Eirika's Route vs. Ephraim's Route

[I Fell In Love With Judas, then I got Herpes]

I asked this question about a year ago, but now since I'm going through the game again I thought I'd do it again. Basically, which one do you like more? Eirika's is cool because it gets Marisa earlier ( ), and I like the focus on the other countries in the game. Ephraim's route isn't bad, though, minus the pirate ship level.

Thoughts/opinions?

[Charliecane]

I prefer Eirika's route, if only because it's the only one I've completed. I got about halfway through Ephraim's story before I got bored and decided to play Suikoden V instead.

Although, taking Ephraim's route does give me Duessel earlier. That's a plus.

[arashisama without the decorative symbols. RANDOM ENOUGH?!]

Well, I do like Eirique's route for the Jehanna scene with Ismea and the fact that you can then get 2 Rapier's and 2 Reginleif's... but Ephraim's is my preferred route because the Arena is found in a chapter with a Vendor to replenish your healing staff stock. If you run out in Eirique's path (the chapter where you get Hineas, Tethys, Jist, and Marica), you're reduced to healing on forts and the throne if you're really desperate.

[Once]

I find that Ephraim's route is a little bit more challenging than Eirika's, so if you want that extra challenge you should take Ephraim's route.

As for me, I take Eirika's route 99% of the time mainly because it is the first option (not really a reason is it? ); the remaining percent is for more familiarity in her route than in Ephraim's. When I do take Ephraim's route, I take it solely for preference of story. The matter of when characters are recruited is void to me because I know I will eventually get them all (unlike FE7 ), and I don't have a specific liking for any of them.

[Derpicane]

I prefer Ephraim's route because I really fucking hate Eirika, Hineas, and Saleh.

Also what is everyone's problem with the pirate ship? o_O

[Neofox]

Also what is everyone's problem with the pirate ship? o_O

I'm guessing it's because you not only have to deal with enemies approaching from the planks connecting the ships, but also having to deal with the flying enemies that surround the ship (which consist of both spear-wielding gargoyles and magic-using eye creatures, so a character who can wall just one attack type is going to experience problems).

[Mekkah]

Also because the boss of that map is a pretty huge asshole with flying, high Spd and 1-2 range.

Well, I do like Eirique's route for the Jehanna scene with Ismea and the fact that you can then get 2 Rapier's and 2 Reginleif's...

Rapier, yah, but there's no way to get a second Reginleif. I used to think you did by trading Ephraim's Reginleif away before seizing, hoping Ephraim would come with a new one, but he doesn't. There's probably some subtle differences in the items you get on each route though, the biggest one being said Rapier...other than that, I know Eirika from Ephraim's route gets a Steel Sword in the desert chapter, and Ephraim probably gets a Steel Lance.

[Lord Glenn]

I prefer Ephraim's route over Eirika's, myself. For some reason, Ephraim's campaign against Grado caught me more from a story perspective than Eirika's "Warn the other nations" portion. The maps also have a nice variety in terms of tilesets, too. Eirika's are all closely the same, which bores me a lot. Even though Chapters 10 and 11 can be pains at times, I still find Ephraim's route more fun than Eirika's. That coupled with the fact that you don't immediately have to jump into Chapter 15 as soon as 14 finishes is a plus as well... (And, on the topic of Chapter 15, while you have to worry about Eirika, Saleh, and Innes on Ephraim's map, he has better positioning than Eirika's group does on her map, IMO.)

That being said, though, I really don't care which one I take, since it gets you to the same place anyway. (Coupled with the fact that my favorite Chapters are before and after the split...)

[Ice Dragon]

I tend to play Eirik's path more often, probably because I don't particularly like Ephraim's ship chapter or Grado Keep very much. On the other hand, I hate the fact that Knoll is a serious liability come Ch. 15 on Eirik's path. I'm not particularly concerned about item or arena differences; I only really use irons and, if necessary, the tower. And I'm not good at reading Japanese, so I don't get much difference in the story (the only time I actually played for story was in Spanish...).

[caleb723]

I've noticed the enemies in Chapter 16 differ slightly as well; more mages/magic enemies on Ephraim's route, and more physical enemies on Eirika's.  I usually choose Ephraim, since most of his maps provide a bit more of a challenge.  And, since I lack the willpower to play Hard Mode, I need the challenge... ><

[Neofox]

And, since I lack the willpower to play Hard Mode, I need the challenge... ><

You do know that hard mode is almost indifferent from normal mode, right?

[Lord Kratos]

Ephraim. I prefer to kill Vigarde than pursuit a faggot at Carcino, Duessel and Ephraim are two of my favorite characters, I like the fight against Selena and I really hate Eirika.

[Mekkah]

You do know that hard mode is almost indifferent from normal mode, right?

iono, enemies do get HM bonuses, and I recall some maps getting some extra enemies in there (Ruled by Madness gets some extra Warriors and stuff iirc).

[caleb723]

iono, enemies do get HM bonuses, and I recall some maps getting some extra enemies in there (Ruled by Madness gets some extra Warriors and stuff iirc).

Yeah.  I was doing HM out of curiousity, then lost interest and stopped.  Normal Mode is the life for me... >_>

[hyde]

I never know which one to choose. I prefer Ephraim's maps, but Eirika's route is a bit better if you plan on using Saleh, Innes and Cougar. Of course, Ephraim's is better if you plan on using Duessel, but I don't care much for him.

[SacredSage2]

Ephraim's route is my favorite.I prefer water and harbors and forts to endless plains and mountains. The haunted castle is Eirika's only good stage. Eirika annoyed me from the start with her hair colour.  I just had two problems with Ephraim's route- I forgot that Ismaire ruled Jehanna from the opening sequence, and I had no idea who she was, or Saleh. I also didn't realize Eirika went to Carcino, and until the end I thought Carcino was an evil nation where the monster's came from, becuase all you hear of it on Eph.'s route is that Erika/Innes was ambushed there. Also, Ephraim's route has more human enemies.  You never see the ship ballistae with Eirika's route (no big deal).  The only good thing about Eirika's route was that she got another Rapier. On Eirika'sroute, you see the good Lyon, which misleads you, but you do have a sentence more on Knoll than you did on Saleh with Eph's route.  With eir's route, you also have to deal with the back to back ch. 14 and 15 which really sucks. Oddly enough, the ghost ship never annoyed me one bit.

[theshim is the shimiest shim of all the shims that ever shim]

As far as the actual split part is concerned, I prefer Ephraim's to Eirika's, but in the end, Eirika's plot is so much better.  In Ephraim's Lyon just ends up as some kind of lame "tragic hero", executed badly.  In Eirika's, he just nice and evil, and there are better lines.

[Jedor]

I never know which one to choose. I prefer Ephraim's maps, but Eirika's route is a bit better if you plan on using Saleh, Innes and Cougar. Of course, Ephraim's is better if you plan on using Duessel, but I don't care much for him.

But Cougar joins earlier in Ephraim's route, so unless you mean story-wise wouldn't Ephraim's be better?

And I myself prefer Eirika's, can't stand Ephraim's maps :<

[Neofox]

iono, enemies do get HM bonuses, and I recall some maps getting some extra enemies in there (Ruled by Madness gets some extra Warriors and stuff iirc).

I don't recall any new enemies, and I know for a fact there aren't any hard mode bonuses (as shown by the fact allies who start as enemies still have their base stats), but I do recall enemies start using steel weapons earlier on (although all that really accomplishes is reduce their speed further...).

[Ice Dragon]

There are hard mode bonuses. Recruitable characters (perhaps all non-generic enemies? I don't recall bosses being any stronger) just don't get them, and the bonus itself is pathetic, if memory serves.