Balancing GBA Fighters/Warriors

[Junkhead]

This is what I think could make them good/passable, or at least, an actual reason to use them.

FE6

For those of us who have played the game, we know the accuracy is the obvious part. Raising Axe hitrates is a good start.

Character-specific:

Lott, in my opinion, proposes a rather interesting premise as a Fighter...his bases aren't that much oriented on the usual hard-hitting stuff. He does still have great HP (thanks to +8 on promotion) and an interesting 40% growth, to make him rather bulky. I'd probably just give him +1 HP/Str/Def. Not so sure on Str, but a bit of more durability would help him be ideally bulky. He's not that bad, honestly.

...did this guy start his own archtype? Seriously, I'm curious. Take a look at him and then take a look back at Dorcas and Garcia.

I'd give him +1 Skill/Def and at least a 30% Spd growth. Because that's most of his problem, in my opinion. His Spd base isn't actually bad, but you know it's a problem when you won't be growing Spd for the next 10 years level-ups. A Def buff is actually rather optional.

I don't think Bartre is that bad, so I won't list him. He comes in already promoted with huge-ass HP/Str (you know, typical Fighter) stuff and at least has something like a D-Rank in bows...which, thanks to that massive Str, could at least, put it to good use, against Wyverns in HM.

FE7

Back in the day, I used to think that FE7 promotional gains were lacking. Especially, when comparing them to FE6's promotion gains...well, taking a look at it, I'd say I wasn't too wrong. Warrior promo-gains. Is asking for a simple +2 Spd that much? Because that maaay make a difference.

Like Ward, Dorcas has that very same problem. His bases are pretty okay, but it's a problem when you won't be growing any Spd...and to top it off, you're not getting any Spd on promotion gains. Ha.

Would give him at least 30% Spd growth and +2 Spd on promotion. I heard characters can double with something as little as 11-12 AS around mid-game, so...

...

...yeah, 3 AS just isn't helping.

Couldn't have IS at least given him 1 more Spd? Some Brigands double him. His accuracy isn't helping the case very much, either. Would go for at least +1 Spd/Skill. Granted, +1 in those areas doesn't sound like much. But it's significant, when you realize you're not getting doubled by enemies that aren't supposed to double you and may at least be able to double some enemy Knights...and while it's still significantly lower than Dorcas' Spd base, he'll catch up real quick and may even get doubling on promotion (thanks to an okay-ish 40% Spd growth & the aforementioned +2 Spd).

Like Bartre in FE6, I won't put Geitz here, since he's actually rather solid. Not excellent/great/fantastic, but pretty good.

Fun fact: Dorcas has twice of Bartre's Spd, while Bartre, has twice of Dorcas' Spd growth. Very funny, IS. Very funny, indeed.

FE8

See Wade/Ward & Dorcas. They seem to gradually get a little better along with the difficulty of their respective games get easier.

Except, he isn't aaalll that bad. Solid bases and he does have the option of going Hero Mode, for that +2 Spd they all want. Of course, a 30% Spd growth may just do.

Not too sure what to say about Ross, really. He has a few different paths he could take, and Fighter/Warrior isn't his best choice, anyway.

Edited July 20, 2014 by jorgito

[Icon of Sin]

I'm not sure what is the idea behind some axemen having a worse speed growth than knights in full plated armor. It even goes back to Maji, Johalva and Marty.

What doesn't help them either is that Mercenaries and Myrmidons have a huge Skill and Speed advantage, while they barely have a bit more HP and Strength at base.

[Parrhesia]

Garcia and Dorcas are already decent lads.

Though, yeah, Warrior could do with a speed boost on promotion so as not to make Garcia basically need to go Hero.

Edited July 20, 2014 by Parrhesia

[Tryhard]

I think Wade is the worst out of the lott.

GBA Fighters aren't great though, yeah. Does make me appreciate pretty much every other good axe fighter in the series, though.

[Xator Nova]

I do believe Bartre (FE7) is the worst, since 3 AS is unusable.

Garcia isn't that horrible because he has access to Garm (+5 AS).

Lott should have Hector-like defenses (8 Def base) in order to be worth using long-term. Even with his astounding 40% Def growth, his 4 Def base doesn't allow him to be the sturdy unit he's supposedly designed for, and ends up being the same as lol-Geese before promotion.

[X-Naut]

I feel that Wade and Lott would be better as an offense/defense duo instead of the poorly balanced Bord/Cord archetype. Leave Lott's Spd growth as it is, but up his Str a little and his Skl above Wade's. Let him keep his better bases in Skl/Spd/Def and his 40% Def growth, give him C Axes and raise effective weapon ranks to C. Meanwhile Wade has D Axes and slightly worse bases, but his higher Str and Spd growths mean he'll quickly outstrip Lott in offense, and his Luck gives him better dodge. The result is Lott has an earlygame lead and will remain the tankier one, but Wade will be the better damage dealer.

In Dorcas and Bartre's case the Bord/Cord archetypes work, and they can be a mix of that and Wade/Lott (Dorcas has early Axe rank while Bartre has growth). Either way Bartre needs at least 5 Spd base so he can grow fast in a reasonable timeframe. Undoing the promotion bonus nerf would be a boon too.

Garcia's actually fine aside from his Spd growth. Ross's bases are fine for his start, but the Journeyman gains need improvement and Pirate should not gain Spd and Def while Fighter gains none.

Overall the Fighter class itself is weak. Low Defense on a low-armor infantry is all well and good, but they could do with a little more, like 3 as opposed to 2. They need equal Speed and greater Strength than cavaliers too.

[Shin]

I do believe Bartre (FE7) is the worst, since 3 AS is unusable.

Bartre's usefulness depends on him getting speed for a good few levels straight early on. Otherwise he spends his entire life getting doubled. If he started with like 5 or 6 speed, he'd probably be at least serviceable.

[Logience]

Weaken the HP growths a bit, give them an actual defense geowth, and voila, they're now a defensive version of berserkers.

Giving their base Bow level a buff wouldn't hurt, either.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Logience

[quasimopho13]

Bartre's usefulness depends on him getting speed for a good few levels straight early on. Otherwise he spends his entire life getting doubled. If he started with like 5 or 6 speed, he'd probably be at least serviceable.

That explains why I can't get anywhere with Bartre. I keep trying to level him to finally get Karla in a play-through, but he's like free booty in a jail cell to a bunch of hungry mages!