Time to give up on Hoyoverse? (All gone!)

 After my recent "fun" with Honkai: Star Rail and my trial of Honkai Impact, I've updated Genshin Impact and visited their new area, Natlan.

I found that I ended up in a battle I couldn't win.  I also couldn't leave.

I'm only at account level 42, although my main character is at level 70.  Genshin Impact developers apparently feel depressed over negative feedback.  I'm considering removing their games from my devices.

This isn't the first time they've put me in a situation that was impossible.  I'm sure with all the money they've made that they're constantly thinking about the money and not how it feels to play when you're not fully leveled up.  If I return in one year, maybe, it will be okay, similar to the Knights of Beauty mess that happened in Honkai: Star Rail.

I appreciate that they're working on ways to make it fresh.  It's always been a struggle to play.  Maybe, this will save me some disk space.

Update 2024.08.30: After I lost the battle a few times, they gave me the option to downgrade my World Level to 4.  I finished the battle successfully.

While I was avoiding being in a loop, I made some progress in the other account on a quest that was taking too long, which got me into another quest that will take too long.

There is a common theme to upgrade the other characters and I haven't had much luck getting the materials, due to battle problems.  Is this the outcome of not spending real money?  It probably hurts.  I still haven't seen Inazuma because I haven't completed some huge quests since I can't figure out the puzzles.  I've tried a couple of walkthroughs.

Natlan is agreeable and there seem to be fewer enemies, but I haven't got into the two specific World Quests.

 

Update 2024.12.23: I just removed Genshin Impact from my drive.  I tried to use the relocate functionality to move it to a portable drive but that doesn't seem to work.  It was taking 11% of my 1 TB drive.  I've been looking at spending for a 4 TB drive, but I bought some photographic equipment instead.  My Mac's 1 TB drive is worse at around 100 GB free but it still works fine at that size of free space where Windows seems to be confused and works erratically.

I'm still opening Honkai: Star Rail every day and still building characters, but I'm not really up to date, even though many of my characters are at maximum.

I tried one of the character trials in Genshin Impact a few days ago, and it was too much for me.  I might be able to do better if I was playing every day, but I haven't made progress in months.

Update 2025.09.23: It's been a little over a year and I've tried to keep Honkai: Star Rail going but it's just not fun.  Genshin Impact was more work than fun and Honkai Impact 3rd was just crap.

I've been playing Solo Leveling: Arise for over 1 year and I took up Wuthering Waves before their 1st anniversary.  I'm still playing Tower of God: New World on the portable devices.  I'll probably tire of those eventually. 

Trial of the Equilibrium: Part Five

 I'm at level 60, which means I have to face the Trial of the Equilibrium again.

Five star characters will be helpful, although not entirely necessary.  One account has Yanqing, Bailu, Bronya, and Gepard, while the other has Himeko, Seele, and Clara.  I just received Welt Yang on the account with Bailu.  After seeing what this character can do in a tryout, I have interest in seeing how he faces difficult enemies.  Getting him to level 70, along with his 5-star Light Cone, is taking some time.

On the account that doesn't have Bailu, I received her 5-star Light Cone and it is giving Natasha much-needed endurance.  That also took some time to get to almost level 70.

Previously, I mentioned upgrading Traces with the Echo of War environments.  You can make some important changes by finishing some of these enhancements--more DEF, more ATK, more HP.

 It's finished

 I tried one account and then, the other.  Both were finished in just a few minutes.

I had Qingque, March 7th. Bailu, and Dan Heng on one team.  That's the account that also has Yanqing, Welt Yang, Bronya, and Gepard.  I wanted to see how Welt Yang did in the Trial, but he wasn't necessary.  I'm surprised that everyone did so well.  However,  there must have been some mistake on the rewards, as nothing much appeared.

The other account had Dan Heng, Natasha, Clara, and Seele.  That account also has Himeko, which I was finishing upgrading.  I considered using my main character, which is on the path of Preservation, rather than Destruction.  He doesn't have many Eidolons, but he is powerful.

Well, I'm ready to Ascend my main character on the way to level 80.  They want 180,000 credits for the character and 200,000 credits for the Light Cone, which might take a while to finish four to six characters.  Is there life beyond level 80 yet?

Update 2023.07.19: Updated to version 1.2, On one account, I've got the main character (Preservation) up to level 80, but his Light Cone is only at level 71.  On the other account, I have longer to go, as I was trying to get Welt Yang to level 70, as well as getting my main character (Destruction) to level 80.

The account with the Preservation main character has completed the mission with Phantylia, The Ascended, etc.  After completing a new Forgotten Hall, I got the 4-star character Yukong.  Since characters that can create Imaginary Damage are few, this is good.  However, during the episode, the main character reverted from Preservation to Destruction, which was surprising but was during a battle.

Both accounts are through the battle with Phantylia.  That's amazing without any level 80 character. Still haven't spent any real money.

Honkai: Star Rail, 2 months later

 Did you think that you would get so far?  Did you find the right combination to get what you wanted?

I have a co-worker, who is at a low level, asking me again if I got Silver Wolf.  I haven't.  I don't believe that I need her.  (I now have Welt, and his 5-star Light Cone, on one account!)

I've learnt plenty about my characters and in the Trial of Equilibrium, Part Four, I found that two 4-star characters work just fine.  Properly fitted, a 5-star character can do better, but that isn't necessary.  Bailu can revive "the dead", unlike Natasha, but Natasha has done just fine where I didn't have Bailu.  (However, I have a 5-star Light Cone that I want Natasha to use, but I don't have another Abundance character to host it until it's at maximum level. Having two doctors on the other account works wonders.)

Finding the right combination for a character is important.  After Trial of the Equilibrium, Part Four, I removed the relics of all important characters and used recommended sets.  This provided a much bigger upswing in the statistics than guessing which ones would work well.

As well, I found two 5-star Light Cones for the main character in Herta's Store.  This not only makes a difference for the main character, but allows another character to use a powerful Light Cone.  Destruction Light Cones have been in short supply for me.  On the other account where I switched the main character to Preservation, this still helped to bring March 7th up a notch.

I've chosen to raise the level of Qingque just after the main character, because of the Quantum damage.  This has resulted in easier victories against Arumaton Gatekeepers.

Getting supplies to push characters to level 70 is difficult.  I need loads of credits and loads of materials for the Synthesizer.  This will take time.  I can only imagine that pushing them to level 80 will be almost impossible and require loads of time.  Still, I'm not paying real money.

Update 2023.07.09: This really is taking time.  I find the materials to update a Light Cone on one character and run out of money.  Then, I can't seem to get enough Trailblaze power to complete Calyx runs.  Version 1.2 is arriving shortly.  I guess it won't be much different, since I'm already everywhere, trying to accomplish everything.

Those Traces on the edges need to be in use.  You need to complete Echo of War battles to complete the two that are keeping those from being used.

Complete the two toward the bottom and work your way up each line to increase abilities.

Honkai: Star Rail, One Month Later

Isn't it amazing how far we've come since May 1st?

I had no real clue what this game would be but I knew that I had no luck with Genshin Impact and would try anyway.  I didn't want to spend real money.  That would probably limit things more than I would hope.

I have two accounts.  I started one on May 1st and hit a road block quickly, and I used another account that was also connected to Genshin Impact.

One account has Yanqing, Bailu, Bronya, and Gepard, while the other has Himeko, Seele, and Clara.  It's good to have such characters for the sake of progress.  The set of four have been able to take on level 53 characters and win.

 I've seen some lists that say some of the characters I have aren't the best.  Still, they're 5-star characters and are more capable than 4-star characters, in general.  It's odd to think that I have all of these characters at level 50 or more.  They'll be at level 60 within a day or two.  I noticed the Aptitude Showcase has characters at level 80.

Yanqing seems to do most of the work for Bronya, while she increases damage potential.  Bailu is a more versatile doctor than Natasha but either will do.  Gepard, being a Preservation character is an interesting mix of attacking enemies and keeping allies safe.

Himeko is useful but falls too easily, similar to Serval.  They can both deal a lot of damage but they'll be out of the battle sooner than others.  Seele is holy-shit amazing but she leaves the battle too quickly.  Clara is a strange mix of her and Mister Svarog.

IMHO, some of the characters like Dan Heng are much more than 4-star characters and some of the 5-star characters aren't as good as they could be.  I guess that they can't have 4.5-star characters, though.  It's interesting to use Dan Heng and Yanqing on the same team.  Much more is accomplished quickly.

There are so many little things to do to make these characters do their best.  Changing things once you think it's finished is difficult, but it works in the end.  I've switched Light Cones at fairly critical times simply because a 5-star Light Cone arrived.

The good thing in all of this is that I'm not spending money and I'm giving Honkai: Star Rail the attention it needs without making it an obsession.  I've seen loads of people spend hundreds of dollars on Genshin Impact.  I wouldn't, which is partly why I'm only at level 8 and you have to be at level 15 for anything interesting to happen.  On Honkai: Star Rail, one account is at Trailblaze level 44 and the other is at level 42.  That's pretty good, especially since no real money has been involved.

Of course, you need to get your character's level and Light Cone level as high as possible, but make sure all Traces are complete and buy 4-star Relics when possible.  Switch when necessary.  You can always build them on one character and switch them later.  Enhancing Relics is something I haven't found straightfoward.

Update 2023.06.13: Most of the 5-star characters are at level 60 and many 4-star characters are at level 60, as well.  I'm working on finishing traces for level 60.  The account with Himeko is at level 45 and is facing the Ebon Deer, without much success so far.  I've removed Himeko for the moment, as she isn't effective.  Qingque is probably more important, given the Quantum DMG, along with Seele.

Special Rail Passes did not get me a new character but Serval on each side, turning into an Eidolon, which boosted her.

Update 2023.06.16: Still feel the need for one Abundance character and one Preservation character to keep the team going.  Attempting to upgrade March 7th on the account that doesn't have Gepard.

Trial of the Equilibrium, Part Four is upon me, on one account.  One is at level 50, and the other is at level 48.  Most important characters are at level 60.  Is that enough?  I have no choice.  They can't be upgraded until the test is complete.  What combination will work?  Quantum DMG is probably a wise option, but Qingque is a four-star character and isn't strong.  Then again, Seele, on the other account, is a 5-star character who falls too easily.

Update 2023.06.18: Arumaton (Gatekeeper) is in the fourth Trial of the Equilibrium and is a pain, defeating every team quickly.  I finally finished one of the other missions where an Arumaton was involved.  Of course, it wasn't level 60 and the one in the trial is at level 60.

I've upgraded Herta on both accounts.  She and Qingque make it difficult for the Arumaton.

Update 2023.06.20: Both of my accounts are at level 50.  I continue to receive the "relic levels are low" message but I can't go get better relics because I get the "underpowered" message when I try Cavern of Corrosion or other bits where I could receive better relics.

Oh, and on the account with fewer 5-star characters, I changed the main character to Preservation.  This means that the character uses fire and needs to have his Light Cone replaced with one from Preservation.  It also means that all of the Eidolons that were already there (all six) did not apply.  I wonder if they're waiting, so if I switch the character back to Destruction, they'll be there.  He's weaker and stronger, at the same time.

Update 2023.06.25: Trail of Equilibrium, Part 4 has been succeeded on both accounts.  This took a lot of relic enhancing, a Kinetic Cannon, some Cosmic Fried Rice, and a disposable shield.  Accounts are at level 53 and level 52.

Honkai: Star Rail, without real money

I've been playing Honkai: Star Rail since it was available, a few weeks.  One account is at level 33 and the other is at level 32.  I haven't spent any real money to get them there.

Unfortunately, my experience with the Trial of the Equilibrium on the earlier one hadn't given me an easier path on the other.  Having a 5-star character hasn't been an overwhelming advantage, either.  Get your powerful Light Cones early and get them enhancements.  You can begin with 3-star Light Cones but once you have them where you want them and realize that they're not as powerful as you had hoped, you'll be want better.  This is likely the way they get people to pay real money--frustration.  Genshin Impact is the same way.

There are a lot of ways to build the characters you need, so that you can switch between them.  The Calyx challenges have been extremely helpful in returning valuable resources for raising team members.  The only cost has been internal to the game.  You must be patient or pay greatly.

That Trial of Equilibrium is a pain.  I tried various characters, including one 5-star character, but the combination hadn't been enough.  The good thing is that any Trailblazer experience you earn isn't limited just because you haven't passed the Trial of Equilibrium.  Eventually, I passed both of them and when the second Trial arrived, it was much easier.

I finished Jarilo VI with a lot of effort, some frustration, and some inspiration.  I continue to handle missions on the space station and Jarilo VI.

What's surprising is that I was inspired during combat by Epic Games' Battle Breakers.  Those characters didn't move from their spots, but knowing how to assign characters, to balance abilities, was helpful.  I was over level 500 on Battle Breakers and wasn't one to spend money.

Honkai: Star Rail is so different from Genshin Impact that I can't imagine that they're from the same company.

During the first week, I saw reviews stating that the author was at level 50.  That must have taken a lot of money and time that I don't have to spend.  I believe that I will arrive there, but in the next month or two.  That's soon enough for me.

Update 2023.05.26: Version 1.1 arriving soon.  Highlights page already online.

Update 2023.06.01: Level 40 on one account, 38 on the other.  Trial of Equilibrium is once again a big issue.  I'm seeing a message about relics needing to be at a higher level.  Characters are at level 50 and Light Cones are also at level 50.  Except for relics, things are the best that they can be.

Update 2023.06.04: Level 42 on one account, 40 on the other.  I'm through the Trial of Equilibrium again.  I used three 5-star characters and one four-star character.  It wasn't easy, but I had to revive two characters after the battle with the Fridgid Prowler and bring up the HP on everyone.  Consumables are good for that.  I used Cosmic Fried Rice.  The other battle was somewhat easier.

I still haven't spent any real money, but it looks as though it's going to be a lot more difficult without it.  The future seems to be relics-related.

Warning: If you don't go into Stagnant Shadow and get supplies before Trailblaze level 40, you might not be able to do it at all.  I keep seeing "Team is too underpowered message", even though I have three 5-star characters and all four characters are at level 50.  You can set the difficult level lower, but your rewards won't be as good, and will take more tries to win.

Update 2023.06.06: There are about 5.5 hours until the new version will be available.  I'm not sure it will make a difference but hopefully, bugs will be fixed and things will work more smoothly.

The Simulated Universe is up to level 58 characters, so I'm unable to play it too far, as most of my characters are level 50.  I've got two characters on each account ascended, on their way to level 60.

It's interesting that I have so many 5-star characters when I see videos of people giving tips that don't have as much as I do.

One account has Yanqing, Bailu, Bronya, and Gepard, while the other has Himeko, Seele, and Clara.  It's good to have such characters for the sake of progress.  The set of four have been able to take on level 53 characters and win.

Tried the game on a Google Pixel 6a, which was miserable and an Apple 2022 iPhone SE, which was acceptable, but still not great.  They've got issues to smooth out.  My Windows laptop computer with 16 GB of RAM and Nvidia RTX 3050Ti works fine, though, producing a lot of hot air. 

Update 2023.06.25: Trial of Equilibrium: Part 4 has been succeeded on both accounts.  This took a lot of relic enhancing, a Kinetic Cannon, some Cosmic Fried Rice, and a disposable shield.  Accounts are at level 53 and level 52.

Update 2023.07.30: I've surpassed the Trial of Equilibrium: Part Five and it was easier than expected.  I have at least one character at level 80 on each account and a few others close to that.  I'm filling every slot possible, and it's taking time but I'm doing it without using any real money.  Trailblaze level 62 doesn't really look any different from the lower levels, but it isn't easy to finish characters at this level.  Tasks are simpler, due to familiarity with the environments and characters' abilities.

All this has given me time to try Genshin Impact again.  One account is at level 13, and the other is at level 9.  Prior to playing Honkai: Star Rail, I was stuck at Adventurer level 6 in Genshin Impact.