So over my Christmas break and i thought it be fun to have a Suikoden marathon and play all 5 games and tactics back-to-back, anyhow as i was playing I notice something rather sad as the series has progressed the supporting strategists have been become rather ignorant and silly. They have become more like personal attendants or servants to the chief strategist.
For example, Both Salome and Klaus were a great strategists in there own right. they never had 'Silverberg' training, yet both were head strategists and 2nd in command of there own army (Zexen Army and 3rd Highland Army) and were able to lead their armies to many victories and a few defeats(of course they're not chief Strategist for a reason
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
). We saw Apple's progression from a girl to woman, and she got to be pretty good for a supporting strategist. Then there was Leon Silverberg, though a supporting star strategist is arguable the best strategist who has or ever will live in the suikoverse. But by the time S4 and S5 role people like Tanya, Agnes, Cius, and Lelei, whom i would not trust to lead their way out of the paper bag, much less a whole army into battle. They are more like crappy side kicks designed to make the chief strategist look better. They have no real thoughts of their own, heck even child Apple from S1 could probably best all four of them working together ..seriously..lol. Anyhow, i certainly hope Konami get there act together for Suikoden 5 and produces some more interesting and more higher quality supporting strategists who could challenge the Chief strategist alittle and not be their maid servant.
Loose ends: to those who like too and probably will nitpick, yes i know Albert was the supporting strategist in S3 Star of destiny wise, but you never got to play with him in the main game, Salome was more feeling that role. however Albert is great in his own right only supporting more point for the degradation of supporting strategists. Also, don't let this turn into a popularity contest or who is everyones favorites, or endless thread about who is the best, there are other posts for that..i am merely trying to point of the fact that in general overall the quality in the supporting strategists is sadly going down as the game series continues......