Thracia 776: Plot Twist #1

[mark_asphodel]

OK.  Most of us know about the PLOT TWIST in FE4... or the one in FE7... or the one in FE10... or maybe the one in FE2.  Fire Emblem likes its plot twists.  FE5 has several plot twists, and the first really bad one hits at the end of Chapter 3.

So, the chapter seems a little annoying at the outset.  There are four NPC kidlets to rescue, and the village houses won't do a damn thing for Leaf & Co. until the kids are saved.  There's a dude who steals some useful tomes from chests in the castle and is likely to use them on you.  And part of it is indoors, so that whole "mandatory dismount" crap comes into play[*].  Still, it's not too bad.  Can't be worse than the stupid chapter with the villagers and the spiders in FE8, right?  Or, as early-game chapter hell goes, as aggravating as "Fire Emblem" in FE11?  

Here's the twist.  At the end of the chapter, out comes Reidrick the Bad Dude, and he's got Nanna as a hostage.  Reidrick wants to do a hostage exchange, meaning "In exchange for me not killing the hostage I've got, I'm gonna take another, and that means you, Leaf."  Now, imagine this in the context of another FE game.  D'you think, in a like situation, that Ephraim would hand over Reginleif and turn himself in?  Do you think Ike would meekly set down his weapons and allow himself to be led away?  Right.  So you can imagine what Leaf does.

He puts down his weapons and allows himself to be captured.  That doesn't set Nanna free, mind... it just means her throat isn't slit right then and there.  She's still a prisoner, and now he's a prisoner, and oh yeah Evayle turns herself in as well.  Well, this is just peachy.  

Mind you, as an illustration of how Leaf is different from the standard Chosen Child FE hero, this is pretty vivid.  Leaf's used to being kicked around.  He's used to the worst case scenario coming to pass, every time.  So he's not going to say, "Bite me" to Leidrick and try to bluff his way through the situation.  But in terms of gameplay, well... those units you just spent three chapters leveling up?  Your little nascent army that's finally coming together nicely?  They're gonna skedaddle and you won't see them or their stuff again for a couple more chapters.  Welcome to Thracia 776.  

Fortunately Leaf meets some very useful people in the slammer. :/

* Explain to me again why we're concerned about having horsies (and peggies and dragons) making a mess in the castle we're trashing?

Comments

[amielleon]

Explain to me again why we're concerned about having horsies (and peggies and dragons) making a mess in the castle we're trashing?

I honestly think it's more of a matter of tread. Seems to me that a castle hall might be too slippery for a horse in combat, or too cramped for a pegasus or wyvern's wingspan.

Also, I rather like how Thracia stirs your units around, and then stirs some more with the fatigue system. Vaguely FE10-like, in that.

You should really play FE10, by the way.

[mark_asphodel]

Seems to me that a castle hall might be too slippery for a horse in combat

I agree with you on the logistics of fitting a wyvern/dragon in there, but FE3 made the explicit point that the reason for excluding horses/peggies/beasties from inside castles was the mess. Frankly, if someone asked for my army's help in liberating their castle, shoveling pegasus poo is the price of doing business. And if someone didn't ask for my help because they're child-stealing jackasses and I'm planning to kill them... well, worry over horse crap is kind of a weird priority, IMO.

Also, I rather like how Thracia stirs your units around, and then stirs some more with the fatigue system.

I do like that, but I cannot imagine how people felt about it after Use Everybody! was the gameplan in FE4. Especially re: item management.

You should really play FE10, by the way.

I know. Being a console game is to its detriment; those get played far less often than 'puter and handheld games in this house.

[tornevas]

The worst part about dismounting is that there's not one single character who can use Lances at all.

Even the late game General has high ranks in all weapons except Lances. This is one of those times where you have to wonder if IS was trolling players.

[mark_asphodel]

This is one of those times where you have to wonder if IS was trolling players.

With Thracia 776, I suspect the answer to that question, in most cases, is YES.

[samuraiter]

Leaf: "The only person I hate more than myself is the player."

[mark_asphodel]

Leaf is a lovable character, but DAMN the boy needs some decent levels. I gots a scroll now, so I can commence scroll abuse. :/