Monster recruitment: Difference between revisions

Introduced in {{DQ5}}, the recruitment of bested beasts has appeared in some capacity in nearly every title in the series since 1992. Specifically, the system was present in every even-numbered title beginning with {{DQ6}} until the release of the HD-2D remake of the third game in 2024.

Monster recruitment has been a core aspect of the ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters (series)|Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off series]]'' since its inception in 1996 , as the player takes the role of a [[Monster Wrangler]] who is unable to fight his or her own battles.

Monster recruitment is set to be in the game's 2D-HD Remake, though details are currently unknown.

Monster recruitment was simplistic in its original inception, being a fixed percentage that could not be changed by the player. If multiple recruitable {{MFamilies}}s appear in the same encounter, only the final felled foe will have a chance to join the {{Hero 5}}. In the [[Nintendo DS]] and [[cell phone]] versions, {{MFamilies}} allies will only alternate between two lines of dialogue during [[Party Chat]], as opposed to the fuller conversations of human characters.

As of 2019, the [[Cell phone]] ports saw the addition of the [[Monster magnet]] accessory for the the {{Hero 5}}, which when equipped can increase the odds of a {{MFamilies}} joining up by one rank. This is likely due to the release of {{DQYS}}, which would have attracted a new audience to the title and such players would have desired an easier time collecting {{MFamilies}}s.

In the original {{SFC}} version of {{VI}} monster recruitment worked identically to {{V}}, though someone in the {{Party 6}} must be a [[Monster Master]] for the chance to activate. When the {{DS}} version (and subsequent [[Cell phone]] ports) were produced, this mechanic was retired in favor of "Slime Buddies": {{Slime}}s players could interact with in towns and dungeons like {{NPC}}s who would join the {{Party 6}} once certain conditions were met as was the case with [[Lizzie]]. These {{Slime}}s are not treated as full characters, however, and thus lack the detailed [[Party Chat]] of humans and [[Lizzie]].

In both versions of the game, any recruited {{Slime}} may enter into the gladiatorial contests at [[Slimopolis]].

| [[File:Dq6batteringramsnes.png|48px|center]] || {{Damned ram R}} || {{fraction|1|16}} || 4

| [[File:Bosstroll DQVI SNES.gif|68px|center]] || {{Boss troll R}} || {{fraction|1|16}} || 5

| [[File:Dg6chimaerasnes.png|48px|center]] || {{Dreamaera R}} || {{fraction|1|32}} || 4

| [[File:Furrat.gif|48px|center]] || {{Feralball R}} || {{fraction|1|4}} || 1

| [[File:Windmage.gif|58px|center]] || {{Gustbluster R}} || {{fraction|1|64}} || 3

| [[File:Dq6healslimesnes.png|32px|center]] || [[Healie|Healslime]] || {{fraction|1|16}} || 2

| [[File:Dq6highdjinkssnes.png|58px|center]] || {{High djinks R}} || {{fraction|1|256}} || 8

| [[File:Dq6 king slime.png|48px|center|]] || [[Kingsley|King slime]] || {{fraction|1|64}} || 5

| [[File:Dq6LMSsnes.png|48px|center]] || [[Mercury|Liquid metal slime]] || {{fraction|1|256}} || 6

| [[File:Dq6lipssnes.png|48px|center]] || {{Lips R}} || {{fraction|1|64}} || 1

| [[File:Dq6mudmannequainsnes.png|48px|center]] || {{Mud mannequin R}} || {{fraction|1|64}} || 2

| [[File:Dq6overkillingmachinesnes.png|58px|center]] || {{Overkilling machine R}} || {{fraction|1|64}} || 7

| [[File:Dq6rockbombsnes.png|48px|center]] || {{Rockbomb R}} || {{fraction|1|32}} || 4

| [[File:DQ6-SFC-SLIME.png|center]] || [[Goober|Slime]] || {{fraction|1|2}} || 1

| [[File:Slime knight DQVI SFC.png|42px|center]] || [[Goowain|Slime knight]] || {{fraction|1|4}} || 2

| [[File:Super Tensk DQVI.png|48px|center]] || {{Sluggernaut R}} || {{fraction|1|4}} || 3

| [[File:Dq6walkingcorpsesnes.png|48px|center]] || {{Walking corpse R}} || {{fraction|1|32}} || 2

===Available in the DS & phone versions===

Monster recruitment is not present in the seventh game; instead, {{MFamilies}}s will sojourn off to a sort of wild life reserve called the [[Monster Meadows]] that is unlocked during the normal course of the game. Once there, they can be spoken to in their natural habitat as if they were {{NPC}}s, though only three lines of dialogue will be spoken. The [[Animal Magnetism]] skill makes taming these beasts much easier than in previous games, being the first time a player has direct influence on the probability in a numbered title.  

Additionally, defeated {{MFamilies}}s will occasionally drop [[Monster Heart]]s. These function similarly to the [[Dragonic Diligence]] and [[Liquid Metal Mind]] scrolls from {{VI}}, and allow the character holding them to take on monster-based vocations at {{Alltrades Abbey 6}}. The main difference is that a character's sprite will change into the corresponding monster once the vocation is mastered.

*In the {{3DS}} remake, the character will immediately become a monster after using a heart.

In the {{PS2}} version of the game, players will notice several {{MFamilies}}s wandering the overworld. These infamous beasties prove '''much''' more capable than their randomly encountered counterparts, but once the player pays a visit to [[Morrie]]'s place they can join the party. This allows the monsters to enter the competition in [[Morrie's Place|Morrie's Monstrous Pit]], and through the use of the [[Call Team]] skill they may be summoned into battle for 3 or more turns. All recruited {{MFamilies}}s grow more powerful as the {{Hero 8}}'s Level rises, and do not need to gain battle {{exp}}erience themselves.

*In the [[Nintendo 3DS]] port, all {{MFamilies}}s are visible in the overworld, with the [[infamous monster]]s being given distinctive icons.

===Available in all versions===

Certain {{MFamilies}}s can be recruited by players beginning in version 2.0, which saw the return of the [[Monster Wrangler]] vocation to the series after nearly 14 years of absence. Version 2.1 added the [[Item Master]] vocation and it's selection of monsters. The former tames organic {{MFamilies}}s, while the latter handles [[Material family|living objects]] and [[Machine family|robots]], with each having 15 species to choose from.

Taming itself is fairly simple, but players must perform research on the species they want prior to the encounter. This is done in the form of obtaining zoological books on {{MFamilies}}s or user manuals for machines, and using one as an item in battle to unlock the scouting attack for that particular breed. This attack creates a base 10% chance to capture the {{MFamilies}} once it falls. The skill does not need to be the final blow of the battle; as long as it has been used over the course of the encounter the chance to recruit the beast is established. Once tamed, the {{MFamilies}} can join the player immediately or be sent off to the monster bar where most scouting books are obtained, and one character can store up to 24 {{MFamilies}}s at the pub.

Monsters that have joined players are controlled through A.I. dependent on their [[Personality|personality]] and essentially serve as [[party]] members for times when the player's friends and comrades are offline. Monsters have a Level cap of 50, but can undergo a process similar to a [[Revocation]] to further raise their stats. The equipment pool of a given {{MFamilies}} is fixed and cannot be changed, but gear can be shared between the {{MFamilies}} and master: for example a [[Monster Master]] and Hacksaurus can simultaneously wield the same [[Kaiser axe]] in a battle for the sake of player convenience. New to the series is the concept of bonding, a stat that denotes the level of attachment a {{MFamilies}} has to its master and is raised by fighting together. Raising this stat will confer benefits such as additional skill points, and once this stat reaches a certain threshold, a {{MFamilies}} will follow a character regardless of their {{vocation}}.

|[[Brownie]] || 2.4 || Hammers || Heavy armour || Monster battle road prize

|[[Hacksaurus]] || 2.0 || Axes || Heavy armour || Casino prize

|[[Healslime]] ||2.0 || Wands ||Robes || Sold at tavern

|[[Imp]] || 2.2 ||Spears || Robes ||Sold at tavern

|[[Jailcat]] || 2.0 || Claws || Robes || Monster drop

|[[Mandrake major]] || 2.0 || Swords || Heavy armour || Sold at tavern

|[[Meowgician]] || 2.0 || Heavy wands || Robes || Sold at tavern

|[[Mischievous mole]] || 2.0 || Staves || Clothing || Monster drop

|[[Slime]] ||2.0 ||Boomerangs || Clothing || Sold at tavern

|[[Slime knight]] || 2.0 ||Swords || Heavy armour || Sold at tavern

|[[Small fry]] || 2.2 || Claws || Clothing || Sold at tavern

|[[Bambooligan]] || 2.1 || Spears || Heavy armour || Sold at tavern

|[[Fromage fray]] || 2.1 || Heavy wands || Robes || Sold at tavern

|[[Goodybag]] || 2.1 || Fans || Robes || Casino prize

|[[Harmour]] || 2.1 || Swords || Heavy armour || Casino prize

|[[Hat hamwitch]] || 2.1 || Heavy wands || Robes || Monster drop

|[[Hellbound horror]] || 2.3 || Axes || Clothing || Sold at tavern

|[[Killing machine]] || 2.2 || Greatswords|| Heavy armour || Sold at tavern

|[[Mecha-mynah]] || 2.1 || Claws || Clothing || Sold at tavern

|Needle man || 2.1 || Knives || Clothing || Sold at tavern

|[[Prancing pillar]] || 2.1 || Fans || Clothing || Sold at tavern

|Wardrobe mimic || 2.4 || Bows || Robes || Sold at tavern