#liveblogging feth

[fethenjoyer]

Gonna be liveblogging my Engage experience. First impression: The battle map system is funkier than in FETH bc you move like, continuously but I like it! The art is pretty good too! I love Vander already 💞

[sacredsymbol821]

you know what my absolute favorite thing about Claude Von Reigan is?

After his initial period where he doesn't trust Byleth, he never ever gives up on them. He always knows, in his heart of hearts, that they'll be back, and so when they show up post timeskip, he's relieved of course, but he knew the whole time they weren't dead, and not once gave up on them, the person he grew to respect and admire as their friend.

[lonelyhumanoid]

If I could get a corset that supports my breasts like what Byleth wears my life would be improved drastically.

[owainbradys]

You guys were not fucking kidding me with how fast Byleth just BOOKS IT through the monastery

[storywonker]

I just finished Anarch.

Mother of fuck.

[hamadynes]

Heads up to blacklist cf plays feth if you wanna avoid my liveblog!

If there’s a significant spoiler I’ll tag it spoiler too. Not planning on doing TOO much, but I’m so hyped.

[sacredsymbol821]

Lets have a discussion about Blue Lions route. Specifically, my hot takes about it. This post is not going to be spoiler free, so be warned for spoilers under the break

THIS IS YOUR LAST SPOILER WARNING BEFORE THE BREAK

Okay lets get to it. I want to address the conception that this is the "typical FE route". While I see how people came to this conclusion, I don't believe that Azure Moon is a typical FE route, but the biggest subversion of it I've seen. Dimitri is not your protypical FE Lord, as we all know, but let’s not talk about him for now. It's how the narrative treats him that I'm interested in. Let’s fast forward to right when timeskip happens. In the 5 years Byleth's asleep, Faerghus gets taken over by Cornelia in a coup, Dimitri's uncle is murdered and he's blamed for the crime. This is one of the many consequences he suffers during the game, but I feel this is the most important to point out because Cornelia cannot kill the acting Regent and blame it on him if he's acting, well, not consumed by vengeance. Then, he escapes, Dedue "dies" protecting him, and he's on the run for years, fighting and killing for survival. It's a hard knock life for him, definitely, and thinking that your friends abandoned you when they think you're dead doesn't help matters. He spends the next 5 years killing, slaughtering, and doing what he has to do to survive, the whole time falling deeper and deeper into despair because of his survivor's doubt and trauma. He seems like he's lost, and he is, but yet he shows up to the monastery 5 years later anyway.

I will admit this didn't make much sense for him at this point at first, and his actions don't exactly betray he wants to be saved. When being healed, he says "A wasted effort" because he thinks so little of what he's been forced to do to others. But, he shows up anyway, despite his dark outlook. The only reason for this needs to be because there is a little part of him that believes he can be saved and that Byleth is still alive. Now, other lords have had this dark moment where they question everything, sure, but it’s usually solved in one to two chapters and then they're fine.

This isn’t the case with Dimitri. He ostracized himself, choosing to spend all his time in the Cathedral and not interacting with ANYONE. You can't even grow his relationships with anyone at this time, a brilliant choice of a gameplay mechanic in my opinion. He doesn't even show up to training/ planning meetings, and this is illustrated beautifully because there are two seats open next to Byleth during this time: the left seat on the corner of the table two seats from Byleth, reserved for the retainer of the group (like Hilda on GD, and Hubert on CF) and the right seat on the corner of the table two seats from Byleth, where the lord of the route sits (Claude on GD, Edelgard on CF) since Dedue is “dead” during this time. I don’t know if it’s because of playing Golden Deer route first, or because I’ve played so much Fire Emblem prior too, but having my main lord missing from very important meetings made that spot on my and Byleth’s right feel like a void. I felt naked, vulnerable, and just not right because that hadn’t happened. Byleth is leading an army basically by themself this time, and I felt every moment of this, especially dealing with Dimitri’s antics. One scene that really stands out in my mind is the scene right before Myrddin Bridge, where Dimitri accuses Byleth of being the same as him because of his desire for revenge. You can agree or disagree depending on your choices, but that scene is so poignant because it shows just how far off his path he should be, among the other things listed here. Other lords would have been sad for a minute over what they’re doing and called it a day.

Let me go back to Dedue for just a second here, because he’s another huge reason why I don’t believe Azure Moon is the classic FE route. Do you remember when I said he’s “dead”? He stays that way unless you do his paralogue in the pretimeskip phase. Then, and only then, does he return in chapter 16. No retainer has ever stayed dead, if I recall correctly. They are some of the only units in Fire Emblem that have plot armor, even if they’re defeated. 

Dimitri’s redemption is when the route finally starts to feel like a classic fe route to me, but I think everything else that happens before it makes Azure Moon a subversion of the classic FE model, and not a following of it. I do believe there are routes that follow this model, but I do not think Azure Moon is it. 

[sacredsymbol821]

callout post- Future Adrestian Emperor Edelgard Von Hresvelg: Looks like she's put together but is secretly a mess when it comes to Byleth, please save her from being a bisexual disaster and her friends dragging her for it every opportunity they get

[sacredsymbol821]

okay but like: callout post, Linhardt: hes making it impossible to nail down one ship for because all his supports are so good

[sacredsymbol821]

I finished BL route last night, and I’m still thinking about my son, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, and I hope he knows I’m very proud of him

[sacredsymbol821]

I finally FINALLY finished all 3 routes of feth (Silver Snow,,, can wait, I’m way to attached to Edelgard). This game was so good. I really like how each route told it’s own story while also giving a slightly different perspective for the story. They all reused the same maps outside of 1 or 3 unique ones per route, but it never felt stale in my playthroughs post timeskip. All 3 lords are convincing, well rounded and believable.

I’m giving out some awards to characters now:  The Good Boy/Girl Category: Ashe, Ignatz, Cyril, Annette and Mercedes The I didn’t expect to love them as much I do now category: Linhardt, Dorothea, Dimitri,Ingrid, Lorenz

Here’s who I S supported for each route, as well: Golden Deer- Claude Blue Lions- Mercedes Black Eagles (Crimson Flower)- Hubert

[sacredsymbol821]

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd is not okay and because of that, I’m not okay

[sacredsymbol821]

Chrom 🤝 Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd

Accidentally breaking inanimate objects

[sacredsymbol821]

Nothing gave me greater satisfaction just now then just skipping Felix and Dimitris C support.

[sacredsymbol821]

me, a fool, starting feth: im going Claude first, Edelgard second, and Dimitri third because I like all 3 of them but Dimitri is the least appealing to me rn.

me, after finishing GD route: im going Blue Lions because wow I feel AWFUL

me: halfway through BL route: I love my son Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd but I'm very concerned for him

[sacredsymbol821]

most people: i made a mistake

Ferdinand Von Aegir: I, Ferdinand Von Aegir, have wronged you and your descendants. I will pay for this mistake with my life if you ask and I beg you for mercy and I will do all I can to atone for this defamation.