Silpharion

Well, I'll answer in order: 1)If your are a veteran, usually you should start with Hard, there isn't any ambush respawn although many enemies have a predetermined skill set that can punish you if you make a small mistake. If can't handle Awakening's Lunatic mode without grinding then you shouldn't start with Conquest's Hard mode, it easily harder than that. 2)Pair ups changed in Fates, it's more balanced now not only for the stats bonuses but they way the work, in awakening if you have a paired up unit there is a chance for a dual attack AND a dual defense based on the paired unit's offensive and defensive stats, in fates now works as follow: -Dual Attack ALWAYS activates ONLY if there is another unit adjecent to the unit that is attacking or is being attacked, it DOES NOT activate if the unit is paired up and the dual attack is always blocked if the opposite unit is paired up. -Dual Defense now activates depending on how many attacks were made in a round by the paired unit, you gain little shield icons that indicates how many attacks have realized the paired up unit, with 10 shields it activates Dual Defense and block the opposite unit's attack and skills and your shield meter goes back to 0. As said before, a paired unit always activate Dual Defense to block a Dual Attack, but you don't get any shield points for that. Also you get Shield points regardless if you land a hit or not and if you get hit or dodge an attack, you get 2 shield points for each one (making Astra utterly useful as you can easily fill up your shield meter to gain another Dual Defense). 3) Can't tell, I'm new here x) but with the new side-effects in higher rank weapons I can say it mostly depends in your playstyle (Forged killer weapons are broken tho) 4) Yeah, but you it's preferable to preferable to finish at least one route, you can spoil yourself of certain key moments in the story, after all revelations is there to 'explain' certain 'holes' in the plot. 5) Nah, it isn't. 6) Take it easy, every chapter has it gimmicks, once you've figured it out you are ready to go. If you ever feel overwhelmed, there is no shame in visiting other's castles, gathering free resources and even invading to buy skills or recruiting free einherjars. And this time, you WANT to use status ailments, but you have to think when to use it. 7) Personally... I know none save for... Using Effie x) Oh! And one of the DLC's that can give you a knife/shuriken that can significally drop enemy's stats. As a general tip, BE CAREFUL with the type of units you have, one of Conquest's chapter has an insane amount of units with beastslayer. 8) I haven't grinded enough to have every suppport, but I really liked Niles x Beruka and most of Sakura's I hope I've been helpful, have a nice day!

Retaining the original personality of the caractares is a wonderful concept, it sure adds a nice flavour to it and makes you think of a 'What if...' situation.

This exactly. If you can get to the three required villages then you dont need to waste any more resources, in fact it's better to let the soldiers to enter the remaining villages so you can get more experience out of the reinforcements.

Hmmm desing wise I like Rowlet out of the three starters (still the fire cat is my mon to go). But as an Icy-type trainer... It looks like a cute snack lmao

Well, Salutations. I'm Silpharion, I used to be a member in another FE fanpage but since Awakening's release... things didn't go well. I came to serenes to try to reintegrate into the fire emblem community. I hope we can get along. I used to make some sprites back in my younger days, although now I prefer writting rather than 'spriting' (Besides that I'm a lazy a**).