History VideoGame / VantageMaster

A series of [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] TurnBasedStrategy games by Creator/{{Falcom}}. The original ''Vantage Master'' was released in December 1997, and was followed by ''Vantage Master V2'' in early 1998, and by ''[=VM=] Japan'' in 2002. 2002 also saw the English translation of the original game (well, [[{{Engrish}} sort of]]) and it becoming available for free download [[https://www.falcom.co.jp/vantage/index_e.html on their website]]. The other games still haven't been released outside of Japan.

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features the main characters from ''VideoGame/PopfulMail'', ''VideoGame/{{Brandish}}'', the ''Legend of Heroes'' series, and the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series as secret playable characters. All were Falcom franchises.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Zamilpen is a penguin natial.

* ContractualBossImmunity: Subverted, especially in Vantage Master Japan. Summoners are not at all immune to the game's StandardStatusEffects, so hitting them with petrifying, sealing, or charming effects can often end the battle near-instantly if you can get into range.
* ElementalPowers

* StandardStatusEffects: Vantage Master just had frozen / petrified, which functioned identically. Vantage Master Japan added poison, magic-seal, charm, buff and debuff effects.
* SummonMagic: The entire point of the game.

A series of [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]] TurnBasedStrategy games by Creator/{{Falcom}}. The original ''Vantage Master'' was released in December 1997, and was followed by ''Vantage Master V2'' in early 1998, and by ''[=VM=] Japan'' in 2002. 2002 also saw the English translation of the original game (well, [[{{Engrish}} sort of]]) and it becoming available for free download [[http://www.falcom.com/vantage/download.html on their website]]. The other games still haven't been released outside of Japan.

%%* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Zamilpen.

%%* {{Mana}}

%%** The top-tier water Natials move painfully slow out of water, but are nearly invulnerable.

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features the main characters from ''VideoGame/PopfulMail'', ''VideoGame/{{Brandish}}'', and the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series as secret playable characters. All were Falcom franchises.

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features the main characters from ''VideoGame/PopfulMail'', VideoGame/{{Brandish}}, and the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series as secret playable characters. All were Falcom franchises.

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features the main characters from ''VideoGame/PopfulMail'', VideoGame/Brandish, and the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series as secret playable characters. All were Falcom franchises.

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features Mail from ''VideoGame/PopfulMail'' and Adol from the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series as playable characters.

A series of PC TurnBasedStrategy games by Creator/{{Falcom}}, most of which have never been released outside of Japan, the Vantage Master games have you play as a summoner capable of calling forth elemental creatures known as Natials in battle. The gameplay consists of duels between summoners, who move around the hexagonal board trying to capture magic stones which provide more {{mana}} for additional summoning. In a campaign, every battle earns you a new Natial or a new spell.

Falcom has translated the original game ([[{{Engrish}} sort of]]) and is giving it away as a free download [[http://www.falcom.com/vantage/download.html on their website]].\\
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<<|TurnBasedStrategy|>>

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features Mail from ''PopfulMail'' and Adol from the ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series as playable characters.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vantage_master_1_box_7170.jpg

A series of PC TurnBasedStrategy games by Creator/{{Falcom}}, most of which have never been released outside of Japan, the Vantage Master games have you play as a summoner capable of calling forth elemental creatures known as Natials in battle. The gameplay consists of duels between summoners, who move around the hexagonal board rying to capture magic stones which provide more {{mana}} for additional summoning. In a campaign, every battle earns you a new natial or a new spell.

Falcom has translated the original game ([[{{Engrish}} sort of]]) and is giving it away as a free download [[http://www.falcom.com/vantage/download.html on their website]].

* AwesomeButImpractical: Most of the highest-tier natials are very powerful, but also very specific; unless you're winning overwhelmingly already, you're often better off with a more well-rounded lower-tier natial instead.

* ElementalRockPaperScissors: Air natials are strong against Earth natials; Earth beats Water; Water beats Fire; Fire beats Air.

* {{Golem}}: Da-Colm, the big bruiser of Earth natials.

* {{Kappa}}: Midorosuiko, the healing water natial from Vantage Master Japan.

%%** The top-tier water natials move painfully slowly out of water, but are nearly invulnerable.

* OlympusMons: The higher-tier Air natials are gods.

* ScissorsCutsRock: The top-tier water Natials in both versions have such outrageous physical defense and attacks that even Earth Natials (theoretically their weakness) generally can't beat them one-on-one. While their magic defense is slightly less obscene, it's still very high, and few Earth natials have magical attacks to exploit it anyway. Their real weakness is their obscene cost combined with slow movement on land.
* SinisterScythe: Oonevievle, a high-tier Fire natial from the first game, uses one of these.

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Zamilpen.

* {{Mana}}
* MightyGlacier: The top-tier water natials move painfully slowly out of water, but are nearly invulnerable.
** The Shaman summoner class is slow, but very tough, and has a brutal ranged attack where he throws a ''boulder''.

** Also, Sun Wukong from JourneyToTheWest shows up as a summon in Vantage Master Japan.

* TacticalRockPaperScissors

* ScissorsCutsRock: The top-tier water Natials in both versions have such outrageous physical defense and attacks that even Earth Natials (theoretically their weakness) generally can't beat them one-on-one. While their magic defense is slightly less obscene, they're still very hard to kill, and few Earth natials have magical attacks to exploit it anyway. Their real weakness is their obscene cost combined with slow movement on land.

!!This game provides examples of:

* AwesomeButImpractical: Most of the highest-tier natials are very powerful, but also very specific.

A series of PC TurnBasedStrategy games by {{Falcom}}, most of which have never been released outside of Japan, the Vantage Master games have you play as a summoner capable of calling forth elemental creatures known as Natials in battle. The gameplay consists of duels between summoners, who move around the hexagonal board rying to capture magic stones which provide more {{mana}} for additional summoning. In a campaign, every battle earns you a new natial or a new spell.

* Golem: Da-Colm

* {{Cameo}}: The original game features Mail from ''PopfulMail'' and Adol from the ''{{Ys}}'' series as playable characters.

* ContractualBossImmunity: Subverted, especially in Vantage Master Japan. Summoners are not at all immune to the game's StandardStatusEffects, so hitting them with petrifying, sealing, or charming effects can often end the battle near-instantly.