Fire Emblem: Three Houses, or: 3 Fires, 3 Emblems, 3 Houses

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Fire Emblem: Three Houses, or: 3 Fires, 3 Emblems, 3 Houses

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Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a turn-based strategy RPG developed by Koei-Tecmo Games, with assistance from series creator Intelligent Systems, and published by Nintendo on July 26th, 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. In Three Houses, players take control of Byleth, a mercenary in their father's group, who ends up being recruited by the Church of Seiros, the dominant religion in the region of F�dlan, to teach at the Officers Academy, located at the Church's headquarters, Garreg Mach Monastery. Byleth is offered the opportunity to teach one of the groups representative of the three countries that rule F�dlan: the Black Eagles, the house of the Adrestian Empire, led by the imperial princess Edelgard von Hresvelg; the Blue Lions, the house of the Kingdom of Faerghus, led by the royal prince Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd; and the Golden Deer, the house of the Leicester Alliance, led by Claude von Riegan, heir to the ruling seat of the Alliance.

Three Houses represents a radical departure from many series traditions. In-between story missions, players now deal with having to schedule a finite amount of in-game time between the start of the game and the end of the game, analogous to a far less micromanagement-heavy version of Persona or Atelier�though, oddly, the time-limited elements were apparently inspired by Pikmin. How players can spend this time ranges from exploring Garreg Mach Monastery and interacting with the students under their tutelage, to hosting and attending seminars by Garreg Mach faculty, to participating in optional battles.

In terms of mechanics, Three Houses simplifies many series mechanics, and borrows a few from Fire Emblem Gaiden, a title notable for its unique and strange mechanics. Gone is the weapon triangle, a series tradition, replaced by abilities that can be learned through mastering a given weapon type. Gone is magic that can break like weapons�instead, units get a low amount of magic uses per map, but they refresh once the battle is over. Returning from the GBA and GameCube/Wii Fire Emblem games is weapon weight, a mechanic that makes players balance stronger weapons with their units' attack speed. Returning from Gaiden is equipment, non-weapon items that units can equip to gain extra offensive or defensive capability.

Very big thanks to the Fire Emblem Hacking Discord, members of whom provided the script text dump and character portraits I use in this LP. Hacking my Switch is a scary prospect, so they saved me some anxiety.

Very big thanks also to Serenes Forest, which provided an easy resource of datamined info, and also clarification on some in-game vagueness. In particular, the Combat Art descriptions used in the LP are borrowed from them, rather than using the sometimes-lacking in-game ones.

If you wanna discuss the LP with me and other people who somehow like my stuff, join the EO LP Server. I know the name points to another series, but it's also just sort of the de facto server for even my non-EO stuff.

SPOILER POLICY

The fact that there is a timeskip in the middle of the game is not a spoiler, nor are the post-timeskip character designs except for Byleth. However, anything beyond mentioning its existence and speculating about it is not allowed. This includes discussing gameplay implications of it.
Do not discuss support scenes we have not seen yet.
Do not talk about plot that we have not seen yet.
Absolutely do not talk about plot from the other routes that we have not played yet.
I reserve the right to say "this is a spoiler, please edit your post" about anything, even if it is not explicitly mentioned in this policy.

Adan/Abby Eisner

Edelgard von Hresvelg

Bernadetta von Varley

Dorothea Arnault

Petra Macneary

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd

Dedue Molinaro

Felix Hugo Fraldarius

Sylvain Jose Gautier

Ashe Ubert

Annette Fantine Dominic

Mercedes von Martritz

Ingrid Brandl Galatea

Claude von Riegan

Lorenz Hellman Gloucester

Hilda Valentine Goneril

Leonie Pinelli

Seteth

Flayn

Cyril

Constance von Nuvelle

Hapi

Mechanics
Crests
Universal Skill Learn List

OTHER THINGS I'VE DONE
A 100% SSLP of Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold. My earliest LP. I have problems with it, looking back, but I still think it's good on the whole.
A 100% SSLP of the Japanese version of Etrian Odyssey V, with JP->EN translation by Clarste, and translation editing by Kinu. A bear of a project, but one I absolutely do not regret.
A nearly-complete SSLP of Etrian Odyssey Untold. At time of writing, I plan to finish its last few updates in parallel with this LP.
A paused LP of Etrian Odyssey Nexus. I didn't get to go very far into Nexus before starting this, but there's still good stuff in there. I plan to return to it once Untold is done, and this LP is far along.

Rea fucked around with this message at 21:07 on Aug 20, 2021

# ? Sep 6, 2019 01:58

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# ? May 2, 2024 04:59

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Reserved.

Rea fucked around with this message at 07:35 on Sep 24, 2019

# ? Sep 6, 2019 01:59

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

IMPORTANT MECHANICS TRIVIA

Effectiveness on Combat Arts multiplies the attack's Mt by 1.5x, instead of multiplying the weapon's Mt by 3.
Every point of Cha is worth 0.25 gambit Mt, 5 gambit Hit, and 5 gambit Avo.

Rea fucked around with this message at 07:36 on Sep 24, 2019

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:00

Junpei Hyde: Mar 15, 2013

Edelgard gay Edelgard good

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:01

theshim: May 1, 2012; You think you can defeat ME, Ephraimcopter?!?

You couldn't even beat Assassincopter!!!

Ground floor. Hell yes.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:02

ChaosArgate: Oct 10, 2012; Why does everyone think I'm going to get in trouble?

This game rules, could easily be a GotY contender for me.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:15

Booky: Feb 21, 2013; Chill Bug

Awww yeah, I've been hearing good things about this game!! Can't wait to experience it! :allears:

Though one note: weren't Combat Arts first introduced in FE Echoes and then kept for 3H?

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:33

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Booky posted:

Though one note: weren't Combat Arts first introduced in FE Echoes and then kept for 3H?

Shows how much I remember about Echoes...

I'll fix that.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:34

biosterous: Feb 23, 2013

It is always Fire Emblem season, there is no end to the season of Fire Emblem, and that is v good

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:51

blizzardvizard: Sep 12, 2012; Shhh... don't wake up the sleeping lion

Oh wow, I was wondering when a 3H LP is gonna pop up. This is gonna be a huge one, godspeed.

I went with MByleth for my first run and my current run, so I'll vote for Abby.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 02:52

NGDBSS: Dec 30, 2009

I'll vote for Abby as well. I don't own a Switch myself but I feel I should support this for the same reason that female Shepard deserved it.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 03:31

Cythereal: Nov 8, 2009; I love the potoo,
and the potoo loves you.

NGDBSS posted:

I'll vote for Abby as well. I don't own a Switch myself but I feel I should support this for the same reason that female Shepard deserved it.

Voting Abby as well. Any big-name modern game with LGBT characters, especially as romance options for the protagonist, deserves to be recognized and supported (unless the game later walks it back, like AC: Odyssey). Pity I don't have a Switch.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 03:35

slink_bot: Aug 1, 2016

Voting Abby.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 03:59

Shei-kun: Dec 2, 2011; Screw you, physics!

I'm on the Abby train, and :argh:

at your first level! My first like... ten Byleth levels were all two stat levels.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:02

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Shei-kun posted:

I'm on the Abby train, and at your first level! My first like... ten Byleth levels were all two stat levels.

Byleth's stat growths are all completely average, barring Mag and Res which are like 10% lower, but even so, I have yet to have a Byleth turn out badly.

Contrast with a certain red-haired skirt chaser we'll meet before long, who's only ever turned out slow as poo poo despite his loving 50% Spd growth. Grumble grumble...

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:05

Blaze Dragon: Aug 28, 2013; LOWTAX'S SPINE FUND

I am always ready for more FE LPs, even moreso of a game that's consuming all my free time like this one.

Voting Abby because I went female, then male, on my runs.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:08

wedgekree: Feb 20, 2013

Abby

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:09

FoolyCharged: Oct 11, 2012; Cheating at a raffle? I sentence you to 1 year in jail! No! Two years! Three! Four! Five years! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Somebody call for an ant?

Is the mc going to be built the way the game wants you to?

Let's go Abby for that Joan of Arc holy crusader feel.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:09

Leraika: Jun 14, 2015; Luckily, I *did* save your old avatar. Fucked around and found out indeed.

I'm completely blind to this except for shitposts on twitter and FEH references, so this will be great.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:10

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

FoolyCharged posted:

Is the mc going to be built the way the game wants you to?

In short, for at least a run or two, yeah.

I considered having Adan and Abby be lance specialists instead of sword users, because of the characters I'm referencing with their names, but there's only so far I'm willing to go for a reference. :v:

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:13

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Oh, yeah, we're also at 23 Adan, 28 Abby, counting prior votes in my server.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:19

Hunt11: Jul 24, 2013; Grimey Drawer

Abby and I am excited to reading the lp.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:21

Fedule: Mar 27, 2010; No one left uncured.
I got you.

Good luck and godspeed on this ridiculous undertaking, brave goon.

This game is A Lot, and my feelings towards it are extremely numerous, but one thing I'm certain of is how glad I am that someone's running it here.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 04:44

Sindai: Jan 24, 2007; i want to achieve immortality through not dying

Abby

# ? Sep 6, 2019 05:51

EponymousMrYar: Jan 4, 2015; The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.

Interested to see this game after hearing about it.

Especially after the :psyduck:

that was Fates being split into 3 games.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 05:58

Ibblebibble: Nov 12, 2013

Good luck, big LPs are a pain. Abby.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 05:59

Logicblade: Aug 13, 2014; Festival with your real* little sister!

Abby Because girl power is stronger than guy power in this game.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 06:01

Nondevor: Jun 1, 2011; catposting

Leraika posted:

I'm completely blind to this except for shitposts on twitter and FEH references, so this will be great.

Same, so I�m looking forward to this.

Can... can we make Abby a brawler? I noticed they had a skill for fist weapon bonuses or something. That seems neat.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 06:04

Materant: Jul 22, 2010; see, what you don't understand is he now has

THE MANLIEST MUSTACHE

_{_{_{_{it defies physics}}}}

Nondevor posted:

Same, so I�m looking forward to this.

Can... can we make Abby a brawler? I noticed they had a skill for fist weapon bonuses or something. That seems neat.

In a very technical sense, you can, but all the brawler-focused classes are male-only. So though Abby wouldn't get any of the skills from those classes, she'd be able to raise the skill through the same means Adan would.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 06:06

Fedule: Mar 27, 2010; No one left uncured.
I got you.

Nondevor posted:

Can... can we make Abby a brawler? I noticed they had a skill for fist weapon bonuses or something. That seems neat.

Yes, but also no.

Any non-mounted non-magical class can brawl and level up the brawling skill to get cool brawling abilities. However, the classes that specialise in it (ie, which grant the Unarmed Combat and Fistfaire skills) are locked to male units only. It sucks.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 06:10

Nondevor: Jun 1, 2011; catposting

Fedule posted:

Yes, but also no.

Any non-mounted non-magical class can brawl and level up the brawling skill to get cool brawling abilities. However, the classes that specialise in it (ie, which grant the Unarmed Combat and Fistfaire skills) are locked to male units only. It sucks.

Boooooo. I didn�t know gender-locked classes were in this.

Are the other brawling abilities decent enough at least? If the game�s difficulty is easy enough, then I�d gladly take subpar damage to just use fist weapons with female units anyway. Because it�d be cool.

But I guess that discussion is a bit too far ahead for now, since it wasn�t really talked about in the update :shobon:

Thanks for answering, though.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 06:30

Cuntellectual: Aug 6, 2010

What demonic magic do you use to record from a switch, because I kinda wanted to LP or stream this at some point.

Nondevor posted:

Boooooo. I didn�t know gender-locked classes were in this.

Are the other brawling abilities decent enough at least? If the game�s difficulty is easy enough, then I�d gladly take subpar damage to just use fist weapons with female units anyway. Because it�d be cool.

But I guess that discussion is a bit too far ahead for now, since it wasn�t really talked about in the update Thanks for answering, though.

The gender locked classes are bizarre.

Brawler classes: Male only. 2/3 of the people who teach Brawling are women.

Dark Mage: Male only. 2/3 of the people who naturally learn Dark Magic are women.

Hero: As a series first as far as I know, male only.

:shrug:

At any rate, brawling is ok on Byleth since she has pretty good strength. The Brawler class ability is atrocious anyways, though the Grappler one is okay.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 07:42

Ibblebibble: Nov 12, 2013

Heroism/dark magic/fists are stored in the balls.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 08:37

OddObserver: Apr 3, 2009

Fedule posted:

Yes, but also no.

Any non-mounted non-magical class can brawl and level up the brawling skill to get cool brawling abilities. However, the classes that specialise in it (ie, which grant the Unarmed Combat and Fistfaire skills) are locked to male units only. It sucks.

The MC's plot-unlocked class does have a bonus to learning fists, but not to using them.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 12:35

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Seems like that's that, then. We'll be starting with Abby as our form.

Also yeah, women can use gauntlets but it's kind of a fruitless exercise since they can't be put in any classes that learn Fistfaire. You're better off with literally any other weapon type on them.

Reverting to gender-locked classes after doing the right thing and not locking them in Fates is a pretty big criticism I have of the game, especially since it's so skewed towards men. Men get Hero, the Grappler line and Dark Mage/Dark Bishop, while women get...the Pegasus Knight line.

I'd much rather have had the class that has innate Fiendish Blow.

...All of this will make a lot more sense after I post the class overviews. :v:

Okay one more thing: locking Hero to men is especially bizarre since there's a literal canon female Hero in Binding Blade (Echidna), and it's the "expected" promotion path for Mercenaries in Awakening, which Severa starts as.

Cuntellectual posted:

What demonic magic do you use to record from a switch, because I kinda wanted to LP or stream this at some point.

An Elgato HD60 Pro plus OBS.

Ironically, the fact that the resulting footage is h.264 compressed means that an hour of 720p footage takes up far less space than an hour of lossless 400x480 footage like I'm used to.

It's not even a contest.

Rea fucked around with this message at 12:55 on Sep 6, 2019

# ? Sep 6, 2019 12:49

Fedule: Mar 27, 2010; No one left uncured.
I got you.

Ragnar Homsar posted:

Reverting to gender-locked classes after doing the right thing and not locking them in Fates is a pretty big criticism I have of the game, especially since it's so skewed towards men. Men get Hero, the Grappler line and Dark Mage/Dark Bishop, while women get...the Pegasus Knight line.

The big thing that women get in 3H, besides per once again tradition the pegasus knight class, is the best magic class, except that it's good for very weird reasons that are mostly contextual.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 12:59

FoolyCharged: Oct 11, 2012; Cheating at a raffle? I sentence you to 1 year in jail! No! Two years! Three! Four! Five years! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
Somebody call for an ant?

Women also get the good mage infantry at end tier, but yeah gender locked classes suck.

Especially with the weirdness where it feels like they ran out of time on modeling or something, because there's a bunch of natural progressions that just... stop for each gender.

I definitely didnt try and make an axe woman only to find out at the end game that no, the game wouldn't let me finish through on that.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 13:04

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

Fedule posted:

The big thing that women get in 3H, besides per once again tradition the pegasus knight class, is the best magic class, except that it's good for very weird reasons that are mostly contextual.

How in the hell did I forget Gremory? Right, yeah, women get that.

Which ends up leaving male mages without a class they could very much get great use out of. And without a Master class that isn't mounted in general, come to think of it. Lemme tell you about how much I wish a certain green-haired narcoleptic could be a Gremory.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 13:04

McTimmy: Feb 29, 2008

Oh boy, good luck with this. I'm over 200 hours and still not done.

# ? Sep 6, 2019 13:28

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# ? May 2, 2024 04:59

Rea: Apr 5, 2011; Komi-san won.

McTimmy posted:

Oh boy, good luck with this. I'm over 200 hours and still not done.

I devoured all of the paths and ended up with...about 190-200 hours, I wanna say? This game activates my optimization instincts something fierce, so I imagine I'm probably quite a bit lower in total playtime than most people.

It's a big project, but luckily for all of us, I'm too stubborn to give up on an idea once it enters my head, and this was a perfect chance to act on the "do a Fire Emblem LP" idea that's been buzzing in my head for six years. By extension, I'm also too stubborn to give up. :v:

# ? Sep 6, 2019 13:32

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Video Games > Let's Play! > Fire Emblem: Three Houses, or: 3 Fires, 3 Emblems, 3 Houses

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