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February 19th marks the release of Fire Emblem Fates in North America! I decided it would be a good idea to create a thread to discuss the game here.

Please remember to mark your posts as spoilers when appropriate (i.e. story, character revelations). The game has yet to release in Europe, and there are probably people living in North America that can’t get the game right away. So please, be respectful to everyone here

WHAT’S BIRTHRIGHT LIKE?

*Side with Hoshido, the Japanese-inspired kingdom
*Story wise, it’s pretty simple
*Gameplay wise, if you’ve played Awakening before, then you’ll feel right at home
*Has simple mission objectives (Route the Enemy, Defeat the Commander)
*Birthright features the ability to grind gold and experience to your heart’s content
*Features a variety of new classes (Ninja, Oni Savage, Spear Fighter, Apothecary, etc.)
*In terms of overall difficulty, Birthright is the easiest of the three paths
*If Fates is your first Fire Emblem, Birthright would be a good place to start

WHAT’S CONQUEST LIKE?

*Side with Nohr, the European-inspired kingdom
*Story wise, it’s more complex in comparison to Birthright’s straightforward story
*Gameplay wise, it plays like the old classic Fire Emblem games
*Has a variety of mission objectives (Defend, Escape, Complete in X number of turns)
*Unlike Birthright, which has a world map to do skirmishes, and unlimited gold and experience, -Conquest has no world map, and limited gold and experience
*Features classic classes from past Fire Emblem games (Cavalier, Mercenary, Fighter, Knight, etc.)
*In terms of overall difficulty, Conquest is the hardest of the three paths
*Conquest is perfect for Fire Emblem veterans, and for those seeking a challenge

WHAT’S REVELATION LIKE?”

*Side with no kingdom and join the battle in Smash!
*Gameplay wise, it features a mix of both the classic and newer Fire Emblem games
*Revelation has the mission objectives variety from Conquest, while also includes the unlimited gold and experience from Birthright
*Difficulty falls in the middle of Birthright and Conquest
*Revelation is recommended to be played after completing Birthright and Conquest. It spoils the events/circumstances of those two paths

Nintendo has recently uploaded two videos (unsure if more will come) about Fates called Life on the Front Lines.

So yeah, that’s pretty much it for now. Let’s discuss Fates!

I decided that my backlog is just too big at this point so I'll probably wait for a price drop before buying. I'll definitely get it at some point though because it looks amazing (probably gonna start with Birthright because I generally suck ass at strategy games).

I'll almost certainly get all three, but I've got a lot of games to play and finish, and I'm not sure how I feel about playing 3 games with the exact same mechanics for $80. So I may even wait out that year or so I'm expecting before the price drops. It won't drop anytime soon, because the sales ate going to be high.

I always want to support Fire Emblem, but this is a bit of a cash grab. I've heard from Japan and US reviews that the stories and characterization are the weakest parts of the games. I know the mechanics are going to be sound and different enough from Awakening, but I'm playing Disgaea now too, and that is scratching my tactics itch.

Unless the story and characters were great, it's not something I think I should prioritize. But they're not from what I've read so far.

The Target in my area done goof'd and released the games already (other Targets may have as well, from what I hear). If I didn't have my Special Edition coming I would've gotten it.

I'll be jumping right in the deep end and starting with Conquest. Have a feeling I might regret it a bit too, since Awakening on hard casual was even a bit of a struggle for me at times, but I like Conquest's objective variety. Revelation will probably be my favorite in the end though, since it combines the good parts of both paths.

I have a ton of other games to play too, but I'm pushing them all aside. I'm ready for Fates.

I never played Fire Emblem, but I remember playing as a Fire Emblem character on Super Smash Bros. Melee.

I'm probably gonna do Conquest first on hard and then Birthright on lunatic. I like a challenge when it comes to Fire Emblem and Birthright sounds way too easy normally. That said Nohr seems to get the stronger classes.

I'm still new to Fire Emblem, so I'm picking up Birthright first also counts as an excuse to S-Support Oboro ASAP but I may have to wait until my birthday (which is one month from Fates' release date) since I don't have money or a job yet.

I might actually wait a few weeks and get a fully translated version of the Japanese version. Just play it using a emulator. That's not to say I won't break down and probably buy the localization version of it.
I just hope the character interactions and story are as great as Awakening was. Love playing Corrin/Kamui in Super Smash Brothers and would love to see them in future installments of either Fire Emblem or Smash Bros.

… Still waiting on EU release date …

Seriously, where is it? I'm getting kind of antsy about it since when Awakening came out in the US we knew by now.

Definitely going for Conquest, I have my 50$ saved for Saturday (Thank fuck most people in PA are not gamers.) and hopefully I'll have enough left over to grab Revelation and the DLC (Because I need my grinding. Yeah, so what if I beat Blazing Sword, I still prefer grinding over life-or-death RNG prayers…)

Odds are I'm getting all 3 cus the money's gotta flow.

God damn you Americans. Definitely getting the special edition when it comes here, I'm a huge FE fan, so I've been waiting for it to become available. Nintendo UK aren't usually as bad for stocks, so we'll see.

I reserved both versions and man am I ready

I actually preordered the special edition back in November or something. I honestly feel a little guilty about it, since it's in such limited quantity. But hey; I'll get all three games in a single cartridge, so that saves a lot of hassle (and to calm down my OCD).

Since I'm completely new to Fire Emblem, I think I'll just get Birthright first before considering the other two storylines, though I'm likely to wait for a price drop seeing as how there are other games I'm looking to get (including Awakening and maybe some other 3DS games, I really need to use my 3DS more). If I get these games, then Fire Emblem is likely to be the first actual strategy game I've played.

the music is SUPREMO

Gave up all dreams of buying the SE at Best Buy so I'll just buy Conquest and fight for Arthur and the Nohrian way! I'll download Birthright and Revelations later.

I'm interested in the masochist path first since I've been longing for a challenging FE game after Awakening's repetitive goals.

Here's hoping Conquest is as challenging as Lunatic+, but the lower difficulties keep the potential for maximum stupidity squads. If nobody's done a war cleric only run by the year's end I'm joining the "Nintendo is dead" bandwagon.

Edit: thank you for reminding me that it's technically a spoiler

I sucked when playing Fire Emblem

I've never played Fire Emblem befo- okay, okay, stop booing and LISTEN.
I want to try this one, but then people will call me a weeaboo for doing-
HEY, SHUT UP! WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT VOCALLY DISAPPROVING OVER THE INTERNET!
But yeah, this one looks fun.

I was too lazy to preorder because of shipping (especially release day shipping) so I went to Gamestop today and boom all copies gone or non-existent. Like the idiot I am I picked up both digitally using gamestop as middle man and they even warned me the servers were backed up and now it's been 2-3 hours and I'm still waiting for the code let alone to download it. And it's a shame too I wanted at least one box (I wanted box to conquest because it just looks cooler) and I generally love physical copies I'd have 2 if I could for the same price and at the same time.

When I eventually get this piece of shit I'm playing birthright because I love good guys I mean who doesn't. Also it has lesbeen and I wanna lesbeen. To top it off I have like a license for being disabled at strategy games so the difficulty of birthright might be too hard for me even. Hell I heard Conquest was hard but reading Kotor's post I'm scared now I want to enjoy the game and not kill myself from difficulty. What does "old Fire Emblem" mean I've played one older one and it was really good mechanically in my eyes it's better than awakening but the problem is I got stuck real quick and never found the motivation to fix it. Please tell me Conquest has casual and some form of grinding as long as there's grinding and revives I can survive even if it means lots of suffering.

I'll probably enjoy both though and I hope I finish them before Revelations comes out. I also pray for my European friends you get the games soon. I hope I like them more than Awakening especially plot-wise no offense if you liked it but I thought the plot to Awakening really fell apart towards the end but the family drama and the lore Fates has going for it from the little I've seen has potential. Gameplay could easily be better and probably is.

Oh two more things. One I'm picking female Corrin (duh) and I'll play around with the character editor but I might actually settle with her default I love Corrin's default design. I used almost the default for awakening. I also usually in games use canon names so her name will be Corrin even though Kamui is better.

Secondly, while writing this post I got the email so fucking finally.

Me trying to beat Chapter 10 on Conquest Hard.
Seriously that chapter is a bitch to beat.

@Sergeant Arch Dornan

>Make it to turn 11 on Chapter 10 with no problems
>Burka or whatever her name is misses a peg knight with 81% accuracy
>2 oni savages manage to hit and kill Niles though with only 60% accuracy
>decide to cut my losses and save
>just glad it's over
>very next chapter has treasure chests

Seriously you can't even screw up once in that level or it's over. The worst part is the paired up sets of peg knights. I had one actually negate damage for the other and I lost on my first attempt because of it.

I still wanna do hard mode though, but I think I'm gonna need some dlc.

So I played a little bit and beat chapter 3 or the abandoned fort thing before stopping. I'm using birthright but obviously the paths haven't branched yet. So far I like it even if it's not the actual game I'm playing right now. It's pretty much just backstory and dialogue and tutorials. I like that they added this because newcomers need loads of help with a series this mechanically complex when I first played Awakening it felt like they assumed you knew so much of the mechanics and it screwed me over regularly.

Plot is standard might get better might not, I like it where it is. Kind of mirrors Awakening in that it's an avatar with no memory and an evil king trying to instigate war. Characters are fantastic I love the family interaction and all. None of them are bad so far. It'll get even better with the support conversations and all farther down. The soundtrack and the style beats Awakening by a lot. Awakening in terms of OST only had a few gems most of it was just atmosphere and kinda eh to my personal tastes but this game is really fitting. As I said the actual style and atmosphere overall is kind of unique to Fates and I love it.

Having an easy time so far no deaths (which doesn't matter because Casual lolololol) but I shouldn't be proud of that. It's like when I was proud of one or two deaths for Rekka no Ken in Lyndis's tutorial chapter and then got ass raped in Eliwood's.

Will keep y'all updated.

I have managed to do the impossible…

One Goddess Icon fixed Arthur's propensity to attracting low percentage crits. Clearly, Naga is smiling down upon me this day. In fact, nothing can possibly go wr-

[Ninja in Chapter 10 has the ability to kill an unattended Azura twice over]

Fuck you too, Takumi.

If anyone wants to sell me an unopened copy of Special Editions I'll PP you double the retail price :(

I should've preordered >.>

"Conquest is too easy!" I said right before Chapter 10. You guys weren't kidding around.

Archer dodges my 96 PERCENT HIT and fires the ballista at Azura, and miraculously misses, but Camilla misses an 86% follow-up attack next turn (I outta not marry you for that jk I still will), and NotSevera goes down.

Gotta say though, I do like this chapter for being strategically rewarding, with the objective, turrets, and barriers and such, at the very least.

Yeah I dunno what it is with almost guaranteed to hit attacks missing but it seems to be really prevalent. I hesitate to even attack anything now without 100% accuracy.

When you purposely use Arthur on every map, you treat every 66-74% as 100% just to do effective damage.

I'm on Chapter 13 and I'm not looking forward to facing Sniper!Takumi again.

Well, the exp DLC is coming out this Thursday but I heard it's not easy to beat. I'm for sure buying it, due to me playing Conquest.

> Plays chapter 11 of Conquest
> Has Camilla fight Hinoka
> Has 96% hit chance
> Misses
>

After that, Camilla punished Hinoka with a 5% critical hit. Now, I'm currently in Chapter 12 of Conquest but I won't be starting that right away because Arthur and Mozu just got married. I'll be picking up Pit Percy, and maybe Kana if I finally get that S-rank with Ophelia.

Wasn't that the little fucker that had the skill that prevents double attacks? Ugh, I didn't even bother trying to take him out in chapter 10.

Also I swear I saw one of my guys miss with 96% and then AGIAN with 99% the other day and I know it wasn't Arthur. I just don't understand this. I remember in Rekka No Ken, Path of Radiance – literally all the FEs I've played it was very unusual for anything to miss anywhere around 80%.

But luckily I've also had this work in my favor. I was halfway through a level when I got the bright idea to have my then underleveled Charlotte attempt to take out an outlaw with like a 60% of chance of blowing it and getting killed next turn. She actually hit him though, So that's something I guess.

So can anyone tell me about a couple of things (especially if you've bought both versions that are out now):

• How are the stories? Are they well-written? Are the characters likable? Do you actually want to fight for you friends? Or is the story just a means to the tactics game end?
• How is the music? Is the music the same across both games? Or are the only differences just a different version of the same theme? Is there two different main battle themes for most maps between the games?

I'm just popping in to say that I found an unopened copy of Fates Special Edition :) Only $180 >.>

I've barely experienced the story but just from testimonies I've heard it's not good. Who knows though everyone finds different value in things and I'm usually an optimist when it comes to games and enjoy things others hate so I might like it. So far it's actually kind of cool to me even though I'm super early. Like it's there and it works and I appreciate it. FE has never had really marvelous story with Awakening imo being straight up bad towards the end so this is nothing new to the series if it was good it would only be an improvement.

As for the characters, wow they're good I like them so much. I've barely begun to find them and they're all so cool. I love the family mechanics and everything. Just at episode 6 where the episode first branches my heart was hurting because of the choice as they made it so you get to know both families before. I haven't found any big gem support conversations like those with hilarious characters like Henry and Kellam but from what I've heard they definitely do get better, I've barely started just one version after all. But in terms of endearment, I love them all they're so precious. In other FE games there were always characters I downright hated and wanted to shut up but Fates doesn't have this problem.

The music is phenomenal. I don't know if you should trust me since music is subjective as hell and don't pretend it's anything otherwise but I tend to be called one with "shit taste" but I still love Fates's soundtrack. This is coming from someone who like 3-4 songs max from Awakening. I think it improved a lot like sometimes I'll bob or just sit there not making a move it's so nice. My favorite track even since before release was the main theme of the game also Azura's theme. It's so catchy and soothing at the same time. There's not much of any music I'd consider filler in Fates.

Surprised you didn't ask about gameplay because it's probably the best FE I've played in this department as well. They actually removed weapon health which is probably the shittiest remnant of old FE and it's finally gone it balances everything so well I love it so much of the stress that used to come with the games is gone. Everything else is generally polished and fun the maps are really cool the new classes are fun. All good stuff.

tbh you should just stop being such a negative nancy (^:

So I haven't done much since last playing, I'm taking this game pretty slow alongside others for 2 reasons. 1 is FE stresses me out a lot I need cooldown I can't binge it even though I like Fates. I don't want to tire myself out for a long time since there are 2 whole games left for me to do alongside Birthright with each one being bigger than previous FEs alone.

Last big progress I made was lots and lots of supports. Birthright is cool because you can max out supports without trying even me the licensed strategy failure. Almost my whole main party has tons of links with everyone who possibly can even on accident I get conversations. I have like 3 S links already and I might be at chapter 11-12 of the whole thing only. I have one child who I researched and got so far and that is Rhajat.

Took some effort I had to pair her dad with Hana because he sucks and I'm not going to grind him at all in that state I don't have the talent or the patience even if he becomes like Donnel I just can't. But yeah I got Rhajat, it was probably the most difficult level in the game so far for some reason the faceless in that stage dodged everything to the point where Corrin's dragon fang got blocked or missed for every single strike. My party isn't even underleveled hell for the story they're overleveled these faceless were just weird. And my Kaze who is usually strong as hell could only do 1 damage at a time even with his wife next to him.

And lastly about Rhajat, I got her to be lesbian obviously and because Tharja was hot and Rhajat kind of is too but I realized now that I hate yanderes lol. Not sure if I should waste Corrin's link with her especially since gay means no kid, but I can get a kid in Conquest. Oh well I'll probably just screw Rhajat anyways why not.

Speaking of Conquest holy shit I'm scared do I have to go Phoenix for that like wow you guys are doing bad I can only imagine me.

@Sam

To be honest, I'm going to get the game one day. I just know I won't get it now, because if I get one, I'm going to get all three. So despite the joke, I'm almost excited as anyone.

I didn't ask about the gameplay, because the tactics have always been sound.

I asked about the story and characters, because it helps me move along. For example, if I'm not invested at all, then I may just up and stop playing the game entirely regardless of the tactics. The characters got me through Awakening though.

I asked about the music more because I wanted to see if the music was different between the games. That is, does the music in Birthright differ from Conquest. Not just a different variation of the same thing.

I mean, about a third or so if the tracks being unique to each game.

That will give me a feeling of the games being different. As it stands, the mechanics, art design, interface, and the addition of children as units are the same across games. If the music is also the same, then it'll certainly just feel like a different version of the same game as opposed to "two different games."

Yeah same I understand needing story and such to get through certain games. And yeah as I said this game does that really well like I feel like doing everything all the grinding and more my supports are way better than they were in Awakening.

As for the music differing, yes they do good question. Most of the birthright stage, ablaze, and boss music sounds like stereotypical feudal/traditional Japanese music while Conquest sounds more like other FE games and has more a medieval fantasy feel from what I've checked out as the games themselves are as well and the kingdoms. It's pretty badass.

Well the exp dlc and beach dlc dropped today. I'm ready to see Camilla in a bikini get exp for my lower leveled units in Conquest.

Anybody have (or know where I can find) a copy of the SE they'd be willing to sell?
I don't even want the extras like the artbook, just the card.
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On another note, anyone want to post their Castle Addresses?
Mine's 050410-16905 99810-30336.
If anyone plans on using Takumi, mine has Luna, Astra, Certain Blow, Bowfaire, and Replicate.

A word of warning, anyone with aptitude on first-gen units that aren't Mozu are hacking.

Oooh…

Despite saying I don't really want/don't have $80 to spend, I'm a single dude who doesn't need a whole lot. I can make room in a monthly budget if need be.

But even though my interest is piqued in that most of the music (or at least more frequently heard tracks) differ between the games, I may still hold off until later. I'm playing through Persona 3, have Persona 4 on-hand, and I've barely touched the first Disgaea (DS port). I'll probably dismiss myself from this here General though indefinitely. I kinda expect this will be dead before I get the games myself.

Well I beat the beach dlc on Camilla's route.
.

Finally finished the game. Is this game too difficult or is Awakening too easy? Wanted to try Nohr route on classic. Got until Chapter 10. Couldn't take it anymore. Switched to casual. I cri. Also, f*ck Takumi. Nevertheless, It's quite an entertaining game!

I managed to recruit all the kids in the Conquest route and I've only really found use for four of them (Ophelia, Soleil, Velouria, and Siegbert). From my observations of doing the paralogues, and even the Before Awakening DLC, the enemies stats are adjusted based on where you are in the story.

So once you reach Chapter 19 in any route, all the enemies are promoted units. The child unit in that also has his or her stats adjusted but only up to level 20. In chapter 19 and onwards, the child unit gets an "Offspring Seal" which functions like a Master Seal, but can only be used by the kid it was given to.

Example: I tried to give an Offspring Seal that was I got from completing Ignatius's paralogue to another kid I was thinking of using, but the game would not allow it. Only Ignatius would use that Offspring Seal.

The Fates paralogues in general are definitely more difficult than Awakening's paralogues with the stats of everyone getting adjusted, and whatever gimmick the map has.

Siegbert's paralogue requires you kill everyone, and seal up portals to prevent more enemies from showing up.

Forrest's paralogue requires you rescue him from a group of bandits, but the moment a fight starts, the enemy sends a unit to kill Forrest. So, you have to take out everyone that gets in your way and stop the assassin from executing Forrest.

Nina's paralogue has Nina as the boss of that paralogue, and she is trying to escape the map. If you let her escape, you fail the mission.

Velouria's paralogue has a bunch of magic turrets that the enemy uses. So, you have to use Dragon's Vein to disable magic. Using the Dragon's Vein affects the enemy's magic users, and your own magic users.

I have to ask; Is Forrest a good unit? (I paired Leo with Azura… results were… bad)

I can't really say 100% sure for Forrest. I had Leo paired with Nyx. I assume that Forrest benefits from the magic mods he gets from Nyx but I never really tested him out for sure. I could try him out on the rest of the story chapters to see where Forrest stands. I'm currently at Chapter 19 of Conquest.

My main healers for Conquest have been Elise and Flora.

Btw, Is Felicia a bad unit? Later in the game (Chapter 14-15) she started to be killed almost instantly. I paired her with Niles and I must say Nina was a bit weak. (She had Tomebreaker at least)

Felicia had a falling in my run. She sort of came back to grace when I got the flame shuriken from Saizo but she still got 1 hit KO'd by the enemy. The only benefit I would say for Felicia is that the shurikens and daggers debuff the enemy's stats. Even when she deals 0 damage, the enemy still gets a debuff. It's especially useful when there's someone next to Felicia (not paired) that should take the kill and could really use those reduced Def/Res stats.

Niles on my playthrough has been one of my best units. I paired him with Camilla and on Nina's paralogue, you can get a bow that has 1-2 range. It's a bow that attacks based on the unit's magic stat. While Niles's magic is not that impressive, neither are the enemy's resistance. I assume if I gave that bow to a magic user like Elise or Nyx, they would surely use it to its full potential.

I'm sure Camilla's a great unit, but her only purpose in my playthrough is to be paired with Niles and he does all the work.

My best units in Conquest have been Ophelia, Niles, and Keaton.

Ophelia is too good! She got Luna from Peri and well… Lightning x4 that has a chance of 38% critical.
Anyways, thanks for the help Kotor! I'll try not to die… yeah!