DA4 - Beginnings, Backgrounds and Origins

I don’t. They already ruined one game so far with this decision, and there’s no way they won’t ruin the other as a result.

Oh I’m sure they’ll ruin that too. There are so many ways that it’d almost be impressive if they didn’t. Hopefully once LE is out and the ending controversy rears its ugly head again, which I have no doubt it will, they’ll at least answer that about the plot plus maybe the connection or lack thereof to MEA.

So back to them jerking me around for years on a slight bit of hope only to fuck me over again. Oh joy.
Hopefully you’re wrong and they at least address it vaguely but enough for those kinds of details even while they focus on promoting themselves ruining Dragon Age. Maybe even if not planned, but due to the controversy. In truth, I could see them talking a bit on N7 Day dice they have revealed it now and the LE will already be out.

I absolutely agree it is stupid. I understand things change, but by the time you show trailers you at least have the skeleton of the game done so can talk about some of those things. If not then be like Bethesda and say or show nothing until only a few months before release. In NME’s case, just set the basic stage. They wouldn’t even need to reveal protagonists (maybe say it’s someone new if not Shepard or Ryder but that’s it) or stuff like that.

Please stop dragging the thread off topic.

While I enjoy them too, BW have mentioned a few times now there are no plans to do Origin-style prologues again. Reasons being they're a lot of work and expensive for content few will see. They felt that time would be better spent on other content in the game.

I hope we at least get some sort of prologue, or maybe mutually exclusive quests like the ones Shepard got in Mass Effect depending on his origin/military history.

I think Hrungr's idea is self interest is the reason they would get involved because according to Solas everyone is going to die if his plan comes to fruition, so if you want to live you are going to help stop him. However, as you say, because their organisation is not one that you would imagine getting involved in taking down a wizard-god, that is why they won't register on Solas' radar.

TN has already shown that they can get themselves involved in other people's quests that can be potentially dangerous, presumably if the price is right but maybe simply for the thrill of it.  One LoF didn't mind antagonising the Qun, whilst another was involved in antagonising the worthies of the Freemarches in order to obtain something that was ultimate given away to aid others.  Even the one in Luck in the Gardens seemed prepared to take on a very dangerous mission for which the monetary rewards hardly seemed enough to compensate for risks involved.  So it is possible to see one of them being prepared to take on the Dread Wolf for whatever motivates them, be it money, altruism or simply the kicks.

In regards to being tailored as a PC, a LoF seems primed to justify why this character would stick their noses in all sorts of matters. They are specifically a free agent that may undertake all kinds of investigations, hunts or missions. Ostensibly Lords of Fortune do this for profit or notoriety, but we have latitude to be motivated by other things, we may make a character motivated by self interest or noble intentions in fighting Solas. We could play a LoF with shades of Robin Hood in how they select jobs or who to target if we so chose.

Basically there should be latitude in terms of how a LoF can be motivated, and it shouldn’t be hard to motivate them to fight Solas if they understand the stakes even if only for self interest.

And I assume the Inquisition will probably start us into this by hiring the LoF without full knowledge.

To some degree this is a bit like the Witcher, where the protagonist’s profession nicely creates a justification for side quests and other activities.

gervaise21 and Heimdall make great points, and honestly, motivations are not something we need to overthink. The world's at stake - 'nuff said. 

A guild of adventurers getting drawn into a save-the-world plot is the basis of many a D&D adventure. They're adventurers. Add to that the "PC factor", and the fact they've already become involved (eg. the Genetivi storyline) makes this an easy fit.

It’s not motivation that’s the problem with LoFs, it’s the limited options for personality and role playing. Only certain people would be a part of that group. It’d be like playing DA2 but only having Purple Hawke as personality options.

I'll add that this is some of my personal favorite framing devices for epic storytelling. It does give it the nice personal down to Earth touch. "You have taken your first steps into a larger world" so to speak.

Geralt was just a monster hunter till his connection with Ciri set him on a collision course with the Wild Hunt where he saved the world.

Bilbo was just a hobbit until Gandalf hired him to do a relatively simple job in all respects which then helped waken Dark Powers and led to a confluence of envents which ended up with his...adopted son??...saving the world.

Luke Skywalker was just a farmer until he bumped into a pair of droids which led to him toppling an Empire.

Rey was just a no one scavenger until there was an Awakening and she ended up standing up to the First Order.

Just normal people doing their normal jobs until they are forced into larger and larger circumstances with higher and higher stakes, but they are still normal people.

Hell you could also throw in Arrow's Oliver Queen...who started off as a playboy billionaire with no sense of responsibility to restarting the universe...or Din Djarin into the mix too.

And this is perfect fodder for RPGs too given how much I liked Ryder and Hawke. Being just a soldier, or just a spy, or just a mercenary through sheer dumb luck or because of some mcguffin could make really powerful storytelling and well the trailer indicates they could be going in that direction, whatever the specifics are.

Applause Applause Applause.

What some people seem to forget is...while not every RPG does a good job of it so it can be a concern...but for me the ideal RPG is one that gives you a template to work with and then lets you run wild with it. Shepard was an Alliance Marine, Special Forces, and then a Spectre...the game let you RP whether you wanted to play a law and order stick to the rules and galactic order or a renegade doing whatever they take to win.

The same thing is certainly true of the LoF...or the Sicarri...or the Crows. You can play a greedy money grubber or buck the trend and play someone altruistic and out for the people. Also to say nothing of the potential background. Maybe you joined them as a kid, blinded by tales of glory, maybe you had little choice to join the organization and are in it just because there was no other options. The sky is the limit and since BioWare tends to be very good at this whole RPG thing...Hawke, the Inquisitor, and Ryder were all terric RPG protagonists...I see little reason for that to change.