Just play without permanent death?
I mostly play for the story anyway and don’t have the time for perfection.
I also created couples which I thought were fun or would make a good fit and not create the perfect offspring.
p.s. yes I know neither of these have been features of the first games.
Not sure about the new game but if you’re not playing on an emulator with save-states you can only save before or after mission and during only to shut down the system. So savescuming means restarting a mission as soon as something goes wrong. And I already had to do this to not accidentally missing or killing potential companions.
Permadeath is still an interesting option for those who like this kind of thing.
As an older guy… yeah, restarting a mission as soon as a thing goes wrong sounds right. It is just… the only way to do it, because you can’t eliminate RNG.
You do only save before missions, but the last few Fire Emblem games have had a feature that allows you to rewind time during battle a set number of times. You get more uses of it per battle as the game goes on.
Not for me, man. The idea that I could permanently lose one of my characters is what makes each battle exciting and forces me to really consider the strategy of the battlefield and character placement 🙂
So, do the exploits of Ethan… bore you? Since.. well, he can’t die? I guess you could find someway to make him die in an infinite and painful loop causing his mind to.. well snap isn’t really a good term for him but still…
But I thought Ethan was already playing without permanent death? ?
Havok
5 years ago
Hey Tim. When are you going to bring back CS-GO guy (I can’t remember his name right now). Didn’t really get him when you first introduced him but since i’ve been getting into CS for the past few years i kinda miss him now.
Technically it is… Of course some old CRPGs (thankfully only a few) had time-limited turns that had you auto-wait if you didn’t do anything for 5 seconds or so.
Eldest Gruff
5 years ago
Good thinking, but dumb tactics, Ethan. Lucas attacks with arrows, so he’s obviously an archer. Don’t just sit there in range; you need to either dart in close or hang back.
Ah, damn. It’s right in the corner, near his elbow on the first panel, right?
I thought that TheMistDevil meant the whole “one square at a time” thing, as D&D can be square-based if played on a map, although hexagons are more common.
And this is why I don’t like permadeath. Too much stress, I just wanna enjoy the gameplay and story and not have my heart torn from my chest if things go wrong. I get why some people like it but… I just can’t.
I understand that approach, but I feel in a game like Fire Emblem, where you’re getting to know the characters and forging those connections, the idea that they are in real danger in battle only heightens your connection to them. Plus, in Three Houses, I see little reason NOT to play it on Classic mode. Through plot reasons I won’t spoil, you gain the ability to reverse time in battle. I’m not sure how many turns you can backtrack (the most I’ve gone back is a few), and it’s an ability with limited charges, but it does mitigate the chance… Read more »
It looks like you can turn back the hands of time to any point in the battle. I just completed one of those turn-limit battles and cut it close at turn 24 (I wanted all the things, dammit!), and I decided to check the time-reversal on a whim. I was able to go back to the beginning of the very first turn.
If there’s a limit to how far back you can go, it’s so far you’ll probably never notice it.
That’s interesting, and when I have the money to buy the newest game maybe that will make me give permadeath a try. I do understand why people find it appealing, it’s just not for me. To each their own as they say. Personally I’ve never had any trouble forging connections with the characters even with permadeath off, and when the enemy brings one of them down, I still feel that rage of “YOU HURT MY PRECIOUS BABY” and proceeded to wreck the offending units. Hell with the previous FE game I played, the other one with the multiple houses/storylines (was… Read more »
They brought back the Turnwheel mechanic from Echoes? Welp, one more reason to save up for Three Houses, I guess!
When Echoes introduced the mechanic, I was definitely in the camp of “It’s good because it makes Classic a little less scary for newcomers.”
PCO
5 years ago
I don’t have adblock, so when I load your site a video taking up 1 quarter of the screen that autoplays (thankfully no audio) pops up. I don’t know why you’ve decided to go this route, but I think it might be better to get a more conventional, less intrusive ad platform…
We went this route because, due to adblock, ad revenue is struggling. The video ads pay out 10x more than the banner ads, so it helps offset those losses.
I’m not sure what platform/resolution you’re using, but at standard resolutions, the video ads dont take up anywhere near 25% of the screen. And they don’t play on mobile devices.
Hunter
5 years ago
Hey Tim
I heard you’re going to do another Kickstarter.
Do you plan to have a cameo appearance for people who pledge a lot of dollars?
I’m not planning that, no. I ran into a lot of logistical problems with that last time. It was taking me so long to do the issues that those cameos appeared in, by the time I was ready some people were unreachable/unresponsive, etc… I’m just not happy with how it went.
Perhaps I’ll come up with a different approach, something I can do and deliver immediately, but I don’t know.
Again, I’m not saying “no, never again.” It just needs to be controlled in a way I can complete the transaction in a timely manner for anyone involved.
Humson
5 years ago
Sorry if you mentioned this before, but which house did you end up going with?
Wait, I thought he hated JRPGs? Possibilities abound! 1) He started trying jrpgs to impress Emily. He’s still trying some in case they get back together. 2) He jumped on the new Fire Emblem game because despite constantly mocking the mainstream stores, he’s a slut for whatever the current ‘in’ game is. Will next page be Lucas informing him that there’s an entire franchise? 3) He has a really weird and hipster-geek definition of gaming genres. In his mind ‘jrpg’ just describes any rpg he doesn’t like. 4) He still doesn’t like jrpgs in general, but a good game is… Read more »
That’s not a “weird and hipster-geek definition” it’s a strategy game first if anything J it’s a JTBS. And while it has an japanese art style the powers of the characters are way less over the top then what you would except from what’s commonly referred to as JRPGs. Considering the couples and kids you could make in previous games you also had more control over the characters then what you usually would have in an JRPG.
But they weren’t called ‘jrpgs’ because they had a japanese art style, or even just because they came from japan. Not every rpg made in japan is a ‘jrpg’. Before there used to just be ‘rpgs’, they were a genre, a broad genre. The wide umbrella included turn based, tactics, text adventures, ATB, strategy, etc etc etc. But by the end of gen-5, it had become a generally popular opinion that “Rpgs are the best games.” Beyond a personal opinion way, they just had a reputation for being the real ‘work of art’ games. Almost every new rpg WOULD sell.… Read more »
Well yeah the “J” addition is a bit strange anyway because it more defines a region then any real gameplay specification. But it’s often associated with some gameplay elements. But If you take away the story, character Interaction and art style or the “J” (if you want so) your not left with an RPG your left with an TBS. It would more resemble an fantasy XCOM (or banner saga? never played that) then a Dragon Age. JRPGs are also described to be a lot over the top like summoning Bahamut and blasting a 9999 dmg Fireball all over the screen… Read more »
BakaGrappler
5 years ago
So, meta question about the comic. After the end of Ethan Prime’s run, you stated that you were going to use the players for the more “One Off” comics to avoid things happening like they did introducing the Linux user in the house which eventually evolved into a penguin trying to take over the world. You made a big thing about developing personalities for the players, and you kept to using them for a good while. Now Super Ethan’s universe has stabilized story wise, and your one off comics are being told out of the Super-verse and I can’t remember… Read more »
“I can’t remember the last time I saw the Players used for one off jokes outside of their D&D games.” It was three months ago. April 3rd, FYI. But to answer your question, I was going to feature the Players more when my intention was to only showcase Ethan and Lucas in issues of a comic book. Once I began using Ethan and Lucas on a more regular basis, the Players were no longer necessary to carry the weight. So I use the Players for the tabletop gaming stuff, and any gaming jokes where the joke requires me to cut… Read more »
Makes total sense. but I do hope you don’t fall into your previous pitfall of “Oops, now what am I supposed to do with this thing” that you so lamented last time. But the key here is that now you have choices in how you can present your jokes, since you didn’t really have that before.
Looking forward to more content in the future. And I hope you never end up overextending yourself. I mean, you have a lot on your plate, man.
okay
5 years ago
Ethan: I don’t like JRPGs
Also Ethan: I can’t walk across my own store because I’m so obsessed with a JRPG
Once again: Fire Emblem is not a JRPG. It is a tactical RPG. If you’re using the genre definition of JRPG (that is, the definition outside of the broad ” JRPG = an RPG made in Japan”), Fire Emblem does not feature many of the tropes/gameplay that Ethan dislikes about JRPGs.
EMMachine
5 years ago
Never played Fire Emblem, but if gameplay is like Advanced Wars or Wargroove, Lucas could simply have said “End Turn”
Kritoche
5 years ago
aw yeah. I started genealogy of the holy war and enjoying it very much. hope that other games even more awesome
24
Just play without permanent death?
I mostly play for the story anyway and don’t have the time for perfection.
I also created couples which I thought were fun or would make a good fit and not create the perfect offspring.
p.s. yes I know neither of these have been features of the first games.
Or he could just savescum like every 5 minutes.^^
Not sure about the new game but if you’re not playing on an emulator with save-states you can only save before or after mission and during only to shut down the system. So savescuming means restarting a mission as soon as something goes wrong. And I already had to do this to not accidentally missing or killing potential companions.
Permadeath is still an interesting option for those who like this kind of thing.
As an older guy… yeah, restarting a mission as soon as a thing goes wrong sounds right. It is just… the only way to do it, because you can’t eliminate RNG.
You do only save before missions, but the last few Fire Emblem games have had a feature that allows you to rewind time during battle a set number of times. You get more uses of it per battle as the game goes on.
The last few? I didn’t play fates, but I don’t remember time rewinding in Awakening.
He’s referring to Echoes. It was introduced there I think, and carries over to Houses.
Hmm I thought Fates had it too, but apparently just Echoes and now this game.
Not for me, man. The idea that I could permanently lose one of my characters is what makes each battle exciting and forces me to really consider the strategy of the battlefield and character placement 🙂
So, do the exploits of Ethan… bore you? Since.. well, he can’t die? I guess you could find someway to make him die in an infinite and painful loop causing his mind to.. well snap isn’t really a good term for him but still…
Have you seen Ajin Demi human? Not the best anime in art or story but the idea of what would happen to infinite respawning humans would is interesting
But I thought Ethan was already playing without permanent death? ?
Hey Tim. When are you going to bring back CS-GO guy (I can’t remember his name right now). Didn’t really get him when you first introduced him but since i’ve been getting into CS for the past few years i kinda miss him now.
That would be Rob, good sir.
Rob works at Satan’s-Poop-Depository-I-mean-Megagame
True.
https://cad-comic.com/comic/winter-een-mas-2017-page-5/
Rob works at the other game store in this continuity. He has popped up a couple of times.
If only life was turn-based…….
Technically it is… Of course some old CRPGs (thankfully only a few) had time-limited turns that had you auto-wait if you didn’t do anything for 5 seconds or so.
Good thinking, but dumb tactics, Ethan. Lucas attacks with arrows, so he’s obviously an archer. Don’t just sit there in range; you need to either dart in close or hang back.
Love the D&D easter egg.
It’s a Fire Emblem reference, and it’s not really subtle enough to be an easter egg.
There is a players handbook poster behind Lucas
Ah, damn. It’s right in the corner, near his elbow on the first panel, right?
I thought that TheMistDevil meant the whole “one square at a time” thing, as D&D can be square-based if played on a map, although hexagons are more common.
It’s behind Ethan
Got my wires crossed
And this is why I don’t like permadeath. Too much stress, I just wanna enjoy the gameplay and story and not have my heart torn from my chest if things go wrong. I get why some people like it but… I just can’t.
I understand that approach, but I feel in a game like Fire Emblem, where you’re getting to know the characters and forging those connections, the idea that they are in real danger in battle only heightens your connection to them. Plus, in Three Houses, I see little reason NOT to play it on Classic mode. Through plot reasons I won’t spoil, you gain the ability to reverse time in battle. I’m not sure how many turns you can backtrack (the most I’ve gone back is a few), and it’s an ability with limited charges, but it does mitigate the chance… Read more »
It looks like you can turn back the hands of time to any point in the battle. I just completed one of those turn-limit battles and cut it close at turn 24 (I wanted all the things, dammit!), and I decided to check the time-reversal on a whim. I was able to go back to the beginning of the very first turn.
If there’s a limit to how far back you can go, it’s so far you’ll probably never notice it.
That’s interesting, and when I have the money to buy the newest game maybe that will make me give permadeath a try. I do understand why people find it appealing, it’s just not for me. To each their own as they say. Personally I’ve never had any trouble forging connections with the characters even with permadeath off, and when the enemy brings one of them down, I still feel that rage of “YOU HURT MY PRECIOUS BABY” and proceeded to wreck the offending units. Hell with the previous FE game I played, the other one with the multiple houses/storylines (was… Read more »
They brought back the Turnwheel mechanic from Echoes? Welp, one more reason to save up for Three Houses, I guess!
When Echoes introduced the mechanic, I was definitely in the camp of “It’s good because it makes Classic a little less scary for newcomers.”
I don’t have adblock, so when I load your site a video taking up 1 quarter of the screen that autoplays (thankfully no audio) pops up. I don’t know why you’ve decided to go this route, but I think it might be better to get a more conventional, less intrusive ad platform…
We went this route because, due to adblock, ad revenue is struggling. The video ads pay out 10x more than the banner ads, so it helps offset those losses.
I’m not sure what platform/resolution you’re using, but at standard resolutions, the video ads dont take up anywhere near 25% of the screen. And they don’t play on mobile devices.
Hey Tim
I heard you’re going to do another Kickstarter.
Do you plan to have a cameo appearance for people who pledge a lot of dollars?
I’m not planning that, no. I ran into a lot of logistical problems with that last time. It was taking me so long to do the issues that those cameos appeared in, by the time I was ready some people were unreachable/unresponsive, etc… I’m just not happy with how it went.
Perhaps I’ll come up with a different approach, something I can do and deliver immediately, but I don’t know.
As you say, more trouble then it’s worth, but I was prepared to throw my wallet at the screen to get my second appearance.
I was the poor bastard whom The Troll had kidnapped. The thought of a second bad day for my fictional character amused me.
Again, I’m not saying “no, never again.” It just needs to be controlled in a way I can complete the transaction in a timely manner for anyone involved.
Sorry if you mentioned this before, but which house did you end up going with?
I picked the Blue Lions 🙂
Now, which house did ETHAN go with?
Wait, I thought he hated JRPGs? Possibilities abound! 1) He started trying jrpgs to impress Emily. He’s still trying some in case they get back together. 2) He jumped on the new Fire Emblem game because despite constantly mocking the mainstream stores, he’s a slut for whatever the current ‘in’ game is. Will next page be Lucas informing him that there’s an entire franchise? 3) He has a really weird and hipster-geek definition of gaming genres. In his mind ‘jrpg’ just describes any rpg he doesn’t like. 4) He still doesn’t like jrpgs in general, but a good game is… Read more »
6) Fire Emblem a tactical RPG, not a JRPG. 😉
That one was listed. It was 3.
I was really hoping it was going to be 1 or 4.
That’s not a “weird and hipster-geek definition” it’s a strategy game first if anything J it’s a JTBS. And while it has an japanese art style the powers of the characters are way less over the top then what you would except from what’s commonly referred to as JRPGs. Considering the couples and kids you could make in previous games you also had more control over the characters then what you usually would have in an JRPG.
But they weren’t called ‘jrpgs’ because they had a japanese art style, or even just because they came from japan. Not every rpg made in japan is a ‘jrpg’. Before there used to just be ‘rpgs’, they were a genre, a broad genre. The wide umbrella included turn based, tactics, text adventures, ATB, strategy, etc etc etc. But by the end of gen-5, it had become a generally popular opinion that “Rpgs are the best games.” Beyond a personal opinion way, they just had a reputation for being the real ‘work of art’ games. Almost every new rpg WOULD sell.… Read more »
Well yeah the “J” addition is a bit strange anyway because it more defines a region then any real gameplay specification. But it’s often associated with some gameplay elements. But If you take away the story, character Interaction and art style or the “J” (if you want so) your not left with an RPG your left with an TBS. It would more resemble an fantasy XCOM (or banner saga? never played that) then a Dragon Age. JRPGs are also described to be a lot over the top like summoning Bahamut and blasting a 9999 dmg Fireball all over the screen… Read more »
So, meta question about the comic. After the end of Ethan Prime’s run, you stated that you were going to use the players for the more “One Off” comics to avoid things happening like they did introducing the Linux user in the house which eventually evolved into a penguin trying to take over the world. You made a big thing about developing personalities for the players, and you kept to using them for a good while. Now Super Ethan’s universe has stabilized story wise, and your one off comics are being told out of the Super-verse and I can’t remember… Read more »
“I can’t remember the last time I saw the Players used for one off jokes outside of their D&D games.” It was three months ago. April 3rd, FYI. But to answer your question, I was going to feature the Players more when my intention was to only showcase Ethan and Lucas in issues of a comic book. Once I began using Ethan and Lucas on a more regular basis, the Players were no longer necessary to carry the weight. So I use the Players for the tabletop gaming stuff, and any gaming jokes where the joke requires me to cut… Read more »
Makes total sense. but I do hope you don’t fall into your previous pitfall of “Oops, now what am I supposed to do with this thing” that you so lamented last time. But the key here is that now you have choices in how you can present your jokes, since you didn’t really have that before.
Looking forward to more content in the future. And I hope you never end up overextending yourself. I mean, you have a lot on your plate, man.
Ethan: I don’t like JRPGs
Also Ethan: I can’t walk across my own store because I’m so obsessed with a JRPG
??♂️
Once again: Fire Emblem is not a JRPG. It is a tactical RPG. If you’re using the genre definition of JRPG (that is, the definition outside of the broad ” JRPG = an RPG made in Japan”), Fire Emblem does not feature many of the tropes/gameplay that Ethan dislikes about JRPGs.
Never played Fire Emblem, but if gameplay is like Advanced Wars or Wargroove, Lucas could simply have said “End Turn”
aw yeah. I started genealogy of the holy war and enjoying it very much. hope that other games even more awesome