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Disclaimer:
Firstly, nothing i say in this thread should be taken as the law. None of my comments and observations are written in stone, and ought to be treated as such. Likewise, if you disagree or object to anything i suggest, i'd love to hear your opinion. If you do however, please do so in a constructive manner, as personal slander and name-calling do not benefit anyone.

This is a guide intended to help Hermits better navigate and train more effectively at Warped Path of Time <4>, better known as the Spirit Viking map [hereon loosely dubbed "Vikings", ignoring Gigantic Spirit Vikings of similar name]


Before you Begin:
I'll assume you, the dashing reader, has a Hermit and that you are familiar with the skills and techniques associated with playing one; if not then at the very least you're a curious member of another Job Class who is just reading to better your knowledge of the game. Whichever the case, I'm glad your here.

"Why should i train at Vikings?" you may ask yourself. The answer is obvious, the drops aren't anything too spectacular, but in comparison to the Coolie Zombie drops you've probably grinded 30+ lvls through... they'll be a refreshing sight (when's the last time you said "oh crap another ilbi"?). The experience [exp.] is very decent. For a solo hermit leveling 85-115 I'd wager that Viking's exp can't be beat.

I would suggest starting at Vikings no sooner than you have max (lvl 30) Shadow Partner. I personally started Vikings at lvl 87 (the lvl i was when Ludibrium was released), but it is not uncommon for some of the better equipped hermits to start as early as lvl 82. It boils down to how comfortable you are with the amount of potions/money spent and how much damage you deal, and no one can tell you otherwise.

For most of this guide i will assume that you have Flash Jump [FJ](at least lvl 11 to be able to clear all the required gaps on this map). Although keep in mind that FJ is nowhere near as crucial as you may think. In fact, to me Alchemy and Avenger weigh much more importance for effective training on this map than Flash Jump. But your build is your choice and I'm not going to lecture you on how you ought to assign your skills.

Sending the NPC's kids through College:
Alright! Let's buy some Potions [pots]. For my Viking days i usually carried 300hp pots (Unagi or Ice Cream-Pop, depending on Alchemy lvl) to 100pure waters. I buy Summoning Rocks in bulk to spare me the hassle of traveling to El Nath frequently (2000 rocks will last several days of intense grinding). I use warrior pills and DEX pills when i train, you should make a habit of using them too if you do not already.

If your cautious and weary about vikings buy Ice Cream-Pops.
Vikings most likey won't ever do over 2000 damage, so you'll heal more HP than needed after each shot.

However, i would suggest getting lvl 20 Alchemy and using Unagis. It may be a little more risky than Ice Cream-Pops, but the cost difference in price will save you from running out of meso. Alchemy will save you more meso than Meso-Up will gain you.

Fat Sausages are a great potion between Unagi and Ice Cream-Pop, the only problem is the availability of obtaining them. they heal 1200hp (1800hp with max alchemy)

I can't tell you how many Potions you'll need you'll need to determine it for yourself. I will always hold about 100hp pots and 35mp pots more than i would possibly ever need given my star count. I always err on the side of caution.

For today's example here's what I'll be using (even though i highly doubt i'll need half of the potions)
[pet food optional, as are USE slot upgrades]

Arriving:
I'll spare you the directions of how to get to Warped Path of Time <4>.
When you arrive, walk down the entire map. Do not attack a single Viking for any reason until you are sure that you are not intruding upon someone else's map. Be courteous and promptly change channels until you find a map that you can begin work on.



Here's the map, I've taken the liberty to diagram the sequence of platforms you will kill on the way down on the left. The right of this picture shows the segmenting of the map used for Viking parties. The party sections change slightly sometimes depending on the people you're with, but the majority of parties use this number method as code of where you're assigned.

Some Tips on Going Down....the map:
We will begin at the uppermost portal, cast your skills, pop you pills, and let's kick some ass.

Most of this map is sniping, this isn't any mystery, but the act of mastering the ability to manipulate the terrain for the best possible sniping is often alluding to players. Common sense will cause you to think that the further you are from the monster the better right? Well that's not necessarily true. A fundamental key to killing Vikings is that if you are able to hoard the Vikings closer you can escape their projectile attacks.

Platform A is a good example of this. Aggravate all the Vikings to you. To "aggrivate" means to attack them so that they are now targeted and will follow you. I do this with avenger, as it hits multiple enemies, nothing profound there.
After you agitate (aggravate) the Vikings retreat back to the platform near the portal. This will cause the Vikings to roam the the very edge of Platform A. Once they are piled up on the edge move to the left standing directly near them. Stand only far enough away so that you do not melee (punch).



By doing this you have an advantage over sniping them from afar due to the fact that you can avenger newly spawning Vikings and have them collectively continue adding to the pile. Whereas attacking them exclusively from back near the portal will only allow you to hit the Vikings that you managed to ensnare on the edge. In addition to this i find it easier to watch the drops as they die if they are more centered in the screen.

Kill off Platform A, then hop down to the red platform and work on Platform B from above.



This is the safest way to kill Platform B, however you may run into the problem of them traveling too far directly below you, in which you will be unable to attack them. I counter this with either two options: first being, flash jump over them to the right side of Platform B and finish them off, or secondly, re-kill Platform A. By re-killing Platform A, you will undoubtedly cause the mob on Platform B to disperse from directly below the red sniping platform due to the fancy footwork involved of manipulating the Platform A mob (sounds complicated, but it works). At any rate, kill Platform B then jump off the right edge .



From this raised segment you can safely attack Vikings. Their projectiles are nearly unable to hit you when you are this elevated. This is a great area to kill from.



Some have suggested that there is a drawback to killing here though, that is that it is in theory possible for a Viking to be killed on the very rightmost edge of Platform C to have it's items drop off the ledge. I personally have never had this happen. It would require that the Viking drop 4 or more items at once while being as close as possible and that the drop is the on the right. Basically it is highly unlikely but still a possibility. Counter this by: paying attention. If for some reason you do not think you can afford the cost of your attention your alternatives are to kill from the left platform.

I have never found it to be worth my effort to kill Platform C from the bottom left. It is a faulty solution because the Vikings will be too close to you, causing you to have to deliver 50,000 jumping punches to kill each Viking while getting shot at directly to which you have to bite the bullet and hope your avoid is up to par, in the occurrence of getting nailed off the bottom left platform you would have to re-climb and continue punching away your valuable time.

However though, killing from Platform D down to Platform C is somewhat safe and practical alternative to killing from the right. But therein lies the problem of how do you use Platform D as a sniping point if you haven't killed the Vikings on it yet? To avoid the paradox of how to kill Platform C from Platform D just kill them from the right, okay?

Speaking of Platform D, after you have dispatched of Platform C (from the right) Jump the gap up throw an avenger...



retreat back to Platform C, near the Bent Slope. From here you can pick off Platform D's enemies.



Kill and move down. From the red platform that i just said not to kill Platform C from, you may now kill Platform E from (the red X in the following picture). Its safe up here to snipe downwards, but is rather far away, causing you to only be able to hit any near-edge Vikings. Once you have killed any near the edge hop down to the green island segments and kill them from below.



Vikings will fire at you but only depending on where they are in respect to where you are. If from the right green island (i'm calling them islands only because i've used the word 'platform' like a million times in the last few paragraphs) you use a jumping attack the Vikings will fire at you from the edge. But, if you are on the left island the edge-ridden Vikings will be too close to attack at such a steep angle causing you to be safe. Buuut again, any Viking that is at a distance not on the edge WILL be able to fire at you on the left island. Anyway, you'll develop the ability to 'feel' when and where the Vikings will fire to, it's not too hard to predict their slow-ass cannon projectiles.

Move to the right to Platform F. This is an easy one. Avenger to agitate them all to the left, then uload into them with a flurry of stars. Keep note that any Viking not on the left-most edge naturally has the ability to focus it's prejectile upward to hit you. To counter this retreat for a second back tot he right green island continually attacking until
all the Vikings have amassed to the left before resuming attack from the red segment.



After taking care of Platform F, take up your attack position from the same spot the vikings you just killed were at. From up here you have a decent vantage point upon firing at the Vikings on Platform G.



Be sure, as the above picture indicates, to not stand on the leftmost green extension. Attacks from this are will cause the dreaded 1 damage melee attack. Avoid this by backing up to the blue where you'll be safe to use powerful skills.

I see a lot of beginner hermits attempt to kill Platform G from the red central pillar to the bottom right. Again, this is one of those situations where it may seem like a good idea in theory, but in practice will fail. Attacking from the bottom right will cause you to be open to Viking projectiles, cause you to punch instead of use skills once they get to the edge near you, limit your escape options and accessibility and in general cause you to look like you have no clue what the hell you're doing on the map.

Kill Platform G and walk to the left. Move off the left down onto the Pile of blocks. Jump up onto the hanging red crate-thingy and walk off the left onto the upper-most yellow block.



This is your next slaughtering point for Platform H. While the tips of the Viking's sails may touch you, they won't actually cause you to be hit. This means you are safe to hose down the Vikings with stars nearly unscathed. It;s a lot of fun.


Murder the remnants of Platform H and move right to the singular green island. Flash Jump across to Platform I (if the coast is clear, if not attack from the green island until it is) use an Avenger to aggravate all on Platform I then hop back.



It's frustrating to attack from this tiny island because the Vikings from Platform I can and will fire at you. the trick is to stand behind the rope on the green island, like so...



Doing this will cause the enemy projectiles to end short, leaving you safe. Neato-burrito. Kill off the rest of Platform I, jump across then fall off the right down to the floor.



The Lowest Depths:

I Love killing the Bottom, Floor, or Section 5, whatever you want to call it. At first glance it will be an intimidating feat to handle. Unlike the every other section on this map, you will have to confront the Vikings head-on. This may impose itself as a daunting task that will burn-up your potion supply, but in reality it's a comedy, the joke being on the Vikings.

Start by agitating all the Vikings, make quick work of using avenger once, making sure to hit them all and move on. at this point you aren't trying to kill them per se, but to just get them pissed off and to follow you.



After you have successfully managed to cause all the monsters to become targeted towards you, kick back on the rope. Take a breather, heal up, cast you spells again, sip some lemonade, and let them hoard up into a tight pile beneath you. To pass time more efficiently you can re-kill platforms H and I from the green island as you're waiting.



finally when you're ready flash jump over the mob to the left. you will now be face-to-face with an impressive number of pissed off Vikings all poised to end your fun. Wail into them with Avenger like it's your day job.

Avenger has multiple purposes, namely that it hits multiple enemies. In affect re-hitting the Vikings will 'hold' them in place causing them to fire at you. Proceed with more Avenger unabated until the mob has died a swift and cruel death.



Don't Panic:

It is essential that the vikings remain distanced from you firing with their cannons. Due to a projectile error (often referred to as a "glitch") Vikings, when to your right firing towards the left, will have a default trajectory on their projectiles that will miss the player. This means that when the player is dormant the Vikings are unable to successfully hit you.



Mastering the bottom is imperative to mastering the projectile error. With it you can escape wasting countless potions if you remain calm and in control of the situation. Although, you could jump-all-the-hell around and have the Vikings re-direct their fire and put yourself in potential danger. it's best to trust in the stability of remaining nearly motionless as you attack for maximum efficacy in handling them.

Retracing Footsteps.:

Working back up the map is more or less the process of reversing the path down. A few modifications are made to get into firing position, in these instances that you will encounter i suggest not attacking and using dark sight and safely making your way into position. Attacking prior to dark sight will cause the vikings to fire at you in a state where you cannot heal or defend yourself.

If though, you aren't concerned with chompin' back on a few more potions, i just plow right through the vikings on my way up disregarding getting hit. i provoke the vikings with avengers coupled with flash jumps and high avoidability.

The higher you get in lvl the sloppier you are allowed to be. After lvl 110 or so you'll notice that you barely use any of the sniping vantage points anymore, in place you now confront all vikings on their own platforms head-on killing them quickly with 4-6 Lucky-7 attacks.

[i realize this segment of the guide is crappy, I'll get screen-shots for adjustments to be mad ein the up-ward process later]

Advice:
here's a short list of things to keep in mind that i couldn't find place to mention before:

- Keep your Graphics on 0. (go to menu, system options, then crank the bar on the top to the left)
this will in affect make your screen look like crap, but also reduce potential lag.

- When in doubt, use more potions. Often when im faced with lag in the middle of a mob i cannot rely on pressing the potion button as going to save me.

- Play with sound effects ON so that you may hear your potions, as a rule of thumb, if you can hear the potion, you used the potion.

- Do not let Mages cast Seal on the bottom floor. If the Vikings do not stop to fire at you, they will just charge straightforward into you throwing off your well planned strategy of keeping them at bay. It may sound like a good idea, but from my experience it's always ended up screwing up my mob and making the mob harder to deal with.

- The Viking Projectile Error can be used at any point, its not exclusive to only the bottom floor. The use it though keep in mind that you need to be on the same horizontal plane as the enemy. This also works on Gigantic Vikings as well.

- Be nice. Seriously.

Anyway, that concludes my Spirit Viking for Hermits guide for now. i'll clean it up and add a touch more at a later date. Lemme know what you think and how it works for you.