58 réponses à ce sujet

[BallaZs]

Well, I care about both of them



I love in my character that I can shape his/her personality, customize his/her looks make it just exactly the way I want to.

I love the companions because, they usually have very intrestig personality (Morrigan, Sten) and it's just awesome to get known of them, their stories.

So I'd say that I care about companions better but I also like to make my own character.

[TheMadCat]

Wishpig wrote...

TheMadCat wrote...

The game IS the players character, companions are just pieces that help move the game along. The story, the game play, the major decisions, everything is centered around your character. So no, I care far less about companions then I do the main protagonist which is your character.

See my problem is... if I try to get behind the main character two things happen...

A. I select the very stereotypical responses. Good guy or bad guy. It creates a constant personality and set of responses, but it makes for a shallow character that just doesn't hold a torch to the depth (or humor) of many other bioware companions. For example, If I'm playing a goody-toe shoes paladin, I select all the corny honorble boy scout responses. And sense most bioware dialog trees have one or two responses like this, I get a constant personality and "voice." But I just can't care about such a flat character.

This is more a consequence of bad writing then anything else, and unfortunately it's been a trademark of BioWare for as long as I can remember. Always the super goody two shoes, the grudingly accepting netureal, or the jerk for the sake of being a jerk responses. Sadly though this effect is also seen in companions, who are almost always divided into clrealy defined ethnical positions.

B. I create a more realistic character in my mind and imagine. One of depth, one I can get behind and cheer for. Only with a limited of set responses, it's very hard to find a consistent "voice" for my main character. For example, I want my dwarf rogue to be a cold hearted jerk on the outside, but really have a heart of gold on the inside.  Not all dialog trees will mesh with this... I will not always have the right response. Thus my character doesn't feel like a solid character... and I can't care about them.

This also kind of falls under my reposnce to point A.

If you're talking from a purely emotional standpoint then I suppose I can see where you're coming from, even though pretty much all of BioWare's companions are just as bland in regards to the areas you just voiced. But from a much more broad perspective, what is the game without the player character. What was DA:O without the Warden or KoToR without Revan.

[Tooneyman]

TheMadCat wrote...

Wishpig wrote...

TheMadCat wrote...

The game IS the players character, companions are just pieces that help move the game along. The story, the game play, the major decisions, everything is centered around your character. So no, I care far less about companions then I do the main protagonist which is your character.

See my problem is... if I try to get behind the main character two things happen...

A. I select the very stereotypical responses. Good guy or bad guy. It creates a constant personality and set of responses, but it makes for a shallow character that just doesn't hold a torch to the depth (or humor) of many other bioware companions. For example, If I'm playing a goody-toe shoes paladin, I select all the corny honorble boy scout responses. And sense most bioware dialog trees have one or two responses like this, I get a constant personality and "voice." But I just can't care about such a flat character.

This is more a consequence of bad writing then anything else, and unfortunately it's been a trademark of BioWare for as long as I can remember. Always the super goody two shoes, the grudingly accepting netureal, or the jerk for the sake of being a jerk responses. Sadly though this effect is also seen in companions, who are almost always divided into clrealy defined ethnical positions.

B. I create a more realistic character in my mind and imagine. One of depth, one I can get behind and cheer for. Only with a limited of set responses, it's very hard to find a consistent "voice" for my main character. For example, I want my dwarf rogue to be a cold hearted jerk on the outside, but really have a heart of gold on the inside.  Not all dialog trees will mesh with this... I will not always have the right response. Thus my character doesn't feel like a solid character... and I can't care about them.

This also kind of falls under my reposnce to point A.

If you're talking from a purely emotional standpoint then I suppose I can see where you're coming from, even though pretty much all of BioWare's companions are just as bland in regards to the areas you just voiced. But from a much more broad perspective, what is the game without the player character. What was DA:O without the Warden or KoToR without Revan.

Ahh, stereotypical and racist. Hmm. Good stuff! MAkes for a perfect game!

[Cerberus Operative]

My character comes first, as if I cannot shape their interactions just the way I want, it diminishes the impact that any NPC's/companions have on my gameplay experience.

[Wishpig]

TheMadCat wrote...

This is more a consequence of bad writing then anything else, and unfortunately it's been a trademark of BioWare for as long as I can remember. Always the super goody two shoes, the grudingly accepting netureal, or the jerk for the sake of being a jerk responses. Sadly though this effect is also seen in companions, who are almost always divided into clrealy defined ethnical positions.

If you're talking from a purely emotional standpoint then I suppose I can see where you're coming from, even though pretty much all of BioWare's companions are just as bland in regards to the areas you just voiced. But from a much more broad perspective, what is the game without the player character. What was DA:O without the Warden or KoToR without Revan.

Now we're getting into opinion. If you think the companions are bland... well you and I are on two totally diffrent wave lengths. I love bioware's companions, and I think they have had far more gems then failures *cough* Carth *cough*. I think DA:O actually had the richest and most diverse cast to date.

Obviously you couldn't have DA:O w/o the Warden or KoToR without Revan... their the main characters. You can't have Twilight without Bella Swan *the main character* but she doesn't make twilight good... it SUCKS!

I say you can't have BG2, or DA:O, or Kotor without the rich cast of companions. Well you COULD have it, it just wouldn't be nearly as good.

For example, back when I was younger, I was a big Drizzit fan. But you know what? I HATED Drizzit! Hell, I hated most of the main characters. They were all flat, predictible, and lame as hell. But I loved the secondary characters and I loved the villians. They were deep, unpredictible, and their fates could be sealed in a bloody beheading on the next page. Say what you will about R.A. Salvatore, but he makes some damn good secondary characters and he has the balls to kill them off in horrible horrible ways that really get to you. Sure Drizzit was needed, sure he was the main character, but he was not why I read the book... not at all.

Modifié par Wishpig, 12 juillet 2010 - 06:26 .

[Kohaku]

I guess I should put it like this. I'm one of the most unemotional women people might meet. I love Bioware games but to say I got "emotionally" involved in them would be a lie. I can't feel for my character. There's no reason for me to feel anything for them, they aren't me and don't exist. I'm not connected to the main character in anyway, shape or form. Hell, I'm more concerned about losing the save data than being invested in the character.



So it's easy for me to say I don't care about the main characters. They just got me to a point to enjoy the story. I tend to pick whatever dialog option comes up just to see what happens next, not because I'm "roleplaying" anything.

[Noobius_Maximo]

I do.





My favorite part of Origins is the dialogue with companions.

[Aristorum]

As long as the writing's good, I could be playing an obese midwife with gout who traverses town with her muddy children and not care.

But yeah, companions are much more important.

[Wishpig]

Adriano87 wrote...

Colorful Mabaris please

Ugh! No more dogs taking up party space and taking craps all over the place! I always thought th idea of Mabaris vs Darkspawn was f*in retarded. Yes, lets take these dogs who've we spent tons of money and time training, and toss them at darkspawn... who have poisenous blood. Ya that makes sense. About as much sense as aliens trying to take over a world covered in deadly acid (see Signs. Or rather DON'T see Signs).

The chinese have it right! The only thing dogs are good for is eating! Num num num.

[Addai]

Now that you mention it, I do care more about the NPC companions than my PCs. Funny.

[bashnee]

Sometimes you get attached to a certain character, I doubt I would like ALL companions if you know what I mean. For example Alistair Blend and dull, plain boring even.

But really, I think I like my main more then my companions, since you take the time to mold and form the character.

[Ju13es]

All for the companions, rarely for the PC

[andar91]

I'm absolutely psyched for companion info. I've always cared more about the companions than the main character because the main character is me and I already know me. Granted, Hawke is more refined than in the past, but it still sounds like we're definitely the one behind the proverbial wheel.

[Tsuga C]

then than then than then than

[Onyx Jaguar]

Bioware relies on the companions as the set pieces in their stories more than anything, so yes I care more about the companions than whatever player character. With maybe the exception of Revan

[Altima Darkspells]

In DAO and most other BioWare games, the companions are great, both independently and as a way to help round out your character in your mind.



Personally, though, I hope BioWare takes a page from Obsidian's book if they continue with the approval system--give rewards to a player on high approval AND high disapproval.



However, the main character is a main character, after all. If you can't stand her, then, well, that will obviously be an obstacle to interacting with companions. This is especially tricky because of voiced main characters. Male Shepard is a good example of a head that needs to go through a window.

[Deviija]

When BioWare creates a 'set' character, like Shepard, I definitely care nothing for the protagonist -- because it is not my own character -- and far more about the companions.



In general, I do care more about companions than the protagonist. They are the support narrative, the roleplay, the depth to reflect off of, and entertainment that livens the world.

[EmStar202]

I do! In my opinion, the people who travel with you are one of the most (if not THE most) important aspect of an rpg. I mean, you're going to spend hours upon hours fighting beside these people and getting to know them. For me, Dragon Age was really the first game I played that really brought the characters alive. Honestly, talking to people was my favorite thing in Dragon Age. I think that means I really need a life, but it also means that Bioware did an epic job with the characters. I just hope they can keep it up with Dragon Age 2. Also, party banter is a must. I cannot express how hilarious some of that banter between characters was!

[the_one_54321]

Companion characters should always be supplemental to the protagonist, and function to improve his story or add depth to his story. Well crafted side characters will be people that care about fiercely or hate fiercely, but they will not direct the story away from the contributions of the protagonist for very long, or without integrating the protagonist into their plot. The structure and implementation of side characters is incredibly important to the success of a story. Whether this means I more about the side characters or less about the side characters is up to your interpretation I suppose.

[Tasuru]

I care about...



Story > Companions > Main Character > Gameplay

[DaySeeker]

I'm with you. The player character is a known factor; we are control his actions, we know what decisions we want him to make. The companions have their own stories and motivations which are more fun to explore. What would they do if I... What do they have to say about... They are the glue that holds the story and fills in the cracks, they are what we care about and our reason for saving the masses. They humanize and make the world real much more than the PC can.

[Blastback]

Well, for me it' a balance between my character and my companions. One of my favorite things is developing the relationship between my PC and my party members. Like in Origins, Alistair practicaly became my pc's brother, or seeing the student mentor relationship between Garrus and Shepard.

[ITSSEXYTIME]

 The companions are great the first time through, but the way they're handled in Bioware games they're not really replayable.

Now if they changed how you interacted with party members a bit more so it's more dynamic then it may just encourage replaying the game.  

[StreetlightEagle]

I don't care about being somebody but rather interacting with interesting well developed characters. This is why I actually prefer the idea of Hawke rather than having my blank looking, voiceless warden back as in a way, Hawke is another character to discover and engage with.