Bavalurst

That is up to the tier list creator. The only thing I care about is potential. As all students are available at around the same moment in the game, the amount of growth you want to put into a student is up to you.

You can cheese it with finding an archer, locking it into place, and hit it with a rusted axe or a broken axe for as long as you can. Do this on 3 maps and you're done. It costs you time only. Also gives access to pavise and weight - 3. Having her sitting at 17 defense starting part 2 with this setup is great. Also has 5 more base hp than warlock.

Just unlock fortress knight. Get free 17 defense. Put a stat booster on that and voila, defense fixed. Use nosferatu, - 3 weight skill, speed skill, pavise (already have fortress knight so why not) and faith proficiency and she can bait units and she can demolish groups with nosferatu.

Exacly, there's so much to think about, because there are multiple perspectives. Think about this. Why is fire emblem so unique? Is it because of the chess-like gameplay? The amazing stories and characters? The simple but outstanding rpg mechanics? I think it got so unique because of the attachment to the characters. Everybody knows that every character is unique, stats/gameplay wise as story wise. This, right here, is why reclassing creates problems. Think about a situation without reclassing. I got a thief. If the thief dies, there is no way for me to cheat chests or doors. I've lost a character, but also an invaluable asset to my team. The same goes for mages, bishops, knights, everything. Now about a situation with reclassing. I got a thief. I know that swordfighter is the most efficient class. I reclass to the swordfighter, keeping the skills of the thief. I now built a character that can do everything a thief does, and can also has a better chance to win in battle. Do you see what kind of situation this creates, if this goes the same for all other characters? I am significantly more willing to discard units that have low stat caps or growth rates (I can reclass anyway). I am more willing to let weak characters die because they can be replaced. I am capable of creating game-easifying (is this a word?) units. Causing me to think less about my gameplay decisions and causing the game to 'dumb down'. Reclassing is overall a difficult element to implement and balance properly. It is a fun option because it gives more freedom to the player. But do we actually want that freedom in fire emblem?

I agree with your two concerns. But limiting the reclassing option till post game is a... lazy(?) solution. I'd like for the developers to keep open minded and invent new things. For instance, they can expand on the availble tier 2 classes (4/5 instead of 2 while removing second seal) so that you have plenty of freedom. Or build the skills so that they have an increased effectiveness when used on the class of origin. For instance, pavise blocks 20% of damage, but on the general class it will block 50% etc. This way you can regain class distinction, while keeping the reclassing option.

I have mixed feelings about this. I personally loved that I could mix skills so that I could 'build' a unit. Which in return causes less class distinction. The only reason you'd pick a class now is because of the preferred stats. Imo, this feature together with the pairing system causes things to go out of hand. The unit's stats rise far above the enemies and with the dual strike/block thing, you can make an undefeatable unit. Anway, I liked the building thing. They just need to balance the game around it, if they decide to do it again.

Imo. Just let all archer classes have a 1/2 range with bow weapons and give a stat penalty for those classes engaging 1 range combat. For instance, less hit/speed.