Well, a new update! This time, we're dealing with some more political intrigue in—
On this issue of Fire Emblem Zeitung, we bring you a special news bulletin.
Duke Ludveck of Crimea is planning what is apparently a coup d'etat against reigning Queen Elincia. Her retainers, including milk-sister Lucia, are suspected to have infiltrated Ludveck's manse in order to find definitive evidence against this criminal.
Stay tuned folks, for more news from Fire Emblem Zeitung!
Well, that was odd. In any event, we have access to Base now, so let's have some Base Conversations to begin with.
1) Heather *: Heather says some funny things, which are lampshaded by an increasingly uncomfortable Nephenee. Lucia then recruits the three of them into her army (or rather, Heather forces her way in).
2) Laguz *: The two laguz, Lethe and Mordecai offer to help, which is given generously.
3) Elincia ***: Some sisterly bonding. Talisman obtained.
4) Geoffrey ***: And some brotherly love. Elixir obtained.
There really isn't much else by the way of prep, as the Market is closed, and skill reassignment isn't allowed yet.
A little plot happens, and Nealuchi and Leanne barge into the chapter after our intrepid investigators are caught. Also, Ludveck is a creepy little fuck.
Map 2-2
Victory Condition: Lucia Arrives
Defeat Condition: Lucia dies; Neauluchi dies; Leanne dies
Roster: Lucia, Nephenee, Brom, Heather, Lethe, Mordecai, Leanne, Nealuchi
Hoo boy, this is a doozy. This is the first Fog of War chapter in the game, which means that it's very easy to fuck up defense and thus get screwed over. There are some tricks to this though.
Fog of War tricks and tips:
1) Thieves get extra visibility, as do transformed laguz. Abuse this.
2) Abuse all light sources, from torches to those brackets lying around the field (a new addition to game mechanics).
3) Always keep a tight defensive line. ALWAYS.
It's a bit obvious, most of this stuff, but easy to forget, so yeah.
Anyway, for the first turn, Heather opens up a bit of the map, and Brom bumps into an armour. Mordecai, Lucia and Nephenee form a defensive line. Nephenee also gains a level (HP, Spd, Res), which is okay, to say the least, but not great. Buck up girl, you're in my endgame shortlist!
Second turn, we take out everyone at the beginning that's harrying us, and then have Heather, Neph and Lucia move forward, while the laguz and Brom hang around at the back and look useful. Brom is blocking a key chokepoint at the top of the map, while the others are around to murder reinforcements.
Also, I know I said I don't care for Herons much, but they are the cornerstone of my offense this playthrough, and this is a tribute to how much Hard mode can change the way you approach a game.
Then I do something crazy and get a game over. Oh well. At least nothing of note happened. This is a major pitfall of Fog of War. You think you're safe and then BAM something kills a squishy unit you didn't guard enough.
On the next round, one archer at the beginning is criticalled to death, and Neph gets a (Spd, Luck, Res) level. Again, nothing special, but not absolutely terrible. Eveything else is pretty much the same, with Mordecai, who is otherwise a terrible unit, tanking brilliantly. Suffice to say that I am appreciating them lots more this run.
Leanne also levels (Mag, Luck) in an imminently heron-like fashion, which works for me. Nephenee levels at the chokepoint where we lost Leanne in the last run (Str, Spd, Luck), which is decent from an offensive point of view. I wish she'd get more solid defenses though. And annoying crossbowman is killed with a critical, and a coin is stolen from a thief hiding in a southern corner. Heather continues to duel this thief for a few turns. His death is important for a good reason that isn't experience.
The thief dies, and Heather moves onto his square to grab a Discipline scroll. Way back in Part 1, another exists, but we didn't get that due to my incompetence, so this is only one we'll have for the game, and it is amazing useful for mages who get lots of magic types (i.e. Soren).
Leanne is really useful for taking out the units protecting the boss, provided that you don't want to get hit by an 29 attack power mage. In the meantime, we steal the Boss's Secret Book, which is a nice item, and Lucia starts the assault on the Enemy phase. Nephenee finishes things on our phase with a goodish level (Mag, Skl, Spd, Luck), but remains defensively terrible. Lucia arrives, and the map ends on the 13th turn which is not horrible, but not particularly amazing either.
Plot happens, and Ludveck makes his intentions abundantly clear by publicizing the revolution. More on that next time (while ominous music plays ingame). Geoffrey is given permission to squash the rebels with his mightt lance, but that is a tale of another time.
New Units:
Lucia (Level 14 Swordmaster)
Base stats
38 HP 50%
18 Str 25%
10 Mag 20%
27 Skl 70%
27 Spd 60%
19 Luck 30%
14 Def 15%
15 Res 50%
8 Con
8 Wt
Bad availability and mediocre growths? She's not a good unit to use at all. She's indispensable in the chapter she's mandatory in (not in the least because she needs to Arrive), but otherwise serves no concrete use in the game except as a plot device. Everyone else outclasses her, even Edward who has amazing potential as a Trueblade. She does have en Earth affinity however, so you could use her as a support option for someone, or as a filler if every other trueblade turns out horrible (and even then, the final one has better stats).
Lethe (Level 21 Cat)
Base stats
51 HP 85%
9 -> 18 Str 35%
6 -> 12 Mag 5%
13 -> 26 Skl 30%
12 -> 24 Spd 50%
18 Luck 45%
9 -> 18 Def 35%
10 -> 20 Res 20%
6 -> 11 Con
11 -> 31 Wt
She's okay, I guess? Her offenses are weak, and she relies a lot on dodging, which she won't do very well either. Her growths are typical laguz, though slightly better, and don't do much for her either. Basically, she's degenerated since POR, where she was awesome. Not worth using except as filler.
Mordecai (Level 16 Tiger)
Base stats
57 HP 90%
14 -> 28 Str 35%
1 -> 2 Mag 10%
9 -> 18 Skl 25%
9 -> 18 Spd 15%
15 Luck 80%
16 -> 32 Def 45%
4 -> 8 Res 15%
18 -> 28 Con
27 -> 48 Wt
Bahaha, he's quite terrible. Growths wise I mean. His bases are actually passable in the sense the he might not double, but he'll hit pretty damn hard. Also that defense and HP is glorious, and makes him a good tank even when not transformed (I kid you not). His main purpose is Smiting (that Con and Wt, egads), which is Shoving 2 spaces, and tanking in the Part 2 Endgame. Use him then, and then let him warm the bench is what I say. But yeah, he's a great tank forever and ever (until maybe the endgame).
While these two admittedly showed up in the Prologue, I consider this chapter to be their official "joining the team" chapter as the prologue is just strange, although it has a pretty good gimmick in as far as flying units are concerned.
Leanne (Level 5 Heron)
Base stats
25 HP 60%
0 -> 0 Str 0%
3 -> 6 Mag 40%
1 -> 2 Skl 10%
6 -> 12 Spd 30%
27 Luck 80%
2 -> 4 Def 10%
11 -> 22 Res 40%
5 -> 11 Con
2 -> 6 Wt
Considered the worst Heron, due to paper-thin durability mixed with a weird chant area that doesn't improve on transformation, Leanne is useful when you have to use her, but isn't worth taking into the Endgame. Her brothers are, unfortunately, better at the job than her, but I suppose we can chalk that up to her sleeping for 20 years in a half-dead forest. She's not too terrible though, and a Heron is a Heron. The only problem is lining up units just right to take full advantage of her Vigor Chant.
Fun Fact (TM): It is in fact possible to cap a Heron's strength, although this might only be the case with Reyson, who actually has a strength growth. BEXP guarantees 3 level ups at all times, so if every other stat but two have capped, then strength will grow. The cap is something like 3 or 5, so it's kind of cute but irrelevant in every way.
Nealuchi (Level 22 Raven)
Base stats
53 HP 55%
10 -> 20 Str 35%
4 -> 8 Mag 10%
9 -> 18 Skl 40%
18 -> 36 Spd 40%
24 Luck 80%
10 -> 20 Def 40%
10 -> 20 Res 25%
16 -> 25 Con
15 -> 23 Wt
This old crow is pretty good when you get him, and can survive all kinds of unfortunate attacks from bows thanks to excellent avoid, but falls flat in the lategame. He's not really worth training, but serves admirably for the cause in Part 2. Also, he is an adorable old man who is the antithesis of everything Raven like.
Items Obtained:
1) Talisman - +2 Res [Base Conversation]
2) Elixir - Restores all HP [Base Conversation]
3) Torch - Lights up vision+5 squares in Fog of War. Fades by one square per turn. [Enemy drop]
4) Coin - Forging [Stolen]
5) Discipline Scroll - Teaches Discipline skill [Hidden item]
Discipline doubles all Weapon Experience gained. This means that you can use stronger weapons faster, which is especially useful for mages who need to use multiple weapon types efficiently. This is going on Soren and probably never coming off.
Further Comments:
- Leanne actually dodged the first attack before dying to a mage. My reaction went like this: OH NO - YES - OH GOD WHAT.
- This was a fun chapter. Pity about those levels. I think Micaiah may have sucked the luck away from everyone else.
Next time: How to quell a rebellion without killing everyone in sight
