[NOTE: This hack is currently undergoing a MASSIVE rework, join the Host of the Dark server for IN PROGRESS BUILDS]
Demons, Beings of pure magic. These beings have long been the sparks for war within the continent of Cloigeann, a land ruled over by an interconnected system of human lords, with the equally intelligent and dangerous dragons taking residence in the mountains to the west, and the elves making themselves scarce through hiding away in forest villages far from mankind. Yes, these races are the source of the continentās struggles, whether the demon king, the being who brings demons into existence, is around or not. However, such struggles cannot be endless, the end draws near with the demon kingās current resurrection.
The winds of change blow through Cloigeann and the one who shall channel such winds is a mere mercenary in training, the fiery lance wielding man known as Solum.
Note on the Story
This story is something important to me and is what takes up the majority of development time, because of this I ask that you at least try the story out until at least part 2. As a fair warning, this gameās story has characters who while on the playerās or villainās side arenāt necessarily meant to be morally correct or agreeable. This isnāt a story where the role of protagonist is an automatic sign of moral righteousness.
Note on the Gameplay
This hack was designed to be mildly difficult but overall manageable to complete in an ironman setting. The rewind feature was not and will never be used while playtesting, however it is an option that is available to those who are not comfortable with the difficulty of the hack or simply just wants an easier time.
There will be notes about most unique gameplay objectives either before or after the brief description of the area at the start of the battle.
There will not be ambush spawns.
Weapon triangle is about 2x as effective meaning that it will heavily impact your hit rates and overall damage.
Canto now works like it does in FE9 (canto after attacking).
Some units will be better than others however none will be unusable.
Promotion items are generally intended to be used from levels 10-13, it is recommended that you do not wait until level 20 to promote.
Thieves that promote into a class without the thief skills will still keep their skills (if a thief promotes nto a swordmaster they can still use a lockpick).
Most prfs can be hammerned.
No reward is mandatory.
The light brand deals atk-res damage now.
Avoid formula is spd+luck.
Recruitment Guide (courtesy of Centauri Eternal) Spoilers
Part 1:
Solum (Student) - Prologue
Mick (Axe Knight) - Chapter 1
Fidem (Swordsman) - Chapter 1 (Enemy, talk with Solum or Mick)
Sagiita (Hunter) - Chapter 1 (Enemy, talk with Solum or Mick)
Max (Dracoknight) - Chapter 2
Cory (Mage) - Chapter 3 (Ally, talk with Solum)
Sal (Monk) - Chapter 3 (Ally, joins with Cory)
Tobias (Necromancer) - Chapter 4 (Enemy, talk with Sal or Cory)
Anna (Mercenary) - Chapter 4x
Toma (Knight) - Chapter 4x (End of chapter, if Anna is dead)
Uxo (Dancer) - Chapter 5
Hellen (Wyvern) - Chapter 6 (Enemy, talk with Solum)
Part 2:
Sal (Light Runner) - Chapter 8
Miles (Great Knight) - Chapter 8
Subaru (Axe Knight) - Chapter 8
Garth (Pegasus Knight) - Chapter 8
Barya (Swordswoman) - Chapter 8 (Turn 2)
Raigholm (Pirate) - Chapter 8 (visit northwest village)
Fidem (Thief) - Chapter 9
Sagiita (Bow Knight) - Chapter 9
Atom (Shaman) - Chapter 10 (visit northern village)
Tmuran (Monk) - Chapter 10 (Enemy, Talk with Sal or Barya)
Davey (Fighter) - Chapter 10 (visit home in southeast corner)
Intra (Recruit) - Chapter 11
Tatiana (Mercenary or Rogue) - Chapter 11
Serenity (Lance Knight) - Chapter 11 (Enemy, talk with Sal)
Luna (Troubadour) - Chapter 11 (end of chapter)
Avaal (Knight) - Chapter 12
Near (Dancer) - Chapter 12 (Ally at Turn 2, talk with Sal or Subaru)
Tamaki (Soldier) - Chapter 12 (Enemy, talk with Avaal)
Max (Sniper) - Chapter 12 (end of chapter)
Marius (Wyvern) - Chapter 12x (Enemy, talk with Max)
Luminan (Mercenary) - Chapter 13 (visit middle village)
Wolgar (Ranger) - Chapter 13 (visit northwestern village)
Conall (Dragon Rider) - Chapter 13 (Enemy, talk with or let her talk to Sal)
Viskam (High Lord) - Chapter 13 (Enemy, talk with Sal, joins with Estel, Alder, and Mira)
Estel (Lord) - Chapter 13 (Enemy, talk with Sal, joins with Viskam, Alder, and Mira)
Alder (Priest) - Chapter 13 (Enemy, joins with Viskam, Estel, and Mira)
Mira (Mage) - Chapter 13 (Enemy, joins with Viskam, Estel, and Alder)
Mary (Soldier) - Chapter 13 (end of chapter)
Valorie (Manakete) - Chapter 15
Anna (Sniper) - Chapter 15
Starlight (Warrior) - Chapter 15 (Enemy, talk with Sal, Fidem, or Sagiita)
Marley (Falcon Knight) - Chapter 16 (Enemy, talk with Sal, Conall, or Garth)
Trim (Axe Knight) - Chapter 16 (Enemy, talk with Sal)
Mark (Rogue) - Chapter 17
Eagle (General) - Chapter 17
Maria (Paladin) - Chapter 17
Laurec (High Lord) - Chapter 17
Juniper (Mortal Savant) - Chapter 19
Kein (Warrior) - Chapter 20 (Enemy, talk with Sal)
Tobias (Necromancer) - Chapter 20 (Ally, talk with Sal, joins with Mick and Uxo)
Mick (Great Knight) - Chapter 20 (Ally, joins with Tobias and Uxo)
Uxo (Mage Knight) - Chapter 20 (Ally, talk with Sal or Raigholm, joins with Tobias and Mick)
Dominic (High Lord) - Chapter 23 (Automatically on turn 2)
Neat Gameplay Stuff
Split promotions FE8 style
Primitive reclassing system with alternate seals
Supports have a longer range
Prfs on some units but not on everyone
Funny secret promotion
Multiple growth boosting items
Tanky mage
And so much more!
History of Host of the Dark
April 19th 2021:
The first public thread about this hack.
I originally wanted to just create a simple hack with a simple story after I got tired of working on an FE7 hack. The orignal builds of HotD wereā¦ rough to say the least. The script for the story was most often the first draft with no refinements, most gameplay systems were still vanilla, and the maps were very amateurish andā¦ not very good.
After a short review by someone I decided to rebuild what was there and make something fun.
October 27th 2021:
The fifth day of FEE3 2021, and the showing of Host of the Dark
The first public release of Host of the Darkās complete overhaul.
this is a complete overhaul of nearly every aspect of this hack, the only map remaining intact from the original being the prologue. It was still rough in this stage but miles ahead of what previously was Host of the Dark.
March 22nd 2022:
Host of the Dark 0.3 releases
May 3rd 2022:
Host of the Dark 0.4 releases
July 13th 2022:
Host of the Dark 0.5 releases
Oct 26 2022:
Showing of Host of the Dark at FEE3 2022
Host of the Dark 0.6 releases
Dec 28 2022:
Host of the Dark 0.7 releases
Feb 21 2023:
Host of the Dark 0.8 releases
April 19 2023:
Host of the Dark 0.9 releases
Second year anniversary of HotD
June 3 2023:
The first completed version of HotD releases.
June 5 2023:
HotD 1.1 releases.
July 2 2023:
HotD 1.3 releases.
July 21 2023:
HotD 1.4 releases.
July 28 2023:
HotD 1.5 and lunatic mode release.
August 8 2023:
HotD 1.6 releases
September 16 2023:
HotD 1.7 releases
October 1 2023:
HotD 1.8 releases
HotD Reflections posted
HotD gets a hard mode
November 10 2023:
HotD 2.1 releases
Secrets
Iāll never tell (There are many).
Credits
note: not all of the people credited have their work used in this version, this is a list of people whose works have been used in the past or in any future versions.
portraits:
NICKT
Claire45
Monk_Han
toogee
A Working Man
Capibarainspace
Levin64
Damo
Its_Just_Jay
XVI
SeaLion
MeatOfJustice
BoneManSeth
Alusq
Tobiki
Lenh
AmBrosiac
L95
Flasuban
RandomWizard
Smug_Mug
Sphealnuke
Melia
LaurentLaicrox
cravat
Der
Peerless
CobyTheGoober_Ace
Matthieu
Classes:
Cranjam
Jotari
SphealNuke
Kemui52
SkidMarc25
Alexsplode
ML
Flasuban
Victor Pouderoux
Aruka
Kenpuhu
Itranc
FlyingAce24
Primefusion
Xenith
Temp
Pikmin1211
Pushwall
St jack
Alusq
jj09
TBA
mercenary lord
nycgamer
team SALVAGED
SqRtOfPi
SHYUTERz
shadowofchaos
JeyTheCount
miguel-rojo
Leo_Link
Spud
MeatOfJustice
Retrogamer
7743
Circleseverywhere
Kao
Marlon0024
L95
Derthevaporeon
Redbean
Zelix
Greentea
RoberyFPY
Itrane
Asael
Nuramon
Obsidian Daddy
GabrielKnight
SamirPlayz
MrNight48
Iscaneus
Jeorge Reds
IscaneusRevamped
Sax Marine
Status Screens:
Feels
Kirb
Knabepicer
Original playtesters:
splinterocke
LeonNote
knabepicer
Areynor
Markex133
CGs: Fenreir
Full 0.9 game reviewers:
JeyTheCount
Jackofblades1991
JrpgAddict
battle BGs:
HeartHero
Patches
map sprites:
FEgirls
Dominus_Vobiscum
Snewping
FaerieFruit
Warpath
Archerbias
FireEmblemier
Pushwall
Peerless
Alusq
Rexacuse
Siuloir
Rasdel
StreetHero
blood
SHYUTER
DerTheVaporeon
RobertFPY
Robert1211
AnnoyingAnon
L95
Huichelaar
Nuramon
Aruka
Kenphu
MeteorSR23
Flasuban
Its_Just_Jay
Pikmin
Magic animations:
SHYUTERz
MisakaMikoto
Orihara_Saki
Icons:
Leif
SacredStones
Seal
2WB
Beansy
Celice
Camtech075
Purple
Zelix
Ereshkigal
GabrielKnight
George Reds
LordGlenn
Music:
Sme
Pikmin1211
Dolkar
RandomWizard
Mycahel
RSflame
Meilu
SurfingKyogre
Portrait Retouches:
Serif
Special Credits:
IntelligentSystems
The FEE3 2021 team
The FEE3 2022 team
The FEE3 2023 team
The FEU Discord server
The R/FE Discord server
Salty_Ralts
Epholo8
Serif
Vulgard
Centauri Eternal
Here, have some screenshots!
Supports progress
Part 1 does not have support conversations, instead, supports are built automatically based on story events and the occasional optional talk conversation.
Part 2 will have support conversations, however most are not yet implemented.
The ones implemented are:
Fidem Sagiita
Barya Serenity
Sal Raigholm
Atom Luminan
Subaru Garth
Luna Laurec
Luminan Fidem
Alder Mira
Maria Estel
Sal Serenity
Max Eagle
Tamaki Tatiana
Serenity Subaru
Conall Viskam
Tmuran Intra
Max Mark
Fidem Sal
Starlight Barya
Starlight Tmuran
Mary Trim
Tobias Atom
Marley Near
Mick Uxo
Luna Tobias
Barya Sal
Garth Conall
Kein Avaal
Maria Alder
Marius Valorie
Tmuran Anna
Half complete supports:
Paired Endings:
Serenity Sal
Fidem Luminan
Max Mark
Barya Starlight
Near Marley
Fidem Sal
Barya Sal
patch notes
2.5:
There is now a support limit of 5
Support repetition bug fixed
Part 1 Mick buffed
Blood Blade changed to āSweep Swordā
Added Serenity PRF āFlame Lanceā
Added tier two effectives
Added Kickback Bow
Buffed Tmuran
Part 2 Anna is now a Sniper
Kein is now a warrior
Miles secret was changed
Legendary weapons all now are effective against the final boss
Tatiana can now start as a mercenary
āāCommanderāā class was changed to āāNoble Hassarāā
Palettes adjusted
Great Sage class added
Adjusted avoid formula
Some story updates
New music
2.4:
Gaiden āReceptionā added
Marius added as a recruitable unit
Wyvern class overhauled
Maria got a portrait recolor
Awakening Scroll renamed to āAptitude Scrollā
Gawain
Text updates
Mick buffs
Bow Breaker is ow a reaver known as āPinpoint Axeā
Numerous small tweaks to unit stats
Conall now receives a prf item in ch.15 the ''Retention Band"
2.3:
Part 1 Mick buffs
Swift Edge buff
Significant Barya buffs
Mortal savant loses staves on promotion
Tricksterās promotion bonuses have been overhauled
Trimās growths have been boosted
Keinās bases and growths have been improved
Tamaki has been buffed
Viskam has been extensively reworked, as voted upon in the HotD server
Intra has been buffed and now gains more exp on kill
Minor weapon tweaks
Shine spark is now effective against armors and mounted units instead of fliers
Ch.17 enemies have gotten a nerf to their level
Extensive story improvements around the mid game
Merry Christmas!
2.1:
More story reworks in part 2
+1 deployment from ch.12 onwards
Minor growth buffs and nerfs to a variety of P2 units
Raigholm and Subaru swapped weapon rank levels
Item durability nerfs to Ganglari, Hunting Dagger, and Swift Edge
Swift Edge and Paragon Sword no longer have the negate critical effect
Support updating
Map improvements
Bug fixes
2.0:
Major story reworks in part one and early part two.
Mick was rebalanced to have an emphasis on bulk and strength.
Fidemās part 1 palette was updated.
Ch.6 was completely reworked in terms of gameplay.
Some descriptions were updated.
VBA exclusive part 1 glitch was (hopefully) resolved.
Secrets added.
New support convo, refinement of others.
1.3 Overhaul:
Griffon promotion for Garth no longer results in stat underflow.
More dialogue added with Conall and her dragon
Terrain changes
Mark Max completed
Changed Ch.20 reinforcements
1.1 Overhaul:
Davey and Tmuran are no longer mutually exclusive
Starlight appears on turn 1
Fixed graphical glitch with two story promotions
Minor text changes
Fidem Sagiita support has been reworked
1.0 Overhaul:
- Tmuran added
- Juniper now identifies as nonbinary
- Some bosses move now
- Garth nerf
- Miles nerf
- minor growth and bases tweaks across the board
- promoted enemies are now much stronger
- the game is in a completable state
- slim lance now has +2 speed on it
- the blade of light now actually gives thief vision
- hunting dagger is a reaver
- flaming bolts nerf
- class promotion bonus tweaks
- alternate seals are more widely available in part 2
- alternate seal changes
- outline color has been standardized
- music changes
0.9 overhaul:
- Added two new chapters
- Universal growth lowering of part 1 units
- Part 1 Mick buffs
- New secret
- Viskam buffs
- Maria buffs
- Various minor character tweaks
- New music
- New pop up texts
- New supports
- Bug fixes
0.8.1 overhaul:
- fixed Fidem and Valorieās level cap
- FE9 style support gains
- Mick buff
0.8 overhaul:
- one new chapter
- new icons
- new music
- part 2 rebalancing
- Davey is now a fighter
- minor changes to early game dialogue
- Salās part 2 hair color reflects that of his siblingās
0.7 overhaul:
- two new chapters
- early game rebalancing
- Conall is now a wyvern rider
- swordmasters are now mortal savants with magic and staves
- generals have lost bows
- new music
- added more alternate seal promotions
- various tweaking to bases of units
0.6 overhaul:
- added new chapters
- early game rebalances
- cav nerfing
- lots of growth changes
- supports added
- Fidem and Sagiita no longer lose their items in part 2
0.5 overhaul:
- added two new chapters
- revamped two early game chapters
- Mick rebalancing
- story revamps
- Sagiita starts with C bows instead of almost maxed D rank
- Max rebalancing
- Salās part 2 prf weapon now reflects its intended use
- Fidem now gets a prf in part 2
- increased Avaalās level
- added gameplay and story notes at the beginning of most chapters
0.41 overhaul:
- fixed a bug with chapter 12ās end event not triggering
0.4 overhaul:
- minor bug fixes
- part 2 now has chapters 11-12 fully implemented
- class tweaks and rebalances
- part 1 made more difficult
- palette changing
- UI tweaks
- added a bunch of custom music
- character buffs/nerfs
0.3 overhaul:
- major bug fixes
- part 2 now has chapters 8-11
- part 1 unit balancing
- weapon triangle buff
- class changes
0.2 overhaul:
- minor bug fixes
- part 1 is complete
- minor character growth tweaks
0.1 overhaul:
- Completely overhauled chapters prologue-6 with one gaiden map
0.7:
-added two new chapters
-boosted Nearās magic growth
-replaced some ui elements with FE6 ui
-minor growth changes
-+10 hit to all 1 range axes
-pirates have a new battle animation
-edits to various shops
-fixed a solftlock in chapter 3
-slight dialogue tweaks
ORIGINAL VERSION 0.9
- The game is now in a completable state
-fixed a few bugs regarding chapter 4
-New title screen!
-swapped main theme
-dialogue tweaks
-map balancing and tweaks
Legacy Patches
Host of the Dark: RELIGHT 0.1
Host of the Dark: 0.2
Host of the Dark 0.3
Host of the Dark 0.4
Host of the Dark 0.5
- from 0.6 onwards I have moved over to Dropbox, old patches from 0.6+ will be hosted there
Current version:
Informal requests to any who elect to stream / make content on Host of the Dark
- Tell me beforehand, I like seeing this stuff
- Please be honest, itās painfully obvious when people sugarcoat things
Tier list for those interested
https://tiermaker.com/create/fire-emblem-host-of-the-dark-tierlist-units-16472716
Join the Host of the Dark server for help or giving feedback and information on upcoming projects!
I am very excited to hear feedback and constructive criticism, please enjoy the hack! Itād be much appreciated if youād send screenshots of your final team so I can gauge interest in certain units!
This hack was tested with mGBA and one major glitch has been reported with MyBoy and earlier versions of VBA that can be circumvented described below.
Spoilers for chapter 7's end event
If you reach the end of chapter 7 and you get stuck on a black screen you have encountered the glitch. Starting a new game and skipping to part 2 will allow you to continue to play the hack, the only thing you will be missing out on are various lower tier weapons from your unitās inventories and supply along with the boots and your gold - 5000.
The hack was tested with nothing being carried over, it is beatable in this fashion.
hereās the portion of the cutscene locked out