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Alternate Class Names


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This is a thought I've had while working on the hack that will never actually happen brainstorming. Fire Emblem is sometimes quite simple with its class names, such as naming them after their mounts (Dragon Knight, Pegasus Knight, etc.) or weapons (Swordmaster, earlier games with Sword Fighter/Bow Fighter/Axe Fighter). Now, some of those names have been changed over the years, for example Sword Fighters becoming Myrmidons, but some of the names have retained their simplicity.

I'm polling those in the Fire Emblem community to see if they would prefer the simplified names for classes, or perhaps giving them better names. I've noticed in hacks recently that horseback knights have had some name splits, and classes like Cataphract (which, historically, was a form of heavy cavalry) are making more of an appearance. In my opinion I prefer the cleaned-up version of names, as it signifies more of a difference between classes besides "horseback with a different weapon".

If you prefer the simplified names, why? And if not, what would you name them? Below I've listed some of my examples:

Sword Knight -> Cuirassier

Lance Knight -> Stradiot

Axe Knight -> Cataphract

Bow Knight -> Turcopole

Axe Fighter/Fighter -> Pugilist

Bandit/Brigand -> Marauder

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Great Knight-> Cataphract?

[spoiler=image]6f2cf05827c3fccd2295bc0ff6946c96.jpg

FE got quite the technological upgrade since I last played.

I don't really care too much about the sword/axe/etc knights, but I haven't played many games with them and I never used them much in RD. Fighters could be more specific, but definitely not "pugilists" (they use axes, not fists). For most of the others, I don't care whether they get changed because I still mentally call them the same thing (Onmyojis are Sages to me, no matter what the game says).

IS, stop renaming classes for Hoshido and give us better plots!

Edited by alatartheblue42
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I think a mix of simplified names and historical "class" titles is appropriate. The idea of a name is that it should instantly bring to your attention what the unit is. I know a Bow Knight is a guy who probably rides a horse and uses a bow. Until "Turcopole" becomes common gamer terminology, it's going to take a while to recognize what they do.

If you think a new name is more indicative of what that class is, then change it. I'd avoid overdoing the historical name drops, however.

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I think a mix of simplified names and historical "class" titles is appropriate. The idea of a name is that it should instantly bring to your attention what the unit is. I know a Bow Knight is a guy who probably rides a horse and uses a bow. Until "Turcopole" becomes common gamer terminology, it's going to take a while to recognize what they do.

If you think a new name is more indicative of what that class is, then change it. I'd avoid overdoing the historical name drops, however.

You're right; if anything the promoted names could be the more historical ones that way there is still some variety in class names (not a million 'X Knight' classes running around) but still indicators of what weapon each class uses as its main one.

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The inaccuracies and pure randomness of some of the mythical names bothers me more. Like really, why are mounted healers called Troubadours, and their promoted version Valkyrie? Myrmidons were the warriors under Achilles command, you'd expect them to have some kind of armour and also wield spears. The fact that most characters that are Knights in universe are actually Cavaliers or Paladins when the Knight class exists is also weird. Granted I don't think that's an issue in the Japanese version.

On the subject of simplicity, I agree that Fighter and Warrior are too non specific and generic. All my units are Fighters and Warriors. They're also Soldiers too and many of them are Horseman.

Edited by Jotari
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Physical attackers

Myrmidons-> Slicers
​Sword masters-> Blades men
​True Blades-> Blade masters

​Soldiers-> Infantry
​Halberdiers-> Veterans
​Sentinels-> Leaders

​Archer-> Bowman
Sniper-> Hunter
​Marksman-> True shot

​Fighters-> Brawler
Warriors-> Combatant
​Reavers-> Champion

​Mercenaries-> Traveler
​Heroes-> Adventurer
​Vanguards-> Daredevil

​Pegasus knight-> Pegasus Fighter
​Falcon knight-> Pegasus Warrior
Seraph knight-> Pegasus God

​Thief-> Robber
​Rogue-> Blackguard
Whisper-> Eliminator

Slingshot
Marksmen
Ballistian

Knight-> Guardsmen
General-> Protector
Marshall-> Commander

Cavalier-> Horsemen
Paladin-> Paragon
Gold/Silver knight-> Guardian

------------------------------------------

Magical Attackers
Page->Spell caster
Mage-> Weaver
Sage-> Enchanter

Dark mages-> Charmer
Druids-> Necromancer
Dark Druids-> Reaver

Light mages-> Pagan
Bishops-> Augur
Saints-> Erudite

Priest-> Healer
Troubadour-> Cardinal
Valkyrie-> High Priest

Hex
Sorcerer
Warlock

-------------------------------------

Other
Blacksmith-uses all 4 physical weapon types in addition to a skill which lets them switch to whatever weapon has the weapon triangle advantage.

Magician-like Blacksmith except wields all 3 magic types and staves. Also gains the same skill as Blacksmiths.

Specialist-Uses swords, bows, dark magic and staves. Shares the same skill as the Blacksmith and Magician.

Edited by Dinar87
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The simple names are fine. If they were changed to fancy names, I'd probably wonder what they were, before figuring them out and just calling them by their old names anyway, though I'd revert all the Fates class renames. What was wrong with shortening Pegasus Knight to Peg Knight anyway instead of renaming them to Sky Knights?

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