The Legend Of Heroes: Cleaning up the Trails

Kinda bumping , but can anyone familiar with Sky The 3rd help me rewrite this?

• Contested Sequel: The 3rd, almost by design. In a series that's favored a heavy focus on sidequests, NPC dialogue, expansive towns, and a very linear structure starring one of the most likable heroines in an RPG, 3rd is drastically different in tone from the Sky trilogy, and indeed any succeeding game in the series. Kevin steps up from his position as a reoccurring side character to a full protagonist, the sidequests and non-playable townsfolk have been entirely dropped, the game takes place a while after the current threat has been dealt with, and the gameplay is centered around an expansive series of interconnected dungeons with nonlinear sidestories catching the player up with what the rest of the cast's been up to off-screen. On one hand, many players felt disappointed that several aspects of the series that stood out from other games of the genre were done away with, and dislike the longer stretches of gameplay, especially if they mainly played for the story. For the other camp, 3rd gets praise for its radically unique approach to conveying story and lore that would've been difficult to fit in otherwise, it's large cast of party members and customization, and generally letting players engage in entertaining scenarios for the heck of it. There's also some debate as to Kevin's merit as a starring lead, and the darker, more personal approach to his story. Most of the fanbase will agree it's a game worth playing for its sendoff to the Liberl cast and foreshadowing story developments that was to come in later arcs, but not everyone will like the game for its changes to the formula. Nonetheless, much of Third's formula, including the doors system, was reused in Trails Into Reverie.

Contested Sequel: 3rd deviates greatly from the previous two entries; the well-liked protagonist Estelle takes a backseat to Father Kevin and newcomer Sister Ries, the open, populous setting of Liberl is traded for a more linear pocket dimension with few NPCs, the plot is a grimmer, more personal affair centered on Kevin's past, and the gameplay has a more sandbox-like approach, letting you freely customize your party. The fanbase is split, with one camp finding the game superfluous or even skippable while the other camp considers the game one of the best in the series precisely because of all its deviations from the norm, with some even preferring Kevin over Estelle.

That's about as good as I could condense it, but feel free to put your own spin on it.

Edited by Anomalocaris20 on May 5th 2023 at 2:05:53 PM

Thanks bud.

But what about the "complaining on Reverie" ones because I can't find a concrete thing to do about them on the complaining thread outside "remove a few italics" and things like that.

I'm not really as familiar with Reverie, sorry. Still waiting for it to come out in English.

Edited by Anomalocaris20 on May 6th 2023 at 5:29:33 AM

I played Reverie, I can give my opinions.

- Fanon Discontinuity I think can be cut. I've never really seen any complaining about it myself, and while the facts are technically correct, I could see it being the result of one poster just not liking that part.

- The first bullet point of Tainted by the Preview is probably fine. Rean being the protagonist five games in a row is certainly something that should probably be noted. Could be rewritten to be less complain-y but it can probably stay. Cut the party complaint in there, though. Irrelevant to the trope (that's only something you would know in the game), and it's not really something many people complain about.

- Cut the second bullet point. Seems like needless complaining to me, doesn't really seem relevant.

- Do we cut Tainted by the Preview for being proven not relevant after launch? If we do, then cut the third bullet point. The post itself says that it isn't relevant. If we don't, then it's fine. Doesn't seem overly complain-y.

- Fourth bullet point is probably fine.

If thats so, here's my rewrite for the first entry:

• Not many fans are happy with Rean being playable for five games in a row, partially because they felt he was being overexposed by that point.

Removed those entries and replaced the first bullet of TBTP with my rewrite

Meanwhile I remebered this post I made in the Memetic X cleanup, so I would some opinions on it: Found these at YMMV.The Legend Of Heroes Trails Into Reverie Memetic Loser:

• Lloyd has become this for fans after Rufus soundly trashes him and the SSS. The fact that Lloyd tries to pull off his Determinator attitude only for Rufus to slice him (and if swords weren't set to stun in this game, he'd be dead right there and then) and that Rufus actually turns the announcement of the liberation of Crossbell into the Crossbell Unified Nation with the support of the Crossbell people^note who are influenced by the curse generated by a Brainwashed and Crazy Ilya doesn't help matters. The fact that this is the Simulacrum Rufus and the real Rufus beats the fake doesn't help Lloyd's case at all, especially since Rufus is considered to be the superior protagonist compared to Rean, who still has this status from the Cold Steel arc, and Lloyd. unsure and reads as complaining about one moment
• Speaking of Rean, even after earning a happy ending in his fourth game, this game would make Rean suffer again indirectly through his Normal Ending counterpart. Even his short story setting up for the Calvard arc ends up becoming this for him as even though he was winning the fight, he still loses at the end with his tachi breaking. At this point, many of his fans pretty much designated him as the Cosmic Plaything of the entire series. maybe valid
• The state of Crossbell in general has also become this as many fans believe that Crossbell can be invaded yet again at any moment. does ML even apply to places?

I don't like any of those. The first two feel like they're complaining too much about one scene (and ignore all of the other things that happen in this game), and the third is a place and you're right, it probably doesn't count (if places did count there could be an argument though because it is funny to meme that Crossbell gets taken over every other game)

Memetic Loser entries have been nuked.

Meanwhile, I found this entry on Characters.Trails Series Rean Schwarzer

• Classical Anti-Hero: Is mostly a Nice Guy and heroic individual, but throughout the story it's clear he is defined by a strong case of self-loathing and lack of self-worth making him a Martyr Without a Cause. The circumstances of his adoption which made his adopted family outcasts amongst the nobility, the fear of his unknown powers, and his actions and status as the Ashen Chevalier all culminated in him having a low opinion of himself, with most of his character arc involving him overcoming these flaws and accept the fact that he can, and deserves to be loved.

I do think he qualifies but it's extremely wordy as it's written. Possible rewrite?

Bumping

and while I'm at it, I found recently added entry on Musse's folder Characters.Trails Series Erebonia Thors Class VII New

• Anti-Hero: As Duchess Mildine, she manipulated events to have Ballad disgraced so that she could take over as the new Duchess Cayenne, upon which she convinces the nobilty to begin a second insurrection against Osborne, even brainstorming a coordinated assault along with other foreign countries(which is technically high treason which could warrant life imprisonment or even the death penalty if she were caught), which is estimated to result in a bodycount in the millions in even he best case scenario. She's fully aware of how bloody and tragic this would be, and that it would go against the ideals of the Third Way Prince Olivert advocated which her instructor and classmates believe in, but believes this to be the only way to stop Osborne and The Great Twilight for good, and is shown to be geuninely torn up from guilt over the inevitible bloodshed to the point that she's nearly Driven to Suicide. When a less bloody alternative is made available, she was all too eager to accept it. A mix of Types III and I.

I think both are fine personally. If you want to rewrite the Rean entry to be less wordy than probably go for it, but they both seem OK to me

The problem with Musse's entry though is that it's a Text wall and violates the Clear, Consise, and witty rule. Plus it uses the outdated type I-III format as the wiki now heavily discorages it.

Also worth noting that I sent the person who wrote that entry a Text Wall notfier.

Bumping

Bumping

Type-X labels are not used today. Apart from that, what's the problem with the example? I've never seen the work before.

Its just a big ass text wall. So it just needs a trim. Unfortunately, I don't know how to trim cause the info there is technically correct.
Edit: Decided to hide the entry, citing it being a text wall.

Edited by Ayumi-chan on May 11th 2023 at 2:28:30 AM

As reported on this ATT, the Anti-Hero entry on Musse's folder has gotten even longer, and still with using the outdated Type-X format

• Anti-Hero: Reveals herself to be this from the ending of Cold Steel III onwards, mainly a mix of Type III and Type I :
  • As Duchess Mildine, she manipulated events to have Ballad disgraced so that she could take over as the new Duchess Cayenne, upon which she convinces the nobilty to begin a second insurrection against Osborne, even brainstorming a coordinated assault along with other foreign countries (which is technically high treason which could warrant life imprisonment or even the death penalty if she were caught), which is estimated to result in a bodycount in the millions in even the best-case scenario. She's fully aware of how bloody and tragic this would be, and that it would go against the ideals of the Third Way Prince Olivert advocated which her instructor and classmates believe in, but believes this to be the only way to stop Osborne and The Great Twilight for good.
  • While she tries to give off the impression of a clever chessmaster who sees everything as pieces on a board, she clearly is shown to be geuninely torn up from guilt over the inevitible bloodshed from her plan to the point that she's nearly Driven to Suicide. When a less bloody alternative is made available, she was all too eager to accept it.

Any way to shorten to be more Clear, Concise, Witty?

Bumping

Bumping again

edit: Removed the bulleting and Type-X formatting, but if it's still too wordy, feel free to rewrite.

Edited by Ayumi-chan on May 15th 2023 at 1:28:00 AM

Found another text wall, this time in Characters.Trails Series Erebonia Ironblood

• Character Development: Considering how much he changes over the course of the Erebonia arc and Reverie, he is up there as one of the characters with this trope in full effect. In Cold Steel I, he is introduced as Jusis' older brother and someone that is kind and behaves himself as a noble should, with elegance and knowledge. In Cold Steel II, this image is still there up until the end, when he reveals himself as an Ironblood who hates his father. In both Cold Steel III and Cold Steel IV he slowly lets his own goals change his noble ways, with him laughing at Juna and Crossbell's situation, helping Osborne with the Twilight, not giving much thought at Millium, his fellow Ironblood, dying, and backstabbing Arianrhod after she was already weak and defeated by Rean and Crow. After he was defeated by Class VII and learning the hard way how he lost because he always thought he would be better without the help of anyone, he lets himself be arrested so Lechter and Claire can be free and clean the post-war mess in the empire. By the start of Reverie, someone came to kill him while he was in jail, making him flee for his life and investigate what's happening. In this game, we learn that Rufus has been going through an identity issue caused by his abusive father and his empty role in the noble families, which made him try to surpass Osborne, the man he considered his real father, as a way to know why he was born and what's his purpose in life. In this small journey, he made new friends in the form of Lapis, Swin and Nadia, and together with them he learned to be himself and not seek to surpass his "father" as a way to feel his identity validated. The result is someone that is willing to atone for his past crimes and being much more kind than he was in the previous games, as he travels around the continent together with Lapis, Swin and Nadia. His character in Cold Steel I and Reverie can be seen as two completely different people.

I found this on Characters.Trails Series Erebonia Thors Class VII New

• Remember the New Girl?: In the original (PSP) and Evolution (PS Vita) versions of the Crossbell games, she doesn't exist in any form. This made her existence from Cold Steel III onward, and her relationship with the SSS, a blatant Retcon, with any bonding between them needing to happen sometime off-screen. As such, the decision to have her appear in a recursive Early-Bird Cameo in the Kai re-release of Azure to address this (showing her first meeting with the SSS) was met with mixed reception.

IIRC, it's pretty much frowned upon to add audience reaction on main pages like Characters/. Plus it feels kinda complainy (though I could just be me).

Any possible rewrites?

• Remember the New Guy?: Despite not appearing in any games prior to her introduction in Cold Steel III, Juna is treated as being well-acquainted with the SSS as if she were always a character in the story. The Kai remasters of Zero and Azure would retroactively add Juna and her siblings as NPCs in Crossbell to address this discrepancy.

(I still think Juna is like one of those memory parasites from Rick & Morty, implanting false memories of her existence in their heads)

Edited by Anomalocaris20 on May 18th 2023 at 10:07:35 AM

Replaced!

(Also that idea is Actually Pretty Funny )

Double post, but speaking of the Remember the New Guy? trope, I found this on it's video game subpage

• The Legend of Heroes - Trails: Juna Crawford, who made her debut in Trails of Cold Steel III is introduced as a resident from Crossbell and a Fangirl of the Special Support Section, the protagonists of Trails from Zero/Trails to Azure. Juna has never appeared at all during the Crossbell arc, and it's brought up in the Cold Steel games that she has helped the SSS on several occasions and became close friends with them, even the SSS value her as a true ally. This gets slightly alleviated when the Crossbell duology's Updated Re-release on the PS4 gives Juna an Early-Bird Cameo, but she still remains unaffiliated with the main story. A possibly justified example, since she enrolled at the Crossbell police academy at the ending of Trails from Zero, is simply too young to take part in an actual SSS mission (she would've been 14 at the time) and there are various Time Skips in Azure and between Azure and CS3 when the SSS could have met her and become friends.

It's kinda wordy (though not enough to count as a text wall) and it does get a bit speculative at the end (and Speculative Troping is a big no-no). Would like more opinions though.

I agree, trim it down and remove the speculation.