Potential Metrics for "Preferred Canon" and Their Values

[amielleon]

This is merely a collection of numbers with minimal analysis, based around the idea that if something is important, the game will spend time developing it. I just thought it'd be interesting to lay out. This is for Lords only, because it'd be too much work otherwise. (This took me three hours as is.)



I've included characters who end up marrying or living together, along with a few other options for lulz/comparison. Celice is not included because he is the world's worst playah. Or, actually, he's about as much of a playah as anyone else in his world. Oh, and "Non-Optional" means that it appears so long as all the characters are alive -- I'm not counting someone being dead as something optional to unlock. I am also not counting main game routes (in 7 and 8) and automatically appearing base conversations (in 9 and 10) as "optional".

Character	Love Interest	Exclusive Media	Non-Optional Interaction	Unlockable Script	Backstory	Exclusitivity	First meeting in the game
Marth	Caeda	CG in early FE12, CG in late FE12	They get married at the start of FE12. Additionally, Nyna encourages Marth to go after Caeda at the end of FE11 so long as she is alive. If she is dead, she calls it Artemis's curse.	Supports in FE12. (Faster than MyUnit, slower than Merric; note that Merric comes 6 chapters later than Caeda, and MyUnit comes 3 chapters earlier.)	Marth has been taking refuge in Talys for two years prior to the start of the first game. Not much more is said of this time.	Nyna has a crush on Marth, but a bigger crush on Camus, and ends up marrying Hardin. All three seem to be unrequited in different ways.	First game, Chapter 1 (of many)
Alm	Cellica	NES game. Nuff said.	"Afterwards, she and Alm joined together to become the founding king and queen of Valencia." - Epilogue, completely non-optional. Also some sappy bits in the script.	NES game.	They're the secret royalty of the two warring kingdoms on the continent. They were childhood friends until Cellica was 10.	Completely mutually exclusive.	End of chapter 2 (of 5)
Sigurd	Diadora	Let's just put it this way: They were so pressed for room in this game that they started stuffing bits of script willy-nilly. The code still confounds hackers today.	Sigurd falls in love with her at first sight. Diadora breaks all the rules she'd been raised with shortly afterward to help him fight in a war. In a matter of months, they get married. They have a kid. They also have a few Talks IIRC.	Nada.	They first meet in the game. But for what it's worth, she's secretly the princess and the last inheritor of Narga, and he's your protagonist.	Completely mutually exclusive, although Sylvia flirts with Sigurd (and everyone) and Sigurd seems to have a bromantic past with Cuan and Eltoshan.	Midway through Chapter 1 (of 12; mind the prologue.)
Leaf	Nanna	None that I know of. To be fair, the only art featuring two characters seems to be Levin and Yuria, and let's not interpret them that way.	Leaf goes on a giant rescue mission to get Nanna back from the forces of evil. There is a curious absence of smalltalk throughout the main game. At the end, after leading Miranda on, Mareeta convinces Nanna to confess to Leaf and he gives her an ilu2.	FE4 has a Nanna/Janne exclusive lover conversation for Leaf in 10, about buying an engagement gift just like his parents.	They grew up together on the run. Nanna's mother acted as Leaf's surrogate mother, and depending on what you believe, you might say the same of Nanna's father.	Completely mutually exclusive in FE5. Predestined (100 base points over any other Leaf suitor, albeit +2 unlike some other suitors who are +3) in FE4, but they could get with anyone.	Nanna shows up at the same time as Leaf in both games, but doesn't interact with him in FE5 until Chapter 5 because of the kidnapping plot.
Character	Love Interest	Exclusive Media	Non-Optional Interaction	Unlockable Script	Backstory	Exclusitivity	First meeting in the game
Roy	Lilina	Their childhood meeting plays in the epilogue. FE7 also has a non-optional CG of them in the epilogue, unless you're European.	Lilina conveys an important message to Roy early in the game (to return to Pherae). A few chapters later, Roy rescues Lilina from a prison. He also consoles her after the death of her father. She also helps him find a divine weapon.	Three supports, plus a conversation in the epilogue if they have A support. They also marry if they have A support.	They first meet when very young (FE7 epilogue). Roy also studies in Ostia some two-three years before FE6.	Roy can get with a zillion other chicks. He is the only one who has adjusted endings based on supports. Lilina has no other options. Lilina is favored in outside interactions, such as Lilina/Marcus supports and Hector/Eliwood supports in FE7.	The aftermath of chapter 1 (no substantial prologue).
	Sue	Nada.	He saves her from a dungeon.	Three supports, and they marry if they have A.	They first meet in the game.	See above.	Mid-Chapter 6.
	Thany	Nada.	I guess he's kinda her client?	Three supports, marriage with A.	They first meet in the game.	See above.	Start of Chapter 2.
	Lalam	Nada.	She jumps all over him, but she does that to everyone. And Roy kinda helps her movement and stuff.	"	"	"	Chapter 11 ish.
	Cecilia	Nada.	He saves her from a dungeon. She helps advise him a little.	"	She was his tutor in Ostia.	"	End of Chapter 13.
	Sophia	Nada.	She helps save Cecilia. He helps save her village. She also helps with some plot stuff, like finding a divine weapon.	"	They meet in the game.	"	End of Chapter 13.
Character	Love Interest	Exclusive Media	Non-Optional Interaction	Unlockable Script	Backstory	Exclusitivity	First meeting in the game
Eliwood	Ninian	Several CGs: Non-Optional 1, 2, and one more if A supported in Eliwood's path. Also, a special song that plays only if Eliwood and Ninian had an A support.	Eliwood saves Ninian from the Black Fang in Lyn's story. They bond in the main game, and Ninian angsts over acceptance. The abduction of Ninian and her subsequent death are major moments in the plot. Ninian seeks out Eliwood while her mind is clouded.	Three supports leading to support, and a chat in the epilogue. Additionally, main-game dialogue changes if they are A supported by the time Eliwood gets the Durandal: both in that chapter, and in the Final Chapter.	They first meet in Lyn's Tale. It's worth noting that Roy's mother is implied to be Ilian, which Ninian is. (See Florina supports.)	Eliwood has two other potential suitors, while Ninian goes back through the Gate unless paired with Eliwood.	Lyn's Tale, chapter 7.
	Lyn	A CG if A supported on Eliwood's path.	Eliwood helps convince the rest of Lycia to remain neutral in the Caelin heir dispute. Then he and Hector help her regain her castle in the main plot, and she tags along to help. There are also a few Talks in the Final Chapter between the three Lords in which they express their concern for each other re: departed loved ones.	Three supports, marriage if you get A support, with a brief chat in the epilogue.	They meet in Lyn's Tale.	Eliwood has two other potential suitors; Lyn has three other potential suitors. RE: FE6, Lyn seems to have no Ilian background.	Chapter 7.
	Fiora	A CG if A supported on Eliwood's path.	Like... nothing. Seriously. Nothing.	Three supports leading to marriage with A, with a brief chat in the epilogue.	They meet in the game.	Eliwood has two other options. Fiora also has two other options. FE6 says Roy's mother is Ilian. It is also worth noting that Fiora has the slowest-growing supports with Eliwood, although taking this into account is complicated.	Ambiguous. Fiora is recruited in Chapter 18 in Eliwood's path, but there's no indication she necessarily meets Eliwood at the time, though C support suggests they talk to each other before they support.
	Hector	A far-future meeting regardless of your actions (unless you're European); a bromantic CG if you don't pair up the main lord with a girl.	Hector breaks out of his own house to go help Eliwood on his quest to find his daddy. They also have Talks in the Final Chapter about their parent figures' deaths.	Three supports that have their fastest growths outside of Ninian (despite high availability), but no ending.	Old friends from Ostian boarding school, and long-time sparring partners. They first met when they were like six and formed a blood oath that they'd help each other.	They each have three ending options, which do not include each other.	Chapter 12, the second chapter of the main game.
Hector	Lyn	One non-optional CG, and some optional stuff: CG if A supported and a special Talk with exclusive music if A supported by Hector Ch 31x.	A slap-slap-kiss relationship in the main game, along with the aforementioned Final chapter Talks.	Three supports leading to marriage at A and a Talk in Hector 31x.	They meet in the game.	Hector has two other options; Lyn has three.	Chapter 16 on Hector's mode.
	Florina	A CG if A supported.	Florina uses Hector as an airbag in their first encounter.	Three supports leading to marriage.	They first meet in the aforementioned incident.	Hector has two other marriage options. Florina has another ending option, with Lyn, which is complicated and will be discussed later.	Chapter 16 in Hector's path.
	Farina	A CG if A supported.	Farina approaches Hector for a job.	Three supports leading to marriage.	Aforementioned.	Hector and Farina both have two other options. They are both the slowest-supporting option for each other, despite Farina's availability being the worst of all Hector's options.	Chapter 25 on Hector's path only.
Lyn	Eliwood, Hector	Previously discussed.
	Rath	A non-optional CG. It is worth noting that Lyn's poverty of romantic CGs compared to the other FE7 lords is likely due to her "not-really-a-lord-proper" status.	Rath saves Lyn's life in Lyn's Tale. Only Lyn can recruit Rath in the story proper.	Three supports leading to marriage.	They first meet in-game, but it's worth noting that they have a cultural tie of sorts.	Lyn has three other options; Rath has none. Their ending makes mention of a Kutolah daughter, who they raise in Sacae, presumably Sue. Sue earns no mention in Rath's solo ending.	Lyn's Tale, Chapter 6.
	Kent	A non-optional CG shared with Sain.	Kent's mission was to find Lyn. Afterward, his duty was to serve her. He provides critical support during several battles.	Three supports ending in marriage.	They meet in-game.	Lyn has three other marriage endings; Kent has two.	Chapter 1
	Mark	Two non-optional CGs.	Lyn saves Mark at the start of the game. She regularly "talks to the screen" and consults him throughout Lyn's Tale. She tells him all about herself within about ten minutes of him being conscious. They ultimately part ways -- twice.	There are some more asides in the main game if you carry over from Lyn's Mode. And then there's the one cutscene where you and Lyn make out -- wait, what do you mean that isn't in the game?	They meet at the start of the game.	Lyn's four options do not include Mark. It is worth noting however that their interaction is the first in the game, and strangely dating-sim-like in presentation.	Prologue
	Florina	A non-optional CG with Florina being arm candy.	Lyn saves Florina in her tale. Florina then becomes a knight of Caelin. In the main game, she risks her life and flies over archer fire to deliver a critical message for her. Florina does say "I do love(=daisuki) you, Lyn!" at the end of chapter 10.	Three supports that give an ending. This ending includes them living together for some time before Florina goes back to Ilia and explicitly says "friendship".	Long-time friends.	Florina has a marriage option with Hector; Lyn has four marriage options. It's worth noting that Lyn/Florina has a huge base support rate and the second-highest support growth in the game, losing out only to Eliwood/Ninian and tying with only 7 other combinations. Of those 7, two are canonical romances (Isadora/Harken, Bartre/Karla). It is worth noting that two of them are also Florina's supports, however, so perhaps it's a suggestion of her personality.	Chapter 3
Character	Love Interest	Exclusive Media	Non-Optional Interaction	Unlockable Script	Backstory	Exclusitivity	First meeting in the game
Eirika	Ephraim	Two plot-related non-optional CGs.	Eirika's first major mission in the game is to go help save her brother. In return, Ephraim saves Eirika from Orson's trap. They do a lot of talking together and reminiscing, but to be fair, they're the main characters.	Three supports that include cheek-stroking (Japanese: he strokes her head instead) and lead to an ending in which she stays by his side and makes a good ruler out of him.	They're twins. They grew up together.	They have many options outside of each other; three of Eirika's involve marriage, while two of Ephraim's do. Every one of Eirika's royal suitors remarks on Ephraim being an obstacle. It's worth noting that Ephraim only ever says sweet things to Eirika. They are each other's fastest supports.	Chapter 9
	Seth	None.	He saves her during the invasion of Renais Castle and takes a lance to the side for her. He serves as her advisor for the rest of the game.	Three supports leading to marriage.	He was a General in service of the royal family of Renais. Few other details are clear.	Seth has one other option; Eirika has two other marriage options. It is worth noting that this is Eirika's second-fastest support, after Ephraim, and Seth's fastest support, despite extremely high availability.	Prologue
	Saleh	None.	On Eirika's Route, he provides the main source of guidance in the middle of the game, leading the group to Caer Pelyn where they learn important plotty things.	Three supports leading to relocation and marriage.	They met in-game.	Eirika has two other marriage options. Saleh has two other endings, but both are platonic (or at least I'd like to think that of Myrrh and Ewan). Their ending contains the only reference to bearing a daughter out of Eirika's marriage options.	Chapter 5
	Innes	None.	Eirika saves him. In return, Innes provides some plot guidance.	Three supports leading to marriage.	They had some contact throughout their upbringing. Innes apparently got into fights with Ephraim all the time.	Eirika has two other marriage options; Innes has two other marriage options as well, one of which is heavily indicated outside of their supports.	The split before Chapter 9.
	Forde	None.	Not much?	Three supports leading to an ending in which they do not marry, but Forde hangs around and paints her portrait.	He's a knight of Renais.	Eirika has three marriage options. Forde has two other options: one is a pretty tight bromance, and the other is a marriage with a girl who canonically had eyes for her prince (and stays in Frelia due to her loyalty).	Chapter 9 (implicit)
	Tana	None.	Tana helps guide them around in the early game.	Three supports leading to an ending in which they visit each other regularly and bring their kids.	They apparently visited each other frequently as kids, and were friends.	Eirika has three marriage options; Tana can marry Eirika's brother, or hunt down a guy to drag him home and... knight him.	Chapter 1
	Lyon	A non-optional CG finishes the epilogue.	They made a game out of that! It's called Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones. (But seriously, there are like three flashbacks and a zillion more reminisces, and Eirika never gives up on Lyon's squishy soul.) Lyon confesses feelings for Eirika.	Nada.	Roughly two years ago, Eirika and Ephraim went to study in Grado. Two years is the magic number for studying in Fire Emblem.	Considering that Lyon dies, taking endings into consideration would be kind of unfair. But the main competition here is Ephraim. On the other hand, I don't think there's any real problem presented by an OT3...	Chapter 17 in Eirika's route, but he shows up solo much earlier.
	L'Arachel	Uh, I just wanted to give her a shout-out for being the only Eirika support that doesn't lead to an ending.
Ephraim	Eirika	Previously discussed.
	L'Arachel	None.	L'Arachel does a lot of plotty things, but hilariously, she is generally talking to Eirika, regardless of route.	Three supports somehow leading to marriage. Also, you may elect to recruit L'Arachel with Ephraim (or keep her alive otherwise).	They first meet during the game, though it's worth noting that they're both royalty.	L'Arachel has one other marriage option (Innes); Ephraim also has one other marriage option.	Chapter 11
	Tana	None.	Ephraim saves her from memetic Gheb in chapter 9.	Three supports (revolving around how Ephraim always paid more attention to her brother) ending in marriage.	The Renais twins visited Frelia in their youth. Ephraim apparently didn't really notice Tana. On the other hand, he pays tons of attention to Tana's two favorite people, so why not marry her?	Ephraim has one other marriage option; this is Tana's only marriage option, though she also has a homance and an ending where she drags a guy to Frelia to... knight him.	The split before Chapter 9.
	Innes	None.	They exchange a few harsh words. Innes thinks he's smarter, better, less foolhardy, etc.	Nada.	A lengthy and intense rivalry	-- which apparently leads to the chance of Ephraim marrying Innes's sister, and vice versa.	The split before Chapter 9.
	Lyon	Basically as with Eirika, but with a darker tone.
Character	Love Interest	Exclusive Media	Non-Optional Interaction	Unlockable Script	Backstory	Exclusitivity	First meeting in the game
Ike	Soren	Soren blasts a soldier headed for Ike in a cutscene and stands directly next to Ike in the group shot in the opening of PoR.	Excluding interactions revolving only around the plot: a tone-setting welcome back for Soren's entrance, two base conversations in PoR and one more in RD, and several small moments in the chapter script, including things as plot-trivial as Ike expressing concern over Soren to initiate a subplot completed in their supports. Both characters talk significantly about each other to other people as well (Eg, PoR 15 Sigrun, PoR Stefan supports, RD 3-3 Strategist). They start RD with a +5 bond independent of PoR transfer bond.	Three supports in PoR leading to an altered ending line; special support dialogue on Soren's side for RD, leading to an exclusive base conversation, as well as an ending in which they vanish together.	Ike saved Soren's life at around age six. Soren dedicated the next several years of his childhood to finding Ike. Afterward they grew up together as part of the Greil Mercenaries.	Ike has ending lines for all of his potential supportees in PoR except Elincia; however, he only has one other potential ending in Radiant Dawn, no specialized supports, and no unlockable conversations except the aforementioned. Soren has only one other potential supportee in PoR (and said supports still manage to concern Ike), and all other Radiant Dawn supports describe his attachment as tactical only. In Part 4, Soren is locked into Ike's team. Every single one of Soren's death quotes concern Ike, with his actual-death death quote saying he prizes Ike over the world; an absence of A support leads to Soren "never us[ing] his talents for anyone but Ike". Exclusitivity, huh.	PoR Ch 4
	Ranulf	None. (He does, however, appear in two cutscenes consecutive alongside Skrimir -- which at the very least suggests that he is a more important character than Soren.)	Ranulf is Ike's first encounter with a laguz and teaches him some basic etiquette. He is the team's contact with Gallia throughout PoR and on cordial terms with Ike. In RD he calls upon the GMs to assist with warfare. Near the end, he's the one to tell Ike the identity of the Black Knight. He is involved in one plot-related base convo in PoR and one personal base convo in RD. They start RD with a +5 bond independent of PoR transfer bond.	Three supports in PoR leading to an altered ending line; neither have special support lines for each other in RD, but A leads to them leaving together in the epilogue.	They meet in PoR.	Ike -- as above. Ranulf has two other supportees in PoR and no other ending options in RD; his solo ending involves him going back to doing his job. In the Part 4 split, Ranulf goes with the Gallians.	PoR Ch 7
	Elincia	The PoR ending cutscene, which comes off as romantic in the English rendition (less so in the Japanese). She is next to Ike on the FE9 box art.	The plot of PoR involves retaking Crimea and installing Elincia. Plot aside, it is both Ike's and Elincia's coming of age, and on Elincia's end, much of her development involves learning from Ike and company in a variety of bits in the chapter script. In Radiant Dawn, Ike aids Elincia at a critical moment at Bastian's behest, and then again later when Valtome is a jerk. They exchange one line in the epilogue, saying they're going back to Crimea. They have one base conversation in PoR and none in RD.	Three supports in PoR leading to no change in the ending; no special supports nor ending in RD.	They meet in PoR.	Ike's other six PoR support options have altered endings with him; he has two RD endings, which do not include Elincia. Elincia has one other PoR support option, Geoffrey, whom she can marry at the end of RD if she has A support there. Additionally, Lucia is noted to prioritize Elincia, even if supported with and hence in an affair with Bastian. In Part 4, Elincia is locked into the Hawk Army.	PoR Ch 4
	Mia	She's in the same cutscene as Ike in RD, but does not directly interact with him. She is also in the aforementioned group shot, but is a little far from him.	She talks to Ike to be recruited in PoR; she has one base conversation in both games with Ike, both related to personal interests. Her PoR epilogue has her hanging around the Greil Mercenaries, and her RD epilogue says she drops by the GMs sometimes.	She cannot support with Ike in PoR and they do not have special support lines in RD. They have no special optional interaction.	They meet in PoR.	Ike -- as above. Mia has no special endings period.	PoR Ch 7
	Marcia	None.	Ike saves her from some pirates, and she later talks to him to join up. She has one personal base conversation with Ike (about ... packing) and another concerning her wayward brother. No interaction in Radiant Dawn.	Same as Mia.	Same as Mia.	Same as Mia.	PoR Ch 3
	Yune	The second-to-last RD cutscene, disproportionately sentimental in English, in which Ike cites Yune as their inspiration and reason to grow. (He compares her to a mom in the Japanese.)	PoR revolves around locating Yune, although they don't know it yet. At the start of RD Part 4, Ike and Yune get tsundere. Shortly before endgame, Ike inspires Yune to keep fighting. In RD's endgame, Ike and Yune work alongside each other to save the world; the chapter script consists of nearly nonstop Ike-and-Yune back-and-forth. Ike is the last person Yune talks to for over a thousand years.	Yune can see various aspects of Ike's past if you complete certain criteria.	Yune was indirectly responsible for Ike's early-life trauma.	Ike -- as above. Yune has no special endings period. However, Ike is one of very few characters she speaks to in canon.	RD 3-F
Micaiah	Sothe	The first cutscene of RD, as well near the ending of the opening sequence of RD. Also, an unlockable CG, which is actually opt-out.	Sothe mentions in his recruitment convo and a follow-up base convo in PoR that he is traveling to find someone who is family to him. Micaiah and Sothe talk constantly in RD chapter script as a main means of exposition, but this also sets the tone of their relationship. At one point, Sothe was held hostage, and Micaiah could not choose between him and her nation. Sothe repeatedly states that his first priority is Micaiah, and he would bail on The Cause in an instant. They have five nonoptional base conversations with just them, usually of a fairly unpolitical nature. There are several more base conversations with other players that nonetheless highlight their dynamic, like the English-only 3-12 Nico. Yune recognizes Sothe in terms of his importance to Micaiah and promotes him accordingly. They constantly reference each other in other conversations, such as RD Base 4-2 Naesala. In the epilogue, Ike speaks to them as a duo.	It is worth noting that Micaiah and Sothe begin with A-support, so unlike most situations, their optional content is opt-out rather than out-in. They have one optional base conversation in endgame with CG. Their A support leads to an ending with marriage. Neither of them have special supports for each other, but neither have special supports period except Micaiah for Oliver.	Micaiah found Sothe in an alley 10+ years ago and took care of him until shortly before PoR. They reunited in the same alley shortly after PoR.	Sothe has supports for Astrid and Tormod in PoR, neither of which are explicitly romantic; the subplot with Astrid is unmentioned in RD, while a close friendship with Tormod is played up in the first part of RD. Micaiah and Sothe have no ending options outside of each other. If their support is broken, Sothe still helps Micaiah fix the country.	RD Prologue.
Chris	Katarina	Much like Mark, Katarina has two CGs addressing the screen. (I think the latter has exclusive music too, but damned if I remember.)	Katarina is the first person that Chris meets, and they're comfy-cozy for most of the prologue. Later, Chris is the only one capable of (slowly) convincing Katarina to switch sides.	Three supports; FE12 has no support-based alternate endings as far as I can tell. However, at the end of A support with male Chris, the two of them share love confessions.	They meet in the game.	Katarina can only potentially support with Marth and Cecil otherwise, and most of her interaction with allied characters involves Chris. Chris, on the other hand, is getting in everyone's pants, especially that of a certain married man.	Prologue-1.

Outside media worth noting:
The Akaneia Chronicles represent each game as follows: Marth and Caeda, Alm and Cellica, Leaf and Finn, Roy and Lilina, Ephraim and Eirika.

Also possibly of interest: Sweetest Romantic Lines, Word of God about Ranulf's Sexuality.

Corrections welcome, and comments desired. :D

Comments

[raphiael]

Ephraim's endings still strike me as glaringly BS, aha. Especially next to all the others. I'm not inclined to read him as ace or, like some do, So Tragically In Love With Poor Dead Lyon that he just doesn't care, but considering the way he's written, it is weird.

Eirika meets Saleh in chapter 5, actually-- he doesn't introduce himself, exactly, but he does give her a hand and they interact. Ephraim also rescues Tana after she comes after him, but that's only on his route. IIRC, Eirika's route has her going freely. She definitely doesn't get captured there. Not sure how "non-optional" these are-- but I guess since you count Lyon's route-exclusive stuff, I think it counts as much.

Worth noting for optional stuff, Lilina's affections for Roy are referenced in Lilina/Marcus, and their relationship is hinted at in Hector/Eliwood supports. Considering how much stuff they pile on there and how little the others get in comparison, the whole pimp lord Roy thing seems really pointless.

(also I think it's funny that Eirika beds more of Magvel than Ephraim, but that's just me.)

[amielleon]

Twincestuous is still my bet.

Thanks for the corrections -- they weren't intentional oversights. I was just doing this half based off memory because it would take too long to double-check everything.

Oh right, Gheb is an Ephraim-route-only thing... ew.

Roy/Lilina and Eliwood/Ninian are so bizarrely story-integrated that it's weird they didn't just go ahead and Sigurd 'n' Diadora them.

[raphiael]

I always kind of suspected that Roy's multiple endings were just someone getting SUPER EXCITED about the whole support system thing. I mean, I can think of vague storyline justification for all of them, and Kyusil's pointed out that a number of them could be political (Lalam's the adopted daughter of a big time Etrurian general, Thany's the sister-in-law of Ilia's king, etc.), but they still strike me as "oh look, cute girl! let's make an ending because we can!"

I did always think it was odd that Clarine and Roy didn't support, though. She always seemed like a logical harem member-- moreso than Cecilia, at least.

And yeah, the whole Gheb thing is the grossest part of Ephraim's route, IMO, and I still think it was really unnecessary. It does show Amelia's recruitment in an interesting light, but for Tana, it's stupid.

[kyusil]

Clarine's totally interested in him when they first meet, too. I think some of Roy's crack pairing options are easily more plausible than about half of his official ones.

I proposed the political marriage thing to make sense of Roy's character given canon more than anything else-- I definitely agree that most of the paired endings were probably an attempt to give players a bit of that element of choice that they'd come to expect from Jugdral. Why they didn't jump right to FE7's system of paired endings for non-lord characters is a bit of a mystery, though FE6 went through development hell so that might be part of it.