Gaiamaster FAQ v0.88 (4/2/01) by Gene
---------------------------------------

Gaiamaster (PS)
1-4 Players 
1 Disc
Genre: Board Game (Table)
Memory: 4 Blocks
Multitap, Analog Control Support

1)  Introduction
2)  Frequently Asked Questions
3)  How to play
     3.1)  At the Main Menu
     3.2)  Controls
     3.3)  Screen Layout
     3.4)  The Game Basics
     3.5)  Game Strategy
4)  Game Rules
     4.1)  Game Squares
     4.2)  Stores
     4.3)  Combat and Event Cards
     4.4)  Combat
     4.5)  Battle Skills
     4.6)  Tag Mode Rules
5)  Characters 
     5.1) Character List
     5.2) Character Comparison
6)  Story Mode
     6.1) Story Mode Walkthrough
7)  Card Lists
     7.1)  Combat Cards
     7.2)  Event Cards
8)  Maps
8)  Secrets
9)  Miscellaneous / Et Cetera


1)  Introduction
----------------
The world belongs to the mortals no more.  A phantasmal land in the sky covers 
the sun, moon and all stars.  It is the fatal time of every century.  It is the
time of Gaiamaster, the divine gnome which throws continents into chaos!  None 
of human laws have an authority from this moment.  Literally, only the 
Gaiamaster rules the universe.  None of earthly powers is strong enough to 
break the dominion of gods in the aerial land.  Now, the earth is a game boards
and mortals are pieces for the play!

This game is an original fantasy board game for the Japanese playstation that 
was released in Japan for 4800 yen.  I believe that it is the first game of 
the series.  It will be followed by versions on the Dreamcast and the Game Boy 
color.


2)  Frequently Asked Questions
------------------------------
Q) Can I play it without much knowledge of Japanese?
A) Well, it isn't that bad.  There are a lot of pictures of things and there
are only a few commands which you use regularly.  There isn't much English, 
but it is easily playable without much knowledge of Japanese.  The game is 
quite simple to play.

Q) Does the computer AI cheat?
A) Yes!

3)  How to play
---------------
This is a board (tabletop) game.  Your objective is to have the most Zenny 
(gold) at the end of the game.  The game is similar in some ways to a 
computerized version of monopoly.  There is a Go space where you collect your 
salary.  You collect property and when another player lands on your property, 
they must pay up.  However, there is also combat, skill cards that are used to 
fight in combat and event cards to use during movement on the map.

3.1)  At the Main Menu:
-----------------------

Story Mode
----------
Opening movie
character select
mission, save, next mission

Battle Mode
-----------
Can't save the game in battle mode.
Skill points don't go up
Normal is normal
Quick - players start with extra cards and properties.
Single is every character for themselves
Tag mode is team battle
begins with character selection, skill download?
then map selection
shows map, then begins
after game, can see ranking


Skill List
----------
from story mode
load data or password


Options
----------
Here are the list of options to choose from: (Start buttons exits)
Rule Options
 - Go to the Rule Options menu
Difficulty Level
 - Choose the difficulty of the computer (Easy, Medium, Hard)
Audio
 - Select the audio output (Stereo, Mono)
Message Speed
 - Change the speed of message display (Fast, Regular)
Message Advance
 - Advance to the next message with a buttion (On, Off)
Voice
 - Toggle the character voices in the game (On, Off)
Animation
 - Toggle the character animations (On, Off)
Anolog Control
 - Toggle the anolog control ability (On, Off)
Background Music Test
 - Choose the background music for testing
Default
 - Return to the defaulted options

Rule Options:
--------------
Salary Options
 - Go to the Salary Options menu
Turns
 - Select the number of turns for the game (10 - 99)
Starting Zenny
 - Select the amount of Zenny each player starts with (1000 - 5000)
Starting Property
 - Select the number of properties each player starts the game with (0 - 3)
   (normal mode only)
Lucky
 - Toggle the Lucky abilities of the characters (On, Off)
Default
 - Return to the defaulted Rule options

Salary Options
---------------
Passing Go
 - Each time a character lands on or passes the starting space, this much 
   Zenny is added to their total (100 - 500)
????
 - 
???
 - 
???
 - 
Default
 - Return to the defaulted Salary Options

In-Game Options
-----------------
By pressing the start button during a game, another menu is presented.

Message Speed
 - Change the speed of message display (Fast, Regular)
Message Advance
 - Advance to the next message with a buttion (On, Off)
Voice
 - Toggle the character voices in the game (On, Off)
Animation
 - Toggle the character animations (On, Off)
????
 - 
Player ??
 -
???
 - 
Anolog Control
 - Toggle the anolog control ability (On, Off)

3.2)  Controls:
---------------
Joystick selects between menus and squares
O accepts
X cancels or returns a menu
L1, R1 cycles through status bar info
Start brings up in-game options

3.3)  Screen Layout
-------------------------
top left turn number
first is roll dice
second is use card
third is buy / sell
fourth is menus
- Examine Map's squares
- Player Status
- Everyone's Status
- last is winning graph 

crown shows current leader


3.4)  The Game Basics:
----------------------
The game board is divided into squares.  They are many types of squares, but 
the basic square is the property square when a player lands on a property 
square, they may purchase it.  Later, if another player lands on it, they must 
pay you rent.  You may also build stores to affect the rent paid and the 
effects that occur when you land on the square.  The game board is also 
divided into areas.  An area is a row of property squares together between 
non-property squares.  An area can be from 2 to 4 property squares long.  If 
a player controls 2 adjoining squares in an area, the rent is doubled.  If a 
player controlls three in an area, the rent is quadrupled.  You move around 
the board by rolling two dice for movement or using an event card to go a 
determined number of squares.  Before your movement, you may use event cards 
or purchase stores on your property.  Event cards are cards that affect the 
game board, your movement, etc.  You may use as many as you want before your 
movement.  Your turn ends after you have moved and all of its effects are 
resolved.  Battles between characters can also occur and affect your 
property and your Zenny.  If you lose all of your Zenny, your cards go to the 
player that forced you into debt.


3.5)  General Strategy
-----------------
use event cards to get new ones (2 for your own)
remember 7 is statistically most common
try to get off to a fast start, buy everything you can
be careful not to buy property when you are weak
build early
buy every property b/c land value same as gold same w/ stores
don't pick fights unless your a strong battle character
when you start a fight, make sure that you have some property nearby
change temples when you need them
remember you don't have to kill everyone if you're winning, then
don't rock the boat
combat be careful w/ buttons
use slow cards after shields and heals, etc.


4)  Game Rules
--------------

4.1)  Game Squares
------------------
The Game has many different squares that affect the game in different ways:

Property Squares
 - These are the basic squares of the game.  When you land on a property 
   square, you may buy it.
 - The cost of the square depends on the terrain.  The price will rise as you 
   move from the starting square.  The most expensive property square is the 
   last square before the Go square.
 - You may build stores on the property squares.  The price of the stores 
   depends on the store and also the terrain (same as above).

Go Square (Starting Square)
 - This is the square where all of the players begin the game.
 - When you land on or pass this square you receive four beneficial effects:
   - You are paid a basic salary (default 300 Zenny)
   - You receive 50 HPs, but cannot exceed your maximum
   - You receive a Combat Card (cannot exceed your maximum of 5)
   - You receive an Event Card (cannot exceed your maximum of 8)

Battle Square
 - When you land on this square, you may choose to begin combat with another 
   character.
 - You choose the location of the fight (and the player) or cancel.

Event Square
 - You receive an Event Card when you land on this square (cannot exceed 
   your maximum of 5)

Tavern Square
 - This sends the player to the Tavern Mini-game when you land on this square.
 - The Tavern Mini-game is a simple game where the player may earn extra Combat 
   cards.
 - In the top left of the screen you will see the two dice under the last 
   time box.
 - You must choose if the next roll will be higher or lower than that roll, 
   you choose BIG for higher or SMALL for lower.  If you are correct, you 
   receive the Combat Card displayed.  Then, that roll becomes the last roll 
   and you can choose to try again if you want or stop.  This continues for as 
   long as you want to or you are wrong.

Route Arrow Square
 - This square is an intersection.  Movement continues in the way that the 
   arrow is facing.  It can be changed only by the Route Change Event Card.

Fluctuating Route Arrow Square
 - This sqaure is an intersection.  Movement continues in the way that the 
   arrow is facing.  The arrow changes once all of the players have 
   finished a turn, and keeps changing in this fashion.  

Tax Square
 - When landing on this square, you are charged a tax of 2% of your 
   current Zenny.
 - The tax goes is accumulated in the Pool Square.

Land Tax Square
 - When landing on this square, you are charged a tax of 2% of your 
   current land value, including stores.
 - The tax goes is accumulated in the Pool Square.

Pool Square
 - When landing on this square, you receive the pool that has accumulated 
   from the taxes charged to all the players. 

Warp Square
 - When landing on this square, you are transported to another part of 
   the game board.


4.2)  Stores
------------
Stores are an important part of the game.  They can bring you a greater income 
and they can also give you cards and other effects.  You may build a store on 
any property square that you own that does not already have a store.  You can 
sell any store that you own for XX of the cost.  When you have a store on a 
property, the rent is doubled.  If combat occurs on a square with a store, the 
defending player's HPs are increased by 10 (can exceed maximum for the duration 
of the battle).  
There are six types of stores:

Weapons 
 - If you land on a Weapons store, you are given two Combat cards (can't 
   exceed maximum of 8).

Alchemist
 - If you land on an Alchemist store, you are given two Event cards (can't 
   exceed maximum of 5).

Arena
 - If you land on an Arena, you can begin combat with another player.
 - Your opponent's HPs are reduced by 25%.

Hospital
 - If you pass a Hospital, you receive 30 HPs (can't exceed maximum).
 - If you land on a Hospital, your HPs are restored to their maximum.

Monastery
 - If you land on a Monastery, you cannot be involved in combat.

Bank
 - The rent is quadrupled for a Bank.


4.3)  Combat and Event Cards
----------------------------
(for a complete listing of the cards, see Section 7)
Combat cards are used in combat only.  You may hold a maximum of 8.
If you use a Combat card, it may be used again in another battle.
Event cards are used on the game map only.  You may hold a maximum of 5.
Once Event cards are used, they disappear.

Combat cards may be obtained from:
 - Passing the Go sqaure
 - Tavern Mini-game
 - Landing on your own Weapons Store
 - Forcing another player out of the game

Event cards may be obtained from:
 - Passing the Go square
 - Landing on the Event square
 - Landing on your own Alchemist Store
 - Forcing another player out of the game

Combat cards have attack power and attack speed displayed on them.
Attack power is displayed at the top of the card.
Attack speed is displayed at the bottom of the card.

4.4)  Combat
------------
There are three ways that Combat can begin:
- A player lands on a Battle Square and decides to begin combat
- A player lands on their own Arena Square and decides to begin combat
- A player uses a Battle Card

- Before Combat begins, you must choose the location of the battle.
- The place of combat affects the HPs of the defending player.  The presence of
  a Store, the height of the property square and the value of the property 
  square affect the HP bonus.  The attacking player may pay to reduce the HP 
  bonus from the value of the property square.

The Battle screen:
The screen is divided into attacker and defender, with their portrait and HPs.
Both players are dealt four cards from their Combat cards.  These are 
displayed in the middle of the screen.  Players choose the card that they wish 
by pressing the corresponding button on the joystick.

- In one round you can use one Item Card and one Combat Card maximum.
- You can only use a single Combat card once per battle.
- The card with the highest Attack Speed is used first.  If there is a tie in 
  Attack Speed, then the Defending player goes first.
- A player loses if they have lower HPs than the other player at the end of the 
  third round or if their HPs are reduced to zero at any time in the battle.  
- If a defending player loses Combat, then their property where the battle took 
  place is given to the other player.
- Every time you lose all HPs, you lose 200 Zenny and your HPs are restored to 
  their maximum.


4.5)  Battle Skills
-------------------
next update

4.6)  Tag Mode Rules
--------------------
next update


5)  Characters
---------------
5.1)  Character List
-----------------------
Jiggar the Treasure Hunter
Background -
Character Type - Strong Starter
Lucky Ability - Receives a free turn
Combat Cards - Swords / Missile weapons
Happy Animations
Standing Animations - Pulls out a map
Sad Animations
Strategy -

Meg-Meg the Warrior
Background -
Character Type - Technical
Lucky Ability - Receives Double Income
Combat Cards - Swords / Missile weapons
Happy Animations - Raises her axes in triumph, jumps in the air
Standing Animations -
Sad Animations - Sits down and weeps
Strategy - good multiplayer good lucky ability

Princess Tiara
Background -
Character Type - Strong Starter
Lucky Ability - Receives a free property
Combat Cards - Swords / Magic
Happy Animations
Standing Animations -
Sad Animations - Collapses in embarrassment
Strategy - Receives a free property, even someone elses!

Galahad the Paladin
Background -
Character Type - Battle
Lucky Ability - Double Power Missile Attacks
Combat Cards - Missile Weapons
Happy Animations
Standing Animations - Wipes his brow
Sad Animations - Kneels and cries
Strategy -
* Doesn't anyone else find it strange that the Paladin's strength is missile 
weapons?  I thought that Paladins value honor.  I can't see the honor in 
fighting from a safe distance from your enemy.

Sinbad the Bandit
Background -
Character Type - Technical
Lucky Ability - Goes to the same square as the last player
Combat Cards - Swords / Missile Weapons
Happy Animations
Standing Animations -
Sad Animations - Collapses to the ground
Strategy -

Samurai Warrior Yasutsuna
Background -
Character Type - Battle
Lucky Ability - Double power Sword Attacks
Combat Cards - Swords
Happy Animations
Standing Animations -
Sad Animations
Strategy -

Ninja Master Hayate
Background -
Character Type - Battle
Lucky Ability - Invulnerable for one round
Combat Cards - Swords / Missile Weapons
Happy Animations
Standing Animations - Goes invisible
Sad Animations
Strategy -

Goliath the Rogue Priest
Background -
Character Type - Technical
Lucky Ability - Doesn't have to pay
Combat Cards - Swords / Magic
Happy Animations - Kisses his Ankh, Flexes his muscles
Standing Animations - Takes a drink
Sad Animations - Takes a drink
Strategy -
* He's in love with the Princess (watch when she changes in battle)

Agathe the Witch
Background -
Character Type - Battle
Lucky Ability - Double power Magic Attacks
Combat Cards - Magic
Happy Animations -
Standing Animations -
Sad Animations -
Strategy -

5.2)  Character Comparison
---------------------------
next update

6)  Story Mode walkthrough
--------------------------
next update


7) Card List
------------
7.1)  Combat Cards
-----------------
next update


7.2)  Event Cards 
-----------------
Battle Card - Starts combat with another player.
Card Exchange - Allows you to swap two Combat Cards with other players.
Spring Fountain - Rent 30% increased
Angel - Rent 50% increased
Garden - Rent 70% increased
Circus - Rent 100% increased
Cathedral - Rent 200% increased
Swamp - Rent 10% decreased
Death - Rent 30% decreased
Graveyard - Rent 50% decreased
Dark Tower - Rent 70% decreased
Winged Demon - Rent 90% decreased
Earthquake - Destroys any structure from an event card
Move 1 - Move 1 space
Move 2 - Move 2 spaces
Move 3 - Move 3 spaces
Move 4 - Move 4 spaces
Move 5 - Move 5 spaces
Move 6 - Move 6 spaces
3 Dice - Roll 3 dice for this turn's movement
4 Dice - Roll 4 dice for this turn's movement
Free Property - Receive a free property square
Route Change - Change the Route Arrow square's direction
Free Store - Receive a free store on one of your property squares


8) Maps
-------
next update

9) Secrets
----------
next update

10) Miscellaneous / Et Cetera
----------------------------
Thanks to Capcom for making this game.
This FAQ is not associated with Capcom, Sony, or any of its products either 
software or hardware.  The respective companies retain all copyrights of 
their products mentioned in this FAQ.

Feel free to email any advice or suggestions!  Due to time constraints, do 
not expect a reply on email.

Other FAQs written by me:

- Tetris with Cardcaptor Sakura: Eternal Heart (PS)
- The Typing of the Dead (DC)
- The Great Khan Game (Card game)
- Hundred Swords (DC)
- Advanced World War (DC)
--  4/2/01 Gene(intv@canada.com)


