Spoiler!

Got passed the Mechonis Core last night...
Wow.

...Just Wow.

Does anyone know how to get to Imperial Villa in Alcamoth? I can't seem to find where I am supposed to go.

It should be at the teleporter at the end of the west wing... Where the guards say Melia's chamber is.

Has anyone completed the Empress armor yet? I've only acquired the chest plate and leggings for Shulk & Reyn, so far. I've been battling a lot of Mechons, but they still haven't dropped the head wear, foot wear or gauntlets yet. I'd just like to know if I should keep waiting to acquire them from an enemy drop? I really like the Empress armor, but it does appear out of place. Also, I have Sharla equipped with all iron armor, right now. I can't decide if the increased defense is worth the lack of gem slots and agility, and I know Sharla uses Ether for her rifles. Does anybody have any insight they can offer?

@G4L: I've got everything from the Empress set except for the headwear (multiples thereof, in fact — two sets of greaves, five arms, two plates, two leggings). I'm afraid I don't know exactly which enemies drop what, but if they were Mechon, I battled a lot of those guys back in the Bionis Leg/Ether Mine areas (i fell off a ledge and died quite a few times while working my way up the Ether Mine area, haha). :3

I was looking through my Trials, and I just happened to notice one of the Records that didn't make much sense to me.

"Have Fiora give lots of gifts to that one special person."

The Record above had me wondering, "What the hell?" I just wanted to ask you guys, since you've seemed to know practically everything I've asked, thus far. Will I actually be given a chance to accomplish that Trial Record later on, or have I already blown any chances I've had of doing so? I'm asking, because I've completed every sidequest that has been available, so far. I never remember any sidequest involving Fiora giving gifts to anybody. Also, I'm trying to complete the last objective of the, "Mementos of a Lost Son," sidequest. I already found Cheryl's son's armor and his gun, but I haven't located his knife yet. Does anybody know where Cheryl's son's knife is located? I don't want to know it's exact whereabouts. I would just like to know which area it's found in, so I don't accidentally leave it behind.

@theblackdragon, thanks. An enemy dropped another Empress chest plate, the last time I played. It wasn't dropped by a Mechon either. I believe it was dropped by some type of Antol. Oh well, I'll probably just stumble across better armor that I like much more. Although, I would've preferred to possess a fully coordinated set of armor, for the meantime.

@G4L The collectible blue orb items can be given as a gift from one party member to another to improve their affinity. Different party members will like different items so some will decrease the affinity between the two party members involved. The amount of hearts you see represent how much the party member liked or disliked the gift. Up to three hearts can be shown. The special person in question is probably Shulk and you will have a chance to complete it later.

@FonistofCruxis, thanks friend.

Yes, you've definitely seen Blue Orbs. You know, the Colectables? For your Colectapedia? Those are the things you can gift.

Also, I believe the Knife is in a "secret area" of Satorl Marsh. (Area after Ether Mines)

@TysonQ7, Oh! Duh! How the heck do you offer the collectibles as gifts to another party member? I don't remember any tutorial for doing that. By the way, thanks. I'll inform you if the knife was found there @TysonQ7.

To gift it, open the items section, go to the "Collectable" page, select something, and then chose the giver and receiver!
Warning though! Certain characters like and dislike certain item types. The affinity between the two will either rise or fall ( a very miniscule amount) depending on the item and type.

Also, when I said I "think" the knife was there, it was a but of an untruth. I'm 100% Certain it was there.

Ha! OK, @TysonQ7. I guess I won't need to inform you then.

Thanks again.

I think I'll just cycle through every collectible, until I find a gift that increases affinity. Then I'll reload the game, and I'll know which collectibles I should gift to my party members.

OK SPOILER TIME

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_{ok wtf is up with this game and GIANT EFFING SPIDERS OUT OF NOWHERE? ffs first i 'bout had a heart attack back when i first discovered the Daksha Shrine... wanting to say you had to pick up a necklace or something from there, and then when you get close enough to grab it that named spider comes crawling up from the ravine behind the shrine and eats you alive if you're not quick enough to just run like hell. then tonight i'm doing the line of quests in the Marsh that takes you through Exile Fortress... I'm overleveled for the area (just doing some sidequesting to gain XP for that fight on the Great Glacier because Mumkhar's about five levels over me... grr), but i go to place the Giant's Mirror on the altar and damned if a giant spider doesn't just crawl up from outta nowhere. granted, this one's just a normal spawn and it didn't auto-attack because i'm overleveled, but still, i damn near just pissed myself. this is a great game, but beware if you hate eight-legged surprises D: D: D:}

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SPOILER TIME IS OVER

@theblackdragon
Also Spoiler
You think that's scary? I was still IN Sartol Marsh when that happend. As in, I was weak as heck. I started running away from the Spider... THEN TWO MORE CRAWLED UP THE SIDES!

Anyway, I believe the reason for all the Huge Spiders is that if you talk to certain people, you llearn that The Spiders where the sworn enemy of the Giants. So, wherever Giant Ruins lie, you can expect some spiders. (BTW, Tephra Cave has some Giant Ruins tha open later. Its filled with OP spiders.)

@theblackdragon That spider made me crap my pants all the way back out of there LOL. I did get out in time but that thing hanging out over the ledge is just freaky!

SPOILER AFTER YOU BEAT THE GAME

OK just beat the game today (great ending). Then the carry over to a new file happens. Now here's the question, what's different? Besides the carry over in level items oh and my favorite SHORTEN INVENTORY OF WEAPONS! Please someone tell me that there's other stuff to do like NEW side quests that can't be done in the 1st play through. Thank you

I'm so early in the game still... but it's hard to find the time for this one. Also, I love the open spaces but have gotten annoyed pretty quick when forced to go through narrower corridors. It's hard to see what any of my party members are doing, no matter how much I play with the camera.

I want this game... if I get it it won't be until July though

You should have told me, I would have given you my copy. (or sold it at a reasonable price).

Eh, I've got a ton of games to defeat right now, but eventually I'll have to get it.