[Why can't Corrin/Kaumi always turn into a dragon?]

Because quite frankly, IS didn't realize how amazing a concept that is, and it took freaking Sakurai putting Corrin into Smash 4 to actually flesh out the "turning into a dragon" mechanic.

Obvious sarcasm is obvious, but this is why I like to headcanon Corrin having her Smash abilities during the story.

[Fates 4Koma Kings Translations (COMPLETE)]

Okay, that last line of the right panel is something straight out of Rick and Morty's mindset.

"Boys can be adorable. Girls can be scary. I don't even know what's right and wrong anymore."

"Here, have a beer. ALCOHOL MAKES EVERYTHING OKAY!"

[Fire Emblem Fate English Voices Aren't That Bad.]

I'm going to be frank, I haven't actually been able to get the game yet. I'm still abroad, and I want a physical copy. Having said that, I've watched parts of Let's Plays, and I've heard some of the voice acting.

In my opinion, Awakening had marginally better VA all around. There weren't any performances that I would call explicitly "bad" in Awakening, while there are a couple that I really don't like in Fates (M!Kana almost makes me not want to use F!Corrin, it stoinks so bad). However, I've made it through Persona 3 and Fuuka/Ikutsuki, so I can handle it.

[How do you pronouce Ginnungagap?]

There are no soft Gs in Old Norse.

Right, I just thought that the first one was what was confusing people. I guess not, though. I mean, who am I to contradict one of the Norse pantheon?

[How do you pronouce Ginnungagap?]

If it hasn't been made clear already, the first "G" is hard. In one of the games I've kickstarted, Jotun, which is centered around Norse mythology, the narration is actually in some form of Old Norse, and it's pronounced "gi-NOON-gah-gap" in-game. As such, I'll vouch for that pronunciation.

[Japan gets new 3DS themes based on the poll results (+ Festival Scramble CGs)]

You know what the CG art really drove home for me? Some of the children look much older than others. For example, Forrest looks like he's 10, while Shigure and Dwyer look like they're at least in their late teens. It's a little disconcerting, if you ask me.

The art looks fantastic, though, and the 3DS themes makes me excited that we may finally be getting the official artwork for the characters!

I really hope it's true.

[Even More Kozaki Art]

He legit looks bored. It's a great picture, and it totally captures his personality, but seriously, he looks like he's about to fall asleep.

[Fates Japanese Reception]

Hey. Stop hating on Awakening so much, guys. I liked it. Sure its story is generic as balls, especially for an FE game, but I could let it go because of the characters.

But back on topic, even though giving the game one star reviews is a little overkill, I do feel like the game suffered because of the split into 3 games. Going back into Awakening for a bit, yeah its story wasn't anything new (and not the best, tbh), at least it was relatively simple for an RPG. Path of Radiance had a great story, and once again, it was relatively simple. Fates, by contrast, felt very bloated with the three separate storylines, not to mention that it was definitely hampered by the inclusion of children for inexplicable reasons.

I hope that even though Fates is selling extremely well, IS takes the time to look at user feedback and take it into account when making their next game. Trim down the fat of the storyline, don't include features for no reason just because the previous game was the best-selling one in the series to that point...and keep the gameplay good. The gameplay in Fates is really good. Best in the series.

[Even More Kozaki Art]

Nicely drawn, but what a stupid pose. Why is she shoving her butt in our faces? Also, her arms are practically nothing but bones, ew.

Because...butt stuff? I dunno, I'm not in Kozaki's head, I can't speak for the guy. It is an awkward pose, but I'm just happy that Kozaki's drawing stuff. It doesn't look bad, just a little...out of character, I guess.

[Cutest Child?]

I don't care what you think of her VA, Selkie is adorable, voice included.

[Dub Wars: Japanese or English?]

Both have their good parts and their bad parts. I prefer the Japanese version of Azura's song (although the English version is still fantastic), but the English spoken VA.

[Fire Emblem if 4koma Kings]

So, basically like the Awakening book, where we don't focus on individual characters, so much as make little vignettes.

I'm sold.

[Someone posted Soleil's English Support Conversation.]

You know what I love the most about the localized version of this support? (Granted, it's still not the best support, but it's SOOO much better.) You know, other than Xandra? It was how the S-Rank felt like it belonged with the rest of the conversation. It was organic, it flowed pretty well with the characters and their respective mindsets, and A CHARACTER IN A SUPPORT ASKS TO TAKE IT SLOW! It fits so well with the progression, and honestly, I'm happy with that nice little touch. I'm glad they didn't just change the B-Rank convo, but rather sought to make a more well-written, cohesive conversation.

In other words, it's true localization.

[What are you favorite support conversations? [Possible Spoilers]]

I'm kinda surprised no one's talked about Kaden/Azura yet. That support is absolutely adorable, and they have fantastic chemistry together. There's also the fact that Kaden is actually supporting Azura throughout the conversation, while also acknowledging the traits that make her unique. To the best of my knowledge, there's no other support that Azura has where anyone acknowledges that she may actually need help dealing with the craziness in her life, and the fact that Kaden catches on to this, and even goes as far as to encourage her to be a little selfish for once, is really sweet.

[Who do you fight for? Nohr or Hoshido?]

To paraphrase the words of the hypest man on YouTube playing the hypest playable anime in existence:

I don't fight for Hoshido. And I don't fight for Nohr!

I FIGHT FOR MY GOD DAMN FRIENDS!!!

[Kids, and the logic behind them. Also, "Skinship"]

I don't like the hyperbolic time chamber thing either, and I'm writing it completely different in my fanfic.

Here's a weird idea. What if, when the wife gets pregnant...they go in the "Deeprealms" too? At least, just until the baby's born, and then they leave?

I'll admit, it's a huge friggin' stretch, but that's the only way that the Deeprealms can be incorporated without any hassle.

[Fates Fanfiction Central (Spoilers)]

Hey, so I guess this thread is still able to be posted on, since it hasn't be a month yet, so I want to put in my two cents on a potential run-through I'm thinking of.

1. What routes are you working on? Is it an amalgamation of all three? Is it an alternate universe style retelling?

I'm going to mainly focus on the Revelations storyline. However, to make Corrin not seem like a total spoiled brat when turning her siblings down, I'll most likely put some sort of "flash-forward" scene, potentially involving dreams, as that's kind of a big part of Corrin's MO, to give her hints about what happens on both routes.

2. What notable changes would you make to the plot?

Are problematic elements (the curse, the magic throne, the crystal ball, operation tears, Nohr and Hoshido being too black and white, everything Aqua does) going to be addressed?

The curse is stupid, and I don't like it, so it's gone. The magic throne is a little iffy, so I don't think I'm gonna deal with it. The crystal ball and Operation Tears don't apply to Revelations, so they're not relevant to my story, at least as of now. AND AZURA IS NOT GONNA BE AN EXPOSITION MACHINE! THAT'S STUPID! The stuff that happened to her in Nohr won't go away, but she won't be all-knowing about Valla. Also, the children. I've got an interesting idea for how to incorporate them into the story that can only happen because I'm doing Revelations only. But I don't want to spoil it here. Oh, and of course Hoshido and Nohr aren't gonna be as black and white. More details to come in further questions.

Are there any themes to be communicated over each route?

• Taking responsibility for your actions, learning how to compromise and work with others, and acceptance. This is stuff that doesn't just apply to Corrin, but every. Single. Royal. It's so incredibly important to these characters and their growth as people that I just found it impossible to ignore.
• What is the overall direction and "point" of each route?

The group's gonna come together, they'll quarrel, but they'll be able to work together by the end. Pretty similar to the game itself, but I'm gonna take some more time to get there. I feel it goes too fast in the game, so I'm gonna take my sweet time.

3. What notable changes would you make to the characters?

• What is Kamui all about (background, personality, abilities)?

Corrin was captured when she was five. Macbeth attempted to wipe her memories, but some remain, and come to her in periodic dreams/nightmares. Because she is subconsciously aware that she isn't actually here of her own free will, she can't take everything her "father" says to her in absolute faith, and is thus a little bit unstable, as she doesn't fully trust anyone except her siblings. However, she still loves Garon, even if she doesn't fully trust him, as he's the only father figure she really remembers, other than maybe Gunter and Xander. She has an incredible sense of smell, and can partially transform in a similar fashion to her fighting style in Smash. Personality-wise, she's very naive and a bit mischievous (if you can earn her trust). She finds it incredibly hard to trust people.

• What is Aqua all about (personality, role in the plot)?

Azura may be one the most cynical people on the planet. Due to her incredibly traumatic experiences while living in Nohr (not to mention the fact that she remembers being kidnapped - twice), she's grown jaded, and maybe even a little hateful. Sure, the Hoshidan royal family treats her with respect, but she doesn't feel truly accepted. The rest of Hoshido treats her with scorn. She's incredibly lonely most of the time. The only happy memory she has since she and her family were taken from Valla was when she tried to run away from Hoshido, and encountered a group of Youko kits, including a boy named Kaden. She serves as a reluctant ally to Corrin throughout the journey, but doesn't know anything about Anakos or the first dragons. The Sages tell the two that stuff.

• What are the Hoshidan and Nohrian siblings all about (personalities, roles in the plot)?
• I'm only going to list the ones who will undergo massive changes. As such, I'm not going to mention Takumi, Sakura, or Elise (she'll be a bit more mature, but overall I'm okay with her character.

​​​​​​​- Ryoma is relatively similar to his in-game counterpart, but maybe a bit more hateful toward Nohr due to anti-Nohr propaganda that had been bashed into his skull his entire life. Bushido is his entire life, so he can't comprehend why anyone would back down from a fight, as it's dishonorable in his eyes.

- Hinoka was very, very close to Corrin when they were younger. In fact, she was there when Corrin got her scar across her nose. She was enraged when Corrin was taken from Hoshido, but is not necessarily as anti-Nohr as her older brother. She just wants her sister back. Because of this, she's actually going to join the party much earlier than she does in-game.

- Xander can make his own decisions. He's not blindly loyal to Garon like he is in-game, and grows suspicious of sketchy stuff going on in Nohr much more quickly.

- Camilla isn't creepy. Yeah, she dotes on Corrin, but she dotes on everyone. She also HATES her armor, as it's inconvenient as hell, but she can't change it, as it was issued to her by Macbeth, and she couldn't refuse. (This attitude toward Nohrian armor is shared by Elise, who hates fighting in high-heels and a dress.)

- Leo is Corrin's best friend in Nohr. Even though he's still really cocky and can be very blunt, and even rude, Corrin appreciates this, as at least he's honest. He's the only one who knows the content of Corrin's dreams, and wants to figure out what they mean along with her. He sleeps in the room next to her, and has taught Corrin Morse Code so he can calm her down after a nightmare without having to leave his bed. By the way, I'm not setting these two up to get married. They're just really good friends.

• What is Garon, Mikoto, Lilith or any other important character all about?

- Mikoto is largely the same. She ISN'T, however, the sister of Arete. Rather, Valla's power system actually functions similarly to the Roman Republic: there are two rulers, like the Roman consuls, and both Arete's and Mikoto's families held power. When Anakos attacked Valla, Arete's family stood their ground, while Mikoto's fled (at the behest of Arete so that at least one family of Vallian royalty would survive). She still dies early on.

- Garon is almost entirely different. He was never replaced by a doppelganger sludge-being, but was rather manipulated by Macbeth (he's gonna be my main baddie). He's a brutal man who's hard on his kids, but he is still a very loving father. He HATED the fact that the Concubine Wars occurred because he loved all of his women equally (as weird as that is to hear). When Elise was born, and the concubines were ready to tear each other to shreds, he put his foot down, banished them all, and tried to raise his kids on his own. His kidnapping of Corrin was not malicious in nature, but rather because he couldn't bear to see anyone orphaned, even his enemy's child. In essence, he's not actually evil. He tries to maintain a good relationship with his children, which includes Corrin, who he views as his own child. (The decision to memory-wipe Corrin was Macbeth's idea, but he readily agreed.) He doesn't like Macbeth, but acknowledges his tactical genius. He wants the best for his country, and is willing to go to absurd lengths to make sure it endures, but he is not beyond reason.

• What is Hydra all about (role in the plot)?

As soon as Corrin gains full access to her draconic abilities, Anakos senses her, and realizes that this is the only person who has the strength to kill him. As such, he uses any means he can, including manipulating Macbeth, summoning shadow-troops, and even sending Corrin some nasty nightmares, to make sure she either never finds him or dies.

• What changes will be made to minor characters?

The one thing I know for sure is that the Awakening Trio is not only there, but still refer to themselves, at least in private, by their real names. Since the curse doesn't exist, the only reason that they don't tell anyone where they're from is because they're worried people will call them crazy. Odin/Owain and Selena/Severa are in an intimate relationship by now.

4. What notable changes would you make to the setting?

• What ideas do you have for world building?

I gotta think about this one.

• What kind of history does this continent have?

Similar to the games.

• What is the balance of natural and supernaturual elements?

Similar to the games. Shadow troops are a thing, the sages are still there, but many of the enchanted objects, such as the magic throne, are gone. Yatogami (THE FULL NAME IS NOT HARD TO PRONOUNCE, IS!!!) is still a thing, though, and the chainsaw aspect of it is accessible from the beginning. However, Corrin is gonna fight more with her draconic abilities rather than using her sword.

• Are the Faceless and invisible enemies in your story?

Yes, and the Faceless are still mutated from Macbeth's subjects. Since Macbeth is now the main antagonist, they're gonna be more common.

5. Do any characters die?

Well, Mikoto dies. Duh. But someone else will also kick the bucket when the whole party goes to Valla. Other than that...not really.

6. Do you introduce any new characters?

No.

7. Are any characters going to be cut?

No characters were cut in the making of this fic.

[Who will your Avatar (Kamui/Corrin) be?]

Name: Corrin (OMG SO ORIGINAL!)

Route: All of 'em. I'm always gonna use the female version, simply because I prefer the female design to the male one. I'll most likely mainly focus on Revelations when it comes out, but I'll play 'em all.

Class: Dark/White Blood (I want to retain her use of her draconic form for personality/backstory purposes)

Personality/Traits: Mischievous, a bit naive, and slightly unstable. Generally optimistic, but can quickly fly into a rage if provoked. Has trouble confiding in people. Has a very potent sense of smell, and has the ability to use her dragonstone to partially, as well as fully, transform her body (hell yeah I'm incorporating Smash into her fighting style).

Backstory: She was captured at a young age and had her memory wiped, just as the canon backstory indicated. HOWEVER, as it's actually physically impossible to actually induce retrograde amnesia in real life without causing serious brain damage (yes, I am ignoring magic, as the human brain is way too damn complicated), Corrin's memory was not actually entirely wiped, but rather merely suppressed. She still remembers her time in Hoshido, but it usually manifests through dreams. She is close with her Nohrian siblings, especially Leo, who is the only person she trusts with her dreams. Interestingly, her dreams are often centered on a young girl with red hair. (When she lived in Hoshido, she was very, very close with Hinoka.) She knows that Garon can be a very harsh, sometimes brutal man, but she loves him all the same, in a similar vein to the multiple father dynamics in the book version of The Shining.

Spouse: Kaze

EDIT: Thanks for the help, Sai! I'll admit, she looks rather generic, but it's a good design, so why change it too much?

[Localization vs Original]

Hey, first post after a year or so of lurking!

I am really not a fan of this change. Sakura in the original was extremely shy, to the point that you could call it social anxiety (although I don't diagnose fictional characters), but she still had plenty of moments where she showed strength. In this very chapter even, yes she cries at first, but then insists that she be taken along. Over the protestations of almost anyone else. She isn't sure of how much she can do, but she still wants to try anyway. I found that great.

But of course, removing realistic character flaws now counts as "improving" them.

I'm personally okay with this change, mostly because her being angry rather than scared is actually more characteristic of a combat medic than a shy little girl.

Which she is, by the way.

Yes, she is generally portrayed as a shy person in the story, but one thing I really like about this localization is that when she is in the middle of the action, she goes into a bit of a zone. She's focused on her duty as a medic, and ignores her meek tendencies so she can do her job. JUST like a real combat medic. I'm really happy with this change.

And other than that, hell yeah I'm excited for this. These changes look great.