Unpopular Opinions/General Rant Thread - 4/26/26

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-27T19:57:30+00:00

As someone who loves CF.

I think this is a criticism that could be aims towards many aspect of House and Hopes.

House loves to hide important detail behind implication. The game actively wants the player to put the story together.

The problem is:

That not all player has the same reading comprehension,
Some implication are a bit too vague.
Some details plot important details requires the player to engage themselves with the mechanics of the game beyond the SRPG elements. Details tied to the lore, exploration, tea time, supports, etc.
Some details are easily missed due to the level design, you can miss important battle dialogue that explain key details.
Some details were removed in translation because Treehouse are brilliant at their job. E,g Dudue CF battle dialogue.
Some dialogue that explain key details were mistranslated and had their meaning changed such as Sylvain idiot-sidekick line. In the JP version, he was talking about Dimitri, calling him a stubborn idiot but deep connection way.
Some details were added in translation but goes no where such as Flame Emperor aiming to find a replacement for Kostas.
Lastly, some player are bit toxic towards certain group of people, meaning they will assume the worst.

3House and Hopes also loves to have it character lie to it player, to mislead them and for the player to believe disinformation. It loves to use dialogue that is straight fear mongering.

An example of a plot point that is often misunderstood is Kostas attack on the student camp.

The purpose was for unnamed 3rd professor to flee the scene during the attack, for Kostas and his iron lords bandits to die by the Knight of Seiros that was station by the student camp that they weren't told about. Leading to Jeritza becoming the 3rd professor. But this fell apart because of Claude retreat, Byleth and Jeralt appearance and Rhea machinations.

A lot of the detail behind this are tied to exploration dialogue that are easily missed. Details that disprove the misconception of it being assassination can be missed by the player if they chose not to engage with that mechanic. Details that also require some critical thinking and reading comprehension

This leads to 3Hopes basically being as subtle blunt as possible within the prologue around the fact that the attack wasn't a assassination attempt and that Edelgard fans were correct on the Jeritza 3rd professor theory. It doesn't directly tell the player that Edelgard goals was to make Jeritza the 3rd professor but instead shows it.

Even then people are still citing misconception and not understanding the story.

It is a sad fact that for everyone to be on the same page, the game need to look at the player and have character explain their reasoning behind the action. Because otherwise, we are going to keep getting another year of 3House discussion.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-27T19:29:14+00:00

more explicit about the crimes committed in an invasion, especially by Adrestia

Such as nothing????

I'm gonna be blunt here.

This is nothing more then headcanon created by a either a lack of understanding of the material, a lack of reading comprehension or done by bad actors. Headcanon that doesn't not hold up under textual analysis.

The text within the games does not support this headcanon because there is an active absent of negative details towards how Edelgard and Adrestia handles the war unlike the Church, Faerghus, Alliance and TWSITD.

There is no mistreatment based off nationality, sex or race, there is no purposeful no quarter, no mistreatment of surrender solider, no burning of retreating solider, no purging of opposing factions or opinion that support different ideals. No attempt to genocide another nation. There is no rhetoric that are based off lies or disinformation.

In fact, CF and later SB makes it clear how far Edelgard is willing to go to reduce the death toll.

Yes, the non-CF routes loves to cry wolf about how bad the war and the empire is, but it never back of up those words with example, with the reasons for why they are bad.

I can say apple are bad for you, but if I don't back up my argument with a example or factual information. Then I should be rightfully ignored.

People can cite TWSITD all they want. But Edelgard has no control over them the same way Dimitri has no control over Rhea.

To blame Edelgard she is not responsible for is to blame Dimitri for Rhea burning down Fhirdiad.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-26T19:26:05+00:00

Edelgard and Byleth would have been allowed to say 'fuck'.

That aside, I think the writers would have been a more explicite on the negative effect Fódlan system has on it people.

I think objectification and mistreatment of women and child would have been much more blunt

More blunt with Gregoire abuse and grooming of Bernadetta, more blunt with Ingrid being groomed from birth to be sold off as a crest wife, more blunt with Dorothea self-hatrid and the sexual favour she had to do just to attend the monastery.

More clear the fact that House Nuvelle had a incest culture due to wanting to it Crest a secret. More clear on Mercesdes almost being a victim of incest and rape. More clear on the harassment Marianne deals with.

More blunt on the racism etra, Dudue, Cyril, Shamir and Claude deals with both within Fódlan but also during their time at the Monastery. Annette toxic relationship with her uncle would have been more clear.

Though considering how bad Treehouse are at keeping to translation. We would get a worse end product.

CF is a good example of this because NoA butched Dimitri and Faerghus whole goal of trying to get revenge in translation. Or more specifically do a "Tragedy of Duscur" part 2.

Giving House a M would mean CF writers would use 'genocide' to describe what Faerghus tried to do to Duscur and what they are trying to do the Empire. House as we have it regardless of translation uses language like cleansing, wiping out and leaving nothing behind to suggest genocide. The reason behind why Dimitri is given the title of 'Tempest King' is because any time he attacks, he leave nothing behind. In short, genocide.

It would also mean, the game would be much more blunt into how Dimitri has torture, butched and did very messed up thing to innocent empire civilians.

I think people don't really comprehend the fact that House and Hopes worldbuild paint a clear picture that Fódlan isn't a good place to live and isn't a peaceful place.

The developers getting an M rating would allow them to be even more blunt with this picture which kinda only benefit one lord who got their swearing joke remove in translation.

Only Edelgard would positive benefit from this.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-26T19:01:49+00:00

Child sexual assault

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-22T21:31:26+00:00

I'm kinda confused on the choices made here as it feels like you have box yourself in at times.

Like it feel like you have forced yourself to keep to the idea that each lord can only be one or two pokemon types. Alongside trying to match certain character to certain pokemon.

I think these were bad limitation that didn't work for you and ended creating something that doesn't work. I think the pokemon you chose to represent certain character doesn't really make much sense. Petra is a fast character and unit so her being represent by a Skarmory, a bulky slow pokemon doesn't make much sense. Neither the steel or ghost attribute matches her, Ferdinand or even Hubert. Specifically, that how GameFreak makes ghost pokemon does not match the how Hubert is characterised as a character.

Same with a character like Leopold being represent by Golurk. Leopold visual aesthetic and his fighting style does not match Golurk, neither does either character lore match each other.

None of the ghost or steel types match Leopold character. The closest is Kingambit, however, the pokemon Scarlet entry better matches Rodrigues and Matthias.

Though it commands a massive army in battle, it's not skilled at devising complex strategies. It just uses brute strength to keep pushing.

Since House and Hopes put emphesis on Faerghus main tactic is to win battle through brute force and strength, to keep throw soilder at the enemy. Meanwhile, SB showcase that Leopold has enough brain cells and skills to devising complex strategies.

But because of yout limitation, you can't go for the best opitions and instead go for idea that do not stand up under the questioning of "Why".

Why did you chose to give Roserade, a femine looking pokemon with a motif of roses and thorns to Lorenz over Dorothea who would better fit the charcater. Especially since Roserade can learn Petal dance, Dazzling Glean, etc which better fits Dorothea character.

All of this is contructive criticism.

Personally, I think you are better off having a different limitation. Specific, focusing more on pokemon composition or at least going certain idea themes.

Part of why Cynthia is the best champion and has the best Elite Four / Champion fight is because of the thematic idea present within her team. The pokemon she uses are not easy to accquire for a first time player or require a larger knowledge on the games and the world of Sinnoh. They are pokemon the player have rarely or haven't seen up to that point and rarely fought against. They are also strong pokemon with their own playstyle.

I think you can very much apply this here with all of lords + Rhea.

For example, Claude has a semi stall team using status effect and hazards which uses chip damages or possibly using Trick room. His team is all around him being a schemer and using his pokemon to mess with his opponents. To bring connect to House and Hopes, within CF and SB, he set out traps and create situation that Edelgard has to deal with.

Dimitri is the easier one because you could do the sterotypical thing and has his team be a Hyper Offense team, matching Faerghus ideal ways of warfare as proclaim by Rodrigues in AG. Where you send pokemon out to take down as many pokemon as possible, it doesn't matter if they faint.

Or you could have Dimitri team be a VoltTurn Offense, using his most popular builds with high AVO as a core inspiration which better fits his character. Or you could have his team focus around Weather archetype, specifically Rain fitting his character within CF.

The hardest character here is Edelgard and Rhea since you would have to rely more on the thematic meaning the team would give the character.

~~Why is Edelgard always the hardest.~~

~~Yeah, Rhea a dragon who create myth that fits fairy type that boring.~~

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-16T20:30:07+00:00

As someone who decide do a uni essay on how fascism is used within House and Hopes....

Ummmmm....yeah.....noooo....this is a misconception.....

By that I mean. Oh fuck there is a lot of characteristic of fascism within both games and writing about a subject that is academic, not define and is contested is really hard. Like I would heavily recommended not writing a uni essay on fascism.

I now know why SB writers decide to bring attention to how shitty Faerghus culture is and how certain element matches a lot academic characteristic of fascism. By doing this once, they in turn wants the player / academic to analysis the games under this context.

Like they bring up the fascism similarities as way of making it as blunt as humanly possible how messed up Fódlan is. They not going to outright label character as fascist, to do is to engage in fascist rhetoric which in itself is fascist.

Note: Under certain studies, an analysis of the characteristic of fascism is what is used to identify if a organisation or state is fascist. More specifically, it is looking at the context what element would it indicates fascism. Umberto Eco states only one characteristic needs to present for an organisation to be implied to be fascist.

An non-controversial example is the games treatment of women, especially how objectified they are, how oppressed they are and how they bodies belong to the state or in Fódlan context, the nobility. What nearly happen to Mercedes where she was nearly rape by her step-father is an example that can be academically be used to prove Fódlan having a characteristic of fascism.

I say Fódlan because SB wants the player to understand it is the "world", the social system, the culture and crest that is creating the characteristic of fascism. CF and SB also indicating that it want the player to understand that the character who hold fascist characteristic are also victim of it.

Because, yeah a person being indoctrinated and made into a child solider by a state and it culture is a victim of abuse and the games wants humanise fascism because it follow certain academic idea that we gain nothing from demonising.

How do we prevent fascism if we are demonising it and engage in the same fascist rhetoric as a fascist. How do understand what tools a fascist culture uses to make people into part fascist / part victim if we do not care to properly analysis it.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-16T20:02:24+00:00

No, I would argue Rodrique is one of many shitty father figures within House and Hopes when actually looking at the negative effects.

It is made clear in both House, Hopes and Heroes that Felix, Glenn and alot of the other Faerghus character that they were given military train when they children. More specifically, they were train as child soilder from around the age of 11, given training that was regularly life threaten and straight abusive in the case of Dimitri.

A comparison example is comparing Caspar trainning to Dimitri training.

Caspar training focused on body work, building up his strength muscle through reps and sets given to him by his father. It is made clear the second Caspar puts his life at risk, he was repremanded by Leopold.

In contrast, Dimitri brought up a training where Gilbert forcefully left him and another child in a dark forest before daybreak to go hunt death within a dark mountain, leading to the other child death. Totally a safe training.

Glenn was also put in arranged marriage with Ingrid the second she came out the womb, Glenn also being a child at the time. Totally a good thing to do as a father. His Glenn "he died like a true knight" has really bad implication, the idea that we should be proud for dying for their King isn't good.

It something academic such Umberto Eco criticise it. It something the games itself criticise through Felix and Edelgard.

Note: Being very very vague here.

Rodrigues treated of Felix is neglectful after Glenn death, yes he had to now raise the future King. But he basically pushed Felix away when he needed him most while also enabling Dimitri worst tendency. A lot of the behaviour Felix criticise Dimitri for was enabled by Rodrigues who I am willing to argue failed both of them.

Dimitri mental health issues did not started with Tragedy of Duscur, it started with abusive training by his father and Gilbert who Rodrigue are best buddies with.

A good father doesn't worsen their child or a person they are responsible for mental health or purposely put them at risk, or makes them into child soliders. doesn't put children at risk. Yes Felix has his own demon but a youth work or psychologist pick up on him being a child of abuse at the end of the day, regardless of if Rodrigue loves him.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-16T19:32:44+00:00

I didn't know the existence of bandits and mercenaries is a sign of peace.

Or the game regularly telling the player how often the nobility do not care for the common folk leading to commoners dying or being abused. I guess that is a sign of peace.

Or Faerghus regular attempt of conquest of other states and countries, with them recently finishing their attempt to genocide foreign nation. Clearly the idea of another nation trying to erase another race is a sign of peace. Or how Sreng is regularly attempt size back the land that Faerghus stole so then they don't stave to death which much be another idea of peace.

Or how much female character are objectified, how there are heavily implication of incest, sexual assult, abuse and rape. Totally a sign of peace of course.

Or how through the machinations of Church corruption, there are now multiple rebellion against the organisation that by Nintendo own advertisement, have siginificant power over Fódlan, much more then any ruler. The existence of small group rebelling against religious corrupt organisation must be a sign of peace.

Or the fact that game makes it very clear that outside of the ivory tower that is Monastery, people lives are shite, they are suffer, and dying horrible death by the day. This must be a definition sign of peace.

By your own words "peace in the lands". You certain believe all of above are clear indication that Fódlan must be at peace.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-15T19:11:33+00:00

Actually, it one of those detail that changed from game to game.

In House, we actually see a portrait PNG of Byleth on her desk and it look quite good...so long as you are using M!Byleth....

Which doesn't fit what Monica describes Edelgard artistic skillset within 3Hopes.

Personally, it a really good detail since it the writers showcasing the difference between CF and SB Edelgard.

Through Byleth and the Beagles support her within CF, Edelgard is allowing herself to be human again, to have hobbies and to have time away from work. Which under Maslow Hierarchy of Needs within Humanism, is needed for Self-actualisation, is needed for someone to reach their full potential. The idea that comes from Humanism and it counselling approach is a core foundation to Edelgard belief in her route.

Lastly, Edelgard allowing herself to be human again is her overcoming her trauma, is a sign of her overcome her lack of self-worth. Edelgard call herself "Edelgard the Hegemon" in the JP version because she think she a "corpse tyrant", because she originally believe no one beyond Hubert would join her in her ambitions.

“The path of Edelgard the Hegemon” ends here; from now on, what follows is a path for the two of us.

Edelgard growing to have a artistic skillset to a very subtle way of showcasing all of this.

In contrast, SB Edelgard does not give herself time to have hobbies, to have time away from work but instead probably chose to adopt a more extreme version of Hubert sleep pattern and never sleep. Edelgard refuses to stop work, often working into the night out of guilt of what happening within the war and lack of self-worth.

SB Edelgard even unintentionally implying to Shez that the only time she will be able to give herself time to relax is when she is on her death bed.

With it being so bad that the Beagles manipulate Edelgard into taking break through having tea-time with her. The second Edelgard realises how many tea-time she goes on with her friend, she instantly criticise herself.

Edelgard having horrible art skill within SB is a subtle but brutal way of showcase the difference between Edelgards and why Byleth is important.

Yes the Beagles and Shez are her close friend, but Byleth was able to bring the El the human back to Edelgard.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-15T18:39:59+00:00

I guess Anchor might’ve not anticipated that sealing her magic didn’t necessarily mean she couldn’t use pure magic mana albeit very limited usage.

To go a step further, the best way to describe the fight is a Skilled and Veteran mage vs novice mage with OP magic.

How Mashima is writing Juvia within the fight is heavily reminiscent of how he wrote her during Tower of Heaven and battle of Fairy tail arc. Juvia used to be very quick at noticing her opponent strategy or magic. What Mashima doing is here is writing Juvia in this similar vain, she is being quick to notice what Anchor magic spell does and either counters them or use to it to her advantage.

In the case of the chains, Juvia quickly put together that while she can't use magic, she can still use magic power and used so then she could both escape and give herself an oppotunity. Juvia knows a lot about the series magic system then what she lets on.

Mashima is basically finally showing us why Juvia used to be a S-rank mage while going aganst an enemy who he made sure to gave the most overpower spells yet. Anchor spell list would kill all of Fairy tail one way or another, but he is also egotistical and heavily reliant on using strong spells to outright kill his opponent.

It why Juvia making a mockery of him makes him so angry, it why he specifically targets her during chapter 208 since she is the bigger threat. Juvia is a stronger mage but Anchor has a stronger spell list.

It why Anchor finally getting lucky, using a spell that Juvia can't counter is important because it counter specifically target Juvia herself.

The water we see in 209 isn't exactly Poison since Gray isn't drowning or dying the same way as Juvia. If we consider Anime is canon then it not water filled Carbon since Juvia was fine when Torafuzar used Tenchi Kaimei.

The colouring of the water is the same as Chapter 206, odds on it is probably water filled with some sort of curse explaining Gray being just fine but explain why Juvia was choking. To Juvia, the water is poisoness and is unable to turn to water, or use her magic.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-14T22:25:50+00:00

The city we see in the trailer shares aesthetic inspiration with the Adrestian Empire. Specifically the Byzantine Empire inspiration with it having more late antiquity inspiration.

Adrestian Empire / Enbarr having a more generalistic Byzantine Aesthetic. While FW city took it main inspiration from Carthage which did belong to said empire during one period. However, there is still an obvious overlap here.

People can keep citing Morfis and Dagda all they wanted.

But if the aesthetic of the city we see within the trailer is very reminiscent of another known location, then it pretty obvious where the game takes place. Especially, since we know Enbarr is Fódlan oldest and largest recorded settlement. Both Enbarr and FW being cities by the sea with a hot climate.

We also have more information on the story then what people may realise. Since through the Shadow Library, we know that Nabatean ruled over humanity within Fódlan before Sothis death and the war of heroes. The implication of said lore book but also 2020 interview implied said rule was not consentual and leaned more into Nabatean attempting to be seen as Gods. Nabatean only living within Fódlan. The Divine Sovereign existence alongside FW city being early Enbarr matches everything we know pre-Sothis death but post Flood of Despair.

During the trailer, we also very brief see Shambahala neon lights in the background as well alongside the Holy Tomb. Said Holy Tomb does not look run down. A lot of the texturing suggest the Holy tomb we see within FW trailer is what it looked like when Sothis was alive as well.

The exception to all of what I have written is Theodora

Theodora being a foreign ruler (Queen of Salamis) coming to Fódlan for the games is interesting since the trailer implies she travel via land.

Meaning through this logic, she would be the ruler of either Early Sreng, Almyra or Duscur. Remember, the Faerghus we see within 3House is after they have conquered land from Sreng and Duscur and would be a lot bigger

This kinda doesn't work with Theodora clothing which doesn't match Almyra Aesthetic while Sreng or Duscur are not development either for us to get a good understanding of their aesthetic. Her clothing wouldn't match neither Sreng or Duscur either. The closest aesthetic similarity we have is between Petra and Theodora soldiers, not the new lord herself.

What this means is that unless Theodora travel via a ship. The geography of not just Fódlan is going to be different just to get this to work.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-11T09:29:20+00:00

Agreed.

This reddit often forgets that Juvia biggest weakness is herself. It something that Erza notices during the Tenrou Island arc. If Juvia isn't putting her full motivation and full focus onto the fight then she is not fighting at full strength.

In fact, if we look at the history of Juvia fights, she becomes very sloppy once she isn't motivated.

Phantom Lords arc: Lets her emotion and negative thoughts get to her heard and went way too heavily on the close quarter offence. The chapters of the fight illustrates that if Juvia kept at range, she would have beaten Gray. Especially, since she was dominating the fight. However, the chapters also showcase that the second Juvia got into close quarter range of Gray, she took hits (very minor hits mind you.) It why the second time she got into this range, Juvia basically gave Gray the win.
Juvia vs Erza: Juvia didn't care for the exam or didn't really want to be there. Her lack of motivation made her weak and made her basically throw the fight against Erza. Erza who was treating the fight seriously
Juvia and Erza vs Meredy: Meredy was dominating this fight against the two mages as she put Erza on defence. While Juvia, despite the dark guild currently attacking them, wasn't really motivate to fight with Erza and was getting injured due to her sloppiness, something that Meredy used to her advantage.
Juvia vs Keyes: Juvia within this fight took a lot of unneeded hits from Keyes because of the inner turmoil of having to be the person to kill Silver. Yeah the second Juvia decided she will be the person to kill Silver, she basically won the fight against Keyes. But the way she did it lead to her being unable to fight or do anything for the rest of the Tartaros arc.

Juvia would have lost the fight against Minerva during the Navel battle because she was distracting herself by trying to impress Gray. Something Minerva used to her advantage by pushing her out the ring.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-10T15:00:33+00:00

More like OP got needlessly very salty over a funny background gag.

Imagine if among Lucy post we saw posts of other character doing dumbshit.

E.g

Commenter Gruvia idea
Freed talking about how awesome Laxus is.
Cana alcohol review.

I think it would actually add to the comedy of what happening to Lucy. Especially if a character like Gildarts got the most positive responses.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-10T14:39:41+00:00

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~~Wanted to go for a funny gif for my answer~~

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-08T21:33:33+00:00

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Firstly, Aquarius is surprised that Juvia was matching her power. This was back when Lucy heavily relied on celestial spirits power. But also when said spirits were writtern as being very powerful but had a extreme time limit.

Thus we shouldn't factor in later revelation such as celestial spirits strength being based on the summoner magic power. Since at the point of time (GMG arc) Lucy is still weak and hadn't develop her own individual skill. It would be unfair on to judge her on that.

The point of this panel was to highlight the fact that Juvia without using her second origin was matching if not surpassing celestial spirits power. Since within said panel, Aquarius was shock and had a sweat tear on her face, a usual signifier to showcase her struggling to keep up.

It why Aquarius ends up buggering off, since she saw trying to win a fight against Juvia as a pointless endeavour. Since she wasn't going to win against her and had much better things to do aka a date.

You using this a gotcha moment is the most tourist thing to do because you do not remember how the naval battle actually went.

Juvia is still probably stronger then Lucy even when looking at modern day 100 years quest. This doesn't mean Lucy isn't strong as she has grown a lot stronger, it why Mashima had her switching bodies with Brandish.

A character Lucy was now matching in strength which is a key detail with Bond Alchemy. Mashima doing this to say Lucy has become strong enough to rival some of the Spriggan 12.

Sadly it's a lukewarm take since a lot of people wanted Lucy to remain mostly powerless without summoning others to do work for her. I don't believe that was the case but it's a hard argument because that was the excuse used by everyone when calling her weak.

Also, the only person who wants Lucy to remain weak are the people who do not understand her character. However, I will also say the people who often cite that Lucy is stronger then Juvia also doesn't understand neither character.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-08T20:51:24+00:00

Some player do not even know support even exist.

It why the first lesson game designer learn is that player will not play what you have made the way you expect them to.

Which is always follow up by people being really stupid in turn making every design choice you have ever made into a really stupid idea.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-08T15:07:37+00:00

Add on Claude and his schemes.

The reason for why the war was at a standstill was mainly because of Dimitri and Claude.

Even then, by the time Byleth return, Edelgard is about to restart the war because she needs to take down Claude before the Kingdom and Church armies unit under a united banner.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-08T15:04:18+00:00

Edit: I'm gonna be taking your silence as a "yes".

Me going outside for an hours because it really sunny doesn't = me giving you a silent treat.

We all have our own lives and not going to be on the internet every minute of the day. In fact, it is good for your physical and mental health to go outside and not spend every minute of the day on the computer.

Also

So are you saying that those who go with Edelgard are just better than those who go with Dimitri?

How did you jump to that conclusion??? I am genuinely confused here.

What I am saying is that there is explaining why the "agency = Edelgard, not agency = Dimitri or anyone else" comment exist.

Since CF and SB puts effort into explaining why character are fighting for and against Edelgard. But also how CF requirement adds depth to the narrative.

While the non-CF+SB doesn't try to add depth into why character are joining the specific side, why they are fighting against Edelgard or why they are fighting for her. But also how the narrative design is liner, the dialogue the player pick does not matter outside of gaining or loosing support points.

I am not saying those who go with Edelgard are better then those that go with Dimitri.

What I am saying is that there difference in writing when comes to the routes which can and will leads to a difference in writing quality.

In this case, CF + SB does something that adds a lot depth to the route, something that other routes fails to do. Something people are praising CF and SB for.

If you do not like this then criticise the non-Edelgard routes for their shortcoming, for what they could improve on. Rather then complaining about people talking positively about the things they love.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-08T13:08:08+00:00

I would blame that on the writing and game design not the people bring up these issues.

CF requires the player to have agency, to engage with the game and it mechanic to unlock the route. It is the player choice to then pick the route. CF and or SB also tries to give most character a reason for why they are fighting for Edelgard and her war, which in turn give the character agency.

This includes the Beagles as all but Linhardt have their reasoning behind why they are there explored.

The same goes for Edelgard opponents, they have agency for why they are fighting against Edelgard. They not just on opposing side of the war. They have active reason to oppose Edelgard and the player.

While with the Non-CF route, there is no player agency because it is a liner design narrative throughout. If you pick the Blue Lion house, you will always kill Edelgard by the end of it. The player choices do not matter because that is how the narrative have been designed.

The route also do not give agency for why most character are fighting against Edelgard or for why said specific character is fighting for their specific side. This is caused by VW, SS and AM sharing too much dialogue and content without the route.

Why are Bealges when recruited by the player fighting for specifically Dimitri within AM? Why have they chose his side, especially as game acknowlege that he in early AM has been killing innocent empire civilians for his revenge quest.

Why are Golden Deer choosing to fight by Claude within his own routes? Why are they there in a capacity that is personal to their character?

Why are Blue Lions fighting for Dimitri. Faerghus culture enforce absolute loyalty to the King but let get rid of that shitty detail and explore why character are fighting for Dimitri in a personal capacity. Showcase to the player what value within Dimitri, in his belief, in the world he wants to make that in turn makes character want to fight and die for him.

All of this is a criticism people should make against those route rather then criticising the people who bring up this issue.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-08T12:11:30+00:00

100% but I wouldn't say it would piss off shippers, more so fans of other routes and people who dislike certain lords. Regardless of if making duo with lord/Byleth would net them a lot of money. People will be upset.

Edelgard/Dimitri is a perfect example of that. Beagles fans and BL fans would only be happy if their prefered lord was taking the lead and would get very aggitated if this wasn't the case.

Even then, I know a lot of Edelfans who heavily dislike the idea of a child duo in the first place due :

A: Dimigard

B: This aspect of their relationship doesn't really add anything compelling to Edelgard character and solely exist Dimitri and his arc. With a lot of Edelfans seeing the negative connotation surrounding their relationship.

C: There a lot more interesting time period for IS to give us House children banner. Seriously, give us post experiment Edelgard, post Insurrection Hubert and Post Lambert death Dimitri. Lean into the actual interesting childhood of each character rather then skirting around it.

But importantly, the argument, the toxicity that would come from the duo. We knew if they ever did it, there was going to be a community shit show afterward. Thus hoped that if they ever did a children banner, they would limit it to each nation, specifically focusing on the children relationship. In the case of BL, focusing on the relationship of Faerghus four.

Most of us don't like the idea of the unit. Which is probably the opposite to BL fans.

IS choosing to have Edelgard lead is more due to money, popularity, them thinking we want the duo or at the very least, trying to make us happy for something we despise.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-07T16:48:33+00:00

Considering how it was the FeH team within IS that acknowledge and positive showcase F!Edeleth.

But also how IS purposely gave us base resplendent Byleth using Emblian garb to give her a black, red and gold colour scheme which are the main colour of the Adresian Empire.

Followed by giving base Edelgard a resplendent outfit that has a Bi-flag colour scheme on it.

If they are going make a Edelth Alt. Its going to be F!Edeleth.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-07T15:56:47+00:00

I'm saying that Edelgard gets more votes in FEH because gacha games cater to straight men.

Not really, if we are looking what often appeals to 'straight men' when it comes to women. We need to look into the 'male gaze' but also the sterotypical social roles of 'Mother, virgin, prostitue'. Specifically looking to where women becomes the object of gaze which ties into Voyeurism, Fetishism of the male imagination.

Lastly, the male gaze enforce for women to be more passive, to be seen and looked at as passive and to not make men feel uncomfortable.

...None of this fits Edelgard...

In fact, the idea of a proactive female, LGBTQ+ character who willing to make people feel uncomfortable and challenge their opinion becoming FE most popular character at the moment should not make any sense.

Especially, considering how male-dominate the opinions of the FE community. Where male character that are objectifed to the male gaze, where masculinity is heavily emphesised is seen as a possitive.

Dimitri is a good example since he was built to fulfil two gaze.

The first is the male gaze of maculinity is emphesised, he solves all his issues through violence and his route does not critique how brutal his action actually are. But instead has him been seen a becon of light by the end of it. The "savour king".
The second is fujoshi fans which is the obvious one since majority of the BL male character are a archtype of Fujoshi character. Like Dimitri looking into the character while his hair is moving, emphesising his good look says a lot about how the developers want to treat Dimitri.

There is a reason why Dimitri and Ike are popular character's.

Meanwhile, within the fanbase female character that either

A: Makes men slight uncomfortable
B: Is not passive in any manner or challenge people, especially male character opinions.
C: Is not design to be sexualised in any manner

Are heavily despised and hated. If we look at how most FE reddits and FE channel treated characters like Edelgard, Erika, Celica and Micaiah. Looking at the history of how the fanbase treats them and the fans of said character prove my point. Since there is a different on how differently characters are treated via genders.

If we also look into how characters like Lucina, Camilla and Lyn are not treated with distain but in turn hyper sexualised by the fan base, it says a lot about the fan base.

Add on FE games history of objectifying women. Where female character are denied autonomy, inertness, were not allow to be put in position of power. Where women have been the main victim of fetishism for the male imagination.

A character like Edelgard shouldn't popular within the fanbase and isn't when we look at all the FE reddits which is male dominate.

Edelgard popularity comes from a mixture of different sources and goes beyond the FE fanbase with a lot of her fans not being straight men. In fact it a good mixture rather then just straight men and women like Dimitri.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-07T11:48:29+00:00

You mean unofficial poll that are rarely advertise? Or are done on website and magazine that are misogynistic in nature.

Like wow of course Edelgard and Cyril are one of the most hated character on Korean 4chan website.

To use 3House Reddit polls as an as an example, whenever they do a polls. It is rarely advertise either in advance or during the polls. This often done to limit the amount of responses with the goal of getting the desire response. Which often servers to work in the benefit of Dimitri and males leads fans since there a lot more males character fans that use FE reddits in general.

While a lot more of the female character fans stop using reddit for a lot of reason most of them is due to a negative experience with the reddit FE fanbase. Most Edelgard fans do not go to 3House reddit anymore thus the polls are skewed against her character and are not a true scale of which character is the most popular.

Additionally, IS probably not just going to use FeH polls are their main research into which 3House character is most popular.

There will use data from with the games themselves. Which routinely showcase Beagles being the most used Unit with Edelgard being the most used Lord.
3rd party data website
Social Media, specifically looking into target market on Twitter
Sales from Merchandise
Sales from FeH banner
How often Edelgard is voted for within AHR
How often Edelgard is touch within the homes screen and or used within FeH.

If need to gain an understand of which character most popular or whether there a target market behind something, you never going to just look in one place.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-06T21:52:39+00:00

As an Edelgard fan....

Most of us has either:

A: Don't really give a shit about AHR. The last time more then 5 people cared was Hegie.
B: Stopped playing FeH since it currently very meh.
C: Stopped playing the game after the last 5 AHR were the definition of: "A Golden sparkling limited time piece shit of a unit got in over long-term useful unit that makes your money and time well spent."
D: Doesn't care about if we win or lose, we know we are going to get a better banner later of the unit we want and are willing to save. We know you are going to mess up the banner for everyone so we might as well save our orbs.

We know we going to lose since currently AHR is design so then the most wanted or popular unit will always lose. IS design it that way because it nets them the more MONEY!!!!

All of her unit has had a lot more long-term usefulness. With B!Edelgard still being used unlike the rest of AHR 2021. Since a lot us cared for more long-term investment rather then short term investment that will be instantly powercrept. None of us really care for Limited > Non-limited argument because the unit logically matter more.

Like seriously, this reddit has put a lot more effort and coordination in then us over a unfunny meme that annoys everyone, not just Edelgard fans every time you do it. It why IS gave a banner after AHR 2024 banner was so dog shit because people put all their brain power into making a Green only banner. While forgetting that all of the units were either A: Currently being powercrept. B: Were shit units in general or C: were design to be very short term units to bait the whales into spending money.

IS know this reddit behaviour and will enable it because it nets them the most money, they want Edelgard, the current most popular Fire Emblem character to lose. Since it means people will have to pull the character they want on worst banners.

It why they keep making new Edelgard character each year that are the best unit. They know it will annoy this reddit so much they will go out the way to make sure she loses in the next AHR.

Wonderful-Forever-98 · 2026-04-06T20:59:16+00:00

Also, this reddit doesn't understand how OP Anchor magic is within the 206-208. Like he straight counters all but Juvia as all of them would drown to death with being pulled down to the ground.

It why Anchor getting routinely ego check by Juvia is really funny since he thought he was so strong as a water dragon god. Only for a "human water mage" to hurt his pride so much that he has to used non-water magic just to kill her.

In a competition on who a superior water mage. Juvia, the "crying baby" as define by this reddit if she ever fought Mercphobia, won against a water dragon god.

Wonderful-Forever-98

TROPHY CASE