Sire

I updated my original post, but as for new builds, its just how to get the Nohr Singer working for Hoshido as well as a similar Hero build for Nohr. As for what "endgame class" is "best" for Azura, I have to agree with the majority on Azura being a Singer. If one can accept her low HP and Weapon Rank, her other stats are somewhat competitive against other Tier 2 classes, and Azura being a Singer allows the precious ability for units to make another move.

Character – Azura Disclaimer: I am working on purely theory and have no idea on how everything will actually play out as I have not played Fates or have sufficient knowledge of gameplay mechanics and its difficulty. These ideas are meant for end-game play with maxed out stats and skills. DLC classes are not taken into account for these builds. For the most part, Azura’s class choice will mainly depend on the player’s judgement on how important the Dance skill is. That, and trying to stick with more “canon” or “character-like” classes, it can be somewhat difficult to find a different class for Azura to use. The base class, Singer, can be argued to be easily outclassed by almost every other option. The main two drawbacks are the low HP (45 is the lowest HP cap), as well as a sad weapon rank cap of C in Lances. However, the class makes up in utility with the almighty Dance ability, so that command alone will practically make or break Azura’s class selection, especially considering that Azura is the only dancer available in Fates. In addition, with the weapons changes in Fates, Azura may not need a higher rank weapon, especially if she will mainly be regulated to dance duty. Now, it is possible to turn Azura into a frontline support unit instead. When Azura reclasses into something a little more formidable, her personal skill will help the frontline fighters stay alive for longer. In addition, Azura’s access to various other auras can also be a boon, so she can hold her own and support her allies more directly with auras instead of dancing just behind the front lines. Azura – Nohr Dancer Build [spoiler=Detailed Information]Marriage Seal – Any Buddy Seal – Elise Class: Singer Main Weapon 1: Guard Naginata (Grants +5 Def and Res) [if possible to obtain on Nohr] Main Weapon 2: Magic Seal Lance (Abysmal Attack, but +8 Res) Skills: *Healing Voice* - Allies within a 2 tile radius recover 10% HP at the start of the user’s Turn Special Song (Singer – Azura Base) - Skill, Speed and Luck +3 for one Turn for the unit who receives the user’s song Demoiselle (Rod Knight – Elise Buddy Seal) - Male allies within a 2 tile radius receive 2 less damage during battles Battle Command (Strategist – Elise Buddy Seal) - Allies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 extra damage and receive 2 less damage during battles. Sun God (Golden Kite Warrior – Azura Reclass) - Allies within a 2 tile radius recover 20% HP at the start of the user’s Turn Optional Skill - Throw a skill of your choice here! Optional Skills: Voice of Peace (Singer – Azura Base) - Enemies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 less damage. -- AN: Azura should be playing support and while near the front lines, and not exposed to danger. However, given somewhat poor synergy available for the Dancer Class and skills, Voice of Peace can be used to give Azura a small defense and resistance boost. The benefit to her allies is just the icing on the cake. Foreign Princess (Singer – Azura Base) -“Foreign Army” enemies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 less damage and receive 2 extra damage -- AN: Swap this one in if you happen to be facing Foreign Army enemies, otherwise have something else. Soar (Singer – Azura Base) - Hit rate and Avoid +30 when facing Flying enemies -- AN: An optional skill to take advantage of the Avoid +30 for survivability. If Azura is properly protected, she may still be exposed to fliers, and this ability helps to keep Azura alive. Reasoning I am giving Aqua a defensive weapon as she is not meant to be a front line attacker, instead electing to dance and let her allies do the work. As for skills, as Azura is remaining to be the Singer class, it can be rather obvious to keep the Special Song skill which improves her singing ability. The rest I focused on auras so Azura can continue to support her allies as well as skills that will help Azura survive easier (especially considering Azura’s low HP cap and penalties to DEF). * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Azura – Nohr Hero “The Paladin” Build [spoiler=Detailed Information]Marriage Seal – Lazwad Buddy Seal – Elise Class: Hero Main Weapon: Varies Skills: *Healing Voice* - Allies within a 2 tile radius recover 10% HP at the start of the user’s Turn Sol (Hero – Lazward Marriage Seal) - Skill% chance of restoring half the damage dealt to the enemy Voice of Peace (Singer – Azura Base) - Enemies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 less damage Battle Command (Strategist – Elise Buddy Seal) - Allies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 extra damage and receive 2 less damage during battles. Sun God (Golden Kite Warrior – Azura Reclass) - Allies within a 2 tile radius recover 20% HP at the start of the user’s Turn Optional Skill - Throw a skill of your choice here! Optional Skills: Demoiselle (Rod Knight – Elise Buddy Seal) - Male allies within a 2 tile radius receive 2 less damage during battles -- AN: If you happen to be fielding a lot of male frontline units, then Demoiselle can be a good choice to use to increase their defenses. Foreign Princess (Singer – Azura Base) -“Foreign Army” enemies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 less damage and receive 2 extra damage -- AN: Swap this one in if you happen to be facing Foreign Army enemies, otherwise have something else. Axebreaker or Kunaibreaker (Hero or Bow Knight – Lazward Marriage Seal) - Hit rate and Avoid +50 when the enemy is equipped with an (Axe or Kunai). -- AN: If you are a fan of breaker skills, Azura can equip these two thanks to the marriage seal from Lazward. These skills can help Azura a little with offense and survivability. Personally, I would probably choose Kunaibreaker due to their 1-2 range and would probably have Azura wield a sword, which beats axes (and bows) but is weak to Kunai (and lances). Reasoning Sharing many of the skills from my Nohr Dancer (or Singer) build, this set allows Azura to be on the frontlines supporting her allies more directly with auras and DPS instead of singing. Special Song is replaced with Sol for survivability (and she will not be singing as a Hero anyway). Battle Command and Sun God return to serve as auras, and now since Azura is a frontline unit, Voice of Peace is also a good addition to her skillset over Demoiselle. However, this build requires a lot more investment than the previous due to scattered skillsets and trying to transform Aqua into a frontline fighter instead of a support unit. However, it’s probably still a fun build to use when messing around in “postgame”. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Azura – Hoshido Singer Build [spoiler=Detailed information] Marriage Seal – Jakob Buddy Seal – Any Class: Singer Main Weapon 1: Guard Naginata (Grants +5 Def and Res) Skills: *Healing Voice* - Allies within a 2 tile radius recover 10% HP at the start of the user’s Turn Special Song (Singer – Azura Base) - Skill, Speed and Luck +3 for one Turn for the unit who receives the user’s song Demoiselle (Rod Knight – Jakob Marriage Seal) - Male allies within a 2 tile radius receive 2 less damage during battles Battle Command (Strategist – Jakob Marriage Seal) - Allies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 extra damage and receive 2 less damage during battles. Sun God (Golden Kite Warrior – Azura Reclass) - Allies within a 2 tile radius recover 20% HP at the start of the user’s Turn Optional Skill - Throw a skill of your choice here! Optional Skills: Voice of Peace (Singer – Azura Base) - Enemies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 less damage. -- AN: Azura should be playing support and while near the front lines, and not exposed to danger. However, given somewhat poor synergy available for the Dancer Class and skills, Voice of Peace can be used to give Azura a small defense and resistance boost. The benefit to her allies is just the icing on the cake. Foreign Princess (Singer – Azura Base) -“Foreign Army” enemies within a 2 tile radius deal 2 less damage and receive 2 extra damage -- AN: Swap this one in if you happen to be facing Foreign Army enemies, otherwise have something else. Soar (Singer – Azura Base) - Hit rate and Avoid +30 when facing Flying enemies -- AN: An optional skill to take advantage of the Avoid +30 for survivability. If Azura is properly protected, she may still be exposed to fliers, and this ability helps to keep Azura alive. Reasoning This build is practically identical to the Nohr singer build, but instead of using a Buddy Seal on Elise, Azura marries Jakob and uses a Marriage Seal. The following information is a copy-paste from the counterpart’s build. “I am giving Aqua a defensive weapon as she is not meant to be a front line attacker, instead electing to dance and let her allies do the work. As for skills, as Azura is remaining to be the Singer class, it can be rather obvious to keep the Special Song skill which improves her singing ability. The rest I focused on auras so Azura can continue to support her allies as well as skills that will help Azura survive easier (especially considering Azura’s low HP cap and penalties to DEF).” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There are probably more builds for Azura (It seems Pupeteer is fairly popular for the Copycat Puppet skill, but the Pupeteer class does not really appeal to me), but I’ll let other users post their ideas and discussion regarding the heroine of Fates. As for what is the best class for Azura, I have to go with the majority and say Singer for practically everything. Even at endgame, if one can overlook Azura’s low HP and Weapon Rank, her other stats are somewhat competitive with other Tier 2 promotions, leaning more toward the “agile support” instead of a frontline fighter.

Here's what I managed to create in an hour or two. I guess it wastes time away when I'm waiting for Fates to be localized... [spoiler=Story]A classic story between the dragons of light and darkness and two opposing kingdoms, this Fire Emblem game focuses on a minor noble caught up in the conflict as she attempts to survive the onslaught. However, the war is more than just the simple ambition of mortals. Both dragons seek to annihilate the other in this ultimate showdown, and unleash their own minions to assist their respective kingdom. Monsters, divine creatures, and hellfire join the fray between this war of ideals and divinity. With all this conflict, one wonders if there is something greater than even the two dragons themselves that might awaken from its slumber… * * * * * This game follows multiple paths. The two normal paths are following the forces of Light and Dark respectively, while the third and fourth delve into the slumbering creature that awakens due to the conflict. This creature is shown to be yet another dragon, in fact the father of the two warring dragons, and is disappointed with the way of the world and his offspring’s bickering. So, having created the world, this third dragon seeks to destroy it to create a new one. The third choice is refusing the Dragon’s offer to join him and attempt to save the world, while the final choice is accepting the offer to remake the world and joining up with the godlike dragon. The third and fourth choices are hidden ones. In order to even pick those choices, the player must have already pledged allegiance to either Light or Dark and complete Gaiden chapters in order to unlock the mystery of an ancient Dragon Temple. Upon entering and delving into the depths will the player reveal the First Dragon and presented with the choice. After making the decision, the player will be locked to the new path. [spoiler=Characters] Protagonist (Noble, Swords) - A noble on the lower end of the hierarchy, the Protagonist of this game is female. She lives a relatively quiet life on the outskirts of one of the kingdoms, but is thrust into action when war is suddenly declared… - The Noble class wields swords and can be considered more of a myrmidon, relying on speed to dodge and outmaneuver her enemies (Think Erika from Sacred Stones). The promotion, in addition to normal benefits, gives the protagonist a good boost in defense. Avatar (Champion, Weapon Type Chosen at Creation) - The Avatar here is mainly a glorified generic unit with customizable artwork and access to an exclusive class, but the Avatar’s role in the story is minimal. He / she is mainly just the Protagonist’s champion that protects her, and not much else. - The Champion class is a special one in that it does not promote. Instead, as the Champion gains levels, in addition to learning skills, the Champion can also learn a new weapon type. When capped out, the Champion is capable of wielding nearly any weapon in the game. Advisor (Sage) - Essentially the Jeigan of this game, the Advisor is essentially the caretaker of the Protagonist and advises her on any course of action. Castle Soldier (Soldier) - Bringing back the foot lance class outside of Knights, this Castle Soldier is a relatively fresh recruit to the Protagonist’s estate and tries to improve his skills whenever possible. * * * * * Light Dragon (Light Dragon) -The dragon of Light, this creature is locked in eternal conflict with its counterpart, the Dark Dragon. Dark Dragon (Dark Dragon) - The dragon of Dark, this creature is locked in eternal conflict with its counterpart, the Light Dragon. First Dragon (First Dragon) - The creator and essentially god of the world, this dragon has awakened to see its offspring fighting each other and the world of mortals at eternal war. Disappointed with his creation, the First Dragon seek to destroy the world and create a new one. Cosmic Dragon (Cosmic Dragon) - The mate of the First Dragon and mother to the Light and Dark Dragons. She has not really been seen, save for the constellations in the sky… [spoiler=Mechanics] Return of Base Conversations - I really enjoyed this feature from the Tellius games. While the ‘modern” titles have a feature similar to this in terms of generic conversations, Base Conversations were not generic and added extra character and world development the player might not have seen during normal story missions. Also, an excuse for free stuff! Tweaked Support System - I wish to retain the C-S support system, but S supports now mean a paired ending instead of marriage. Thus, you can have two best friends having a paired ending, mentor and apprentice ending, the classic married ending, and so on and so forth. In addition, make the support conversations between characters that make sense and not for the sake of supporting everyone (or just get better writers!) A Note on Children - Children are not intended to return in this particular title. However, if the children have to absolutely, positively, have to return, then the mechanics for kids will work somewhat differently. 1: Children are still tied to S supports for availability. 2: Not all characters will produce children, and some characters may produce more than one child. 3: If the S support is between a male and female, the child will inherit the spouse’s hair color. This is even the case if both characters are capable of having kids. Otherwise, the child will appear with a default hair color. 4: Child stats, inheritance, and so on are still determined by the classic formula ([Parent + Child + S Support] / 3), even if the S Support is platonic. That character probably had a large impact on the kid anyway! 5: As for justification, figure that out on ye own. Separation of Battle and Map Music - While Awakening and Fates has good music, I would like to see Map themes and battle themes separate again. Return of “My Castle” - The protagonist starts off on the lower end of the noble hierarchy, but still has access to her own estate. The “My Castle” feature can return here as the player improves her estate. As the game progresses, the player can move estates (“different tilesets”) for further customization. Return of “Monsters” - I loved Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones and would love to see more mythological creatures and monsters appear in Fire Emblem games. In this particular title, I can see demons, the undead, and divine beings appearing to partake in the war. Postgame Content - Postgame content is available for the first two choices. The third and fourth paths still have some endgame content, but it has to be done before the final chapter due to plot reasons. - The first two choices revolve around the emergence of the First Dragon, which happens after the player completes the Final Chapter of the Light or Dark paths respectively. The World Map is opened up and skirmishes can be fought against the First Dragon’s forces, with the First Dragon’s encounter essentially being a superboss. - The third path, as it revolves around handling the First Dragon as part of the story, has its endgame content before the final chapter. Endgame here is mainly just skirmishes, SpotPass, and DLC with a different superboss present (The mate of the First Dragon, the mother of the Light and Dark dragons.) - The fourth path also has endgame content before the final chapter because the objective is to remake the world. Besides the usual endgame content, the superboss here will be both the Light and Dark dragons teaming together to fight against the player. Return of Light, Dark, and Anima Magic - The magic triangle still applies! Return of Fates Weapon System - With some modifications of course, considering this title goes back to using mainly one main set per weapon (save for Magic.) - Hidden Weapons have Daggers and Knives, respectively, similar to the Tellius games. Kunai also make a return as debuff weapon. - Crossbows also make a return with different effects. Return of Skills - Personal Skills too! [spoiler=Random Notes]Original numbers from Radiant Dawn, actual and edited values are not meant to be accurate. Name Rank Mt Hit Crit Rng Effect Meteor C 20 70 0 3~10 Ignores MAG stat Bolting B 8 60 10 3~10 Cannot double Blizzard C 7 75 - 3~10 Cannot Critical Purge B 8 80 0 3~10 After battle, Magic halved for next attack Eclipse B - 30 - 3~10 -5 Def, Res // Halves Enemy Current HP

Notice: This post was reformatted due to the forum upgrade. No real changes have been made to the original subject matter. I thought far too much into this. I had to force myself to stop after writing the supports for the first generation. Halp plz. * * * * * Character Sheet - Marcus, Dark Knight * * * * * * * * * * Recruitment Chapter: A Grim Feast * * * * * * * * * * Quotes, Dialogue, and Support Conversations * * * * *

The Fates OST sounds amazing from the one gamerip I managed to obtain. However, I saw no real successor to Divine Decree or Chaos from Awakening, which were two of my favorite tracks from that game. Even then though, I find more music in Fates to be better compared to a few favorites I had in Awakening. Back to the Fates OST, here be some of my favorites, without any context on knowing how they fit within the actual game. Map B1 - I think this was used for Nohr's class roll, and I think this song suits Nohr well. Map B4 - I have no context for this, but it sounds AMAZING. Map C1 - Presumably making an appearance on the 3rd route, it sounds somewhat otherworldly. Map E1 - No idea where this comes from, but I'm getting an Ogre Battle vibe off of this for some reason... Boss A2 - Basically Hoshido Trailer music, it's also a good one! Boss B2 - For me, basically the theme of Nohr. Boss B3 - An active track of sorts, perhaps even optimistic? Main Theme - Who could forget the incredible main theme for Fates? Main Menu - A piano variant of the Main Theme. Final Map - I'm not sure which specific route this one is for (all three seem to be pretty similar) It is still excellent music for a finale, but a part of me still likes Awakenings. That Fire Emblem Theme with the choir man, can't go wrong with that! Edit: Forgot to add "Dance II". This is a cutscene and may contain spoilers, but I hope to hear a full version without the background noise!

This will sound obvious, but don't let the hate get to you. Sure, I've been reading the boards and chiming in here and there, and I can see why some features are disliked. However, it is one thing to notice something in the game and critique it and another to constantly talk about the same topic over and over. Some topics here on the Fates subforum I just skip over completely because it seems to be an endless argument that provides little to no value. I have read these threads and watched some streams to experience Fates through other people, however the final judgement will have to wait until it comes stateside. Despite the criticisms, Fates (in my eyes) still looks to be be an excellent game in the Fire Emblem franchise and I look forward to the third path, DLC, and even the next installment. "It is one thing to critique the game in the hopes of making the next one better. It is another to outright bash it without actually offering a better alternative or an explanation on why one believes it sucks."

Man, the connections between these things. I'll put it in spoiler tags just in case. [spoiler=Plot and Support Conversations]I just read Marx's and Elfie's support, and A support has that amazing connection to the plot of Hoshido. Here's the excerpt of that convo. Elfie: I don't know… To protect Elise-sama, I'd fight with Marx-sama, but there should never be a time where I'd have to protect Elise-sama from Marx-sama….No, I don't think there would never be a time, so…. Marx: But, a mock battle is just that. Maybe you should pretend like I've gone mad. Elfie: Like Marx-sama has gone mad? That…I can't imagine that. Marx: Still, imagine it. I've gone mad, and I'm about to kill Elise… So, are you just going to watch silently?! Even though the connection is not exact, I just find its inclusion to be somewhat brilliant. It's probably just a me thing, everyone carry on with your business...

To expand off of Kamui's going along along with Garon's orders... It seems like a longshot (especially considering I have no evidence save for what little I gather on these forums), but the "revolution" may be more in line of trying to save as many lives as possible during the invasion (from Nohr's side) instead of straight up rebelling against Garon. Kamui might actually be knowledgeable enough to know he can't just directly defy Garon (the one stunt he pulled might have put him in his place), so Kamui tries to wait for the right time to actually rebel and change Nohr. However, in the end, Kamui could not save everyone. When he does actually confront Garon, Kamui now either has a strong enough army to rebel or finally realized he could wait no longer due to all the damage done. Alas, this is just an optimist take on the situation. As I said before, I wonder how the localisation will handle the storyline.

It is a shame that impressions for Nohr's story paint it in a lesser light to Hoshido's, with all that marketing about complexity and revolutions. I wonder what story Nohr would be if that little "Sakura Faceless" rumor was actually true. If that did actually happen, it might have been the "wake up call" needed to kickstart the revolution (preferably early on and not when all of Hoshido is already conquered). Alas, I guess that is just another "What If" situation for Fire Emblem: Fates. On the flip side, Hoshido does pit the player avatar against the siblings the player was raised with. Perhaps because I am still partial to Nohr's characters (I happen to like the Awakening kids and the Nohr family more than the Hoshido family), so it may be when stuff happens to them, it has more of an impact for me. When stuff happens to Hoshido, I am a bit more indifferent. Back to the Nohr campaign though, it still seems to have the better gameplay with the varied mission objectives and such, so perhaps that might help a bit when considering Nohr's disappointing storyline. Perhaps the localisation may take come "creative liberties" to improve the Nohr storyline somewhat, but at this rate, I just hope that the 3rd route delivers on being the "ultimate story". From what little I've seen, it looks cool, but individual plot points do not necessarily make for an awesome storyline.

@ Xanek The more you talk (or even read) about it, the more the message repeats itself, thus making it even harder to forget about. If you want to save money, reduce spoilers, and perhaps even "store the hype", refocus your efforts elsewhere. Replay some of the older Fire Emblem games if you like, or just do something else for a while. Sure, the urge may still linger, but it should not be as strong as if to completely take control of your life. Before you know it, the game has been localized and you go crazy with that. Until then, walk away and try to forget about it for a while.

@ Azz01 For some reason I thought I remembered reading that in addition to the amiiibo class, they also granted you a one-time item for reclass purposes. Perhaps I may have gotten it mixed up with Dread Fighter and Dark Falcon (the DLC classes, I believe) somewhere down the line. Now off to search to see if I can remember what source I used, if any, so I don't go nuts. Edit: Found it. It's the DLC topic, take note of spoilers Link: http://serenesforest.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=55083#entry3846574

@ JayTheKing I'm afraid I know little of the actual meaning of Stravos, besides a general google search for the name. (Apparently Stavros means "Cross" in Greek.) I mainly just chose the name because it sounded cool.

Just chiming in this topic real quick... I remember reading somewhere that Lodestar (Marth) and Great Lord (Lucina) are available for reclassing. If this is true, then I can see Awakening (Great Lord) + Vantage (Samurai) to be a very powerful combination. However, if I read correctly, Lodestar is male only while Great Lord is female only. Anyways, going on from Awakening + Vantage (maybe Vengeance and possibly even Miracle too), what I want to find out next is to find a suitable weapon before thinking about more skills. I am looking for... 1. A weapon that can Crit 2. A weapon that can Double Attack 3. A weapon that has 1-2 Range Of course, due to changes on how weapons work, finding such a weapon with those criteria can prove to be somewhat difficult. After that, decide on a class and fill out the rest of the skills. In theory, we suddenly have a very powerful character. (Alternatively, the option can not happen, Vantage and Awakening can not proc at the same time, and a good idea was suddenly shot that day.)

First off, many thanks for making this customizer tool! I had far too much fun messing around with the settings and theorycrafting. So, without further ado, here are my characters, mainly planned for "endgame, postgame, or avatar logbook" content. Note that some information may be inaccurate and are subject to change as more information is released. (Note: "Truth" for the 3rd route is a fan name and is not the official term.) [spoiler=Conquest, Nohr] Corrin, Nohr, Cavalier // Dark Blood, +STR, -RES // Azura // Hard Classic Skills: Dragon Fang, Sol, Aegis, Draconic Curse, Nohr Description: Corrin, the man torn by blood and loyalty. At the decisive crossroads, Corrin decides to side with Nohr, but even after he made the decision, some dark omen seems to linger in the back of his mind... (AN: This is my "canon avatar" character) [Main File] Iris, Nohr, Cavalier // Dark Blood, +SPD, -RES // Xander // Lunatic Classic Skills: Dragon Fang, Aether, Awakening, Charm, Galeforce Description: Iris, the girl who has only known the world within the borders of Nohr. While she cares for her blood relatives, there must be a better way to stop the war than just fighting against Nohr's invasion... (AN: Iris serves as the main female avatar for my playthroughs.) Stravos, Nohr, Mercenary // Brave Hero, +STR, -LCK // Undecided // Lunatic Casual Skills: Dragon Fang, Sol, Swordbreaker, Axebreaker, Draconic Curse Description: Nohr is a harsh place, and Stravos knows this well. There is no place for sentiment such as blood ties, stick with the people you know you can trust, and then work to simply survive the onslaught. [spoiler=Birthright, Hoshido] [Main File] Isamu, Hoshido, Samurai // White Blood, +STR, -MAG // Hana // Lunatic Classic Skills: Dragon Fang, Astra, Swordfaire, Draconic Shield, Hoshido Description: Blood and Honor are two values instilled within the young Isamu. Even while within the kingdom of Nohr, he yearned to return home to his birthright. Now, he has that chance, but at what cost?... Kamui, Hoshido, Priestess // White Blood, +MAG, -LCK // Ryoma // Hard Classic Skill: Dragon Fang, Magic Counter, Vantage, Awakening, Hoshido Description: The little princess Kamui shares many similarities to her kin in Hoshido. While normally shy and reserved, should she be provoked, little Kamui becomes a whirlwind of destruction. Corrin (2), Hoshido, Cavalier // Paladin, +STR, -RES // Azura // Lunatic Casual Skills: Dragon Fang, Luna, Aegis, Draconic Shield, Hoshido Description: What if Corrin chose a different route, that of Hoshido instead of Nohr? Lingering images remain in his memory, as if he was in some dream world just a few moments before. Yet, why is there still that sense of dread?... [spoiler=Truth, Third Path] [Main File] Marcus, Truth, Dark Mage // Dark Knight, +MAG, -LCK // Ophelia // Lunatic Classic Skills: Dragon Fang, Line of Death, Aggressor, Speed Drain, Tomefaire Description: Said to be a reincarnation of a grand tactician whose name is lost to time, Marcus chooses to forge his own path instead of allying with either Hoshido or Nohr. While the man himself may be reckless and aggressive, he puts the safety of his allies above all else. Crystal, Truth, Lance Fighter // Holy Lancer, +STR, -MAG // Silas or Benoit // Hard Classic Skills: Aether, Lancefaire, Defense Seal, Speed Seal, Awakening Description: Said to be reincarnation of an Einherjar that assisted a famed Grandmaster, Crystal searches for a way to assist him once again. Some say she provides the power of foresight, gaining knowledge on enemy soldiers, battle terrain, and battlefield events before the true battles are fought. Iris (2), Truth, Cavalier // Dark Blood, +SPD, -RES // Xander // Lunatic Casual Skills: Dragon Fang, Aether, Awakening, Charm, Galeforce Description: Loyal to Nohr, Iris finds herself at the crossroads once more. Not desiring to seek the outcomes of her birthright, Iris takes the situation into her own hands to stop this ceaseless conflict. Corrin (3), Truth, Cavalier // Dark Blood, +STR, -RES // Azura // Lunatic Casual Skills: Dragon Fang, Sol, Aegis, Draconic Curse, Hoshido Description: After witnessing the horrors of war on both sides, Corrin now sees his true path. He refuses to align with either kingdom and seeks to seize his own destiny. "Azura, I am coming. Please, just wait for me..."

It is a shame that Azura's alternative outfit (Conquest path) is not really available outside the cutscene. I was under the impression that she would wear that dress on the Nohr route. On the bright side, Fates has just been out for a short time. Considering Nintendo's recent track record (I'm looking at Mario Kart 8, Splatoon, and Super Smash Bros), I can see a free update or dlc with her alternative outfit becoming available (or at the very least, being accessible using the My Castle system).

@ Xanek ...I suppose my eyes are overriding my judgement. Alas, any such decisions will have to actually wait until the game itself comes stateside. Is it 2016 yet?

*Feels Welcomed* Now off to watch the stream to make time pass by so more translated information becomes available!

What did I learn today? 1. *Goes through skinship dialogue, reads Elise's, slowly backs away...* 2. *Continues reading skinship dialogue. Halp.* 3. Anna, money, secret shops, and services. Oh boy.. 4. Hana's and Azura's skinships... Considering these two are planned pairings for my runs, I wonder how it'll go in person with English audio... 5. Luna, comparing yourself to Camilla. I guess some traits are passed down. 6. Oh yeah, Ophelia and Nyx is a thing. There are too many options in Fates... 7. Soliel, you are nuts. Indy (Not!Inigo), why do I have you as a son-in-law again?... 7a. Okay, Soliel definitely takes after Indy. It becomes somewhat adorable later on. 8. Lutz + Skinship... Sometimes, I miss the old days of supports. 9. Joker is actually a bit of an jerk. Man, I thought he would be an awesome butler... 10. I am a number. Hello.

Several questions... 1: In Attack Stance, can the support unit use "proc skills"? (Say I have Corrin as the front unit and Luna as the back, can Luna proc Sol or does she just do a normal attack? I assume it will be similar to Awakenings, but at reduced effectiveness due to new mechanics.) 2: Is there an "Avatar Logbook" like in Awakening? (Eventually, I like to have all my avatars on one "main" file, and if extra characters are available, maybe some of them too. I want Mycen, Micaiah, and my FE 8 characters back! Can I also have my ultimate avatar too, without the 99000 gold fee?...) 3: This has likely been asked before, but is there a difficulty level higher than Lunatic, like Lunatic+? (Alternatively, what is the highest difficulty for Fates? I may want to do my ultimate file on the highest difficulty again for [hopefully] postgame content) Thanks in advance for your answers.

[spoiler=Hi]War averted, everyone lay down your pitchforks. All is well! This could have snowballed rather quickly too. Alas, it was fun while it lasted.

Why can't I just lurk and observe instead of having a desire to comment on these things... Notice: Extremely long post. Grab yourself some popcorn, maybe a drink too. This may tide you over long enough for 5 new pages to appear in the Hype Thread. themostimportantthread A part of me honestly believes most of the hate is due to a magnifying glass on various aspects of FE:Fates, mainly the fanservice aspects. Then, the more people talk about it, the more riled up they get, and the hate cycle continues. I believe the negativity is blown out of proportion as if its the end of the world. As for me, I'm laughing on the sidelines and shaking my head as further news for Fire Emblem: Fates develops. It's all a matter of perspective and attitude... From what I have observed, here are some points of contention for the fanbase. 1. Incest (While some players may be happy that they can marry certain characters, the idea of doing so or the option even existing is off-putting to some. Sure, Fire Emblem has its share of incest in the past, but how exactly will Fates treat incest?) 2. Skinshipping (Fire Emblem, the Dating Sim! Again, some are rolling around laughing with some of these lines while others find it to be creepy as all hell. Add point 1 here to magnify the effect.) 3. LGBT (I haven't really been following this point as I am indifferent in the matter, but it seems to be received favorably here.) 4. Costume Design (Camilla and Charlotte seem the be the main culprits here, as well as swimsuits for everyone! Add in Camilla's CG fanservice cutscene to magnify this point.) 5. Marriage and Children (Returning from Awakening, this one seems more focused on how the children are implemented into the game instead of the act of marriage itself.) 6. Returning Characters (Three children and three adults from Awakening return to Fire Emblem Fates in some fashion. From what I have seen, the reaction seems to be more on the negative side.) 7. The Spa (Oddly enough, the spa aspects seem to have been skipped over due to the other points. Maybe the cultures of Hoshido and Nohr justified the usage for spas for people?) I think the greatest fear from the negativity is that these fanservice aspects will become the norm for the Fire Emblem series. While I personally don't mind most of the fanservice for Fates, if these features start recurring then I'll have a reason to start worrying about the future for the Fire Emblem franchise. Sure, the core features of Fire Emblem may still be amazing and the same as it always was, but the addition of so much fanservice off to the side can lead to a bitter aftertaste... I also think the greatest fear from those who happen to enjoy these features is censorship. I find some of the skinship dialogues to be hilarious, seeing two lovers interact is somewhat amusing. Besides, real couples share similarities in such "suggestive speech". Incest is a likely candidate for some "localisation liberties", but I believe the core idea will still remain despite such changes. Regarding incest, as far as I'm concerned, if the characters are written correctly and it fits, then go for it. Same with the LGBT stuff, if it written well and fits well, then all ends well. In my opinion, if players are inclined toward incest or LGBT, then go nuts. It is none of my business what other people want to do or ship, if it makes them happy, then go forth and be happy! No doubt there will be people uncomfortable with these aspects, but its one thing to complain about a feature, its another to try and argue about "one's superior line of thinking." Fire Emblem Amie, or Skinship, is another hotly debated feature. One can describe it as an evolution of the "Avatar Support System", considering that the player character can obtain "Confession CGs" upon obtaining "S" Rank with a character. While I find "private time with everyone!" a tad bit odd, I see the "S" Rank variants as somewhat natural considering the circumstances. There are different ways to raise morale, such as inspirational speeches and the like, but from my standpoint, Skinskipping is something I'll have to actually experience before putting a final verdict on it. At least remember, this feature is completely optional and can be ignored. Off-topic, but during a short period where I tried Tera Online, I tried to create an Elin character (the oversexualized little people) once for kicks. I don't remember if I even managed to finish character creation, or if I did, I lasted less than 5 minutes on the game world. Onward to Costume Design, yes, there are costumes that scream fan service material. Sure, everyone can wear swim suits. I am of the mindset of if the "revealing" costume fits the character, than sure, it is justified. Charlotte is insane in my book, and Camilla does suffer from being a "oversexualized big sister". As for swim suits, I've played enough games where swimsuits or variants are available that I really don't care about their inclusion. Almost any MMO has "naked" characters, and Xenoblade Chronicles had swimsuits included within the game. As an aside, I could live without the blatant camera work on Camilla's CG cutscene. There are ways to show off sexuality besides zoomed in cameras and crazy outfits. In my opinion, the James Bond films seems to pull this off well. Let the body and scene speak for itself, the eyes can be its own judge without the camera's assistance. Love and marriage, love and marriage.... Go together like a horse and carriage... While I'm a fan of the ye olde "paired endings" of traditional Fire Emblem games, it seems like marriage and children are emerging to become mainstays in the series. Marriage, I can handle, it seems to be a quicker "paired ending" that happens before the ending itself, go figure. However, the children aspect has to be one of the more hotly debated topics. Sure, they might add some more characters to the game (why not make other characters instead of child characters), but the main issue here is not necessarily their inclusion, but how they are included in the game. Time travel, Outrealm shenanigans, time skips, so on and so forth, what will be the manner of justification? Then, there is the topic of marrying child characters... Again, I'm of the mindset of, "if it makes you happy, go for it." However, I would like to see the children mechanic retired for a while, maybe returning again later in the series when it makes sense in the story. (I remember reading something about the earlier Fire Emblem games pulling child characters well with a First Generation and the Second Generation, maybe they can use that for inspiration for a game down the line. In addition, maybe pull off a Fire Emblem 6 and 7, where the parents are playable in one game and the kids in another.) Now, for the Awakening veterans. I love the fact the child characters are returning, and had theories of my own before the real answer was provided. However, the when the adult characters return, the hype levels did degrade a bit, but it was somewhat to be expected. The hate here seems to stem from "lazy design choices" or perhaps a hatred for Awakening in general, or perhaps even their inclusion screwing up a bit with headcanon. As I already stated, I love the returning children characters. I want to know their lore, why are they here, what is happening back home, did their personalities change, so on and forth. I want to see their character development and possibly their little subplot that have going on. Not!Indy, I want to know what you did with my daughter Morgan! This is probably a love it or hate it type of feature, but the fear here may be returning characters to future installments of Fire Emblem that have no real business being there. I didn't mind Priam in Awakening, so long as they can tie everything together, I'll be content with returning veterans. And, not to forget the adult characters, I could care less about them. While each no doubt have their own quirks and personality, I found them to be somewhat bland in the grand scheme of things (One obsesses over candy, the other obsesses over her lord, and the last obsesses over you). Sure, the children characters follow their own tropes as well, but I find them to be more interesting than their "fan favorite adult counterparts". If you have come this far, congratulations! Settle down in the spa for some nice rest and relaxation with your fellow members of Serenes Forest, where we can discuss the hype thread (and the secret cult that burns people), favorite pairings, or listening to suggestive lines where one is laughing maniacally, is off in fantasy land, or is already out the door with a ticket far, far away. Essentially, I see the spa as a simple bonding experience where everyone happens to be in swimsuits. I'll accept it for what it is and move on, others can dwell on the aspect as much as they like. At the end of the day, I'm going to enjoy Fire Emblem: Fates for all that it is worth. Will there be moments where I will cringe, say when watching Camilla's CG cutscene, sure. Will there be moments where I cry manly tears for the death of a comrade (that I can't push the reset button to save), yes. Will I enjoy unraveling the story, seeing how each path compares to one another in an attempt to see the grand tapestry that Fire Emblem Fates is, damn yes I will. Fire Emblem Fates is a video game. Video games are meant to be played for fun and to get one's mind off the real world, not have pointless arguments about who is the best waifu, top tier character, and dare I say, moral values. Just take notes of valid criticisms, tune out the excess hatred, and just have a good time.

At this rate, everything will mostly be a matter of perception. Needless to say, the sheer amount of fanservice may be uncomfortable to some, but I'll be enjoying the rollercoaster while it lasts. I also look forward to seeing the inevitable localisation changes when the game comes stateside. It'll be interesting comparing and contrasting the differences between versions. I must read all the text and obtain all the lore! While some may argue the fanservice is optional (and it is, for the most part), the fact that time and money was spent on these features may irk some of the fanbase who wanted a more serious Fire Emblem game instead of the franchise embracing the many tropes of Anime and the like. I'll enjoy it for what it is worth, but in the long run I sincerely hope this does not become the norm for future Fire Emblem games. Sure, love and marriage are natural, but there is no need to focus so intensely on the relationship if just to pander to fans. In addition, Swimsuits seem be the the norm nowadays, so I could care less about the hyper focus on them. Seriously folks, certain armor and costume designs are far more lewd than just plain swimming trunks or a bikini. I may throw some of my units in bizarre costumes for the lols once or twice, but after that the nonsense can be ignored. The hot springs is more of a cultural thing, and the only thing I can hope for is good writing that reflects the values of Nohr and Hoshido respectively (although given the nightmares hilarity of the S-Rank "private time", I doubt that). "Quality Time" with your comrades seems to be completely optional, and while money and time has been spent on it, it is not needed to enjoy the game. In addition, while the feature is in hyperfocus now, down the road people may comment on it or have cause for inspirational fan works, but I imagine people saying "Well, my army can use some extra boosts. Time to rub some faces again... yay..." In my opinion, if one took out (or ignored) the fan service elements, chances are we would be left with a pretty solid Fire Emblem game with (hopefully) an awesome storyline and characters. We have a focus on family (the siblings that raised you versus your biological siblings), and word that the Nohr storyline is deeper than Hoshido's "Stop the Invasion" storyline that many Fire Emblem games go for. Remember, there's no need to magnify incest or "love talk" when there's so much more to Fire Emblem fates than pure fanservice. There's other elements too! Now, if only Lunatic+ isn't as BS as Awakening... As for further leaks, I hope to see leaked cutscenes and CG art (if any). I also look forward to see how the story connects everything together, especially on what happens on the 3rd route. Also, give me the music! OST pls! * * * * * In closing, Azura, you were a solid candidate to be the wife of Corrin on my first playthrough for plot reasons. Alas, your offspring does not leave me impressed. I suppose it's time for the other candidates... 1. Every man has his sin. Camilla, may I present your husband, Corrin of Nohr. 2. Owain, err, Odin, your familiarity with timelines and dimensions will serve you well. I suppose you know what I am to ask of your daughter, Ophelia? 3. Xander, I know this is nuts, but Kamui, your little sister, loves you. Take it as you will. Now, back to the shadows where I belong, observing the passengers of the hype train and the messages buried in hype like the rest of the many guests present.

I've haven't seen this much hype since Awakening was accidentally confirmed back in June of 2012. Now, there's so many people... Personally, I would like to see support lists and what characters are recruitable on either side. Spoilers are somewhat irrelevant for me, by the time the game comes out in the US I probably have forgotten most of the details and instead try to figure out how everything connects together. (Instead of "This Happens!", its "Why does that happen and how does that connect with x, y, and z"?) Guess the next thing on these tracks is the awaited 3rd route down the line. I wonder how that ride will go... Nevertheless, back to lurking for me. Enjoy the ride, folks!

Here's one I saved from the old Fan Art thread. I'm don't have the source, I just happened to save a copy of it. (Back to being invisible) Volke + Bastian (Fire Emblem 9/10)

On the topic of Achievements... (in spoilers just in case) Otherwise, excellent work! I look forward to the next release, and eventually the completed product.