Post by N7Pathfinder on Mar 14, 2017 19:16:44 GMT
I'm placing this in the off-topic category because I'm not entirely sure where to put this. It covers a couple of Bioware's Legacy games, but also discusses Dragon Age and Mass Effect. If somebody just made a category for Bioware games in general, that would be great!
Anyway, I once wrote a thread somewhere in the Mass Effect Andromeda Discussion page asking whether or not I should play as a custom Ryder. That thread generated a lot of responses and it got me thinking about just how I choose characters in general with games like this. I guess when I get down to it, a lot of depends on the story I want or feel fits the game.
- Jade Empire: I'll be honest and say this is the one of the most basic of Bioware stories, in that, there's really not much room for freeform in choices. Even though they really try to emphasize how the good and evil options aren't technically "good" and "evil", it still feels very much like good and evil. As such, I don't see myself ever playing as an evil character, or even a snobbish one. My Jade Empire character is a honorable good guy, who'd rather not get into a fight, but will if it means protecting innocents. I also would still play as a male, because of the three romance options, Dawn Star was the most interesting. Not only was she around a lot more, she also had a much larger impact in the overall story, and it just made more sense in terms of the story.
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - I generally like to play as a male character mainly because, again the romance option of Bastilla Shan is much better. Best written, and plays a massive part in the general story (it was even canon for a while before it became Legend material). Also, this is once again a case where the choices between good and evil are way too black and white for me and I usually play as a good guy, though some of the good guy options do allow a bit of a mixture. Personally, I like to consider my character an explorer reminiscent of Han Solo with a heart of gold, but not exactly sure if he's really ready to accept the ways of the Jedi yet.
- Star Wars The Old Republic - I admit I haven't played this alot, mostly because MMO's are not my absolute favorite types of games. But I have to give this game credit for at least giving me a good reason to consider playing it multiple times. There are eight whole stories for me to experience, each which I can play a little differently. Most of them will be good guys but have tiny moments of dark side in them. Jedi Knight I'm playing as male whose great with combat, has a noble heart for the innocent and weak, but still has questions about the Force part of his training. Jedi Consular will be a female who studies the force because she has questions and doubts about the Order, but she's still a noble warrior. Smuggler is a guy whose mostly in it for the money, but his policy is not to kill if a person doesn't deserve it. Trooper is a female soldier willing to jump into the line of fire to save lives and won't take shit from orders that conflict with that ideal. Sith Warrior would be a male who wants to embrace the dark side, but still struggles with some natural goodness in him. Sith Inquisitor is a female who starts out wanting to be good, but slowly starts to embrace the dark side. Sith Agent is male and is the only good guy in the whole empire. Finally, Bounty Hunter is a female who again focuses on the money, but is a bit more nonchalant about killing.
- Dragon Age Inquisition - this is probably the first time I have ever played as a female in the first run. My Inquisitor is your average warrior, not exactly a fan of religious devotions (though she does believe the Maker at least exists). As a free marcher, she believes in helping out the innocent, whether they be mage, templar, or whatever. She can't really comprehend the idea of the supernatural, other than that mages have powerful magic, and likes to try and act casual with fellow soldiers. I will have my Inquisitor romance Sera because of her spunky-free spirited nature that she loved to be around in the Marches, and that like her, she's not really a fan of magic.
- Mass Effect Trilogy - I first played as a male Paragon, and since then found it harder not to. I guess part of it is because this was one of the games I felt I was the most connected to as a player, but also because I felt that the male soldier better captured the natural born leader thing the games were going for. I also feel the need to play as soldiers more often since I'm often relying on my squad's skills and not just my own. As a leader, I command my squad, isn't that how it works? My primary romance has always been Liara. I felt it was the best one overall (Tali just feels more like a little sister than a soul mate) and I guess I easily fall for the socially awkward but kind hearted people just as easily as I fall for fun and goofy characters.
- Mass Effect Andromeda - I think after everything I've seen and thought about it, I concluded that if I played the original trilogy as a male, I play the new game as a female. I feel the female Ryder better fits the whole young eager explore vibe the game wants you to have. My personal romance option might be Peebee because of how she reminds me of Sera's free spirited nature. In my interpretation, Sara Ryder's the more eager to explore but cautious of her crew type, willing to stand up if something seems to reckless and willing to admit if things don't seem right.
Anyway, I once wrote a thread somewhere in the Mass Effect Andromeda Discussion page asking whether or not I should play as a custom Ryder. That thread generated a lot of responses and it got me thinking about just how I choose characters in general with games like this. I guess when I get down to it, a lot of depends on the story I want or feel fits the game.
- Jade Empire: I'll be honest and say this is the one of the most basic of Bioware stories, in that, there's really not much room for freeform in choices. Even though they really try to emphasize how the good and evil options aren't technically "good" and "evil", it still feels very much like good and evil. As such, I don't see myself ever playing as an evil character, or even a snobbish one. My Jade Empire character is a honorable good guy, who'd rather not get into a fight, but will if it means protecting innocents. I also would still play as a male, because of the three romance options, Dawn Star was the most interesting. Not only was she around a lot more, she also had a much larger impact in the overall story, and it just made more sense in terms of the story.
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - I generally like to play as a male character mainly because, again the romance option of Bastilla Shan is much better. Best written, and plays a massive part in the general story (it was even canon for a while before it became Legend material). Also, this is once again a case where the choices between good and evil are way too black and white for me and I usually play as a good guy, though some of the good guy options do allow a bit of a mixture. Personally, I like to consider my character an explorer reminiscent of Han Solo with a heart of gold, but not exactly sure if he's really ready to accept the ways of the Jedi yet.
- Star Wars The Old Republic - I admit I haven't played this alot, mostly because MMO's are not my absolute favorite types of games. But I have to give this game credit for at least giving me a good reason to consider playing it multiple times. There are eight whole stories for me to experience, each which I can play a little differently. Most of them will be good guys but have tiny moments of dark side in them. Jedi Knight I'm playing as male whose great with combat, has a noble heart for the innocent and weak, but still has questions about the Force part of his training. Jedi Consular will be a female who studies the force because she has questions and doubts about the Order, but she's still a noble warrior. Smuggler is a guy whose mostly in it for the money, but his policy is not to kill if a person doesn't deserve it. Trooper is a female soldier willing to jump into the line of fire to save lives and won't take shit from orders that conflict with that ideal. Sith Warrior would be a male who wants to embrace the dark side, but still struggles with some natural goodness in him. Sith Inquisitor is a female who starts out wanting to be good, but slowly starts to embrace the dark side. Sith Agent is male and is the only good guy in the whole empire. Finally, Bounty Hunter is a female who again focuses on the money, but is a bit more nonchalant about killing.
- Dragon Age Inquisition - this is probably the first time I have ever played as a female in the first run. My Inquisitor is your average warrior, not exactly a fan of religious devotions (though she does believe the Maker at least exists). As a free marcher, she believes in helping out the innocent, whether they be mage, templar, or whatever. She can't really comprehend the idea of the supernatural, other than that mages have powerful magic, and likes to try and act casual with fellow soldiers. I will have my Inquisitor romance Sera because of her spunky-free spirited nature that she loved to be around in the Marches, and that like her, she's not really a fan of magic.
- Mass Effect Trilogy - I first played as a male Paragon, and since then found it harder not to. I guess part of it is because this was one of the games I felt I was the most connected to as a player, but also because I felt that the male soldier better captured the natural born leader thing the games were going for. I also feel the need to play as soldiers more often since I'm often relying on my squad's skills and not just my own. As a leader, I command my squad, isn't that how it works? My primary romance has always been Liara. I felt it was the best one overall (Tali just feels more like a little sister than a soul mate) and I guess I easily fall for the socially awkward but kind hearted people just as easily as I fall for fun and goofy characters.
- Mass Effect Andromeda - I think after everything I've seen and thought about it, I concluded that if I played the original trilogy as a male, I play the new game as a female. I feel the female Ryder better fits the whole young eager explore vibe the game wants you to have. My personal romance option might be Peebee because of how she reminds me of Sera's free spirited nature. In my interpretation, Sara Ryder's the more eager to explore but cautious of her crew type, willing to stand up if something seems to reckless and willing to admit if things don't seem right.
