151 réponses à ce sujet

[Shining Ghost]

A group of people standing on ground level with a giraffe-sized dragon, battling the dragon and then being able to kill it doesn't make sense to me at all. This is where I wanted my twist. I expected them to take advantage of the environment, use it as a huge trap to kill it.



But nope that didn't happen. What happened is something seen before too many times.

[RogueWriter3201]

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

Zing!

No, seriously though, I've gotten into this Thread and the interview that spawned it a bit late. The complex dynamics of the BioWare writing team and their collective methods for creating, maintaining, and, when required, augmenting characters and story elements has always been of great interest to me. As was joked on a few pages earlier, it's so easy to picture this incredible writing team (Gaider, Mary, Sheryl, etc) in this massive chamber sitting around a circular Table like the Justice League in Watchtower, reigning over the incredible events shown in game. Would Gaider be Superman and Mary Wonder Woman?

*Shruggs* But I digress.

It's always fascinating to learn that the writing team are just these crazy kids (metaphorically speaking) sitting in a room talking about "Head turning" topics like hot Qunari Lov'in and somehow crafting masterpieces of character and story elements from that. Words can not express how much I would love to be a Fly on the Wall in the Writer's Pit for just a few hours. Would blow my mind.

[Zangler1]

In Exile wrote...

The real issue is that killing the archdemon isn't interesting. The blight has no build up. It's talked about as this incredible threat that shatters worlds as a horror, and historically it was (the shortest blight took decades) but in DA:O you never see the blight.
What happens instead is that the blight just barely picks up, your origin is absolutely untouched by the blight (unless you happen to be a dalish elf and even that is not that impressive a thing) and you never see the effect of the blight or darkspawn on the land. The archdemon isn't even a real antagonist for most of the game - you just run arround being an errand boy.
So defeating the archdemon does not feel particularly rewarding or impressive, because as it turns out the entire game did nothing other than preserve the status quo in Ferelden.

I think you're mistaking game mechanics from the gravity of what you just did as decribed from the in game lore. The Blight is a threat. You may see your role as an errand boy, but the reality of the story is that you're running around the country attmepting to gather an army, all the while knowing that more of Southern Ferelden is falling to the darkspawn each day. You're trying to stop the Blight before it truely begins; that has never been done in the history of Thedas. Every Archdemon in history has risen and successfully led a siege of multiple surface kingdoms, and it has taken the Grey Wardens decades to track down the Blight to it's source.

The Warden is simply capable enough to muster a defense before Urthermiel can develop a foothold. It comes very close; if you look at the world map almost all of the Bannorn is covered by the Blight. Sadly the in-game mechanics don't show that, and the fight against Urthermiel might have been too easy. I'd take that up with the desinger though, not Gaider's story. Gaider simply crafted a tale where your Warden would become a hero to rival Garahel.

Modifié par Zangler1, 24 août 2010 - 10:47 .

[Tonia Laird]

For the last six months, I've been a writing intern with the DA2 team. I have to say it's been the best job I've ever had. Working with the writing team has taught me a heck of a lot, and I'm a much better writer for it. It's been one heck of a learning curve, but totally worth it.

glenboy24 wrote...

Would Gaider be Superman...?

I would say David's more like General Zod...

glenboy24 wrote...

It's always fascinating to learn that the writing team are just these crazy kids (metaphorically speaking) sitting in a room talking about "Head turning" topics like hot Qunari Lov'in

Yes, the writers here have warped me in ways I have yet to understand.

[Mary Kirby]

Tonia Laird wrote...

I would say David's more like General Zod...

Yeah. Definitely more Zod.

Yes, the writers here have warped me in ways I have yet to understand.

And I didn't even show you the fluffy mackerel pudding recipe yet!

[Sheryl Chee]

glenboy24 wrote...

Words can not express how much I would love to be a Fly on the Wall in the Writer's Pit for just a few hours. Would blow my mind.

It would blow your mind. Especially today.

Tonia Laird wrote...
Yes, the writers here have warped me in ways I have yet to understand.

Dude, you left too early and you totally missed the resolution of that thing that Luke was talking about earlier. You know?

[Mary Kirby]

Sheryl Chee wrote...

glenboy24 wrote...

Words can not express how much I would love to be a Fly on the Wall in the Writer's Pit for just a few hours. Would blow my mind.

It would blow your mind. Especially today.

To be fair, it's a lot of long periods of near-silence when the room is filled only with the sounds of keyboard keys clicking, punctuated by the weirdest damned conversations ever. Or sometimes Sheryl screaming because the tech designer she just IMed with a question walked into the room and said her name.

Dude, you left too early and you totally missed the resolution of that thing that Luke was talking about earlier. You know?

That was magnificent.

[WilliamShatner]

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

I know have zero respect for you and I can't imagine your employers would be very happy about your comments either.  Perhaps you don't know anyone who has been effected by tragic events like these because if you did you'd see how insensitive and vile jokes about suicide really are.

[Heavenblade]

My father killed himself. I don't get offended or freaked out when others make suicide jokes. I can even laugh at some of them. I only feel awkward when people ask about him and I have to figure out a way to respond that won't make THEM feel awkward.

[Brockololly]

Tonia Laird wrote...

For the last six months, I've been a writing intern with the DA2 team. I have to say it's been the best job I've ever had.

*sigh* My summer internship? Being the lab rat at a hospital while advancing my career in medicine. Your internship? Writing for BioWare. I guess its a grass is always greener on the other side scenario.

Must have been one hell of an internship though!

[Daewan]

WilliamShatner wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

I know have zero respect for you and I can't imagine your employers would be very happy about your comments either.  Perhaps you don't know anyone who has been effected by tragic events like these because if you did you'd see how insensitive and vile jokes about suicide really are.

But if you have no respect for him, why would he care about your opinion anymore?  Was there some reason that he needed to toady to your opinion, or pamper your delicate sensibilities?  Are you, perhaps, one step away from killing yourself and that one joke from some random person on the internet has tipped you over the edge?

If so, why are you still here?

There are lots of topics that make for insensitive and vile jokes.  Sadly, that doesn't stop the jokes from being funny because Humans are rather stupid that way.  Stupid Humanity, mixing up comedy and tragedy all the time.

[Eudaemonium]

Daewan wrote...

There are lots of topics that make for insensitive and vile jokes.  Sadly, that doesn't stop the jokes from being funny because Humans are rather stupid that way.  Stupid Humanity, mixing up comedy and tragedy all the time.

In ancient Greek theatre, one of the main differences between the two was exactly which tpe of characters died =P. Tragedy was usually everyone.

[David Gaider]

WilliamShatner wrote...
I know have zero respect for you and I can't imagine your employers would be very happy about your comments either.  Perhaps you don't know anyone who has been effected by tragic events like these because if you did you'd see how insensitive and vile jokes about suicide really are.

I did, in fact, know someone that committed suicide.

It doesn't mean I get offended everyone someone says the word "suicide". Lighten up.

[Ryllen Laerth Kriel]

That was a fun interview, thank you for posting the link. Gaider looks less and less like a curmudgeon when he's interviewed. (I'm joking, don't ban me yet!)

[Anarya]

Tonia Laird wrote...

For the last six months, I've been a writing intern with the DA2 team. I have to say it's been the best job I've ever had. Working with the writing team has taught me a heck of a lot, and I'm a much better writer for it. It's been one heck of a learning curve, but totally worth it.

glenboy24 wrote...

Would Gaider be Superman...?

I would say David's more like General Zod...

glenboy24 wrote...

It's always fascinating to learn that the writing team are just these crazy kids (metaphorically speaking) sitting in a room talking about "Head turning" topics like hot Qunari Lov'in

Yes, the writers here have warped me in ways I have yet to understand.

I'm so incredibly jealous. I shoulda majored in English or writing or something. *cry*

[RogueWriter3201]

Come on folks, this thread was fairly upbeat and was providing an awesome insight into the brilliance of the BioWare writers. If you have a problem with something *anyone* says, PM them, that's what it's there for.



I did have a question that will hopefully get things in the right direction again. How does one even qualify for an internship with the BioWare team? Must one already have a degree? How many years word of Collage/Uni under your belt? Just the possibility blows me away.

[Apollo Starflare]

'tis alright Anarya. I shall invite you once I become a writer for Bioware *puffs out chest, expresses extreme over-confidence in writing abilities* 

[Anarya]

Apollo Starflare wrote...

'tis alright Anarya. I shall invite you once I become a writer for Bioware *puffs out chest, expresses extreme over-confidence in writing abilities* 

Woo yeah! *high five!*

[Ryllen Laerth Kriel]

Cool, invite me to work for Bioware as well and I'll bring beer and scotch.

[darkshadow136]

I have a question for you David. What Authors that you grew up with helped inspire you to become a writer ?

[lv12medic]

Anarya wrote...

I'm so incredibly jealous. I shoulda majored in English or writing or something. *cry*

Nonsense... there are plenty of ways besides being a writer to find out what the writers are up to.  Mind you most of those may fall under the Corporate Espionage banner but they're technically still options.

[Dave of Canada]

WilliamShatner wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

I know have zero respect for you and I can't imagine your employers would be very happy about your comments either.  Perhaps you don't know anyone who has been effected by tragic events like these because if you did you'd see how insensitive and vile jokes about suicide really are.

My grandmother commited suicide, my friend's father commited suicide and my uncle commited suicide and I say to you: Get that stick out of your ass.

[Ryllen Laerth Kriel]

Dave of Canada wrote...



My grandmother commited suicide, my friend's father commited suicide and my uncle commited suicide and I say to you: Get that stick out of your ass.

That's not a very effective way to commit suicide...er...a stick in the ass.



Disclaimer: Sorry to hear about your relatives though!

[Riona45]

Ryllen Laerth Kriel wrote...




Disclaimer: Sorry to hear about your relatives though!

I second that.  Same goes to anyone else here who lost loved ones to suicide.

[darkshadow136]

WilliamShatner wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

WilliamShatner wrote...
Making jokes about slitting wrists is not funny Mr. Gaider. It's a very serious and hurtful issue.

Only if you do it wrong.

I know have zero respect for you and I can't imagine your employers would be very happy about your comments either.  Perhaps you don't know anyone who has been effected by tragic events like these because if you did you'd see how insensitive and vile jokes about suicide really are.

On the topic of Suicide. I myself had someone close to me commit suicide, but in the end suicide is a cowards choice, and a very selfish choice. A person that commits suicide gives up, and does not think or even consider what their action has on the people that care about him or her. As the saying goes suicide is a permanant solution to a temporary problem.  it is a serious issue but in the end I have no repect for people that take that easy way out. David said nothing out of line from what I've read.