The Fire Emblem Thread

[Violentvixen]

I am constantly lacking money. I don't even seem to be buying things that much, it's just that a couple weapon upgrades, some vulnaries and a Master Seal here and there wipes out what I have. I think I've only forged a couple weapons so far, it's so dang expensive. I guess I should be making more of an effort to do the gold skirmishes when they come up?

 

[Bongo]

Money is tight in this game, and the best way to get it is by advancing the plot.

 

[Violentvixen]

Ch 21-24 spoilers, my random thoughts:

- Oh wait I'm dead now, hmm okay maybe Veyle takes over as the player character
- Oh I'm Corrupted? Well everything seems to be fine I guess
- I like this level of running around recapturing the rings, this is neat.
- Dead again? That was quick.
- Wait how did the Emblems get free will to revive me? I thought that they didn't have any and that was the problem?
- Wait what I'm what
- Oh cool maybe they'll explain exactly what Emblems are now
- No? But "we were always spirits and you had a body" seems like something that should matter? Oh well.
- Oh nevermind I guess everything is the same?
- (Tries Engage+ next battle) oh no I did not understand how that worked I wanted to use the original Emblem's engage power right now crap
- This volcano level is cool, reminds me of some of the more interesting level designs in Fates
- That was a VERY long goodbye scene for Zephia and Griss. It was fine but I'm puzzled.
- I also like this avalanche lane design! I'm glad they changed things up a bit for these Shard levels.
- Everyone is concerned that the main character will remember their interaction, but no one remembers that Zephia saw them too? Isn't that worth mentioning? No? Okay.


Despite the random bafflement above, I'm really enjoying the plot ride at this point. I'd heard so much about how superficial and Saturday Morning Cartoon the game was in such a negative way, but I'm having fun and honestly don't mind the slightly lighter tone, although it's still dark at points for sure.

There are WAY too many characters for sure. But that is making me curious to try a NG+ on Classic (I assume that's an option even though I'm doing my current playthrough on Casual) since now I'm not really concerned about losing guys.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

I bought Fire Emblem: Awakening way back when it came out, yet have never played it. The thing is, with the 3DS eShop closing next month, I thought I should look into getting some of the DLC in case I do ever play it. What is best DLC for Awakening to get?

 

[Bongo]

I bought Fire Emblem: Awakening way back when it came out, yet have never played it. The thing is, with the 3DS eShop closing next month, I thought I should look into getting some of the DLC in case I do ever play it. What is best DLC for Awakening to get?

Make sure to boot the game and connect to SpotPass at least once before they shut it off. That will ensure that you're able to access six optional endgame characters that are technically part of the base game.

"The Future Past" DLC is a better ending than the game's actual ending and is my top recommendation..

The "Scramble" pack includes three levels which have support-like conversations between units which cannot support each other. An excellent choice if you like the cast.

The "Golden" pack offers opportunities for convenient grinding, which, I dunno, you might want.

"Lost Bloodlines 2" and "Smash Brethren 2" provide access to two DLC-exclusive classes.

Additionally, for completionists, there are some DLC-exclusive skills available from "Champions of Yore 3," "Lost Bloodines 3," "Smash Brethren 3," and "Rogues and Redeemers 3;" only that last one is really notable, though, as it's a skill that increases stat caps, allowing you to make a unit stay reliably ahead of even the hardest enemies on the highest difficulty.

"Apotheosis" was designed to be the hardest level in the game, but it has been proven beatable without any other DLC or even any particularly optimized team planning.

They were really just throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks. Nowadays they'd just throw all of that into a single season pass and charge half the total price for it.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

Boy, that’s a lot of DLC! Thanks for the recommendations. I should probably boot it up soon and connect to SpotPass today or tomorrow.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

I booted the game up and turned on SpotPass, but I didn’t see a menu to buy DLC. Do you have to start a New Game to have the ability to buy DLC? I checked the eShop and you can’t buy it from there, as usual.

 

[WildcatJF]

If I remember right you have to reach a certain chapter to get the DLC menu to appear.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

I guess I’ll be playing Awakening sooner than I was planning! What a strange choice!

 

[R.R. Bigman]

Can you truly not restart a battle in Awakening? Truly? I have to close the game and start it again or have a main character die to cause a game over? In this game where one wrong move from a surprise game element can kill my unit, followed by the game then teaching me about it on the next turn?

This is a bad first impression of the Fire Emblem series, I must say!

 

[Bongo]

Engage is the first game in the series with a restart button in the menu.

I think L+R+Start is the soft reset combo.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

I can’t believe it.

 

[Bongo]

The restart option in Engage does something different than simply reloading a save! It preserves the PRNG state, so you can use it to defeat anti-savescumming... but only on some difficulties.

 

[Violentvixen]

I can’t believe it.

The whole series was about brutal losses for quite a while. People got REAL MAD when casual (non-permadeath) mode was added.

Oh and more Engage DLC comes out tomorrow I think, I'm excited for that.

 

[Dark Medusa]

I'm fairly certain in Awakening you can "suspend save", and then go to load your game and select "restart chapter". It should be fairly quick, all things told.

 

[Violentvixen]

Oh hey new DLC is ready to download

Free Content
- The ancient well has been added to the Somniel. You can use it to exchange items you don't want for new items.

brb, going to dump a bunch of horse manure in a well

-You can now use Inherit Skills in the Arena as well as the Ring Chamber

Ooh, that's nice. Going between the two rooms just for that seemed kinda silly.

Going to start a new game on Classic. Doesn't look like there's any sort of NG+ stuff but excited to go through again and see how I do.

 

[Becksworth]

I'll have to check again, but it looked to be battle inventory items only for the well, not gift items, so you're stuck with that horse dooky.

 

[Violentvixen]

I'll have to check again, but it looked to be battle inventory items only for the well, not gift items, so you're stuck with that horse dooky.

Yep, I was greatly saddened to realize that. Booooo.

 

[Sprite]

 

[Becksworth]

Yep, I was greatly saddened to realize that. Booooo.

Honestly I'm doubting any item from the well is going to top that Revanche axe you get just as part of unlocking it. Fully upgraded it and I'm regularly doing 120+ damage with it per hit.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

I got to the part in Awakening where the game let’s you buy DLC. I bought the Future pack that Bongo recommended, which cost about as much as two entire Ace Attorney games on sale right now. Did people make a stink about the amount and cost of DLC for Awakening when it came out? If not, they should have!

I also noticed both “Beach” and “Hot Springs” DLC. Is this series horny?

 

[Bongo]

It is.

 

[Violentvixen]

I got to the part in Awakening where the game let’s you buy DLC. I bought the Future pack that Bongo recommended, which cost about as much as two entire Ace Attorney games on sale right now. Did people make a stink about the amount and cost of DLC for Awakening when it came out? If not, they should have!

I also noticed both “Beach” and “Hot Springs” DLC. Is this series horny?

It is.

I want to be clear that it's more pinup/cheesecake than as actively horny as other games, and the older games didn't have that much at all. It's not a fair characterization of the whole series.

It's been quite a while since I played Awakening but I think the worst in the game is this villain character's outfit. If you can deal with dumb boob armor like that you're fine.

Of course I'd prefer the games didn't have that, but it shouldn't be a reason not to play these.

 

[Octopus Prime]

Also Tharja, but not quite as extravagantly so.

The series in general is reliable in condensing all its Horny into just a couple of character designs in a cast of dozens.

 

[Bongo]

Fundamental to the series' aesthetics is that the characters are (nearly) all shippable. In order to uphold this goal, they are beautiful, they have bold personalities, and they are written into a scenario which can justify at least occasional moments of tenderness or sexual tension.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

I am absolutely okay with Suggestive Themes, but it’s strange to see in a first party Nintendo game.

 

[R.R. Bigman]

Ok, last question about Awakening DLC. If I start a new game on a different difficulty down the road, will I still be able to play the DLC I bought, plus the SpotPass content? I set the difficulty on the easiest parameters possible so I could get to the shop quickly. When I do pick this game up again later I’d probably want to play on Classic, since it seems what the game is designed around.

 

[Bongo]

Buying the DLC activates it permanently, even if you delete your save data. SpotPass activations stay activated across all save slots, but I think it'll need to be reactivated if you delete the save file. It's just that the purchasing UI requires you to be able to access that spot on the world map. This was before they realized it makes sense for DLC to be purchasable directly from the eshop.

 

[Bongo]

I have beaten Engage, just in time for the DLC to finish coming out next week.

Final chapter spoilers: have you heard the theory that the Emblem of Foundations is Sommie? That little fuzzball hangs out in a cave, has an altar, lives in the one place Sombron never could have searched, has strong feelings about being alone, and is worth despoiling worlds for. It all fits!

 

[Violentvixen]

I have beaten Engage, just in time for the DLC to finish coming out next week.

Final chapter spoilers: have you heard the theory that the Emblem of Foundations is Sommie? That little fuzzball hangs out in a cave, has an altar, lives in the one place Sombron never could have searched, has strong feelings about being alone, and is worth despoiling worlds for. It all fits!

Replaying and in Chapter 25 when you go back in time Sombron shows up and notes that he "detected an unexpected Emblem that was destroyed long ago". He MUST be talking about the Emblem of Foundations, but since you specifically can't go to the Somniel during that time travel bit and the party doing the time travel is the same as in the final battle I'm kind of baffled by that line. Unless Zephia's time crystal is it? I feel like that's the only thing in that scene that's not present in your party normally. Weird.

Assuming the final DLC answers this question I guess we find out tomorrow!