Modest Proposal: Companions

     First, a little introduction. Modest Proposal is intended to bounce ideas to improve/change certain parts of the CRPG game experience in reference to DA4. I call it 'modest' because the ideas ideally should target less radical changes to the base of DA:I that would be reasonable for Bioware to execute as opposed to say, rewriting the dialogue system or doing the game in 2D graphics or using the Inquisitor as protagonist. There's nothing necessarily wrong with big ideas or talking about them but there's already plenty of that around. The focus here is on smaller changes that could have big payoffs. I'll kick one off and hopefully you will see what I mean.

    This thread is intended to be about how we as Players interact with the Companions and the world of DA4 interacts with the Companions. It is not about the various perceived qualities or lack thereof of Companions in previous games or rumored or possible Companions in DA4. There are plenty of threads exploring preferences and dislikes for past and future Companions. I am more looking for ideas and feedback on how to better interact with and utilize these key components of a Bioware game.

1: On the Road Again - I can't really take credit for the idea since it's something Bioware has done before and has been mentioned at least once here, but there should be some more serious, in-depth discussions with Companions outside any 'camp' that exists in DA4. This was present in DA:I in a kind of sneaky way, at the Temple of Mythal with Morrigan keyed by interacting with certain objects there. I would like to see this expanded to our more present Companions as well with certain landmarks or objects that trigger an actual cutscene and conversation instead of the  one-timer voice clip, like when you blow up a chunk of Red Lyrium.

2: Don't You Forget About Me - (I was thinking Life Goes On but that's not my generation ) All Companions have personal quests to help flesh them out and give the Player an opportunity to build rapport and curry favor with the Companion, but if you don't do anything with them in Camp, they just kind of sit on their hands. Can anyone really see Cassandra standing around waiting to get permission before going to find Lucius? Cole, likewise, is quite determined. Does anyone think if the Inquisitor hadn't said something he still wouldn't have demanded action with either and/or both of Solas and Varric? At appropriate (for the story, definitely not the Player ) time,, if the Companion hasn't had a given quest undertaken and fulfilled, something fitting the character should happen. Taking an alternate reality DA:I as an example, Cassandra might take off with Varric, Solas, and Iron Bull to storm Caer Oswyn (don't think she would leave a note), Vivianne might leave and return (or not) to be with her lover while he dies, Solas might plead with you to save his spirit friend, etc. The point is that the world keeps turning for your Companions even when you are not at the center of it and, in the words of the late, great Canadian philosopher Neil Peart "If you choose not to decide , you still have made a choice". Assuming the Companion doesn't leave for good, the reaction and result could also provide more good hooks to understand the character as well.

3: We're On a Road to Nowhere - This one I have shipped over from my topic on the Mission/War Table. I liked the general idea of the War Table but in its DA:I form it wouldn't likely fit the situation exactly in DA4. Instead, with some input from others on that thread I suggested having local 'missions' like on the War Table, that you could assign Companions to with results that varied based on the Companion assigned instead of the Advisor (which we probably won't have in DA4). You could even improve your standing with some Companions based on the missions that  you assign them (or drop it by giving them the Clean Latrine repeating mission ). 


4: Can't Start a Fire Without a Spark - One of the amazing discoveries I made when going to Youtube to look up some particulars on a question, is how much Companion interaction I missed because my characters are all apparently too nice. I'm not sure this is a universal experience, but through normal (for me) gameplay, I never triggered one of the Companions 'angry' scenes which left me out on some pretty good character interaction. In DA4 (or your game, whomever is making it), it shouldn't require choosing about everything wrong to get a Companion mad at you or willing to confront you. Think about Sten in DA:O confronting you not so much because of personal anger, but to test your Warden's worthiness to lead. Confrontation can be sparked even in people you are otherwise friendly with if you cross a certain line. In that AU DA:I, imagine if Varric actually challenges your Inquisitor for making the call to sacrifice Hawke instead of a Warden? It wouldn't be a heavy lift to believe that given the circumstances. So, more confrontation, maybe sooner, and more depth so it isn't (necessarily) an endpoint that can only lead to tears.


5: Two Heads Are Better than One - One of the interactions I liked but saw to seldom in DA:I were those between multiple Companions. The best to me was the story of Cole becoming either more spirit or more human depending on whether the Inquisitor agrees with Solas or Varric. Having two or more Companions interact gives all of them more depth and can be used to put the Inquisitor 'on the spot' as it were. It's harder to take the old route of just agreeing with whichever Companion you are talking to, secure in the notion that no one else affected will hear, if there's an opposing viewpoint standing right there.


     Let me know what you think or what other ideas you have to make Companions more enjoyable and complete.