[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

5 minutes ago, Glennstavos said:

If I wanted to put Edelgard on blast for murdering her allies, I would sooner point out her turning on the Slitherers at the end of her route. At least, I assume she kills them all? It all happens off screen.

I wouldn't shed tears for the slitherers, this needs to be done for the safety of everyone. They were never true allies, Edelgard was strongarmed into working with them based on circumstances. 

They have ruined the lifes if Edelgard and countless others, torturing her and Lysithea, killing Edelgard's siblings in a cruel and torturous manner. Don't get how killing them would be a bad thing

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

4 minutes ago, Axel987 said:

It's a dumb argument, esp when Gilbert and Alois, in AM and CF respectively set Garreg Mach's front yard on fire with everyone still on it.

And  how Rhea set the entire Kingdom Capital on fire, with civilians still in it.

But this only applies to one route, other versions of Rhea never does this

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

5 minutes ago, Crysta said:

It doesn't actually happen: the tile ballista Bernadetta is on isn't set on fire.

She still sets the platform on fire with her own troops on it so this has always been a dumb point of contention and I'm not sure why people keep bringing it up.

8 minutes ago, AbsoluteZer0Nova said:

Er... but it happens after Bernadetta dies which it depends on your view of it like say if you don't approve of Edelgard burning Bernadetta's corpse when she should be given a proper burial instead.

So either makeshift funeral pyre or absolutely nothing? Don't seem evil at at to me if this is true. Why is this always a major argument? Seems desperate to me

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

29 minutes ago, omegaxis1 said:

Instead, all we get is people going, "EDELGARD SET BERNADETTA ON FIRE!"

Not my Edelgard anyway, Bernadetta is fine. I don't know the full context of this line. Havn't finished Azure Moon, but it is irrelevant to Crimson Flower Edelgard, not fair to blame a girl for something that never happened in her timeline

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

11 minutes ago, eclipse said:

Only if that's who your focus in on. . .in which case, it's time to look away from Edelgard.  The inability to say what needs to be said is a running theme, even if it's resolved.

I do admit I do have tunnelvision on Edelgard, the opposite kind to Dimitri. But I still focus quite alot on her. That is the nature of love

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

6 minutes ago, eclipse said:

Show an example of the lack of communication, without mentioning Edelgard/Rhea.

Dimitri and Edelgard? Most do involve Edelgard

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

14 minutes ago, AbsoluteZer0Nova said:

Don't see the problem is with me mentioning character flaws like lack of communication kills as I'm proving onto your point on how 3H is a tragedy. Edelgard's not the only one who embodies that very notion. Rhea herself is also in the same boat as it's no wonder she's the final boss for Crimson Flower as both Rhea and Edelgard are foils as are both Dimitri and Edelgard in Azure Moon. Rhea's lack of communication is what leads to a lot of the misunderstandings especially with what Cindered Shadows adds onto to its own Orson like character.

Even a massive Edelgard fan like me admits that lack of communication is a weakness of Edelgard. But being flawed doesnt make her a monster, she just is capable of making mistakes

I also think Rhea is a great character, even I often consider some of her actions and attitude. Especially stamping out technological progress and believing opposing the church is worthy of death. But I know why she thinks this and her grief makes you feel sorry for her. 

I have came to the conclusion that Rhea and Edelgard are lawful good and chaotic good respectively, both have good intentions, but one values order and the other freedom. Often extreme lawful or chaotic do consider eachother to be evil

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

22 minutes ago, omegaxis1 said:

You could take the very ending scenes of each route to the first route, apart from Azure Moon.

Crimson Flower: The story starts with Rhea killing Nemesis. And the story ends with her being killed. 

Verdant Moon: Nemesis is defeated yet again, but instead of single combat, it's teamwork.

Silver Snow: Beginning scene has it end with Rhea holding the Sword of the Creator and calling it mother, and then ending scene of her being held by Byleth and calling them "mother".

Yet more reason this game is so beautiful. It is like poetry

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

1 hour ago, Licoriceallsorts said:

I have been looking around for a site that offers informed, balanced discussions of this amazing game from all sides, where people can argue and debate without attacking each other. It looks like I've found that place here. Great discussion - not only really insightful, giving me lots to think about, but also beautifull written. Thank you!!!!

Yes, this place is great, the debat discourse is the just so much more friendly than usual, I have been to other places yet to compare and this is one of the friendliest site have encountered.

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

5 minutes ago, Jotari said:

People other than Linhardt actually taking Hammerman's research seriously would also help side step a lot of the conflict.

That research is rather important, their combined effort actually helped save the lives of both Edelgard and Lysithea. It does actually seem like Edelgard was funding their research, but the war was already way underway by that point. 

I have a bit of a different view on crests than Edelgard in that I consider them to be mostly incidental and the real problem is the nobles abusing their authority, they used crests to justify their position, yes, but it is not the crests themselves that is the problem. But I do generally agree with her, I also think that the blood reconstruction surgery should be straight up banned as it is a horrible practice (just look at what Edelgard and Lysithea went through)

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

50 minutes ago, Glennstavos said:

I think there's a lot of bad critique of fiction out there in which people essentially argue "well, that's not what I would have done if I were in this character's position". As the audience we have all the info that characters lack, but even when that character is presented with those extra details, you can't really say this or that way is how they "should have acted". Because you're not that character and you don't live in this fictional universe with its alternative philosophies and rules.

But I also think this cuts both ways. Assuming a character wouldn't believe the truth when it's presented to them also misappropriates their agency as free thinkers. 

True, this is exactly the reason I don't blame Edelgard for her decisions, even if she is wrong on occation, how could she possibly know the truth about Rhea and Nemesis when Rhea straight up refuses to tell anyone the truth? She just knows what the Dragon is running the church and that they have falsified the history of the world, but she doesn't know in what way. Normally, it is fairly safe to assume that someone rewrites history to make themselves look better than they actually were and their enemies worse ,(but this was not what Rhea did, she made me extremely strange move of covering up the full extent of the enemy's crimes, a conclusion almost no one would jump to. If they didn't know the details). It also doesn't help that Rhea is also making a really bad impression on her as she has a tendency to become a rather unforgiving when she's angered. So it really looks like to Edelgard that her course is just and that she is overthrowing the tyrant who has manipulated the world for over a millennia.

From Rhea's perspective, it really looks like Edelgard has joined the people who commited genocide on her race over a millennia ago, immediately jumping to the conclusion that she is another Nemesis, but this is because her personal trauma makes it very difficult for her to not draw this conclusion and there are a lot of things that makes Edelgard look really bad. Rhea doesn't know that the Flame Emperor has tried to distance herself from the actions of her supposed allies in Remire, nor that she hates working with them, and it's basically only doing so because she has very little choice and they do have a common enemy (at least Edelgard seems to think so, but she has also been tricked into believing that the church is worse than her shady allies). 

The only way the situation really could be resolved is if two things happen, first Edelgard needs to be willing to tell people the truth about why she is doing all of this and the fact that she hates working with those of slither in the dark, secondly, Rhea must actually be willing to listen and forgive the past transgressions. But maybe they will just never really agree what is best for Fodlan and there will be a war regardless.

While I am trying to remain as neutral as I can in all of this, it should be clear from my profile where my allegiance lies, I have a huge bias towards Edelgard because I just like her that much. I have made my choice and I don't regret it, and I think the world she created in crimson flower is good, even if it required quite a lot of tragedy get there. But maybe if the people in power refuse to listen. Maybe war is the only recourse for reform. The death of Rhea and Dimitri is regrettable, but at that point they have fallen into insanity so badly that this course of action might have been necessary. (At the very least Claude is fine, never killed him, if I were Edelgard I would have given him a position of power in the new government, he is one of the most capable people around). It does seem like every ending in this game has a somewhat decent end state for the world. So it is really a question of who you really want to live and whose future you want to bring about. 

 

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

I don't know how this game did it, but it made me feel sorry for both Rhea and Edelgard at the same time, I initially didn't think that to be possible. Am I the only one who feel this way?

9 hours ago, omegaxis1 said:

It's not just misunderstanding. It's unwilling to open up to one another. To let go of their insecurities. 

Just because you have the objective truth in front of you, does that mean you will accept it? 

Also, I wouldn't say that Edelgard is absolutely wrong that no one would understand. Having issues with the Crest System is one thing, but there are people that believe in the Crest System or of the nobility system. Dimitri is one that does believe in it. He even remarks that there's a reason that such things withstand the test of time, and that without placing stock on Crests, the "metaphorical blade would rust." Even Ferdinand felt that he should be able to convince Edelgard not to dismantle the nobility. 

Everyone holds different beliefs. It's whether they are able to put aside their personal cases and hear each other out. 

But there's only 1 Byleth and the biggest changes only happen at the point of no return.

You have a point, but there are also plenty of people who would be willing to join Edelgard because of their bad experiences with the crest system. Lysithea, Sylvain, Ashe, because of the death of his adoptive father, and there is more. Edelgard isn't as alone as she thinks even if I understand this isn't something you can trust to anyone, Seems like there is no getting along for Edelgard and Dimitri, because neither will compromise

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

3 minutes ago, Jotari said:

The tragedy, like a whole lot of fiction, is that no one bloody talks to each other.

This entire conflict could have been avoided if everyone was just willing to hear everyone else out. But the fact that they don't is not the fault of the single individual, but practically all of them. Edelgard has trust issues since her imprisonment and don't think anyone would understand, she is absolutely wrong, a lot of people among the students in Garreg Mach shares her concern about the abuse of crests and that the nobility system needs major reform, including both Dimitri and Claude. Rhea is so obsessed about her past trauma that she relates everything to her war with Nemesis and also don't trust anyone with her secrets, she also mistakenly believe Edelgard to be a second Nemesis and is way too quick to give out death sentences without a proper trial. Dimitri basically needs a scapegoat for the tragedy of Duskur to handle his personal trauma and he is unwilling to accept the truth (now what it Edelgard actually told him who was actually responsible? But once again, she won't because she thinks there is no way he will listen to reason. So she isn't even bothering to try).  Claude also has trust issues because of constantly hiding his heritage, but he is a bit more reasonable in this regard than the rest. Every single one of these people are the way they are because of personal trauma that has affected them greatly. 

The entire thing basically comes down to everyone misunderstanding each other, a classic tragedy plot point also present in the likes of Romeo and Juliet, where both end a dead because they misunderstand the situation and overreact immediately. But this is a classic for a reason, it is effective, and it makes the audience wish that things turned out differently. 

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

6 hours ago, Shanty Pete's 1st Mate said:

Grade-A writeup. I know we've disagreed in the past, but I agree with 'most everything here. In a sense, the Lonato chapter, despite coming just hours into the game, captures this core theme. Stubborness, old wounds, irreconcilable differences of values - these things all breed war. Edelgard says it best - to pity those who die in fighting for a cause they deem just is to disrespect them. Three Houses respects its key characters enough to let them adhere to a standard, and fight for it, even if the player tries to change their minds.

That quote very clearly explains why Edelgard didn't have any problem dying for her cause, would also explain why she don't take being spared well as she feels that sparing her life is disrespectful. One thing I really admire with Edelgard is that she accepts death with grace, she doesn't beg for her life, she stares death in the face and requests being killed. I like her a lot, so seeing her die is painful to me, but they should remind myself that Edelgard wouldn't want me to pity her. She made her choice and that choice was to die for her cause. At least Edelgard is consistent, if you're willing to sacrifice the lives of others. You should also be willing to sacrifice your own life. I think that is valiant. There really hasn't been many characters like Edelgard, are very nature makes hard to properly classify. But they would generally put her in the same category as Lelouch from Code Geass, or V from V for Vendetta, idealistic revolutionaries with questionable methods and good intentions, seeking social overhaul through any means. I have always been a sucker for that type of character. 

Yeah, I am obsessed, but considering that this game has such great characters, and you really blame me? 

[Unexpected Class Choices that work?]

I unlocked Edelgard's budding talent in reason early on and went with monk, mage, dancer and then mortal savant.

She turned out to be a great martial and magic hybrid character, with sword dance being really useful thanks to her ridiculous charisma

Probably not better than axe and heavy armor Edelgard, but she is probably the only house leader who can do decently as a spellcaster

[The True Tragedy of Three Houses]

Yeah, this game is a tragic yet beautiful story. However much we want to we cannot save everyone. I can't save both Edelgard and Dimitri, however much I would want to. Edelgard will refuse to live in a reality where her reforms are not realized. Even if you try to spare her she will not have it. Dimitri loses himself to his obsession with vengeance and mental issues without outside help

Byleth is very important to all of these people. His/her support makes all the difference to the house leaders and Rhea.

Take Edelgard for example, she is the one I know best. Byleth and his/hers unexpected support of her broke through her emotionally distant and cold facade. Edelgard was actually able to open up to someone completely, companionship she hasnt had for many years. With someone she felt she could trust at her side she never fell to the darkness as she would have otherwise, strenghening her sense of compassion. Making this Edelgard a just and kind leader who avoids civilian casualties, spares people where she can and works to establish diplomatic relations with Almyra.

But in saving Edelgard, Dimitri and Rhea lose themselves to their issues as Byleth was not there for them. Who to save is a question of priorities, and for me I am very attached to Edelgard. I don't hate Rhea or Dimitri, but I also want to protect Edelgard. So for me that is the choice

[So I created Edelgard for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition]

8 hours ago, Sid Starkiller said:

Sure. It's bound to be more complex than how I introduced Caspar (it's called the Forgotten Realms, so they FORGOT that Fodlan is part of it. That was my entire justification).

Well, my DM has a unique campaign world. What is relevant to this story is the human kingdom of Eldena and the elven empire of Sikkam, two nations who has been at war for a long time(Edelgard didn,t start the war this time) Edelgard in this reality was born a daughter a noble in Eldena. Her father was deposed by her uncle (Arundel) and she was imprisoned for years while he used her as a test subject for rituals from the book of shadows. 

The book of shadows has been a big deal preiviously in this campaign as it was the source of power for my preivious character, Isabel Blacklight, a warlock of the great old ones. She was a thief who stole it from a noble in Eldena, which retroactively was decided to have been Arundel. Isabel died in a recent encounter so only the book remain.

Edelgard was freed by Isabel the night she stole the book and fled to Sikkam to seek refugue. She was inspired by the political system in Sikkam, a meritocracy in the same vein as the one she wanted to create in the game, enforced by the elven emperor. Comparing this system to the abuse of power she experienced in Eldena, Edelgard was inspired to bring this superior political system to Eldena.

She returned to Eldena and became the Flame Emperor, a masked vigilante intent on spreading the word of the corruption of Eldena's polictical system and rally the population against the crown.

One of her early allies was a paladin of redemption named Glory Blaze, who was a former war veteran who abandoned the millitary because of her family's war profitering. Glory saw promise in Edelgard and the world she could bring about, as her rebellion could end the centuaries old conflict and allow Glory to reform the holy knightly order she left to better serve the purposes of her goddess. 

Edelgard and Glory has just joined forces with the other player characters, a human swashbuckler named Wesley and an elven druid named Sharom

Sorry if this was a bit long

[Just how popular is Edelgard?]

37 minutes ago, Dark Holy Elf said:

I'm sympathetic here but to be fair, there are good reasons to put a bit more stock in CYL than the Nintendo Dream poll, namely that (a) its sample size is much larger and (b) it's international as opposed to Japan-only. The Nintendo Dream poll had some results which are obviously suspect if you've spent much time following the game on the internet, like Edelgard below Bernadetta, and Dorothea's low finish. The CYL results feel more overall plausible to me once you control for things like Hubert/Petra/Hilda/Mercedes being a bit underrated due to already being in FEH.

Not that I think any one poll is perfect, and would generally take all of them with a grain of salt. In the case of comparing Dimitri and Edelgard's popularity since some people seem to fixate on that, my take is that I don't think we have enough data to definitively say. Other than observing that obviously both are extremely popular.

I think it is because Edelgard and Dimitri are so opposed to each other in the story, and this kind of creates these two camps where one is encouraged to compete with the other over which character is the most popular. I think some people feel vindicated about their choice if they can prove the character representing their chosen path is more popular. I actually think that both Edelgard and Dimitri are both great characters, the tragedy surrounding their relationship is real, sometimes I wish there was a way to save the both of them, but on the other hand, the fact that you can't is part of what makes their story so compelling in the first place. You as player are essentially forced to choose which of the two will get a happy ending. This all contributes to the competitive mindset of fans of Edelgard and Dimitri. Personally feel I already made my choice and nothing could persuade me into thinking I chose wrong, so I don't really need the validation of knowing it Edelgard is more popular than Dimitri or not, it is enough for me to know that Edelgard is popular. Both characters the deserve their popularity as they are both great characters. 

[Hello everyone, just became a fan]

9 minutes ago, Squizzoo said:

Welcome to the community. For the most part it is pretty chill, but people will definitely bug you about three houses being your first game. Don't let those people get to you, we all have to start somewhere (three houses is one of my favorite games of all time too :)) hope you have a great time here.

Well, I don't actually own the consoles most of the older games are on for the moment, doesn't seem like any more than three houses is for the switch. I have however been aware of the fire emblem franchise since I was a kid thanks to Super Smash Bros. One of my mains is actually Ike.  

I would be surprised if no one would bug me about my favourite character in fire emblem being Edelgard, but I am pleasantly surprised that hasn't happened. I can be quite defensive when it comes to this girl, especially when it comes to her crimson flower counterpart. But the fact that people can have so drastically different interpretations of Edelgard is just another sign of how great a character she is in my opinion.

Assuming I could get the right console, what fire emblem game would be recommended to try after three houses? I think my preference would be for a more morally complex story like three houses, that might be one of my favourite aspects of this game. 

[Hello everyone, just became a fan]

Thanks all of you, I am sure I will enjoy my stay. 

 

[So I created Edelgard for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition]

5 hours ago, Sid Starkiller said:

First, in 5e a Paladin's power comes from their oath and the strength of their convictions, rather than belief in a god. Say what you will about her, but she has some of the most unshakable beliefs in 3H.

Second, while a really bad idea for a frontline fighter, given her shortened lifespan due to Slither's experiments, I would actually say Constitution as her dump stat.

True, but the last time I ran a front line fighter with constitution as the dumbstat they died in the first session. Not making that mistake again. 

It is true that Edelgard's convictions are extremely strong and that could be either justifiable reason to run Paladin. But I have a hard time finding an oath that actually suits her without making custom tenets. Oath conquest might sound good on paper, but in reality its tenants aren't entirely right for Edelgard (and oath of devotion also definitely don't work). The oath I think suits her. The best is the oath of liberation, which is third-party content

The main reason I made Edelgard a eldritch knight is that I wanted a build that reflects both her skill in martial combat and aptitude for arcane magic. 

I can tell you more about what context this version of Edelgard exists in in the campaign world. If you are interested, it is rather different from three houses in some key ways. But I have been trying to stay as close to her personality, motivation and ideals as possible

[Hello everyone, just became a fan]

28 minutes ago, Reality said:

I'm glad you like the series and hope you enjoy the community. 

 

I always wonder if it's better to try a sample of every game in a subgenre or to play one series straight after you like one game in it. I used to always tell people to play their first fire emblem, then play final fantasy tactics, disgaea, and shining force, before playing their second fire emblem. However, these days I feel like this would be too much to put-upon new people to the genre since most of these SRPG competitors didn't continue to modern consoles. I am more open to the idea that I just do it because I personally would like to see cross-pollination of gameplay ideas between the different ways people have made SRPGs and that single franchise loyalty is a more natural way to approach things.

I think my favorite charathers in three houses were the minor Blue Lions charathers like Felix and Annete, I guess the more plot-centric people blew-over my head on my first passes through the game.

Thanks, for the moment I have a few more playthroughs to do in three houses. Recently started with a Golden Deer playthrough an maddening. I did actually recruit Felix during crimson flower, he is an interesting character. We'will probably find out more about him and Dimitri after playing the Blue Lions. But my favourite inter-house interaction was probably between Edelgard and Lysithea, they actually have a lot in common, horrible experiments being done to them, shortening their lifespan, both being overly focused on making a difference in the short time they have, and both have a love of sweets. It is almost like Lysithea is Edelgard's younger sister.

[Hello everyone, just became a fan]

I did start playing Fire Emblem Three Houses to switch about a month or so ago, it has quickly become one of my favourite games of all time. 

If all the games in this franchise for this good I will be be in for quite a treat when I get to them. I am a massive fan of Edelgard fan especially her relationship with Byleth (either gender) in the crimson flower route. Probably the cutest thing I've seen for a long while

I hope I can find like-minded individuals here, during the short time I have been a member of this forum. I have gotten a very good impression of his place. 

[So I created Edelgard for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition]

1 hour ago, Flere210 said:

Rhea is a level 1 commoner whit 20+HD of dragon.

I meant as a player character, but as an NPC, I would probably go with some kind of variation of ancient white dragon, probably with high-level clerical spells and shape shifting. Would make for a epic high-level boss fight for any party. Probably lawful neutral in alignment, but lawful good could be justified with the same argument I use to classify Edelgard as chaotic good, intentions matters a lot more than actions in the Dungeons & Dragons when it comes to good or evil alignment, therefore, any character motivated by doing what they think is best for other people are always of good alignment. It is why a paladin can slaughter any number of enemies while retaining their alignment as long as they believe the people they kill are evil. Evil alignment actually requires a character to be motivated purely by self-interest, which doesn't describe Rhea or Edelgard.

[Just how popular is Edelgard?]

8 minutes ago, Strullemia said:

How do we know that CYL is a male dominated poll? Not saying that what you’re saying is wrong but I don’t remember IS telling us the ratio of male/female voters in CYL. Of course I might I’ve missed it. I’m actually really interested in knowing what genders voted for what character.

I would also be quite interested in knowing that. I wonder if there is a difference in how guys and girls perceive Edelgard on average. But from what I seen so far Edelgard seems pretty popular with both genders. If I were to speculate. I would also say that it is likely that many girls really like Dimitri as he is totally the type of brooding hero with a dark past that are commonly popular with females. As for Edelgard, a major reason why I like her character is that for someone so motivated and goal oriented, she has a lot of insecurities and turmoil going on beneath the surface. She is a character who feels quite a lot underneath that cold facade. 

This board seems to have a really good community, this is the first time I declared my adoration for Edelgard as a character without things breaking out into a massive argument. So thank you all for that. I hope I can find like-minded people here who share my love for this game.