Fire Emblem Catch All

UpToIsomorphism wrote:
Stealthpizza wrote:

If I do a NG+ (big if since I am still super early) would you say go with a different house or same house but different choices? I am currently Black Eagle as they are the best house. If I go with another house I would have to play without Bernie, Dorothea or Petra as I doubt I could recruit all of them.

Different house. The choices are largely irrelevant to the story, but the back half of the game is almost entirely different.

I believe that’s the case with 2 of the 3 houses but...

Spoiler:

Black Eagles has two separate paths.

After a week of vacation with my Switch in hand each night, I'm now 25+ hours in, on Chapter 8 as a Black Eagle and wow do I love this game.

Having now played a good amount of this, my first Fire Emblem game, I'm wondering why I have never seen anyone compare this to another favorite series of mine, where the combat is engaging enough, albeit a bit forgettable, but where the real hook for me is hanging out in your home base, chatting with your slowly expanding crew, learning their mysterious back stories, trying to earn their trust, and making big story decisions: Mass Effect.

Anyway, I'm way into this, and have added a bunch of recruits to my team. My biggest complaint at the moment is that there are lost items you can pick up for characters you are unable to return the items to. It is extremely annoying to me that I have I believe Hilda's stuff and am just unable to give it to her. At least let me toss it!

Off on another leg of this vacation, let's see how many more hours I can squeeze in!

mrlogical wrote:

Having now played a good amount of this, my first Fire Emblem game, I'm wondering why I have never seen anyone compare this to another favorite series of mine, where the combat is engaging enough, albeit a bit forgettable, but where the real hook for me is hanging out in your home base, chatting with your slowly expanding crew, learning their mysterious back stories, trying to earn their trust, and making big story decisions: Mass Effect.

Because, quite frankly, for Awakening and Fates, the home-base and crew chattering was not nearly as interesting as it is presented here. Awakening had no home-base, and in both of those games support conversations had a tendency to be less verbose and therefore more simplified and trope-heavy.

Now, prior to Awakening, character relations may have been more interesting. However, given what I played in Sacred Stones, all characterization went to story characters and side-characters got no further development upon recruitment.

Malkroth wrote:

I have purposefully equipped Dedue with a training axe to try and prevent him from one shotting enemies. He already has like 50 at level 18 and takes no physical damage. The real monster for Blue Lions is Felix though. High speed, high damage, will double everyone with enough damage to sometimes kill on the first hit.

Stele wrote:

Yeah Felix is one of the favorites I recruited. I'm looking forward to making him a beast from level 1 in another game.

Felix keeps asking me to switch his focus to sword.

You'll stay on gauntlets and you'll like it.

Two questions this morning that Google isn't giving definitive answers on:

- If I send out an item as a "local specialty" via the online liaison, it is gone for good, right? The main benefit is that I might make many times the value back if enough people buy it?

- How does movement range work? Is it exclusively determined by class, or do other stats have an effect? I was operating under the assumption that it was entirely driven by class, but I last night I had a newly recruited unit in a beginner class moving a different range than I remember my other characters moving in that class.

Relatedly, I assume I'll start seeing more tools for buffing movement speed as I progress, yeah? Even that one early availability battalion with the movement buff is incredibly impactful, but I'd love to have more consistent and reliable ways of making at least a few units have better movement range (casters, mostly).

Movement range is class based. There are items that increase it while equipped. There may be stat items that permanently increase it for a character too but I'm not sure. I have a dozen of those to sort through and start using.

ccesarano wrote:

Felix keeps asking me to switch his focus to sword.

You'll stay on gauntlets and you'll like it.

You're making him punch with his sword hand? You monster!

zeroKFE wrote:

Two questions this morning that Google isn't giving definitive answers on:

- If I send out an item as a "local specialty" via the online liaison, it is gone for good, right? The main benefit is that I might make many times the value back if enough people buy it?

- How does movement range work? Is it exclusively determined by class, or do other stats have an effect? I was operating under the assumption that it was entirely driven by class, but I last night I had a newly recruited unit in a beginner class moving a different range than I remember my other characters moving in that class.

I'm fairly certain that it's only gone while that unit is sent off. You should get it back when you summon them.

And yeah, I think movement range is entirely class based. I have a ring to increase it by one currently, but I haven't seen any ways to increase it permanently beyond that. As you mentioned, the Stride Gambit is incredibly useful for getting into position during a tough battle. I think it adds 5 extra movement to everyone it affects for that turn. There is a second batallion you will find with the same ability, I think from one of the paralogues. It requires an authority of B.

I still haven't figured out what abilities mastering a class earns you. Is there any way to tell in the UI?

DSGamer wrote:

I still haven't figured out what abilities mastering a class earns you. Is there any way to tell in the UI?

Nope. That's why I said you need outside resources a week or so back.

DSGamer wrote:

I still haven't figured out what abilities mastering a class earns you. Is there any way to tell in the UI?

No, but I kind of like that. It's a fun surprise to see what my reward is when I finally max out a class.

They've made so much transparent to the player in this game, mostly for the better, but I'm glad they kept some of the rewards hidden.

It doesn't really matter anyways. Even on hard/classic, the game isn't difficult enough to require any kind of min/maxing or optimal build. That might change if they introduce a harder difficulty, but I doubt anyone is doing that for a first run, and you can always look up those abilities online if needed.

Stele wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

I still haven't figured out what abilities mastering a class earns you. Is there any way to tell in the UI?

Nope. That's why I said you need outside resources a week or so back.

Oops. Sorry. I forgot I asked that question, I guess.

Stele wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

Felix keeps asking me to switch his focus to sword.

You'll stay on gauntlets and you'll like it.

You're making him punch with his sword hand? You monster!

You're damn right I'm making him punch. On the off-chance his fists and swings don't kill in the first two blows, he'll surely knock 'em dead by the second two.

Man's a damage-dealing beast.

I do love how his Brawler-class body is so stupendously ripped, and then you get into Support discussions and he's back to lanky ol' fencer's body.

DSGamer wrote:
Stele wrote:
DSGamer wrote:

I still haven't figured out what abilities mastering a class earns you. Is there any way to tell in the UI?

Nope. That's why I said you need outside resources a week or so back.

Oops. Sorry. I forgot I asked that question, I guess.

No, not like that. I'm saying I made that complaint last week, unprompted.

You just need to memorize the thread.

Is anyone else bothered by the gender restricted classes? I know that the series has always restricted pegasus knights to females, and there's a lore reason for that, so it does not bother me as much. But I noticed that the Lord/Hero, Brawler/Grappler, and Warmaster classes are all male locked for no reason. This basically means there is no reason for any female unit to learn brawling, and swords is only useful for those wishing to go Mortal Savant (if going for Master classes). Even Hilda, who is supposed to be a fighter type, and comes with high axe and spear skills, basically has to about face and go for pegasus or paladin since no master class uses axes for women. And it's not like we have not seen female heroes in past game. Just a couple years ago in Fates we had Selena as a female Merc/Hero tree, and Laslow's daughter Soleil is the same. Hana on the Hoshido side was a samurai which was their version of the Merc/Hero line. And we have seen female Lords before, Erika being the one that comes to mind the quickest. I just want a non-mounted, non-magical master class for women but there isn't one.

Other than that, I am really liking this game so far and the characters are interesting. Felix is a complete jerk, but I sense there's a reason behind that I am curious to find out, and Sylvain is a creep but you can see under the surface there's a very good person hiding. Only on chapter 7 so far, should be at the Battle of the Eagle and Lion soon. I am liking this smaller unit count immensely, I hope it stays this way throughout the game. The 20+ characters you were controlling in Awakening/Fates just got tedious.

Yeah the master classes are really restrictive for no good reason. Even the cavalier/paladin path has to do an about face and learn axes for no reason to be a great Knight. And everyone else has to take up riding.

And dark Bishop advanced class is locked to males only too. Pegasus is the only one they should have kept gender restricted.

But in NG+ you can assign opposite gender skills to Byleth if your learned them in a previous run. Still doesn't help the rest of your team but better than nothing.

I assume they'll have some new classes in DLC and want you to spend that $30

Malkroth wrote:

Is anyone else bothered by the gender restricted classes? I know that the series has always restricted pegasus knights to females, and there's a lore reason for that, so it does not bother me as much. But I noticed that the Lord/Hero, Brawler/Grappler, and Warmaster classes are all male locked for no reason. This basically means there is no reason for any female unit to learn brawling, and swords is only useful for those wishing to go Mortal Savant (if going for Master classes). Even Hilda, who is supposed to be a fighter type, and comes with high axe and spear skills, basically has to about face and go for pegasus or paladin since no master class uses axes for women. And it's not like we have not seen female heroes in past game. Just a couple years ago in Fates we had Selena as a female Merc/Hero tree, and Laslow's daughter Soleil is the same. Hana on the Hoshido side was a samurai which was their version of the Merc/Hero line. And we have seen female Lords before, Erika being the one that comes to mind the quickest. I just want a non-mounted, non-magical master class for women but there isn't one.

I like not having all classes available to all units, but I agree that gender a dumb way to do that. They should be restricted by individual character attributes and tendencies.

Also, Edelgard can actually become a Lord, so that's one minor exception to the above. She can't become a Hero though

Basically, Dmitri, Dedue, Ingrid, and Felix are all carrying massive baggage from the Tragedy of Duscar.

Maybe Sylvian? I mean, he's technically in that circle as well, but I don't recall if he was as directly impacted by it as those characters were. But that's basically why they all need a therapist somethin' fierce.

And most of the others' parents are f*cking nuts.

Bernie, Lysithea, and Edelgard in particular all have crazy family back stories.

Malkroth wrote:

Is anyone else bothered by the gender restricted classes? I know that the series has always restricted pegasus knights to females, and there's a lore reason for that, so it does not bother me as much. But I noticed that the Lord/Hero, Brawler/Grappler, and Warmaster classes are all male locked for no reason. This basically means there is no reason for any female unit to learn brawling, and swords is only useful for those wishing to go Mortal Savant (if going for Master classes). Even Hilda, who is supposed to be a fighter type, and comes with high axe and spear skills, basically has to about face and go for pegasus or paladin since no master class uses axes for women. And it's not like we have not seen female heroes in past game. Just a couple years ago in Fates we had Selena as a female Merc/Hero tree, and Laslow's daughter Soleil is the same. Hana on the Hoshido side was a samurai which was their version of the Merc/Hero line. And we have seen female Lords before, Erika being the one that comes to mind the quickest. I just want a non-mounted, non-magical master class for women but there isn't one.

It bothers me more on a social level than a mechanical one. You can use any weapon with any unit that has the required skill level - my paladin will mess you up with his axe and bow just the same as his spear. The skill requirements to unlock the classes are distinct from what a character can actually use.

You’re actually mistaken with Hilda - she’s going to end up a great knight in my game, a master class that requires axes.

And regarding wanting a non-magical, non-mounted female master class... 6 of the 8 master classes are mounted, so I think the game is communicating pretty well what it wants you to end up as.

I booted up the game for the first time tonight, and finished the tutorial chapter. Still very early, but I see why everyone is complaining about the font size while undocked. I'm playing on Hard/Classic, since there is a lot of talk out there about the game being fairly easy.

And I love the organ version of the Fire Emblem theme that plays at the title screen. It sounds way more foreboding and minor-key in this version than the other games, and it's great. Hopefully there's a full version floating around somewhere.

Any recommendations for who to work on upgrading in the Blue Lions?

In previous FE games there were often characters that appeared weak but when you worked with them a lot they got better stat upgrades than most and eventually became extremely powerful. I am assuming that is true in Three Houses as well

That's pretty much Cyril, I think, who is also quite easy to recruit. I don't even remember the conditions. I just approached him early on and he said "Okay".

farley3k wrote:

Any recommendations for who to work on upgrading in the Blue Lions?

In previous FE games there were often characters that appeared weak but when you worked with them a lot they got better stat upgrades than most and eventually became extremely powerful. I am assuming that is true in Three Houses as well

Cyril is the "Donnel" of this game. He has aptitude, so if you get him and level him early, he can be a monster with 20% more chance for each stat at level up time.

I think the earliest you can get him is Ch 6.

As for actual Blue Lions, I haven't played the house but I recruited a few if them. Ingrid and Sylvain are two of my best units. Pretty sure Ingrid is the best Pegasus/Falcon Knight in the game.

ccesarano wrote:

That's pretty much Cyril, I think, who is also quite easy to recruit. I don't even remember the conditions. I just approached him early on and he said "Okay".

Hmmm, I think that might be because you're Blue Lions. I had a feeling he was going to be the Donnel of this game. Can he join Black Eagles? I buttered him up real nice and got his support to B. Nada.

I just hit the big pivot in the game last night. I can see why people say Black Eagles have the most interesting route. Some big choices to be made for sure...

Cyril should join any team but will only stay on 3 of the 4 routes. He will leave if you go Edelgard.

I think I recruited Cyril in chapter 4 or 5. Had the same experience, just walk up to him and say hi. I haven't really used him though, prefer my house units for now and normal is really easy. Only recruits I am currently using are Dorothea and Lystheria. Hilda and Bernadette did finally ask to join though.

It probably has something to do with answers you give Lady Rhea at some point. I recall his dialogue having something to do with that, and I didn't say anything she was displeased with until after he had joined the team (regarding a certain Relic). Aside from professors, I got Dorothea to join me as well. Been trying to butter up a few others, but has thus far not been as effective as I'd like.

Stele wrote:

Cyril should join any team but will only stay on 3 of the 4 routes. He will leave if you go Edelgard.

Black Eagles may not have the option to recruit Cyril until later.

Spoiler:

He still doesn't offer me a choice to recruit even at the end of chapter 7, and if things I've read are correct he becomes available in chapter 6 for everyone else.

He's actually one of the earliest church characters you can get apparently, other than Catherine who supposedly will join from chapter 4 on if you're high enough level, although I think Black Eagles players also don't even get the option with her either. Presumably they don't want you getting too attached to either of them given that there's a high chance you'll lose both based on choices later.

Interestingly though, Flayn did still join me at the start of chapter 7, despite my understanding that she also goes away depending on your choices with Edelgard. A bit of a nasty trap if you don't know and then follow the common suggestion to make her your dancer. Of course, a first time Black Eagles player probably will pick Dorothea for that anyway, but still.

To answer the question more directly though:

farley3k wrote:

Any recommendations for who to work on upgrading in the Blue Lions?

In previous FE games there were often characters that appeared weak but when you worked with them a lot they got better stat upgrades than most and eventually became extremely powerful. I am assuming that is true in Three Houses as well

The nice thing about the whole professor instruction thing is that as long as you focus on maximizing your professor level and making good use of your points, you can get good, effective development out of most (if not all) of the people on your team. Even if you aren’t using them a ton in combat, if you guide them well they’ll still be picking up relevant skills to build them into powerhouses when you do use them in classes that suit their proficiencies.

That said, there certainly are characters that have stat growth rates that are better than others, but I don’t think you need to worry quite so much about what to do in combat to optimize that, other than making sure people are working with relevant classes to improve their growth potential for where you eventually want them to be. My understanding is that amongst the Blue Lions, Felix, Mercedes, and Ingrid are all quite high in growth potential for their areas of expertise, and thus I focused on recruiting them (in addition to Sylvain who I got for free, and who has also worked out quite well).

And while we’re on the topic of recruiting and tips, forget about what the game tries to tell you to do to recruit people, and focus instead on building Byleth’s support level with them. (It was discussed a few pages back, but now that I’ve implemented it to great success I can heartily confirm it.) If you end up with the relevant skill and stat, great, but the REAL way to recruit people efficiently is to spam them with gifts, meals, and guest combat spots until you get their support to B. Once they’ve reached B support, they’ll join you on their own eventually via interrupts on the calendar screen.

I’m now at the end of chapter 7 and I’ve already recruited the aforementioned four as well as Lysithea, and Leonie is waiting on a time gate for her B support, after which she should also join up. That leaves four more chapters to try for the remaining six (or maybe five, because screw Lorenz), so we’ll see how that goes, but I’ve definitely got a lot more resources available to me now, so we’ll see.

Reminder, Reddit Omni sheet.

It has all stat growths. Confirmed our anecdotal evidence, highest Blue Lions after Dimitri are Ingrid, Sylvain, and Felix. Then a big drop to the rest.

But of course overall growths aren't everything. Bernadetta is lower than Shamir overall but has higher Dex and Speed growths, while Shamir has higher luck. Bernie has turned into a much stronger Archer for me.