FE Sacred Stones DimitriLTC: Prologue to Chapter 2

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MoogleBoss

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Published on November 13, 2020 5:41:08 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQBx94bah8s

Game:

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)

Category:

Vlog

Duration: 7:13

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It's been a while since I uploaded Sacred Stones content, but FE8 is actually my favourite FE to LTC! Right now I'm revisiting it with changes to the playstyle (inspired by the recent Shadow Dragon run with its multiple restrictions) instead of just changing who the juggernauts are - girls only, no mounts are two runs I'd completed video series of in the past:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbSv8zSDR9c26lYu02EA8IaBJcmStZg47 - No Mounts
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbSv8zSDR9c2VdVndTU7TIfvaqNzut1ZQ - Girls Only

So, let's go over the rules then, shall we?

"DimitriLTC"

Referring to the iconic 'kill every last one of them!' The requirement for completing each chapter, regardless the in-game objective, is to defeat every enemy on the map before accomplishing the default objective, be it killing the boss, 'defending' or seizing. This does mean that in order to end a kill boss chapter, we must do our best not to leave any enemies standing before the boss is down. Note that we don't have to wait until reinforcements show up to kill every last one of those too, and just leaving none on the map when the objective has been fulfilled is sufficient.

Ephraim Route

My two other SS runs, no mounts and girls only linked above, were done on Eirika Route. Not only is it refreshing to do something differently this time but Ephraim starts out as an infantry lance user, much like Dimitri who the challenge run is paying tribute to.

No Heavy RNG Abuse

As usual on my GBA playthroughs, LUA scripting and heavy use of save states is used to determine via trial and error the most optimal way to play each map's each turn, getting the lowest turn clear with the best level-ups I can get out of it. While that may be a lot of work, work I'm always happy to indulge in, if I have to do heavy RNG manipulation to get a fragile unit to survive an 'impossible' enemy phase or proc a low% crit on a boss, or multiple enemies, I'll be taking an extra turn instead. Rearranging the actions or 'barely noticeably' burning an RN or two while passing over a forest tile on my way somewhere will be the most 'rigging' I'm willing to do. This is something I have always done in my GBA FE playthroughs.

Warpless?

I'm still thinking whether I want the run to be warpless or not; will have to set up a poll to help me decide. The advantage to doing it warpless is having the party engage more enemies in later maps. However, since everything needs routing anyway, it can be seen as pointless slowing the run down. There is also great strategy involved in reaching Warp on time (spamming staves) and subsequently using it to warp units to where their routing takes place.

I still have time to think.

I expect the key figures to be the ones you'd expect to be MVPs in Sacred Stones: Seth, Ephraim, Vanessa and Cormag, Franz, Artur and Ross, possibly Duessel and one of the cavs (Forde?). There shouldn't be great changes to who is being used, but the manner of use will change a lot starting with around chapter 5. The maps before then are very similar to the way they're usually cleared.

Prologue is cleared in 1 turn.

The usual strategy that feeds Seth the bosskill. Nothing to say here.

Chapter 1 is routed in 3 turns (4 total).

Also not original in the least. Eirika faces risk of death on turn 2. Normally, it's in the player's best interest to rout the map, giving the kills to Franz and Eirika and arranging an excellent level-up for Seth, a key unit in this run. Getting +str/spd/def this early makes Seth that much more overpowered.

Chapter 2 is routed in 4 turns (8 total).

The first interesting map to do. There are multiple new units joining, all of whom have important roles, albeit to a different extent. Vanessa's flight makes her contributions crucial, and we must start getting her levels, especially in strength. Garcia starts out much better than Ross, but the latter having access to the Pirate class with its waterwalk and a very fast levelling speed makes him a great combat unit in spite of infantry mobility. Last but not least, Moulder is the best healer early on and the first one who will get to Warp, which could turn out to be turn-saving as soon as we get the staff.

Training Ross and Vanessa ASAP is one of the mini objectives here, and, as is normal in this map, it's the two mountain bandits who are the hardest to defeat in the rout. Eirika relies on a crit whilst doubling to secure the final kill.

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