Lord_Valandil wrote...
I like Varric as a character, he's funny.
But I don't think he's necessary as a narrator, as there isn't much interaction between him and Cassandra, apart from "Oh dwarf, you're not telling me everything, TELL ME MOAR, MOAR".
I don't really see the so-called "depth" of the story (if any), and no...I won't start to say non-senses like "Fire David Gaider", and I won't bash the writers...but the story was a mess for me...
Act 1 is way too long, and it's based mostly on collecting money from random quests.
Act 2 feels like a climax, and also...I don't understand why the Qunari spent 3+ years just sitting on their asses without doing anything.
And Act 3 is an enterily different conflict, and while there are some glimpses of it between the acts 1 and 2, it just feels disconnected and anti-climatic.
That's just my opinion.
The flow of the story makes sense though, despite the flaws you point out. In Act 1 you are just out of a year of being an indentured servant; you need to establish some income and start some type of life plan, because Uncle dearest is ready to throw you guys if you don't start contributing and your mother is too old to survive squatting in Darktown. Making money takes time, or you wouldn't see all the beggars and refugees turing to crime all over the city streets. So, it does make sense that you're in a long fetch quest to the tune of an expensive but possibly very profitable expedition - which you're only invited to because Varric sees some potential in you that his brother's too stubborn to look for.
Act 2 brings up the Qunari issue exactly because it has been three years and the Arishock has had time to become completely disgusted with the way Kirkwall is run and can't stand another insult from the groups that have been harassing his people. Of course, if they'd just said they were looking for something this might all have been avoided, because I'm sure the city officials would have scoured the earth for that relic if it meant offloading the Qunari. As it is, he's not the type to share that vital information. Thus, conflict eventually arises - spurred largely by small acts committed over a long period of time by Chantry zealots. I don't think the Qunari are just sitting around in the passing years either - scouts are sent, maps are made, plans for wiping the city out of need be are drawn up, important people identified, etc. They don't incite a war casually by going from door to door interrogating people, but they aren't there to start a war.
Act 3 does seem disconnected, because the Qunari got the spotlight for the bulk of Act 2 and the only real indication of increasing Mage and Templar tensions are being created by renegades like Anders and that soft-hearted Templar whose daughter turned abomination. Nevertheless, the Viscount is always mentioning the tension that exists without the Qunari already in Acts 1 and 2 so what we aren't seeing directly, we're at least made aware of in passing. The personal quests become more of a focus and what Hawke does individually beyond his or her becoming a figure of high importance in the city. Before becoming so prominent, why would Hawke be consulted by the Knight Commander or the First Enchanter, or even the Grand Cleric if we didn't work with her so closely through the Sebastian situations? The major political troubles of the city aren't the purview of successful adventurers until they establish some civic position. Again, not earth-shatteringly brilliant, but it makes sense and follows a logical progression of time and achievement.
Retour en haut
