Fire Emblem Discussion Thread

In which Kaneda babbles uncontrollably we discuss the saga, and recommend games/give gameplay advice to young grasshoppers.



What is Fire Emblem?
Fire Emblem is a videogame saga by Nintendo's Intelligent Systems branch, and one of the first exponents of the turn-based strategy RPG genre. Basically, you lead your army on battles in grid based maps, following a predefined (and often pretty awesome) story.

The series' appeal comes mostly from the fact that in your army, every single one of the soldiers has its own personality, backstory and relationships. You grow to love some and to hate others, but whether you love or hate them, you will do your best to keep them alive.

(Pretty lousy summary, I know, but it's kind of hard to describe the whole franchise at once.)

A saga, you say? How many games does it have, exactly?
The franchise spans thirteen games:

• Fire Emblem (NES)
• Fire Emblem: Gaiden (NES)
• Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (SNES)
• Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (SNES)
• Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 (SNES)
• Fire Emblem: Sword of Seals (GBA)
• Fire Emblem: Blazing Sword (GBA)
• Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA)
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GC)
• Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii)
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS)
• Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem (DS)
• Fire Emblem: Awakening (3DS)

Holy shit, Batman! That's a lot of games. How are they related to one another?
It's complicated.

FE1, FE2 and FE3 take place in the same timeline. FE11 is a remake of FE1, FE12 is the second half of FE3, and FE13 happens a couple thousand years after that, in the same timeline. FE5 takes place somewhere after the first and before the second part of FE4. FE6 happens after FE7, and FE10 is the sequel to FE9.

SO THESE ARE THE GAMES MARTH AND ROY COME FROM?!
*sigh* Yes, yes they are. Roy is the main lord of FE6, and Marth appears in the Akaneia timeline (1, 2, 3, 11, 12 and 13).

What is, for you, the biggest appeal of this franchise?
Everything. From the music to the gameplay, everything about the franchise is awesome... most of the time. Then again, I'm talking as a long time fan, so take my words with a grain of salt.

Okay, I'm sold. Which game would be a good starting point?
It's pretty subjective, but for most people the best game to start would be FE 7 (though it was localized as just Fire Emblem, to everyone's confusion). FE8 could work too if you're affraid of the difficulty, and FE9 (re)introduces some interesting aspects of the saga that were absent in the GBA games.

For any gameplay mechanics question over any game in the series, check Serenes Forest, the go-to place for FE guides.

I think that does it, if there is anything of vital importance I should add just tell me and I'll edit it in. Also remember to keep the spoilerish bits under tags, please.

So, without further ado, let's discuss Fire Emblem! If you want!

Kaneda, as much as that GBA theme gives me all the nostalgia-feels (shit that reminds me I still haven't beat HHM), I am infinitely disappointed that you didn't link this "EPIC" version of the theme song.



Or the full version, for that matter.



FAIIIIIYAAAAA ENBUREEEEEEEMU~

I'm kidding btw, I love that GBA FE theme like my own baby so please don't replace it

Also, you should probably throw up a link to Serenesforest, just because it's the one-stop resource for everything FE-related.

I was actually about to use that second video, no shit. Also, the main theme in 8 bits from the first game. At the end I decided on the BS theme because of the nostalgia. Damn. ;_; And yeah, I'll put a link to Serenes in there. My old place had kind of a rivalry with them (which is retarded because it was in Spanish), but I don't care about such nonsense as a "best" FE site.

*clears throat*

FAAAAAIYA EMBUREMUUUUUUUUUU

Tsk, tsk.

By the way, speaking of Hector. Did you get to play the supah sekrit chapter 19xx in his normal mode? It's a pain in the ass to get, and I'd say impossible without a guide. Yet, I think it's essential to the story. I don't get why they made it so obscure, really.

Awww, really? Serenes is the only site I ever go to for FE info. And gamefaqs if I'm in the mood for good old tier fights. xD

I did!

Speaking of secret content, I never bothered to get Karla in that game since I never ever use Bartre. Hector is enough for all my axe needs, thank you very much.

Yeah, there was this awesome, niche Spanish FE site I was a member for years, where some of the forum members were kinda resentful towards SF for some reason that escapes me. *shrug*

Which reminds me, did you play the EU or the USA version? The USA one has something pretty important that the other lacks, you know.

Also, I think Hector is a pretty cool Lord. Eh kills morphs and doesn’t afraid of anything. Really, I love him. Ike can go suck a wee wee, Hector will always have the "best lord" award in my heart. <3

(I probably say that because I couldn't play PoR but shhhhh)

I usually didn't bother with Karla either, but in a semi-recent playthough I got her! She was absolutely worthless as an unit, to be honest, but I still had my fun with her supports.

The USA one, I think? Why, what does it have?!

I love Hector too (I love all three lords of FE7, actually, even though Eliwood isn't a total killing machine like the other two) but Ike seems like a fairly decent lord from what I've played of PoR? His fighting stance irritates the fuck out of me whenever I see it though. WHY DO YOU LET YOUR LEFT ARM FLOP ABOUT LIKE A DEAD FISH WHILE YOU FIGHT?! BRING THAT SUCKER UP INTO A PROPER GUARDING STANCE FFS.

Yeah, I usually try to raise Guy so Karel, let alone Karla, becomes redundant by the time they show up. I really should try recruiting Renault at some point though, I hear he has interesting supports... Or I could just go look for vids of the supports on Youtube

Ike is a huge badass, really. It's just that... he lacks Hector's spunk, you know? Eliwood has a pretty good mobility once promoted that the other two lack, and Lyn is... well, my opinion on Lyn depends on how RNG has treated me on that run, to be honest. She usually ends up being awesome, but not always.

Agreed. Guy is my go-to swordsman along with Raven, so there isn't too much space for pre-promoted units. Karel, unlike Karla, is pretty decent stat-wise though! A bit worse than Harken, sadly, so I usually leave him behind.

OH YEAAAHHH I SAW THAT and I was wait what nooooo

Ahahaha, spunk is exactly the right word for it! And that horse on Eliwood IS pretty great, isn't it? It's not as essential as it is in FE4 though.

I really need to use Harken at some point. The problem with Harken is that his only decent support is with Isadora, IIRC? And I never want to use Isadora ever despite her badass character design.[/quote]

Mobility is always a lifesaver. You never know when Rebecca is going to have her ass killed on the other side of the map. But yeah, back in FE4 a horse was a must for being a good unit, unless you compensated with overpowered stats. Like my waifu Ayra. <3

He also has a support with Vaida, who is pretty badass. I can't remember how good the support itself was, but come on... it's Vaida. It has to be decent at the very least.

That does make sense. Though personally I always moved very slowly and defensively since I wasn't trying to S-rank the game, mostly because I always got more enjoyment out of EXP-farming every single enemy and reinforcement that showed up, so I never had much problem with keeping my units safe. Tanked all my tactics ratings though, but eh, whatever, I had an uber leet army so who cares.

AARGGH talking about this makes me wish that we could link arena ;____;

I once S-ranked BS! It took some blatant save-scumming on my part, though. I'm usually rather conservative too, but accidents happen. Not that accidents have ever made me rage quit any FE permanently, though, I always keep banging my head against it until I succeed.

And I think there may be a way to link, but I'm not too sure. I'll investigate into it because holy hell it'd be awesome.

SO I'm hoping to do a Seisen no Keifu Let's Play soon, and for those curious and unafraid of spoilers I'll be leaving some info-heavy links!

Here's O-sawa Mitsuki's manga for Fire Embelm: Geneology of the Holy War. It's full of plot spoilers and also heavily shaped by the manga-ka's own headcanon: pairings, extended battles, item usage, ect.

Here's Wind God Sety's wonderfully complete Let's Play full of technical details and music files I likely won't be fitting in my own LP.

Osawa's manga is pretty... pretty. And serious.

It's a nice read, but I prefer this one by Fujimori Nuts that goes all out comedy. Needless to say, that link is rather spoilerific, so thread carefully. Also, check out the Gag Paradise on that link, it's pretty funny. <3

Now onto ahead-of-LP-thread pairing suggestions.

Oh. Oh wow.

Oh also, if anyone wants to throw out first generation possibilities for BL pairs feel free to discuss! No spoiler tags needed :P

Also http://www.gamefaqs.com/snes/564404-fire-emblem-seisen-no-keifu/faqs/14784 Cheatcodes for those who play FE4 and would like to make their own BL lovers.

Alec/Noish, definitely! Though Alec/Jamka might be fun as well... In any case I just want Alec to get paired up with somebody, because he has the best male hair in FE4 generation one! Also because he's a mediocre father to everybody except maybe Fee.

EDIT: Actually, Levin has the best hair in generation one.

Tried my best to keep my crazy fanaticism out of that spoiler.

As for BL pairings... AlecxSomeone molestable. Like Noish, or Midir... preferably Noish.

EDIT: Bananinja'd again. >:(

Thank you for that! I'm actually avoiding trying this sort of thing on Serenes.net because I've read that people there get very entrenched with their personal pairings, and that takes away some of the fun that comes with audience voting. I'm hoping for some awesome BF magic to happen.

Alec has a lot of character (where others are severely lacking), and as you said- great hair! One pairing that benfits from his skills is with Brigdet, then Nihil let's Ichival square off with the Loptu tome (and it's actaully predestined). However I'm guessing he'll be voted into BL with Noish or another knight.

I'm really wondering what will happen with characters like Beowulf and Jamka. Beowulf I personally am not fond of (his avatar looks too smug!) while I really hope Jamka gets paired I even have crazy options like Ayra planned for him.

Levin is the pimp of Gen 1.

Really?! Oh my god totally voting for this when the time comes! :D I just dealt with the Loptu tome with

And yeah, Beowulf isn't one of my favourites either. Made good kids with Lachesis though, and easier to complete than Fin.

Must... contain... fanaticism...

Oh, and of course Levin has the best hair. Not even Alec's fabulousness manages to match it.

FE4 can get really bad with the Arena RNG chains screwing you over for leveling. I'll have to be careful. Hopefully Anna won't screw over my grinding efforts.

I went with Fin, and the Gen 2 talk helped out Nana's magic stat. Though on BF I think I'll inlcude all guys with Pursuit and see where Lachesis' eye wanders.

GORGEOUS

I wonder, will the forum end up trolling the LPer and going for some sweet Ardan romance?

I'm going to try to make him avaliable to as many pairings as I think are viable, though 2 are what I come up with off the top of my head.

I am so glad that I'll have rings to distribute as needed. With Vanilla couples they're just nice boosters, but the BF voters might make them neccessary.

Also how're you guys doing the boxes within quote boxes? It's so nice and neat and not in the BB Help!

You basically put the quote inside spoiler tags. :P

And yeah, rings will be a necessity if the pairings end up too fucked up. You'll have to remember to get the Pursuit Ring too, since it's one of the most importants ones and easy to miss.

I'll definately be getting all the extra items/collectables I can! Not to be a completionist, but because it makes the playthrough easier. Pursuit Ring will likely be needed, by who we'll have to see. For the Defense sword, is there anyone who really benefits from it? I ended up giving it to Delmund but it was mostly because all the other Vanilla stats units were doing fine with Silver/Hero/Critical Starred weapons.

I plain didn't get the Defense sword. My game kinda went nuts on me whenever I tried, so I just gave up on it and didn't have any trouble. Patty might benefit from it at first though.

That's a bug, where you have to "reset" the game or it'll just fly to pieces. I dunno if that'd ruin the jealousy system bug in Gen 2 or not...

OKAY so I just messed around with cheatcodes on a end-game save to see if I can do the things I was promising to do. And it looks like some character's codes are easier to manipulate than others.

OMFG

Hey guys. So Fire Emblem's sort of eaten my life. I went through 4 hours of grinding and now I finally have my MU as a Dark Flier. Now I just have to get her to level 15 so she can learn galeforce.

Also, Gaius is adorable.

Dark Flier is the promotion for pegasi or wyvern riders? And I know what you mean with the four hours of grinding, sister, I still remember raising a certain someone to level 7 by doing feather damage to the boss over and over.

Ughhhh, I really hope someone makes a LP of Awakening. That's so cute. ;___;

Promotion for Pegasus Knights (you can choose between Dark Flier and Falcon Knight). At level 15 they learn an ability called Galeforce which gives you an extra turn if you kill an enemy. After I get it I'm probably going to reclass her into a Grandmaster (promotion for base Tactician class) or a Myrmidon (and then an Assassin).

Gaius! <3 Though I know Chrom is your husbando, from what I know of Gaius HE IS FANTASTIC in supports and I'm sorely tempted to pursue him in my first game file.

Also being able to choose Pegasus knight is a Glorious thing have you gotten Lightening Speed? Because that's a really good skill you might want to grind for too.

Galeforce = Lightning Speed. They changed the name for the localized version.