2013-09-17, 11:06 AM
Maple Story does have -some- learning curve, as I've figured out by trying to guide someone completely new to the game. But for the most part, that curve is simply learning all the features, not so much the training. Having said that, I have run into Kaisers doing it wrong (simply using dragon slash in 4th job instead of holding left and right to turn that into Blade Burst and fill the gauge while doing more damage...)
But in the end, what can you reasonably expect to accomplish without NX? On regular level 75-110 equips, 6% stat is manageable, especially with alchemy. I'll even be as generous as to deem 9% possible, as I have revealed a 9% Dex unique pirate hat once and an epic Tempest Pendant came out 9% Dex thanks to 6+3 matching %Dex lines.
An Empress set seems possible enough. Apparently those get sold for mesos nowadays. But due to the rarity of the equipment, you're likely not going to have a useful potential on it. As for the scrolling, recent events have made it possible to +10 weapons with 5 attack scrolls, thanks to CSS's with no boom possibilities.
But that's pretty much where it stops. You can't throw tons of EE stars on your equipment safely because there's no non-NX equivalent to guardian scrolls. You can't cube 18% stat or better on your Empress gears, then also cube bonus potential as well. And good luck getting anything higher than Empress stuff, because those basically aren't available for mesos. And ultimately, even with what you can get for free, you're still a sub-par player who gets hit with a glass ceiling and shown content you can't participate in effectively.
But in the end, what can you reasonably expect to accomplish without NX? On regular level 75-110 equips, 6% stat is manageable, especially with alchemy. I'll even be as generous as to deem 9% possible, as I have revealed a 9% Dex unique pirate hat once and an epic Tempest Pendant came out 9% Dex thanks to 6+3 matching %Dex lines.
An Empress set seems possible enough. Apparently those get sold for mesos nowadays. But due to the rarity of the equipment, you're likely not going to have a useful potential on it. As for the scrolling, recent events have made it possible to +10 weapons with 5 attack scrolls, thanks to CSS's with no boom possibilities.
But that's pretty much where it stops. You can't throw tons of EE stars on your equipment safely because there's no non-NX equivalent to guardian scrolls. You can't cube 18% stat or better on your Empress gears, then also cube bonus potential as well. And good luck getting anything higher than Empress stuff, because those basically aren't available for mesos. And ultimately, even with what you can get for free, you're still a sub-par player who gets hit with a glass ceiling and shown content you can't participate in effectively.