14311 réponses à ce sujet

[Anarya]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Bruddajakka wrote...

So who's writing Hawke? Or is it a collaborative effort?

The player character always winds up being a collaborative effort, although in the end, it's up to David to decide if the rest of us royally suck at writing Hawke lines, and make us fix them.

How do you guys decide who writes what? I know you said you wanted to write Varric but is it usually a volunteer thing or does David assign characters? Also do you divide up the writing by character in order to ensure a consistent voice?

[Calla S]

Pseudocognition wrote...
A character has to be awesome regardless of whether you romance him/her. I wouldn't call them "LI characters" so much as "Characters who can become LIs"... if that makes sense. Put another way, the DA team seems more keen on making characters than filling roles. From what I've gathered the attitude isn't so much "we need a character with x, x, and x to appeal to x audience and have x specialty" but more of an organic character design process.

See, yes, this is exactly what I love about BioWare games. None of the characters feel like they've been chucked into their role with the sole purpose of being an LI. They're themselves first and a potential LI second. Very second. Like, almost third it's so far away from the first priority. (That only makes sense because I'm sleepy.) Like with Zevran. He was the assassin who tries to kill you first. LI second. Morrigan is the mage pawned off on you by her mother first. LI second. And so on. It's wonderful.

[Saibh]

Pseudocognition wrote...

Anarya wrote...
But they probably at least know who's going to be an LI even if they haven't finished the work. Wouldn't they create a LI character with that in mind? I'm so confused.

A character has to be awesome regardless of whether you romance him/her. I wouldn't call them "LI characters" so much as "Characters who can become LIs"... if that makes sense. Put another way, the DA team seems more keen on making characters than filling roles. From what I've gathered the attitude isn't so much "we need a character with x, x, and x to appeal to x audience and have x specialty" but more of an organic character design process.

In other words, the core Varric Experience, the big branching awesome dialogue tree of wonders that every player will experience, is what is most important about him, and if he is an LI then that's just another branch on the dialogue tree.

Hm...to be absolutely fair, LIs have more content. DAO did an amazing job with starting romances, and you could in multiple conversations. If you didn't want to, you still had the conversation to build your friendship, which gave them more content. Wynne is sorely lacking.

OTOH, Sten is my favorite not-rose-giving character, and he's a non-LI. "LI characters" just have more content regardless, even when not romancing them.

[Anarya]

Pseudocognition wrote...

Anarya wrote...
But they probably at least know who's going to be an LI even if they haven't finished the work. Wouldn't they create a LI character with that in mind? I'm so confused.

A character has to be awesome regardless of whether you romance him/her. I wouldn't call them "LI characters" so much as "Characters who can become LIs"... if that makes sense. Put another way, the DA team seems more keen on making characters than filling roles. From what I've gathered the attitude isn't so much "we need a character with x, x, and x to appeal to x audience and have x specialty" but more of an organic character design process.

In other words, the core Varric Experience, the big branching awesome dialogue tree of wonders that every player will experience, is what is most important about him, and if he is an LI then that's just another branch on the dialogue tree.

I guess.

Edit: And Mary swoopeth in for clarification!

Sure but some characters are just not really suited to the LI role. Like Oghren. And I would bet that a lot of thought goes into what would appeal to the majority of the playerbase as a romance, though the playerbase likes to throw curveballs like the Garrus thing.

[Calla S]

Anarya wrote...
And I would bet that a lot of thought goes into what would appeal to the majority of the playerbase as a romance, though the playerbase likes to throw curveballs like the Garrus thing.

I can't even imagine their faces when your Varric thread went up and everyone hopped on board. All I'm seeing is a bunch of blank expressions, followed by a quiet "wat" near the back of the room.

[Mary Kirby]

Anarya wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

Hmmm... considering my work environment, I can't determine if telepathy would be awesome or horrifying.

My money's on horrifying with the occasional blessed moment of awesome!

Me: *sitting at my desk, attempting to come up with some sort of insights for a codex entry on beet production in the Free Marches* Okay, what do I know about beets that might be interesting? ...Nothing whatsoever. Awesome. Come on brain, think of something to say...

Sheryl: Man, look at Lady Gaga's meat dress! She sat on Ellen's nice velvet chair in that! I wonder if she smells like bacon? Mmmmm... bacon. I like kittens!

Luke: "I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am..."

David: Look at this forum thread! B!tch, please.

Me: ...I am so screwed.

Modifié par Mary Kirby, 14 septembre 2010 - 07:24 .

[Anarya]

Calla S wrote...

Anarya wrote...
And I would bet that a lot of thought goes into what would appeal to the majority of the playerbase as a romance, though the playerbase likes to throw curveballs like the Garrus thing.

I can't even imagine their faces when your Varric thread went up and everyone hopped on board. All I'm seeing is a bunch of blank expressions, followed by a quiet "wat" near the back of the room.

HAH! I aim to please, and by that I mean, make DG's eyebrows do the spicy shimmy.

[Pseudo the Mustachioed]

Anarya wrote...
Sure but some characters are just not really suited to the LI role. Like Oghren. And I would bet that a lot of thought goes into what would appeal to the majority of the playerbase as a romance, though the playerbase likes to throw curveballs like the Garrus thing.

This is definitely true. It would be funny if it boiled down to an office vote. "Check here if you would tap that."

I claim no authority on the subject. x_x

Calla S wrote...
I can't even imagine
their faces when your Varric thread went up and everyone hopped on
board. All I'm seeing is a bunch of blank expressions, followed by a
quiet "wat" near the back of the room.

AHAHAHAH... magic.

[nightcobra]

since varric has a spy network, he must be aware of the political changes in orzammar, my question is:

what are varric's political views on orzammar? does he even care about them or their politics ?



i'm guessing if he had to choose, he'd go with bhelen

[Anarya]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Anarya wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

Hmmm... considering my work environment, I can't determine if telepathy would be awesome or horrifying.

My money's on horrifying with the occasional blessed moment of awesome!

Me: *sitting at my desk, attempting to come up with some sort of insights for a codex entry on beet production in the Free Marches* Okay, what do I know about beets that might be interesting? ...Nothing whatsoever. Awesome. Come on brain, think of something to say...

Sheryl: Man, look at Lady Gaga's meat dress! She sat on Ellen's nice velvet chair in that! I wonder if she smells like bacon? Mmmmm... bacon. I like kittens!

Luke: "I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am..."

David: Look at this forum thread! B!tch, please.

Me: ...I am so screwed.

I wish to acquire telepathy and sit on the floor in the Writer's Pit with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn. Also I wish to petition for Gagaesque machine-gun boobs in DA2.

[Dave of Canada]

I assume Varric doesn't care about Orzammar politics as much as any elf / human would.

Modifié par Dave of Canada, 14 septembre 2010 - 07:26 .

[nightcobra]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Anarya wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

Hmmm... considering my work environment, I can't determine if telepathy would be awesome or horrifying.

My money's on horrifying with the occasional blessed moment of awesome!

Me: *sitting at my desk, attempting to come up with some sort of insights for a codex entry on beet production in the Free Marches* Okay, what do I know about beets that might be interesting? ...Nothing whatsoever. Awesome. Come on brain, think of something to say...

Sheryl: Man, look at Lady Gaga's meat dress! She sat on Ellen's nice velvet chair in that! I wonder if she smells like bacon? Mmmmm... bacon. I like kittens!

Luke: "I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am..."

David: Look at this forum thread! B!tch, please.

Me: ...I am so screwed.

and then there are those that create multiple personas inside their minds to keep them company:devil:

shhh...you're giving away too much information

oh yes you're right.

[Anarya]

Pseudocognition wrote...

Anarya wrote...
Sure but some characters are just not really suited to the LI role. Like Oghren. And I would bet that a lot of thought goes into what would appeal to the majority of the playerbase as a romance, though the playerbase likes to throw curveballs like the Garrus thing.

This is definitely true. It would be funny if it boiled down to an office vote. "Check here if you would tap that."

I claim no authority on the subject. x_x

See really, Varric Thread 1.0 was intended as a "tap that" check for the forum. Because he looks quite tappable in that one concept art. I had no idea what madness I was starting, however.

[Pseudo the Mustachioed]

Dave of Canada wrote...

I assume Varric doesn't care about Orzammar politics as much as any elf / human would.

Haha, no offense to whoever came up with those convoluted shenanigans, I didn't care much for them either. Politics are tough enough to have a defensible opinion on in real life.

When politics arise in conversation, Varric uses his Summon Booze Wench ability and immediately diverts the topic to more alcoholic matters.

Anarya wrote...

See really, Varric Thread 1.0
was intended as a "tap that" check for the forum. Because he looks quite
tappable in that one concept art. I had no idea what madness I was
starting, however.

Sweet, sweet madness.

Modifié par Pseudocognition, 14 septembre 2010 - 07:30 .

[Saibh]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Anarya wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

Hmmm... considering my work environment, I can't determine if telepathy would be awesome or horrifying.

My money's on horrifying with the occasional blessed moment of awesome!

Me: *sitting at my desk, attempting to come up with some sort of insights for a codex entry on beet production in the Free Marches* Okay, what do I know about beets that might be interesting? ...Nothing whatsoever. Awesome. Come on brain, think of something to say...

Sheryl: Man, look at Lady Gaga's meat dress! She sat on Ellen's nice velvet chair in that! I wonder if she smells like bacon? Mmmmm... bacon. I like kittens!

Luke: "I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am..."

David: Look at this forum thread! B!tch, please.

Me: ...I am so screwed.

There aren't nearly enough spoilers in the writing team's thoughts.

[aimo_ahmed]

Anarya wrote...

See really, Varric Thread 1.0 was intended as a "tap that" check for the forum. Because he looks quite tappable in that one concept art. I had no idea what madness I was starting, however.

Though I don't post as often, my 5'4" stature and DWARF POWER card pretty much cements my membership in this camp. Apologies for the madness fuel though, I cannae help meself.

[Bruddajakka]

Doesn't a major amount of a surface Dwarves goods come from Orzammar, and vice versas...you'd figure they'd want to maintain a healthy relationship yet at the same time keep other options open.

[Anarya]

aimo_ahmed wrote...

Anarya wrote...

See really, Varric Thread 1.0 was intended as a "tap that" check for the forum. Because he looks quite tappable in that one concept art. I had no idea what madness I was starting, however.

Though I don't post as often, my 5'4" stature and DWARF POWER card pretty much cements my membership in this camp. Apologies for the madness fuel though, I cannae help meself.

I was pretty sure as I was writing that thread's OP that you would be on board. 

I enjoy the madness, really.

[Mary Kirby]

Anarya wrote...

How do you guys decide who writes what? I know you said you wanted to write Varric but is it usually a volunteer thing or does David assign characters? Also do you divide up the writing by character in order to ensure a consistent voice?

Followers are divvied up by character, with each of us taking on the task of writing a character's main conversation file and maintaining consistency for that character's voice in any banter, interjections, or other plots in which the character appears. They're assigned partly by volunteer basis and partly by necessity. David will look at what we have planned and what we each have on our plates and say, "We've got one more follower, and Sheryl is the only writer with time on her schedule. Sheryl, you get to write Stephen, the tap dancing squirrel."

Otherwise, writing is broken down by plot. If a character who isn't a follower appears in multiple plots, someone will wind up being responsible for their voice. Usually, whoever wrote them first, or whoever wrote the most plots in which they appear.

[OriginsIsBest]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Anarya wrote...

Mary Kirby wrote...

Hmmm... considering my work environment, I can't determine if telepathy would be awesome or horrifying.

My money's on horrifying with the occasional blessed moment of awesome!

Me: *sitting at my desk, attempting to come up with some sort of insights for a codex entry on beet production in the Free Marches* Okay, what do I know about beets that might be interesting? ...Nothing whatsoever. Awesome. Come on brain, think of something to say...

Sheryl: Man, look at Lady Gaga's meat dress! She sat on Ellen's nice velvet chair in that! I wonder if she smells like bacon? Mmmmm... bacon. I like kittens!

Luke: "I'm your only friend, I'm not your only friend, but I'm a little glowing friend, but really I'm not actually your friend, but I am..."

David: Look at this forum thread! B!tch, please.

Me: ...I am so screwed.

Mary made me lol, Oh my god. I laughed at a post on the internet...how nerdy. Ew.

[HighMoon]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Anarya wrote...

How do you guys decide who writes what? I know you said you wanted to write Varric but is it usually a volunteer thing or does David assign characters? Also do you divide up the writing by character in order to ensure a consistent voice?

Followers are divvied up by character, with each of us taking on the task of writing a character's main conversation file and maintaining consistency for that character's voice in any banter, interjections, or other plots in which the character appears. They're assigned partly by volunteer basis and partly by necessity. David will look at what we have planned and what we each have on our plates and say, "We've got one more follower, and Sheryl is the only writer with time on her schedule. Sheryl, you get to write Stephen, the tap dancing squirrel."

Otherwise, writing is broken down by plot. If a character who isn't a follower appears in multiple plots, someone will wind up being responsible for their voice. Usually, whoever wrote them first, or whoever wrote the most plots in which they appear.

OMG! New follower confirmed everybody!

[Anarya]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Anarya wrote...

How do you guys decide who writes what? I know you said you wanted to write Varric but is it usually a volunteer thing or does David assign characters? Also do you divide up the writing by character in order to ensure a consistent voice?

Followers are divvied up by character, with each of us taking on the task of writing a character's main conversation file and maintaining consistency for that character's voice in any banter, interjections, or other plots in which the character appears. They're assigned partly by volunteer basis and partly by necessity. David will look at what we have planned and what we each have on our plates and say, "We've got one more follower, and Sheryl is the only writer with time on her schedule. Sheryl, you get to write Stephen, the tap dancing squirrel."

Otherwise, writing is broken down by plot. If a character who isn't a follower appears in multiple plots, someone will wind up being responsible for their voice. Usually, whoever wrote them first, or whoever wrote the most plots in which they appear.

There's more than one tap-dancing squirrel?? Arvid and Stephen, the dynamic duo.

Seriouspost: So how much info do you have to go on when you start to write a character? Varric, for instance. What made him appealing to you?

Edit: I think you said you wanted to write a more outgoing, humorous character so I'm assuming that much about him was known beforehand.

Modifié par Anarya, 14 septembre 2010 - 07:49 .

[Mary Kirby]

Anarya wrote...

There's more than one tap-dancing squirrel?? Arvid and Stephen, the dynamic duo.

Hells, yeah. And it was a lot of pressure to dump on Sheryl like that. "You realize, of course, that Stephen has to be ten million times more awesome than the awesomesauce that is Arvid, right? Get to work!"

Seriouspost: So how much info do you have to go on when you start to write a character? Varric, for instance. What made him appealing to you?

A basic outline of race, class, and relation to the plot. To use a non-spoiler example: When I got Sten, his character info was, "Male qunari warrior you meet in a cage in Lothering. Purpose: Introduce the qunari race to the player."

For Varric? I liked the fact that he was a storyteller in general, and narrating the player's story in particular. Anybody else ever watch Jim Henson's The Storyteller? The one with John Hurt as the Storyteller? I love that series.

[Dave of Canada]

So... As long as Sten introduced the Qubari, as a male soldier in a cage and such... Everything was your ground? Sten could've been a wise-cracking comedian? (if Gaider didn't tell you to rewrite).

Modifié par Dave of Canada, 14 septembre 2010 - 07:59 .

[Saibh]

Dave of Canada wrote...

So... As long as Sten introduced the Qubari, as a male soldier in a cage and such... Everything was your ground? Sten could've been a wise-cracking comedian? (if Gaider didn't tell you to rewrite).

I would like to know what this "Qubari" race of which you speak is. Does it have anything to do with tap-dancing squirrels?