DoaE 3 Rise of Cao Cao
CHAPTER 2: THE RISE OF CAO CAO
Several years later, Liu Bei’s home territory of Xuzhou has become a protectorate of the Prime Minister Cao Cao, and the brothers now serve him as vassels. Recognizing Cao Cao as a greedy man who seeks only conquest, Liu Bei plots with other dissenters to overthrow him. In the mean time, he bides his time by carrying out Cao Cao’s orders and attacking the pretender Yuan Shu.
Xuzhou Region —————— Treasure/Spells Locations: a. Mirror in Liu Bei’s house (Gold) b. Lower-right pot in Liu Bei’s house (Leaf Spell) c. Dresser in lower-right house (Spell) d. Dresser in house left of Liu Bei’s house (Cure Spell) Shop List: ————- -Potion (HP +50)…..15G -Revive……………..600G -Antidote………………5G -x -Steed…………….6000G -Sword……………..250G -Sabre……………..900G -Spear…………….1100G -Spear 2.0……….1200G -Shield 2.0…………370G -Shield 3.0…………600G -Shield……………..260G -Helmet…………….150G -Helmet 2.0………..300G -Armor……………..290G -Armor 2.0………..550G
Now you are in Xuzhou. Enter the castle to talk to Cao Cao, he will order you to subdue Yuan Shu’s remaining forces in the eastern cave. At the shop there is a new spear for Zhang Fei and better armor for everyone. Exit south to the world map. You can use the start button to check out the map of China. The foes from before are still in battles although they are now more powerful and the bandits will now use the blind spell (indicated by a bandana above your head).
To the east are the cave, where you need to go, and a gate to the south which you aren’t allowed through. The enemies in the cave are stronger than the ones you have faced so you may want to build a level or two before going in. Also at this point, I would put Liu Bei in the back row so he will take less damage, as I use him as a healer and spellcaster.
Eastern Cave —————– Enemies: Spearman (100 HP), Axeman, Prisoner (60 HP) Treasures: Remedy?, Gold, Wind Scroll, Hi-Ether Spells: Ice, Blind
Beware, the prisoners here (garbed in green) use the drain spell sometimes. Anyway follow the path through the cave. At the first fork, south is a dead end, so go north. For the next fork, head left for some treasure and then continue north. Next fork, the north path has two items and the west path continues in. At the final fork, go north for an ice spell and then go right for the blind spell and the boss room.
Boss: Yuan Shu ——————- HP: 750 You’ll want to be at least level 10 for this boss, preferably higher. Yuan Shu will mostly use physical attacks, although sometimes he uses a protect spell. Use your limit breaks when they build up and heal whenever you get hit, because he does a lot of damage. You should have picked up an attack item that you may want to use on him, it should do over 100 damage.
After a while he will fall, although one of your party members will probably have been knocked out. After he dies, get the hi-ether (MP+80) from the pot and return to Xuzhou.
Xuzhou Region —————— Stock up on potions and revives before you report to Cao Cao. When you enter the castle, the brothers report, then go home to rest. A messenger comes in to warn them about Cao Cao, but before they can leave an assassin enters. Boss: Che Zhou —————— HP: 900 You will be using a lot of healing if your levels are low, as the boss can do high damage. He will mostly attack unless he needs to heal, in which case he has a move that recovers 70 hp. Have Zhang Fei and Guan Yu attack, while Liu Bei heals and revives people. You will get your limit breaks sooner because of the high damage, so use them whenever possible. Eventually he will die. Restock (make sure you get more revives, you cannot buy them at the next town), remove Guan Yu’s spells if he has any, and flee out the southern gate. Cao Cao will confront you with his troops, but Liu Bei and Zhang Fei break out while Guan Yu stays behind. Go east and south to the gate. The guard will let you by now. Continue east to Qingzhou.
Qingzhou Region ——————– Treasure/Spells Locations: a. Lower-right house, middle pot in the upper right (Gold) b. Lower-right house, dresser (Hi-Potion) c. Lower-left house, upper pot (Leaf Spell, 2nd Copy) Shop List ———– Potion…………………15G Ether…………………500G Antidote………………..5G Status Cure?……….150G Fire Scroll…………..200G Steed……………….6000G Sword………………..250G Sword 2.0…………..700G Saber………………1300G Spear………………1200G Shield 3.0…………..600G Shield……………….580G Shield 2.0…………..700G (yes, it’s worse than 3.0 but costs more) Helmet………………500G Armor……………….550G Armor 2.0………….790G
There is some new equipment here to pick up, make sure to get a Saber for Guan Yu. When you enter the castle, Yuan Shao and the brothers will talk. Liu Bei asks to serve under Yuan Shao, but the meeting is interrupted by a guard who says Cao Cao is on the move. Yan Liang and Wen Chou move out and Yuan Shao requests that you assist them. Leave Qingzhou and go west under the forest until you reach a path.
Qingzhou Forest ——————– Enemies: Mace Soldier (~90 HP), Fat Soldier (~80 HP), Serpent (70 HP) Treasures: Hi-Potion, Steed Spells: Thunder
Be careful here, the enemies are stronger and you only have two party members. From the entrance, go left to an item in a pot and a spell in another pot further on. Then return to the entrance and go north along the path to the next screen. Here, go all the way left to a pot with a steed, then back and up to the upper-right corner for another item. Follow the path left to proceed. On the next screen, some guards will be waiting to stop you, but Yuan Shao’s men run by while you have them distracted.
Boss: Lu Qian —————– HP: 950-1000
Lots of healing here. Hopefully you are at level 15 or above by now. The boss will alternate between physicals, a weak fire attack, and a spell that lowers your attack power for a few turns. Pummel him with magic and limit breaks, but don’t take chances with healing. Leave to the left. On the world map, go to the next gate. Guan Yu is guaring the gate and he kills Yan Liang and Wen Chou, but you meet up and he rejoins. Liu Bei realizes that Yuan Shao will not be happy that Guan Yu has slain his guards, so the brothers decide to seek refuge with Liu Biao to the south. Give Guan Yu back any spells you took off him. Go south to Runan.
Runan ——– Treasure/Spells: a. Lower right house, twin pots (Status cure spell?) b. Lower left house, blue-capped pot (Gold) Shop List ———— Potion……………..15G Hi-Potion…………250G Ether……………..500G Revive……………600G Steed……………4000G Status Cure?……..70G Sword…………..1200G Spear……………1200G Spear 2.0………1700G Shield…………….700G Helmet………….1000G Armor…………..1200G Shield 2.0………1960G
Restock and rest, and buy some new gear. Talk to the old man in one of the houses; he will tell you to search the cave to the west (this is mandatory). There are two paths here, a mountain path south of the village or the western cave. Go to the cave first.
Teleport Cave —————– Enemies: Serpent (90 HP), Imp (90 HP), Griffin (100 HP) Treasures: Thunder Scroll, Spear, Shield Spells: Earth, Poison, Orochi Summon The serpents here are no different from the ones in the forest, however the Imps will use both HP-drain and MP-drain spells and the griffins like to cast mute and speed-down.
Also, Guan Yu will be at the level he was when you split up, so make sure he doesn’t take much damage. There are three yin-yang teleport pads on the first floor, so clear out the enemies and take one up to the second level. In the center of this floor are three pots with an item, a spear for Zhang Fei, and a new spell. Go to the lower right and follow the path around to two more pots containing another spell and an item. There is no more treaure here now, although you may want to build some levels on the monsters. Use the teleport pad north of the center. On the third floor, go down to the south-west exit and head through. Zhao Yun will be here being threatened by a boss.
Boss: Orochi —————- HP: 1250-1300
Your levels should be high enough that this guy is cake, he will only ever attack or sometimes use an ice spell. Use the potions and cure spell to heal, and take him out. You will receive your first summon spell for killing him. Zhao Yun will join the party now at level 15. Return to the village, stock up and rest, buy new gear for Zhao Yun and sell any obsolete gear, speak to the old man to get a gate pass, and leave through the eastern gate.
Continue south to the mountain path.
Mountain Path —————- Enemies: Spearman (100 HP), Archer (~110 HP), Swordsman (120 HP) Treasures: Armor, Gold, Steed, Sword Spells: Ice-All, Thunder (2nd copy), Revive
The Spearmen here are no better than before, but the Archers and Swordsmen can do good damage. The Swordsmen like to use a power-up spell, so you may want to target them first. Walk all the way right and then up to find two pots with an item and new armor. Continue on the main path to the fork. Take the north path and follow it all the way until you reach the next screen. Here the pots contain a new sword, spells, and a steed. Return to the first screen and take the left path back to the second screen. At the next fork, go south to find a pot on your right with a Revive spell and one farther left with an item that heals HP and MP by 100. Head back to the fork and follow the right path until you exit to the world map. Enter the gate. The party will try to pass through, but Zhang Liao comes out to stop them.
Boss: Zhang Liao ———————– HP: 1800
He will alternate between physicals (with a pretty high chance of critical) and healing himself for 100. Have Guan Yu and Zhang Fei attack, Liu Bei use magic, and Zhao Yun heal. This battle should not be too hard, but try to have Zhao Yun alive at the end so he can get some of the experience. Being beaten, he will let you through.