Fire Emblem if

Welcome to the Fire Emblem if OT
where we praise and complain about how this game is as good or bad as previous games and discuss who to marry

This OT will cover both versions of the game as well as DLC, thus we advise members to LABEL which version of the game before providing spoilers in the spoiler tags.

Gameplay elements are free discussion and story elements are up to your discretion. Early game details are fine, pivotal moments like deaths, betrayals, and especially the DLC scenario must be tagged.

Please refrain from getting too into supports and idolizing them. This thread isn't a competition as to who is the best wife or husband character. Try to keep support discussion to how amusing the dialogue is or for gameplay purposes such as maximizing stats. Use your own discretion for this.

Fire Emblem if ~Byakuya Oukoku~ (ファイアーエムブレム if 白夜王国)/~Anya Oukoku~ (ファイアーエムブレム if 暗夜王国)

Release Date: 06/25/2015
Price: 5076円 (Retail); 4700円＋tax(Digital)
Blocks: 24,666 (3.03 GB)
Save Slots: 9 SAVE SLOTS


Details
Fire Emblem: if is the most recent addition to the Fire Emblem franchise as a standalone story to accompany the other continents of the Fire Emblem universe. Fire Emblem: if comes in two separate versions, Fire Emblem: if ~Byakuya Oukoku~ and Fire Emblem: if ~Anya Oukoku~. Both games start out the same, but have their own unique story, difficulty, and gameplay elements after the 6th Chapter. Then you will get to experience the perspectives of either the Hoshido (白夜王国)or Nohr (白夜王国)faction depending on the version you purchase.

An extra neutral DLC scenario is available for those who have completed their version of the game and the DLC is included in the Special Edition of the game or can be purchased separately on the eShop.
*Disclaimer: For those buying the game digitally, you will have access to both versions but you will only get to choose one faction after the 6th Chapter. Choose wisely before you are locked into your route of choice.

Gameplay
Fire Emblem if is a Strategy/Tactical RPG in which you command a troupe or army in order to defeat waves of enemies, capture bases, recruit potential comrades, and more. Much like in the previous two iterations, Fire Emblem 12 and 13, the MyUnit playable avatar returns in the form of Kamui.


Kamui acts as a customizable avatar whom plays a pivotal role in assisting the game’s main lord character. You will be able to choose from a male or female MyUnit character and will be given the option of several special outfits exclusive to Kamui. Kamui will interact and help command different royalty units and army units depending on the version of the game you are playing.

The degree of difficulty and your main objectives differ depending on the version you choose with the former being more forgiving and the latter being challenging.

Synopsis

Hoshido:

The kingdom of Hoshido is the allied or enemy kingdom in Fire Emblem if and they represent a kingdom of peace and fertility. You fight to protect your fertile lands from the invading Nohr. Hoshido has an oriental theme and thus, the names for classes and certain weapons will be unique to Hoshido. For those who choose the Hoshido path, Kamui will be locked into supporting his/her blood family and the gameplay will be more reminiscent of Fire Emblem: Awakening and Sacred Stones in that you are able to traverse a world map and most of your objectives will consist of defeating an army or a boss.

Nohr:
Git Gud Mode

The kingdom of Nohr is one of the allied or enemy kingdoms in Fire Emblem if and they are characterized by glory and survival of the fittest. Nohr has a dark Western/European theme unique to its kingdom and your classes, weapons, and overall aesthetic will come to represent this. Unlike Hoshido, Nohr is desolate and infertile making it difficult to develop resources and subject to turmoil. For those who choose the Nohr path, Kamui will be locked into supporting his/her foster family and gameplay will be more reminiscent of classic Fire Emblem games in terms of story and gameplay where there is no traversable map and resources and opportunities to level up are limited.


Kamui

A member of the Hoshido royalty, kidnapped and raised by Nohr. Kamui comes to represent either family depending on your version of the game.

Aqua

A member of Nohr royalty whom is taken captive in the kingdom of Hoshido. Aqua’s current situation is similar to Kamui’s and thus plays a supportive role to Kamui regardless of the version of the game you are playing. Her class throughout the game is the unique Songstress (歌姫) class. She wields a lance and can use a sing command, which allows for the targeted unit to act again, similar to the Dancer class in previous games. Aqua will wear a different color dress depending on the version of the game that you are playing.

My Castle
A new feature debuting in Fire Emblem if where you get to customize and build your own base while you're not off protecting your nation or invading others. You will get to customize your base to your liking by setting buildings and placing units around your base. This feature serves as a hub in which you get to interact with your units and manage resources. How lush or desolate your base will depend on your version of the game. My Castle also has a Streetpass function in which you must protect your castle from invading units that you Streetpass.

amiibo/Trading Card Game Functionality
You are able to receive exclusive units similar to the DLC units in Fire Emblem Awakening by scanning your Fire Emblem amiibo figures or through a special code for those who own the trading card game. These units act as guest units to your army and do not play any role in the plot.

Promotions
You are able to promote your class units into a stronger version of your class or change into a class within your branch of classes. Promotions come with benefits such as increased stats growths, increased base stats, access to new skills, and even access to new weapon branches. Unlike previous games, you are able to use a seal at any level and Fire Emblem if utilizes a new seal system in which your level does not reset after promotion and continues to rise linearly.

Supports
Support conversations return in Fire Emblem if and they function similarly to previous iterations of Fire Emblem. Be sure to manage your army well and get to know all of them so that you can complete your support log!
Fire Emblem if also adds a new feature in which you will also get to personally interact with your units. If you've ever played Pokemon Amie, Nintendogs, or Love Plus, it's like that.

For uniformity sake, most members will refer to the factions as their localized names and chara as their JP names. Some of us may use Byakuya or Anya and JP skill terms such as sakebi. I will update a terms glossary at the end of the thread if necessary and more information will be added as we progress through the game.

This is my first OT so ff there is any information or any suggestion you want me to add to the OT, feel free to let me know so that I am prepared for a thorough Western release OT. I would also appreciate if someone is able to assist with graphics for the Western release so we can copy and paste this OT and pretty it up for the next one.

I recommend everyone to check out both versions and give both versions a try as well as the DLC scenario so that you can get the most of the game. Also do it so that we can support Intelligent Systems to bring us future Fire Emblem games like *cough* Seisen no Keifu and Thracia 776 remakes and Genei Ibun Roku #FE *cough*.