Game notes is my version of an F.A.Q. for the Trion game Defiance. It’s a collection of questions I found myself asking that I had to spend my own time to go out and gather the answers for. I’m sharing them here in the hopes that I can save someone else some time.
As I encounter questions that cause me to stop and wonder and I am forced to seek out answers I will update this list.
Q: What does it mean when a weapon does not appear to have an Ego rating?
A: These are weapons which have been attained from ark codes or from quests. The only thing special about them is that they don’t have an ego rating requirement to equip them. Stat-wise they will generally stack up against comparatively similar items of the same item rarity (color).
Q: What does the weapon stat ‘Bloom’ mean?
A: Explained fairly well in the video found here.
Q: How does the Weapon Skill, Mastery, and Weapon XP system work?
A: Below the type of weapon listed when inspecting a weapon in game is a box with a value that looks like “X/Y” where X and Y are a bunch of numbers. Depending on how much you’ve used said weapon the bar may appear to be partially filled. The X is the amount of total damage you’ve inflicted with the weapon where the Y is the total amount of damage required to be inflicted to ‘Master’ the weapon.
When you master the weapon a new ‘Mastery’ bonus will display below the bar. This can range in utility from taking less damage while reloading to other various bonuses.
On your stats page is a skill level associated to each weapon type. As you progress your mastery of a given weapon you earn experience towards that weapon type’s skill up to the point that your weapon is mastered. Once the weapon is mastered you stop earning weapon type experience but you unlock the mastery bonus for that weapon.
As you fill the experience bar attached to a weapon skill in your stats page and earn weapon skill levels you gain special bonuses that apply when using a weapon of that type.
In order to continue progressing your weapon skill, once you’ve mastered a particular weapon within that type, you will need to equip and use a different weapon.
Some people simply scrap their mastered weapons but it might be a good idea to hang on to them for once you are max skill level as the stats or bonuses might be better than anything you may find.
Weapon Skill is explained in this video.
Additionally I ran across some references that indicated that you can not earn ego rating while using a weapon which is mastered. I have not been able to confirm this.
Q: Is there a way to reset my weapon’s mastery experience?
A: Yes.
First the weapon must be unequipped from all of your load-outs. Then enter the Salvage Matrix. Click “Select a Weapon to Modify”. One of the options should be “Reset Weapon Mastery Points”. Select this option and it will cost a bit of Salvage and it will take 20 minutes. When complete the weapon will be reset and you can again earn weapon skill and ego rating.
Q: What are these items marked “Special” when I visit a supplies vendor?
A: Specials are items which are available for purchase for a limited time, indicated by the timer next to the item. These items are typically on sale for considerable savings. I’ve been able to snag a couple of mounts at half their normal price even some rarer mounts. Additionally each individual supply vendor on the map has different specials going at any given time and the specials seem to be player specific. In testing with my wife we each would see different specials when viewing the vendor.
Q: How can I abort a vehicle Time Trial mid race?
A: Exit the vehicle at any time during the race for a few seconds and you will automatically fail the time trial allowing you to retry.
Q: Can you use both an XBox 360 Controller and a Mouse and Keyboard for various tasks? For example I want to use the controller for my vehicle but fight with my mouse and keyboard.
A: Yes and I might add that vehicle travel is tremendously less frustrating on the XBox 360 controller than with a keyboard and mouse. Several time trials I couldn’t even get bronze on were first attempt silvers once I plugged in my 360 controller.
Q: Why do some of the rings on time trials have a glowing item in the center and what does it do?
A: Some but not all rings have booster refill mechanic which if you go through the item in the center of the ring your booster is refilled allowing you to boost for an extended period of time. UPDATE: You do not have to hit the actual item. Basically when you go through these rings your boost refills. So to capitalize on these it’s not really about accuracy while driving, it is more about simply knowing where these are on the course and planning your boost usage accordingly. In many areas you will get multiple boost refills in a row. Knowing that and keeping the boost down while going through these sequential rings can keep you almost in boost the entire course. This is how players are attaining what appears to be significantly faster course times to beat the Gold times.
Q: I know that I don’t get to use my own vehicle for time trials but do my vehicle skills apply while I am doing a time trial?
A: Yes, most articles have states that getting your runner skill above skill level 12 helps tremendously with getting gold on the runner time trials.
Q: How do you earn vehicle experience?
A: You accumulate experience at a nominal rate just driving around but you gain extra experience for running over enemies and also for long jumps.
Q: I’ve noticed that sometimes my roller or runner tips forward or backwards while in the air what causes this?
A: When you are in the air, at least on the PC, if you push on the accelerator the nose of your vehicle will tip forward and if you hit the break the tail of your vehicle will tip back. I haven’t quite mastered how to utilize this to my advantage other than that by tipping forward and hitting the boost I can get back onto the ground faster. Travelling through the air is slower on time trials than driving on the ground so the least amount of time you spend in the air the better your times appear to be.
Ark Hunting Noob 