Spoffits, as it is neither of the other 2.

It is Zelem, their is no ZY-lem or ZEE-lem, just ZE-lem.

I am afraid you're wrong - it is, in fact, Sylem. (Which is close enough to Zylem...)

When Helix mentions Zelem's Nexus and Sylem the Corruptor, the difference is quite plain.

[kurliew]

its zelem damnit.
@peli i think zee-lem was spelling used to stress that it wasnt the nonexistant sylan
@storyline
I think the living weapons were created as a response to the darkspore. Look at zrins bio for example. He became a living weapon after his guards left because they became darkspore
@variants-they also have different stats
Typo in healing spores. 'A summons'
Celestial comet also has a knockback

Bosses-a vip confirmed that the last boss was the corruptor. So we now know

Nashira-nocturna
Polaris-Zelems nexus
Merak- cryos
?????- infinity
Scaldron- corruptor
Also the primary genesis changes after the first playthrough of a threat as well as the secondary.
@spaceship- maybe list upgrades at www.darkspore-dna.com

@heroes- for the missing stuff, look at a thread called darkspore database. There is an epic excel sheet there

[FfDdc]

You forgot Orcus, boss of Verdanth.

The titles are:
Polaris, the Gravity Manipulator
Nashira, the Shadow Void
Orcus, Devourer of Life
Merak, the Devastator (not sure)

[AtimZarr]

But in the beta, didnt it say that the Living Weapons were created before the Darkspore and Zelem wanted to enhance them even more and eventually created E-DNA which resulted into Darkspore. Unless Zrin is not a living weapon that came before the Darkspore.

[FfDdc]

But in the beta, didnt it say that the Living Weapons were created before the Darkspore and Zelem wanted to enhance them even more and eventually created E-DNA which resulted into Darkspore. Unless Zrin is not a living weapon that came before the Darkspore.

Zrin didn't come before the darkspore. He was created after the darkspore killed his prisoners; Magnos, too, fought the darkspore after being created, and there are probably many more examples.

Not to mention that Zelem did NOT create E-dna; Helix said he opposed the usage of E-dna. Furthermore, even if he was the Corruptor (which is fairly uncertain) the darkspore came before the Corruptor did; the only reason the Corruptor used E-dna in the first place was to combat darkspore (and we all know how that went )

[Michael042296]

Sounds good, I like the idea of having a thread like this on these Forums!
Goodluck




I voted Spoffits, as it is neither of the other 2.

It is Zelem, their is no ZY-lem or ZEE-lem, just ZE-lem.

Yep, i voted Spoffits. : P

Anyways its sylem or zylem or sylum or however you want to spell it...

[Pelicanthor]

Sounds good, I like the idea of having a thread like this on these Forums!
Goodluck




I voted Spoffits, as it is neither of the other 2.

It is Zelem, their is no ZY-lem or ZEE-lem, just ZE-lem.

Yep, i voted Spoffits. : P

Anyways its sylem or zylem or sylum or however you want to spell it...

Asylum.

[AtimZarr]

I am trying to change the poll and it keeps bugging. Help?

[Mysteryem]

What settings have you set for the poll, and what information have you entered? An image or more information would help.