Opinions. Ambush Reinforcements

Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening 

Today we have a different topic to talk about inspired by a discussion I had with some friends, I decided to talk a bit about this particular and controversial topic.

Ambush Reinforcement it's specific version of the reinforcements in Fire Emblem (actually, the original version of the reinforcements in the series); basically enemies can move in the turn they appear in the map.

This mechanic has a very simple but effective objective: avoid turtling-heavy tactics and other low-effort strategies.

FE6 has many chapters like that blended Ambush with the Turn-Limit

For example, they appear in the beginning of the level to punish the player if she/he doesn't even try to move the units, they appear alongside forts, stairs and other kind of suspicious places with the intention to punish careless game-style.

Several people hate them for their "unpredictable" nature and prefer the most safe "Player Turn Reinforcement" (debuted in Blazing Blade), but I would like to explain why the Ambush Reinforcement are they way they're.

Reinforcements are created with the intention to be a threat, like in Real-Life Wars, these aren't supposed to be completely predictable; but you can get an idea of which kind of places would create reinforcements based in patterns that the game showed you in the Early Chapters.

FE1 Chapter 5 is the First Chapter in the Series' Story using this mechanic.

This shows you some important tactics you can do to counter this, it can be the difference between a clean victory or losing an ally; in fact, the games itself gives you tips about this in the houses (but it isn't something you can't find out on your own).

On the other hand, unlike the Ambush Reinforcement, the Player Phase Reinforcements are extremely forgiving, as they become more predictable, you can pick your fights easily and this attempt of "threat"  actually become "Exp Bags". 

What is the danger of these reinforcements if you are able to fix even your worse mistakes just because the enemy is unable to take an inmediate active role?

I found incredible how many people can hate the Ambush Reinforcements just because it tries to be realistic, you would argue this is a way to do "cheap difficulty" but it's actually a way to replicate the "War feeling" in the Game; you can't be reckless, you must understand your possible threats and prepare to deal with them. 

This isn't Kaizo's levels of "silliness", this is actually something that can work in strategy.

Awakening's Chapter 16 is probably the most common example given for people to argue against Ambush Reinforcement

What do you think about ambush reinforcements?

- Troykv (The Dawn's Historian and Micaiah4Smash Main Admin)