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

I think it's just 'it looks cool'. Edgy wings on Lucanis? Who cares about demon possession rules, it looks cool. Lore be damned, we're here for the aesthetic.

Props to anyone who tried to take an assassin (sorry, freedom fighter) named "Dellamorte" seriously somehow.

I'm pretty sure no one even mentions them in game. Is it like the demon himself, that we as players can see it but no one else can? It seems as though they have to spell it out for the player what is going on as though they are children with no ability to work it out for themselves. Yet the game is rated 18+. I'm convinced the designer was a fan of Arch-angel from the X-men and thought it would be cool to introduce a character that looked like that in Dragon Age. The fact no one comments on it does suggest it is mostly aesthetic, except for the fact that he does seem to be able to fly short distances. However, that could be using the wings as a visual to explain why he can do this, when it shouldn't be possible from the lore. Flying is not a spell in Thedas. Either you can do it naturally or you can't. Although, I will admit that for some reason Corypheus was able to do this in DAI but I assumed that must be to do with the effects of red lyrium or the blight. (Was the Architect also able to fly short distances). Fear and despair demons are able to levitate, so perhaps it is meant to replicate their abilities. If that was the case, though, why doesn't someone comment on his ability and ask if it is due to his demon partner?

I wasn't quite so struck by it in ME2. I suppose I managed to suspend disbelief over the whole cloning thing so after that I just went with the flow. However, I really wasn't happy by what they did with Ashley in ME3. That look seemed totally out of character for her. Very disappointing.

Disclaimer: I played DAO around the original release and did a second PT right after and haven't touched the game since. DA2 I replayed after DAI and is the most recent in my memory. So when I say most fucked up thing it means most fucked up thing I still remember. My memory for details is so bad in general that without lore buffs like you I would never have remembered stuff enough to make any sort of connection with the ancient elves and titans and whatnot. So thanks for at least reminding me of things I would otherwise not be able to recall!

Also when it comes to psychological horror: I have aphantasia, the inability to visualize. That's why I can read about the most gruesome stuff and it won't conjure up any vivid imagery and therefore not affect me all that much unless we're talking torture because that triggers a strong emotional reaction as I "imagine" what it feels like. I've only ever read one book I had to put down for an hour because the murder method was so horrifying to think about as a woman. I literally gasped and had to take a break.

I suppose that's why I'm such a visual media person and why seeing things has a much bigger shock value for me than just reading about it. Well done visuals is super important to me. I love reading but it's not the same for me as for other people.

Back to Dragon Age, the broodmothers were indeed excellent psychological horror and I also liked how they looked.
As for emotional impact of death, agreed on the Hawke sibling. That was so poorly done. You spend like five minutes with them before they die so absolutely zero emotional impact. What's interesting is that the death of Aveline's husband was well done and hit me emotionally even though I didn't know anything about him either.

BioWare definitely has a history of poor rushed prologues, DA2 and ME3 are the worst examples, and no doubt a result of EA presssure to get the game out as fast as possible. And DAV feels super rushed too and like a copy of ME3 with the very sudden reaper invasion and just running while around you everything goes to shit.

DAV so far does feel like painting by numbers, just rehashing ME3 and DAI plot points. BioWare has NEVER been good with plot imo. I remember playing Witcher 2 and thinking to myself, wow, the plot writing is so much better than anything Bioware has ever done, but Witcher 2 lacked any kind of emotional impact for me, so I missed Bioware playing that game. So excellent emotional narrative trumps great plot for me. But that's no excuse for just rehashing stuff. MEA did this too. It has the exact same narrative themes as the trilogy, except done less well.

I will say that to me DAO had the most generic save the world fantasy plot ever, which is why DA2 is my fav in the series. And darkspawns were just like orcs. BUT plot and narrative are not the same thing. BioWare used to be very good at narrative, of making these super non creative basic plots work because of HOW the story was told. BioWare did emotional storytelling like no other studio for a while, and the companions and their arcs were a big part of it. So I'm mostly fine with a simplistic plot if how we get from A to B is well executed. And I need to be emotionally invested in the characters. I'm not emotionally invested in any of the DAV companions yet. They are caricatures for the most part.

MEA would have been much more enjoyable with better companions too. The main story was rehashed but it wasn't really that bad. I feel like DAV might be the same. An OK main story dragged down by horrible companion writing. Too bad the companions are my favorite thing about BioWare games.

I'm actually pleasantly surprised about Rook not being a complete tool so far. If you choose the stoic and aggressive options a lot he's a really focused and often a little annoyed at the companions for getting too wrapped up in their own drama. My Rook wants results. Rook does have some badass Shepard-like moments that way. Of course the roleplaying in most instances is very limited to shades of agreeable but it's not a complete disaster.

My Rook left somebody to die who didn't deserve to be rescued in his eyes. And you can have Rook be literally so fed up with an NPC's bullshit that you have the option to just punch them and knock them out cold to progress the mission. Half of the companions disapprove greatly and some approve greatly, that was funny. Neve approved greatly, so she really is the right woman for my Rook, lol!

So far Rook is the aspect of the game I have the least issues with. My Rook is a proper rational adult who gets shit done one way or another. He also looks the part with a constant look of disapproval or grim determination on his face. My usually jolly treasure hunter is ANGRY at the gods for ruining his carefree existence and causing so much death. And he is also no friend of Solas and gives him shit constantly.
There is roleplaying to be had, I'll say that much. It's not renegades Shepard. It's more a super pissed off paragon flavor. But I dig my Rook so far. The playing therapist part with companions all the time is eye rolling but how Rook navigates the main story is fine.

Rook talks a lot without any input from the player. Does any of that depend on what we say when we do get the choice, like in DA2?

So far I have seen no evidence of that

You are actually in Act 2: quest with his murals becomes available at the beginning of second part.

Nope. You can complete it in act 1. I did this before the final big battle of act 1. Which is odd and doesn't really feel like you should be doing this yet but it is absolutely doable. I've also upgraded the crafting table to 8 of 10 before finishing act 1, lol.

Low bar agreed. He is a much better protagonist than Ryder for me. Even inky, I'd say. Thought inky was a doormat as well. Ryder was completely spineless and had no charisma. Rook can have a real aura of getting shit done authority. While a Lord Of Fortune Rook doesn't really have any business being there, I totally buy the leader aspect more and more though as things go south in the main story. My Rook does not cry over spilled milk.

It's only at the Lighthouse where you're forced to play therapist to toddlers that things get ridiculous. But even then Rook can be blunt and distrustful at times. My Rook told Harding he doesn't like what's going on with her. He told Lucanis he'll have a close eye on him and is not happy with an abomination around. The companions accept this so there isn't any drama there but at least you can play Rook somewhat how you like.

is there a PDF I can look at 👀 very curious.

I appreciated the Veilguard story for what it was, but they should’ve continued and focused on the Titans, elves, and the ancient past as that was arguably the best part of Veilguard. Even then, there was a lot of “How” and “Why” missing from those sections of the game. My opinion on how the story should’ve have went:

Keep Tevinter, The Crossroads, Arlathan Forest, Kal Sharok, and MAYBE The Anderfels. Leave Rivain and Antiva for another game (Rivain was literally reduced as a level for Taash’s sidequests. The Lords of Fortune were such a disappointment in that respect.)

The gods should’ve not been as powerful as they were starting out (just like Solas), which would have then allowed our team less urgency and be faced with less devastation (at firs.) They would then use that time to investigate Solas, his past, and The Crossroads. Get really deep into the drama!

I still loved the game, though, don’t get me wrong. I appreciate it for what it is.