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Sifr
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Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
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Post by Sifr on Aug 17, 2018 21:51:38 GMT
I think the best way to do this is to have a more clueless character along for the ride. If one of your early companions is not from Tevinter, or is a lower class person having to operate in high society, having them ask the "obvious" questions lets your character off the hook while still giving new players the expository info they need to understand the game. They handled this pretty well with Vega in ME3. By having Vega be written as new guy on the Normandy, he could get away with asking the "obvious questions" for new players to catch them up, without it feeling like needless exposition dumps or the characters explaining to each other things they already knew and were there for.
My suggestion for a non-Tevinter character would be to have them be a new member of the Ambassadoria. Because they haven't been in the Imperium long, they haven't yet learned about the people Tevinter and it's culture, so they have an excuse for obvious questions.
And in turn, our Tevinter native gets the excuse to ask their own obvious questions about the Ambassadoria and Orzammar, as even though Dwarves are everywhere in the Imperium, our protagonist can mention having only interacted with Surfacers before.
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Post by colfoley on Aug 17, 2018 22:29:37 GMT
I've never seen the big deal. We can play our characters as clueless or as wise as we want. The only issue is when auto dialogue makes it so characters doesn't have knowledge they should have but that's an entire other ball of wax.
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Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda
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Post by Nightscrawl on Aug 18, 2018 0:31:46 GMT
I've never seen the big deal. We can play our characters as clueless or as wise as we want. The only issue is when auto dialogue makes it so characters doesn't have knowledge they should have but that's an entire other ball of wax. Yeah it's not like we didn't already have this in all three games with dialogue options to ask about mage stuff, elf stuff, dwarf stuff, nobility stuff, Chantry stuff, despite the possibility to have characters involved with all of those things. In the DAO dwarf noble origin, you can ask about noble hunters.
Just don't pick a dialogue option if your character already knows. People really need to get over the "I need to take all the options" mentality. Or at least realize that it's their own problem for feeling the necessity to do that, not Bioware's for including those options.
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simit
N3
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
XBL Gamertag: Chris2k30
PSN: Simit2k30
Posts: 790 Likes: 1,042
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May 24, 2017 14:21:26 GMT
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Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
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Post by simit on Aug 18, 2018 0:41:52 GMT
I liked it in DA:I when you picked the knowledge icon an it was your own char going "ohh pick me i know this" instead of having someone tell you, it was good in it refelected my pc's knowledge while enlightening the player if they never knew, DA:I took some good steps tbh in involving your pc that way i felt
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Post by vertigomez on Oct 1, 2018 4:10:18 GMT
Since Mae and Calpernia have been getting so much attention on the front page...
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Post by vertigomez on Oct 30, 2018 4:47:28 GMT
Found some Varania fanart: I often wonder just what her and their mother's lives were like after Fenris won that tournament. From slave to impoverished liberati. I wonder how she felt when her magic manifested, and how bad circumstances were to drive her to betray her brother who gave up so much for their family.
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Post by vertigomez on Nov 2, 2018 4:45:56 GMT
Some Fenris and Krem cosplay.
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Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
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Post by Sifr on Nov 2, 2018 8:23:09 GMT
I often wonder just what her and their mother's lives were like after Fenris won that tournament. From slave to impoverished liberati. I wonder how she felt when her magic manifested, and how bad circumstances were to drive her to betray her brother who gave up so much for their family. I wonder if Varania may have gone through something similar to the Sith Inquisitor at the start of TOR, suffering discrimination from snobby elitists who think their former status as a slave makes them somehow "unworthy" to stand beside other mages/Sith as a true equal?
Maybe Fenris' mother even had to sell herself back into public-owned slavery so they could both survive and that's why Varania came to believe freedom was no boon, as they ended up no better than where they had started?
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Post by vertigomez on Nov 8, 2018 21:27:25 GMT
Sifr I like the way you think! I wonder if Varania got "incaensor" thrown at her like Calpernia did? Mostly unrelated: a couple of 'Vints and a spirit-boy
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Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquistion, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire
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Post by Sifr on Nov 9, 2018 10:19:55 GMT
There might be a great many disenfranchised slave/liberate mages in Tevinter who feel resentment towards the upper classes, not just people like Varania or Calpernia.
Dorian mentions that the Soporati believe that magic is the great equaliser and having a child with magic will open doors for them in society... and yet in reality, they'll barely rise above being a second-class citizen.
I wouldn't blame those mages for feeling betrayed, having been fed false promises of advancement they can never really achieve, thanks to the Tevinter class-system screwing them over in favour of those born among the elite.
Maybe that's how Corypheus and Danarius were so easily able to sway them on side, because despite being obvious bad guys, they were the only ones offering them the chance for power and prestige that society has denied them?
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Post by Nightscrawl on Nov 9, 2018 11:46:35 GMT
Mostly unrelated: a couple of 'Vints and a spirit-boy Huh... your phrasing here makes me wonder whether Fenris would be displeased with the association. I don't know that he considers himself to be Tevinter as a national identity. To give some background for my perspective here: I have an AU character that is soporati altus who eventually leaves. While he still considers himself to be Tevinter in origin, he doesn't consider that to be "home" in the way that Dorian does. Tevinter didn't want him and he's come to feel the same about her. Regarding Fenris, it doesn't seem a stretch to me for him to feel in that similar way. He has no positive association with the place. While some of the dialogue in Act 3 suggests he's regaining some of his memories, it doesn't seem like he has a deep enough connection there to feel it as an identity. What does being Tevinter mean for him? Slavery?
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Post by Nightscrawl on Nov 9, 2018 11:51:04 GMT
Maybe that's how Corypheus and Danarius were so easily able to sway them on side, because despite being obvious bad guys, they were the only ones offering them the chance for power and prestige that society has denied them? This is an excellent point and not something I had considered. MTGA before MAGA, as it were, tapping into the same resentments and fears.
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Post by vertigomez on Nov 9, 2018 18:47:58 GMT
Mostly unrelated: a couple of 'Vints and a spirit-boy Huh... your phrasing here makes me wonder whether Fenris would be displeased with the association. I don't know that he consider's himself to be Tevinter as a national identity. To give some background for my perspective here: I have an AU character that is soporati altus who eventually leaves. While he still considers himself to be Tevinter in origin, he doesn't consider that to be "home" in the way that Dorian does. Tevinter didn't want him and he's come to feel the same about her. Regarding Fenris, it doesn't seem a stretch to me for him to feel in that similar way. He has no positive association with the place. While some of the dialogue in Act 3 suggests he's regaining some of his memories, it doesn't seem like he has a deep enough connection there to feel it as an identity. What does being Tevinter mean for him? Slavery? I don't feel like he'd consider it a huge part of his identity, no, but it's still a part of him. He uses Tevene phrases, talks about Mabari, Qunari, mages, etc. from the perspective of someone who spent their life there. I consider it a bit like he and Sera consider their own elvishness - they recognize it and it's a part of their lived experience, but it's not their primary source of personal identity. Varric calls him "that angsty Tevinter elf". He doesn't seem to care either way. Basically I don't think he'd necessarily embrace or reject someone calling him a 'Vint... though he might roll his eyes.
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Post by Walter Black on Nov 9, 2018 21:17:42 GMT
Huh... your phrasing here makes me wonder whether Fenris would be displeased with the association. I don't know that he consider's himself to be Tevinter as a national identity. To give some background for my perspective here: I have an AU character that is soporati altus who eventually leaves. While he still considers himself to be Tevinter in origin, he doesn't consider that to be "home" in the way that Dorian does. Tevinter didn't want him and he's come to feel the same about her. Regarding Fenris, it doesn't seem a stretch to me for him to feel in that similar way. He has no positive association with the place. While some of the dialogue in Act 3 suggests he's regaining some of his memories, it doesn't seem like he has a deep enough connection there to feel it as an identity. What does being Tevinter mean for him? Slavery? I don't feel like he'd consider it a huge part of his identity, no, but it's still a part of him. He uses Tevene phrases, talks about Mabari, Qunari, mages, etc. from the perspective of someone who spent their life there. I consider it a bit like he and Sera consider their own elvishness - they recognize it and it's a part of their lived experience, but it's not their primary source of personal identity. Varric calls him "that angsty Tevinter elf". He doesn't seem to care either way. Basically I don't think he'd necessarily embrace or reject someone calling him a 'Vint... though he might roll his eyes. Well, for whatever reasons Fenris still considers Tevinter his homeland, as evidenced at 1:47.
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Post by Nightscrawl on Nov 9, 2018 21:46:42 GMT
Well, for whatever reasons Fenris still considers Tevinter his homeland, as evidenced at 1:47. Interesting. Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't see that in my recent play since I don't take mages to the Gallows for RP reasons (and just generally avoid Anders).
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lilyonce
N3
The whole universe is...
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2
Posts: 277 Likes: 125
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The whole universe is...
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Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2
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Post by lilyonce on Nov 18, 2018 15:57:15 GMT
a magocracy isn't any worse than any other system of governance on Thedas [snip] I know this is an old post but I just saw it. I think Tevinter's magocracy is the worst form of government historically and currently in Thedas- but the traditional Rivani government by wise women with seers in senior leadership may be the best. I would consider it a magocracy too if magocracy is just rule by mages. One is built on domination and one isn't.
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Post by vertigomez on Dec 10, 2018 22:38:24 GMT
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Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
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Post by Catilina on Dec 10, 2018 23:14:29 GMT
a magocracy isn't any worse than any other system of governance on Thedas [snip] I know this is an old post but I just saw it. I think Tevinter's magocracy is the worst form of government historically and currently in Thedas- but the traditional Rivani government by wise women with seers in senior leadership may be the best. I would consider it a magocracy too if magocracy is just rule by mages. One is built on domination and one isn't. The Qun is the worst. And Tevinter isn't really worse than Orlais.
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Post by The Elder King on Dec 11, 2018 0:25:31 GMT
If you find any organization in country in Thedas that don’t have some large flaw, at least, I’ll give you a cookie. Except maybe the current Inquisition.
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Post by Hanako Ikezawa on Dec 11, 2018 0:41:05 GMT
If you find any organization in country in Thedas that don’t have some large flaw, at least, I’ll give you a cookie. Except maybe the current Inquisition. Rivain and Antiva seem nice.
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Post by The Elder King on Dec 11, 2018 0:47:05 GMT
If you find any organization in country in Thedas that don’t have some large flaw, at least, I’ll give you a cookie. Except maybe the current Inquisition. Rivain and Antiva seem nice. Antiva has the Crows. The Rivaini’s open view on spirits and possession might lead to problematic situations, though I’d agree it seems nicer then others. Not all are on the same level, obviously.
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Post by Hanako Ikezawa on Dec 11, 2018 0:51:45 GMT
Rivain and Antiva seem nice. Antiva has the Crows. The Rivaini’s open view on spirits and possession might lead to problematic situations, though I’d agree it seems nicer then others. Not all are on the same level, obviously. There is also the Anderfels. It and the two I mentioned earlier seem to be the nicest nations.
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Post by vertigomez on Dec 11, 2018 0:52:53 GMT
Speaking of Antiva (it's, uhh.... close to Tevinter so this is totally an apt discussion ), I still want to know WTF is up with Rinnala and whether the writers just forgot she was an elf or if they're saying an elf really WAS heir to the Antivan throne.
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Post by The Elder King on Dec 11, 2018 0:56:32 GMT
Antiva has the Crows. The Rivaini’s open view on spirits and possession might lead to problematic situations, though I’d agree it seems nicer then others. Not all are on the same level, obviously. There is also the Anderfels. It and the two I mentioned earlier seem to be the nicest nations. There’s certainly a scale and some seems better then others. I’m not exactly sure of Antiva, more so then the Anderfels amen Rivain, because the Crows are a too large part of its politics, with all what’s associated with their work. I do think it’s better then Orlais and Tevinter. As for the Anderfels, it depends a lot on how the Wardens there are going to be portrayed, because after Inquisition they took quite a big hit for me.
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Post by Hanako Ikezawa on Dec 11, 2018 0:59:07 GMT
Speaking of Antiva (it's, uhh.... close to Tevinter so this is totally an apt discussion ), I still want to know WTF is up with Rinnala and whether the writers just forgot she was an elf or if they're saying an elf really WAS heir to the Antivan throne. Rinna was elf-blooded meaning she was human. Her mother was an elf but her father the prince was a human. The writer of that one exchange messed up when Zevran called her an elf.
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