Hello there, I’ve been playing a lot of Engage lately and I’ve been really enjoying it a lot. I’m writing in to ask you on what your general stance is on the whole discourse that has surrounded how certain S-Supports were translated. As for me, after reading a couple of them through, both the original versions and the localization, I personally don’t see that much a difference or disconnect between the two. While yes it can be argued that the localization did toned down a couple in a few cases, but even still I don’t think the general tone is really lost and in most cases it seems the only real notable difference is the usage of some select words in place of others which in a couple of cases might skewed into something that seems more platonic, but the rest of the conversation still seems to generally be pretty direct with how it’s translated. I also feel that even the original Japanese conversations generally speaking don’t feel nearly as romantic as they’ve been in previous games which has given me the impression that relationships in general are just simply greatly downplayed in Engage, and while that’s definitely apparent in a few other areas of the game I’ve definitely noticed it a lot through those conversations. It should be worth noting that I encountered the original Japanese conversations through Google Translate as well as other people’s own translations, and even with Google Translate I was still able to see what the initial tone of the dialogue was generally supposed to be and personally speaking didn’t think to was all that different from the official localization (minus a couple of choice words). I do think it’s worth noting that the wake-up events generally are more romantic than the conversations, or at least have more direct implications of it which I thought was interesting. However even with all of that, I would like to hear your opinion on all of this, from someone who is a speaker of Japanese, to get a further perspective on all of this. Thank you for reading this admittedly super long question as well as all the hard work you do for this community, hope everything is going well for you.

Hi and thanks for the support! :) Things have been a wild ride for me for a while now, but in an alright kind of way.

I chunked this out into 3 parts, because my brain gets lost in a whirlwind if I don't chunk up my writings.

Pt. 1 - Opinion Time!

My own personal opinion, in its own tiny little vacuum, is that I don't really care what changes a localization makes, for the most part. I see some changes as unfortunate - like those that put in pop culture or meme jokes that won't age well, in a game not already dating itself on purpose. But I don't have reason to become emotionally invested when I can look up and read the Japanese in my free time, analyze the differences between JP and localization in my free time, and use my blog to share those findings to those who don't know both languages.

The downside is I'm not available to blog like I used to be, but there's always been other people out there who know Jp./Eng. and are filling in the gaps. It's not a fun time to be subjected to the "LOCALIZATION STUPID, LOCALIZATION TEAM YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD" tone you sometimes see, but sifting through good and junk information is how research has always worked.

Now, to add on some nuance, because the world is a complex place and simplicity is a rarity. I think that it is very very valid to mourn what is lost because localization teams are trying to sell a product to a different audience, and simply cannot commit to trying to directly convey the exact same experience the JP version offered.

Not everyone is going to see the positives of localization as worth the cost. I love seeing FE spread to people I never imagined it would, because localization teams work hard to make the text engaging for non-JP audiences.

But media preservation is important too. Heck, I'm basically devoting my entire life to preservation by translating a collection of 20-30 year old novels! It's perfectly valid to value preservation of media over maximum outreach (and the big profits that come with it).

Also, just because I feel like pointing it out, I don't see localization as censorship. I feel like censorship is much more violent - a group in power trying to entirely eliminate media that does not fit their agenda for the purpose of control, etc. It's not like Treehouse is going around the internet, trying to remove and hide any record of the JP script or anything - they're just trying to guess what will sell the game outside of Japan, and protect Nintendo's brand. Nintendo could stop fan JP vs. localization analyzers at any point, but they don't, our content is all still out there for those who want to know more about the JP versions.

Pt. 2 - Talking directly about Engage & the S support conversations

Now, as for the conversations themselves!

My initial impression - Wow, the localization of these S supports compared to the Awakening days, is so different I'd think Engage was from a different franchise entirely! (For those who didn't play Awakening - the localization entirely rewrote some lines in many S supports - particularly many of the CG image quotes, in which each character says their final romantic words to Robin.)

Depending on the exact conversation, Engage's localization takes slightly different approaches towards making conversations with child & teen characters more platonic. Framme's support changes 'partner' to 'ally.' Meanwhile, Anna's support changes 'partner' to clearly mean 'business partner.' Clanne says "all I think about is you" in JP vs. "all I think about is helping you more," to shift the focus from implied romance, to keeping his relationship with Alear strictly as a master / guardian relationship.

For characters over 18, their conversations were not altered to remove romantic implications.

And, that's about the extent of it. Anon, you are exactly right in the summary Google Translate helped give you - the localized conversations always follow the original Japanese, save for toning down any lines w/ under 18 characters, that originally felt more romantic than platonic.

There is one huge sign that even the JP version wasn't as serious about committing to every S support being romantic, though - the CGs. Every character under 18 wears the ring on their middle finger instead of the wedding ring finger. Now, one could argue that the CGs are only that way because the artist was told to focus on the NA / international release, and I think that is a very valid possibility, but... many of the characters of all ages don't even wear the Pact Ring at all, and just hold on to it in their CG. And then there's the fact that the emblem rings are all worn on the wedding ring finger, when no one in the game has a romantic relationship with an emblem, so... yeah. I still don't think we're meant to read too hard into what wearing any ring on any finger means in this game.

I don't see any reason to do a deep analysis on any of the conversations, the changes are really that simple. But, as I always say, if anyone ever wants to see specific conversation(s) translated, then just send an ask my way! Straight translations tend to take less time than answering questions because I don't have to organize my personal thoughts, so they tend to be addressed the fastest!

Pt. 3 - Talking about Engage's romantic aspects in general (or lack thereof)

Overall, it is pretty easy to pick up on the sense that the devs weren't as interested in the romantic features of FE this time around - and in fact as I was writing all this out, I found a dev interview that briefly confirms the development of the game centered around Alear and the Emblem mechanics. The wake-up events might have been written as a middle ground to balance between those who wanted more romance, while taking focus overall off of the romance, but I've seen no sign of that being true in dev interviews.

Fire Emblem is Fire Emblem, and each FE game is always a grab bag of "What's coming back?" So it was always inevitable that even the romantic aspects would be toned down at some point, despite them being so present and essential to the popularity of three whole games in a row (Awakening, Fates, and Three Houses). I'm a long time fan, who knows that's how FE operates, so I enjoy it. But understandably every game will cause some controversy with those who aren't used to, or don't like, the rapid changes.

To me, as a fan since the GBA/GC days, Engage feels kind of like a fun return to GBA form, where supports always felt like a roulette wheel. Which relationships would read romantic? Platonic? Would the relationship seem platonic in the A support, then the characters get married in the ending card anyway? Would family or platonic pairs get an ending card? Who knew!

That being said, make no mistake!! Engage leans as hard as ever into FE's main overarching theme about bonds - that bonds are strength, and the glue that carries all FE protagonists to victory! There's just not as much of a focus on the romantic bonds this time around. In true FE form, you never know when the devs are going to dump, or at least shift focus away from, previous features.

I think I've gotten all I had on my mind typed out now - but anyone can feel free to follow up the conversation if you want in another ask!

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(Note for full context: I read through about 10-15 or so of the S / Ring Supports before starting my reply to this ask, picking out some of the youngest characters, as well as a random sampling of others for balance. ...I didn't even try to read them all, I could only handle so many of essentially the same conversation in a row, before my head started spinning, ha ha.)

Started playing Fates again after getting it before the eShop shutdown and...

Has anybody written a support chain for Camilla and Azura yet? Doesn’t matter if it’s C-S or C-A; I just want to see them talking about their history and (possibly) what life was like for the younger Nohrian nobles. If anyone has, I would love to read it because I feel like it was a HUGE missed opportunity in the main game, especially with Camilla talking about it after she’s recruited in Revelations Chapter 12...

Edit: I have found their fan-made support. Thanks to

thinking happy thoughts about shez/linhardtA support:)

Saezus And Misguided Lucina Support Conversations

C Support

Saezus:  Hey Misguided Lucina.  I know we are allies but I wonder what your timeline is like.

Misguided Lucina:  My Timeline was a smash timeline.  I am like any other Lucina except my mother is unique because it is the Tharja of the Shepherds.

Saezus:  No wonder in this world, your hair is black.

Misguided Lucina:  You want to know more after Awakening go watch Hades’ Misguidance by Zelda Universe as I am The Lucina in that world.

Saezus:  Alright, I will.

Misguided Lucina:  Good See ya After That.

B Support

Saezus:  Hey I watched Hades’ Misguidance by Zelda Universe.  What happened after The Kid Icarus characters Disappeared?

Misguided Lucina:  Well I blamed everyone that Pit had disappeared especially my parents and ended up killing everyone which is how my timeline fell apart.

Saezus:  Interesting.

Misguided Lucina:  What’s so interesting about it?

Saezus:  Watching all those videos makes me reminiscence and I don’t know why.

Misguided Lucina:  Maybe we should ask Sarakin?

Saezus:  Alright next time we meet up. We will ask his writer’s earth self.

A Support

Saezus:  Hey Sarakin. I watched all of Hade’s Misguidance and I felt reminiscing of sorts while watching.

Misguided Lucina:  We wonder why that is.

Sarakin’s Writer’s Earth Form:  Heh, That is because The Absolute Enemy Ordered my Negative Self to pull away the Kid Icarus characters from that timeline and destroy them but instead he pulled them away and combined them into Saezus and sent him here as a way to defy the absolute enemy.  So In a way, you are the Pit of The Misguided Timeline who now has all the power of all the other Kid Icarus characters besides Medusa who died to Misguided Lucina.

Misguided Lucina:  Wait a second.  Does that mean you sent him to save me to be together with him later?

Saezus:  Yes I like to know that too.

Sarakin’s Writer’s Earth Self:  Yes, you two belong together and so I sent him to save his true love.  See Ya. *He Leaves*

Misguided Lucina:  Well this is awkward to find out.

Saezus:  Yeah I say we think on this and leave it for another time.

S Support

(Italics Means Confession.)

Saezus:  *Sighs* I am wondering who this absolute enemy is who ruined my timeline. I wish to avenge my timeline even if it means challenging The Main Villain of the Era when It comes time to it.

Misguided Lucina:  *Enters* You really mean that?

Saezus:  Misguided Lucina, Yes through I am want it to always be with you.

Misguided Lucina:  Hehe, I want that as well. I loved you in our timeline and now I love you now.

Saezus:  How is this if Sarakin’s Fall happens, then we create our own organization to fight any who stand against us?

Misguided Lucina:  I like that.Saezus:  You and I will stand together. I loved you all that time too.

Misguided Lucina:  The Absolute Enemy will rue the day that they destroyed our timeline before we could admit our feelings.  Together we will bring him down.

The End of these supports

This is The Video that is all the fighters check the author of the video for the full series. @zeldauniverse is the tumblr of the Hades' Misguidance author.

What are your favorite supports in Engage

Not in a peculiar order :

Céline and Alfred

Hortensia and Céline

Alfred and Etie

Céline and Alcryst

Alcryst and Diamant

Hortensia and Veyle

Hortensia and Ivy

Hortensia and Alear

Hortensia and Lindon

Ivy and Diamant

Diamant and Citrinne

Citrinne and Alcryst

Framme and Diamant

Alear and Chloé

Merrin and Veyle

Merrin and Rosado

Veyle and Nel

Alear and Veyle

Nel and Alear

Rafal and Alfred

Rafal and Alear

Pandreo and Panette

Pandreo and Fogado

Yunaka and Seadall

Please, if you can, take a moment to read and share this because I feel like I'm screaming underwater.

NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) stigma is rampant right now, and seems to be getting progressively worse. Everyone is using it as a buzzword in the worst ways possible, spreading misinformation and hatred against a real disorder.

I could go on a long time about how this happened, why it's factually incorrect (and what the disorder actually IS), why it's harmful, and the changes I'd like to see. But to keep this concise, I'll simply link to a few posts under the cut for further reading.

The point of this post is a plea. Please help stop the spread of stigma. Even in mental health communities, even around others with personality disorders, in neurodivergent "safe" spaces, other communities I thought people would be supportive in (e.g. trans support groups, progressive spaces in general), it keeps coming up. So I'm willing to bet that a lot of people on this site need to see this.

Because it's so hard to exist in this world.

My disorder already makes me feel as if I'm worthless and unlovable, like there's something inherently wrong and damaged about me. And it's so much harder to fight that and heal when my daily life consists of:

Laughing and spending time with my friends, doing my utmost best to connect and stay present and focused on them, trying to let my guards down and be real and believe I'm lovable- when suddenly they throw out the word "narcissist" to describe horrible people or someone they hate, or the conversation turns to how evil "people with narcissistic personality disorder" are. (Seriously, you don't know which of your friends might have NPD and feels like shit when you say those things & now knows that you'd hate them if you knew.)

Trying to look up "mental health positivity for people with npd", "mental health positivity cluster bs", only to find a) none of that, and b) more of the same old vile shit that makes me feel terrible about myself.

Having a hard time (which is constant at this point) and trying to look up resources for myself, only to again, find the same stigma. And no resources.

Not having any clue how to help myself, because even the mental health field is spitting so much vitriol at people with DISORDERS (who they're supposed to be helping!) that there's no solid research or therapy programs for people like me.

Losing close friends when they find out, despite us having had a good relationship before, and them KNOWING me and knowing that I'm not like the trending image of pwNPD. Because now they only see me through the lens of stigma and misinformation.

Hearing the same stigma come up literally wherever I go. Clubs. Meetings. Any online space. At the bus stop. At the mall. At a restaurant. At work. Buzzword of the year that everyone loooves loudly throwing around with their friends or over the phone. Feels awesome for me, makes my day so much better/s

I could go on for a long time, but I'm scared no one will read/rb this if it gets too much longer.

So please. Stop using the word "narcissist" as a synonym for "abusive".

Stop bringing up people you hate who you believe to have NPD because of a stigmatizing article full of misinformation whenever someone with actual NPD opens their mouth. (Imagine if people did that with any other disorder! "Hey, I'm autistic." "Oh... my old roommate screamed at me whenever I made noise around him, and didn't understand my needs, which seems like sensory overload and difficulty with social cues. He was definitely autistic. But as long as you're self-aware and always restraining your innate desire to be an abusive asshole, you're okay I guess, maybe." ...See how offensive and ignorant that is?)

Stop preventing healthcare for people with a disorder just because it's trendy to use us as a scapegoat.

If you got this far, thank you for reading, and please share this if you can. Further reading is under the cut.

NPD Criteria, re-written by someone who actually has NPD

Stigma in the DSM

Common perception of the DSM criteria vs how someone may actually experience them (Keep in mind that this is the way I personally experience these symptoms, and that presentation can vary a lot between individuals)

"Idk, the stigma is right though, because I've known a lot of people with NPD who are jerks, so I'm going to continue to support the blockage of treatment for this condition."

(All of these were written by me, because I didn't want to link to other folks' posts without permission, but if you want to add your own links in reblogs or replies please feel free <3)

LT's quite the romantic, isn't he?

honestly I think Andrew is just weird. i think his brain just never shuts off, and he's always thinking bizarre thoughts. being off the meds gives him a filter, that's all. it's not like the medication created those weird thoughts for him, it just caused him to voice them. as neil and andrew spend more time alone together, he becomes more comfortable just speaking his thoughts out loud to neil. at first he was like "andrew wtf" but now he's just unphased. see:

andrew: do you think mermaid tails are a gradient or a direct cutoff

neil: what

andrew: at what point when you're eating a mermaid does it stop being sushi and become cannibalism

neil:

anyway andrew is just a little freak and i love him

Bros before Ho(oh my god is that Hanguang-Jun?)

[First] Prev <–-> Next

I have been looking into Japanese Dorothea text, and I have been on Twitter and a few people who read the japanese text claimes that she was a comphet (compulsory heterosexual) lesbian. Is this actually true?

Hi! This question has been sitting around in my inbox for quite a while now, because... There's no true answer. Fire Emblem characters do not express explicit sexual orientations. Headcanon is headcanon; a person draws a conclusion based on how they interpret the game's events, mixed with their own personal experiences, likes/dislikes, etc. By nature headcanon is not something that can soundly be argued for or against, it's too personal. Even drawing a conclusion based on a character's S-Supports and/or their explicitly romantic character endings really isn't the same as them explicitly saying their orientation, or having it listed in a character profile, etc.

I can't possibly make an argument that would persuade everyone out there what any character's sexuality is, especially when sexuality is never explicitly stated as something that really even exists in the FE worlds (I don't think). Sexual identity as a concept was not even conceived of IRL until the late 1800s and early 1900s (At least, that is the school of thought I studied in LGBTQIA+ studies in college.). We fans are just drawing our conclusions from canon clues, subtext, and headcanon.

What I can prove, though, is that none of Dorothea's conversations and endings detailing her romances (that I have read, covering EVERY bit of text is a bit tough) are all that different between English and Japanese!

I've translated all of Dorothea's endings, so this is an easy convo for me.

Dorothea Endings: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

Dorothea shares happily married endings with both m! and f! Byleth. Her endings with Ferdinand, Linhardt, Felix, Sylvain, Lorenz, and Hanneman all directly say she married them. Her opera with Yuri establishes that they fall in love. Her ending with Petra also directly says Petra loved her. And while her Japanese ending with Manuela does not use the word “love” like the localization does, the Japanese does say they “spent the rest of their lives living only for each other.” There will certainly be a crowd that denies that could possibly be romantic... but it's damning evidence for others.

Though one of Dorothea's main defining traits early on is her searching for a partner that will take care of her financially (see her Byleth supports for the most obvious examples), through her endings, we see that she will actually choose any partner from a varied list, male and female, across the entire social spectrum, and live happily. Granted, her romantic partners do tend to lean towards the noble class side... but I think that's more about the list of available partners in the game's canon than Dorothea herself.

Seeing that she changes from her original goals in a partner for financial/lifestyle security, and seems to live happily in a romance no matter her financial situation and lifestyle, I personally do not see the interpretation that Dorothea is a comphet lesbian. This holds true in both the Japanese and localized texts. There's little variation in translation there.

If you'd like to read more, check out the Dorothea supports I've translated, and feel free to request any other support chain you would like to see translated!

Dorothea / Edelgard: C Support - B Support - A Support

Dorothea / Felix: C Support - B Support - A Support - A+ Support

Dorothea / Ferdinand: C Support - B Support - A Support

Dorothea / Hubert: C Support - B Support - A Support

Dorothea / Manuela: C Support - B Support - A Support

I hope that answers anything! Readers, feel free to add something through an ask if you'd like!

only sokka would call zuko's aura dark and sexy and then immediately deflect a compliment to point out zuko's abs (and then praise himself for creating said abs)

Wedding Speech

That was very well spoken, you know? Once in a red moon, you've got a really good speech just chambered in there.

If we get a scene of Arya crowning Jon, it needs to parallel the scene of Jon gifting Needle to Arya for me. A personal scene between the two of them that's about their unconditional love for each other. It isn't about Jon becoming King but about Arya supporting him in the same way he supported her. "Girls get the arms but not the swords. Bastards get the swords but not the arms" come full circle with two outcasts supporting each other occupying spaces that society says they can't

Jealousy is a purple-haired sorcerer