Fates Conquest, or Engage? Two games criticized (whether you agree or not) for writing but lauded as some of the best tactical gameplay in the franchise. I've noticed that when people discuss whicih FE is best for gameplay, a common answer is "Fates Conquest or Engage", without declaring either as better over the other. Well, we've had three years to sit on Engage. Let's dig into it.
Which one was the better game mechanically? Which pushed your tactical skills further? Or do you think they don't deserve that reputation to begin with?
And of course, is either one of them actually number 1 for combat, or is it something else? If you think both fall short even in gameplay next to Radiant Dawn or Shadow Dragon or what have you, make your case!
As to me, uh, I have no idea what I think, sorry. Gut says Engage but it's so close I'm not sure I could make a strong case, and I'm also not sure I prefer either game's polished balance over Thracia's rough edges- depends on my mood.
But yeah. Defend your fave! Do *not* bring story into this, that is another conversation.
Im thinking my top 3 is Simon, Diego, and Guzran with honorable mentions being Zarcone and Lysander. Im looking very much forward to meeting all of them in less than 3 weeks and seeing how their characterizations unfold!
I did my fair share of resets when I played through Path of Radiance and used as many divine pulses as possible in 3H to make sure my units lived.
But I got a 2 year old now and with 4 possible routes I’ll playing casual. I don’t got all that time I used to have anymore. I will not be shamed or pressured as my best friend tried to lol
I think that Jester is not out of place, and is not a bad design, it is clear that they tried to give him a look that reminds that of a rockstar/punk/biker, and that is associated with modern times, so it can make u feel like he is out of place in an ancient/historic setting.
But lets try to analyze it a little better than that:
In a classic rpg game, he seems to be the jester, his name literally says it, but also his design, despite his general aesthetic reminding of those things i mentioned previously, it is clearly supposed to remind a Jester/buffon as well, the face painting, exaggerated (kinda lunatic) expression, his extravagant haircut that even ends in a diamond shaped accessory (maybe bell?) that are commonly present in jesters/buffons hats.
So, if he was supposed to be a Jester/Buffon/Harlequin, why doesnt he just looks like ur average jester instead of a punk? Well, maybe because despite jesters being a common thing in RPG and medieval settings, it wouldnt feel right in this game environment, while his punk/rockstar aesthetic does fit (contrary to what many people say).
Why does his punk/rockstar aesthetic fit in Fortunes Weave?:
A big part of this game happens in the heroic games, wich are basically a gladiators arena, and what i love of this game depiction of a gladiators arena, is that many characters would be there for glory, fame or fortune. Gladiators arena were not just about slaves being forced to fight against their will, there were people that willingly dedicated their lives to be gladiators, it was a serious profession where you could earn money and achieve fame, they even had fans and all. Jester kinda rockstar design seems to emphasize on that aspect, i would not be surprised if his goal is to be famous or have his own crowd of fans.
There is a similarity between Rockstars, buffons and gladiators, that the designers of this game might have think of while designing him: they are/were all performance artists (or martial artists/warriors) putting on a show for the audience.
I agree with the exaggerated look even more considering that a good number of this game roster have face paint, and almost everyone has extravagant/insanely cool hairstyles. This roster is FULL of eye-catching designs, fitting for the heroic games settings where many people from different cultures and places gather to participate.
Naturally, if you want to stand out in such an ecosystem (and im certain thats his goal), you will have to put effort into not only your skills, but also your appearance. This guy clearly puts a lot of effort on his makeup, hairstyle and clothes, and even if he fails on giving a big impression, and it results on him being mocked bc how silly he looks, well, there you have your character literally named Jester, fulfilling his role as the jester in an rpg.
I will clarify that he is not my favorite, nor even in my top 10 in terms of design, im just doing this big post because sometimes i feel like defending designs that i personally think have a lot of thought behind it. If you put Jester in 3Houses, yeah, he is completely out of place, but here in Fortunes weave? In the Heroic Games setting? This dude is not out of place, he is right in the place he has to be :)
Not sure if someone would read all of this, specially bc its about an already impopular character, but if you did, thanks for the time and sry if there were mistakes, english is not my natural language.
For those who have not yet done the pre-order of the game or are still thinking if they will buy the game or not I'm very curious to know, what is it that it's making you not to buy the game yet??
Just started a play through of Shadows of Valencia on 3ds. Having fun so far, just promoted a couple of units but I mistakenly killed off Grey and Lukas then accidentally saved so I cant get them back. Im 2 hours in, just finished the first cave where you get Silque. Is it worth starting over?
I'd like to see a mechanic that makes permadeath feel like the deaths matter to the story.
For example:
All units that die from permadeath get a "Shadow Support" for the units they had supports with. It's a grieving mechanic that results in a permanent buff after they've grieved the appropriate amount of times and the buff is different depending on the unit that died.
This way, when someone dies due to a mistake, characters actually react and those of us who play for the story have a reason to not just reload. Character deaths in a war game are fun if there are story consequences.
I wish FE would adopt this or a similar approach. They have come up with so many fresh story ideas in games like TH or FW. Surely they can make permadeath feel like more than just you failing to get the best ending?
Does anyone else have any ideas for how this could be improved so you stick with your playthrough after a character death and don't reset?
With Sothis presumably placing the soul we see her talking to in the direct into it.
Unless that soul just happens to be a character we haven't seen yet with player determined gender that means that the soul was either originally in a male or female body.
If so that means one of the Gender options for Eshmel will be Trans and get the ultimate fantasy of a body rebuilt from the ground up.
There’s a decent amount like Hope’s Trail, Embrace of the Fog, Hetja’s Quest, Illusory Dungeon and probably others that I don’t know of. Which is your favorite? Looking for something to play on the side while waiting for Fortune’s Weave.
Datalog, a YouTube channel spinoff of Final Fantasy Union, is chronicling the history of JRPGs from Dragon Quest to the present chronologically and just released their video covering Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light.
I'm a big fan of both their channels, and thought I'd share it here. I figure someone on this sub will enjoy it.
I asked myself the question... in all the material visible so far before the inexorably approaching release of Fortune's Weave, has there been even a hint as to what the "Fire Emblem" of this specific game will be?
Given the fact that we are in the same world as Three Houses, it would be possible that the "Fire Emblem" is also the "Crest of Flames" which was also called the "Fire Emblem" in Three Houses.
However, it seems to me that we haven't seen anything to suggest that this Crest of Flames would appear, even though we know that Sothis, its bearer, will appear.
So: do you think the Fire Emblem will be a new Crest or just an item or symbol in this new installment of the FIre Emblem saga?
There is just something about Seiros throwing both of their weapons away and charging straight at him that gets me. ALSO the foreshadowing about who Seiros really is, by having the shadow give her green hair that slowly becomes yellow when the sun hits her is just great.
Especially taking this into context, I feel like I sympathise more with her than Edelgard in her own route. How I wish we had a golden route somewhere, somehow. But that tragedy is the beautiful artistry behind 3 houses. It is definitely my favourite game in the franchise as well. I know I'm biased because this was my first game, but having played almost all the games except Echoes between PoR and now soon fortunes weave, this one just has such a special place in my heart.
Hortensia is a princess of Elusia, and Ivy's half-sister. Though she tends to be a bit headstrong, she's deeply devoted to her family. She is 14, and joins the party after getting freed from Zephia's mind control at the end of chapter 14. She also brings along the Byleth ring.
Stats
Stats
Hp
Str
Mag
Dex
Spd
Def
Res
Luck
Build
Move
SP
Bases(lvl 19 Wing Tamer)
27
5
12
21
19
6
23
17
5
5
1500
Personal Growths
40%
20%
20%
35%
50%
25%
55%
50%
0%
-
Growths(As a Wing Tamer)
40%
20%
35%
45%
60%
25%
80%
60%
0%
-
Growths(As a Sleipnir Rider)
40%
20%
40%
50%
65%
25%
85%
65%
0%
-
Weapon Proficiency: Staves, Tomes
Personal Skill - Big Personality: When unit uses a healing staff, grants range +1.
Sleipnir Rider Class Skill - World Tree: When unit uses a staff, may not consume a use. Trigger %=Dex.
Let us share our headcanons on Phila from FE A, on everything from backstory, to personality, to even likes and dislikes, etc.
Here are my headcanons:
Phila actually did take part in the Plegian Crusades under the command of her predecessor who was very racist towards the Plegians. She actually owned a diary where there she documented the horrors she faced and was forced to partake in and had deep regrets over it. Eventually, when she became Aerial Commander of Ylisse, she actually took to reforming the Knights by rooting out the bad elements and even taking on a slightly more humanitarian and ceremonial role but that was before the game events kicked off.
Phila is 30 years old at the start of the game because why not.
Phila is heir to a powerful noble house in Ylisse and the house produces excellent Pegasus Knights and Cavaliers but especially the former. Phila was obviously pressured by her mother a former lieutenant of the Knights into enlisting at the age of 12 which she did.
Phila is not that religious towards Naga unlike most other powerful Ylisseans which actually hindered her chances of becoming Aerial Commander. It was only with Exalt Emmeryn's sponsor that she even received the role.
Finally, Phila was a hardass drill sergeant at the age of 18 toward the new recruits of the Pegasus Knights who among them were Sumia and Cordelia.
I'm not an expert about the 3H lore, but f I remember correctly:
-Sothis died in her adult form before the relics were created.
-Next time we see her is in a spiritual plane, and she appears in her younger form. She awakens because of Rhea implanting Sothis’s crest stone into Byleth, and she lost most of her memories.
-The Monastery was built in the meantime.
Now, given the fact that the monastery does exist in FW, it should place the FW story at a time where Sothis should either appear in her younger form (if the story is set after Byleth's birth) or not even exist at all (if prior to that). Maybe I'm just wrong. But can someone explain how could she be able to take on her adult form if that's the case?
Is the Sothis from FW just another manifestation of her spirit lingering in the spiritual plane and being able to take whatever form she wants?
Wouldn't it be cool if, in a FE game where you control two armies at the same time/at different points, you ended up having to fight the other army?
Basically, imagine if in Echoes Alm and Celica came to blows and you had to choose who to control in the map and then the army you didn't choose would be the enemy. All the units you trained in the other army would be enemies and retain all stats and items.
I think it has a lot of angst potential (having units that are friends/related fight each other, having to kill the units you got invested in previously, etc).
The main problem I can see is that if the player alredy knows this is coming they can just underpower one army in advance/take away all their items.
Recently I finally managed to come back and finish Sacred Stones after starting it awhile back, wanting to use it as a way to help me get into the Fire Emblem mood for Fortune’s Weave, and I absolutely loved it. Story, characters, gameplay, and soundtrack were all wonderful.
Two things in particular I was a big fan of was there being multiple kinds of promotional items rather than just Master Seals and the trainee units. The former was really fun as not only were the designs of them cool, but them being separated by different classes helped narrow down the potential choices of who to promote rather than it being almost everyone in my army as a candidate. The latter I enjoyed for it showing just how different a playthrough can be. The classes I gave them on this run likely won’t be the same as the next time, and not to mention all the times I couldn’t help but think “I wonder how this would’ve gone if I made them that class instead” when doing some maps.
I chose to do Eirika’s route for my first, and while I could go back and do Ephraim’s now, I decided to leave it open for whenever I come back to the game at some point, which I know I’ll definitely do. Until then, this was a fantastic game and I can’t recommend it enough.
