Welcome to Gaia! ::

Although I agree what FE13's storyplot isn't one of the best, I have to say that the Plegia Arc was a pretty decent plot than both the Valm and Grima Arc. sweatdrop I just feel that the later part were too rush forward, leaving some of the plotholes in it.

Anyway, I'm going to make it short in case my netbook crashes down on me again.

Best: FE9. I will admit it was a close call between FE9 and FE7. However, what I like about FE9 is that it shows more culture and NPC's perspective about how they feel about the politics, race, and other besides our units. Not to mention, I also like how we can see how the enemy feels about the war and such besides having a "I'm being loyal to my boss" or "I'm a bad guy, I have to follow the baddie rule" roles. In fact, I quite like it that we see more personal and perspective of the bad guys such as Jill's father to give us how they feel.

Worst: I will admit I was torn to decide which one is the worst since the FE games I feel have terrible stories are those that I hadn't finished or thought it was quite rush. While FE13's later arcs are too rush and lack more depth for some of the characters and FE11 makes me feel like Marth is just a mercenary, taking whatever jobs that need to be fix given to him instead of being a prince who is trying to retake his throne, I have to agree with Tiki and Modecai about FE10 as the worst. I will admit I never like seeing too many perspectives of the characters. Yes, I know I'm contradicting from what I said in the best, but the reason why I dislikes it is because with so many perspectives being viewed in the game, I feel like we're either taking away or breaking the main focus of the storyplot, just like how Mordecai stated. In addition, I also feel that there were some plots that didn't need to be added into the game to either drive the story or character in depth such as Naesala and the blood contract. After all, Naesala was already a badarse in the FE9, it seemed like a waste of using the blood contract on him to explain why he was such a badarse.

Best: FE7

I really enjoy FE13 and how the characters interact, and I adore FE8's characters, but in the end I feel like the story of FE7 is the most whole and connects the most dots in an organic, natural way that doesn't feel like the script writers are just hastily attempting to close off any and all loose ends left dangling, whether or not it makes sense to address any previous plot points or side plots at that time. The world feels like it's part of a bigger whole, and while FE6 definitely helps to progress the foundation FE7 lays down, it still works perfectly well on its own. The plot is vast, the story well-written, the characters respond reasonably and in ways that correspond to their established characters, no protagonist or main character feels unjustly ignored throughout the game (Lyn obviously gets less attention after 10 chapters, after which Hector and Eliwood balance the spotlight somewhat lopsidedly for about 20 more, but she still gets notice and attention as a protagonist and important character, for one) for extra focus on someone else. It feels far more vast than it possibly has any right to, honestly. But I like it.

FE9 comes in a close second, if only because I know that its plot was not entirely wrapped up by the end of the game. Too many big questions left unanswered. I'm not talking little bits, either. And we should all be aware of this.

Which is why...

Worst: FE10

FE10 has been mentioned previously, and reiterating previous statements would be redundant by this point. Instead, I'm going to focus more on the fact that FE10 could have been written so much better, even if they wanted to go with the shifting of perspectives thing.

There are a couple of simple things they could have done. For one, while I understand Micaiah's place as the protagonist, how she connects to the Greil Mercenaries as a result of her connection to Sothe and her activities in Daien and later attachment to Pelleas' cause, it doesn't change the fact that she is ridiculous. It feels like the separate writers for the chapters didn't collaborate on what Micaiah's personality should be and just kind of went with it; at one point, she is kind and nurturing, and at another she is trying to justify pouring searing-hot oil into a canyon onto friend and foe alike in order to stop a battle. Yeah, that's a legitimate strategy in combat, especially at that time. I'm not denying that. But you're telling me that the Dawn Maiden, known for taking other people's injuries onto herself to heal them, and otherwise viewed as a savior would so casually sacrifice her allies?

Bullshit. 120% bullshit.

Also, giving her status as a Branded heron and her being the true Apostle of Begnion and queen of Daien because Pelleas abdicated the throne to her, and her pet bird is the physical vessel of Yune? This is too much to put on one character. Micaiah is not a character. She is a plot point.

So, yeah, two easy things the game could've done to fix the plot: Remove Micaiah and focus on Pelleas instead (he can easily fill the role of protagonist, his trials and tribulations would EASILY fill up a game despite no Dawn Brigade focus like there is in FE10 proper), and properly write the interactions with Ashera and Yune.

The problem with Ashera and Yune is framing. See, like Rath says, the game does essentially try to say that people don't need a deity, or multiple deities to live. And whether or not you believe this to be true -- I don't want to insult anyone here and imply the same thing that FE10 is unjustly pushing forth, so let me know if I word anything poorly -- this really should not be the case here. Like Rath said, Ashera isn't really a villain here. She's acting unreasonably, because she has been fooled and deceived. Yune even establishes in canon that god/desses are not infallible, they are nowhere near perfect, and even these hugely powerful beings can make mistakes. See: the Great Flood. Ashera does make a pretty big mistake when she leaps to conclusions upon waking up and takes action without consulting Yune first, but she's also been, again, deceived by a huge a*****e.

I feel like the game could've very easily led up to a message more about how even god/desses aren't perfect but that doesn't mean that they don't mean the best for their people. All Ashera wanted to do was to see her children stop fighting. Ashunera split herself into Ashera and Yune because of how upset she was to see her children fight, and locked away the intense emotions (Yune) that would've caused such an 'irrational' decision such as to flood the world, because she wanted so badly to protect her children and see them safe and keep herself from hurting them. This is also arguably why she made that deal with the Heroes to begin with, to slumber for one-thousand years to give them time to make peace and settle their differences. This is also why Dheginsea spread the legend of Yune being a chaotic, dark goddess in order to try to scare people into not causing gigantic wars, and barred his people -- a laguz race with a particularly nasty bloodlust that's difficult to ignore once it's been ignited -- from participating in any sort of war, whether by providing aid or by actually fighting.

Ashera and Yune wanted to protect the beorc and laguz, and they made a mistake. This was so poorly handled that I could practically hear the script tear itself into pieces. The point isn't that they don't need a goddess, it's that their deity is fallible, and that is all right. She needs to control her powers just as much as they do, because she can wipe them out with so much as a single thought, but at the same time, they've had so much time to solve their problems without her and they haven't accomplished it, have they? The laguz slave trade is still happening, isn't it? Begnion subjugating other countries and treating them poorly because of their theocratic government and the Tower of Guidance in their territory is still happening, isn't it?

Whether or not people need god/desses, a loving, nurturing, careful god/dess can help encourage his/her/its people to happiness and prosperity. People need to work together in the name of what their creator wished for them, and to provide a safe place for children to come. Just because something is more powerful than you does not make it perfect.

It would've been so easy, and it would've been so nice to see, and they almost poke at it with Ashunera coming together again to watch over Tellius, but they fumbled that ball so badly it nearly burst into flames.

The beorc and laguz don't just need Ashunera, and Ashunera doesn't just need the beorc and laguz, they need each other. It's not a one-way road.

Gosh FE10 is so frustrating. Grrrrrr.

She's the goddess of order- her judgement, to her, is justice. She and Yune are opposites of the same thing. They were supposed to consult each other, but consider- where is Yune? Nowhere to be found. Who knows what Sephiran told her about Yune, even. Did she, a goddess who focuses purely on order even desire to consult with her? Ashunera's desire, where they both were together, did not necessarily go into each of them.

...Saying that people don't need a god isn't intolerant borders on... on absurd?! That is a ridiculous comment. Messages go beyond just context of a game, sir. They reach out to us as people. To think otherwise is extremely naive. No, it would not be a slap in the face of atheists to depict a deity in a game, because this is fantasy. The way deities are handled, however, and what the game says we should feel about them (in this game's case, saying we don't need any) can be intolerant beyond a game's context. Of course people don't need their god to understand what is right and wrong all the time, but all humans find themselves needing guidance. I'm not seeing the point you're trying to make with saying that last part here.

No, the game blatantly states that people don't need a deity period. There's no talk of ethics, or anything. It's a message that comes in at the very end after doing a travesty to Ashera, who did not deserve to be killed, and forces its way down our throats with a single sentence from Ike. Nope, we don't get to talk about it anymore, Ike said it, so that's that, bye Yune, who is just gunna smile approvingly and vanish forever whaaaat. The proper thing to do would have been like what Mallow is saying it should have done; to focus on the fact that, in this game's context, these goddesses have made mistakes and shouldn't be relied on for everything. Not that they aren't needed.

Oh, sure, it's interesting. It's also swirling around in chaotic, lazy writing that doesn't do any justice to any of the potential. And what it does do, it goes in the complete wrong way with. Friendships and bonds are extremely important and deep to humans; we live in a world with so much hate and I find it sad when people take for granted when things are telling us that friendships and caring about people are important. Very sad.

Did they even try to do anything else for Ashera? I really felt like Yune could have tried more and we are shown no evidence that any character had any desire to find an alternate route other than just her outright annihilation. "Kay guys we need to kill her" "kay". She didn't deserve to die. In all likelihood, we would end up needing to do it anyway, but the way the game paints her as a villain despite her not actually being one really bugs me.

You're right, it's actually more Yune that says gods have only failed them, made people weak. And then Ike is all gurl plz u cool. I can forgive Yune's depection there because it's in the context of the game with her own personal actions. Ashera's depiction as a villain despite not being ones will forever annoy me though.

Sorry about the delay guys. Football has a good hold on me.

This weeks topic is: Unit of FE7

Best: I think I'm going to go with an obvious Hector. For now. Nothing ever fragile about him, it takes a special kind of skill to lose him in battle I tend to feel. Not perfect availability when you include Lyn mode, as one should, but perfect/near perfect for the rest of the game. Lyn and Eliwood start out fragile at first, and though they also grow to become monsters, I like where Hector's strengths lie better. Plus, he'll get enough speed, which is all that matters. Don't mess with the tank lord. FE7 has some really great units- some take some babying, some special care- not Hector. Oswin's boss too and you get him just as soon. Hector has a great personal weapon, though. Later units that rock like Pent I can't really give for best because I feel availability is a factor in determining best, so I don't tend to drift towards prepromotes unless they can really REALLY blow me out of the water.

Worst: Think I may have to give this to Karla. Dorcas and Bartre are eying me nervously, though. It's hard because I really don't think any unit of this game is bad.

Best: Hector
Sorry Dad. Nothing against ya, but Lord Hector just beats you here. Not by much, though. You're pretty much a close second.

I don't need to say much about Hector that hasn't already been covered. When you think of "friendship and bonds" being a huge portion of the FE theme, you gotta look at the bond Hector and Eliwood have. Hector honestly didn't need to get involved, but he and Eliwood are bros. When you have a character who has to fight his way out of his own castle just to meet up with his best friend and then save his a**, you know you have a unit worth keeping. He has the skill to make up for his choice in axes. He gets the speed needed to avoid getting doubled by enemies (sans myrms early on). He will almost always cap HP, STR, and DEF. His Res may be lacking, but he does get enough to cover his magically-weak a**.

Oswin's another contender to round out my top 3. You gotta love that stoic, devoted man.

Worst: Karla
Not only is she one of the last units you can recruit, but you also need to have Bartre be a level 5 promoted unit, then you need to make sure neither of them die in the recruitment process. It's not as bad as trying to recruit Cath, but this is pretty annoying too. 2nd and 3rd worst units go to Dorcas and Bartre. It's hard to make either of them hit, and while Dorcas does have a better Skill growth than his buddy and slightly better availability (you can use him in Lyn's tale or if you skip that he's just a little higher leveled than Bartre), he really doesn't have any important roles that really require him out on the field. You need Bartre to recruit Karla though. Best keep Dorcas in the box so that he can return to his wife in one piece.

If you're in that big of a need of axe-users, I recommend Hector or any unit who promotes and gets axes. But this isn't about Dorcas or Bartre. It's about Karla. Not only is her availability piss-poor and her recruitment relatively troublesome, but you should also have better swordmasters by the time her chapter rolls around. If you haven't been using Guy (or Karel, if you manage to recruit him instead of Harken), you still have Lyn. The only things she really has going for her aside from innate crit is an A rank in swords and a Wo Dao. If you're doing a speed run, she saves you money by already being a promoted unit. That's about it, though. Her stats are too low for someone of her level, and you don't have a lot of chapters to really raise her.

She's not entirely unusable, but you should already have a stronger team by the time you can get her.