BlazBlue [360, PS3, Arcade]

[Spuck]

Tager resets, Gief ain't shit.

[Willei]

So I go to look at some videos to find out where I'm going wrong with Hazama, and I notice BBCS2 is out now apparently? And it's got some shitty Arcana Heart looking character in it? All of my rage Arc...

What's the deal then? Is the CS getting patched (the changes look and sound pretty major) or have I been robbed again by these guys releasing a redundant game?

[imp]

Good lobby tonight! Shame you couldn't stay for longer, Rafras.

Jonster, you have a scary scary pressure-bastard of a Ragna. I was taking serious notes watching you.

Tager is a fucking harrowing ordeal though. So much damage, and I can't for the life of me figure out how to run away... or not be caught in the giant hitbox of doom.

[Choo]

Tager's damage output almost matched that player's ego!

Was a fun lobby, still learning much even when winning so little. Inferno Divider, Hells Fang, Tager's magnets and SPDs.... IDGI!

[Jonster]

So I go to look at some videos to find out where I'm going wrong with Hazama, and I notice BBCS2 is out now apparently? And it's got some shitty Arcana Heart looking character in it? All of my rage Arc...

What's the deal then? Is the CS getting patched (the changes look and sound pretty major) or have I been robbed again by these guys releasing a redundant game?

At first CS2 was released just to add the three DLC characters to the arcade versions, but they've since made some balance changes. I've read that Platinum the Trinity is being released as DLC in Spring, but it's not yet clear if they'll patch in the changes that have been introduced in CS2 or give it a full release.

Good lobby tonight! Shame you couldn't stay for longer, Rafras.

Jonster, you have a scary scary pressure-bastard of a Ragna. I was taking serious notes watching you.

Tager is a fucking harrowing ordeal though. So much damage, and I can't for the life of me figure out how to run away... or not be caught in the giant hitbox of doom.

Tager's damage output almost matched that player's ego!

Was a fun lobby, still learning much even when winning so little. Inferno Divider, Hells Fang, Tager's magnets and SPDs.... IDGI!

Good games to the both of you too. AhMunnaEetChoo, you've got your Tsubaki combos down pretty well and you're pretty good at picking your spot Imp, I took some notes from your Ragna too, but if you want to know anything about Ragna drop me a PM (I can't guarantee it'll be 100% correct though!).

Tager is pretty annoying as you have to play a little differently, as Ragna at least, but I've found that you want to keep, roughly, at 5B distance away, which if it connects lets you follow with 5C -> 214A -> 214D for a bit of damage and a knock down. As you may have noticed though I'm not very disciplined in that fight (or any for that matter atm) and keep leaving myself wide open, as it's trying to follow up after that combo where mistakes are made and I get 720'ed

Anyway I was just pleased that I managed to land a double Belial Edge combo last night after messing up so many jump cancels.

[rafrasilecs]

Good games all round again. Sorry I had to shoot but today's an arse for loads of meetings and work...Normal service will be resumed on Wednesday.

I also have a new combo that I've been keeping back from airing in games. I may bust it out in a lobby soon. The issue is it's character dependent for the long version of it (it only works on the bigger ones which means fighting lots of Tager, and I have the fear)

[imp]

At first CS2 was released just to add the three DLC characters to the arcade versions, but they've since made some balance changes. I've read that Platinum the Trinity is being released as DLC in Spring, but it's not yet clear if they'll patch in the changes that have been introduced in CS2 or give it a full release.

Good games to the both of you too. AhMunnaEetChoo, you've got your Tsubaki combos down pretty well and you're pretty good at picking your spot Imp, I took some notes from your Ragna too, but if you want to know anything about Ragna drop me a PM (I can't guarantee it'll be 100% correct though!).

Tager is pretty annoying as you have to play a little differently, as Ragna at least, but I've found that you want to keep, roughly, at 5B distance away, which if it connects lets you follow with 5C -> 214A -> 214D for a bit of damage and a knock down. As you may have noticed though I'm not very disciplined in that fight (or any for that matter atm) and keep leaving myself wide open, as it's trying to follow up after that combo where mistakes are made and I get 720'ed

Anyway I was just pleased that I managed to land a double Belial Edge combo last night after messing up so many jump cancels.

Excellent, I'll probably take you up on that offer at some point. I'm really feeling Ragna at the moment - much more than Jin or Arakune, since their changes feel weird to me. I dunno if Ragna's had a lot of changes since CT in which I didn't really get on with him, or maybe it's just that I'm starting from scratch with a character new to me (rather than adapting to nerfs) but I feel quite comfortable using him. God help me I can't resist a character with a good SRK.

.... please tell me how to do this double Belial Edge combo. I live for flash!

[Pochacco]

Zavvi are godawful shit and I won't be using them again.

They despatched the game 29/11 and it's now 14/12 and still nothing.

I emailed them after the 10 day period they ask you to allow in which they state on the website that they'll respond within 48 hours and have they? No.

Poor poor service.

[klargon]

I haven't received my pre-ordered LE either. Problem is, I didn't get any post for over a week, so I'm not sure where the blame lies. It's usually Royal Mail.

[Pochacco]

Finally received a reply from Zavvi - they expected that it should have been with me by now and offered to resend or refund. I opted for the resend since I'd like the LE.

Hopefully that won't get lost in the post.

[Jonster]

Excellent, I'll probably take you up on that offer at some point. I'm really feeling Ragna at the moment - much more than Jin or Arakune, since their changes feel weird to me. I dunno if Ragna's had a lot of changes since CT in which I didn't really get on with him, or maybe it's just that I'm starting from scratch with a character new to me (rather than adapting to nerfs) but I feel quite comfortable using him. God help me I can't resist a character with a good SRK.

.... please tell me how to do this double Belial Edge combo. I live for flash!

I've not noticed a lot of changes with Ragna, he's gained a couple of new combos and a new move but the majority of what I was doing in CT is working in CS.

Anyway: The only way I've landed a double BE combo in an actual match so far is from a mid-screen Inferno Divider. The combo is:

623C -> 236C -> 236C -> 5B -> 6A -> (hjc)j.C -> J.D -> (jc)j.C -> 214C -> 6D -> j.D -> (jc)j.C -> 214C -> 5D -> 623D -> 236C -> 214D

The 2nd 236C from the initial Inferno Divider needs to be fairly late, the later the better in fact, however the tricky part is the 5B which needs to be just before the opponent touches the ground else the 6A won't connect as they'll be too high. The j.C in italics could actually be a j.D, I'm at work and can't look it up at the moment. The 6D needs to be done as soon as possible when you hit the ground after the first BE, not sure if you're aware but it leaves you in the air so you don't need to jump cancel the following j.D. The combo I've listed is the most damage (I've found) after the 2nd BE, plus the drive attacks in it will give you a nice bit of health back (just realised you could end with a carnage scissors too after the 5D if you have the meter). Just to note the 5D at the end can be either one or both hits, I think letting both hit is more damage and health recovery though. The timing towards the end does start to become fairly strict but it will come with practice.

Also if I remember rightly the combo is possible to start from 5B -> 5C -> 5D -> dc -> 6A -> (hjc) J.C (it's the same from this point), however you need to be right next to the opponent to follow up, but I also think it's possible to dash cancel into 5B -> 6A or just 5C before the jump cancel which will give you a little more range. I also remember reading that it's possible to do the combo from a throw, however I haven't got the timing for that down at all yet, although you can link a dash 2C from 4B+C in my experience it does seem character specific. At the moment I'm doing 4B+C -> (dash) 2C -> 5D -> 214B -> 214D as I seem to think it does more damage than 4B+C -> 214B -> (delay) 214D -> 5B -> 623D -> 236C -> 214D (but I'm still using this from 5B+C) although from the 2C you're supposed to be able to link to 6A and then the air combo (I am doing this from memory while at work though so this link is a bit hazy).

And that became quite a lengthy ramble.

TL;DR version: 623C -> 236C -> 236C -> 5B -> 6A -> (hjc)j.C -> J.D -> (jc)j.C -> 214C -> 6D -> j.D -> (jc)j.C -> 214C -> 5D -> 623D -> 236C -> 214D

[Jonster]

Finally received a reply from Zavvi - they expected that it should have been with me by now and offered to resend or refund. I opted for the resend since I'd like the LE.

Hopefully that won't get lost in the post.

Fingers crossed for you! I'm enjoying this a fair bit, although will more when I've got tomorrow's exam out of the way

[imp]

Just been in the lab doing a little Ranga Research based on the good sir Jonster's postulations. This will henceforth be known as Ragnalysis.

I can confirm the italicised j.C is correct!

The combo can also be done from a ground to ground 6A. I guess it's a little impractical as it's never a great way to start a combo, but it takes away the pain of SJC timings in your combo. When SJCs are involved, the Belial Edge doesn't seem to hit right to the ground every time, even when the heat combo is still legit.

Anyway, the tabulation would be 6A -> (JC)j.C -> j.D -> (JC)j.C -> 214C -> 6D -> j.D -> (JC)j.C* -> 214C -> 5D -> 623D -> 236C -> 214D

*you have to jump cancel this pretty quickly for the combo to continue without the enemy being able to ukemi out. Well, I find it the trickiest part of the combo at least.

So basically.... it's a bit more trouble than it's worth anyway. The whole combo above does 2750ish damage. The much easier

6A -> (JC)j.C -> j.D -> (JC)j.C -> 214C -> 5D (both hits) -> 214B -> 214D

is simpler and does 2693 damage. It's not as flashy, which means I'll be going for the double Belial anyway, but it's more practical I think.

As for the combo proper as described by Jonster, it's awesome fun, and I think the health regen properties make it good. I think if you're confident in your execution, it's a no brainer, since even if the Belial doesn't fully connect, the combo up to that point is around 2040 - 2152 IIRC. The rest of the combo doesn't add a lot more damage though, so if you're about playing it safe and doing damage it's safer and easier to go with

623C -> 236C -> 236C -> 5B -> 623D -> 236C ->214D

which does about 1600 damage IIRC. 2000ish if you start with the D version of inferno divider. What's the deal with that one by the way? Poorer invincibility frames? Basically just for use as a combo ender?

[Spuck]

I'm using Makoto a lot at the moment.

Range is hilariously short, has huge trouble getting in up close...but good god when you DO get in she's terrifying, mixups on mixups. Pretty nuts damage in the corner as well, and of her charged D drives connects and you're eating 3.5-6k in beatings.

Ask Rafra about how much fun her sliding under Lambas swords is, hehe.

[imp]

I'm using Makoto a lot at the moment.

Range is hilariously short, has huge trouble getting in up close...but good god when you DO get in she's terrifying, mixups on mixups. Pretty nuts damage in the corner as well, and of her charged D drives connects and you're eating 3.5-6k in beatings.

Ask Rafra about how much fun her sliding under Lambas swords is, hehe.

Weyyyy!

[Camel]

Lovely Stephaine from Zavvi said my Makoto code will be emailed later this week. Will let you know when it hits for those also waiting.

Did this ever arrive? I've had nothing so far.

[Spuck]

Weyyyy!

I'm here all week*

*literally, I'm unemployed

[Pochacco]

Fingers crossed for you! I'm enjoying this a fair bit, although will more when I've got tomorrow's exam out of the way

I hate missing out on all the fun and you guys have had a head start over me

As for the DLC code I may ask Zavvi for one since I've had to wait the best part of two weeks for the game that still isn't here *shakes fist*

[imp]

I'm here all week*

*literally, I'm unemployed

I spent a while trying to think of more lab work puns after being quite pleased with 'Ragnalysis'.

The best I can do is Jinvestigation. There, the gauntlet is thrown. Please better this.

[Spuck]

I spent a while trying to think of more lab work puns after being quite pleased with 'Ragnalysis'.

The best I can do is Jinvestigation. There, the gauntlet is thrown. Please better this.

Valkenhomework?

[imp]

Hahaha, aces. JLM is posting though, so I think we're about to see some master punnery.

[Willei]

Tagernomics

Arakconnaissance

Carlustration (fucking thesauruses, how do they work)

[imp]

This thread has taken a turn for the excellent!

Litchi Faye Linquisition.

Rachel AlucaR&D.

The second is a bit of a stretch I know.

[Spuck]

Tagernomics

Carlustration (fucking thesauruses, how do they work)

Isn't that one from the infamous MikeZ?

The Tao of Tao

[Kayin Amoh]

My word, Score Attack is a little bit tough. Unlimited Hakumen and Unlimited Hazama are assholes of the highest order.

[Willei]

Isn't that one from the infamous MikeZ?

That might be why it came to mind so easily! Tagernometry then.

[Jonster]

[...]the D version of inferno divider. What's the deal with that one by the way? Poorer invincibility frames? Basically just for use as a combo ender?

The C version has invincibility from the first frame so is great as a reversal tool. The D version has more range and damage, but with the less invincibilty is lesser used in my experience. You can catch people out with it and with either version you're in for a world of hurt if blocked (or worse, missed entirely).

[Jonster]

Did this ever arrive? I've had nothing so far.

I had an email from them today stating I should have a code within the week.

[imp]

Good lobby tonight!

Willei downloaded me, Jonster taught me what it truly means to be a Ragna, and Choo showed me that pressure conquers all.

Also, cheers for showing me the comment function. Those are great!

[Jonster]

Good games in the lobby tonight.

AhMunnsEetChoo, your Tsubaki is shaping up incredibly well at the moment. Imp shows a patience I could only dream of and subsequently his Ragna is becoming deadly; and Willei's Hazama is an absolute beast. I was amazed at how every tool seemed to fit together in your game, makes me want to learn the character myself. Although I should stop running into the claw thing, it doesn't help my health.

Astral Finishes are becoming a concern of mine, as soon as I notice I meet the requirements to do one I have to try. Especially as you can combo into it from a throw into the corner...