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Post by Iddy on Mar 4, 2023 20:20:52 GMT
Just a question. How did you guys interpret the choice to leave Hawke/Warden ally in the Fade?
Did the Inquisitor actually decide who would stay behind?
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Post by Iddy on Mar 4, 2023 15:45:18 GMT
It made no sense in practical terms, but I thought it was thematically fitting to leave Hawke in the Fade Then you are making the decision as a player outside of the world looking in, rather than the Herald on the ground. I was assuming they had read Varric's story of Hawke so knew the background. Also, done a bit of research on the Grey Wardens with people who knew them, like Leliana. There was absolutely no reason Hawke should feel responsible for Corypheus; that was clearly down to the Wardens who had failed to deal with the problem correctly down the years and then blackmailed Hawke's father into getting involved. Plus, if Hawke did feel responsible for Corypheus, they could do far more against him by staying alive than throwing their life away in the Fade. Stroud had been around for many years, so likely near their Calling anyway and even one of the other two possible Wardens wouldn't likely live beyond middle age. Also, any Warden was potentially still at risk from Corypheus even if they had resisted him thus far. Hawke still had plenty more to give to the world at large and, as it turned out, could eventually help in rebuilding Kirkwall. So Hawke lived. I would note that the only reason for keeping the Warden representative instead of Hawke was the idea of them rebuilding the Grey Wardens in then south but this was then negated when they instantly left for Weisshaupt. Mind you, I thought it logical to send the Wardens out of Orlais for their own safety but expressly told Leliana not to use what we knew against the Order. Yet in the epilogue they had everyone turn against the Wardens in the south if you took the sensible option. By contrast, if you keep the Wardens in the Inquisition, risking the fact that Corypheus was still a danger, nothing bad happens and everyone thinks they are great at the end, so I thought that whole business with the Wardens was rigged against logical thinking. That's the thing. I never thought the Inquisitor was literally making the decision regarding who lives and dies. I took it as a peculiar moment where the player is given the choice and the game translates that by having the Herald utter the character's name. Not to mention that Varric likely would be upset at the Inquisitor if s/he really was the person who sentenced his best friend to death. He already chewed out Cassandra just for the idea of putting Hawke at risk by bringing him/her to the Conclave.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 4, 2023 12:23:31 GMT
Varric has already taken that journey in Inquisition. He certainly wasn't the same guy we met in DA2. He went through some stuff and, depending on player choices, might have even lost Hawke. He isn't going to take it again. He didn't strike me as that different but then I never leave Hawke in the Fade as it made zero sense to me (actually leaving anyone made zero sense since in the time it took us to decide we could have been out of there). It made no sense in practical terms, but I thought it was thematically fitting to leave Hawke in the Fade for two reasons: 1. Hawke is a tragic hero, so it seems natural that s/he wouldn't get a happy ending. 2. Both in DA2 and DAI, we have dialogue where Varric says that a good story is one that ends with the hero's death. And since Varric is the narrator of Hawke's life, it is fitting that his friend's fate is just like the ending to one of his books. Or at least, it makes for a cool reference.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 2, 2023 22:11:39 GMT
Yesterday I was doing Trespasser and the archivist spirit addressed my Lavellan as "mirthadra elvhen". It just goes to show that Solas and Abelas' whole idea about "real elves" is bullshit.
Hell, Abelas takes it further and says that the Dalish Inquisitor "bears the features" of those called elvhen. He doesn't even recognize Lavellan as an elf biologically. She only *looks* like one.
At least Solas only seems to make the distinction based on their different cultures.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 1, 2023 23:53:17 GMT
Seeing as the whole "power behind the throne" thing only worked because she had the backing of the Inquisition, her prospects aren't good. If you talk to her in the Arbor Wilds, even then she says something along the lines that it is a lot safer out there fighting Corypheus than it is back at Court. The one thing she may have going for her after Trespasser is if Leliana is Divine. Apparently several unsuccessful attempts were made on her life, so presumably she could offer Briala a bit of advice on how to stay alive. Presumably she would also back the status quo with Gaspard. Otherwise, I imagine Briala's best bet would be to come to some sort of arrangement with Gaspard, whereby she goes into retirement in the Dales, being content with just limited autonomy over the lands that she was granted, but staying out of politics at a national level. If she guarantees her loyalty to his regime, he might even consider this beneficial as she can keep this far flung part of the empire towing the line as it does seem that the local population were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the local nobility and governance of Val Royeaux. Also, if he is aware of the danger that Solas represents and the defection of elves across the south to him, keeping Briala on side would help ensure the nobility didn't lose a large part of their workforce. The other possibility, of course, is that she could join Solas if the Game left her no other options. Felassan taught her to appreciate the dark wisdom of Fen'Harel and she would likely be unaware that the Dread Wolf was responsible for his death. Solas says he took back control of the eluvian network from Briala but he never says exactly how. May be he just went to her and asked. He can be very persuasive when he wants to be. If he said he wanted to save the elves without mentioning the whole destruction bit, why wouldn't she support him? Felassan could see parallels in her life with that of Fen'Harel, so I think they would understand one another and both have an appreciation of how to play the Game. In that case, do you see the progress for elven rights in Orlais being completely undone?
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Post by Iddy on Mar 1, 2023 20:07:56 GMT
So, what are your bets for companions potentially revealed in this comic? I second eaglepursuit in that I don't think we've seen any so far, but I disagree that Harding will be a companion. I've started to doubt it, and she is someone known to Solas - they'd have to come up with a pretty good cover story for why she's suddenly so far from Fereldan: Harding was recruited to the Inquisition from the Hinterlands so it's not like she was a mercenary or something beforehand. I do think the characters we've seen so far - the two Grey Wardens and the two Antivan Crows - will be making an appearance in the game as NPC of some minor or bigger role. It feels like Bioware has been using the comics (and show) to establish where everything and everyone is at now (ex. the state of Tevinter, its secret semi-civil war, and its current war with the qunari) as well as new settings (ex. the forest of Arlathan) and old factions (Grey Wardens & Antivan Crows) so I'm not sure if it's actually going to introduce any companions. It feels like a continuation of what they were doing with Tevinter Nights (although Tevinter Nights did feel like it was introducing at least one companion candidate, so who knows?) Well... if that's the case, it would be the first time Bioware saves their introduction for the actual game. Both DA2 and DAI had companions we already knew from previous installments, books, etc.
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Post by Iddy on Mar 1, 2023 18:55:31 GMT
So, what are your bets for companions potentially revealed in this comic?
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Post by Iddy on Mar 1, 2023 12:09:56 GMT
Speaking of the Crows, I've been reading Tevinter Nights and I find it odd that Zevran's failure to kill the HoF was such a hard blow for house Arainai. I never imagined they had such success rates that failing once is too much.
Incidentally, I think I'm starting to piece together how is it possible that Teia, Bolivar and Zevran carry the name of prestigious Antivan families, despite being elves. When an orphan joins the Crows, they also join the family that purchased them or took them in.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 28, 2023 19:18:40 GMT
So, rather than wipe them out, I think it far more likely we are going to end up working with them, unless the alternative option is to work with the Ben'Hassrath instead, still with the aim of stopping the fighting. Thus, it may be a bit like a choice they gave us in BG2, where you could either side with the Shadow Thieves (a very Crow like organisation) or the Vampires but there was not an option to do neither. Ugh, that’s exactly what I’m worried about. Not just because I’m not a fan of the “you must choose only one or the other” instead of other options that make more sense (like the Mage v Templar choices), but I’m also dreading how this game is probably going to force us to have to support many terrible groups of people. It’s like Cerberus in ME2 all over again, except this time we can’t get all the people to defect (though they were never actually truly Cerberus anyway) and tell the boss to eff off. The solution is to play a somewhat shady character. Not ideal, but it works.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 27, 2023 12:12:29 GMT
Specifically from Lord Seeker Lucius' speech at 6:50.
What is the main lesson? That it is a mistake to attempt to reshape the world, because that desire will lead you astray?
Or simply a cautionary tale about how the ideals that motivated you in the beginning will eventually be forgotten, which results in corruption?
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Post by Iddy on Feb 25, 2023 21:03:01 GMT
On my way to the circle, ran into a nice couple who found a child. It's nice of them to take the child as their own. Hello Gregoir. Good to see you again. He tells me the mages turned stupid bringing in demons to do dumb things. This is why I should not have left. Things fall apart when I leave. It's like dealing with a bunch of children. Fine. Let's clean this crap up. I got darkspawn waiting for me. There's Wynne and a few other mages. I like her even though she never shuts up. She taught me some really cool spells. She even has lectured me about using the walking bomb spell. That's her problem. I like the spell. It's fun. Wynne wants to help me deal with the demons and find Irving. Let's go. Her staff gives me the creeps. What are you smiling at? I feel tired. Did this demon put a sleeping spell on me? I need to st...... You got to be kidding. The fade? Again? I'm tired of this crap. Hopefully in my next life I'm a warehouse worker instead of being a mage. Ok. Let's figure a way out of here. There's the black city. Someday I will have saved up enough money to go visit. I hear it has some of the best ice cream in all of Thedas. So now I can change into a mouse. I need to be on the lookout for cats. Burning man. BURNING MAN. WHAT? Hold up. Shouldn't it be Burning WOMAN!!! Whatever. I need to get out of this dream. I feel like that other character who was in some stupid dream Now I'm a Golem. A rock with arms and legs. Can it get any worse? A spirit? Hmmm. Not bad. I can float saving wear and tear on my legs. I'll have to look into this spirit thing after dealing with the demons and later the darkspawn. Now I'm an ogre's plaything. Look at it. It's enjoying itself. It's going to punch me. This is going to hurt. Good thing I've been keeping up with my health insurance payments. Now that I'm out of the fade, I need to find Irving. What's this? Oh no. It's Cullen. What have you done this time Cullen? He's trapped in some barrier. I've been hearing rumors about him liking me. I don't know about that since he was the one who was going to kill me if I didn't pass my harrowing. Enough of that. Let's get Irving. ah yes, Uldred. Never liked the guy. He turn's himself into giant demon. Is that suppose to make you look tough? Get lost punk. You're down for the count. The demons are finally dealt with. Irving is ok though he will need to take a nap or two. Wynne want's to join my group to help fight the darkspawn. No problem though I get the feeling she will start giving me her mumble jumble lectures about life. Back at camp I talk with Sten. This qunari doubt's I'm a grey warden? I will make him eat those words after I defeated the darkspawn. After a bit of rest, we'll head to Redcliffe. Mythal's sweet tits... BLUE HAIR?
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Post by Iddy on Feb 25, 2023 20:57:46 GMT
It is far too late to make any changes, but today I was having second thoughts about my choice to romance Merrill in DA2 (Sarcastic Mage, M!Hawke).
I think it would've been best to go with Isabela. She was more relevant to the story and her chemistry with sarcastic Hawke was better too. At the time, I was upset at the fact that she is more jealous of FHawke than MHawke in MoTA, but maybe it doesn't matter that much.
And well... it was my second human/elf romance in a row.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 25, 2023 13:13:31 GMT
In both DAO and DAI, we're fed information about the companions until we finally get The Big Quest where their personal struggle is both revealed and resolved.
And it is done.
In DA2, their individual storylines are an ongoing development through the whole game. And on screen, not just dialogue.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 24, 2023 14:40:33 GMT
Was it ever explained how Crows are recruited?
I mean, can you just sign up for that, or is it always a creepy guy in an alley whispering "Psst, I got an opportunity for you"?
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Post by Iddy on Feb 23, 2023 14:33:31 GMT
I love the fact that Varric avoids referring to Solas as the Dread Wolf. Of course, part of it is secrecy, but I hope it is also because he knows it is easier to get people to help you when you don't have to waste time convincing them that you're not chasing after some fantasy.
Just say that you gotta stop a crazy mage from using dangerous magic. That should be enough for most people.
Also, Teia got a real upgrade in this comic. Her hair looks incredible. Probably better than what our next protagonist may look like without mods.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 22, 2023 23:09:20 GMT
I, for one, think Isabela would look great in Iron Bull's outfit.
Varric and Sera wear the same colors, so you could swap them and it still would look fine.
Make Solas wear Fenris' armor. That way we could spot the villain much faster.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 22, 2023 17:45:32 GMT
On a side note, it occurs to me that the Inquisitor has been stuck on this chase after Solas for quite a few years now. So... what kind of life has s/he been leading, exactly?
Always moving from hideout to hideout, participating in endless reunions? Or has s/he been living a mostly normal life, only occasionally called upon when there is a new lead?
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Post by Iddy on Feb 22, 2023 12:10:36 GMT
The problem is just that: They aren't giving us much beyond "Varric continues to look for clues (and never find anything interesting). I get it, they have to save it for the game. But in that case, why bother? Maybe they could have done a story focused on one of the new companions and end it with him/her meeting Varric. I low key suspect that this might be where this is going esentially, but not in regards to the companions, but the protagonist. The thing is to the 'why bother' that if we look at everything they have done in terms of extended media as marketing for the game then everything they have done does make sense. TVN, Absolution, and now this seems to be offering a lot of teases and cliff hangers to gameplay elements, tone, and story beats. It is a bit of an odd way of going about it but the whole tease seems to me to be the entire point... Which is why I don't really think anything will be really solved in this and plenty to do in the game. It's not about solving, it's about information.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 22, 2023 11:12:42 GMT
So far this seems like a quick tour designed to introduce us to the factions and plot points we're going to be dealing with in Dreadwolf. So I guess next month we finally find out what a Veil Jumper is! Which is all very well but I hope they do come up with some explanation for these plot developments in game, so people who only play the games will not be left puzzling about what is going on. Also, so far as any connection with Solas is concerned, why not keep that for the game itself? It seems to me that travelling around looking for leads as Varric and Harding are doing is just the sort of low level stuff our hero could have been doing to ease them into the game. It also does seem rather odd to use a comic series in this way. On the whole, previous series have had their own self contained story, with the main characters only indirectly linked to the action in the games. Thus, it expanded the view of Thedas and gave those fans interested some additional lore to get their teeth into but they did not directly tie into events in the games. Even Magekiller, whilst the two protagonists did end up in some of the same locations, were active in much the same way as our agents in War Table missions. The problem is just that: They aren't giving us much beyond "Varric continues to look for clues (and never find anything interesting). I get it, they have to save it for the game. But in that case, why bother? Maybe they could have done a story focused on one of the new companions and end it with him/her meeting Varric.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 20, 2023 1:14:18 GMT
Do you guys think Solas was trying to manipulate the Inquisitor into disbanding, with that whole speech about spies and corruption?
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Post by Iddy on Feb 19, 2023 22:52:23 GMT
You know... I am mildly insulted that the fountain which is dedicated to the Inquisitor in Trespasser, is also a tribute to Celene.
I mean in the scenario where Briala rules through Gaspard.
It's as if Hawke had to share his statue with Meredith. Or if someone gave you a house as a gift, but turns out you're squeezing with 5 people.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 19, 2023 12:16:24 GMT
THAT'S supposed to be Lavellen? First glance I thought it was Adaar. That's what I thought too. It makes no sense to draw Lavellan all big and buff. If you want to play a big girl, just go with Adaar.
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Post by Iddy on Feb 19, 2023 0:30:26 GMT
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Post by Iddy on Feb 18, 2023 22:48:37 GMT
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Post by Iddy on Feb 18, 2023 18:45:31 GMT
see, that's one thing I never really got...in most media all the Qunari we see have grey skin (hence the racial slurs of ashen-skinned giants) with white hair...so why give us different hair colors? (then again, I was going to give my Qunari black hair since I hate how the hair and eyebrow color is linked with mods I can relate to that. I also try to stay faithful to the lore as much as possible. I only dared to give my Lavellan purple eyes because it has been mentioned in the books that elves do have such unusual colors. And yeah, the romance options for female Adaar aren't all that great. I'd recommend Sera. What she lacks in basic decency, she makes up for it with tons of enthusiasm in the relationship. Or you could give poor Blackwall a chance, lol. Who knows. He might not be that bad.
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