next game we play as an agent of solas. we can only play as an elf.
It would actually be quite interesting. Expecially if is made in a way that we actually learn as players we are working for Solas much later in the game...it would be actually fun!
One could argue that this sorta-kinda happened in Inquisition Heck, Inquisitor him/herself mentions that in Trespasser and Viddassala was convinced that they indeed did.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
To be fair, whoever could have guessed Hugh Mann would turn out to be the traitor in our midst?
I know for one thing, I won't make that mistake again!
From now on, all top secret plans remain strictly between me and my good friend, Ari Shok.
"Hugh Mann" Oh, God. I'm dead.
Haha imagine an ancient elf getting asked for their name, panicking, and blurting out that they’re “Dalish”.
But lucky for them, the Qunari they’re spying on totally rolls with it, and assumes all their references to old elven tricks and bows that look like staves are jokes.
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Haha imagine an ancient elf getting asked for their name, panicking, and blurting out that they’re “Dalish”.
But lucky for them, the Qunari they’re spying on totally rolls with it, and assumes all their references to old elven tricks and bows that look like staves are jokes.
lol That'd be a great twist, honestly. Although I think Dalish has switched loyalties at this point. I'm more worried about that one elf in Sutherland's crew.
next game we play as an agent of solas. we can only play as an elf.
It would actually be quite interesting. Expecially if is made in a way that we actually learn as players we are working for Solas much later in the game...it would be actually fun!
I feel like we already did that narrative. I would rather play as the elf who INFILTRATES Solas’ organization on behalf of the Inquisitor. That would be fun!
Do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands.
It would actually be quite interesting. Expecially if is made in a way that we actually learn as players we are working for Solas much later in the game...it would be actually fun!
I feel like we already did that narrative. I would rather play as the elf who INFILTRATES Solas’ organization on behalf of the Inquisitor. That would be fun!
What if the spy belongs to neither? There might be some other faction we at least begin to play with.
(whispers: Executorsssss.....)
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
tbh I'd rather that we play as neither the Inquisition or Solas' agents. Partially because I imagine that the Qunari vs. Tevinter will be the "big" conflict of the game, with the fight against Solas being more a shadow war type thing. Open warfare isn't really Solas' style (His lecture to Sera is straight-up guerilla tactics.) he has very little to gain with it (His enemy is the fabric of reality itself, not a nation or an organization.) and honestly he probably doesn't have the resources to support it very well. His forces likely consist of a bunch of ragtag elven peasents, surrounding a core of ancient elves and spirits. Their numbers are probably smaller than a proper army, and few if any of them will have actual training. Sending them into a fight would be a last-ditch effort. They're way more useful as spies and saboteurs than soldiers.
But spies and saboteurs aren't quite as flashy, and they certainly don't lend themselves well to sweeping setpiece battles. So I imagine that the main "thing" in DA4 will be the war between Tevinter and the Qunari, with Solas taking advantage of the chaos and distraction to move undetected. We'll spend a lot of time focusing on the big spectacle, hearing the occasional background whisper of these plucky elven rebels who led by some Fen Harold dude or whatever. Then, as the game moves into the second act, and the protagonist is brought into the fold, that's when we start fighting Solas directly, back dropped against the war unfolding in Tevinter.
Or that's how I'd go about it, anyway. I feel the story of how the protagonist gets folded into the Inquisition would be a bit more interesting than just starting out there. But obviously I don't know what the writers are up to.
tbh I'd rather that we play as neither the Inquisition or Solas' agents. Partially because I imagine that the Qunari vs. Tevinter will be the "big" conflict of the game, with the fight against Solas being more a shadow war type thing. Open warfare isn't really Solas' style (His lecture to Sera is straight-up guerilla tactics.) he has very little to gain with it (His enemy is the fabric of reality itself, not a nation or an organization.) and honestly he probably doesn't have the resources to support it very well. His forces likely consist of a bunch of ragtag elven peasents, surrounding a core of ancient elves and spirits. Their numbers are probably smaller than a proper army, and few if any of them will have actual training. Sending them into a fight would be a last-ditch effort. They're way more useful as spies and saboteurs than soldiers.
But spies and saboteurs aren't quite as flashy, and they certainly don't lend themselves well to sweeping setpiece battles. So I imagine that the main "thing" in DA4 will be the war between Tevinter and the Qunari, with Solas taking advantage of the chaos and distraction to move undetected. We'll spend a lot of time focusing on the big spectacle, hearing the occasional background whisper of these plucky elven rebels who led by some Fen Harold dude or whatever. Then, as the game moves into the second act, and the protagonist is brought into the fold, that's when we start fighting Solas directly, back dropped against the war unfolding in Tevinter.
Or that's how I'd go about it, anyway. I feel the story of how the protagonist gets folded into the Inquisition would be a bit more interesting than just starting out there. But obviously I don't know what the writers are up to.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if we don't actually even really start fighting Solas until Act 3 of the game....assuming it follows a three act structure.
Act 1: Will start small with small motivations somehow, the protagonist might meet Solas, might meet the Inquisition, but things will be pretty low key. Maybe their family is murdered, maybe they are a soldier returning from Sehorn who feels guilty and wants to start making a difference in the world, maybe they are just a courier or random dude. The Qunari attack though and the game opens up. Act 2: The protagonist starts searching for help to help defeat the Qunari and drive them from their city. They likely will run into the Tevinter resistance and meet and interact with a lot of the characters of the game. Towards the end of Act 2 Solas's plan becomes apparent to them as does the corruption within Tevinter. Act 3: The war really heats up as the set up from Acts 1 and 2 has to be paid off.
My only real problem with my imagining where they are going with the story is its pretty human centric so far, I have no idea how they will account for the other big race options but that is pretty much my thoughts on where the story will go...of course I could easily be wrong.
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I wouldn't be surprised at all if we don't actually even really start fighting Solas until Act 3 of the game....assuming it follows a three act structure.
Act 1: Will start small with small motivations somehow, the protagonist might meet Solas, might meet the Inquisition, but things will be pretty low key. Maybe their family is murdered, maybe they are a soldier returning from Sehorn who feels guilty and wants to start making a difference in the world, maybe they are just a courier or random dude. The Qunari attack though and the game opens up. Act 2: The protagonist starts searching for help to help defeat the Qunari and drive them from their city. They likely will run into the Tevinter resistance and meet and interact with a lot of the characters of the game. Towards the end of Act 2 Solas's plan becomes apparent to them as does the corruption within Tevinter. Act 3: The war really heats up as the set up from Acts 1 and 2 has to be paid off.
My only real problem with my imagining where they are going with the story is its pretty human centric so far, I have no idea how they will account for the other big race options but that is pretty much my thoughts on where the story will go...of course I could easily be wrong.
Ooooh, yes. I can see this. I'd love to start out playing a neutral party. Obviously by the end we'll have to side against Solas (Although not necessarily with the Inquisition) but a villain like him really presents a unique opportunity. Part of the tragedy with Solas is that his ideals... aren't really bad ones. He champions freedom for all thinking creatures. He hates slavery, hates the Qun, hates the oppression of mages. And he's very willing to kill two birds with one stone - hell, that's essentially what Trespasser was. Sure, he was clearing an invading force out of the Eluvians, which is obviously beneficial to him. But he helped foil the Qunari plot while he was at it - something that, as the Inquisitor can point, wasn't anything he needed to trouble with. And in DA4, that can manifest as being helpful in the little side-quests, even as he grows steadily more antagonistic in the main plot. Maybe in the beginning he lends his aid to the protagonist's efforts to free slaves, defend an alienage, fight off the Qun, whatever. And as the game goes on, that seemingly innocuous relationship sours into true opposition as we learn of his larger goals, the means he will use to achieve them. He could be an ally to the DA4 protagonist in small matters even as it becomes clear that we must necessarily oppose him in larger ones.
If there's anything I desperately, desperately want from DA4, it's that they don't simply use Solas to rehash Corypheus. Cory was the villain from the get-go, in all things. He opposes the Inquisitor every step of the way. Solas doesn't have to be like that. He can be a friend, at first, but still end up as the final enemy. It's such an interesting shade of gray, and it'd give nuance to the conflict even for players who never touched Inquisition, never saw the history with him.
As for the human-centric thing: Tevinter sounds like a very cosmopolitan place, what with "free" elves like Varania, dwarves from Kal-Sharok, Tal-Vashoth who want nothing to do with the Qun, so on and so forth. I feel like it'd be easy to justify a human and a non-human being in the same spot, especially if that spot is low in both finances and social status. The bigger issue would come from people who want to play a Dalish, or non-surface dwarves, or something like that. If DA4 even allows multiple races, I feel like they'd still be constrained to city-bound origins and cultures.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if we don't actually even really start fighting Solas until Act 3 of the game....assuming it follows a three act structure.
Act 1: Will start small with small motivations somehow, the protagonist might meet Solas, might meet the Inquisition, but things will be pretty low key. Maybe their family is murdered, maybe they are a soldier returning from Sehorn who feels guilty and wants to start making a difference in the world, maybe they are just a courier or random dude. The Qunari attack though and the game opens up. Act 2: The protagonist starts searching for help to help defeat the Qunari and drive them from their city. They likely will run into the Tevinter resistance and meet and interact with a lot of the characters of the game. Towards the end of Act 2 Solas's plan becomes apparent to them as does the corruption within Tevinter. Act 3: The war really heats up as the set up from Acts 1 and 2 has to be paid off.
My only real problem with my imagining where they are going with the story is its pretty human centric so far, I have no idea how they will account for the other big race options but that is pretty much my thoughts on where the story will go...of course I could easily be wrong.
Ooooh, yes. I can see this. I'd love to start out playing a neutral party. Obviously by the end we'll have to side against Solas (Although not necessarily with the Inquisition) but a villain like him really presents a unique opportunity. Part of the tragedy with Solas is that his ideals... aren't really bad ones. He champions freedom for all thinking creatures. He hates slavery, hates the Qun, hates the oppression of mages. And he's very willing to kill two birds with one stone - hell, that's essentially what Trespasser was. Sure, he was clearing an invading force out of the Eluvians, which is obviously beneficial to him. But he helped foil the Qunari plot while he was at it - something that, as the Inquisitor can point, wasn't anything he needed to trouble with. And in DA4, that can manifest as being helpful in the little side-quests, even as he grows steadily more antagonistic in the main plot. Maybe in the beginning he lends his aid to the protagonist's efforts to free slaves, defend an alienage, fight off the Qun, whatever. And as the game goes on, that seemingly innocuous relationship sours into true opposition as we learn of his larger goals, the means he will use to achieve them. He could be an ally to the DA4 protagonist in small matters even as it becomes clear that we must necessarily oppose him in larger ones.
If there's anything I desperately, desperately want from DA4, it's that they don't simply use Solas to rehash Corypheus. Cory was the villain from the get-go, in all things. He opposes the Inquisitor every step of the way. Solas doesn't have to be like that. He can be a friend, at first, but still end up as the final enemy. It's such an interesting shade of gray, and it'd give nuance to the conflict even for players who never touched Inquisition, never saw the history with him.
As for the human-centric thing: Tevinter sounds like a very cosmopolitan place, what with "free" elves like Varania, dwarves from Kal-Sharok, Tal-Vashoth who want nothing to do with the Qun, so on and so forth. I feel like it'd be easy to justify a human and a non-human being in the same spot, especially if that spot is low in both finances and social status. The bigger issue would come from people who want to play a Dalish, or non-surface dwarves, or something like that. If DA4 even allows multiple races, I feel like they'd still be constrained to city-bound origins and cultures.
Pretty much.
Honestly as far as the 'human origin' is concerned what I would love and think it would be interesting is if we get another 'human noble' background no matter what. That you are a part of one of the notable Mage families ruling the city you are a part of. BUT if you wanna play as a rogue or a warrior you can be a non mage part of that family. Which...I imagine can be a thing. You know, have a squib. We have never run into the concept in Dragon Age yet but it would be a really fascinating prism to view the Imperium from and ripe for so much RP.
Patreon (for my writing, posting chapters of my novel)
There are no spies in your midst. YOU are the spy!!
Having our protagonist discover they've been a brainwashed sleeper agent for the Qunari/Executors the entire time would be a fun twist, sort of a mixture of Revan, Bioshock 1 and the Manchurian Candidate. Perhaps part of the plot would involve figuring out how to break free from our programming, as well as learning more about our mission and who sent us?
(Would you kindly?)
"So... care to explain your particular brand of crazy?" - Snarky Hawke
John Epler @eplerjc Folks, I can't really speak of potential features or -anything-, really, for the next DA. I'm not ignoring you, I just can't answer your questions with anything more than
John Epler @eplerjc Saying 'all art is political' does not mean that everything is analogous to specific real world politics. It means the art you create, and how you create it, are both shaped by the world you inhabit and your interactions with it - and it feeds back into that world, shaping it.
Acknowledging that means you can be aware of your own biases and experiences, and how they impact what you create. The only way to be apolitical is to not create anything.
There have been some people jumping into my mentions, with various levels of good faith, worried about what I meant by that statement.
Every single person brings their own politics into their creations. I believe in the redemptive power of friendship and companionship, and that family is more than blood. If these are objectionable views, so be it, but they have always been part of DA.
To expand a little more - I've had people see my 'DA is about the power of friendship, and that family is more than blood' as me missing the point of DA. But each DA has been about those things at the core. DAO, your origin ended with you cut off from the family you knew (1/?)
The Wardens became your new home. And when Duncan, your adoptive father, was killed, it was about you pulling together to face the Blight, allying with outcasts and other 'orphans' (Oghren, Zevran, Alistair, Morrigan) to do it.
DA2 - your sibling dies immediately. You lose your other one at the end of Act 1, and your mother not long after. Your actual family is gone - but you've built a new one out of those you've met along the way. And that's how you survived - how you became the Hero of Kirkwall.
DAI begins with you under threat of execution, someone with nowhere to run to. But when you form the Inquisition - they become your home. And you give a home to others - Iron Bull, who no longer knows where he belongs. Blackwall, running from a dark past.
Among others! Because no matter the threat you face, no matter what you're gearing up to go after - you're doing it with the family you've built, not the one you were born into.
That's not even getting into the much more up front and obvious politics - Elves, Mages, Dwarven castes, drug addiction, slavery. That's why it's really weird to me to see people react so -aggressively- to what I'm saying.
John Epler @eplerjc What I will also say is that I've been trying to shamelessly rip off the T2 Miles Dyson death scene since DA2 and I certainly hope I'll have an opportunity to do so -this- time.
This never went past the 'throw shit at a wall' phase, but that's how I wanted Haven to get destroyed. Particularly for the 'Corypheus purposefully strides in, sees lyrium everywhere, sees a wounded Ser Roderick with the detonator, and dies like the Mayor in Buffy'.
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Particularly for the 'Corypheus purposefully strides in, sees lyrium everywhere, sees a wounded Ser Roderick with the detonator, and dies like the Mayor in Buffy'.
If that bint ruins our honeymoon, I will wear her Qun for a boot! Let's wrap it up, love.
John Epler @eplerjc Saying 'all art is political' does not mean that everything is analogous to specific real world politics. It means the art you create, and how you create it, are both shaped by the world you inhabit and your interactions with it - and it feeds back into that world, shaping it.
Acknowledging that means you can be aware of your own biases and experiences, and how they impact what you create. The only way to be apolitical is to not create anything.
There have been some people jumping into my mentions, with various levels of good faith, worried about what I meant by that statement.
Every single person brings their own politics into their creations. I believe in the redemptive power of friendship and companionship, and that family is more than blood. If these are objectionable views, so be it, but they have always been part of DA.
To expand a little more - I've had people see my 'DA is about the power of friendship, and that family is more than blood' as me missing the point of DA. But each DA has been about those things at the core. DAO, your origin ended with you cut off from the family you knew (1/?)
The Wardens became your new home. And when Duncan, your adoptive father, was killed, it was about you pulling together to face the Blight, allying with outcasts and other 'orphans' (Oghren, Zevran, Alistair, Morrigan) to do it.
DA2 - your sibling dies immediately. You lose your other one at the end of Act 1, and your mother not long after. Your actual family is gone - but you've built a new one out of those you've met along the way. And that's how you survived - how you became the Hero of Kirkwall.
DAI begins with you under threat of execution, someone with nowhere to run to. But when you form the Inquisition - they become your home. And you give a home to others - Iron Bull, who no longer knows where he belongs. Blackwall, running from a dark past.
Among others! Because no matter the threat you face, no matter what you're gearing up to go after - you're doing it with the family you've built, not the one you were born into.
That's not even getting into the much more up front and obvious politics - Elves, Mages, Dwarven castes, drug addiction, slavery. That's why it's really weird to me to see people react so -aggressively- to what I'm saying.
I knew there was a reason I liked Dragon Age so much.
Last Edit: Dec 15, 2018 21:30:07 GMT by midnight tea
Patreon (for my writing, posting chapters of my novel)
John Epler @eplerjc More succinctly, even - my favourite game of all time is Earthbound. It is about how love and hope can overcome evil. Everything I've built, every creative decision I make, comes from that base. And everyone - no matter who they are - deserves to see themselves in that story.
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John Epler @eplerjc Saying 'all art is political' does not mean that everything is analogous to specific real world politics. It means the art you create, and how you create it, are both shaped by the world you inhabit and your interactions with it - and it feeds back into that world, shaping it.
Acknowledging that means you can be aware of your own biases and experiences, and how they impact what you create. The only way to be apolitical is to not create anything.
There have been some people jumping into my mentions, with various levels of good faith, worried about what I meant by that statement.
Every single person brings their own politics into their creations. I believe in the redemptive power of friendship and companionship, and that family is more than blood. If these are objectionable views, so be it, but they have always been part of DA.
To expand a little more - I've had people see my 'DA is about the power of friendship, and that family is more than blood' as me missing the point of DA. But each DA has been about those things at the core. DAO, your origin ended with you cut off from the family you knew (1/?)
The Wardens became your new home. And when Duncan, your adoptive father, was killed, it was about you pulling together to face the Blight, allying with outcasts and other 'orphans' (Oghren, Zevran, Alistair, Morrigan) to do it.
DA2 - your sibling dies immediately. You lose your other one at the end of Act 1, and your mother not long after. Your actual family is gone - but you've built a new one out of those you've met along the way. And that's how you survived - how you became the Hero of Kirkwall.
DAI begins with you under threat of execution, someone with nowhere to run to. But when you form the Inquisition - they become your home. And you give a home to others - Iron Bull, who no longer knows where he belongs. Blackwall, running from a dark past.
Among others! Because no matter the threat you face, no matter what you're gearing up to go after - you're doing it with the family you've built, not the one you were born into.
That's not even getting into the much more up front and obvious politics - Elves, Mages, Dwarven castes, drug addiction, slavery. That's why it's really weird to me to see people react so -aggressively- to what I'm saying.
I knew there was a reason I liked Dragon Age so much.
Yeah. Definitely think DA2 has showcased the found family theme the best so far. Its still my favorite cast for that reason.
I think Epler is running into a bit of trouble and getting more responses than he expected cus he said politics, when he means something that isn't what people typically mean when they say they're being political. When they say politics, they mean pro/anti-gay, pro/anti-death penalty, etc. "Should friendship win the day?" isn't the question most think of.
Last Edit: Dec 15, 2018 21:28:02 GMT by midnight tea
I think Epler is running into a bit of trouble and getting more responses than he expected cus he said politics, when he means something that isn't what people typically mean when they say they're being political. When they say politics, they mean pro/anti-gay, pro/anti-death penalty, etc. "Should friendship win the day?" isn't the question most think of.
I think the issue is that being "pro-gay" is a part of that "should friendship win the day?" narrative. Inclusion and empathy, having friends that support you and become your family when those you're related to by blood let you down, etc. It's as much of a good vs. evil narrative as anything else. And suddenly you've got artists and creators accused of "being political" when they're really just.... writing stories about hope.
If that bint ruins our honeymoon, I will wear her Qun for a boot! Let's wrap it up, love.
I knew there was a reason I liked Dragon Age so much.
Yeah. Definitely think DA2 has showcased the found family theme the best so far. Its still my favorite cast for that reason.
I think Epler is running into a bit of trouble and getting more responses than he expected cus he said politics, when he means something that isn't what people typically mean when they say they're being political. When they say politics, they mean pro/anti-gay, pro/anti-death penalty, etc. "Should friendship win the day?" isn't the question most think of.
with me its Inquisition but then that's probably only because of my own familial issues and that I made that apart of my Inquisitors back story. So the Inquisition was literally her family.
Patreon (for my writing, posting chapters of my novel)
John Epler @eplerjc More succinctly, even - my favourite game of all time is Earthbound. It is about how love and hope can overcome evil. Everything I've built, every creative decision I make, comes from that base. And everyone - no matter who they are - deserves to see themselves in that story.
this gives me so much hope for Solas and Levellan
...ugh, i'm going to get squashed aren't i? here's to hoping for the best!
Last Edit: Dec 15, 2018 21:27:36 GMT by midnight tea
does this chain mail have a forward link?
LOST DOG responds to Solas/Fen'harel/you bastard if found,return to Inquisitor Levellan immediately
Particularly for the 'Corypheus purposefully strides in, sees lyrium everywhere, sees a wounded Ser Roderick with the detonator, and dies like the Mayor in Buffy'.
Hearing Corypheus utter "Well, gosh" before exploding would have instantly redeemed him as a credible Big Bad.
John Epler @eplerjc Folks, I can't really speak of potential features or -anything-, really, for the next DA. I'm not ignoring you, I just can't answer your questions with anything more than
It’s better this way. Too many times developers have to cut features from the game in development or change it to something different (keep system). I hope this time around they’ll show things that won’t be cut later on.
John Epler @eplerjc More succinctly, even - my favourite game of all time is Earthbound. It is about how love and hope can overcome evil. Everything I've built, every creative decision I make, comes from that base. And everyone - no matter who they are - deserves to see themselves in that story.
this gives me so much hope for Solas and Levellan
...ugh, i'm going to get squashed aren't i? here's to hoping for the best!
I think there are many factors involved in that decision. Solas’ fate and path is strictly connected to the main plot and the future of the series, so who knows how they’ll approach it.
Anders’ fate was up to the players, although it was a smaller scale then Solas’ situation.
Last Edit: Dec 15, 2018 21:23:22 GMT by midnight tea
Post by Quinton O'Connor on Dec 10, 2018 10:56:12 GMT
The "found family" theme is quite possibly the most touching theme there is for me. I didn't grow up with any of my blood relations except my grandmother, and she passed away while I was still fairly young. My friends have been my family all my life, and when I find similar connections in fictional media there's just no stopping me from raving about it.
I deleted Twitter a while ago and never looked back, but I'm tempted to create an account again just to thank Epler.