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[RamenAwesome]

Greetings everyone,

I am an amateur modder and I am attempting to organize a collaborative
project to create two unique companions for the main character in DA:O.

Below is an outline for the two characters I had in mind, I hope that I
can appeal my cause to other modders to help give players a wider
selection of companions in the game.



Character 1:

Name: Manasus

Race: Human

Gender: Male

class: Mage

Specialization: Blood Mage

Quote: "Blood Magic is the next frontier, a new world of possibilities opened up to mages. It can fell wicked men without a moments notice, open doors to the world of the fade, and end wars without a single sword drawn."



Manasus is a young apostate mage who fled the circle for his study of
blood magic. Manasus' attitude is esoteric, to say the least, and
occasionally arrogant, but he is not heartless, and will spare an innocent man but fight his enemys to the death.  Should a female warden pursue him as a
romantic interest he behaves somewhat awkwardly and takes the romance
very seriously. He hopes
that by learning blood magic he can dispel fears of the school, and
empower mages with this most useful, if controversial, power. He takes
no pleasure in using his powers to kill, but he will admit that combat
provides an excellent outlet to test the limits of magic.



Voice Acted: Yes

Romancable: Yes, Women Only



To help characterize him, I wrote out some conceptual plot moments:



First Encounter/Recruitment: After leaving Lothering the warden wanders
into a confrontation between Manasus and chantry templars. The templars
refuse to stand down, and the player can then decide whether to fight
with or against the templars. If the warden helps Manasus then after the
skirmish Manasus confronts the last surviving templar, begging him to
tell the chantry he is dead, and to leave him alone. The templar
outright refuses, and unwilling to compromise his safety, Manasus kills
the templar. After this the player will have the option to recruit or
kill Manasus or let him go free. If the player assists the templars than
Manasus will be brought to his knees defeated. The warden can then
allow the templars to execute Manasus, or alternatively, he can
conscript Manasus into his party, whereupon the templars will
begrudgingly leave, warning the warden that Manasus is dangerous.



Reaction to decisions during the Broken Circle quest: Although he will
originally express contempt for aiding the circle, he will express
approval of the warden's actions if he/she saves the circle saying that
compared to the Chantry and the Rite of Annulment, the Circle is the
lesser of two evils. However, if the warden supports the right of
annulment, Manasus will greatly disprove. He will be appalled by the
warden's total disregard for the lives of the mages, as well as the
warden's ignorant belief that the circle was beyond saving.



Reaction to decisions during the Arl Of Redcliff quest: Manasus will
support aiding the village against the attack by the undead. When the
warden reaches the castle Manasus will approve slightly if blood magic
is used to enter the fade, but only if he is sent through the portal. If
the circle is summoned and the warden uses lyrium to enter the fade, no
approval changes will occur. However, if the warden opts to slay the
possessed Connor, Manasus will be infuriated saying a child need never
die, and no parent deserves the punishment of seeing their own kin
slayed.



Positions needed to create this character:

Voice Actor: I am more than willing to do this myself as I have a decent mic and editing software

Writer: I can write dialogue for major plot points, or offer guidance
and consultation on how Manasus will react to events, but I need a
dedicated script writer for most of his dialogue

Animator: To animate all cut scenes and dialogue involving Manasus.

Coder: Well, to do everything else...



Optional positions

Additional Voice Actors

Modder to design unique equipment for this character



Character 2:

Name: Yiyeni

Race: Dalish Elf

Gender: Female

class: Rouge

Specialization: Ranger

Quote: "All my life I have known the comfort of the forests. When I was with nature... I felt powerul... sexy... alive. And the darkspawn took that life from me."



Yiyeni will be from the same Dalish tribe as the Dalish Elf Warden.
Behavior wise she is very light-hearted and self confident. Somewhat
self-righteous, she will almost always disprove of actions that can be
deemed evil. In addition she has a deep-seated hatred for the darkspawn,
as she wants revenge on them from separating her form her people. If
the warden is an elf she will openly flirt with him/her. However if the
warden is a human or dwarf she will be more cautious and less confident,
worried about her relationship with the warden becoming awkward.
Ultimately she hopes that someday after her debt to the warden is repaid
she can track down her tribe somewhere in the Free Marches.



Voice Acted: Yes

Romancable: Yes, Bisexual



To help characterize her here I wrote out some conceptual plot points:



First Encounter/Recruitment: After leaving Lothering the player will
encounter Yiyeni about to be executed by Darkspawn. The warden
intervenes just before the fatal blow is struck, and a brief battle is
fought between the warden and the darkspawn. After the player defeats
them, he/she will help Yiyeni to her feet. If the warden is a Dalish
Elf, Yiyeni will express great joy and surprise at finding her old
friend again. If the warden is not a Dalish, she will simply thank
him/her for saving her from the darkspawn. In either case, she will
explain that while traveling North with the clan the darkspawn attacked
the tribed and she became separated. She will sadly admit, that she had
been fleeing the band of darkspawn for nearly two days, who had been
hunting her the entire way. Yiyeni acknowledges that she has little
chance of catching up to the rest of the clan, assuming they are still
alive, and that she has nowhere else to go. The warden can then accept
her offer to join his/her fight against the darkspawn, or she can be
sent on her way.



Reaction to decisions during The Nature Of The Beast quest: If the
player sides with Zathrean and exterminates the werewolves, she will
disapprove slightly, saying that they didn't deserve such punishment.
However she can be persuaded it was the right decision. If the warden
creates a truce between the Dalish and the werewolves, Yiyeni will
approve and be thoroughly impressed with the wardens diplomacy. However,
if the warden sides with the werewolves and slaughters the Dalish, she
will outraged and appalled by the Warden's resort to bloodshed, as well
as his/her disregard for the lives of her fellow Dalish.



Reaction to decisions during The Arl Of Redcliff: If the warden chooses
to kill Connor, Yiyeni will disprove saying that Lady Isolde didn't
deserve to have her only son die. With coercion though, the warden can
remind Yiyeni that Isolde brought it upon herself by employing Jowan and
by keeping Connor hidden from the circle. If the warden uses blood
magic to sacrifice Isolde, she will greatly disprove, saying it was
unethical, unnecessary, and careless. She is enraged with the warden
saying that the warden risked to much, and that asking the man who was
the source of the entire ordeal to fix it with more of his corrupt magic
was beyond stupid. If the warden summons the circle and uses lyrium to
enter the fade, she will greatly approve, and express amazement that the
warden somehow continues to save everyone.



Positions needed to create this character:

Voice Actor: I cannot as I am a guy...

Writer: Again I can write dialogue for major plot points, or offer
guidance and consultation on how Yiyeni will react to events, but I need
a dedicated script writer for most of his dialogue

Animator: To animate all cut scenes and dialogue involving Yiyeni

Coder: Well, to do everything else...



Optional positions

Modder to design unique equipment for this character



Are you interested in joining my project?

Then just follow these instructions!



Voice Actor: If you want to apply for the position as the voice of
either character that post your intentions on this forum. I will then
post some sample lines that Manasus/Yiyeni would say on this forum. All
you have to do is read and record the characters lines. Then I'll give you a link for you to send the lines too so I can listen to them.



Writer: Think you can write dialogue? Write a sample conversation
between the warden and either of the characters. Try to keep the banter
as close to the descriptions I have given as you and then post your work
on this forum.



Animator: Post a link to any previous work you might have, or attach a sample of your creations!



Coder: Same as the animator, links to previous mods you have worked on would be great!

Modifié par RamenAwesome, 21 février 2011 - 05:24 .

[jackkel dragon]

Is this project still a viability? I can't promise anything until I finish my current project, but I want *someone* to write Manasus; he sounds very interesting to me. While on the surface he's another blood mage trying to do good things with forbidden magic, I think it would be interesting to have such a character in the party.

[RamenAwesome]

Haha, this project is still viable, and on another forum someone has expressed interest in the mod. I can let you know if a writer emerges! I'm glad you like Manasus' concept!

[Holy-Handgrenade]

Hey, I'm currently working on a project over on the New Vegas Nexus; as a writer. I am done with the first draft of dialogue and story boarding for the mod so all that is left on my behalf is editing and polishing the dialogue. So if you would like I would be able to write a large proportion of the dialogue if you wish. If you would like I sometimes voice act the dialogue I write this just makes the dialogue sound better as I would know in what sort of way to say the lines and it would take less retakes of the voice acting.

Modifié par Holy-Handgrenade, 17 mars 2011 - 08:21 .

[RamenAwesome]

I would love it if you would be inclined to lend a helping hand to the mod! Good writing is the foundation I need to gain support from the community and I'll gladly listen to your ideas. If you are able, I love for you to write a sample conversation or banter utilizing either of the characters. If you'd like an example or a starting point I can gladly provide you with one. Just a snippet will do for now and you can post it on this forum (a paragraph or two). I'll let you know what I think. I'm perfectly fine if you want to voice act your lines, whatever helps you. Also, were you planning to write for Manasus or Yiyeni? Or perhaps both? I eagerly await to see what you can come up with!

[Holy-Handgrenade]

Warden: What was it like being in the Circle?
Manasus: Ha, think of prison but your captives are babbaling apes running around in oversized armour and that just about paints a picture of the Circle. In all honesty it is a cage as guilded as it may be it's still a cage.
Warden: But isn't the Circle there to protect and give mages a safe enviroment to learn.
Mansus: Quite the opposite they restrict our potential all out of a feeling of being self righteous , they think we're all abominations waiting to happen, that do not deserve the power at our fingertips.
Warden: But what of blood magic isn't that to dangerous?
Mansus: Isn't a sword? Blood magic is like any other weapon but much more. The things one could achieve with blood magic if allowed time to experiment without the templars causing a fuss would be unimaginable.
Blood is the lifeforce of men imagine being able to control it and bend it to your whim.
Warden: Isn't that to much power for one person?
Mansus: Isn't being in the position of a king to much power for one person? But they seem to be something to celebrate among the common folk, I see no difference with blood magic. Also does knowledge of blood magic not give you the power to wield over it responsibly?
It seems better for a knowlegable mage to be in power of blood magic than a idiot on the throne.... like one of our companions. (If Alistair becomes king)

I have short snipets of dialogue there which would take place at various times in camp but for me to better characterise him I need to know if he is more like Jowan or Avernus or a mix? (the blood mage from wardens keep) I was also thinking that he could have a dislike for Alistair as he was once a templar.

Modifié par Holy-Handgrenade, 25 mars 2011 - 07:16 .

[RamenAwesome]

Wow. I'm thoroughly impressed. What I really liked is how successfully you captured Manasus' thought project and (possibly warped) logic. He's not so much like Jowan, because he converted to blood magic to outdo the warden and overcome his insecurities. So I guess he is more like Avernus with a little bit of Anders. Also the dislike for Alistair is very fitting, and I imagine he wouldn't care to much for Leliana since the templars are part of the chantry. Your line about a blood mage being comparable to a king is very attuned to my idea of him.

I think another way to help characterize him is to probe the humanity of blood magic. Something like:

Warden: Isn't blood magic an inhumane way to kill a man?
Manasus: Perhaps he would prefer it if I eviscerated him with a blade?
Warden: A blade doesn't boil the blood in your veins.
Manasus: There is no glory in battle. The goal should always be to fell your enemy quickly and to keep your casualties to a minimum. A sword is slow, clumsy, and leaves its wielder exposed.
Warden: What about regular spells? Can't they deal as much death as blood magic to your enemy?
Manasus: Perhaps he would prefer it if I burned him alive?
Warden: This is going nowhere.
Manasus: Really? Why do you say that?
Manasus: I can weave through the front-lines of battle, and fell opponents while my allies are unscathed. I can make generals fall over dead before the battle has even begun. I can kill a king before he can even declare a war!
Warden: By using unholy magic!
Manasus: One man dies, and a thousand live. Fair trade.

In any case I think the next step is for us to keep developing Manasus' character to keep him unique and eliminate any design flaws or personality inconsistencies.

[Holy-Handgrenade]

Companion mods are usually not well intergrated with the story but we can have a option to send Manasus into the fade when trying to save connor making him more intergrated.  I was thinking depending on how you have interacted with him in dialogue can make a different outcome (something along the lines of hardening him).

I think for both companions we need ways to make them seem intergrated.

They could both object to the warden sleeping with isabella at the pearl or for Yiyeni if you interacted with her in a certain way she could join.

Could I ask how much experience with the toolset you have and how good you think you are with it?

Modifié par Holy-Handgrenade, 27 mars 2011 - 08:14 .

[RamenAwesome]

Minimal experience. I have the tool and I've tweaked stuff in it for fun, but up till now I've never had a major project. I don't think I'm very good with it but I'm a fast learner when I need to be one. Also, since Manasus is already kind of a hardened personality, maybe the ability to soften him and make him more compassionate would be better suiting.

[Leila Dawn]

If you need a female voice actor I would like to give it a shot. Dunno if you will like my voice but I can do my best.

[RamenAwesome]

Your certainly welcome to try!
This is supposed to be between Yiyeni and a Human Warden who has begun to show interest in her. I've written some little notes that I hope will help you when you record these lines. All you have to do is read Yiyeni's lines and attach them to a post. Feel free to ad-lib a little if you need to, whatever helps you keep it sounding natural. I'd like to hear a welsh, (mild) british, or american accent. Also, I think its really important that you keep in mind how Yiyeni's tone changes throughout this scene. Remember that Yiyeni is normally very confident (even cocky) and is always sure her beliefs, but also that by the end she stumbles around awkwardly, almost to the point of babbling.

Setting: Party Campsite
(Conversation starts)

Yiyeni: You need something from me?
Warden: Can we discuss something personal?
Yiyeni: (jokingly) Personal? Yikes! That sounds ominous!
Warden: I wanted to make sure you were settling in alright.
Yiyeni: Well enough I suppose. I must admit you've got some colorful companions following you around.
Yiyeni: (light-hearted) I can't imagine how you cater to all of them.
Warden: Hmph... It's harder than it looks Yiyeni.
Yiyeni: (giggling) I'll bet! They can be so funny though! Some of them even remind me of-... (suddenly disheartened) people I used to know.
Warden: You must miss the Dalish.
Yiyeni: (sadly) I remember them… I remember their faces. Merrill, Fenaryil…and Keeper Marethari. I miss them terribly.
Yiyeni: (awkwardly trying to change the subject) Ugh, I’m sorry I’m getting distracted aren’t I? I should be focused on the blight, on helping you.
Warden: It’s okay if you’re homesick. I understand.
Yiyeni: (thankful) I know you do. It’s just that…(concerned) I don’t want you worrying about me.
Warden: But I do worry about you. I care about you.
Yiyeni: (startled) Umm…you do?
Yiyeni: (awkward) I…I just…this is a little awkward.
Yiyeni: What I mean is...(sighs)…I’m an elf. Not just an elf, I’m one of the Dalish! And…you’re…not.
Warden: I know that.
Yiyeni: (embarrassed) I-it’s not like that’s a bad thing…(almost inaudible)…I mean, I don’t think it is…
Yiyeni: (unsure) I don’t know. I just don’t know. You have been so good to me…
Yiyeni: (retreating) I need to think about this. I’m sorry but I-…please excuse me.

(Conversation ends)

Modifié par RamenAwesome, 31 mars 2011 - 04:50 .

[Leila Dawn]

I'm busy recording now. Had to wait till night time because at daytime the TV is always on and all. I'll be so happy once I have a decent laptop again to find a nice quiet place in this house.
My microphone is a Samson Go Mic.. it's decent a lot better than a headset although I live in a house so it's nowhere close to a studio (I don't even think my microphone is for professional use). There will be noise from around me I even recorded my necklace at a point so. Ah well I’ll just record a few takes of every line and I’ll try to do a bit of variations so you can hear if you’ll like my voice or not.
Oh right where can I upload this all or send to? And want mp3 or wav?

[RamenAwesome]

When you have finished go to this forum (http://www.thenexusf...ts/page__st__10) and attach the file to a post.. I actually don't know which one is better for DA;O. Just send me a .wav for now :3

[Leila Dawn]

Been reading through the topic there. I wonder if well. Let's just say I do have a slight accent but if it's the right one. And then I don't always hit the same accent depending on situation or maybe mood or if I'm doing something more spontaneously or forced.
I can give a small example:
http://leiladawn.ban.../track/syldarin <-this
That's something half spontaneously. I wanted to hear what I can sound like telling a story through the eyes of a character. Just completely made up.

Versus
This -> http://leiladawn.ban...k/autumn-leaves
For this you will need to turn the sound up a bit because it's recorded on a different way.
Anyways this is something based on a photoshop picture I once made where I wrote these lines. Maybe to use in a story or something sometime.

They are a bit well ... not so upbeat first one is simply mysterious and second one a little sad but I'm not so happy with it because it still sounds to plain to me.

My accent is ... not sure a big mix of different influences because I'm not a native English speaker. I often don't mention it because I'm scared people won't even let me try knowing that fact.

[RamenAwesome]

I took some time to listen to these files of yours and I'm impressed. You have good emotion and tone behind your voice. However, I will put this upfront, I need to hear your voice in a different situation. Right now I can't tell how you would fare with Yiyeni's usually confident attitude. That said, your accent was fine, the quality I heard was good, and I'd still like to hear you read the lines I posted.

Also, if I understand correctly you can upload your files to that site you linked me to earlier, yes? That would probably be better than attaching them to a post on the other forums. Anyways, I really do want to hear what you have to offer!

[Leila Dawn]

Thank you that gave me atleast enough courage to go on I'm not done yet ... like said I need to wait for the silent hours in this house. My bed is calling me. So I'll be off for now I hope to continue later this day (It's freaky 4:36! in the morning) or tomorrow.
Hopefully I can find someone who can fix some problems on my laptop. That would be great, than I don't need to wait till I'm able to buy a new one. For now night hours are not a huge problem since I don't have anything important in the morning hours but still prefer to have the night to sleep because there will be a day where I do have something important in the morning and than proper sleep will be lovely.

[RamenAwesome]

Cool. I'm looking forward to it

[Leila Dawn]

I hope you can wait a little time. I wanted to try to finish today but I notice how tired I am and how that also works on well just everything (including voice) so I'll sleep I'll see how good my laptop goes.
Last time I checked the only problem on that thing was that wifi doesn't connect anymore so I won't be connected to internet while working that shouldn't be a problem if I just put all the stuff needed on a usb stick. It's only a bit annoying that's why I've been avoiding that up to now.

[RamenAwesome]

Okay, no rush. Honestly