Hello,

I'm playing MR2 after a long hiatus and am currently running Lazarus (Lorica: Durahan/Arrowhead). Lazarus stems from good stock, a second generation S-Class Renocraft (Arrowhead/Henger) and a first generation, Hall of Fame pure Durahan. A crab claw was thrown in for good measure during the combining process. The resulting monster had over 1300 points in total stats (400+ Power and Defense, 200+ Skill, 60+ speed, yuk). He has about 8 techs.

I am happy with the result. Question is, where do you think I should go with this? What is your opinion? Should I go for massive power first or defense? Maybe, build Skill way up and move from there? Or, should I go off on a tangent?

I know what I would do, but I like to get another
perspective.

Varthlokkur

Personally, I would go with Skill first, then in prime heavy Power drill, then Defense. The heavy Power/Defense drills will of course build his Life way up, and then you should probably go with Intelligence so he's not as weak against those manuevers. Speed with this breed, as with most, if not all Durahan breeds, is pretty much a waste.

I have to agree on the speed portion. Though, I am a speed freak. I'd rather avoid the hit than stand there and take it. But, with the Lorica, that ain't gonna happen.

You've got a similar breakdown I had with my
recent Durahan, Varth. Your POW and DEF
are on the same level, and 200+ skill is good,
but I agree with Mordred here. SKI (also LIF)
needs to be an early priority. Also, at that high
level, your Lorica will probably fail a lot of early
drills if you train POW or DEF alot (babies tend
to have trouble with Lv. 2 drills from my
experience). Once he grows up, work the
heavy drills and SKI alot... then the usual
Durahan stuff... hitting INT when the other 4
stats get high... and forgetting SPD is a good
idea...

I think the only thing the Lorica really loses
much in from thepure Durahan is SKI... In
retrospect, Henger chips could've countered
that one... or still can if you have a save from
before the combining.

PezCat

Well, I had already thought I would spend the first year raising Skill. I am a big fan of Skill and try to keep it high. Let me outline where Lazarus is now.

Lazarus Age: 3y 8m
Class B Lorica (Durhan/Arrowhead)
Initial Stat Total: 1390
Lif: 285 Pow: 683
Int: 223 Ski: 522
Spd: 136 Def: 520

Record: 27W 0L 23KO Fame: 100 (what else?)

Never hurt, sick, runaway or resist. Style: Even / Form: Slim / Nature: Best

Been on 2 Errantries, Speed and Skill. Has 8 techniques.

Overall, I am very happy with his results so far. It took him approxiamately 2 years to get to full-size. I would like more speed out of him, but, know that is not a reality. Probably, I will do all the Speed Errantries to raise his speed as much as possible until I cannot get anymore Sharp techs.

PezCat, as for the item during combining,
I feel that the Crab's Claw was best in this case for the added defense and skill.

Thanks for the input,

Varthlokkur

Looks to me like you're doing well. A big advantage of the Lorica type is that both the main and sub-breeds have a long lifespan. This can be used (in conjunction with peaches, natch!) to raise even that pesky Speed stat to a respectable level, especially if you use the Freeze & Fight method after your monster's prime.

My own Lorica, Scorpius, is living proof:

Scorpius
Durahan/Arrowhead

LIF: 926
POW: 999
INT: 505
SKI: 876
SPD: 455
DEF: 999

Major 4 Winner, beat Poritoka in Legends Cup
Techniques: 14 (including my fave, Millionstabs)
Age: 7 years, 9 months, and still goin' strong!

Ol' Scorpy is my first Hall Of Famer. Note that I never once trained him in LIF; it's all byproduct of POW & DEF heavy drills, and errantries. I intend to battle him to the brink of death (and although he's had his Gold Peach, he has yet to taste Silver, so there are battles ahead for sure!), then combine him with my Phoenix, Shimmerwing (who's coming along quite nicely itself...). With either a Crab Claw for an initial boost or a Mock disk for increased lifespan during the combining process, I hope to get a very strong Garuda right out of the gate. My goal is to be powerful enough by the age of 6-and-a-half or so to be able to stomp Most like a cockroach...

Well, Lorica is doing well. He is 7y+ and has beaten the M-4. Game is saved on the week of the Legends Cup. I am hoping to fight the White Mocchi and crush his little skull. So, I will do that tonight. This monster has the highest combined stats of any I've had yet. His one big weakness is Speed. Just over 200. I should have all the data by tomorrow.

But, the true glory is that I sent him on the Kawrea Expedition for laughs and he got me the Joker Mask. Finally! I am very happy about that. Now to get the Zilla Beard...

Varthlokkur

all hail scorpius! all hail rob isaacson!

Hee, hee! Thanks, Torey!

Oh, BTW, after my first monster or two croaked far too early due to some bad habits I developed in (the far more forgiving!) MR1, I started using RNA's raising method. With a few minor variations - for example, I'm a Technique Hound, so I give errantries a little more attention at certain stages - I've gotten it to work very well. Tip o' the cap to RNA!

Just wanted to share that, in case anyone else would like a Lorica like mine... ;^)

Well, got good news and real bad news.

Good News
Lazarus made it into the hall of fame, got me the Joker Mask and Zilla Beard.

Bad News
I was helping my daughter with her MR2 game and saved it over mine. Most recent back-up is 25+ years earlier. Man, I coulda kicked myself.

Ah well, I can remake Lazarus and compare him to the first one. Funny how the name seem prophetic now, doesn't it?

Varthlokkur

hehehe - you are taking that real well, varthlokkur. as long as you are in a good mood about it, i will let you know that there is even a thread devoted to this kind of thing here!

A whole thread eh. Well, I lost the whole thing once. No back-up. Back in the early days when MR2 first came out. Had 100+ years. Gone! Poof!

However, it did help prove some raising/training theories.

Varthlokkur

Oh Varth, man, what a bummer! I once lost almost ten years to similar error; now I back up to a seperate mem card every three or four years with truly paranoid devotion. My condolences on your snafu. But fear not! Lazarus WILL rise again!

Lazarus has risen again!

See the first message in the tread for most of the info. The only difference is that his initial stats combined was over 1400. It will be interesting if he will surpass his former life.

Varthlokkur

Well, Lazurus has had a fruitful life and came out better for it.

Lazarus II Lorica (Durahan/Arrowhead)
S-Class and Hall of Fame

Lif: 635 Pow: 999
Int: 255 Ski: 812
Spd: 270 Def: 970

Record: 87W 1L 71KO
Purse: 151,750g
Forte: Jumping Stab

Went 60 seconds with Most and won by decision. Whouda thunk it?

Events: Defeated Blue Phoenix and Zilla King.

Great work, Vartholukkar! Had a fine life with that Lorica! And beating Most... the little white rice curd didn't have a chance!

All hail Lazarus II! All hail Varthlokkur!

Has he returned to the great beyond, Varth, or are you going to combo him?

WTG, man!