It doesn't make me any better then anyone who was confusing Qarinus and Qunari - it's important to consider newcomers to the series as we were all newcomers once - I recently was trying to get one of my friends to try Dragon Age and it was actually very difficult to explain the setting and lore. And we need newcomers coming in too.
New comers are indeed important, but there does come a time when they have to do their own homework and not have their hands held, wouldn't you agree?
If someone chooses to jump into a franchise right in the third or forth installment, they should accept the risks that come with that choice. It's no one's fault but their own if they get confused by previous world building that they have no knowledge of. If they care enough, they'll either pick up the previous games or go on a Wikipedia binge (or watch some Let's Plays).
In terms of, well, ... the terms, Qunari are mentioned so many times in the games before Qarinus that it's drummed into your mind that they are a race (you have Qunari companions in DAO and DAI who infodump at almost the drop of a hat, and they also play a prominent role in DA2). If you don't really read the codex, the first time you hear about Qarinus might be from Dorian, and by that time you are already familiar enough with the term "Qunari" to know which one is a race and which one is a city. You just need to pay a little bit of attention and your brain does the rest.
And in case I need to specify this, I've read the novels exactly once, never read any of the comics, haven't played DAO or DA2 since before DAI came out and haven't played DAI for about 2 - 2.5 years. I even forgot Qarinus existed until the tweet mentioned it but I remembered it was a city because I paid attention during the games. Sometimes, that's all you need to do, pay attention, and your brain does the rest.
I would argue the issue isn't from what currently is there but may have came up in future content, say for example a game, which may have had both the city and Qunari featuring promently, hence people with zero Dragon Age knowledge who were used to test said content were getting confused. If the Qunari and Qarinus are introduced at similar time, it would not be unreasonable to be confused. Why do I think this? Cus they would have had to get the feedback from somewhere, and it wasn't enough of a problem for them to change it in previous comics or DAI, and I haven't seen any feedback since those games/comics being released of it being an issue - which means it became an issue somewhere else. And it is unreasonable to blame people for being confused when they are new cus it wasn't confusingly featured in previous content which they would never have encountered - expecting new players to have played all the previous entries in the series not to be confused is actually a terrible way of getting newcommers on to a series - even worse if you include they have to look at all the ancillary material as well.
So summing up my points, can we not at least be happy that DA4 may have got to the stage were they are testing content for feedback? And that the Qunari/Qarinus are likely featured? Glass half full people!!
Right!? We have something! (other than 'Varric's' book next month)
....Though I can't help to be amused by choice of name for the main character: Olivia PRYDE? Gosh, I have to admire just how brazenly unsubtle Bioware can be sometimes
TBH... my first thought ran to Kitty Pryde (from the X-Men).
Fun tip: John Byrne named the character after an acquaintance he went to art school with. At first the real Kitty was flattered, but eventually got so sick of X-fans hounding her that she changed her name .
Last Edit: Jun 30, 2018 15:13:37 GMT by Walter Black
First I was "Qarinus and Qunari don't sound alike at all", but thinking about it, I can see how it could be confusing for people.
Let me give you an example. Where I live there are two cities with a nearly identical name, Dietikon and Dietlikon. It's only one letter difference and many many people confuse their names. Hell, even I have always to check "Do you mean Dietikon, or Dietlikon?", so it's not like it only happens to people who are not familiar with both cities.
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
If it makes the DA universe more accessible to more people (who then won't be confused by a horned race/religion and a city) then I have no problems with the name change.
That said I'm very hyped for the new comic and can't wait for them to announce the Trade.
Greed is neither good, nor bad. Everybody wants something they don't have
New comers are indeed important, but there does come a time when they have to do their own homework and not have their hands held, wouldn't you agree?
If someone chooses to jump into a franchise right in the third or forth installment, they should accept the risks that come with that choice. It's no one's fault but their own if they get confused by previous world building that they have no knowledge of. If they care enough, they'll either pick up the previous games or go on a Wikipedia binge (or watch some Let's Plays).
In terms of, well, ... the terms, Qunari are mentioned so many times in the games before Qarinus that it's drummed into your mind that they are a race (you have Qunari companions in DAO and DAI who infodump at almost the drop of a hat, and they also play a prominent role in DA2). If you don't really read the codex, the first time you hear about Qarinus might be from Dorian, and by that time you are already familiar enough with the term "Qunari" to know which one is a race and which one is a city. You just need to pay a little bit of attention and your brain does the rest.
And in case I need to specify this, I've read the novels exactly once, never read any of the comics, haven't played DAO or DA2 since before DAI came out and haven't played DAI for about 2 - 2.5 years. I even forgot Qarinus existed until the tweet mentioned it but I remembered it was a city because I paid attention during the games. Sometimes, that's all you need to do, pay attention, and your brain does the rest.
I would argue the issue isn't from what currently is there but may have came up in future content, say for example a game, which may have had both the city and Qunari featuring promently, hence people with zero Dragon Age knowledge who were used to test said content were getting confused. If the Qunari and Qarinus are introduced at similar time, it would not be unreasonable to be confused. Why do I think this? Cus they would have had to get the feedback from somewhere, and it wasn't enough of a problem for them to change it in previous comics or DAI, and I haven't seen any feedback since those games/comics being released of it being an issue - which means it became an issue somewhere else. And it is unreasonable to blame people for being confused when they are new cus it wasn't confusingly featured in previous content which they would never have encountered - expecting new players to have played all the previous entries in the series not to be confused is actually a terrible way of getting newcommers on to a series - even worse if you include they have to look at all the ancillary material as well.
So summing up my points, can we not at least be happy that DA4 may have got to the stage were they are testing content for feedback? And that the Qunari/Qarinus are likely featured? Glass half full people!!
I never said it was unreasonable of people with zero knowledge of the franchise to not be confused when introduced for the first time to something that would require more background knowledge, on the contrary, I expect that to happen. My point is that they should expect it, as well, and not be surprised when it happens; the devs, too. Of course you'll confuse Qunari and Qarinus if you've never heard the terms before and they're introduced at the same time.
If you don't want to force your newcomers to do homework from previous games, there could still be a better solution than retconning something that's already been there for a number of publications and across other media. While newcomers will be confused, your already existing audience won't be - a balance should be struck between them.
The work is already done in previous games by establishing the Qunari before introducing Qarinus. A recreation of that process for those who haven't gone through those games, on a smaller scale this time, gradually introducing both terms and making the distinction between them clear, should be perfect - on the one hand, you establish each term in due time for your new audience, on the other hand you remind your preexisting audience of the distinction.
Honestly, I'm not arguing the change itself but rather the reason for it and the way they went about it. The process I mentioned above is nothing genius, basic writing technique and I'm sure the writers already thought of it. I watched a Let's Play of God of War recently and, while characters mentioned Niflheim, Vanaheim, and Muspelheim so many times I lost count and those names were written on the map in big,easy to read letters and in lore you pick up around the game, the guy doing the Let's Play never pronounced them right - he always said "Niphelim", "Vanheim" and "Musphelim". Sometimes, feedback from confused people is confused in itself.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust Life's a b***h and beer's a must
If they suddenly changed the name of Skyhold or Haven or Val Royeaux or Minrathous or of an important character I'd understand being so worked up about it... but we're talking about a city that we only really just heard about a number of times. Cities change names sometimes and both their names can be used interchangeably for years to come - it just happens, IRL too, as it was already pointed out multiple times. So if there's one thing to retcon a name for it would be changing a city or town name. And considering that Tevinter is in years-long conflict with Qunari, changing a city name to commemorate a significant victory is a good enough in-story reason for it.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
So summing up my points, can we not at least be happy that DA4 may have got to the stage were they are testing content for feedback? And that the Qunari/Qarinus are likely featured? Glass half full people!!
If that is the case then I agree it is a positive sign. Also it does seem to indicate that the city is going to play a prominent part in the next game. Bearing in mind its strategic location I always thought that it would likely be involved seeing as the Qunari were said to have launched a fresh assault on mainland Tevinter and the eastern side would be most at risk of invasion. So if it is important enough to the plot that new people might be confused by the name that is good news.
So summing up my points, can we not at least be happy that DA4 may have got to the stage were they are testing content for feedback? And that the Qunari/Qarinus are likely featured? Glass half full people!!
If that is the case then I agree it is a positive sign. Also it does seem to indicate that the city is going to play a prominent part in the next game. Bearing in mind its strategic location I always thought that it would likely be involved seeing as the Qunari were said to have launched a fresh assault on mainland Tevinter and the eastern side would be most at risk of invasion. So if it is important enough to the plot that new people might be confused by the name that is good news.
Yeah, I defo would be happy if we do see it in the next game, specially as Dorian and Maevaris would likely show up And I'm kind of hoping that if there's confusion coming up between Qunari/Qarinus that maybe that's cus the Qunari invasion is happening there?? And we get to see it!! I'm hoping, though I could just be excitable about anything DA related
First I was "Qarinus and Qunari don't sound alike at all", but thinking about it, I can see how it could be confusing for people.
Let me give you an example. Where I live there are two cities with a nearly identical name, Dietikon and Dietlikon. It's only one letter difference and many many people confuse their names. Hell, even I have always to check "Do you mean Dietikon, or Dietlikon?", so it's not like it only happens to people who are not familiar with both cities.
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
If it makes the DA universe more accessible to more people (who then won't be confused by a horned race/religion and a city) then I have no problems with the name change.
That said I'm very hyped for the new comic and can't wait for them to announce the Trade.
Yeah, but there's one letter between DIETIKON and DIETLIKON, Gilli. Of course that confuses people.
"Qunari" and "Qarinus" don't even the same phonetically. Sound it out: KAR-RIN-US. KOO-NARR-EEE. And they replaced it with the incredibly lazy "Ventus."
I mean, did they Keyser Soze that shit from objects around the writer's pit?
"Let's see ... Table, Chair, Varric Statue, old copy of Edmonton Journal, Wall, Another Wall, Ceiling, Air Vent ... VENTUS! That's fucking perfect! Now to resume drinking."
First I was "Qarinus and Qunari don't sound alike at all", but thinking about it, I can see how it could be confusing for people.
Let me give you an example. Where I live there are two cities with a nearly identical name, Dietikon and Dietlikon. It's only one letter difference and many many people confuse their names. Hell, even I have always to check "Do you mean Dietikon, or Dietlikon?", so it's not like it only happens to people who are not familiar with both cities.
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
If it makes the DA universe more accessible to more people (who then won't be confused by a horned race/religion and a city) then I have no problems with the name change.
That said I'm very hyped for the new comic and can't wait for them to announce the Trade.
Yeah, but there's one letter between DIETIKON and DIETLIKON, Gilli. Of course that confuses people.
"Qunari" and "Qarinus" don't even the same phonetically. Sound it out: KAR-RIN-US. KOO-NARR-EEE. And they replaced it with the incredibly lazy "Ventus."
BLECH, I say. BLECH!
Not to mention, they are totally different things, not two of the same type of thing. People also confuse Qunari with qunari. Why not change one of them? They at least sound identical.
First I was "Qarinus and Qunari don't sound alike at all", but thinking about it, I can see how it could be confusing for people.
Let me give you an example. Where I live there are two cities with a nearly identical name, Dietikon and Dietlikon. It's only one letter difference and many many people confuse their names. Hell, even I have always to check "Do you mean Dietikon, or Dietlikon?", so it's not like it only happens to people who are not familiar with both cities.
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
If it makes the DA universe more accessible to more people (who then won't be confused by a horned race/religion and a city) then I have no problems with the name change.
That said I'm very hyped for the new comic and can't wait for them to announce the Trade.
Yeah, but there's one letter between DIETIKON and DIETLIKON, Gilli. Of course that confuses people.
"Qunari" and "Qarinus" don't even the same phonetically. Sound it out: KAR-RIN-US. KOO-NARR-EEE. And they replaced it with the incredibly lazy "Ventus."
I mean, did somebody have a bad hangover and have to Keyser Soze that shit from objects around the writer's pit?
"Let's see ... Table, Chair, Varric Statue, old copy of Edmonton Journal, Wall, Another Wall, Ceiling, Air Vent ... VENTUS! That's fucking perfect! Now to resume drinking."
BLECH, I say. BLECH!
Or because it's along the Ventosus strait so they named it after that - which of course you know, as you pointed out earliar it's such an important part of lore, we all know everything about Qarinus, it's certainly not something that's only been mentioned a couple times in passing in one of the games.....
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, SWTOR, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
First I was "Qarinus and Qunari don't sound alike at all", but thinking about it, I can see how it could be confusing for people.
Let me give you an example. Where I live there are two cities with a nearly identical name, Dietikon and Dietlikon. It's only one letter difference and many many people confuse their names. Hell, even I have always to check "Do you mean Dietikon, or Dietlikon?", so it's not like it only happens to people who are not familiar with both cities.
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
If it makes the DA universe more accessible to more people (who then won't be confused by a horned race/religion and a city) then I have no problems with the name change.
That said I'm very hyped for the new comic and can't wait for them to announce the Trade.
Yeah, but there's one letter between DIETIKON and DIETLIKON, Gilli. Of course that confuses people.
"Qunari" and "Qarinus" don't even the same phonetically. Sound it out: KAR-RIN-US. KOO-NARR-EEE. And they replaced it with the incredibly lazy "Ventus."
BLECH, I say. BLECH!
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Dorian mention the place somewhere in DA:I and pronounced it as " KWA-RIN-US " ?
As for the name change, I'm sure either Bioware and/or veteran and/or lore-finnicky players can find a good canon reason for the name change ?
" The Senate reconvened in the winter and out of pride some asshat magister(s) decided to petition the rest of said Senate to rename the city of Qarinus because if you jumble the letters it reads Qunaris, which contains the name of their most hated enemy and this will simple not do. The motion is carried unopposed and magisters can now offer a replacement name in the hat of the Black Divine; who will draw a new one at the end of the week. "
Sounds completely lame but that's all I got after getting up at unholy hours in the morning and working late...
Pompey: He sits alone in Ravenna with one mutinous skeleton of a legion and he dares to dictate terms to me!?. Mark Antony : Caesar has many more legions than the Thirteenth. Scipio: Yes, on the far side of the Alps. Mark Antony: Winter does not last forever. Spring comes. Snows melt. Scipio: That is a threat! Mark Antony : No, I assure you, that is no threat. Snows always melt.
Okay, I think trying to make mountains out of molehills has carried on long enough in the Twitter Thread. We have a thread here if you want to carry on with this discussion: bsn.boards.net/thread/15233/new-comic-dragon-age-deception
Yeah, but there's one letter between DIETIKON and DIETLIKON, Gilli. Of course that confuses people.
"Qunari" and "Qarinus" don't even the same phonetically. Sound it out: KAR-RIN-US. KOO-NARR-EEE. And they replaced it with the incredibly lazy "Ventus."
BLECH, I say. BLECH!
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Dorian mention the place somewhere in DA:I and pronounced it as " KWA-RIN-US " ?
As for the name change, I'm sure either Bioware and/or veteran and/or lore-finnicky players can find a good canon reason for the name change ?
" The Senate reconvened in the winter and out of pride some asshat magister(s) decided to petition the rest of said Senate to rename the city of Qarinus because if you jumble the letters it reads Qunaris, which contains the name of their most hated enemy and this will simple not do. The motion is carried unopposed and magisters can now offer a replacement name in the hat of the Black Divine; who will draw a new one at the end of the week. "
Sounds completely lame but that's all I got after getting up at unholy hours in the morning and working late...
The hilarious thing is thing is they've already made a new lore reason - there was a momentus victory against the Qunari on the Ventosus Straits which is where Qarinus is located so in honor of that they decided to rename the city.
Edit: Sorry Hrungr, didn't see your post til after I already posted!
First I was "Qarinus and Qunari don't sound alike at all", but thinking about it, I can see how it could be confusing for people.
Let me give you an example. Where I live there are two cities with a nearly identical name, Dietikon and Dietlikon. It's only one letter difference and many many people confuse their names. Hell, even I have always to check "Do you mean Dietikon, or Dietlikon?", so it's not like it only happens to people who are not familiar with both cities.
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
If it makes the DA universe more accessible to more people (who then won't be confused by a horned race/religion and a city) then I have no problems with the name change.
That said I'm very hyped for the new comic and can't wait for them to announce the Trade.
Nice to see a fellow Swiss here.
Also, it's funny how I fit the other example brought up in another post recently - born in Leningrad, in a city and country that doesn't exist anymore.
I'm just happy there's something happening with the franchise, perhaps leading up to a first reveal next year. Also, finally a chance to have a better look at Tevinter crimes of fashion!
I wonder how this comic and Alexis Kennedy's hint at the dark lore piece he worked on will tie together. This Calix guy seems shady.
Btw has it been confirmed the comic is playing out in the future? Perhaps the name change comes from Qarinus being called Ventus for a couple of decades in the past, similar to how St. Petersburg returned to its original name?
Edit: Sorry, only saw Hrungr's post now! Please move my post to th appropriate thread.
Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Dorian mention the place somewhere in DA:I and pronounced it as " KWA-RIN-US "
Just commenting on this one thing, not the subject at large.
Dorian also says his signature "amatus" four different ways (including DLC), so... (that's an issue with voice direction and note-keeping, not the character).
I'm honestly not sure if Dorian says it in game, but Fenris does in DA2.
Mountains. Cold. "Let's bring Dorian!" It's good to be Champion!
Mark Darrah @biomarkdarrah So reasons why we may not answer your question:
9. A new one. The question is too specific but in a way that is so off base that it is unanswerable. Example: “when you create a dwarf in Mass Effect, at what point in their origin, does their beard grow in?”
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Jade Empire, Mass Effect Andromeda, Anthem, Dragon Age The Veilguard Posts: 1,701 Likes: 4,743
One day, the magic will come back. All of it. Everyone will be just like they were. The shadows will part, and the skies will open wide. When he rises, everyone will see. -Sandal Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a world to save. Again. -Inquisitor
Mark's brain is probably overheating from all the responses he's sent on his Twitter But it seems to me that he has accumulated a lot of player community's good faith thanks to his efforts.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
. 
<-- even Google got confused when I was looking for the Dietikon sign and gave me first the Dietlikon sign.
And I'm kind of hoping that if there's confusion coming up between Qunari/Qarinus that maybe that's cus the Qunari invasion is happening there?? And we get to see it!! I'm hoping, though I could just be excitable about anything DA related 
We have a thread here if you want to carry on with this discussion: 
