I’ve now completed all 4 Part 1 paths and I have a sort of I guess mid way review? (not sure how long the other parts are yet, I’m going to replay Cai’s part 1 again first)
First off, for those who havent started yet or haven’t progressed far in part 1. Cai’s path is definitely designed to be the first path and I’d suggest either Theodora’s or Dietrich’s last (the other being your 3rd). Cai’s path sort of introduces overworld gameplay loop slower than the other 3 paths and his story path felt more personal and contained to him.
However here is my first complaint with the game too (its not that severe) and is more a meta thing.
Cai’s route gameplay wise is definitely supposed to be the noob friendly introduction to the overworld gameplay loop. Its more restricted compared to the other 3 paths and is unlocked at a slower pace than the other paths. However ironically I think Cai has the most complex overworld mechanics compared to the other 3, which can lead to players feeling overwhelmed when they’re introduced despite the more drip feedy style compared to the other 3. The game also tries to compensate Cai for this however by reducing his recruitment requirements for characters compared to the other 3, but he is still sort of hamstrung by his overworld limitations.
Here is another interesting thing about Fortune’s Weave is that characters have fixed growths (so their levels are the same) and can only be affected by class changes (reclass or new certifications) OR by Cai’s mount system, which isn’t really explained well in game.
So Cai is the only character who can meaningfully fix/alter other playable character stat growths. (Cai’s mounts can alter growths from 5 - 10% which if they’re a horse are doubled if they’re in the Charioteer class because 2 horses), (also his mounts as far as I’m aware are the only way for mounts to have canto too).
All of this to say in that these mechanics sort of whoosh over a first time playthrough head, but would of been nice to know (but how could you know without pre reading or playing another route first).
Now spoiler stuff for Cai and Path order choices; Cai’s path also restricts his map from the desert and as far as I know will always restrict him and his fast travel options until he unlocks them in his kindess quest gimmick line (whereas the other 3 can fast travel from the start as long as they have been to the fast travel points). Plotwise his story is also a good first point because he gets the Tidus (FFX) treatment where because he is semi sheltered rural kid he and the players are introduced to Dagsion practices and life at the same time. His story is also personal and on a smaller scale so he doesn’t really reveal giant scope stuff in his part so it probably more digestible to new players to the world.
For Leda, I’d say if you really didn’t want to start with Cai, her path is probably next best. Her overworld mechanic was the easiest out of the 4 (Theodora’s is also pretty easy, however it requires more turn investment (a resource)). I never had gold problems with her and her recruitments ended up being support gated rather than renown gated. I think gameplay wise I think she ended up with the most spare turns for me, because of a combination of having less restrictions than Cai and a simpler overworld mechanic.
Leda plot spoilers: Her route is similar to Cai’s in that its also a very personal story, but it does reveal more expanded things about Arago and Bertrand and stronger hints of a grander scope thing going on. However ulimately I don’t think it progresses the story’s plot much (like Cai’s) just her own. I think gameplay wise she ends up with the most spare time because she has equal least number of optional stuff to do (since she doesn’t do Bertrand’s, Talimun’s and Theodora’s paralogues). Also due to plot her free time isn’t as cut down as Theo’s and Dietrich’s.
Dietrich’s route was probably the most fun for me, also hes just a broken unit. He finished severely over leveled for his content (like 20 levels over) and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the characters in his story. However his overworld mechanic is the one thats more likely to gate you out of renown progress and also isn’t beneficial outside of grinding exp and renown (I honestly stopped engaging with it by last third of his path, unless I was really bored). Another thing is that his in world sexiness is used a running plot gag and actually plot device is hilarious to me. So far I think his route has the best voice acting I’ve heard this year too (which isn’t saying much because I haven’t played that many games this year).
Dietrich spolier chat: His story is fun because its probably the most different of the 3. Due to being on the opposite side of the tournament bracket to the other 3 and not having his own clear goal besides rematching against the sea monster in his intro. This means that he actually gets a lot of nice world building and exposition especially for Agartha (a little bit of Kun Lun as well) and Fodlan due to Fabio’s involvement. So you end up with this massive grand scope plot development (even on the Dagsion villain side with Lyrah, her sisters plus Baozi and Yang Jin) for the setting overall (Three Houses, Hopes and Fortune’s Weave) from Dietrich’s route. My initial impressions getting Xenoblade vibes get reaffirmed in this route the most. There seems to be a hint that this Fire Emblem universe exists in our future like the Xenoblade games. The fact that the Agarthans and Kun Lun people and their AI’s share names and personalities from our Earth points towards this. Also a nice bonus for players is that we can see portraits for Myson and Cleobulus if you go visit Riberia in the 10th month on Dietrich’s route. I don’t know if it applies to other character’s routes. However that chapter where you need to complete all those Paralogues is rough for those going in blind and will definitely require a replay if you haven’t done Theodora’s route yet (because she also goes to Fezzan’s gate it safeguards you against chapter failure from not making it there (also applies vice versa)). This is very mean
Theodora’s route I think ended up being the least restrictive path and she has the most places to explore from memory out of the 4. Her overworld mechanic and battalions are quite good (they can help shore up some stats as well and be sources of healing on non healing characters (on her route I only ended up with 2 mage units, with everyone else being physical fighters)). As a unit she didn’t feel as OP as Dietrich but she was still stronger than Cai and Leda. The only thing that bummed me was that as far as I know she doesn’t get Armour Move (however I only got to Armour A proficency with her). Her story I think was also on the one with the most grand scale of the 4 with relevance directly to the plot of this game.
Theodora spoiler chat: The fact she gets to explore the most places in Dagda is nice (she is the only character to freely access Hightown, I know Leda does go there in one chapter briefly though) and having the boat is extremely good for travel despite not having access to any of the God Gate teleporters outside of plot. Her brother Dyan is a good villain at pissing me off and also cutting her route shorter compared to the other 3 lords which also means her final chapter has a really tight turn around to complete all the paralogues (for the record if you havent done it yet, pick up Dietrich’s paralogue and Cai’s then wait in Dagda until Orchel’s appears and pick that one up as well. Then walk/boat to Orchel’s, Carriage + Walk to Dietrich’s then Carriage + Walk back to Dagsion to do Cai’s and thats sorta your entire chapter done.
After playing through all 4 part 1 routes, you definitely feel like there are some missing perspectives that would be filled the remaining 4 Sub Lords (Anatolia, Talimun, Bertrand and Orchel) so I am curious to see if they will get released later as DLC down the road.
Another minor peeve of mine is that some interesting plot events are hidden in game by things you need to encounter which are not obviously indicated as missable and only pique your interest because they’re marked on the Dagda map by a pulse that comes from something you haven’t highlighted or in some cases not even attached to an NPC or Character.
However those cons to me are minor, but I can see some of the busy-ness of overworld mechanics and the fact that the game sorta gives you more story explanations only through other Lord perspectives as off putting to players.
To me however the game has remained engaging and enticing enough for me to want to playthrough all 4 Part 1 routes and even decide to replay one of those so take that as an endorsement from me I guess.
