History VideoGame / TriangleStrategy

** The "correct" path to take in Chapter XV for the GoldenEnding is also not intuitive at first glance. Compared to [[spoiler:investigating corruption in the Glenbrook nobility and dealing with a bandit attack in the Wolffort demesne]], [[spoiler:going home to see Dad]] does not seem like a particularly compelling priority. [[spoiler:Of course, Serenoa being there for Lord Symon's final words is the final piece to the GoldenEnding as it is what gives him the conviction to forge his own path. Also, as Serenoa and the others may argue when making the decision, it is very important that Serenoa place his trust in Frederica and (particularly!) Roland to handle their own affairs themselves without needing Serenoa's assistance, a particularly important consideration that comes up later in the GoldenEnding because Serenoa's ultimate plan will not work without the party splitting up to handle three massive challenges on their own all at the same time.]]
** To a lesser extent, taking the morally-dubious route in a few Chapters won't negate the chance to reach the GoldenEnding. [[spoiler:In Chapter VII, it's technically easier to end up on the Conviction Route, as you ''can't'' use up any of the fire traps, but this involves handing Roland over to Aesfrost and personally killing Landroi]]. In the subsequent chapter, [[spoiler:siding with either Avlora or Sorsley's forces has no long-reaching consequences]]. Similarly, you can take the most destructive option to freeing Glenbrook and [[spoiler:flood the city]], without lasting consequences beyond feeling bad and subsequently having an easier time in the ensuing fights; do things a certain way and you can completely bypass [[spoiler:fighting Avlora, yet still get her as an ally in the GoldenEnding.]]

* NintendoHard: Much like Square Enix's prior ''VideoGame/BravelyDefaultII'' demos, ''TRIANGLE STRATEGY'''s demo difficulty is higher than what players can expect in the final version of the game.

** The "correct" path to take in Chapter XV for the GoldenEnding is also not intuitive at first glance. Compared to [[spoiler:investigating corruption in the Glenbrook nobility and dealing with a bandit attack in the Wolffort demesne]], [[spoiler:going home to see Dad]] does not seem like a particularly compelling priority. [[spoiler: Of course, Serenoa being there for Lord Symon's final words is the final piece to the GoldenEnding as it is what gives him the conviction to forge his own path. Also, as Serenoa and the others may argue when making the decision, it is very important that Serenoa place his trust in Frederica and (particularly!) Roland to handle their own affairs themselves without needing Serenoa's assistance, a particularly important consideration that comes up later in the GoldenEnding because Serenoa's ultimate plan will not work without the party splitting up to handle three massive challenges on their own all at the same time.]]
** To a lesser extent, taking the morally-dubious route in a few Chapters won't negate the chance to reach the GoldenEnding. [[spoiler:In Chapter VII, it's technically easier to fight Landroi than it is to defeat Avlora without the fire traps, but regardless you ''must'' not use any of them to avoid getting locked out from the Conviction endgame]], and in the subsequent chapter [[spoiler:siding with either Avlora or Sorsley's forces has no long-reaching consequences]]. Similarly, you can take the most destructive option to freeing Glenbrook and [[spoiler:flood the city]], without lasting consequences beyond feeling bad and subsequently having an easier time in the ensuing fights; do things a certain way and you can completely bypass [[spoiler:fighting Avlora, yet still get her as an ally in the GoldenEnding.]]

** To a lesser extent, taking the morally-dubious route in a few Chapters won't negate the chance to reach the GoldenEnding. [[spoiler:In Chapter VII, it's technically easier to fight Landroi than it is to defeat Avlora without the fire traps, but regardless you ''must'' not used any of them to avoid getting locked out from the Conviction endgame]], and in the subsequent chapter [[spoiler:siding with either Avlora or Sorsley's forces has no long-reaching consequences]]. Similarly, you can take the most destructive option to freeing Glenbrook and [[spoiler:flood the city]], without lasting consequences beyond feeling bad and subsequently having an easier time in the ensuing fights; do things a certain way and you can completely bypass [[spoiler:fighting Avlora, yet still get her as an ally in the GoldenEnding.]]

* AnAesop:
** True Democracy requires ''tolerance, understanding, and acceptance''. [[spoiler:In the Golden Ending, Serenoa realizes the three plans his advisors are giving him, however noble, are moral extremes that will sacrifice innocents to save others. By convincing them to ease up and work together, they form a plan that combines all three viewpoints into a viable way to save Norzelia without throwing anyone under the bus.]]
** While it can be tempting to get ahead in life by sacrificing others, there are always consequences to making other people pay the price for your success. Many of Serenoa's choices offer him a quicker or safer path to power by sacrificing individuals or groups of people, but he ultimately ends up in the same place as if he'd taken a more ethical path. All three normal endings prove bittersweet due to Serenoa making such large sacrifices to get what he wants that the consequences spiral out of control.
** Though seeking the counsel of others is noble and wise, sometimes you need to come to terms with, understand, and stand for your own convictions to achieve the best result possible. [[spoiler:The GoldenEnding is only achievable on the part of Serenoa if he finally comes to terms with his own agency and reasons out what it is ''he'' wants, instead of placing his faith in the will of those around him at his exclusion. Though the wisdom of his peers does help inform his decision to free the Roselle and strike down Hyzante and Aesfrost, it's ultimately on Serenoa's shoulders to reject the Scales of Conviction and stand up for what he believes is right.]] It's implied this is part of a SecretTestOfCharacter on the part of the [[spoiler:Scales of Conviction to test the heads of House Wolffort, as the Scales respond by lighting all three flames to signify a totally positive outcome when Serenoa figures out how to incorporate everyone's plan so he gets what he wants; what everyone wants.]]

* AerithAndBob: The characters can have uncommon names like Sereona, Hossabara, Ezana, Avlora, Gustadolph, Exharme, Geela or Erador, for example but they also can have common names such as Roland, Benedict, Frederica, Anna, Corentin, Maxwell, Erika, Lyla or Rufus.

* FalseUtopia: The continent is united as one in the [[spoiler:Utilized Morality]] ending, where [[spoiler:Serenoa and Roland join the Saintly Seven, crush Aesfrost, and end the warring for good]]. Peace has come to the land, food and resources are plentiful, and everyone's equal under the Goddess. It seems like the most optimistic ending at first... [[spoiler: Until you remember that Aesfrost citizens are forced into the new order, Hyzante keeps its iron grip on information, and, worst of all, the Roselle are condemned to lifetimes of slavery to support the new order, with only Frederica and her band of impoverished, ridiculed outcasts in their corner.]]

* KillTheParentRaiseTheChild: [[spoiler:Anna]] discovers at the end of their Character Story that [[spoiler:her adoptive father, Benedict had killed her biological family the Jackes Clan — opponents in the Saltiron War — and while [[DueToTheDead burying everyone single-handed]] discovered her as an infant hidden away with a letter revealing her name; he then raised Anna as his own best he could. When Erador asks if Anna would want revenge on him or Benedict, she affirms that there’s no reason to, as knowledge of the truth was all she was after and Benedict is her father in every way that matters]].

** Roland will never fight [[spoiler:Landroi Falkes or Clarus Brokker]], each having a single battle that only happens if he’s not in the party; the former if he’s surrendered to Aesfrost in Chapter VII, the latter on the Liberty ending).

* SoulPoweredEngine: [[spoiler:Hyzante manufactures Aelfric with the remains of deceased hospital patients, most of whom — alas unsurprising given their deplorable treatment as an enslaved labor class and the law prohibiting the priority of their health — are made up of Hyzantian Roselle.]]

** Though seeking the counsel of others is noble and wise, sometimes you need to come to terms with, understand, and stand for your own convinctions to achieve the best result possible. [[spoiler:The GoldenEnding is only achievable on the part of Serenoa if he finally comes to terms with his own agency and reasons out what it is ''he'' wants, instead of placing his faith in the will of those around him at his exclusion. Though the wisdom of his peers does help inform his decision to free the Roselle and strike down Hyzante and Aesfrost, it's ultimately on Serenoa's shoulders to reject the Scales of Conviction and stand up for what he believes is right.]] It's implied this is part of a SecretTestOfCharacter on the part of the [[spoiler:Scales of Conviction to test the heads of House Wolffort, as the Scales respond by lighting all three flames to signify a totally positive outcome when Serenoa figures out how to incorporate everyone's plan so he gets what he wants; what everyone wants.]]

** You retain any EXP you've earned if you fail a map, or if you restart the battle. This allows you to eventually power your way through tough situations without having to rely on SaveScumming. This comes in ''extremely'' handy on the Golden Route when [[spoiler: you need to level up all those second-stringers you haven't been using.]]

** Taking a very underlevelled unit into a battle that's far above them will result in any action, even using items, getting instant level-ups until they've sufficiently caught up.

** You retain any EXP you've earned if you fail a map. This allows you to eventually power your way through tough situations without having to rely on SaveScumming.

* KarmaMeter: The game uses an unconventional variant; instead of a traditional "good/evil" or "law/chaos" meter, ''Triangle Strategy'' features a meter with three ends: morality, liberty, and utility, none of which are inherently good or bad choices. Decisions made at various points in the game contribute points to an invisible meter that can influence progress later on.

* OffWithHisHead: King Regna is executed by beheading.

** The Freed Utility ending is a rather dark variation. [[spoiler:Roland abdicates after learning that Serenoa is King Regna's bastard son, allowing him to take his place. Serenoa ascends the throne of Glenbrook with little resistance and ushers in a new era of industry, though it's accompanied by mass poverty. The epilogue shows that years later, Roland lives as a monk working to help those suffering under Serenoa's rule.]]

** Zig-Zagged. Most of the time, there is one option that obviously seems like the wrong choice, and most of the time, it is. But in order to get the GoldenEnding, you ''need'' to compromise on your morals once: [[spoiler:agreeing to illegally transport the salt for Ende, as the intended recipient turns out to be Svarog, and his trust is needed to put an end to Gustadolph's machinations]]. The other option seems more morally correct, but leads to the more bittersweet endings.

** The decision in Chapter XIII as to [[spoiler:how to take back Glenbrook castle]] stands out in particular, as no matter what path you pick, [[spoiler: your party takes back the country, but the castle town ends up destroyed.]] It is notably the only decision in the game (apart from the minor tutorial decision in Chapter III) that has no impact on your ability to get the GoldenEnding.

* TalkingToTheDead: At various points in the game, Sernoa visits the grave of his mother Lady Destra. Benedict also visits the grave regularly, and is responsible for leaving snowbell blossoms at the gravesite periodically. In the Freed Utility (Liberty) endgame, [[spoiler:Serenoa and Frederica visit Symon's grave on the eve of a meeting with Aesfrost. They then hide nearby when Benedict unexpectedly arrives to tell the grave how much he regretted letting Symon and Regna use Serenoa's mother as a political pawn, and how he's planned to make up for it by turning Serenoa into a more powerful leader than either of them were.]] And at the end of that route [[spoiler:Benedict returns once more to wish Lady Destra a final farewell, [[NoPlaceForMeThere with the heavy implication that he was going to commit suicide as a final atonement for the dark deeds he committed to get Serenoa to that point]], before Serenoa intervenes and talks him down]].

** It's entirely possible to [[spoiler:force the Rosellan refugees to return to the Source and then leave them there to rot by picking the Utility ending]]. Which also implicitly applies to picking said ending after you already [[spoiler:protected them before, as even if Serenoa refused to surrender them earlier their freedom can no longer be guaranteed under Hyzante's rule]].
** While it’s not easy to do so technically, you ''can'' convince anyone (at least until the last couple of votes) to vote even against their personal beliefs or desires: Hughette can be convinced to surrender Roland, or Frederica can be swayed to [[spoiler:surrender the Roselle]], etc.; if you’re high enough on Conviction (easiest to do on NewGamePlus) you can mess with them by having everyone else vote for the opposite in any combination, providing you picked the correct to persuade each voter where you want them to go.

* AerithAndBob : The characters can have uncommon names like Sereona, Hossabara, Ezana, Avlora, Gustadolph, Exharme, Geela or Erador, for example but they also can have common names such as Roland, Benedict, Frederica, Anna, Corentin, Maxwell, Erika, Lyla or Rufus.

* SpareToTheThrone: In the trailer, Roland is introduced as the second son to Glenbrook's royal family. This gives him relatively high leeway as a prince since he is not succeeding the throne, but this later comes back to haunt him after Aesfrost kills off most of the royal family and puts a ''lot'' of pressure on him as the last surviving heir.