94 replies to this topic

[Chris Priestly]

Ok, you have been officially introduced to a new Dragon Age II NPC, Fenris.

Please use this thread to discuss him.

Also, please keep the squees to a minimum, they hurt Luke's ears.

Edited by Chris Priestly, 25 December 2010 - 07:54 AM.

[David Gaider]

Mel_Redux wrote...
And I can't believe spot on we were with the Tevinter slave thing! Yay us!

Heh. The shotgun approach would mean that at least one of the guesses would have to be correct, yes.

[David Gaider]

AlexXIV wrote...
And it is not a 2-handed sword either. So 99% sword and shield warrior.

The 1% wins out, I guess.

[David Gaider]

Neofelis Nebulosa wrote...
Now jokes aside, I do really hope his character and story does justify his naming, because he certainly doesn't look like something I'd call Fenrir/Fenris.

Aside from the strange notion that someone would need to "look" like their name, yes, there is a reason he's called Fenris. No, it has nothing to do with his abilities.

[David Gaider]

leonia42 wrote...
It has something to do with his barefeet, doesn't it?

His name is Fenris, not Callus or Toejam.

[David Gaider]

Neofelis Nebulosa wrote...
The look-argument is foremostly based upon my reaction when seeing the name "Fenris" and then looking upon that character which appears to be designed to make people go "Squeee, he's cute!".
I just fell straight for my own five.second preconception and can't get to lose this particular (frustration ain't quite the right word, but I am currently lacking a more appropriate vacabulary, it's a bit stronger than what I'd call disappointment, but this is due to my nature defining and using principles/words in a very exact manner most of the time).

As long as he sounds like someone who's been merely a living weapon for all the time he can remember and who has endureed great hardships and his story and character fits (his story does actually seem to have great parallels with the original Fenris) I am perfectly fine, but as for know, I can't stop picturing him other than like Zevran, and I think you can agree with me that is nothing like a mythical, godpowered, giant wolve.

So you've decided what his personality is, and are having trouble reconciling it with his name based on that?

Well, fair enough, but Fenris is nothing like Zevran. So I guess you'll find out for yourself, eventually.

[David Gaider]

ankuu wrote...

Since David Gaider is roaming around with his lighting bolt...

Zen master, show us you wisdom!

Don't eat yellow snow.

[David Gaider]

Madame Rose Crimsynn wrote...
Can we have some nice information about Fen? Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with chocolate sundaes and lots of cherries on top?

*Puppy eyes*

Fenris has nothing to do with Fen'Harel other than the root of the Tevinter word "Fenris" sharing a root with the elven word "Fen'Harel". The Tevinter language absorbed a number of elven words, one among them being "fen" -- for "wolf".

No, this still does not make Fenris a werewolf.

[David Gaider]

Maria Caliban wrote...
David can create the dangerously alluring type without falling back on monster movie conventions.

I just think it's interesting that some people evidently think Fenris isn't special enough that he also needs to be a werewolf or a demigod or... something. Not that the werewolf thing wouldn't have been cool. If he were a romance I could do the whole Jacob thing.

"I can't be with you. I don't want to hurt you." *sad eyes as he turns away*

That would be fun to write, purely from a sadistic point of view. I find Twilight both fascinating and horrifying.

[David Gaider]

kwintessa wrote...
I had the same thought. Makes me wonder if the Tevinter were friendly towards elves when they first came to Thedas and elves taught the Tevinter elvish, which Tevinters developed into their own language later on (after they went batty and murderous) with incorporations of elvish.

Mostly it means there was communication between the elves and the early humans, and the elves had names for things the humans did not.

[David Gaider]

Sweet Jesus.



I intended to neither confirm, nor by a lack of confirmation confirming a lack thereof, any romance with said character either in intended or werewolf form. Looking for hidden meanings in my words is the path to madness.

[David Gaider]

Maria Caliban wrote...
You have a talent for writing romances that tear the reader's/player's heart out. It would be wrong for such abilities to go to waste and I encourage whatever sadistic elements you might think of in love interests you write. Morrigan leaving no matter what the PC said or did was perfect.

Well, I think Twilight is far more effective with its romantic elements than most people give it credit for. Granted, it has little else going for it-- but the romance it does well. I find it a fascinating exercise to analyze exactly why that is (which I do for many romances... thankfully Cori is a giant romance movie buff).

Just, you know, don't write any of the F/F romances.

I think I could swing it, if I needed to. You like another chick because she's more like a man, right? She can fix your car and stuff? I get it, I get it.

[David Gaider]

MarginalBeast wrote...
Really? Many people feel that the romance in Twilight is incredibly unrealistic and/or creepy and/or unhealthy, and I tend to agree with them.

I doubt there's a romance that's ever going to be universally appealing-- and while I don't find the romance in Twilight personally appealing it'd be silly to dismiss outright the fact that it has great appeal to some, and perhaps a little elitist to dismiss those who find it appealing as simple-minded. In the context of the books, Bella is designed as a character meant to be projected onto... but if one isn't willing/able to project themselves onto her they're never really going to get it.

The same could be said for, say, Alistair. For those who don't like him they'll never get those who do, and they can pretty easily deconstruct both his character and his romance if they want to.

Either way, I think the romance itself has some interesting elements in its construction and offers something to learn-- for those who are willing to try. And I've tried, God help me. This is what I do for you people.

Edited by David Gaider, 21 December 2010 - 05:22 AM.

[David Gaider]

What is this wrote...
What about the kind of romance where one person is in love but the other is not, and the one in love decides to follow the other around despite that one not being intrested?

If you're referring to Twilight, I disagree that Bella was ever "not interested". There is, in my opinion, a grand tradition of stalking in romance-- both in literature as well as in real life-- and it's an understandably fine line. From all I can tell, it's only ever an issue when it doesn't work out.

[David Gaider]

Touching Fenris isn't a good idea. He doesn't react well.

[David Gaider]

Madame Rose Crimsynn wrote...
Evening, Ser Gaider! *tips hat*

I had a feeling Hawke would probably either get punched or get threatened with getting her hands cut off.

Well, first he would flinch-- because his markings are quite painful, and doubly so when they're touched. His first instinct might be to punch someone who touched him, though he'd probably hold back if he realized it was Hawke.

Then he would brood.

[David Gaider]

leonia42 wrote...
At least Fenris isn't like Rogue and will totally kill/steal your powers if you touch him.

You assume.

[David Gaider]

Bryy_Miller wrote...
Admit it, you totally wrote an Edward Cullen/Jacob romance. You love Twilight. It is your bible.

If by that slash you mean something where Edward romances Jacob, I would totally write that.

[David Gaider]

HolyJellyfish wrote...
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm very wrong. But did Gaider not only reveal that A) Fenris is an LI and He's gay optional?

I was more commenting that I think Edward and Jacob have way more sexual chemistry with each other than either of them do with that hag, Bella... but you're free to read into my wording as much as you like.

[David Gaider]

Ninja Mage wrote...
Male Hawke-

I can't help but think that this emoticon, in the context of the kiss, means you intend to slip him the tongue.

[David Gaider]

trickybunny wrote...
lmao which brings about a whole new set of akward questions...like one has to wonder if making sexy time with Fen..is hazordous to your Hawke's health never mind Fen... he's got lyrium is in his blood...does it stop there are is it in other fluids?...Cuz you know...the outcome could be really magical and sparkly even

Ew. 

I... am now leaving this thread.

[David Gaider]

HolyJellyfish wrote...
I'm also sort of interested what characters or people influenced his overall personality when Gaider penned him. You learn more about a character based on the things that created them.

Well, he's a little like Valen in some respects. I wanted to have a more stoic character, and never really got the opportunity to explore that fully with Valen.

Beyond that there are a couple of characters that I was inspired by, but I'd hesitate to mention them simply because people read way too much into that. Some folks who hear "inspired by" read it as "is an exact copy of" and that's nothing of the sort. The parts of a character that I find interesting and inspiring might seem entirely incidental to someone else, and regardless of my inspiration the character I wrote may have ended up somewhere else anyhow (as with Zevran and his "Spike of Buffy" inspiration).

Edited by David Gaider, 23 December 2010 - 04:40 AM.

[David Gaider]

La_Duchessa wrote...
Well... we never did anything wrong... just some certain peoples did *is still angry*

Nobody did anything wrong. If the talk gets a little blue, however, I'm bound to bow out. There's only so much I can take of that-- no offense.

[David Gaider]

Minxie18 wrote...
I second this question for David. That or what drink he's most like? Better yet, what kind of drink does he like?

Avalia Pamunalis, specifically the 9:27 vintage.

It was a good year.

[David Gaider]

Madame Rose Crimsynn wrote...
Were still not sure what relevence "Avalia Pamunalis"  has yet. 

I would have thought the use of the word "vintage" would have told you that's the name of the wine he likes.

MarginalBeast wrote...
In real life I wouldn't either, but
since this is a video game, and since Hawke isn't me, I don't mind. I
think it'd be really interesting actually.

True. Fantasy romances have nothing to do with real-life romances. Some of these characters are seriously screwed up. When people say things like "I want to date my romance" or "why can't they be more sensible like someone in real life" my response is generally "Good God, why would you want that? This is a fantasy in more ways than just the genre."

In other words, if I gave some of these people what they thought they wanted, my suspicion is they wouldn't actually want it. So I excel at giving people what they don't want. Which is weird, but there you go.

Edited by David Gaider, 24 December 2010 - 05:51 AM.