- Astonishia Story opening: Learn Lloyd’s role, exploration flow, and the first tactical battles.
- First priority: Speak with required NPCs and complete the current objective before leaving.
- Battle focus: Keep Lloyd near allies and study movement range before attacking.
- Preparation tip: Review equipment, healing supplies, and available saves before entering dangerous areas.
- Story checkpoint: The Staff of Kinan incident leads into the next major stage of Lloyd’s journey.
Astonishia Story Opening Overview
The Astonishia Story opening introduces Lloyd, the central hero, and establishes the adventure’s main structure: explore settlements, follow story objectives, manage a party, and fight on tactical grids. The early sequence is designed to teach the basic rhythm of the game before the journey expands into longer routes and broader party management.
The opening centers on Lloyd’s duties as a knight and the incident involving the sacred Staff of Kinan. Rather than rushing through the first objective, treat this portion as a tutorial for the systems that remain important throughout the campaign.
| Opening Element | What to Learn | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyd | Main-character role and frontline presence | Keep him close to allies during early fights |
| Starting area | NPC dialogue and objective tracking | Speak with required characters before departing |
| First battles | Movement, attack range, and turn order | Use safe positions to learn enemy approach patterns |
| Staff of Kinan incident | Main story direction and new objectives | Recheck dialogue and party status after the event |
| Early route | Exploration, equipment, and supplies | Search accessible areas before continuing |
Explore First
Check accessible buildings, routes, and nearby interactions before following the next objective. Early exploration helps establish the game’s progression rhythm.
Fight as a Group
Lloyd can lead an engagement, but the opening is safer when allied characters remain within useful support range.
Save Before Transitions
Create a separate save before entering a new route, major story sequence, or difficult battle area.
The first battles reward patience more than speed. Let enemies approach a compact formation instead of advancing one character far ahead.
The official Astonishia Story product page describes the modern release as a story-driven tactical RPG with grid-based combat and party recruitment. Those elements are already reflected in the opening, so the best early habit is to connect exploration decisions with battle preparation.
Step-by-Step Opening Mission
Follow the opening in order, but pause whenever the game introduces a new character, route, or story objective. The goal is not only to reach the next scene; it is to begin the campaign with a stable party and a clear understanding of how progression works.
Learn Lloyd’s Starting Role
Begin by understanding Lloyd as the central protagonist and a dependable close-range fighter. Use the first movement opportunities to see how far he can travel and how attacking affects his position. Avoid treating him as an isolated unit; his value increases when nearby allies can support his engagement.
Complete Required Dialogue
Speak with the NPCs connected to the current objective before leaving the starting area. If progress appears to stop, revisit important characters after a story event. Dialogue and available actions can change after major scenes, so checking again is often more useful than wandering without a clear route.
Review Equipment and Supplies
Before entering a combat-heavy section, inspect Lloyd’s weapon and armor, then check the equipment of any active allies. Carry healing items when available. Do not spend every resource on one character if the rest of the party will also participate in upcoming battles.
Use the First Battles as Practice
Treat the opening encounters as a safe introduction to grid combat. Test movement distance, attack range, and enemy approach patterns. Keep the party close enough that a character who is attacked can receive help on the following turn.
Respond to the Staff of Kinan Incident
After the major story event involving the Staff of Kinan, complete all required dialogue and review the updated objective. Recheck the party before following the newly opened route, because the story may place greater emphasis on travel, pursuit, and more demanding encounters.
| Step | Main Check | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand Lloyd’s role | Sending him forward without support |
| 2 | Finish required dialogue | Leaving before the current objective updates |
| 3 | Review gear and items | Spending all funds on one party member |
| 4 | Practice grid movement | Attacking without checking enemy reach |
| 5 | Recheck the route | Continuing without confirming the new objective |
The Staff of Kinan incident is an important progression checkpoint. Save beforehand, finish nearby interactions, and confirm the next objective after the scene concludes.
The opening walkthrough should remain flexible between editions. Menus, presentation, and platform controls can differ, but the reliable progression pattern remains consistent: complete the active objective, inspect the party, save before risk, and then move into the next route.
Early Grid Combat Tips
Astonishia Story’s opening battles teach a tactical system where positioning matters alongside character strength. A powerful attack is less useful if it leaves a fragile ally exposed or places a frontline character outside the party’s support range.
Use the following priorities whenever the first fights become uncertain:
| Combat Priority | Why It Matters | Practical Action |
|---|---|---|
| Movement range | Determines who can engage safely | Check enemy and ally reach before moving |
| Formation | Protects vulnerable characters | Place durable fighters in front |
| Attack range | Controls target access | Keep ranged or support roles behind the frontline |
| Focus fire | Reduces incoming attacks | Defeat one exposed enemy before spreading damage |
| Retreat timing | Prevents isolated losses | Move back toward allies when a character overextends |
| Battlefield shape | Limits enemy access | Use narrow routes and obstacles to control approaches |
Build a Compact Formation
Keep Lloyd and other durable melee characters toward the front, but avoid placing them so far ahead that enemies can surround them. A compact formation gives support characters more time to act and makes it easier to focus attacks on a single target.
Check Before Every Advance
Before moving, consider three questions:
- How many enemies can reach this square?
- Can another party member support the character next turn?
- Will the move expose a ranged or support character?
This simple check prevents many early mistakes. The strongest opening strategy is usually controlled movement rather than constant forward momentum.
Focus on Dangerous Targets
Attack the enemy that creates the greatest immediate risk, not always the enemy closest to Lloyd. A ranged attacker, disruptive enemy, or opponent positioned to surround the party may deserve priority over a weaker target nearby.
Move the formation together, allow enemies to enter your effective range, focus attacks on one target, and protect support characters from direct engagement.
For a broader explanation of the tactical structure, use the official Astonishia Story product information alongside the Astonishia Story reference manual. The opening is the best place to build habits that remain useful during larger battles.
Opening Preparation and Missables
The opening is short compared with the full adventure, but it establishes habits that help prevent missed interactions later. Towns and story areas can contain useful dialogue, equipment access, and route information. Explore locally before committing to a major transition.
Opening Readiness Checklist:
- Speak with every NPC connected to the current objective
- Check accessible rooms, paths, and nearby points of interest
- Review Lloyd’s weapon, armor, and available party equipment
- Carry healing supplies before entering a longer battle section
- Create a separate save before the Staff of Kinan story event
- Recheck dialogue and objectives after the major opening scene
| Preparation Area | Before Leaving | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| NPC dialogue | Speak with important characters twice when needed | Objectives can change after story events |
| Equipment | Upgrade practical frontline and active-party gear | Early battles become more manageable |
| Supplies | Keep healing items available | Longer routes may limit convenient recovery |
| Exploration | Check accessible rooms and side paths | Useful interactions may be easy to overlook |
| Save files | Save before major transitions | Lets you revisit preparation decisions |
What to Prioritize First
If funds or equipment are limited, improve the characters who will be exposed to the most attacks. Lloyd and other frontline members usually benefit from stronger defensive preparation, while ranged and support characters need safe positioning more than reckless upgrades.
How to Handle New Allies
The campaign introduces companions and additional party options as the story advances. Whenever a new character becomes available:
- Check their equipment immediately.
- Identify whether they add frontline, ranged, magic, or support value.
- Adjust the formation instead of simply adding another melee attacker.
- Save before making a major party change if the game allows multiple arrangements.
Before moving into a new story area, complete nearby dialogue, inspect accessible locations, check equipment shops, and save a separate file.
The GameFAQs Astonishia Story guide can serve as a reference for the legacy campaign, while this checklist is designed to remain useful for players learning the opening sequence in any supported edition.
Opening Route by Player Goal
Different players approach the opening with different priorities. A first-time player may need system instruction, while a returning player may want to move quickly toward the Staff of Kinan incident. Use the route that matches your objective without skipping essential preparation.
First Playthrough
Explore every accessible area, read important dialogue, and use early fights to learn movement and attack range.
Fast Progression
Follow the active objective, but still save before major events and review the party before entering danger.
Completion Run
Revisit NPCs, inspect side paths, check shops, and complete local interactions before each major transition.
Tactical Practice
Focus on compact formations, enemy approach control, target priority, and protecting vulnerable allies.
| Player Goal | Best Opening Route | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Learn the game | Explore slowly and practice every early battle | Advancing without checking movement |
| Reach the main story | Complete objectives in order | Ignoring save points before transitions |
| Build a strong party | Review each new character’s role | Concentrating upgrades on Lloyd alone |
| Find optional content | Recheck towns and accessible rooms | Assuming the main route includes everything |
| Improve combat | Use terrain and focus fire | Splitting the party across the map |
Recommended Opening Routine
A dependable routine is simple:
- Enter or revisit the current settlement.
- Speak with relevant NPCs.
- Check shops and active-party equipment.
- Save before a major route or story event.
- Enter combat with the group arranged around clear roles.
- Recheck the objective after every major scene.
For most players, the best opening route combines normal story progress with deliberate local exploration. This keeps the pace steady without sacrificing preparation.
The opening should feel like a foundation rather than a race. Once movement, formation, equipment checks, and objective tracking become familiar, the transition into the wider Astonishia Story adventure is much smoother.
Q: What happens during the Astonishia Story opening?
The opening introduces Lloyd, basic exploration, early grid battles, party preparation, and the story incident involving the sacred Staff of Kinan.
Q: How should I prepare for the first battles?
Review weapons and armor, carry available healing supplies, keep Lloyd near allied characters, and check movement range before committing to an attack.
Q: Should I explore before leaving the starting area?
Yes. Speak with required NPCs, inspect accessible locations, and complete nearby interactions before following the next major objective.
Q: What is the safest strategy after the Staff of Kinan incident?
Save before the event, complete the follow-up dialogue, review the active party, confirm the updated objective, and then enter the next route as a compact group.