FE is generally a pretty accessable series without too many QoL issues, with some exceptions. For example, one of the issues I had with Engage was its clunky UI and lack of QoL in some areas (though the latter was mostly addressed via updates). I remember one specific chapter where I couldn’t see the Danger Area because the color they used for it blended in with the snow tiles (maybe cuz I’m colorblind, idk).
That got me thinking, though; are there other FE games that you wish had certain QoL features? Doesn’t have to be specific to one FE game, either.
I have a few examples myself.
Flags/Markers from TearRing Saga
Kinda funny that its not already in FE, but I guess IS felt they didn’t need it? They might just not have thought of it, idk. Still, it would be nice to mark off certain tiles or maybe even an area of tiles.
Memo sheets from Professor Layton
I feel like having a notepad feature would help a lot, even if its just so you don’t have to keep everything in your head. I was thinking it could work the same way as in the Professor Layton games, where a translucent white paper would cover the map and allow you to draw on it. Admittedly, this kind of thing might be impossible on GBA though.
Event Replay from Xenoblade DE (and probably some others)
Honestly, I wish every RPG had a feature like this; a way to replay not just cutscenes, but entire dialogue scenes. Sometimes I’ll stop playing a game and won’t come back for months or years, and usually I won’t remember everything that happened. This way, I could catch up on the story without any issues.
#1 Turnwheel #2 DS style save points #3 Single save/ironman mode
Every game from here on should have some form of NG+ if applicable. Starting a new Engage run always kills my excitement when I remember I have to grind everything again.
turnwheel is legitimately a lifesaver. when people are gonna reset if anyone dies, it’s better to make that process less painful.
I still want a “Deathless” or All Lords mode. Anyone dies, it’s game over. If you have people doing that anyway, may as well make it official. I definitely got a little annoyed from time to time having to wait through enemy phase before Divine Pulsing in 3h.
Yeah. I can’t imagine most fire emblem games without turnwheel or casual mode.
The only game I think is truly ironman friendly is Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon.
Honestly playable generics are such a genius idea, adding Shadow Dragon style infinite generics would be a QoL feature I would love in every FE game. And then you can get new recruits no matter what, and it isn’t like some games that you only get characters early on and such when people die late on you do have tons of replacement but they are all early game scrubs. Obtaining “recommended level” generics would be great! Even if they kinda suck.
Plus generics often have peak designs.
You need to encourage the player to play through an ironman.
XCOM does generics best. You fall in love with these nobodies and make your own stories with them. And if they die it doesn’t feel like you are a bad person for letting them die, that’s just how their story ends. As heroes.
I think a cool design for a FE would be a smaller cast (Like 10) with a bunch of generics as all your other units. Would make the named characters feel more like little lords commanding an army.
Honestly that sounds great. I think I will play XCOM 2 soon but a “Lord only army” also sounds great.
Maybe even the lords could have casual mode rules or like soft casual mode rules where they are only K.O for the next chapter or something.
I’m watching a dragon ball video rn and my initial thought as to “fusing mechanic” was like taking two characters and mixing them into a stronger character but like isn’t that just pair up?
Doing this to make scrubs you benched viable at the cost of well reducing the size of your army does sound like something interesting. Though it would be hard to justify in setting.
“Oh no I need a replacement for my fallen Hawkeye”.
Creates Dorcas+Bartre+Rebecca+Lowen+Erk = Dorterkcawen an Axe/Bow/Anima Paladin.
FreeMovement is actually the best QOL patch I think, although the wizardry part of it seems need updating to morden CHAX.
Another important QOL should be attemps on expanding promotion selecting list. Although we have worked a lot on it, there should be a totally reworked job select screen to allow players to choose target job without any numerical restrictions.
This has largely been done in modern titles, but the ability to return to the world map from the prep screen after entering a chapter or skirmish in FE8 would’ve been nice. I remember starting some by accident and having to restart because I forgot something.
Another one would be end/postgame material, but I had an idea for a system that let level capped units obtain a stat boosting/level gaining item for every additional 100 exp they recieved, with their gain rate being reduced (free concept I guess).
One thing I think would be nice that if you choose wait on an unit you could like have them do an action later it you so desire.
While this would open new doors this would also allow you to not waste an action if you choose wait just to later find out it you could have done something.
BEXP from the Tellius games (gaining a pot of bonus experience each map that you can distribute to each of your units to level them). It can allow you to level your weaker units without needing to rely on the Tower of Valni/Lagdou Ruins as an infinite training source
Locking support conversations behind specific story milestones (such as what Three Houses does). This can allow supports to feel part of the plot and have a tangible impact on events instead of existing in a vacuum.
The ability to have the AI use rescues/trading/menu skills depending on circumstances