GlitchWarrior

My take? Alear is not an Avatar. They are a player character, but not an Avatar. Alear has a fully defined character and a minor arc as well. I could say the same thing for Shez. Byleth is... a different issue. Byleth is a character, but the game very much refuses to acknowledge that, both because they barely speak or emote, and even the captions call Byleth "Professor" or some other title. Like... at least Engage had the dignity to name Alear in subtitles sometimes. As such, despite being in the same mold as the above two, I don't connect with Byleth as much. Customization is what makes an "avatar" for me. Can you really say Byleth is you? Can you say Alear is you? By comparison, you can alter the appearances, stats, and (in the 3ds games at least) even voice of Kris (again, voice doesn't apply here), Robin and Corrin, so they feel like your character. And in Robin's case, despite having a defined character, doesn't have a character that is overly pandered to as the "real hero" like Kris until the end, nor do you feel insulted by their character because the writers played it too safe like with Corrin. But you don't need customization to slot into a Fire Emblem character. You can do that through a player character that isn't an avatar. Case in point? When I played the first act of Shadows of Valentia, I felt like I was Alm. I've said this in the past, but in Alm's side of SoV you really don't feel like you're controlling Alm. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the awkward everyman. It felt a lot better than when Celica was in command. At their core, Fire Emblem games are strategy RPGs, and roleplaying involves feeling like you are that character. It's much easier to feel like I am Robin, or Alm, or Alear, and I actively feel like I do them. When I'm controlling Corrin, Celica or Byleth, I don't think, "hey, that's me," I think "hey, that's my lord" and I start to treat them differently. …I might be far off topic. My take is, I really don't care whether avatars are customizable. It'd be nice, but not necessary - Alm proves that by not being customizable at all (granted, he's the main lord of a remake, so that was never going to be an option). Just make them a character I can get in the mind of... one I can truly *feel* like.

Probably gonna restart with a mildly tankier Kris

Sheena? I guess. @Astralevin My final team!

Hm. I guess the most viable unit left is... Julian? Granted, we all have Rickard, but still. @Kinetic1000

Radd the chad! @Astralevin

Jake. @Kinetic1000

Yep, I think we're officially in the "meme team" phase. Est. I *know* better units exist, but I'm a sucker for her. (and also I can train her a bit in Prologue 8, even if it's far too little, far too late) @Astralevin

Tiki. IDK why, i just like my greenette dragon child. @Kinetic1000

Okay. I'll take Arlen. @Astralevin

Bar- ah, crap. So if I want a Fighter I have three options. I could take Kris, which would probably be the best option - I could take Bord, which would give me power and WLV at the cost of speed, or I could be an idiot and pick Dice. Alternatively there's Darros, but he joins too late for me. So instead I shall reject drafting a fighter (going Fighter!Kris probably) and pluck out a goddamn armor knight with a middling defense growth. Welcome to the squad, Draug. @Kinetic1000

Ogma for me. I think that works pretty well. @Astralevin?

You know what? I actually agree. Removing the restriction! ...Also, you forgot to ping. @Kinetic1000, you're up.

Fair enough. Up to +2 on bows isn't that busted. I'll take Matthis. Not because he's good or anything, but because it's nice to have an early cavalier besides Arran. (Caeda and Wendell mostly have me covered on the utility end anyway. @Kinetic1000

Hm... The 7th Platoon cavs all gone? I think I'll take Gordin (he's surprisingly good in this game, even if not perfect). @Astralevin

dang you guys are taking some of the good picks! I guess I'll take Wendell. Man has some speed behind him, and hey, earlygame staves. That's good! @Kinetic1000

For the sake of keeping the air full, it'll be Caeda for me. You're up, @Astralevin!

if all of us are in agreement, then let Gradivus draft the first soul.

all right, we got the squad! Turns shall be as follows: Gradivus Kinetic Glitch Astralevin PaulDogg One more question to all tho: should we snake for drafting? I forgot to specify in the rules and I want everyone to be on the same page regarding turn order.

Hm. It's been a while since I've played through FE7 fully. I'll bite.

Okay! That's two of the four I'd hoped for.

Exactly what it says on the tin. Reclassing in this draft is disalllowed. THE RULES. 1. This draft is for 5 players 2. Marth, Arran, Xane, Phina, and Rickard are free for all. Kris is free for all, but may not use a mounted or flying class. The four captured maidens are also free (not that it matters). 3. The game will be played on Hard 1. Rules: Reclassing is prohibited. Units must remain in their base or promoted class. Undrafted units may recruit characters, visit houses, trade, and shop. Undrafted units may not do anything not listed above, including but not limited to opening chests/doors and activating Supports. All characters are free for Prologue chapters. Prologue chapters count towards your total turncount. All Sidequest chapters must be visited and count towards your total turncount. The game must be played out to the True Ending. Other: The Rainbow Potion, Lunatic Statboosters, Clock Bonus and use of Wi-fi features are strictly prohibited. Warp may not be used on Marth. Rescue may not be used on Marth by a unit who has been Warped or rescued earlier in the chapter. Hammerne may not be used on Rescue or Warp. Use of the Drill Grounds is allowed. Forging is allowed, but forging MT on any weapon with effectiveness (except bows) is banned. Penalties: 1. Undrafted units have a 4-turn penalty, per unit per chapter. Exceptions: Palla is free for Chapter 3. Yubello, Yumina, Ogma and Sirius are free for Chapter 4. Navarre is free for Chapter 7. Merric is free for Chapter 10. Midia is free to be attacked in Chapter 20. Draft Pool: (Unused) Sedgar Vyland Teams: Gradivus: Catria, Cecille, Wrys, Merric, Warren, Malice, Frost, Norne, Horace, Ymir, Dice, Wolf, Bantu Kinetic: Palla, Roderick, Jeorge, Etzel, Cord, Belf, Caesar, Jubelo, Castor, Bord, Roger, Beck, Samson Glitch: Caeda, Wendell, Gordin, Matthis, Ogma, Draug, Arlen, Tiki, Est, Jake, Radd, Julian, Sheena Astra: Yumina, Luke, Linde, Cain, Reiden, Navarre, Ryan, Athena, Nagi, Abel, Macellan, Roshea, Astram Paul: Malicia, Sirius, Minerva, Frey, Barst, Katarina, Darros, Roberto, Dolph, Midia, Michalis. Samuel, Tomas

So, Fire Emblem Engage just launched, and between my empty wallet and my growing interest in doing this, I haven't gotten around to understanding the game itself. That said, this is an idea I've thrown around for a good while now and I'm just now acting on it. The rules for this draft are tweaked from the original ruleset on the forums: 1. This draft is for 4 players. 2. Sigurd, Deirdre, Sylvia, Seliph, Julia, Lene, Laylea, Hannibal, Coirpre, and Charlot are free for all to use. (You may kill Sylvia to get her replacement kids if you so please.) 3. Mothers will be drafted first, then fathers, then the second-gen non-children. All drafting will be performed in snaking order- once the fourth person drafts, they kick off the next round in reverse until the first player's turn - then they start drafting the father units, and so on. 4. When any mothers are drafted, their children come with them. (Example: Drafting Ayra gives you Ayra, Larcei and Scathach.) 5: Aideen and Jeanne will be drafted twice. (Credit to a friend of mine for the idea - it leaves 8 moms in the draft for gen 1 while still evening out the cast to 40 and minimizing the amount of players who enter Ch7 with three units who can only help on that map alone, as well as ensuring that all players will have at least one early healer in each gen (Ethlyn/Edain/Lachesis for G1, Lana/Muirne/Nanna/Jeanne for G2.) Rules: 1. Undrafted units may only: Recruit characters, participate in Talk conversations and special events that do not require the participants to be lovers. 2. Undrafted units may not do anything not listed above, including but not limited to meatshielding, giving Charm bonuses, using the Give command, or participating in Lover/Sibling criticals. 3. Other and Neutral units may do as they please without penalty. 4. Arena use is allowed and encouraged. Penalties: 1. Non-holy weapon users (Noish, Ayra etc.) have a 3 turn penalty per unit per castle. (Example: Using Noish (if undrafted) en route to Jungby results in a 3 turn penalty. Once Sigurd seizes Jungby, you take another 3 turn penalty if you use Noish while en route to Evans.) 3. Using the Give command with an undrafted unit is a special 12 turn penalty. 2. Holy weapon users (Lewyn, Shannan, etc.) and Dancers have a 7 turn penalty per unit per castle. 3. Using the Give command with an undrafted unit is a special 12 turn penalty. Exceptions: 1. Generation 1 units may lose a bout in the Arena and then die to an enemy while unequipped to prevent them getting married. The enemy must have no other friendly units in his attack range and must finish the character in a single round. 2. Brigid, Claud and Tailtiu are free to use in Chapter 3. 3. Dew may lower the bridge in Chapter 4 if undrafted. He may not perform any other disallowed actions without penalty. 4. Leif, Finn and Jeanne are free to use in Chapter 7. 5. Shannan is free to use in Chapter 7 until Yied Castle is seized. One more thing: I will not be taking this seriously. Like, at all. If any of my draft picks seem odd or foolish, that's why. Units left in the draft! MOTHERS: Ethlyn Aideen 1 Aideen 2 Ayra Lachesis Erinys Tailtiu Brigid FATHERS Alec Noish Arden Azelle Lex Quan Finn Midir Dew Jamke Chulainn Lewyn Beowulf Claud SECOND GEN Dalvin Radney Muirne Deimne Tristan Oifey Hermina Amid Johan Johalvier Jeanne 1 Jeanne 2 Shannan Daisy Ares Linda Asaello Hawke (Child characters will be calculated at the end of drafting. 90% of the art I used for the chart is from either Heroes or Cipher.)

You should try Sacred Stones sometime. It only pulls that on you a couple times and only once is it unwarranted (the transition between Ch11 and Ch12 doesn't give any grind/shop time besides the pre-battle armory and prep screen sadly)

assuming you meant "Laslow, Selena and Owain"

It's exactly what it says on the tin: it's just Binding Blade, but instead of Roy you have Ike. Have fun with a main character who doesn't suck. I've playtested up to Chapter 16 and he is *still viable.* Maybe mine just got blessed, I dunno. 9 con on a sword lord is one hell of a drug. (Includes Link Mode palettes and Greil as Eliwood.) (Disclaimer: No dialogue was changed outside of names, and the only unit with statistical changes is Ike. Sadly this means if you unlock TrialMap!Eliwood Greil will still be a Paladin and not a hero. I also haven't "added" Earth affinity or the Regal Sword, so Ike is stuck with Roy's Fire affinity and rapier instead. Finally, I couldn't find a good T2 map sprite for Ike that wasn't a Vanguard, so he uses a Marth sprite instead. All assets are from the F2U repo.) Screenshots: https://www.mediafire.com/file/sgdze0qhhn5y4k2/FE6_Ike_Mode.ups/file CREDITS Ike portrait by Nickt Greil Portrait by Quotedotlass and Electric Serge Ike battle sprite by Khrene Kleaver (Recolored by me for Link Mode or if you hack in the "No Personal Palettes" option) Ike T1 map sprite by Teraspark Ike T2 map sprite by Dominus_Vobiscum Stat and text edits all by me, using FEBuilderGBA