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

Took a lot of patience with Neve to get the romance going after my act 1 choice put it on hold, but things are finally progressing and this might be the first BioWare romance in a long time that doesn't make me cringe so far. They actually had a pretty nice "we like each other" conversation flow like actual grown ups. Huh.
In fact, I daresay Rook leaning close and saying "Good things happen, Neve" in a low voice to dispell her cynic gloom and doom was pretty hot.
Of course then you get the cliche interrupted kiss followed by sudden awkwardness, but until then it was really nice smooth confident flirtation.

I picked flirt with Harding once and immediately regretted it. Awkward flustered teenage cringe. No, thanks.

So yeah, super happy with my Rook and the chemistry he has with Neve. Him being both more optimistic but also fairly pragmatic and serious like her works well imo. I play Rook as a weird mix of stoic and making jokes and it works surprisingly well for my headcanon.

I hope the romance stays mature and natural. Funny how in DAV of all games I'm having a good time with the romance.

I don't think so. Mae was telling her story and issues with being a transgender, and my Rook being suddenly a nice guy without any input from me was being supportive and told her how proud her father would be, while I just wanted him to be listening to what she had to tell and stay neutral. A lot of autodialogue being automatically supportive when it's about inclusiveness, curiously. 
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I also just witnessed a crow using they/them for a side quest. It took me a few sentences to understand what he meant by they, uncertain, but I finally understood. Because of course he had to repeat these pronouns so I can be sure he was being inclusive. 

Also good to know that Isabela probably broke up with my Hawk without me knowing or my input. That's the only thing I can imagine, given that she lives now with the lord of Fortune in their lair, being their leader - it's been even probably years - without ever mentioning him, and being totally okay with her life apparently. She is in her 50s now, so I'd say it happens. 

As for Morrigan, silent as a carp about the Warden and their son as well. I'm so glad my Warden refused to follow her after she abandoned him and ended up with Anora, ruling Ferelden as king consort, before he disappeared. At least I got my closure romantically, compared to others who decided to follow her and their child. 

Unbelievable. This game literally cancelled any decision we could have made in past games, doesn't adress anything. They didn't even leave a crumb, not even a few lines to aknowlege the romances. 

it would have been better if they didn't bring all these characters from past games, at least we would have had a real divide between north and south. Now we have a very bizarre mix of old characters who keep appearing with constant reminiscences of the past with the inquisition through their useless memories. 

Honestly, Orlais strikes me as more the place to have these discussions on gender/sexuality. You'd think the brutality of life in Tevinter would keep people too occupied to worry about that kinda thing.

Well personally, I thought the Tevinter mage eugenics thing was a pretty... alright way to include homophobia in the setting, whether it was hamfisted with Dorian or not. But I really wanted a little more exploration on that front. It is said that it's actually encouraged to be bonking your same sex slaves in Tevinter, so I wanted to see Archon Radonis and his big male slave harem! But probably too hardcore for modern audiences. 

All it’s missing is the laugh track.

I never really thought their problem with Dorian was that he was gay, but that he was unwilling to participate in the Imperium's quest for their very own Kwisatz Haderach.

I mean, if he just went along and "did his duty" they'd have been fine with him. But treating human beings like horses or dogs trying to create "pure strains" disgusted him. And his being gay was ancillary.

Still semi convinced it's a different character, even Ali Hillis seems to be using a slightly different vocal tone for her. That's just my cope though lol. Apologies to any Inquisitors who flirt with her for her conversation where she's like "oh I wasn't in their inner circle so I wasn't close to them".

Definitely lacks content at least, I like a fair bit of what's there but it does feel a little lacking. Maybe I'm spoiled from running back to the stables whenever I felt like it to give Blackwall kisses, lol. But that also had more romantic tension and build up with strong payoff, compared to getting together once you've checked off the appropriate missions.

I think what I've seen of Davrin's is at least a bit more flirty, so I'll give them props there.

I’ve heard a fair bit of complaining about Lucanis, who was the romance most people were looking forward to. He seems more into Neve than Rook, it seems.

Mind you, he was also written by Mary Kirby, so people should have known better. Mary hates romance.

EDIT: I also happened to look at the Dragon Age subreddit and noticed this post. Needless to say, disappointment abounds.

www.reddit.com/r/dragonage/s/uJrdDKAnv8

Why romances are kind of whatever is a symptom of the personal stories lacking inner conflict and exploration, and thus the personal stories don't have much effect on the romances themselves. Take Fenris and Anders for example. Their romances are heavily affected by their personal stories and quests. They are woven together pretty neatly. Can't say the same about Veilguard at all, where the romances feel pretty detached from everything that goes on with the companions (which is not much at all lol). 

That explains my years of disappointment that my Hawke and Varric couldn't get together.

I think what I've seen of Lucanis' is that it's a lot of slow with only a little burn. I guess people wanted something spicier.

Spicier is one thing but the dude is an Antivian Crow with a pretty traumatic background and is possessed by Spite. So is it.. wrong to expect something a little bit more dramatic, and not a romance that is more underwhelming and colder than his affection towards Neve?! Honestly I made the right choice romancing Emmrich, despite flipping between Lucanis and him for my first (and probably last) romance.