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Class Balance in Fire Emblem - Is it achievable? Is it a worthy goal? In order to start discussing this, we need to figure out what makes particular units in Fire Emblem good and others less so. The biggest factor to me is movement (other stats being equal). We all know that the mechanics favor the units with high mobility since reaching the enemy or reaching a chokepoint to set up defensive positioning before the enemy is extremely valuable. 1-2 range and ability to attack on enemy phase are also highly desirable attributes. Because of this, it is common to see the Cavalier, Pegasus Knight and Wyvern units at the top of tier lists and power rankings. Obviously, those aren't the only factors and stat viability plays a huge part in it, but in a stat vacuum these are the most powerful unit types in the game. It doesn't hurt that these units also get bundled with canto and rescue utility. So powerful offense plus utility puts them pretty high on the list. Mages, Myrmidons, Axe fighters, Lance Soldiers all tend to fill up the middle. These are generally mid tier units that can rate higher or lower depending on context, utility, weapon options, triangle advantage, etc... From my point of view, these units lack the benefits of the mounted classes, but can be easily tweaked to be powerful, so there isn't a drastic need of overhauling them. Staff users and Thieves can also be thrown into this bucket, moving up or down depending on how useful their utility is in a particular game. On the bottom of tier list/power rankings we often see Armored Units and Archers. To me these are the two unit types most in need of adjusting in order to bring them up to the level of minimum viability. Personally, I don't think that every class needs to be equally powerful in order to be balanced. However, I think every class should have a role that they can accomplish somewhat efficiently and both Archers and Armor Knights have issues that limit them severely. Let's look at their issues separately. Armored units have two main problems and several minor ones keeping them low on the class totem pole. The biggest one is movement. You'd have to be a pretty exceptional unit to make up for a below average movement stat. Armor Knights generally are not. There are some notable exceptions (Gatrie, Oswin, Effie) but there are way more duds. Being balanced around stats is also a big problem. Having high strength and defense growth isn't enough to make them stand out from the crowd, especially when there is a flying unit that specializes in the same stats (Wyvern Rider). Why have a grounded tank when you can have a flying one that also brings mounted utility? Random growths and stat boosters further exacerbate this issue. I could get lucky and get a tanky cavalier or warrior or just pour all my def boosts into one unit and get similar tanking ability than what I'd get from an Armored Knight. High strength is a niche that can be filled by a myriad of classes (Axe Fighters, Wyverns, some Cavs) Finally, tanking is just not viable in certain maps and/or games. The fact that the niche of the unit (tanking chokepoints) is not supported that often puts a damper on its viability. Other issues include getting worse at tanking as the game goes along and the player encounters more enemies with magic attacks and armorslayers. Also they generally get tied to characters with low speed growth. This exacerbates some of their other weaknesses such as having low res. Potential fixes: -Upgrading their move to be in line with the rest of the foot units. Honestly, this is a much needed fix, since it has been proven time and time again that Armor Knights aren't strong enough to be penalized that heavily. The only reason to keep Armor Knights with low move is to preserve the meme that heavy armor is movement restricting. Maybe there is another reason to keep their movement low that I'm not seeing. - Skills that mitigate the downsides of Armor Knights. AKA the Fates Approach. Skills like Wary Fighter did much to improve the viability of the General class in that game. I am conflicted about this approach because these skills often feel like a band-aid over a poorly designed class. - Nerf to other classes defense growth/bases. Making the Armor Knight the undisputed tank class would help a lot to make them viable. This is more complicated of a fix as it involves messing with other classes/units stats. And unit variety is a good thing, so preventing other classes from being tanky can limit that. Fixed/Controlled growths is another way to prevent non-Armor units from snowballing defense and keep Armored units viable for longer. Adding maps with hard hitting physical enemies can also help make tanking viable. - Making their high strength relevant, instead of overkill. That helped Effie stand out since there was a need for units that could OHKO with low might weapons such as javelins in that particular game. Nerfing javelin/hand axe might can play into this. Archers present a different set of issues. Archers are intended to be ranged damage dealing classes that have additional utility as slayers of flying units. The limitations come from being locked to bows which are just inferior to 1-2 weapons and even 1 range weapons in many cases. Not being able to counterattack can be worse than having 2 range in some cases. And much like Armor Knights, their unique elements aren't exclusive to their class. Warriors and Bow Knights/Rangers also can use bows without having as many downsides as Archers. Minor issues include bows not being a necessary weapon type unless the particular game is filled with flyers. Potential Fixes: -Allow bows to be 1-2 weapons (Gaiden,RD,Fates) - This would be the most obvious fix, but it also eliminates the unique aspects of the class. There is a reason why this design hasn't made a comeback since Gaiden. (Edit: Fates and Radiant Dawn also had 1-2 options) Maybe creating an Archer exclusive point blank range skill could be a thing worth exploring in a fan game? Still, not a fan of this approach in general. - Increase Bow Might and accuracy. (AKA the Fates Approach) - Turns Archers/Snipers into a player phase high damage dealers. The only downside is that it doesn't give Archers any advantage over other bow users. - Unique Skills (Fates, Shadow Dragon, New Mystery) - Fates gives Archers/Snipers a bunch of accuracy/might bonuses when initiating attack, whereas Shadow Dragon/New Mystery gives a +15% crit chance to Snipers. Same idea as bow might, allows Archers to specialize as player phase nukes. - Allow Archers to attack res (Fates, Berwick Saga) - Radiant Bow and Magical Arrows. Gives archers more versatility as nukers. Allows them to play the mage role. It is probably not enough to make them better than mages since 1-2 weapons are preferable over bows. - Make Longbows unique to Archers/Snipers (PoR/RD/Awakening) - Gives archers a particular niche over other bow users. Perhaps giving Archers better weapon options over other bow users is an idea that can be expanded upon. -Nerf 1-2 weapons. (Fates) In Fates, Javelins and Hand Axes couldn't double and had some heavy speed penalties. Making 1-2 weapons less appealing such as javelins and hand axes goes a long way to making bows viable. Again, this fix doesn't specifically help Archer viability. Thoughts on bringing more balance to Armored units, Archers and/or other classes? Is it even something that should be considered a problem? Is class imbalance just inevitable? Any other thoughts about class balance? Would it be interesting to play a fan hack with more balanced classes?

So Nintendo just revealed a new trailer that is called the Game Builder Garage for the Nintendo Switch and it will be released in June 11th, 2021. This software will allow you to create your own video game for the Nintendo Switch console. Judging based off from this trailer that I think it's suppose to be more easily programming without using codes similar to like the NES Maker used and it's easy to handle like Super Mario Maker series and Dreams. I am planning on picking Game Builder Garage from GameStop since I love creating stuff. Here is the official trailer of Game Builder Garage: Also, I did saw Joey from GameXplain did some research from the official website in more detail that wasn't been revealed in the trailer that: The Price is not fully $59.99, it's around $30 and it does come in retails as well. USB Computer Mice are compatible to Game Builder Garage. It still requires Nintendo Switch Online. But you can share it locally as well.

Hello Serenes Forum, I am a french videomaker-wannabe who recently produced a lenghty analysis of the game design of FE7, with extension to the whole series. Having browsed this forum for years for interesting discussions, I know this place has the best concentration of Fire Emblem enthusiasts on the net, probably including french ones, so I humbly submit this video to their attention. https://youtu.be/UMXy5Rh416U

Below I have compiled a list of almost all the etymologies of the person/place/weapon names that are in Genealogy of the Holy War. I would like to point out that I came up with the majority of these etymologies myself but I did not shy away from checking my findings with other sources such as the two Fire Emblem Wikis and some Serenes Forest posts as well. With that out of the way I would like to point out how well researched and inspired this, and by extension all other Fire Emblem games, are in terms of the names used for people/places/objects. Genealogy of the Holy War seems to draw extensively from Norse and Celtic/Irish mythology, and the use of some lesser known names is even more astounding. As a note, the list is not totally complete and it would be great if some of you well informed fans can fill in some of the remaining blanks for the names I have listed. Genealogy of the Holy War Etymology Collection: Place Names Jugdral- Corruption of Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse mythology Grannvale- Original name, Translated as Grandbell, seems to simply be a combination of Grand and bell Chalphy- Corruption of Thialfi(Þjálfi), servant of the Norse god Thor Jungby- Corrution of Ygnvi, the old name for the Norse god Freyr Friege- Original? Possible corruption of Phygia, an ancient kingdom in Anatolia and location for various Greek myths Edda- Named after the Poetic and Prose Eddas, the written sources for the majority of Norse myths, compiled by Snorri Sturluson Dozel- Original name, unclear etymology Velthomer- Original name, likely utilizes the name Vala(Fala) as a source such as Falaflame Belhalla- Corruption of Valhalla, the Norse afterlife for heroes and warriors, seems to fit in with the name Grand-bell Verdane- Original name, draws from adjective “verdant” meaning green with plants. A reference to the forested terrain of the country Evans- English/Welsh last name meaning Son of Evan, where Evan is the Welsh version of John Genoa- City in Italy and capital of the region of Liguria Marpha- Unsure, name of a small village in Nepal Verdane- Capital shares name with country Agustria- Original name, likely drawn from Augustus, first Roman Emperor or corruption of Austria Nordion- Original name? Likely draws from “nord” meaning north or of the north Heirhein- Original name, drawn from hein, diminutive of Heinrich or more likely a corruption of Highland Mackily- Original? Unknown Anphony- Original? Unknown Madino- Unkown, possibly drawn from Medina, a holy city for Islam in Arabia Silvail- Original? Unknown Orgahill- Original? Unknown Agusty- Likely Original, shortened version of Agustria Silesse- Corruption of Silesia, a region in Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany Sailane- Original? Possibly a corruption of Silesia Thove- Original? Unknown Zaxon- Corruption of Saxon or Saxony, a region in eastern Germany Lubeck- Slight corruption of Lübeck, a port city in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Silesse- Capital named after country Isaach- Corruption of Biblical name Isaac, patriarch of the Israelites Tirnanog- Corruption of Tír na nÓg meaning “land of the young” and is another name for Otherworld in Celtic mythology Ganeishire- Unknown, likely drawn from some English/Scottish shire Sophara- Original name? Possibly drawn from Sofia, capital of Bulgaria Rivough- Original name? Possibly drawn from an Irish/Welsh place name Isaach- Capital named after the country Yied Desert- Corruption of Aed, Irish god of the underworld Phinora- Original? Unknown Darna- Original? Unknown Yied- Same as the region Manster District- Corruption of Munster, ancient kingdom in Ireland and currently one of its provinces Melgen- Original name? Unknown, possibly an Irish/Scottish/Welsh place name Alster- Corruption of Ulster, old Irish kingdom and current province Leonster- Corruption of Leinster, old Irish kingdom and current province Conote- Corruption of Connacht, old Irish kingdom and current province Manster- Same etymology as the country Thracia- Named after region in the Balkans inhabited by Thracian people Mease- Corruption of Meath, old Irish kingdom and current county Kapathogia- Original? Unknown, likely a Greek place name Luthecia- Corruption of Lutecia, Roman name for Paris Grutia- Thracia- capital named after country Miletos District- Named after ancient Greek city Miletos(Μί̄λητος) Peruluke- Original name? Unknown Chronos- Named after Greek primordial god of time Rados- Original name? Likely Greek person/place name Miletos- capital named after country Weapon names Tyrfing- Named after the magical sword in Norse mythology associated with three tragedies Balmung- The name used in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle for the sword of the Norse hero Sigurd called Gram Mystletainn- Named after the magical sword of the Norse hero Hrómund Gripsson, possibly also in reference to the weapon used by Hodr to accidentally kill Baldur in Norse myth Gungnir- Named after the magical spear of the Norse god Odin Gae Bolg- Named after the magical spear used by the Irish hero Cu Chulainn Valflame- Combination of character name Fala and flame Forseti- Named after Norse god of justice Mjolnir- Named after the Norse god Thor’ hammer Helswath- Combination of Hel, Norse goddess of the underworld and swath, “the space covered by the stroke of a scythe” Named Swanchika originally, a corruption of sanskrit “svastika” known as manji in japanese Yewfelle- Named after yew, a material often used to make bows and fell, to knock down or defeat, as Ichaival, the name of a bow used by Odin that could fire ten arrows at once Valkyrie Staff- Named after Valkyries, Norse warrior women who carry fallen warriors to the afterlife Book of Naga- Named after character Naga who in turned is named after serpent deities in Hinduism and other Indian religions Character Names Twelve Crusaders: Baldur- Norse god of light Odo- Corruption of Od or Odin, Norse gods Hezul- Unknown, possibly a corruption of Hodr, Norse god and brother of Baldur Dain- A dwarf listed in Norse texts Noba- Unknown, possibly named after Roman city in Africa or Latin word for “new” Fala- Named for volva, also said vala, Norse mystic women, also possible reference to Norse goddess Freya Ced- Corruption of Forseti, Norse god of justice Tordo- Corruption of Thor, Norse god of lightning Neir- Unknown etymology Ulir- Corruption of Ullr, Norse god of hunting and archery Blaggi- Named for Bragi, Norse god of poetry Heim- Corruption of Heimdall, Norse god and guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifrost Playable Characters: Sigurd- Norse hero who killed the dragon Fafnir with the sword Gram(Balmung) Naoise- Irish knight and nephew of King Conchobar mac Nessa Alec- Short version of name Alexander Arden- The brother of Naoise in Irish mythology Azelle- Hebrew name meaning “noble” Lex- Shorthand of Alexander or, as Rex, Latin for “king” Quan- Corruption of Cian, the father of the Irish hero Lugh Ethlyn- Corruption of Ethniu, wife of Cian and mother of the Irish hero Lugh Finn- Irish hero Finn MacCool(Fionn Mac Cumhaill), the leader of the Fianna Midayle- Corruption of Midir, an Irish god who is the son of the Dagda and lover of Etain Dew- Likely named for “morning dew” Edain- Irish heroine and lover of the god Midir Ayra- Corruption of ira, the Latin word for “wrath” Deirdre- Irish heroine and tragic lover of Naoise Jamke- Corruption of Jamukha, Mongolian political rival of Genghis Khan Chulainn- The Irish hero Cu Chulainn, wielder of the magic spear Gae Bolg, also possible reference to Chulainn, the man who gave Setanta(Cu Chulainn) his name Lachesis- Greek goddess of fate and middle sister of the Moirae(fates), she measures the length of the thread that defines a person’s lifespan Beowolf- Corruption of Beowulf, Norse and Anglo-Saxon hero Lewyn- Possibly a corruption of Welsh Llewellyn or Old English Leofwine Sylvia- Latin name in reference to Roman nature god Sylvanus Erinys- Greek goddess of vengeance also known as a Fury or the Furies Tailtiu- Irish goddess and foster mother of the hero Lugh Claud- Alternate form of Roman name Claudius Briggid- Irish goddess of fire Seliph- Original name Julia- Roman name, feminine form of Julius Lana- Unknown Larcei- Corruption of Irish god Luchtaine Ulster- Named after Irish province, As Skasher, his name is a reference to Scathach, the Irish warrior woman who trainned Cu Chulainn Oifey- Corruption of Aoife, Irish warrior woman Diarmuid- Irish hero of the Fianna and lover of Grainne Lester- English name derived from city of Leicester Fee- Diminutive of Fiona or Phoebe Arthur- Named for King Arthur of Camelot Iuchar- Irish figure, brother of Iucharba and Brian, who killed Cian and Iucharba- Brother of Iuhar and Brian, killed Cian Shannan- Corruption of Shannon, a river in Ireland Patty- Diminutive of Patricia Leif- Norse name such as in Leif Erikson Nanna- Sumerian goddess of the moon Ares- Greek god of war Lene- Unknown Tine- Derived from Tini mac Conri, Irish king of Connacht Febail- Irish hero Bran mac Febail Ced- Corruption of Forseti, Norse god of justice Hannibal- Carthaginian general who fought against Rome in the Punic Wars Cairpre- Medieval Irish name with various associated figures Altena- Possible combination of Greek goddesses Athena and Artemis Arion- Possibly from Greek poet Ἀρίων Villains: Alvis- Corruption of Alviss, a dwarf whose name means “All-wise” Andorey- Likely a corruption of the name André Lombard- Also known as Langobalt, both are names in reference to the Lombards, a Germanic people who lived in northern Italy Reptor- Unknown, likely original Travant- German word “trabant” meaning satellite Manfroy- Unknown Loptyr- Name used for the Norse god Loki Story Characters: Eldigan- Original name Grahnye- Corruption of Grainne, Irish heroine and lover of Diarmuid Kurth- Corruption of the name Kurt Cigyun- Corruption of Sigyn, wife of the Norse god Loki Azmur- Original? Mananan- Corruption of Manannán mac Lir, Irish sea god Mariccle- Corruption of mac Lir from Manannán mac Lir EDIT: New etymologies for Friege, Lopty, etc. thanks to comments

Hello folks, Before I get to the meat of this, I wanna say that for those who read my MGSV review, I sounded unsure of what was my next game to review. But now I know it’ll definitely be Persona 3, look forward to that. Back to the topic at hand, a game released recently on Steam called “The Beginner’s Guide” my goodness, it is superb! Brought to you by the writer of The Stanley Parable. I wasn’t gonna release a review of it since it’s pretty short and has barely anything to talk about (Exactly 90 minutes long.) But if The Stanley Parable was an amazing game for how short it was, then this game is no different. There are no traditional mechanics found in it, hardly any set goal, but it tells a tale, and what a tale it is. This game is essential for game designers such as myself, and trust me, while I may sound mysterious about it, it’s because I don’t want to give too much away. The game is only understood through experience. It makes me think, and think… how could you ever understand creations more than the creators themselves? And that happened a lot during our projects, my friends and I were very creative people, we had a lot of big and ambitious ideas. But at the same time, a lot of us came up with those very abstract, simple games for demonstration, for expression, to show people that a single person can deliver a message that has a deep meaning behind it and in the end, deliver a product that is finer than most big budget triple A games out there. But that’s only for the ones who understand the idea behind it, I loved this game as much as I did for how much I can relate to it, but there’s still a lot that the game has to offer that I don’t not to give away, it’s a personal story more than anything. I implore you to try this game out! I still think it's too vague to be called a review. But I said my piece on it and can't talk further without spoiling. So if I were to give it a verdict like I did for other games, I can’t give it a 10, it’s a short game that’s nothing special mechanically. But I can never deny the emotional impact it gave me. And the emotional impact it surely had on other players. I will give The Beginner’s guide a 9 out of 10. Get it on Steam, it's 8 bucks for now. http://store.steampowered.com/app/303210/ Score: 9/10 Excellent! Discuss the game at will, and yeah, Persona 3 is next. It will be back to writing the big stuff, and your feedback to my Persona 4 review couldn't have inspired me even more.