Fire Emblem!

I think right now I know more then I should tbh, been following the fanbase for fun.

and god. i can not wait until I get to buy bait instead of waiting for it to be bequeathed to me or find it at random. love me a fishing minigame.

 

Feb 12th for the last of the DLC (at least, the last of the announced stuff, I kinda hope there's another wave of it to come)!

Spoiler: general DLC details

Looks like there's a new game mode, Cindered Shadows(/Abyss Mode, Cindered Shadows might just be the "route" name), that you need to play and beat before you can recruit any of the new characters (the Ashen Wolves). Limited party of Byleth, Edelgard, Dimitri, Claude, Linhardt, Ashe, and Hilda... along with the four new folks:

Spoiler: Yuri

Noble guy with the Crest of Aubin, talented at all magic and swords, high speed/dex. Seems built around being the new Trickster class, along with Anna, so you can have a caster with locktouch, and I'm not going to say no to having characters with locktouch if it's not the only reason to have them (sorry, Thieves). Will likely come with/acquire that new Relic ring, with the +1 movement, so that's not nothing.

Supports with Byleth (S-support with both genders), Bernadetta, Dorothea, Ingrid, and the other Wolves.

Spoiler: Hapi

Noble gal with the Crest of Timotheos, looks like a more dedicated caster type. Only talented in dark magic (well, and riding/flying, with a budding talent in axes, but of the two magic times she's only talented at Reason and learns only Dark spells), but her faith list includes both Physic and Warp, so that's always going to be nice. Looks made to be a Valkyrie, with the Dark spells and the skill at riding, but even if Black Tomefaire is useless I might make her a Dark Flier anyway because flying. Still, not like Valkyrie isn't looking neat, what with having the range boosting abilities rather than 'Faires. No relic, but the Timotheos stone is accounted for (in either Aymr or the fake Sword of the Creator, IIRC), so that's not a big surprise.

She supports with Byleth (S only to male, alas), Dimitri, Ashe, Linhardt, and the Wolves.

Spoiler: Balthus

Noble guy with the Crest of Chevalier, looks best at hitting things but with some talent in magic despite not being super high in that stat wise or with an astounding spell list. Likely built around being a War Monk/War Cleric, with the axes and fists and being at least able to heal. Nice to have punchy healers other than the Enlightened One, though, so I'm not going to complain too hard here. And another Guard-type Adjutant, too... Also, hot damn is the internet thirsty for Balthus. Deary me. Though, at 26 he's also the oldest pre-timeskip student! Older than Shamir, even! Plus, comes with/can acquire the Relic gauntlets, which look pretty nifty.

Supports with Byleth (S only with female, alas), Claude, Lysithea, Hilda, and the Wolves.

Spoiler: Constance

Noble gal with the Crest of Noa, another spellcaster type but good with swords and a budding talent in punching. Pretty decent spell list on both sides, with Rescue being a Faith highlight (finally, on another character meant to cast spells) and Bolting on the Reason side (fear my siege spells!) and a solid selectrion of other spells. Seriously, Dark Flier seems like the obvious class for her, though I know I'll be making Flayn into one as well. But high movement plus Canto plus Rescue! Can you blame me? Again, no relic, but the Noa stone is also in either Aymr or Nemesis' sword, so no surprise there either.

Supports with Byleth (S-support only with male, dangit), Edelgard, Ferdinand, Mercedes, Jeritza(!), and the Wolves.

Interesting that while each of the previous characters in the new mode has a support with someone in the new cast, Edelgard and Linhardt are broken up, while Dimitri/Ashe and Claude/Lysithea remain the same. And that Yuri, their leader, supports with none of the old cast on the missions, while Hapi doesn't have supports with anyone that isn't available in Abyss Mode/Cindered Shadows.

I'm excited for new people and new supports, but I do hope to see more interaction between the current house leaders in the new route/mode as well. I get why they can't have supports with each other and all, but I wanna see them interact more...

Also, Byleth is in Smash!

 

Ooh, how exciting! I should really try to finish the rest of the routes before the DLC comes out, I keep getting sidetracked by other games...

 

I just thought about how Edelgard is the only def tank for beagles and what that says about her character and no im not crying theres just something in my eye

 

Spoiler: response to the above

It fits in so well with her general view of what her purpose in life is. Happy lives are for other people. They get to enjoy it. She meanwhile exists to make sure that another Edelgard never, ever happens. She'll do the dirty work. She'll run the risk being deemed a villain by history. And all so others can be happy and safe.

and i just

el...

I just want to give her a hug...She's so self sacrificing...To a self destructive degree...

 

Tomorrow! Or much later today, depending on where you live! Woooo!

In not-DLC news, I need help with a thing. Specifically, an embarrassing nickname for Sothis that a childhood friend and/or possible former love interest might have had for her a few millennia back (before she came to Fodlan). Y'know, someone who knows what a gremlin she can be. Some of the ideas I've had so far include:

• Thissy
• Thistle
• So-so
• Soth
• Sothie

Thissy and Thistle in particular appeal to me for being just... a little over the top, but I'm not sure if either is too much?

 

Apparently it's been confirmed that no golden route will be added. I personally am happy about this, but I know others will be sad about it.

Thissy sounds a bit too much like sissy for my comfort. Sothie I would fucking kill if I heard anyone call me unless it was my mom. And even she is on thin fucking ice. It is the rage at an embarrassing nickname. It sounds like what you would call a baby. These two I think hit the best in terms of embarrassing because they both have that 'nickname for a baby' quality about them. Soth and Thistle are too dignified. So-so also has embarrassing qualities to it but not as bad as something ending in a long e.

 

I like Thistle just bc I gravitate towards nicknames that sound like real words, and I think its a good blend of "could be patronizing under the right circumstances but could also be used casually without you sounding like a total dick about it"

 

Much obliged! I've never had an embarrassing nickname that wasn't "actual rage" levels, and I tend to be prickly about such things, so my experience with them is... limited.

I think I'll go with Thistle when nice/serious and So-So when trying to get a rise out of her.

Very, very much obliged, y'all!

 

I'm just a prickly bastard when it comes to nicknames in general. Always have been. I was the kid who'd cry if you didn't use my full name.

 

Just started in on Cindered Shadows.

Spoiler: Ashen Wolves

They're all such delightful little goblins and I love them all.

 

That last map in Cindered Shadows... That's a challenge. I think I'll end up liking it, but right now I really really hate it. I'm playing on normal casual, too, but it's just relentless.

 

Wait, is it out already? I thought it wasnt out until the 14th.

 

Spoiler: Cindered Shadows ending spoiler?

lol at Rhea going "You have time to think about what you've done wrong. That is punishment enough." Speaking from personal experience, there, lady?

Yeah. I beat it on the same settings, but it was rough. Normal in general feels actually difficult, I'm going to wait a while before I attempt Hard. It scares me.

EDIT:

Spoiler: Actual Ending Spoilers

I wonder who turned into the Umbral Beast last time? Or maybe one was just created spontaneously? Either way... oof.

Was expecting to learn more about TWSITD or something, but learning about Byleth's mom was also pretty darn great.

 

Just started on the DLC. Got through chapter 1. Finally a difficulty that I like on normal. I've hopes for you, CS.

 

Spoiler: Bernie DLC Support Spoiler

Wait, Yuri is Bernie's childhood friend? I'm only at the C support, so that might be a lie, but I doubt it, and I'm just... whooooooa!

 

I saw someone do Edelgard as the Empress card and while it was very *pretty* it was also *incorrect* so here are some tarot matchup thoughts. yes i take critism

Spoiler

Magician- Lindhart
High Priestess- Rhea
Empress- Manuela
Emperor-Edelgard
Hierophant- Seteth
Lovers- ...Sylvain
Chariot- Petra
Strength-Dorothea
Hermit- Dimitri
Wheel of Fortune- Byleth
Justice- Felix
Hanged Man- Dude
Death- gotta. gotta be Jeritza
Temperance- Ingrid
Devil- Hubert
Tower- ...Is Catherine too mean
Star- Mercie
Moon- Bernie
Sun- Hilda
Judgment- Lysithea
World- the monestary
Fool- Sothis
Page of Wands- Cyril
Knight of Wands- Raphael
Queen of Wands- Anette
King of Wands- Leeooonniieee
Page of Cups- Flayn
Knight of Cups- Lorenz
Queen of Cups- Marianne
King of Cups- Clllaaauuudddeeeeee......
Page of Coins- hm. Ashe?
Knight of Coins- Ferdinand
Queen of Coins- Alois
King of Coins- Jeralt
Page of Swords- Ignatz
Knight of Swords- Casssspar
Queen of Swords- Shamir
King of Swords- Hanneman

 

Unrelatedly
E: shit was trying to delete and posted jnstead

 

And they say romance is dead.
*Black Eagles Spoilers!*

Spoiler

https://zae-bee.tumblr.com/post/190804307712/edelgard-valentines-day-cards

 

Spoiler: Cindered Shadows mild/early spoilers

So, after completing Cindered Shadows I started a new run, aaand Jeralt talks a little bit more about Sitri when you're at her grave (I think, anyway, the lines sounded new to me)... and the grave actually has her name. Including her last name of Eisner, so, yeah. Yay, naming her!