Prologue: The Verge of History
Your journey in Fire Emblem Awakening commences with the creation of your Avatar, the Prince or Princess of Ylisse. This is your chance to customize your character's appearance, gender, and starting class. Following this, you awaken in a forest clearing, disoriented and with no memory of how you arrived. Soon after, you encounter Chrom, the leader of the Shepherds, and his sister Lissa, who are investigating strange occurrences. They find you injured and quickly offer their aid. This initial encounter sets the stage for your integration into the Shepherds and your role in the unfolding conflict. The prologue serves as a tutorial, introducing basic movement and combat mechanics. You'll learn how to select units, move them across the grid-based battlefield, and initiate attacks. The first few turns will likely involve engaging a small group of Plegian soldiers, allowing you to practice the fundamentals. Pay attention to the weapon triangle: swords are strong against axes, axes against lances, and lances against swords. Understanding this rock-paper-scissors system is paramount for efficient combat. You'll also be introduced to the concept of Support points, which build between adjacent units, offering stat bonuses during combat. Ensure your Avatar stays close to Chrom or Lissa during these early battles to foster these crucial bonds.
The initial battle in the prologue is relatively straightforward, designed to familiarize you with the game's core mechanics. You'll likely face a few generic Plegian soldiers and perhaps a Plegian Knight. Focus on using Chrom's Falchion to deal significant damage, and Lissa's healing staff to keep your units healthy. The map is small, limiting the strategic depth initially, but it's vital to grasp the movement ranges of your units. For example, Chrom, as a Lord, has a movement range of 5 tiles. Lissa, a Cleric, also has a movement range of 5 tiles, but her primary role is support. Your Avatar's class and movement will depend on your initial choices. After defeating the initial wave of enemies, Chrom will explain the situation, hinting at a larger conflict brewing. This prologue is crucial for setting up the narrative and introducing key characters like Chrom and Lissa, who will be your constant companions. The "General FAQs/Guides" by MKaykitkats (version 1.90) can provide further context on early game strategies and character roles, even if not explicitly detailing the prologue's specific encounters.