Your Place for Problematic Fódlan Takes

A place to submit all your anonymous takes on Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Three Hopes, posted without comment or judgment. Be as problematic as you like!

[problematic-fodlan]

Welcome to Problematic Fódlan!

Inspired by older projects on Dreamwidth as well as by an unaffiliated blog that was unfortunately deactivated, here's a place for you to submit anonymous opinions, headcanons, and interpretations of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, or Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave without worrying about getting trolled, flamed, or caught in an endless reblog war. Takes will be posted without comment, though as more come in they will be tagged according to topic for easier searching.

Rules:

All asks and submissions must be anonymous. Those who do not adhere to this rule will have their names censored, and will be ignored if I can't fit the entire submission in at most two screencaps.

Do not send asks entirely in header font, or in all caps. They're annoying to read.

Asks must also primarily relate to one of the Fódlan games. References to other Fire Emblem games or other media are acceptable provided Three Houses/Hopes or Fortune's Weave remain the focus.

References to real-life events/situations are permitted, but please remain civil. This includes not bashing or making generalizing statements about anyone based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. or making statements that could be considered culturally insensitive, i.e. bashing real world religions. Also do not assume any of these things about other anons or attribute any real-life political affiliations to them. References to especially charged topics, for example Nazis/fascism or the Palestinian genocide, are also banned. The blog owner reserves the right not to publish submissions considered to be offensive or deliberately inflammatory.

Do not accuse other anons of being part of any particular fandom faction, ex. "Edelstan", Edelcrit", or "Dimitri stan". This includes alternatives to these labels, like "Edelgard fan/hater," when used in a negative sense. Self-identification as one of these labels is fine. Similarly, the term "fujoshi" and variations is not allowed except as a self-identifier because of its potential as a sexist or transphobic slur.

Online names of participants in Fódlan discourse may be included, but this is not meant to invite trolling or harassment and ought to be understood as such by readers as well as by those making submissions. Harassment is bad, people. Don't do it. I also reserve the right not to publish any such submissions if they name people who I see publicly interacting with this blog, so as to head off any potential arguments.

Submissions may not contain URLs linking to other posts on this blog, nor may they quote or directly address other anons. This is to avoid confusing exchanges between different anons as well as prevent submissions turning into another type of reblog chain. Also, asks that are just one or two word responses about another post will not be published. Use the reply feature if you need to make a reaction like that.

Happy posting, everyone!

[problematic-fodlan]

I'm not publishing an ask that accuses other anons of homophobia for criticizing characters in ways that have nothing to do with their queerness. Invoking Pride month just makes it worse, we should be celebrating queerness not attacking people for unrelated stuff and saying it's for Pride.

[problematic-fodlan]

I suffer with C-PTSD and that is such a varied diagnosis that I'm not surprised different parties consider different characters bad rep. Like the symptoms and issues one gets with PTSD/C-PTSD are really really big and different. And sometimes people get dissociative issues (like the dimitri not tasting thing) or memory issues (like Edelgard) but not always, and sometimes people experience psychotic symptoms - (like Dimitri) but it's not an always thing, so Edelgard is good rep for non psychotic expressions of PTSD/C-PTSD. Hypervigilance and issues with criticism (Edelgard) don't apply to everyone, and depression and suicidality (Dimitri) also don't apply to everyone. nightmares (Edelgard) don't apply to everyone, having flashbacks (Dimitri) is very very common for PTSD/C-PTSD, but there are some cases where people with PTSD/C-PTSD don't get them. Neither of edelgard or dimitri have disordered eating habits (liking sweet things and not tasting doesn't count), but that's common with PTSD/C-PTSD.

Representation is such a difficult topic, because there are so many different experiences. But I think FE3H does it well at least with these two characters.

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[problematic-fodlan]

If people suffer with a mental illness and relate to one of the characters who represents that illness, and not another; and vice versa, surely that just speaks to the vastness of mental health struggles, rather than that they were trying to invalidate or say another person is wrong for their interpretation? if one anon says that Edelgard is bad rep (for them at least) because of how they have suffered, I don't think they're trying to invalidate another anon saying that they thought Edelgard was good rep.

Having empathised with a character or had them help you work through your own stuff etc is amazing, but it doesn't mean other's can't call into question something they don't like about that rep.

The person with C-PTSD is allowed to think Edelgard is brilliant rep, and the person with PTSD is allowed to say they thought other characters reactions were more realistic (for their circumstances) with Dimitri. I think it's really amazing that they both found a fictional character that helped them feel seen. and it's ok to say that those fictional characters might not work for everyone.

IDK. I don't think there was anything wrong with either of those asks...

It was more of a cautionary note. Also referencing another ask I didn't publish because it took that in a political direction.

[problematic-fodlan]

That's why I like what AG does with Miklan. The system actually steps in to try and help, and everyone involved including Miklan himself has a lot of conflicted feelings about it. It's all tied into the war and Miklan is killed off after only a few chapters but it's still more time than Three Houses devotes to the guy.

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[problematic-fodlan]

Pretty sure the case of Mikklan is similar to that of a violent gangster. Yeah, at this point he is a violent gangster who can't just be let go and caused alot of damage, but every reasonable person can understand that he was the result of socio-economic conditions that pushed him into a life of crime and violence.

Tumblr is really not beating the accusations today.

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[problematic-fodlan]

The person who analyzed Edelgard's portrayal of C-PTSD also suffers from C-PTSD, let's not argue over who represents mental unwellness "better", please.

Debating fictional characters is fine, but anyone trying to invalidate the experiences of other anons or claim that they're lying about their own mental health, race, queerness etc is not. That goes for everyone.

Also, reminder not to bring RL politics into asks. This includes labeling characters as conservative, reactionary, communist, and such.

[problematic-fodlan]

I love the fact that the DLC had Yuri explain that while the villagers were scared on the front lines with Dimitri roaming about, Dimitri only killed the imperial soldiers, and the scared villagers hail him as a hero.

Like. he already has a really good redemption arc, you don't need to add on that he was still protecting and serving his people when he had a total breakdown and wasn't lucid for most of that time.

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[problematic-fodlan]

Edelgard sympathising with Miklain is so wild. I just played through that chapter in CF, and wow. From other routes, and from the villagers you gather that Miklain was disinherited for abuse cruelty and assaulting people (he assaults lots of people post being disinherited), and for attempted murder. Gilbert will tell you it's because of the crest, but anyone who's not just reading surface level can see there's way more to it than that. Because the village is in total ruin, and the villagers are terrified.

Refusing to sympathise with so many characters and then sympathising with Miklain is a massive red flag for me. That part always makes me want to play SS, despite it's faults, because Edelgard can't see past her own biases and assumptions about nobles from other countries.

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[problematic-fodlan]

As someone who suffers with PTSD: Dimitri's messy experience of mental illness, with all the varied and often cruel responses (I'm looking at you Felix) is so much more validating and hopeful and much better representation than Edelgard's.

Yes Edelgard has the nightmares and callousness of someone who's experienced trauma and has needed to shut off emotion, and she also has the black and white judgement of people; but she has the pretty version. None of her friends or subordinates say: 'we shouldn't be following this lunatic (because they're hyper vigilant, delusional etc)', none of them tell her she's too much, none of them mourn who she was before, and she never truly breaks down and needs proper help. She can stand on her own two feet, and cut her own path. Her mental health problems are footnotes or flavourings to her otherwise average fire emblem antagonist/ protagonist thing she's got going on.

Dimitri on the other hand has his sanity questioned (when he's lucid and fine, as well as when delusional), people mourn his past self (and he does too), needs proper help and support, and is ugly in the way he expresses his mental health problems. He's insulted by his subordinates (Felix) and those who trust him or care for him are insulted for their naivetee (again by Felix...) When he has the flashback (where there's a CG of the massacre) his voice is rough and angry and he's not quite in the room, when he hears voices they don't tell him motivating things, when he breaks down he doesn't have a few pretty tears or a manageable nightmare - he dissociates and laughs and laughs at unfunny things, is unable to taste, hurts himself and others, and wants to die.

he probably has something like depressive schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic depression, as well as PTSD (I've experienced the latter two, but can't say much on the first one); but again, other than the PTSD it's never really clarified.

And obviously he kills people during war time, which is abnormal for someone suffering with mental health conditions, but it's fire emblem. They're in a war, and there's magic dragons and crest stones, so I think that one's ok.

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[problematic-fodlan]

It's easy to figure out that crests are just a fantasy writing shorthand. You know, have characters bring up heavy topics like classism and sexism but instead of addressing the complicated reasons those things exist IRL it's all because of magic dragon blood.

But it's lowkey shocking that the game never tries to do the same with racism even though there were a lot of opportunities for it. Like Fodlanites look down on people from Duscur/Almyra/Brigid because they don't have crests. But the writing never goes there.

Inb4 "that's implied"/"my headcanon says so", that's great but stop excusing lazy writing because you want to do the devs work for them.

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[problematic-fodlan]

The you're definitely coming out on top vibe is how it felt to play CF to me, the odds are completely in your favour overall, but they're not when you just send in the elite strike force (aka the units you deploy in the game). So it gets a bit of underdog vibes in some of the missions, whilst also being totally able to trounce the other nations.

At the same time, when you get to the taltean plains it feels like a desperate last stand by a nation who's already lost. It almost feels pointless, like the kingdom should surrender, but they're still holding on to the hope that maybe they could win a war that's already been decided. It's a very surreal battle to play through. Then going through the city on fire is amazing vibes wise. They're defeated and they know it, but they want to take you with them. "Our pride, our people, our King! You've torn them all apart. What else is there left for you to take?!"

Whereas in Blue Lions when you get to Adrestia, it feels like a genuine last stand, where if you loose here, there will be more war, because it's not been decided yet, and if Edelgard looses here, that's it. It's a very decisive and victorious feeling battle.

Each route has a different feeling boss and final fight and it's really cool that each one fits beautifully into the gameplay and theme of the route. Say what you want about three houses (and there is a lot you can say) but atmosphere and vibe is something that game is amazing at.

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[problematic-fodlan]

Poor story and gameplay integration doesn't nullify the story importance of crests.

It's not the first time the story and gameplay doesn't match with eachother.

Slightly off topic but I also find the take that Ng+ crest items means that it canonically nullifies the story importance of crests very silly cause this same mode allows you to carry Dimitri's batallion for example and have them fight him in vw and cf.

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[problematic-fodlan]

Leaving aside that the only reason any of these characters ever win is because the player picks their route -

The war was always the Empire's to lose.

It has the biggest military

It's the second richest country after Leicester

It has the Slithers manufacturing demonic beasts

Edelgard has two crests that give her special hegemon powers no one else gets

And she gets the Slithers to make her a personal relic

Faerghus and Leicester were already destabilized by the Slithers, Faerghus is recovering from years of civil unrest and Leicester had a sudden succession crisis until Claude popped up out of nowhere

The Slithers also have a sleeper agent in the Kingdom who convinces half their nobles to rebel

Leicester is politically fractured and every noble with land bordering the Empire is either self-interested or severely compromised

Meanwhile Edelgard just purged the Imperial government of anyone who won't fall in line with her so the Empire is unified

And they conquer Garreg Mach in all routes, a major defensive holding right in the middle of the continent

Crimson Flower tries to shake some of that up to make the Empire sound like the underdogs, but nobody's seriously buying it. The Imperial army outside the Black Eagle Strike Force is still massive and they've still got demonic beasts and the Slithers helping them out until Rhea is dead. And it's also the only route where the Empire holds on to Garreg Mach instead of abandoning it because who the hell knows.

It's funnier that Edelgard loses in 3 routes. But whoever the player picks wins, so we're back to that. This isn't Jugdral where the developers actually have the guts to hand the player a major L or two.

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[problematic-fodlan]

I'm proposing now, that crests not being very strong was the point of them. Fodlan people overhype crests, how else could Edelgard win when the kingdom has her outnumbered and outgunned on relics and crests?

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[problematic-fodlan]

Well right about now I think it's safe to say Fortune's Weave hit some development snags and we're looking at a late 2026 release at best. I wonder if the pushback against Engage got IS to change some things they had planned for the next game? Like in the art design or writing departments.

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[problematic-fodlan]

Other anon can't stay on topic because actually comparing how Engage and Three Houses treat POCs could only result in Houses looking worse.

Some of its choices are indefensible, and all of its POC characters are affected by it one way or another. Writing, visual design, even voice casting. Engage sure isn't perfect but I'll take Solm's royals and Saphir any day over brown characters who have to spend two games narratively subservient to a bunch of white royals and white dragons.

Congrats for not only missing the point but breaking the blog rules too.

Comparisons are ok. But it would be a good idea if we moved on to another topic.