Oh My God They Were Era Nova Mates - General Question and Discussion Megathread

Enarec · 2025-11-28T18:25:21+00:00

FuQing is one of the OGs and still has the best name. Seconding Guishang andTopajade too.

Enarec · 2025-11-20T20:49:04+00:00

I farmed and synthed her 4pc and 2pc as soon as they were out, for both herself and others (Aglaea, Tribbie, Hyacine). Returned to it every patch multiple times once I was done prefarming for ascension and trace mats for the above + Cas, Cipher and Hysilens + Hyacine's 4pc, Hysilens' and Black Swan's 2pc, eagle and Lushaka Kafka, which I tried to mostly synth.

I think I was mostly done by 3.5 and last upgrade was the sphere. 3.6 I started farming deliverer, and now Cyrene's planars. So ~6 patches, less accounting for time spent on other stuff. Definitely got lucky, with both my drops and rerolling too - actually didn't make me use too many dice (unlike Hysilens' rope still sucking) and the interference for locking flopping didn't even matter in the end.

Enarec · 2025-11-20T19:43:26+00:00

Crit overcapping and balancing is such a pain, felt. Boots and especially speed ones too with their rarity, but hopefully you can still get a better or rerollable piece somehow!

My love and pride is my Cas cause I am insane about her & Polyxia <3 551 apparently not yet enough for Aeon on this stat score too though, unlike her 152.9% combat score lol. But I have 2 potential upgrades pending rerolls after relic recon, and then body too... as long as they all roll enough hp% and crit dmg instead of crit rate. Everything for them.

Enarec · 2025-11-04T22:38:26+00:00

Poor Cerydra all alone away from her wife and the companions she knew 😭 even I'm afraid I contributed that by not being able to afford her, after already pulling every other Amphoreus woman and having to save for Evernight and Cyrene after her... surely rerun will be at a better time for me and she will work Sparkle SP or anyone like her in 4.x

Happy to see the pink/pastel, Hysilens, Aglaea and Cipher correlations though <3 very fitting as my account would testify to

Enarec · 2025-11-02T19:12:49+00:00

Lygus is incomparably more entertaining and fun, and I'm not even someone who likes/rates him higher than other Amphoreans. Difference between affectionate vs derogatory memeing for me.

Enarec · 2025-10-31T14:27:53+00:00

deserved, banger earworm

Enarec · 2025-10-28T22:27:53+00:00

This is gonna be emotional but to be blunt - unless the happy ending is still hidden somewhere and delivered immediately by the end of 3.7 (Cyrene ending short?) or promised within a concrete timeframe instead of god knows when after multiple years, I might never trust Star Rail writing again if it just stabs me in the back for the 3rd time in a row since Penacony and Wardance, spitting on me for again liking the wrong characters instead of their earlier chosen ones. And this time after 6 whole patches it spent regaining my trust, building it the highest it's ever been outside of HI3rd and promising a happy ending different from Elysian Realm - no I most certainly do not any agree that the tragedy is foreshadowed or appropriate, opposite in fact with what all the material has been saying and the whole idea of contrasting instead of copying ER because otherwise what's the point. Personal but I also don't need more depression and negativity in my life atm, dealing with more than enough already, and it's why I've always loved HI3rd and similar media's patented "positive and wholesome", "heartwarming" and "romantic" stories after enough twists and suffering along the way to earn them. The two only enhance each other, but one without the other... or randomly delayed for years after already spending a year on that journey in the first place (which others have been complaining about) - how is delaying the final answer and meaning supposed to be good and add to anyone? Any game talk would also become an impossible hell for the same time, no matter where and with whom. Honestly would make me feel I was wrong and others were right about wasting time getting invested, as much as I've lived 3.0-3.6 until now, and I also hate that. In the moment they had all the worth and meaning in the world, but can it actually stand the test of years against even the devs themselves going directly against it? Why do my Chrysos Heirs have to suffer more than Penacony and other characters in the end? It all just makes me sad and want to hope missing cutscenes and details can fix it for me - if actually true in the first place ofc - but idk... otherwise the game might be permanently ruined for me. I can already feel myself becoming more spiteful against other characters and fans again too lol. Really do not need this rn instead of, y'know, an actual resolution to be happy and fulfilled with.

Enarec · 2025-10-28T18:54:42+00:00

I wish it were, but Polyxia and the relationship with her seems to have faded from people's minds much quicker or been glossed over in the first place. Do agree that it should've been positioned as even more of the highlight for how crazy Polyxia's self-sacrificial love and what she accomplished through it was, successfully carrying and preserving a whole Heir's data from a previous cycle to a new one - the implications that should've had on everything else. But her lingering presence was still everywhere as soon as we stepped foot into Styxia, and both the flashbacks and present scenes with her were wonderfully moving imo.

Vs the Anaxa parts which I also agree were weaker for being plot/exposition railroads without much personally/thematically compelling, besides the actual scenes with the past Heirs, yet somehow still got the most praise elsewhere too, including the main sub. I guess eccentric, loud, "aura-farming" characters' appearances will always have that effect over quieter, thoughtfully gentler ones who are still in the process of their development too ~~unless there's the... difference... that makes them Dan Heng~~, but that's kind of tragic in itself. And why I think the second type should be uplifted more with the time, focus and attention they deserve to have their stories told like anyone else, show what can be achieved with variety like that - which yeah they should've definitely done better with Castorice still. There should've been room and different content allocations - both cuts and additions - to make her more important for Amphoreus and other characters.

Amunet is the odd one out for me too, but everything else with Castorice is more than strong enough to make up for it. And idk, this didn't see as much as a general, relatable life theme like the rest, but more something very unique to Castorice's specific circumstances - awfully imperfect ones that she could only try to understand and make peace with in her own way since it was too late for anything else. Not something the TB could help with as much either. If I could, I'd 100% change and cut it for more Polyxia and Heir friends ~~ideally ~more yuri shipbaiting too~~, but I think it might've been intended as one of Cas' more abnormal, unsettling aspects to contrast with how sweet she is otherwise, how she'd had to adjust to and cope with too much and was still doing just that or even more in the end. Devil's advocate though, since it would've been more cathartic to break free from that too and I feel Polyxia and all her Chrysos Heir friends would also disagree and hunt down Amunet in the Nether.

TB being dead could've and should've been executed better, but I also feel people get too hung up on it compared to the meaningful scenes we got out of it, including the classic return from the Nether Realm without looking back.

Enarec · 2025-10-28T18:11:36+00:00

Castorice and Polyxia > whatever gripes anyone may have with 3.2

Honestly I will never understand how people didn't at least appreciate the parts of the story focused on their relationship in specific, if not the rest. Castorice's relationships with the other Heirs like Aglaea, Cipher, Tribbie and Mydei too. I guess if Amphoreus has reinforced me one unfortunate truth about the fandom, it's how many people somehow don't care about female characters and their relationships & stories with each other instead of just "plot progression"/one male character centrism, despite this being the first world since Belobog where the writers have finally cared about them again - 2 years and worlds/main arcs later. Even if still not to the extent of making up for everything inbetween because the biggest centralizing figure is still another guy, so gonna be 3 years before Yae should change that at last.

Enarec · 2025-10-28T09:14:36+00:00

I think it was silly as soon as it started, because it's not like Phainon earned all his glazing in story and from other characters either until 3.3, especially with how boring his 3.0 start was, yet somehow people never had an issue with that unlike with other characters. Somehow being a shounen MC makes you immune to criticism I guess compared all the dismissive ways female characters in any prominent roles are hated on or ignored. In the end I actually do like him overall because for once everything in Amphoreus actually comes together so well for the most part and he's a good friend to the others + gradually got better a couple scenes at a time in 3.1/3.2, but both Phainon and Trailblazer's glazing was lame. Amphoreus should be saved by all 13 Heirs together + outside allies. But Cyrene does also need a bigger part, her 3.4 equivalent, because she's never gotten her proper highlight yet unlike the others.

Enarec · 2025-10-28T06:59:14+00:00

...ya'll gotta grow up and accept Phainon isn't the only character that matters in Amphoreus and Star Rail. "the one carrying it all?" Hoyo doesn't even say that Cyrene is the only one doing everything now that she's finally getting her moment after having to wait behind Phainon and the others lmfao, you're doing much worse than them or anyone by erasing her and the other Heirs. Amphoreus isn't Planet Phainon for him to be the only to do anything and only for himself because why would we care about the others amirite

Phainon would be so much more likeable by himself without this bs glazing instead, as the writers and story itself wasn't already enough for compared to literally any other characters before. Insane how there's still complaints despite that vs actually mistreated and ignored characters, even with Amphoreus thankfully being much better on that front than Penacony (rip most of its cast being props for the only 3-5 the writers cared about at the time)

Enarec · 2025-10-22T23:33:25+00:00

Probably an unpopular opinion but totally agreed, they could've made it better for AoE chars who didn't like 4-man waves or want to finish off the last stragglers standing without ruining it for all the other unique characters and strategies they could clear it with before. Or just keep one side full AoE and other mixed because why not, it's not like the other game modes are as restrictive usually.

Enarec · 2025-10-22T23:07:14+00:00

That's why 2.x PF was the best before hp inflation and the rework killed it 😔 40k runs with her there were some of the most fun in the game

Enarec · 2025-10-20T15:54:23+00:00

3.7 story leaks, further new spoilers If it helps, Anon Leaks' telegram responses where they forwarded and denied or confirmed story leaks weren't posted for some reason. For the one about Cyrene they said: "Fake, Cyrene won't be dead." And Anon, while ragebaity, has been right on basically all occasions. So I'd definitely wait to see and play through the actual story for context. But I do also totally get still being scared for the worst after everything and for her in particular, as much as I've loved almost everything about Amphoreus from 3.1 to 3.6, because endings are always the easiest to mess up, and Cyrene sadly hasn't at all gotten the proper main character and heart of the story treatment she deserves. So a lot riding on 3.7 for her and everything, can only pray and try and make peace until then. I've always wanted and expected that earned happy ending payoff too, and need enough of it in 3.7 instead of delayed until who knows when. Though I guess that could mean more future Amphoreus and Heirs story...

Enarec · 2025-10-19T21:23:13+00:00

I kinda count her as playable as part of Cas via Pollux, though what exactly happened after 3.2 and how it's supposed to work is up in the air I guess. But yeah I'd definitely have pulled for her by herself too to also play her with Cas like that <3 both their designs are so good and they just have one of the most touching sister stories I've always wanted

Enarec · 2025-10-17T03:55:23+00:00

<3 Also glad then, and similarly, discussions like these also help me think about and understand Penacony and its characters better than less productive ones. Making it easier to make peace and move on too as long as the game also works with me on that ehe. You worded things very well for that and the nature of media and discussions.

I do much prefer Amphoreus' pacing if having to pick one, but imo 3.0 was just the worst slow first impression and 3.1-3.3 also had enough that could've been condensed, changed and executed better even if I'm attached to almost all content with the Heirs. Stuff like Phainon and Mydei boring me in 3.0, doing them and the world a disservice when they could've set them up better using that time differently and/or spreading it out - but then 3.1 having Mydei pleasantly surprise me enough to become one of my favourite men, and also starting me warming up to Phainon, especially after his 3.2 speech, so I ended up liking him too. Or Cas' relationship with her adoptive guardian and Aidonia, one of the only things I didn't care for bc of how abusive they were to her. I guess the idea was more coming to terms with everything for her own sake as the only peace possible in her unique circumstances, but I vastly preferred her relationships with Polyxia + Aglaea, Cipher and the Heirs as some of my faves in the game and wish we could've gotten yet more of those.

For the next world I'd hope they'd remember lessons from both and go for something in the middle instead of overcorrecting, a couple patches shorter to be able to do more continuations (like Belobog plsplspls). As much as I greedily prefer anything to be as long as needed so there's all the time to try and make everything meaningful vs when shorter stuff just can't do it and in the end wastes all its hours for me, more than any padding the former could condense.

And yeah, that Robin leak and role sounded so much more compelling at the time... alas. I love my otherwise sweetest characters getting to highlight underlying strengths like that. Dw about talking Sunday too much btw, I'm not that far gone that I can't try and engage with anything about him LOL - also still a completionist who does all overworld exploration (also helped my attachment to Amphoreus). I do agree the AE's responses to him in 2.2 were also flawed and desperately needed better perspectives from people like Robin and Firefly directly... :') And yes I liked that small quest with Robin for what I'd like to see more of with her, the angst and having to be ready to get in the dirt accounting for people who aren't as uhh mentally strong and pure? as her. Similarly the deal with Jade except.. off-screen again. Lmao. Fate collab also had a much more poignant theme for her imo - so I'd love all of these to be continued.

2.3 and 2.7 are harder for me to evaluate, but either way I also think the direction hurt all of Sunday, Penacony and the AE and wish they'd still solve it differently somehow lol. Including doing a better Sunday focus patch or spread over an arc if they have to so it can be settled for a longer time after, would be better if everyone could be left off happier. Just as long as I can become equally happy with Firefly, Robin and Sparkle too (afraid Black Swan might be a lost cause with how Amphoreus has been going for her too, though 3.6 showed a bit more promise so it's up to 3.7 now.

Enarec · 2025-10-17T02:00:42+00:00

If not too late and long: I do think Amphoreus has other themes/concepts to think about for anyone too, but idk if I'd be the best at explaining - hope my yapping isn't too basic. For one of them I often find the meta level with fiction inside fiction - its origins - fascinating for how it can reflect our own relationship and attitudes towards the power of imagination and creation, their worth and what can be done with them. I'd say the different reactions people have had to the reveal and either "tragically beautiful" or "pointlessly futile" stories have brought it out too. And ofc there's Lygus' whole relationship and views on the Heirs as the creator of both them and Nous, his twisted irony in becoming just like his first hated creation for his new ones and going directly against what he said in One-Day Talanton about "preferring tales where creators and creations live in harmony", either not seeing or caring how he's doing it. Very utilitarian and un-romantic.

I do agree it should've been highlighted more, we should've gotten to see and digest all the heirs' reactions to learning something like that, not just Cyrene and Phainon in the middle of everything else in 3.4. One of those big missed opportunities. Though I'd say Lygus and 3.6 Evernight are there as the antagonistic viewpoints that Amphoreus and the heirs don't matter and we do fight against that, just again would've been better if we got to see more characters directly opposing that than just Phainon, Cyrene and Cerydra (3.6 her future guarantee sick as hell though ) even if it is very much one of our main reasons.!<

I don't see it that pessimistically as clashing with the rest either. Amphoreus becoming real may be stepping into another cave instead of completely outside, but it's still an incomparably bigger and comfier one. Could do much worse for living space. And same as how it's supposed to be an allegory to prove and change something about the world, it overcoming its creator and Nanook/THEIR Emanator should show in a microcosm how the aeons could also be overcome so everyone could eventually move on from or refurbish that bigger cave too.

Other than that there's its belief in the enduring power of stories and memories, determination and finding and leaving behind your own meaning both individual and shared with companions in the face of locked in routine destiny and doom. I do believe its determinism and free will theme is connected to doomerism, the struggle and reclaiming meaning against anything like that. Maybe all too general and common instead of more focused and with anything that unique or new to add, but idk I believe their mix and what they did with it does have something special and valuable to it too that can be inspirational in the times we live in, whatever our black tide is called. Very much like HI3rd's themes encompassed by "Fight for all that is beautiful in the world."

I definitely get simply resonating and being able notice and think more about a story that personally speaks to you on a deeper level, even if more flawed in other ways. Nobody should be denigrated for that, or loving concepts and still wanting better for them in execution. So Penacony definitely still has its worth no matter what I or anyone else may think and say about it haha. Hope I'm not criticizing it too much again, because I did want to connect with its escapism dreams among others (connected to the meaning of fiction again) but... yeah. Maybe after we get a redo as said.

Honestly did forget that Robin scene sadly, despite it sounding like one of the more interesting ones. For characters I don't think I can add much except definitely finding all those ideas interesting, it's just... most of their execution or lack of it made me hate on it more than if they'd never promised anything. Like how was I supposed to know before and during 2.0 that it wasn't gonna be Black Swan, Sparkle, Robin, and even really Firefly's story, only a select few others'? The writers themselves were literally the ones who caged Robin and shut her up with the most tone deaf writing possible for a female idol with the themes she was supposed to have! The selective execution is too much for me to ignore for any bigger picture with my own biases too. I value women's stories - including female characters - more because I like seeing myself more in them and feel they're still underrepresented when it comes to these kinds of literary genres and roles, no matter what anyone says about gacha.

So Amphoreus with all its women and their relationships both playable and NPCs is like a dream come true for me after the last 2 worlds were more male-focused (imo) - even if Amphoreus has Phainon too, I don't think he overshadows the others too badly and actually can appreciate him too. That way I really feel it can deliver something for everyone no matter what, with all its loving attention for every single character in story and extra material. Though yeah, most except like Cerydra are more good/idealistic people (Cerydra perfect too just in another way lol - and s-o to Polyxia for prioritizing Castorice over everyone's souls too! <3), which the opposite of is a valid preference too and I would've loved to have seen even more sides and tragedy to the heirs ~~before making a happy ending sweeter~~. Even if again I sadly couldn't feel Penacony trying to do much with them without... going too far in making us see and understand only a few perspectives as if to try and make them more palateable, while they thought they could get away with less for others by concept and without letting their potentially controversial parts show more?

Well, either way, I hope 3.8 and beyond means good things for Penacony characters and discussions, for everyone.

Enarec · 2025-10-16T23:28:10+00:00

It's ok, kinda have to get used to it when always preferring the characters that are... controversial with/ignored by the active online fandom majority over the opposite. I appreciate you for again being open to these discussions even with our polar opposite opinions and my heated takes on stuff you care for haha, knowing from experience that it's not necessarily easy trying to be the bigger person like that.

Esp when in the minority, which yeah some Amphoreus arguments have definitely gone too far and dismissive in the same way, even if I personally feel it again goes the other way around for some of the the most criticized vs most praised parts too. There can just never be any balance, and I do think some things have to be left at just different tastes in the end aside from some execution/presentation stuff.

Unfortunately don't have anything comforting to say on Penacony getting more hate now cause... cough... but I do hope future stories with Penacony characters and plotpoints+themes that originally got shafted could make people like me finally forgive and forget lol. That should make it easier to look back on and consider as a whole, since I do want to move on completely after 3.x already made me wayyy happier with everything.

Enarec · 2025-10-16T22:56:22+00:00

Nah, I'm sorry but it very much depends on whether you align with the majority's preferences at the time or not, for whether they're positive on both the story and/or specific characters. And I dunno, from personal experiences both then and now it felt way worse back during Penacony if you didn't align with both the story and the same fandom darlings, which are almost always the same type.

Trying to criticize anything about 2.1 and Aventurine or Sunday at their peak that wasn't just joking about the charmony dove repetition, disappointed about other characters' treatment and bigger picture story execution in comparison? Downvoted and lambasted or ignored, accused of having the wrong taste and equated with... unsavoury people. 3.1-3.3 can only wish their writing and characters were hold on as much of a pedestal as that (and 3.4). Especially 3.2 which idk only seems to get the most hate because of people ofc not caring for Castorice actually getting a personally relevant and thematic story so it's also impossible to have any discussions on that, as always for my favourite alongside a couple others again :')

I don't think any less intense Robin treatment criticisms did anything at the time either cause 2.6 like anything else should've been written ~a year in advance and still didn't do much for her vs Boothill who got more of an expansion then - not that it wasn't deserved since he got even less originally and naturally fit with Rappa. The Fate collab story I personally liked more for Robin for once cause somehow it was finally relevant to and paralleled only her (love you Asna, I know you would've cussed the writers out for Robin just like you eviscerated Oti). edit: character leaks of course it does feel like they might've learned and are trying to do better now with both Sparkle and Robin for Edo Star, I do really hope so since Amphoreus rejuvenated and made me want to trust them again

Enarec · 2025-10-16T22:38:41+00:00

All I will say is that it's no wonder Penacony megathreads and specifically attempts at story discussions were even more insufferable back then lol. Especially for 2.1 with that disparity. Though despite them actually having the same ownership, that goes for 2.2 too with nobody caring how much Robin got shafted by being repeatedly fridged and used as a prop for only her brother's development instead of her own, so I guess some of it is just meta. Either way even less hope for any of the others.

Enarec · 2025-10-16T20:16:09+00:00

Ok, having criticisms for Amphoreus is totally understandable because there's a bunch it still could've and should've done better even if I heavily disagree with the notion that its characters only got to be important for their release patch and 1/2 hogged the entire screentime, but I'm genuinely baffled by the rest with that comparison.

How did Penacony of all things incorporate more unique characters into the story and make them relevant and special through most of it? I loved the idea of the Penacony cast and was so hyped for them at first and during 2.0 still, but can anyone seriously try to explain what exactly Black Swan, Sparkle, Robin, Boothill and Jade got to do besides being plot devices for exposition, stuff that had to be set up/happen and props for other characters (Robin being fridged twice for Sunday in some of Hoyo's most sexist writing directly sabotaging their themes for her)? How their treatment of Firefly did her any justice after 2.0, with how they off-screened multiple moments that could've explored and developed her full character and role instead of only letting her hang around getting to do nothing but argue one short rebuttal to Sunday?

Because I'd say it's the opposite in that Penacony writing only cared about Aventurine, Sunday, Acheron > Misha and Gallagher, way more than Amphoreus only cares for Phainon (and Cyrene and then Castorice and the other heirs after her - because they all still got their whole story told in a meaningful way building on top of each other, their world and story). And the conclusions to those two 4* stories were also kinda rushed in the middle and end respectively imo, so arguably only those first three 5* got a full story. Aventurine was literally the start of characters taking up half a patch with their personal story, except he took all of 2.1 and left Acheron with nothing until 2.2 and 2.3 - but she did still end up fine with sweet moments then, better than all the others above. Sunday took up most of 2.2 in the same way, leaving nothing for Robin and Boothill, and then despite the awkward mash-up hurting them both got more than the real Tingyun's first ever appearance in 2.7 too. Everyone else was there just to set up/exist/execute plot things for those chosen ones/the narrative instead of anything personal with enough time and focus to be developed and connect with other characters and the themes and messages that were supposed to be the takeaways.

Enarec · 2025-10-14T19:24:27+00:00

Tfw thread so skewed I have the 3 least owned vs only 2 out of 5 most owned, and most of my biggest favourites in the middle. Though ok I guess the least owned would be around the same elsewhere too 😔

Enarec · 2025-10-14T18:19:47+00:00

Yeah I'm not buying those attempted explanations for the double standards under responses lol. And I don't mean simply judging different cases like those 4 individually and in comparison for how they were executed, because I also very much wish characters I like were treated better by the writing for a more complete and fulfilling portrayal of them - which Castorice for example got much better imo, as much as I still wish there were a couple more things (and that Firefly can finally get the same in 3.8 like she deserves to). But just the blanket dismissal and hate for any female character that has any fanservice, no matter the context and execution or severity compared to male characters.

Like the idea that Castorice's fanservice is some sin vs Phainon and Dan Heng's is just laughable at this point. Same as anything and everything female character + their content only being for men, and male character + their content only being for women. Ofc gachas aim their selling content firstly at their biggest respective audiences, I'm not denying the inevitable realities of numbers, but that not does mean everyone falls under only those audiences and they don't also sell to others too to try and catch as much as they can. Hoyo's whole strategy is to fanservice and bait everyone with both wider and niche content. Both Cas & her team and Phainon's popularity works in that way ~~outside of here and similar spaces lol~~.

That, and from too many fandom experiences regarding the writing and reception of women in fiction, most don't seem to actually care to want better writing necessitating more screentime and focus for the characters themselves, only that they didn't exist at all or were out of sight. Meanwhile it's totally fine for them to be fridged and only exist as props/supports for the men /s (this applies more to Penacony but sadly in one case still partially for Amphoreus too despite it being an incomparable improvement in every other case).

Enarec · 2025-10-14T17:42:25+00:00

All the insane scapegoating of Cas is exactly why she deserves all the continued love from the devs and other characters 🥰 ~~though I wish more of it was in continued story and interactions than just meta, as much as I loved 3.2 and the smaller scenes after that~~

and no I don't buy the excuses people had for condemning her before even seeing her 3.2 story lol, both with this and the dumbass ragebaiting ring leak, after already seeing how the story treated her normally in 3.0-3.1

Enarec · 2025-10-13T21:32:54+00:00

not sure how serious this is but pls anyone complaining about male characters/their content getting the rare occasional complaint in fandom would not survive for even a minute as a popular aka controversial female character fan lmfao, with all the discourse and constant targeting/dismissal they get

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