John Epler @eplerjc I try not to vague post about work stuff too much because I know it can be annoying, but sometimes you see something and the only thing you can think is 'holy shit holy shit'.
I see what you're saying but I'm referring to Solas absorbing Mythal. I can only assume that's where the dragon form is coming from. So there is that duality of good wolf/bad wolf, but there's also the absorption of Mythal to consider and what that has done to his personality.
If you think about it, it's almost like the same situation with Anders. Anders took a spirit of Justice/Vengeance into his body and it forever changed him.
Solas seemingly did the same thing with Mythal, taking in a spirit of Justice/Vengeance in order to further his means.
Though I can't speak for certain if the possession is the same.
This is what worries me. Even in Tevinter Nights, it’s described as a wolf/dragon hybrid. While it’s too early to say what they plan, one of the reasons I love Solas as a character is that these are his decisions, his views and his grief and anger. I don’t want Mythal influencing him in any capacity and possibly giving him a scapegoat. Whether it’s in stopping him or forcing him to actually do it in the end. If that makes sense. Good or bad, I want his actions to be solely his own.
Yes it worries me too. And while Solas is all for free will, he is clearly desperate, and the decision to absorb Mythal seemed like a difficult step to make, but at the same time a necessary one to get what he wants.
It's all still a mystery. But regardless Mythal's presence will certainly be a "fly in the ointment," as she stated.
Alix keeps giving me hope by her paying so much attention to this, even nearly ten (……….. ) years later. I’m trying not to read into it. Surely she does this with other old projects of hers, right?
Where are you all hiding? Maybe I'm a little more pessimistic than strictly necessary. Just seemed so many people were happy when that "time for a new hero" teaser came out.
Absolutely, we will have a new hero. Take DA:O, DA2 and DA:I .. all new heroes.
Those that expect the quizzy to be the hero again, will be disappointed. As you said, the studio even posted in the teaser "time for a new hero".
(◔‿◔)
_______________________
Morpheus: "know what happened happened and that it could not have happened in any other way".
I see what you're saying but I'm referring to Solas absorbing Mythal. I can only assume that's where the dragon form is coming from. So there is that duality of good wolf/bad wolf, but there's also the absorption of Mythal to consider and what that has done to his personality.
If you think about it, it's almost like the same situation with Anders. Anders took a spirit of Justice/Vengeance into his body and it forever changed him.
Solas seemingly did the same thing with Mythal, taking in a spirit of Justice/Vengeance in order to further his means.
Though I can't speak for certain if the possession is the same
This is what worries me. Even in Tevinter Nights, it’s described as a wolf/dragon hybrid. While it’s too early to say what they plan, one of the reasons I love Solas as a character is that these are his decisions, his views and his grief and anger. I don’t want Mythal influencing him in any capacity and possibly giving him a scapegoat. Whether it’s in stopping him or forcing him to actually do it in the end. If that makes sense. Good or bad, I want his actions to be solely his own.
I also hope they don't pay too much attention to the addition of Mythal to his psyche. It can't be used as a total excuse for his actions because he was already planning on tearing down the Veil before he absorbed Mythal. He also took his original act of defiance and revenge against the Evanuris because of her death. Likewise, his adoption of the moniker Fen'Harel even appears to have been whilst working with her, if the wolf statues in the Deep Roads and at her temple are anything to go by, plus the fact that both her ancient priesthood and Flemeth refer to the Dread Wolf, not Solas or whatever other name he once had (according to Rasaan). I've also drawn attention to his self portrait from ancient times. The big black fearsome wolf was already something he identified with and used, for propaganda if nothing else. The Dread Wolf was also pretty ruthless with followers who don't follow his plan, as evidenced by his execution of Felassan, who fully expected that fate if he confronted the Dread Wolf in the Fade rather than continually avoided him.
I also hope they don't try to do another Anders/Justice type of scenario because the writer sent very mixed messages with that one, largely based on whether you followed the friendship or rivalry path, but also in what Anders also claims. He was adamant when we first discuss his possession with him that it was his anger and desire for revenge that twisted Justice into something different from his original outlook. Yet, particularly on the rivalry path, we are meant to believe that it was Justice overcoming Anders that led to his actions in Act 3. Even so, when we confront him at the end he claims it was done of his own free will. The trouble with Anders is that the writer was using him as a vehicle to work through her own prejudices and resentment about someone she had known with mental illness. Now I know, as someone who has suffered from paranoid delusions, that it can seem like possession by an external being but it really isn't and the whole thing is much more complex than such a simplistic explanation, so I really didn't appreciate the writer using Anders as a vehicle in that way.
If PW does the same thing with Solas then I shall be very disappointed but I don't see that happening if he stays true to his original writing. He admitted he used the romance to make Solas into a more sympathetic character because he was originally going to be much more obviously closer to his depiction by the Dalish. However, that doesn't mean that underlying aspect to his character wasn't already there. Felassan's numerous stories about him to Briala always seemed to emphasis his clever trickster aspect with a rather amoral outlook. Solas admitted himself that he doesn't see things so much in terms of good and evil but cause and effect. This is why it seems he can contemplate destroying a great many lives in order to save the few that he particularly cares about. This is nothing new.
So I tend to feel that the dragon/wolf hybrid is more symbolic of the fact that his power has grown due to absorbing Mythal rather than it significantly altering his outlook or character. For example, he has always cared about spirits and was willing to punish, even kill, people who abused them; now he has Mythal's power it seems he can do this to greater effect than he previously could from the Fade. It is also possible that he didn't have the ability to petrify with a thought before either. Solas and Mythal together are obviously stronger than either was on their own at this passage of time. The necessity for absorbing Mythal probably arose from his plan to deal with Evanuris and, for all we know, it may have always have been necessary to meet up with Flemeth before taking any further action with regard to the Veil; hence her admonishing him for messing up over his orb. So originally the plan would have been: Corypheus blows himself up unlocking the orb, Solas recovers it and then meets up with Flemeth, he absorbs Mythal and tears down the Veil; the united Fen'Harel/Mythal deal with the Evanuris. The first bit went haywire and then the orb was destroyed so he has to find an alternative means of conducting his ritual (the idol) but before he seeks this out, he checks in with Flemeth and takes Mythal on board so at least he will be ready for the Evanuris when the ritual completes.
I think the reference to Rasaan looking for his true name may become significant to the plot in DA4. May be using his true name will remind him of the elf he was originally and enable him to reject his adopted persona of the Dread Wolf. Something like that.
Where are you all hiding? Maybe I'm a little more pessimistic than strictly necessary. Just seemed so many people were happy when that "time for a new hero" teaser came out.
Absolutely, we will have a new hero. Take DA:O, DA2 and DA:I .. all new heroes.
Those that expect the quizzy to be the hero again, will be disappointed. As you said, the studio even posted in the teaser "time for a new hero".
(◔‿◔)
_______________________
I don't think anyone expect right now the Inquisitor to be back as the protagonist, given the teaser.
I'd howewer say that it's best to not count what (little) was shown and hinted in the teaser as definitely sure, except Solas having a big role in the game, as the game could very well have gone through some big changes in those last two years, even more so if the shift to SP is true and was decided after the teaser was made.
Two years when you don't show basically anything (and to be fair, they barely shown anything before that either, including the full title of the game), is a long time, and everything could've happened to the project.
I'd still say it's best, expecially for those that want the Inquisitor to be back as a protagonist, to not expect or hope for that. At the same time, I'm also not counting on anything in terms of plot, characters and locations, until we actually see something again.
Where are you all hiding? Maybe I'm a little more pessimistic than strictly necessary. Just seemed so many people were happy when that "time for a new hero" teaser came out.
Absolutely, we will have a new hero. Take DA:O, DA2 and DA:I .. all new heroes.
Those that expect the quizzy to be the hero again, will be disappointed. As you said, the studio even posted in the teaser "time for a new hero".
(◔‿◔)
_______________________
I don't think anyone expect right now the Inquisitor to be back as the protagonist, given the teaser.
I'd howewer say that it's best to not count what (little) was shown and hinted in the teaser as definitely sure, except Solas having a big role in the game, as the game could very well have gone through some big changes in those last two years, even more so if the shift to SP is true and was decided after the teaser was made.
Two years when you don't show basically anything (and to be fair, they barely shown anything before that either, including the full title of the game), is a long time, and everything could've happened to the project.
I'd still say it's best, expecially for those that want the Inquisitor to be back as a protagonist, to not expect or hope for that. At the same time, I'm also not counting on anything in terms of plot, characters and locations, until we actually see something again.
Absolutely, we will have a new hero. Take DA:O, DA2 and DA:I .. all new heroes.
Those that expect the quizzy to be the hero again, will be disappointed. As you said, the studio even posted in the teaser "time for a new hero".
(◔‿◔)
_______________________
I don't think anyone expect right now the Inquisitor to be back as the protagonist, given the teaser.
I'd howewer say that it's best to not count what (little) was shown and hinted in the teaser as definitely sure, except Solas having a big role in the game, as the game could very well have gone through some big changes in those last two years, even more so if the shift to SP is true and was decided after the teaser was made.
Two years when you don't show basically anything (and to be fair, they barely shown anything before that either, including the full title of the game), is a long time, and everything could've happened to the project.
I'd still say it's best, expecially for those that want the Inquisitor to be back as a protagonist, to not expect or hope for that. At the same time, I'm also not counting on anything in terms of plot, characters and locations, until we actually see something again.
I'm just unsure how much information we got in the teaser aside from 1. New protagonist and 2. Solas. Nothing else was really shown.
Patreon (for my writing, posting chapters of my novel)
I'm just unsure how much information we got in the teaser aside from 1. New protagonist and 2. Solas. Nothing else was really shown.
I believe there was also an official blog where they announced the trailer and said it showcased some of the factions we were going to be associated with. That resulted in a lot of speculation on these boards, particularly concerning the Arcane Archer figure near the end. However, that was before the leak about the change of direction back to single player only, so for all we know they could have been factions we would have encountered in multi-player. Just as the locations shown in concept art and in the trailer may not be in the final game, although they have appeared often enough that one can at least hope they will still make the final cut.
Bear in mind that stuff they showcased in connection with the original 2013 trailer for DAI, which appeared in Spring/early summer of that year, didn't make the final game released in Autumn 2014, so approximately 18 months later. It is now well over a year since that last trailer and we haven't even had an official announcement of when they hope the game will be released. This is despite the fact that they are apparently meeting their milestones and therefore presumably on target to hit their preferred release date but which leaks would seem to suggest will not be earlier than late Autumn 2023. That would be almost 3 years on from the trailer, so I don't think we can be sure about anything other than the fact that Solas will be in it.
I don't think anyone expect right now the Inquisitor to be back as the protagonist, given the teaser.
I'd howewer say that it's best to not count what (little) was shown and hinted in the teaser as definitely sure, except Solas having a big role in the game, as the game could very well have gone through some big changes in those last two years, even more so if the shift to SP is true and was decided after the teaser was made.
Two years when you don't show basically anything (and to be fair, they barely shown anything before that either, including the full title of the game), is a long time, and everything could've happened to the project.
I'd still say it's best, expecially for those that want the Inquisitor to be back as a protagonist, to not expect or hope for that. At the same time, I'm also not counting on anything in terms of plot, characters and locations, until we actually see something again.
I'm just unsure how much information we got in the teaser aside from 1. New protagonist and 2. Solas. Nothing else was really shown.
This is the same group that has determined a lot of information from a 30 second teaser for Mass Effect and have convinced themselves that is the absolute truth and nothing can change.
I don't think anyone expect right now the Inquisitor to be back as the protagonist, given the teaser.
But hope dies last...
For real though, Bioware may wanna warm up the hype train at least a little bit. I don't consider "I saw something nice at the studio today" kinda tweets sufficient. Shouldn't EA be constantly poking them with a stick over this already?
“Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.” ― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather #istandwithjkrowling
I'm just unsure how much information we got in the teaser aside from 1. New protagonist and 2. Solas. Nothing else was really shown.
This is the same group that has determined a lot of information from a 30 second teaser for Mass Effect and have convinced themselves that is the absolute truth and nothing can change.
I’m certainly not part of said group, as I spent limited time analyzing either teaser.
I do agree that nothing much was shown, but they did show some locations that might not appear in the full game. That, and if things have changed, Varric’s seemingly role of connection between the new protagonist and the Inquisition.
I don't think anyone expect right now the Inquisitor to be back as the protagonist, given the teaser.
But hope dies last...
For real though, Bioware may wanna warm up the hype train at least a little bit. I don't consider "I saw something nice at the studio today" kinda tweets sufficient. Shouldn't EA be constantly poking them with a stick over this already?
It depends at what stage of development they actually are. Again, if the game went to have some big changes in the last two years in terms of design and direction, they might’ve needed time to return to where they were before.
I guess we can only wait and see. Not having EA Play also means we don’t have any indication of *when* they could possibly show something.
The trouble with Anders is that the writer was using him as a vehicle to work through her own prejudices and resentment about someone she had known with mental illness
Where did you hear this? Last I heard, Jennifer Hepler wanted to do a spin on Angel from Buffy.
The reliability really depends on how the cloud gaming is implemented. If it is inside ISP, its very good, if not, it is as you said. Most of the open ones are of the latter.
[ LegendCNCD / AsariLoverFI ] Waiting for DA4 & ME5 - Look's like sometime in 2186, everything went to hell. We got out just ahead of it! MEA & ME1 (>>>> 3 > 2) -- DAI > DAO > DA2 -- 3500h+ & maxed out all 02/2020 in MEAMP, APEX 137001+, DAIMP (576/761/201), ANTHEM, SW BF II - Drinking tears of MP lamers since DooM & Quake in 90's softknees.bandcamp.com/
The reliability really depends on how the cloud gaming is implemented. If it is inside ISP, its very good, if not, it is as you said. Most of the open ones are of the latter.
ISP=Internet Service Provider, right? I'm not too up on tech-y lingo.
Mike Laidlaw @mike_Laidlaw Hey @eplerjc, someone on LinkedIn direct messaged me because they want DA4 to have beautiful characters. They sent the request to me so I thought I would pass it on.
Think what fun you have in store for you. Such fun. Even years later. ;P
Mike Laidlaw @mike_Laidlaw Hey @eplerjc, someone on LinkedIn direct messaged me because they want DA4 to have beautiful characters. They sent the request to me so I thought I would pass it on.
Think what fun you have in store for you. Such fun. Even years later. ;P
To be consistent with all the DA games, at least one beautiful male companion AND one beautiful female in DA4 needs to be unavailable for romance.
John Epler @eplerjc: Having been in this industry for a while, one thing has proven out, time and time again. Success belongs to the team, and failure belongs to leadership. No game is a one-person show, or even close.
Mike Laidlaw @mike_Laidlaw Hey @eplerjc, someone on LinkedIn direct messaged me because they want DA4 to have beautiful characters. They sent the request to me so I thought I would pass it on.
Think what fun you have in store for you. Such fun. Even years later. ;P
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes Wait. Our characters should look appealing? SOMEBODY GET ME A PEN! Why did we not think of this???
Mike Laidlaw @mike_Laidlaw I think it’s really got some potential.
David Gaider @davidgaider I was also recently informed that I needed to get my act together when it came to DA4's story. So @patrickweekes consider yourself on notice, I guess.
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes Why am I on notice? You're the one slacking on DA4's story.
David Gaider @davidgaider I'm delegating.
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes Are you going to let us have a dwarf romance this time?
Mike Laidlaw @mike_Laidlaw
Cmdr Katja Shepard - Waiting for DA4 news @muirnara Tbh I can't think of a non appealing character in DA except maybe Rendon Howe? Oh and Lord Erimond, lol.
John Epler @eplerjc How DARE you speak ill of Lord Livius Erimond.
Are you seeing this @patrickweekes
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes it hurts me when Erimond, my most developed character, my thoughtful tragic hero, the deuteragonist of Dragon Age: Inquisition, and dare I say the ideal of peak masculinity, is spoken of with this level of disrespect.
Ladyofc | The Dragon Age Oracle 🔮✨@ccclady1203 You mean the man I didn't hesitate to execute? He looks like the worst smelling cologne you can think of.
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes He died as he smelled: by the Axe.
Amber ☥ ૐ शांति ૐ ᐰ @na0sglass Oh yes, because what's appealing to each player is somehow universal. <eye roll> 😂
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes The day that I saw a straight guy online saying he didn't want to romance Isabela, because the pantsless buxom pirate lady with the lip piercing and sun-kissed complexion was "too exotic," I realized that there was no way to win this, just many different ways to lose.
ladyiolanthe ladyiolanthe That would be a liberating lesson to learn. Just write who you wish to write. There will be someone who likes them. And in some cases, many someones.
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes Some people only want a romance specifically with exactly their ideal kind of character in appearance and personality, and honestly, in a certain type of game, that'd be valid feedback! But that isn't what we're making. We try to give options, but this isn't Build a Buddy.
If we wrote a character we intended as a romance, and nobody wanted to romance them, well, that would be awkward. But based on the telemetry I vaguely remember, Isabela did okay. ❤️ (And people who didn't like her could romance Merrill, Anders, or Fenris instead, plus Seb in DLC)
Corinne Busche 🏳️⚧️ @corinnebusche Starting a new “just for fun” play through of #DragonAge Inquisition this weekend. What do y’all think I should play? I’m committed to whatever the poll results say, but hmu w/ specializations in the comments 😊
Mage
Warrior
Rogue
Corinne Busche 🏳️⚧️ @corinnebusche When y’all told me to play a Knight Enchanter, I wasn’t planning a Solavellan run but…
…well here we are.
Patrick Weekes @patrickweekes How does a Knight Enchanter avoid heartbreak while romancing Solas?
The day that I saw a straight guy online saying he didn't want to romance Isabela, because the pantsless buxom pirate lady with the lip piercing and sun-kissed complexion was "too exotic,"
'A straight guy's' argument is invalid.
"Kneel before the Lord Dragon, or you will be knelt." 21 Feb 2019 at 6:59am - It has not been forgotten. It will not be forgiven. We've now met seven times... Revenge is ice cream - Serza, April 2020 Also known as Mike, David, Scott or Bruce