Current Events > Playing Fire Emblem 3 Houses for the 1st time. Any tips? Part 2

(+) Yeah! (+)

So I picked the game back up again after a break. Claude is still dope. The more I learn about him, the more I like him as a character. Also, I didnt notice this during Crimson Flower for obvious reasons but Edelgard is the ultimate projector. Its crazy, she pretty much tells you everything without telling you anything. Well, she doesnt tell you the extremely important things of course but still.

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I just watched the C Support for Raphael and Flayn. I was extremely annoyed at first because Flayn asked for advice on getting strong and Raphael said, Focus on your battle cry. Really Raphael? What a dumb suggestion.

However, Im glad he suggested it. Because watching Flayn trying to scream like that was both cute and hilarious. I was not expecting that. Her naivety is just so precious

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Most of Flayn's supports are comedic and hilarious.
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Flayn and Ignatz have some nice ones as well.

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Question. About this picture.



You see Mercedes with that icon? Looks like the Miracle ability but Im not sure. Why is that showing up there? It doesnt show up unless Im setting her as an Adjutant. Also, she doesnt even have that ability currently in her ability list.

What exactly is going on here?

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That's her Adjutant type. Depending on the unit's class an Adjutant has one of three different effects.

The vast majority of classes provide a percentage chance (based on support level between the two units) of attacking the opponent. This is symbolized by the Red Sword Icon.

The White Magic focused classes (Monk, Priest, Bishop, Holy Knight) provide Adjutant healing. If the main unit is under 50% health at the start of the turn, the spell heal is basically autocast. The number of times a unit can be healed this way per chapter is depending on support level.

The armor classes and brawler and grappler provide adjutant defense. This causes any enemy follow-up attacks to be reduced by percentage based on support level (40% at A support). More importantly, it makes it impossible for enemy follow-up attacks to kill a unit. You will always survive with 1 HP.

The usefulness of each varies depending on difficulty. In Normal/Hard where enemies very rarely double, the defense adjutant is largely useless and the healing adjutant is probably the best, if only to help keep units topped off. On Maddening the Defense adjutant is king and can seriously save your units. The attack adjutant is just okay. It's nice when it happens but the activation rate is just too low to be relied upon.

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Gheb posted...

That's her Adjutant type. Depending on the unit's class an Adjutant has one of three different effects.

The vast majority of classes provide a percentage chance (based on support level between the two units) of attacking the opponent. This is symbolized by the Red Sword Icon.

The White Magic focused classes (Monk, Priest, Bishop, Holy Knight) provide Adjutant healing. If the main unit is under 50% health at the start of the turn, the spell heal is basically autocast. The number of times a unit can be healed this way per chapter is depending on support level.

The armor classes and brawler and grappler provide adjutant defense. This causes any enemy follow-up attacks to be reduced by percentage based on support level (40% at A support). More importantly, it makes it impossible for enemy follow-up attacks to kill a unit. You will always survive with 1 HP.

The usefulness of each varies depending on difficulty. In Normal/Hard where enemies very rarely double, the defense adjutant is largely useless and the healing adjutant is probably the best, if only to help keep units topped off. On Maddening the Defense adjutant is king and can seriously save your units. The attack adjutant is just okay. It's nice when it happens but the activation rate is just too low to be relied upon.

Holy shit. I had no idea. I saw the sword but I just assumed it was the equipped icon or something. You can really min/max in this game. Also, its crazy how Hard is so easy since you dont even need a basic understanding or use for a ton of these mechanics in the game to beat it easy. Hard mode probably only requires Gambit uses at times and thats a stretch.

My first run I wasnt using Gambits for stat increases. Hell most of my units didnt have Gambits. I definitely didnt use the really good ones. I didnt use Adjutants at all, let alone maximize it. I didnt even change my skills out until way down the line in my first playthrough because I didnt know they didnt auto equip. Maddening must be a massive bump in difficulty to make all these things matter


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I really would like a difficulty between Hard and Maddening where it becomes important to use the game's mechanic, but it isn't over the top hard with every enemy having pass or weapon breakers.

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DepreceV2 posted...

Holy shit. I had no idea. I saw the sword but I just assumed it was the equipped icon or something. You can really min/max in this game. Also, its crazy how Hard is so easy since you dont even need a basic understanding or use for a ton of these mechanics in the game to beat it easy. Hard mode probably only requires Gambit uses at times and thats a stretch.

My first run I wasnt using Gambits for stat increases. Hell most of my units didnt have Gambits. I definitely didnt use the really good ones. I didnt use Adjutants at all, let alone maximize it. I didnt even change my skills out until way down the line in my first playthrough because I didnt know they didnt auto equip. Maddening must be a massive bump in difficulty to make all these things matter

Battalions and Combat arts are probably the biggest difference. Like the fact that you can not use Battalions on hard mode and not have it make too much a difference is crazy. Look at something like Goneril Valkyries, a B-rank Battalion. It gives 8 Attack, 6 defense, 20 hit, and 15 crit. 8 Attack for most units is the equivalent of like 16 level ups. That is bananas. The idea that you could have power up to that level and casually disregard it without it significantly impacting gameplay is insane.

Combat Arts generally lack the ability to double, which means 95% of the time, they are out damaged by a unit who would double. When most units double in Hard, then most combat arts are not worth it. In Maddening where doubling is very rare, combat arts become way more important. Something like Temptest Lance becomes a life saver, netting a bunch of kills you would otherwise never get.

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TC didn't choose black eagles that makes me happy

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CouldBeAnAlt posted...

TC didn't choose black eagles that makes me happy

I hate to disappoint you, but Black Eagles/Edelgard was the very first route he took.

OmegaShinkai posted...

I hate to disappoint you, but Black Eagles/Edelgard was the very first route he took.

Blocks

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CouldBeAnAlt posted...

TC didn't choose black eagles that makes me happy

Yea... I asked about which route to take and I wasnt really sure. I took that route by practically chance only since I had no idea which one to do. I also asked if I should side with the Church or Edelgard. I was so torn between this and I was convinced by someone that siding with her was the best route. That entire playthrough was regret and disappointment. I dont think I will ever play that route again. Golden Deer is far better so far

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Black Eagles was picked in every playthrough topic and lets play I've seen, which sucks because they are by far the worst, in both story and overall house strength.

I went with BL first and I'm happy with that since they're the best house. But it was a debate between them and black eagles though, so I'm happy I made the good choice.

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markconigliaro posted...

Black Eagles was picked in every playthrough topic and lets play I've seen, which sucks because they are by far the worst, in both story and overall house strength.

I went with BL first and I'm happy with that since they're the best house. But it was a debate between them and black eagles though, so I'm happy I made the good choice.

As long as people realize how big of a shitshow that route is then I think it's fine everyone picks it first. I mean, Edelgard did seem to be the one who really wanted to fix the world at face value. At least for me. The methods though are just... Yea... Never again.

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I honestly just wish CF went in on the idea you were playing the badguys. Between it and Fates that is twice now it made it look like we were gonna play the evil empire and twice they undercut it.

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Black Eagles Crimson Flower sucks
Black Eagles Silver Snow was pretty good I thought.

But yeah I sorta regret not just going with Golden Deer. On the upside I didn't need to replay the entire game for the different ending so that worked out okay.

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I just saw Claude and Annette's C Support. I can't tell if Claude is genuine or hardcore trolling. He would fit right in on CE LMAO

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What is their C support?

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spikethedevil posted...

What is their C support?

Claude walks up behind her while she is singing as sing she made up. He tells her about how his family use to sing and dance like that. He also says she has a lot of talent. He said it sounds like there is deeper meaning in her lyrics. He asks her the deeper meaning and she tries to tell him there isnt any. Instead he responds thinking the meaning in the lyrics is a secret and he will have to figure it out. They lyrics had creepy in it multiple times lmao


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Do you believe Marianne is best girl?

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CouldBeAnAlt posted...

Do you believe Marianne is best girl?

So far she is for me and that includes both routes Ive played. There are a few characters Im starting to get surprisingly attached to. I like Mercedes a lot. Also, Im really surprised that I like Annette quite a bit. She has a low key adorable personality.

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CouldBeAnAlt posted...

Do you believe Marianne is best girl?

Her smile ;-; I want to protect it no matter what

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Mberer posted...

Question is, who is best boy

Dmitri and Claude are both pretty high up there

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Dedue and Ferdinand are also best bois.

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Caspar clearly. Who can challenge that greatness?

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God fishing is an absolute chore. Jesus. I havent played the game in days because I didnt want to blow through 60 bait on a Golden fishes day. Finally got it done today and it was worth it but it is so damn boring. Holy shit. Im running New Game+ for now on until I do a Maddening run because I cant deal with that anymore. Its mind numbing

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You'd still want to fish on NG+ because the money obtained can be used to gain a fuckbucket of reputation for future NG+ cycles, or just the one you're currently in.

But yes, it's incredibly fucking boring and every playthrough I do grinds to a halt when the special fishing day arrives. Though I use Fistful of Fish days rather than golden fish days.

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Mberer posted...

Question is, who is best boy

Yuri.

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DeadBankerDream posted...

You'd still want to fish on NG+ because the money obtained can be used to gain a fuckbucket of reputation for future NG+ cycles, or just the one you're currently in.

But yes, it's incredibly fucking boring and every playthrough I do grinds to a halt when the special fishing day arrives. Though I use Fistful of Fish days rather than golden fish days.

Jesus. Honestly this is easily the worst part of this game

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DeadBankerDream posted...

You'd still want to fish on NG+ because the money obtained can be used to gain a fuckbucket of reputation for future NG+ cycles, or just the one you're currently in.

But yes, it's incredibly fucking boring and every playthrough I do grinds to a halt when the special fishing day arrives. Though I use Fistful of Fish days rather than golden fish days.

Eh...I recommend fishing if only to have food for the dining area and cooking but the game gives you so much money and reputation that fishing for it doesn't seem worth it.

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Question. Can riding/flying be raised during battle if someone reclasses into that kind of class? I don't have any mounted units yet but I know I'm going to turn many of my units into mounted units. Bow Knights, Holy Knight, Dark Knight, etc. I know many of these need B+ to A in Riding or Flying. I think I'm being the most efficient by pretty much only focusing on those aspects while instructing for that boost. Plus, I personally teach them in that as much as possible. It just feels like it takes so long with no payoff in terms of skills being unlocked. If I make someone a Cavalier, will they gain Riding during battle? I didn't really use mounted units on my first playthrough so I really don't know.

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If you're in a riding/flying/armoured class you get exp for those, um, skills? when you do actions in combat that gain exp.

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DepreceV2 posted...

Question. Can riding/flying be raised during battle if someone reclasses into that kind of class? I don't have any mounted units yet but I know I'm going to turn many of my units into mounted units. Bow Knights, Holy Knight, Dark Knight, etc. I know many of these need B+ to A in Riding or Flying. I think I'm being the most efficient by pretty much only focusing on those aspects while instructing for that boost. Plus, I personally teach them in that as much as possible. It just feels like it takes so long with no payoff in terms of skills being unlocked. If I make someone a Cavalier, will they gain Riding during battle? I didn't really use mounted units on my first playthrough so I really don't know.

Riding, Armor, and Flying can all be passively raised if the unit is in one of those classes and sees combat. It increases by whatever that classes skill modifier is. So you really just need to instruct enough to get into the first of the mounted classes.

For riding that means D for Cavalier.
For flying that means D for Peg Knight for ladies and C for Wyvern Rider for guys.
Once you get into those classes and consistently stay in them or an upgraded version you won't need to do too much skill instruction.

The exception here is for magic users who want to end up as a Dark Knight (friends don't let friends use Holy Knight) but don't want to be a Cavalier/Paladin in between because no magic. They probably will need dedicated instruction to get their skill to reasonable levels. If you have DLC, women get a bit of a break in being able to class into Valkyrie which they can probably certify into with C riding with some luck. Guys (and by that I mean Hubert because Lindhart should always be a Bishop) will just have to instruct the whole way to the B or whatever they can probably slide by on to get Dark Knight.

That said there is work arounds. Hubert for instance gets the combat art Frozen Lance, which means he can still do a ton of magic damage as a Cavalier and Paladin. So that along with things like the Levin Sword can let him function as a fake mage. Most of the women mages also have a magic combat art that can allow them to do damage as a Cavalier/Paladin as well if you prefer that over instruction.

And if you just want an easy endgame level mounted magic class and you have the DLC you can just make a lady mage a Dark Flier. The flying requirement is absurdly low (you can reasonably pass with D+ Flying). That said there is only 1 magic flying Battalion in the game so I wouldn't do more than one.

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Alright. Thanks. Now I have an idea of how to approach this. Also, I'm doing Holy Knight because it's Hard Mode. If I can't try that class out here then when can I? Lol. I'm sure it's much better than some of these other classes I use simply because it's mounted. I know I won't be using that class on Maddening.

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True anything works in Hard Mode. Just know that literally everything Holy Knight can do is done better by either Dark Knight. Including Healing.

Good thinking IS.

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Compsognathus posted...

Including Healing.

WTF? Why? That is so stupid

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DepreceV2 posted...

WTF? Why? That is so stupid

Holy Knight is the "Offensive" white magic class. So it doesn't give any skills that help healing like Healing +10 or give you more healing spells (White Magic x2). Instead it gives you White Tomefaire which only increases spell damage.

Dark Knight also doesn't have any spells that increase healing, but it does have a higher magic modifier by 1. Which means most of the time they'll heal the same or have the same Physic range, unless that plus 1 gets you to a multiple of 4. Then the Dark Knight will heal more and from farther away. In effect it is a meaningless difference, it is just a really good example of how badly IS screwed up the class.

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Compsognathus posted...

Holy Knight is the "Offensive" white magic class. So it doesn't give any skills that help healing like Healing +10 or give you more healing spells (White Magic x2). Instead it gives you White Tomefaire which only increases spell damage.

Dark Knight also doesn't have any spells that increase healing, but it does have a higher magic modifier by 1. Which means most of the time they'll heal the same or have the same Physic range, unless that plus 1 gets you to a multiple of 4. Then the Dark Knight will heal more and from farther away. In effect it is a meaningless difference, it is just a really good example of how badly IS screwed up the class.

I really feel like the game not locking you down a path that you choose really makes it impossible to balance. I do enjoy the freedom but the balance aspect is the cost of it. Imagine if the Holy Knight promotion route could only get Renewal because of Bishop. That alone could make it the better class compared to Dark Knight. I hope they build on a lot of this but put limits on what classes can promote to what after you go down a path. Similar to Sacred Stones but more fleshed out. However, not TOO fleshed out.

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DepreceV2 posted...

I really feel like the game not locking you down a path that you choose really makes it impossible to balance. I do enjoy the freedom but the balance aspect is the cost of it. Imagine if the Holy Knight promotion route could only get Renewal because of Bishop. That alone could make it the better class compared to Dark Knight. I hope they build on a lot of this but put limits on what classes can promote to what after you go down a path. Similar to Sacred Stones but more fleshed out. However, not TOO fleshed out.

Eh, Renewal wouldn't put Holy Knight over Dark Knight because mounted mages are almost never taking damage to begin with.

Holy Knights biggest issue is that is an offensive white magic class where white magic is just bad offensively. Offensive spells compete with Support slots so most units only have like two offensive white magic spells at best*, for very few total usages. In a game like FE7 you could have a 30 use Shine along with your Mend and Physic staves to do what you had to do. In 3H you get your 12 shit-damage Nosferatus and like 3 of another spell unless you are fortunate enough to have Seraphim. Those just aren't the tools to build a class type around. At a minimum they should Holy Knight should give the units Seraphim as a skill so they could not be stuck with Nosferatu and one other spell.

*Lysithea is the only unit in the game that learns three offensive white magic spells, Lysithea's Dark spell list is still clearly better and everyone would rather be class that focused on those.

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well hopefully they can build on this system and make changes to really balance it out. Its a really good system

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I mean simply bringing back the Weapon Triangle and making weapons tied to class would immediately incentivize diversifying classes again. Or maybe not full weapon locking but almost due a Fates like system where your class determines the maximum available weapon rank you can use. So every class can use all Iron Weapons but higher level and specialty weapons become locked behind different classes.

Same would go for magic classes. Every magic class can heal, but something like Physic gets locked behind Priest -> Bishop -> Holy Knight. Also while Support Magic is its own separate spell pool so a unit can learn multiple White Magic attacks while also being able to heal/support.

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I need to play Dimitris route to see the deterioration first hand. Im one the last mission before the time skip on the Golden Deers route. This man seemed to have flipped the switch in his personality. Ill have this girls head. I swear it. I mean... the game did hint a little bit with some dialogue that he was getting worse but that seemed like a massive jump. This man seems like he will become borderline insane. He actually was extremely rational and very long like after the time skip in Crimson Flower.

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I don't think they should build on Three Houses' class system. I think they should burn it to the ground. Which is not to say I dislike it, I don't. It's really good. For this game. For one game in the franchise. It shouldn't be the norm. In general my feeling towards many of Three Houses' systems is that they work well as a one-off thing apart from the franchise's standards. Sorta like a Gaiden game really. The monastary can be obnoxious, but contained to this one entry I've never minded it. If that sort of between chapters busy-work is going to be standard moving forward, I will absolutely detest it.

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DeadBankerDream posted...

I don't think they should build on Three Houses' class system. I think they should burn it to the ground. Which is not to say I dislike it, I don't. It's really good. For this game. For one game in the franchise. It shouldn't be the norm. In general my feeling towards many of Three Houses' systems is that they work well as a one-off thing apart from the franchise's standards. Sorta like a Gaiden game really. The monastary can be obnoxious, but contained to this one entry I've never minded it. If that sort of between chapters busy-work is going to be standard moving forward, I will absolutely detest it.

Oh yea. I hope they can integrate on it while dropping the monastery. I ended up liking it but I can see it being annoying. In fact, once I play through every route once then I know it will be annoying.


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DepreceV2 posted...

I need to play Dimitris route to see the deterioration first hand. Im one the last mission before the time skip on the Golden Deers route. This man seemed to have flipped the switch in his personality. Ill have this girls head. I swear it. I mean... the game did hint a little bit with some dialogue that he was getting worse but that seemed like a massive jump. This man seems like he will become borderline insane. He actually was extremely rational and very long like after the time skip in Crimson Flower.

Do it Azure moon is my favorite

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Azure Moon is probably also my favorite because it completely ignores the entirely undercooked Silther's plot.

The Silther's clearly existed so there would be an antagonist on White Clouds and they were never able to find a way to make them work post times kid. So they were either super tacted-on (SS/VW), resolved in the post-game endings cards (CF), or completely ignored (AM). Of the three I'll take the latter.

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The To War map was fantastic. It felt like I was actually play chess in Fire Emblem which is what it should always be like. Fantastic

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