nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Dec 31, 2022 17:36:38 GMT
So, I thought Knight Errant was after Trespasser but in the comic Meredith is still in the Gallows. So, the writers had obviously forgotten about or not read the Varric codex. Alternatively, since they were in the city to celebrate Varric being made Viscount, then presumably that could have been before we saw him in Trespasser since he was already Viscount there. It would also explain Charter acting on behalf of the Inquisition, since that was also still running at that time. However, it does make for very tight timescales since Vaea then travels north to Qarinus/Ventus where the Antaam attack, which definitely takes place after Trespasser. Also, as I pointed out at the time, Vaea being given an amulet in Hasmal (in Tevinter Nights) whilst on her way north, doesn't fit the timeline since the invasion had already begun, so I think it is best to ignore that one. nunziodefilippis might help, if he is still around. Still around from time to time. When we wrote this, we wrote it understanding that this was the story in which Varric officially becomes Viscount. So, as we wrote it, the events of this story take place just before the Exalted Council. Thus, I believe when Mike Laidlaw referred to an error, he referred to the fact that this was advertised/discussed as taking place just AFTER Trespasser. All miniseries after Knight Errant are after Trespasser, however, as the travel between Knight Errant and Deception is meant to take some time - more time than it takes for Varric to get to the Exalted Council and the events of Trespasser to play out. Now, the plans at Bioware changed as we were writing our various miniseries, so the specifics we had to work with might have changed a bit. But we were specifically asked to mention/show the statue in the courtyard - specifically to set up that it was empty handed. Again, the reasons for asking us that likely changed over time. So the best way to smooth over timeline hiccups is to assume that IF it went to the Black Emporium, it did so after Knight Errant but before Trespasser's codex entry. Not sure what that does for Absolution, though, so it may be better to assume that she wasn't moved to the Emporium and that the reference is no longer valid, or the Emporium was displaying a fake. Unfortunately, I don't have any more inside information than the rest of you with regards to Absolution and Dreadwolf, so I'm not much help - I'm left to piece it together too.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Oct 21, 2022 22:37:32 GMT
I wonder why they didn't go with Nunzio DeFilippis & Christina Weir...? Busy on other projects? Nope. This wasn't something we declined or were unable to do. We'd written the number of miniseries we'd been hired for, and I guess they hired someone else to do the next one. We'd happily go back in the future, but for now, we wrote what we were hired to write and they went to someone else for the next one. I look forward to reading it.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 26, 2021 18:49:27 GMT
Not gonna respond to every person's reaction. As you'll see in the next issue, Red Wraith Shirallas will interact with the Red Lyrium, his markings, and even the sword, very differently than Fenris does with his engravings. I'll hold off on explaining until you see Issue 3. Happy to dive deeper after that, but hopefully the issue will showcase the differences. Ready to start diving yet? Yep. The way we wrote this, because Red Lyrium is tainted, the Red Lyrium weapon does not connect the Wraith to the Fade at all. So there is no phasing ability for the Red Wraith. Instead, the Red Lyrium infects the host in a symbiotic way. The weapon is the manifestation of the Lyrium, and it and the Wraith form a symbiotic circle. Each feeds the other. And each then draws power from every attempt to destroy it, so both become more and more powerful over time.
The only way to stop the symbiosis was to break the bond early, and then destroy both before they could seek each other out.
At higher power levels, doing this would be very difficult, so separating them in an early fight was the only chance the team had.
And as brutal as Fenris' reaction was (and it was a move of anger, not of strategy), the team was lucky he killed Shirallas. Because eventually Shirallas would have figured out how to call the weapon back to himself.
That's what we were going for. Now most of this is theoretical, and what is there is implied, not stated, so Bioware can (and maybe will) define it differently in future games.
But to us, Red Lyrium isn't connected to the Fade in the same way Lyrium is, so it gives a very different sort of power.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 26, 2021 18:12:12 GMT
Hey all, Not gonna respond to every person's reaction. Just the one, because I've been trying to reassure Hanako for a while now... Just finished the chapter. Did not like it at all, and it kind of ruined a lot of what came before that I did. So much for Vaea staying unique. She just immediately decided to drop her rule. Shit. I'm not certain it's fair to say that what made Vaea unique was a 100% no killing rule, so much as an attitude about killing that was different from most other characters. That attitude hasn't changed. You originally said your fear was that killing/Ser Aaron's death would make her a dark figure who was okay killing people. That isn't what happened. Her immediate response to killing was to make sure that the plan to save the dragon still was able to come to fruition. That is meant as a reaffirmation of her stance. She will try to avoid killing whenever she can.
But she couldn't avoid it with Nenealeus. He was controlling the dragon, and if he doesn't die, the heroes don't win and a lot of people die. Marius was willing to DIE to make sure that didn't happen. And when Tessa was unable to deliver the killing blow, Vaea knew it had to be her (the only other one who could sneak up on Nenealeus while Marius let himself get nearly killed).
It wasn't meant to suggest that she immediately decided to drop anything. It was meant to suggest that in the heat of battle you may not have a choice. She recognized that, and then immediately set out to prove (via the dragon) that in most cases you DO have a choice, even if others don't see it.
I'm sorry you feel this ruins the story or Vaea. But this is what we've been building towards with her since Knight Errant. She was always meant to have her chance at being a Knight. And being a Knight means that all options have to be on the table. Being Vaea means she will always look for other options first.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 25, 2021 20:30:46 GMT
Um... what did I just watch? (I mean, it was kinda awesome, but I am so confused) a visual and audio representation of my hype for the next issue It is surreal. But very cool.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 25, 2021 20:11:55 GMT
Varric says early in Inquisition that Fenris is freeing slaves in Tevinter. That means, romanced or not, Fenris is already in Tevinter when the game begins. No, Varric says he is fighting Tevinter slavers who came south to prey on refugees from the fighting (in the mage/Templar war). So he pretty much picked up where we left off in DA2 because there we were constantly fighting slavers from Tevinter in the Freemarches who were preying on the vulnerable. Anyway that would explain why Varric knew to get in touch with Fenris because he was still around in the south near Varric's contacts and may even have touched base with Kirkwall from time to time when in pursuit of his quarry. Now if Fenris had said to Hawke that he thought they ought to focus on protecting the innocent from slavers rather than involving themselves in Warden business and they fell out over it, that would make sense. Hawke might even have made up an excuse in their own mind to explain his absence rather than admit to the real reason. To be honest, I think that would have been a better use of their time than involving themselves in Warden business. After all, it hardly turned out well the first time. Then presumably once the mage/Templar business had been dealt with, maybe the slavers went into retreat and Fenris followed. That would also work for me. I stand corrected, though the larger point is somewhat still in place - he's out fighting, and likely not living in the same house in Kirkwall. He may be more reachable, again depending on where he's fighting. As to why they fell out, that would be a way to smooth over the differences. I think the "unreliable narrator" storytelling device is likely the one in play, because it covers any number of differences (Hawke's views on Blood Magic, their departure from their LI, and anything else that arises). Unfortunately, the Hawke we encounter in DA:I is one who left a love interest behind and then volunteered to be left in the Fade. And since that is the one we see through objective eyes instead of through the narrative Varric is crafting, it's likely to be the real Hawke at play. And that Hawke is risking any romance from DA2 with that behavior (and obviously may die). I have played DA:I several times and never leave Hawke in the Fade. I could never do that to my LI (usually Fenris or Merrill). But I sometimes wonder if I should let Hawke die. Again, I'm not mad like some of you are. But I see Hawke through new eyes having to really get into the head of Fenris. Leaving Fenris behind because "he would have died to protect me" is so patronizing and infantilizing that I sometimes think that Fenris SHOULDN'T forgive Hawke and reunite afterwards. And I think it would be easier for Fenris to forgive Hawke if Hawke were dead than it would be if Hawke were alive, knowing that this could (and likely would) happen again the next time a big world event called for Hawke's involvement. But fortunately, I don't decide the Bioware official canon. I just work with what I'm given.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 25, 2021 19:37:51 GMT
Well Fenris stayed around and in touch long enough that Varric knew where to contact him if you leave Hawke in the Fade, so I'd assume he didn't actually head off north until after that. So if you didn't leave Hawke in the Fade, why wouldn't they get back together again? Well, honestly, the fact that Varric knows where to send letters doesn't actually mean much. No matter what your world state, if Fenris is alive, Varric says early in Inquisition that Fenris is freeing slaves in Tevinter. That means, romanced or not, Fenris is already in Tevinter when the game begins. Logically speaking, Fenris cannot have a clear mailing address in Tevinter. Which means Varric has drop spots, or contacts, or knows of the place where Fenris crashes when not elsewhere freeing slaves. And that is where he can contact Fenris as needed. So really Varric knows where to leave word for Fenris. How long it takes Fenris to get that word would depend on where in the Imperium he was and who he was fighting. That does not guarantee Fenris reading anything quickly, nor any response once he does. Even if Fenris isn't mad, it hardly means that Varric is "in touch" with him. Just that he can send him stuff that he's reasonably certain Fenris can get to at some point. I'm sorry but I'm never going to agree with what they did with Hawke in relation to a romanced Fenris in DAI. It did mean that you were no longer role playing your Hawke but just acting the part of the writer's chosen version Hawke. My Hawke would never have left Fenris behind unless that was his choice. All water under the bridge now since I don't expect to see Hawke again. So far as Fenris in the comic series is concerned, that is a different world state to my original canon Hawke and I can live with that. To be honest, my original canon Hawke probably would have been better placed in the Exalted March DLC that never was. There I would have got to marry Fenris in the end, which would have been in keeping with their character. I'm inclined to go with a different Hawke for my world state going forward, who didn't romance Fenris and only just avoided having him turn on them at the end of DA2. That would then fit with the sentiments that Fenris expressed in Blue Wraith. The real challenge is that Hawke is a PC in DA2 and an NPC in DA:I. And while they can try to accomodate most interpretations of Hawke, they can't cover all (as every person who played a Blood Mage Hawke can attest). And I think the key to wrapping your head around that difference is to accept Varric's role as an unreliable narrator. He starts DA2 with a fanciful version of Hawke's escape from Ferelden. He ends the game saying he doesn't know were Hawke is. Both of these end up being lies. Which means anything in between might be, too. Or at least embellished or altered. So it is reasonable to extrapolate (even if very worrying for the player at times) that the Hawke we played is Varric's "writer's version" of Hawke. And the person we meet in DA:I may be similar to that writer's version, but not 100% the same. How much difference needs to be covered by the unreliable narrator trick depends on the specifics of your playthrough and head canon. While that may not make everyone happy, it does mean that the differences between how you see Hawke and how (s)he ended up in DA:I aren't a writer's error.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 25, 2021 18:35:52 GMT
just one day to gooooaaaaAAAAAAAA Um... what did I just watch? (I mean, it was kinda awesome, but I am so confused)
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 25, 2021 17:35:16 GMT
I don't take anything all that personally if I can avoid it. So no worries there.
To me, the ending of DA 2 was clear - they went their separate ways. The Fellowship, so to speak, was broken. Only Hawke's LI stayed with him/her (only to be left behind during Inquisition), and probably only Aveline stayed in Kirkwall. Varric may have stayed tied to Kirkwall, but the previous comics make it clear, eventually he wasn't actually there.
Sebastian goes to Starkhaven (and may have a desire to invade Kirkwall, depending on the choices at the end of DA 2). Anders is either dead, with Hawke, or gone. Isabella is off getting a fleet and a title. So Fenris goes to free slaves in Tevinter. It's unclear where Merrill goes, but the implication is that she does go.
Now, the fact that years later, Merrill is in Kirkwall, doesn't change the breaking up of the group - she probably returned. And the fact that Varric and Isabella go on an adventure together elsewhere doesn't lead to the group being together for anyone else. Varric's return to Kirkwall as Viscount may make it an ideal place for the group to reunite. And who knows? Maybe they will. But none of that changes the fact that the group disbanded.
So I don't think any writers were inconsistent, any more than talking about the loss of your friend group after college is inconsistent with reconnecting with them years later. And the friend who is too upset to attend the reunion? That person definitely doesn't think that some of the group reconnecting makes up for the breakup. Especially if he doesn't know about it.
I get assuming that Hawke should be a bigger part of DA:I, but Varric kept the secrets because Cassandra took him prisoner, and he wasn't going to feed Hawke to her, and he didn't know what she was dealing with had anything to do with Corypheus. Hawke was doing something else, and keeping Hawke safe from Cassandra seemed the right call.
Why Hawke took off after the Wardens...? That one, I'm not sure about. Why Hawke had to leave their LI to do it? That, I get. Hawke has seen too many people die. They may not be able to resist getting pulled into stuff like the Warden issue (and eventually Corypheus), but they don't want to lose anyone else to their choices.
But just as I get Hawke deciding that, I get why Hawke's LI may decide "that's enough for me." Especially Fenris, who as a former slave, may resent the hell out of having his choices taken away.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 22, 2021 7:22:24 GMT
As someone waiting to read the whole comic way later, I am irritated by the constant spoilers. 🙄 I think I would be even if I were reading it as they were released Why would the writers do this? While we value all readers (the ones who read the individual issues, and the ones who wait to read the whole thing), comics are written as a monthly medium. We’d write them differently if their primary story form was an all in one form like a graphic novel. Moreover, they’re not just written in individual issues. They’re sold in that format. Each month, we (as writers) do our part to get people excited, to make them want to buy the issue, read the issue, and discuss the issue. Plus, the monthly format of comics means you can engage the fans as the story is unfolding. It is a very different experience for a writer, and I for one enjoy that aspect of working in monthly comics. The images we choose are carefully picked. We want to hint at events, but not spoil them. I’d like to think we do a good job of avoiding spoilers for the upcoming issue, and instead hint at what’s to come. And I’d really like to believe this helps build sales, which helps increase the odds that more comics will be published. I get that if you didn’t read Issues 1 or 2 yet, these non-spoilers for Issue 3 might spoil those previous issues. But we post the images to build anticipation for Issue 3. To not do so for fear of spoiling the previous issues is a bit like not running ads for a weekly TV show for fear that someone is waiting for the season to end before binge watching the whole season. While we respect that way of consuming entertainment, we can’t forego the need to promote the work in deference to it. I really do get your frustration, but please do understand... sales drop from Issue 1 to the end of most miniseries. That trend is why we’re writing 3 Issue minis instead of 5 Issue minis. Keeping people engaged is a huge part of being a writer on a monthly comic. Plus, to be honest... it’s great fun to watch people get excited for what we wrote, and it’s great to get ourselves excited for each month’s issue. So that’s why we do it.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 18, 2021 20:35:19 GMT
I think there'll be one of these "X days until ..." tweets every day until May 26.
Yep. I have them all mapped out. Starting tomorrow, they'll have artwork from the final issue...
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 4, 2021 21:05:31 GMT
Ser Aaron's task was to get everyone out safely. The city was under attack and he was the best fighter in the group. While Autumn can fight, she hasn't done it as much as he has. And Francesca was hurt and no one (not even her) knew how useful she would be in combat at that stage. If Ser Aaron had stayed to serve as the distraction, he wouldn't be there to get the others out. Plus, the Qunari were looking for Magister Qintara. Which means they needed someone who looked the part, or else they might not have ALL gone after the target (or even most of them). That ruled out most of the others. No one would buy Ser Aaron as a mage, Vaea's an elf and also doesn't look much like a mage, Francesca and Calix were too young, and Autumn, well... that one probably doesn't need explaining. If there were more time, other solutions could have probably been devised. But they didn't have much time, and the woman posing as a magister deciding to pose as a different one was the solution that would get all or most of the Qunari in the building to commit long enough for the others to get out, and leave them defended if it didn't work so well or when they got outside. That was the logic in the moment. I guess that makes sense. I just felt like it was a bit inconsistent for him to not even try to save Olivia when he had said more than once that he wants to save everyone (and then in Blue Wraith he refuses to abandon his horse so there's that hero complex again). In the case of Olivia he seemed to value his mission and the greater good over one person's life but then in almost every other time he seems to value the well being of those he cares about above all. Well, he did refuse to leave the horse behind AFTER Olivia died, so we wrote that with the impact of letting Olivia die weighing on him. Plus, Cassé's death was being weighed against the success of the mission. Olivia's death was being weighed against the deaths of everyone else (plus Olivia). He didn't let Olivia die to fulfill a mission, but to directly save lives. Cassé's being put down would enable to completion of a mission that he is still trying to complete without having lost the horse or anyone else thus far. So, the stakes were a bit different, plus after Olivia died, he started drawing that line a bit more firmly.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 3, 2021 18:24:55 GMT
Ser Aaron's task was to get everyone out safely. The city was under attack and he was the best fighter in the group. While Autumn can fight, she hasn't done it as much as he has. And Francesca was hurt and no one (not even her) knew how useful she would be in combat at that stage. If Ser Aaron had stayed to serve as the distraction, he wouldn't be there to get the others out.
Plus, the Qunari were looking for Magister Qintara. Which means they needed someone who looked the part, or else they might not have ALL gone after the target (or even most of them). That ruled out most of the others. No one would buy Ser Aaron as a mage, Vaea's an elf and also doesn't look much like a mage, Francesca and Calix were too young, and Autumn, well... that one probably doesn't need explaining.
If there were more time, other solutions could have probably been devised. But they didn't have much time, and the woman posing as a magister deciding to pose as a different one was the solution that would get all or most of the Qunari in the building to commit long enough for the others to get out, and leave them defended if it didn't work so well or when they got outside.
That was the logic in the moment.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 3, 2021 3:43:16 GMT
Its also curious that you mention 'clearly the story has changed' but more rhetorical speculation on my part...ugh how do I put this...do you feel like the changes that have been made to the story might make it so your stories that you have been writing no longer work with the overall context? If they were, in part some small set up then what are they now? Well, as Bioware's plans changed, what we needed to set up changed, and the tone of our stories shifted as well. We knew the story was changing, but we didn't have another conference to really spell out how it had changed (we'd read the same articles everyone else did, but honestly can't speak to how much of that was accurate and how much of that was driving the changes we'd been asked to make). We just knew that something had changed, and their guidance on what we needed to adjust was more laser focused (use of the idol, for example). Because of that guidance, we knew there wasn't really a chance that our stories wouldn't work. I think there are some places where their shifting plans and what we had aimed for meant slight misalignment, but overall, our story plays a role in setting things in motion that you may have seen in Tevinter Nights, and possibly things beyond that. Can't say more until Issue 3 comes out. But, overall, we feel pretty happy that we're part of the world building that they're doing pre-DA 4. I really wish you could answer what that one way that fits pretty well is, because I can’t see a single realistic way that it doesn’t completely ruin it. Obviously I can't, one because it may still happen in some altered form, and two because it might now be completely different, and I'd hate to set anyone up for disappointment. Plus, you know, not my place to spoil what little I knew, even if it's not accurate anymore. But I will say that what they were talking about was perfectly in line with the end of Trespasser and in fact was set up directly by how that unfolded. It seemed like exactly the notion that they were setting up with that DLC, it was that kind of seamless. And I suspect, from the trailers we've seen, that some part of that plan is still in effect. I get your concerns, but I'd urge you to let yourself be open to where they want to go. To me, the team has a solid track record. They tell excellent stories. There may be moments for each of us that we'd have liked handled differently, but I was deeply satisfied with each new tale, even with a new protagonist. It opened up the world in different ways than what Bioware did in Mass Effect, which structured around one returning protagonist (at least until Andromeda). Remember that even as their choices with Hawke seem to have frustrated you in DAI, you loved the Inquisitor enough as a new lead character that you now want to protect that character. This means that the next game may be equally engrossing, and the new lead equally engaging. So there's that. For what that's worth.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on May 2, 2021 20:09:47 GMT
Hmm, honestly even with these concept arts, I cannot seem to get myself to really care about DA4 without Inky. It feels like his/her story is just beginning. Would be an incredible opportunity to put a disabled protagonist in the spotlight. This is a challenging moment for Inky- lost his/her fighting ability and the anchor- it would be amazing to see him/her overcome that with their intact charisma. Ah well, I'll keep watching from the side lines. Maybe somewhere along the walk my interest will be perked. Yeah. While the Skyhold balcony sunrise view definitely felt like an ending, Trespasser felt like a beginning. Very similar to the end scene in The Empire Strikes Back, which wouldn't make sense for the next film to have Luke be in the sidelines while some random new person dealt with Vader. I cannot speak for Bioware on any of this, I only can speak as a fan. I have always known that DA 4 would have another protagonist, because that's what Bioware has done for all DA games. I do agree that Trespasser gave them the ability to continue with the Inquisitor if they wanted to change their pattern, but I wouldn't be disappointed to find out that they were continuing it. When Christina and I came aboard, we had a long talk with Bioware about the world we'd be writing in/towards. And part of that gave us a peek at the story for DA4. Since then, the story has clearly changed and we genuinely don't know what form it'll take. But what we discussed way back when would have worked very well with Trespasser, while focusing on a new set of characters. So I'm onboard with a new protagonist, because I know at least one way it could fit pretty well.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Apr 28, 2021 18:27:19 GMT
Now if you can afford it, please buy the comic! I have questions. Where does Shirallas shift to when in his red wraith form? After all it is red lyrium, not regular stuff so does he shift to wherever red lyrium derives its power from? (Which I assume is not the regular Fade). Perhaps I should explain. Red lyrium gets its power from the Blight and in Last Flight we were told the arch-demon was deriving its power from somewhere other than the Fade (I thought the Void perhaps) because it was using Blight magic. So that's why I was asking. Actually Last Flight claimed that blood magic was deriving its power from somewhere other than the Fade but that was never clarified either, so don't worry if you don't have an answer. As you'll see in the next issue, Red Wraith Shirallas will interact with the Red Lyrium, his markings, and even the sword, very differently than Fenris does with his engravings. I'll hold off on explaining until you see Issue 3. Happy to dive deeper after that, but hopefully the issue will showcase the differences.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Apr 28, 2021 17:58:13 GMT
Can someone post/send me a message with the spoilers about the new issue? Vaea does stealthy stuff to break into the Castellum and open the secret passage up from the inside. Ser Aaron worries excessively about her, so she sasses him then asks him about his nightmares. The group gets to the courtyard, where bad people plan their bad ritual. The ritual involves a dragon. Vaea decides she wants to free the dragon to end the ritual (instead of killing it). This triggers big brother/little sister banter between Fenris and Vaea. The Qunari attack the Fortress so the ritual starts right away. Marius and Ser Aaron kill a bunch of dudes. The Qunari attack screws up the attempt to free the dragon. So the ritual happens. Shirallas becomes a Red Wraith. Oh shit. Now if you can afford it, please buy the comic!
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Apr 1, 2021 15:41:43 GMT
I also hope they'll address as to why he isn't with Hawke if they romanced him Not to stir the pot too much, but I'm unsure why they'd need to address that beyond what was done in Inquisition. However much some may dislike Hawke's actions towards a romanced Fenris, they are canon for world-states with Fenris romances. Hawke leaves Fenris behind and goes off on a mission, then volunteers to be left behind in the Fade (even if the Warden stays instead, Hawke straight up volunteers). What that story did for me (as a frequent Fenrismancer) was break that relationship for good. Varric says that Fenris will brood for a while then go to Weisshaupt, but there's no evidence that Fenris actually does that. Maybe by the time the letter arrived, a broken hearted Fenris, upset about being abandoned (and by the logic of "he'll follow once he knows where Hawke is" he must have been given no information about where Hawke went or why), has moved on, stopped reading the letters, and tried to get on with his life. While what we wrote makes sense for an unromanced Fenris, in our mind, it also works for a romanced Fenris, because Hawke abandoning him is simply being taken the way most of us would take waking up and finding your lover has snuck off.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 31, 2021 18:37:28 GMT
More damn qunari. There’s never an end to these fuckers. They must breed the Antaam like rabbits! And I guess that’s the end of House Danarius. So long, Trantus. We hardly knew ye, but you did seem like kind of a dick. Oh, I promise... ...this is not the last we see of Tractus Danarius
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 20, 2021 20:06:18 GMT
Well, the truth is, that whole scene is designed to showcase the problems that come from killing and combat. While Vaea definitely went looking for a different answer, Marius isn't saying it's fine. He's saying the hesitation goes away and it becomes easier to kill a person. But his silence is meant to speak about how just because it becomes easy to kill, that's not a good thing. Which Fenris himself gives a voice to, before later falling prey to rage again and showcasing just how bad it can get when killing is your solution to everything.
(EDIT: Well, I suppose Marius' silence can also just be taken as Marius being Marius.)
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 20, 2021 19:35:28 GMT
I wouldn’t put it past Fenris to kill children. After all he said he ended their bloodline, so if Danarius’s children are grown what about their children? He probably killed them too until not a single one was left no matter the age or how innocent they were.
I hate Fenris even more now. I don't think we've ever seen Fenris kill someone who wasn't attempting to harm him, though? You could argue about his choice of fighting for the Templars if you have him against you in the end of DA2, but even then the mages he killed were at least fighting back. We've never seen anything to indicate he'd kill children that weren't a threat to himself or others, unless I'm forgetting something.
Fenris trying to be chatty and friendly and everyone just has issues and is not cooperating... XD Bet he really misses Varric right about now. As we wrote this, Fenris killed all of Danarius' heirs, but they were not actually children - they were adults. He does not, as we write him, kill those who pose no threat to him. Though he has a bit of a trigger when it comes to Danarius in terms of "threat posed."
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 20, 2021 19:26:28 GMT
Also as has been pointed out, this chapter states that Fenris murdered children. He says he eliminated Danarius’s bloodline, meaning he hunted down every child or grandchild he had no matter their age or how innocent they were. I hate Fenris. Actually, all it says is that he ended the bloodline. It doesn't specify what the ages were. For what that's worth.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 10, 2021 20:18:28 GMT
AH THESE FUCKING WOMBO AI VIDS ARE ALL OVER TWITTER I HATE THEM
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 7, 2021 19:15:09 GMT
nunziodefilippis; One thing I would be interested to know though was which side your canon Hawke usually supported in Act 3 and why? I've played both, but almost all of the times (like 11 of the 12 times I've played DA 2) I side with the Mages at the end, and for most, I'm with them all the way through (a couple of times I was pro-Templar early, but sided with the mages in the end). And the only saves I import into Inquisition are the ones where Hawke sided with the mages. It's very hard for me to side with the Templars, especially in Act 3. I think it's because while there is abuse on both sides, the abuse on the Templars' side is officially sanctioned by Meredith, and the abuse on the Mage side often comes from apostates or as a response to Templar abuse. Even the end choice - using the Rite on the Circle mages in response to an action by Anders, who is not in the Circle - demonstrates this. Like I said, it's very hard for me to side with the Templars. It's possible - because Orsino clearly knows about the experiments that kill Hawke's mother, and there are notes in that dungeon signed "O" that make it possible to see that coming. But it's still a stretch for me to punish all the Circle mages for the actions of Orsino, even assuming that Hawke is able to know Orsino is somehow complicit (which is still a big assumption). The other issue is that if you're a mage, siding with the Templars seems self-loathing. And if you're not, your relationship with Bethany always seems to be strong, so siding with the Templars seems like you don't trust or respect her (or your father). That's me, though. Your mileage may vary.
|
|
nunziodefilippis
N2
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
Posts: 158 Likes: 942
inherit
10597
0
942
nunziodefilippis
158
November 2018
nunziodefilippis
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, KOTOR, Baldur's Gate, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda
|
Post by nunziodefilippis on Mar 4, 2021 7:46:15 GMT
Wow, I stirred up a bit of a hornet's nest here. My apologies for that.
As I see it, Hawke goes where the trouble is. And when things happen in Haven, Hawke is already trying to help on a different problem: the warden issue. I always assumed Hawke stayed on that problem because (s)he knew it probably connected to the giant hole in the sky, so (s)he already was helping in her/his own way.
As for Varric, I'm sad to hear some don't like him. He definitely always tracked as my various Hawkes' best friend. And his reasons for lying to Cassandra were valid. He had no way of knowing how she would have treated Hawke if (s)he showed up to help. Conscripting Hawke and forcing her/him to join the Inquisition may have seemed to Varric like something that Hawke (who was effectively an endentured servant when first arriving in Kirkwall) would have resented.
My only point was that Hawke left to look into the Wardens and left her/his lover behind. I get why Hawke would do it - whoever romanced Hawke had likely been pulled into enough conflict to last a lifetime. But it had to hurt.
I do get that maybe some people's Hawkes would not have volunteered to stay in the Fade, though. I don't think I ever played a Hawke who didn't put herself or himself at the heart of the problem and try to solve the problem him/herself. So it always felt right to me. It was a reminder that loving Hawke is a sucker's deal... but it felt right.
|
|