Dragon Age The Veilguard Criticism Thread (formerly Skepticism Thread) [Spoilers]

Unlike Mass Effect 2, however, we don't have an entire previous game to give us roots about who our Protagnist who and who they care about. We have a nameless nobody where Varric has to tell who we are and what we did before we met in the vaguest of terms. And we're hard written as doubtful of our leadership abilities (but why?) and need pep talks from Varric about them. We then are dictated to by Tim/Solas as to our next moves even though we fucking hate him. Unlike Mass Effect 2, we are recruiting no one we know as Rook. 

So much requires the knowledge of an existing player. The connection to Varric, to Harding-- If I were a new player I'd be so confused by everything. So how did they make this game for a new player to the series that they needed so desperately"? The work wasn't done for a new player. So they pissed off old players by bringing nothing about the world state forward. Threw Varric and Harding at us with no relationship establishing conversations. I have no idea why Harding is freaking out before her Gift starts, crying in the Lighthouse. And then she becomes obsessed about what the Gift means- so much for her anxious overwhelm that lasted 5 minutes and we never get to understand why it was even happening? Who the hell is Harding to Rook but a chick Varric dragged along? Same for Neve and they at least have conversations where they recognize they are total strangers who are just coworkers now. Threw Morrigan at us like a bone (still a complete stranger to Rook) but all she did was show up, she's not even part of the War Table cinematic of Inquisition to imply she's helping even though she said she was available? In the most awkward pose ever. The trailer that led us to believe morrigan was in the game pre release was clearly so carefully crafted to hype us, this is such a letdown (so far, maybe she does stuff later). But also how is Morrigan, potential vessel of Mythal, NOT moved to the Lighthouse with us?

And then I start the recreuitment of Lucanis. I'm dragged through an Antivan market while the Qunari do things I do not understand at all (big brother motif). Brought to a caricature of some kind of mob boss family with no context but I know heavily draws on and relies on a book I read years ago for me to even understand. But NOTHING is there for a new player. WHAT. THE. HELL. This is so random for a new player and disjointed as fuck for an old player.