Girls Frontline

[NullSpace84]

Pinging any other PSNP shikikans for discussion or curious passersby for a trim introduction.  With the GFL x Va-11 Hall-a collaboration in full swing, it's time to mix drinks and *end* lives.

 

What is Girls Frontline?

 

Girls Frontline is a light tactical Chinese mobile RPG from Mica Team. Commanders for Griffon & Kryuger obtain, level, organize, and deploy echelons of raifus Tactical Dolls (female android combatants, named after their assigned firearms) against the rogue A.I. dolls of Sangvis Ferri in an alternate post-WW3 near-future. It goes by Dolls Frontline on the Japanese server; any below references derive from the ENG server of GFL.

 

Got a gacha?

 

Yep, albeit largely for cosmetics. In-game dailies and logistical ops amass resources (Manpower/Ammunition/Rations/Parts) to roll for new T-Dolls, equipment, and so forth. One *could* invest a minor fortune into resources to brute-force the entire roster, but almost everybody simply runs with logistics and leans on the mildly favorable pull rates over time to bestow their ladies of choice. As hinted, 4* and 5* T-Dolls pop out at decently favorable rates under optimal recipes; moreover, several 2* and 3* T-Dolls can even play roles through midgame and later, plus the main storyline enables friend supports to ensure virtually anyone can clear the plot w/o difficulties. Currency gems trickle in anyhow through login bonuses and scattershot rewards, making it viable for F2P commanders to expand base infrastructure at a slow-going pace. All that said, anyone who eschews mobile gacha gaming by design may safety ignore GFL, no harm done! Personally, it's the only mobile title I spend a small amount of time to play, as I stick to PSN and PC for the clear majority of my electronic entertainment.

 

How's it play?

 

Three basics factor into GFL: echelon composition, map deployment, and real-time grid combat.

 

Echelons: New and leveled T-Dolls alike can slot into of a handful of Echelons, five per squadron. Unit synergy strongly encourages three core Echelon variants: AR/SMG (assault rifle + submachine gun), RF/HG (rifle + handgun), and MG/SG (machine gun + shotgun). Our ladies level via typical EXP and upgrade individual unit skills via acquired training data. Most imperatively, T-Dolls can Dummy Link with up to four copies of themselves and/or blank dummy cores upon ascension to specific level thresholds; expectedly, the 4* and 5* T-Dolls consume factors of cores above the 2* and 3* gals, in exchange for generally superior stats and skills. Tactical gear like scopes, laser sights, and ammo packs also becomes equippable after other level thresholds. An example ARSMG Echelon (not mine, although I do field each of those five in places) is depicted below.

 

 

Maps: Missions play out on node-based maps, giving a faint 2D C&C vibe. Almost every map requires an echelon to capture the enemy HQ node, although various foes and obstacles, including formidable S.F. boss units, can obstruct and therefore necessitate circumnavigation and/or judicious termination. Bonus objectives award extra medallions and modest rewards to incentivize the pot, whereas the unavoidable EXP grind can soften with proper knowledge of optimal quick clear routes. GFL's main plotline unfolds across the standard missions, whereas tougher emergency missions and specialized night missions present amplified challenges to yield additional plot bites. The maps appears as follows:

 

 

Combat: Skirmishes play out in real time whenever opposing Echelons collide. Each side fires automatically; individual unit skills can be manually selected or set to activate automatically after cooldown. Here is where echelon composition comes into play, since each unit type confers helpful tile bonuses for complementary T-Dolls positioned on said tile buffs. Since the opposing forces can complicate matters with varied assault types or unique cut-in boss skills, the player can drag units to direct them to new positions on the 3 x 3 combat grid, to counter effective return fire or minimize team damage from enemy super skills. A sample encounter appears below.

 

 

Teach Me, Miss Litchi! o/

 

While GFL *did* receive an Arc System Works crossover feat. BlazBlue and Guilty Gear, I'll defer to the experts and veterans for rigorous metagaming academics. The subreddit r/girlsfrontline plays home to a litany of sagacious if grumpy at times devotees, and the up-to-date Game Press guides provide a decent ream of accurate data. Other viable visits include the GFL Matsuda archive - ah, again, coarsely penned - and the GFDB Baka statistician database for precise T-Doll recipes and pull rates. Consult the ENG wiki solely at your own discretion; it frequently merits fact-checks against more intimate sources.

 

All the best to everyone! My UID's 154724, 10 Dorms, ARSMG friend support. Cheers~

 

Oh, and: 522 Manpower / 320 Ammunition / 404 Rations / 137 Parts = ENG decensor recipe. Posted for completion's sake. Sunborn didn't cover up much, but they permit this official workaround nevertheless.

[nyonmyan]

DORMS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqlMe39TUII

 

[TheVader66]

I finally managed to get Jill Stingray in the VA-11 HALL-A Event. It was kinda tough for me since I haven't been playing Girls Frontline since October. I forgot how much I loved its music and storytelling. Also this collab has actually made me want to get VA-11 HALL-A

 

[NullSpace84]

Awesome, congratulations on Jill!  Mica Team IMO nailed the writing tone of Va-11 Hall-a in the script for this collaboration event; since you liked it quite a lot, if you can enjoy VNs, I'd absolutely recommend Va-11 - one of my personal favorite video games from the past few years, no question. Just be aware that Va-11 Hall-a's Gil....differs, aha.

 

I myself continue to sacrifice hoards of resources to the RNG Goddess in a futile reach at KSG. Desire Sensor never bit me - until now.

 

Edit: a meager 2 - a meager *2* - contracts after, home came KSG. Public complaints succeed!

 

 

Edited August 24, 2019 by Larx
KSG!

[TheVader66]

I was hoping for my beloved Korean idol K2 but a Russian Beauty is fine as well, welcome AK-12 to my domain.