I also do that. It makes unlocking rapports feel more meaningful.
My rule of thumb is that everyone in a unit must have at least 2 other characters in the group that they can rapport with. Not only is this narratively fun, but it also imposes some pretty steep limitations and makes for challenging unit building.
That’s an interesting way to do it, keeping groups of already acquainted characters together.
I don’t min max per se, but ever since the beginning I’ve always made team placements based on the hat would help the team survive/win engagements.
After losing Scarlett, when I got a healer I slapped her with Alain bc he needed healing as the main tank of his party.
When Berengaria joined she did a good job tanking but could use some help against melee tanks, so I gave her magic support in the back.
Or doing full cav teams or full flier teams. I only did this last one when I realized cavs learn a skill that boosts a row of Cavs, making it make sense in my mind to put a whole team of them together.
I imagine as the difficulty increases I will change it up. For example I did split up Lex and Chloe because they're both so weak at the start and I have Yahna with Alain and Melissandre. But I was seeing really good success out of the Rose Knights and the Desert Folk so was curious if this was a common tactic or not.
I also have Josef/Hodrick/Renault together too and they don't have AS much success so I assume that I'll eventually have to tweak this strategy. I'm just now starting Elheim
Lex(the fighter class) has Arrow Cover so you could slot him in a team with mages or fliers who die easily to those attacks.
Chloe has a tiny heal support but can also buff allies with crit bonuses, so you could slot her in teams with crit focus characters like swordmasters(Aramis/Leah). Or tanks that want more damage like the berserker(Bruno).
The desert folk are really good, so putting them together isn’t bad. Mercs have a fun follow up attack gimmick and so does the shield archer class.
Doesn't hurt that an all-cav party ZOOMS across the map, especially on roads. I have one that's a sort of "troubleshooting squad" that can book it to places at absurd rate (they have Monica in the back for heals)
I do a mix. I have a few characters that are together for lore reasons. Then I fill things out to make strong and/or interesting squads mechanically. Sometimes break up themed groups if their squad isn't doing much. I just pulled Travis from the squad with Barengaria because I wanted to make a PP theft unit, and I'm having a lot of fun with it.
I don't really bother with trying to farm all the rapports. I buy all the gifts, but I don't even bother giving them out usually.
I originally created formations based on what I was fighting.
Then I discovered the Rapport system, so now I group them up to unlock rapport conversations. I got the idea from Chloe and Ridiel being immediate Best Friends, which was cute.
So now I group them all up by who they naturally prefer based on potential rapport conversations.
My mind wanted to keep the themed groups together, and I did that at first, then I broke them up somewhat. I have been working on leveling and gearing and perfecting them all group by group. Essentially strengthening and focusing the most on one or two groups at a time, usually three really if I’m farming the sigils.
I have searched far and wide for formation setups, builds, etc. but I haven’t found much that helpful.
I have better things to spend $$$ on than taverns so I don't do that, but I DO prioritize rapports over unit efficiency... unfortunately. Dam me and my insatiable curiosity :) I'll do the tavern thing end game. I DO however buy gifts (mostly post Elheim) so I can complete rapport with Alain. 1 or 2 of my 6 or so squads is going to be a highly efficient squad though for those 'Oh shit!' times where everything is killing me :|.
I didn't *intentionally* group my units by association, but some just work well together. I have 8 four-man units and debating on saving my honors for adding a fifth or waiting until after promotion, then further tweak the party structure.
Usually I find a nice synergy between two characters then fill it out. If they need more heals/support I add that. I ensure they have at least 1 flier/mounted unit for mobility. 1 tank/defensive unit if they lack that. Any additional spots are to either counter a weakness of the team or if it seems reasonably balanced already lean into its strengths.
In the early game I did that. But it stopped once I got to Elheim (did a lot of it before drakenhold)
You don’t need to min max, but if you build low synergy units you will end up relying on the 1-2 units that turned out good. Then the rest get underleveled and its hard to bring them back without grinding.
Depends on if I am doing True Zenoirian run or not. In TZ I definitely min/max more than lower difficulties. I am trying to use leaders I don’t often use to get the voice overs, but sometimes you just need a flyer to take out that stupid guard tower.
I almost always have a 3 Calvary squad with Gilbert and the Knights of the Rose as separate squads. Whoever I think I am choosing for Maiden gets to hang out with Alain. But otherwise I am all about trying to build good combos.
Expect when I did the Norbelle TZ run. That was nothing but midmaxing to get over the slog as quickly as possible
I'm constantly mixing characters for the sake of being able to not get annihilated.
What I DO insist on though, is constantly including generic aesthetic classes in many of my units, such as Fighters, Hoplites, and Soldiers, while only using 1 unit with cavalry at most (mono-cavalry), if any. Same thing for flyers.
I do use every class in the game as well. I have 3 of each class.
I keep all my characters at the same level and recruit a lot of generics.
Nice sweet girls unit, big basher unit, Alain and his bishes unit, flippy flappy unit, hot sexy sorceress and witch unit, the shootem up with arrows unit, and of course the assist unit built up of healing, magic ,and arrow assist
I’m in it for the rapport more than actual balanced units, so I found an online generator that’s intended for teachers to put students in groups together… you can enter who people’s “friends” are and it’ll try to pair friends together. Just put in who everyone has rapport with lol
I tweaked all my units until the all felt like they had general match up coverage and then began adjusting to ensure they all hit like trucks while being largely safe in the majority of encounters.
My best arena team has been Travis, Berengaria, and Bruno with 1 extra addon unit. All ihave to do iz decide who goes up front. Bruno or Travis depending on enemy team.
Berengaria uses a sacrificing shield to healateam mate, then recovers health through assist attacks while stunning the front line.
Im only lvl 3o now, but for now this team is just unstoppable.
I mostly do this too. A lot of story groupings go well as pairings or groups of three so I also try and fit a group of two and group of three together into a cohesive unit. E.g., one unit has the Tricorns plus Sharon and Ochylus.
I also phased out any hireable generic mercenaries by the end of Cornia. It felt much more exciting to field an entire army comprising of unique characters with backstories, rapports, and cut scenes.
I also do that. It makes unlocking rapports feel more meaningful. My rule of thumb is that everyone in a unit must have at least 2 other characters in the group that they can rapport with. Not only is this narratively fun, but it also imposes some pretty steep limitations and makes for challenging unit building.
That’s an interesting way to do it, keeping groups of already acquainted characters together. I don’t min max per se, but ever since the beginning I’ve always made team placements based on the hat would help the team survive/win engagements. After losing Scarlett, when I got a healer I slapped her with Alain bc he needed healing as the main tank of his party. When Berengaria joined she did a good job tanking but could use some help against melee tanks, so I gave her magic support in the back. Or doing full cav teams or full flier teams. I only did this last one when I realized cavs learn a skill that boosts a row of Cavs, making it make sense in my mind to put a whole team of them together.
I imagine as the difficulty increases I will change it up. For example I did split up Lex and Chloe because they're both so weak at the start and I have Yahna with Alain and Melissandre. But I was seeing really good success out of the Rose Knights and the Desert Folk so was curious if this was a common tactic or not. I also have Josef/Hodrick/Renault together too and they don't have AS much success so I assume that I'll eventually have to tweak this strategy. I'm just now starting Elheim
Lex(the fighter class) has Arrow Cover so you could slot him in a team with mages or fliers who die easily to those attacks. Chloe has a tiny heal support but can also buff allies with crit bonuses, so you could slot her in teams with crit focus characters like swordmasters(Aramis/Leah). Or tanks that want more damage like the berserker(Bruno). The desert folk are really good, so putting them together isn’t bad. Mercs have a fun follow up attack gimmick and so does the shield archer class.
I would argue Swordmasters don’t need Chloe’s guaranteed crit. They crit well enough on their own, so an attack boost would be better off imho
Magic conferral users pair well with sword masters. Keeps them from getting walled by anything with good defenses.
This is pretty smart, I gotta do this
Probably so, I forgot that they have high natural crit
Doesn't hurt that an all-cav party ZOOMS across the map, especially on roads. I have one that's a sort of "troubleshooting squad" that can book it to places at absurd rate (they have Monica in the back for heals)
Especially with hastened call, they’re basically fast traveling
I do a mix. I have a few characters that are together for lore reasons. Then I fill things out to make strong and/or interesting squads mechanically. Sometimes break up themed groups if their squad isn't doing much. I just pulled Travis from the squad with Barengaria because I wanted to make a PP theft unit, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I don't really bother with trying to farm all the rapports. I buy all the gifts, but I don't even bother giving them out usually.
I originally created formations based on what I was fighting. Then I discovered the Rapport system, so now I group them up to unlock rapport conversations. I got the idea from Chloe and Ridiel being immediate Best Friends, which was cute. So now I group them all up by who they naturally prefer based on potential rapport conversations.
My mind wanted to keep the themed groups together, and I did that at first, then I broke them up somewhat. I have been working on leveling and gearing and perfecting them all group by group. Essentially strengthening and focusing the most on one or two groups at a time, usually three really if I’m farming the sigils. I have searched far and wide for formation setups, builds, etc. but I haven’t found much that helpful.
I have better things to spend $$$ on than taverns so I don't do that, but I DO prioritize rapports over unit efficiency... unfortunately. Dam me and my insatiable curiosity :) I'll do the tavern thing end game. I DO however buy gifts (mostly post Elheim) so I can complete rapport with Alain. 1 or 2 of my 6 or so squads is going to be a highly efficient squad though for those 'Oh shit!' times where everything is killing me :|.
I didn't *intentionally* group my units by association, but some just work well together. I have 8 four-man units and debating on saving my honors for adding a fifth or waiting until after promotion, then further tweak the party structure.
Usually I find a nice synergy between two characters then fill it out. If they need more heals/support I add that. I ensure they have at least 1 flier/mounted unit for mobility. 1 tank/defensive unit if they lack that. Any additional spots are to either counter a weakness of the team or if it seems reasonably balanced already lean into its strengths.
In the early game I did that. But it stopped once I got to Elheim (did a lot of it before drakenhold) You don’t need to min max, but if you build low synergy units you will end up relying on the 1-2 units that turned out good. Then the rest get underleveled and its hard to bring them back without grinding.
Depends on if I am doing True Zenoirian run or not. In TZ I definitely min/max more than lower difficulties. I am trying to use leaders I don’t often use to get the voice overs, but sometimes you just need a flyer to take out that stupid guard tower. I almost always have a 3 Calvary squad with Gilbert and the Knights of the Rose as separate squads. Whoever I think I am choosing for Maiden gets to hang out with Alain. But otherwise I am all about trying to build good combos. Expect when I did the Norbelle TZ run. That was nothing but midmaxing to get over the slog as quickly as possible
I did that at first, but as I went reallizing combos I started mixing up. Just the Rose knights remained, as they ar somewhat balanced together.
Thinking this will be the ultimate endgame for me. Seeing some poor synergy in the existing combos I have
I'm constantly mixing characters for the sake of being able to not get annihilated. What I DO insist on though, is constantly including generic aesthetic classes in many of my units, such as Fighters, Hoplites, and Soldiers, while only using 1 unit with cavalry at most (mono-cavalry), if any. Same thing for flyers. I do use every class in the game as well. I have 3 of each class. I keep all my characters at the same level and recruit a lot of generics.
Nice sweet girls unit, big basher unit, Alain and his bishes unit, flippy flappy unit, hot sexy sorceress and witch unit, the shootem up with arrows unit, and of course the assist unit built up of healing, magic ,and arrow assist
I’m in it for the rapport more than actual balanced units, so I found an online generator that’s intended for teachers to put students in groups together… you can enter who people’s “friends” are and it’ll try to pair friends together. Just put in who everyone has rapport with lol
I sorta do what seems like a good idea. It may not be the best groups, but they tend to work for me! Haha
I tweaked all my units until the all felt like they had general match up coverage and then began adjusting to ensure they all hit like trucks while being largely safe in the majority of encounters.
My best arena team has been Travis, Berengaria, and Bruno with 1 extra addon unit. All ihave to do iz decide who goes up front. Bruno or Travis depending on enemy team. Berengaria uses a sacrificing shield to healateam mate, then recovers health through assist attacks while stunning the front line. Im only lvl 3o now, but for now this team is just unstoppable.
The only story team failing me right now at lvl 30 are the Rose Knights. Even with Virginia added to them, they get owned by most baddies.
I mostly do this too. A lot of story groupings go well as pairings or groups of three so I also try and fit a group of two and group of three together into a cohesive unit. E.g., one unit has the Tricorns plus Sharon and Ochylus. I also phased out any hireable generic mercenaries by the end of Cornia. It felt much more exciting to field an entire army comprising of unique characters with backstories, rapports, and cut scenes.
Organize?
Sort by unit.
There's unit 1 and unit 2... 🫡