Act 1 is better with Carver.
Débuté par
blacqout
, avril 02 2011 01:58
#51
Posté 02 avril 2011 - 02:53
Arppis
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I pefered Bethany. Reminds me of my little sister.
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#52
Guest_PurebredCorn_*
Posté 02 avril 2011 - 04:16
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blacqout wrote...
I've been playing through Dragon Age II as a Mage recently, and i really found myself enjoying the game's first act a lot more for Carver being in it.
Bethany is sweet and agreeable, but the interaction with her is somewhat dull. Certainly, nothing to come out of her mouth compares with Carver's casually blaming Hawke for their sister's death during one conversation, nor the uneasy truce called when he and i agreed upon the only course of action to take with slavers.
He's not always likable, in fact he's often a bit of a b*****... but that's cool, because purple-speech-option Hawke has no shortage of ways to hilariously describe him as such.
His "gift" also opens up a nice piece of family backstory, that i don't think is accessible otherwise.
While i really do love Dragon Age II, i've currently hit the "hump" in my recent playthrough, where it's starting to feel like a litte bit of a grind (the fact that Mage clothing choices are so poor isn't helping), but i'm pushing through almost entirely because i want to see how Carver is getting on with the Grey Wardens and how he comes to be involved in the finale.
Anyway, that's it. I've noticed that Carver gets a lot of criticism. I just wanted to say i really like him.
I agree with a lot of what you say though I don't neccessarily agree that the act is "better" with Carver, just different. A lot of people dislike Carver because he's so diagreeable, but I kind of liked "the bitter sibling"dynamic and felt his behavior was believeable. I'm eager to play as a mage again just to see how the Warden thing pans out for him.
Modifié par PurebredCorn, 02 avril 2011 - 04:17 .
#53
Posté 02 avril 2011 - 10:10
Wynne
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Shantisands and Eudaemonium have already said much of what I was thinking. But what the hey, I'm long-winded, I'll ramble a bit further. 
I adored Carver. I mean, to me, his grudging admiration, seething envy, and family loyalty were a potent mix.
If you understand why he is the way he is, how his sisters/sister and brother were always the special ones in the family, then it's hard not to sympathize at least a little. It's really just a raw need for approval at the core. Sure, he's a jerk about it, very strong with the sibling rivalry and all that, but probably because he's used to being coddled, mocked, or put down due to his obvious insecurity and doesn't like that any better than being overlooked for his sibling whom everyone always said was so bright, so brave, so talented, yet needed protection due to being a mage.
Yeah, in some ways there's more to Carver than Bethany. I loved her, sweetheart that she is, but there's more tension with Carver; he makes more of an impression. Bethany is your gentle sister who's an apostate (though she can develop some backbone over time through hardship, which is cool.) She's very realistic and human, but not as 'spicy.'
They both had wonderful actors and were well-written, and I really like the default appearances for them. And I now miss each of them when I play a different class, though Carver a bit more so. When he joins up with you again at the end of the game, it meant a bit more somehow than when Bethany came back. Maybe because I knew she'd come around, whereas Carver showing up was downright heartwarming considering how he used to act. But I like that they're distinct personalities.
I actually wish both your siblings were available for more of the game. I adored them both in the end. Unlike the others, they are more "regular people." And when they turn Warden, well, that's just awesome--especially for Carver because you can see how it changes his personality in positive ways. Having a cause, a sacrifice, something special of his own--I think it deepens him; heals some old wounds. Being a templar doesn't really do that for him because it's basically a life-changing "screw you, bastard" to his sibling.
I feel odd saying this, but I do kinda wish Carver would be romanceable in a future game (certainly not as Hawke, of course.) I think after all he lives through in the course of the game, he just evolves into a pretty cool character. I feel about Warden!Carver in particular how I felt about Anders and Nathaniel after Awakening--like, I deeply appreciate this character; it's a shame I can't get to know him more closely with the character I'm playing now. Maybe it's partly because I have no siblings in real life, so I have no real-world understanding to connect with in the game, but in any case this was certainly an interesting exercise in "living" what I haven't lived despite that odd wish.
I also think--well, I think the family dynamic was very good for what was there, but I would've liked to see it more deeply explored. They made me love Leandra, Carver, Bethany... even Gamlen a little bit. Despite how well-plotted it was in terms of drama, I would have liked to see more interaction with them. More little homey scenes, not just everyone standing around in their allotted spot shuffling. It felt like, "here are the family characters. Click on them." And there's no bathtub, no kitchen space... don't the Hawkes ever eat? It was a dehumanizing space to virtually live in. Same with the estate--with the added fact that I would've liked to see more bedrooms. It would've been poignant to stop by a door, at least, and think, "this would've been X's room if he/she was still with me." And I sort of wish Leandra's room had been open. To rifle through her things after losing her would've had impact.
Much as I loved the Hawke family, that's one thing I would like to complain about--there isn't enough interaction for my tastes considering how much I appreciated the characters, and what is there utterly lacks a sense of domesticity which I think might have added a lot.
I adored Carver. I mean, to me, his grudging admiration, seething envy, and family loyalty were a potent mix.
If you understand why he is the way he is, how his sisters/sister and brother were always the special ones in the family, then it's hard not to sympathize at least a little. It's really just a raw need for approval at the core. Sure, he's a jerk about it, very strong with the sibling rivalry and all that, but probably because he's used to being coddled, mocked, or put down due to his obvious insecurity and doesn't like that any better than being overlooked for his sibling whom everyone always said was so bright, so brave, so talented, yet needed protection due to being a mage.
Yeah, in some ways there's more to Carver than Bethany. I loved her, sweetheart that she is, but there's more tension with Carver; he makes more of an impression. Bethany is your gentle sister who's an apostate (though she can develop some backbone over time through hardship, which is cool.) She's very realistic and human, but not as 'spicy.'
They both had wonderful actors and were well-written, and I really like the default appearances for them. And I now miss each of them when I play a different class, though Carver a bit more so. When he joins up with you again at the end of the game, it meant a bit more somehow than when Bethany came back. Maybe because I knew she'd come around, whereas Carver showing up was downright heartwarming considering how he used to act. But I like that they're distinct personalities.
I actually wish both your siblings were available for more of the game. I adored them both in the end. Unlike the others, they are more "regular people." And when they turn Warden, well, that's just awesome--especially for Carver because you can see how it changes his personality in positive ways. Having a cause, a sacrifice, something special of his own--I think it deepens him; heals some old wounds. Being a templar doesn't really do that for him because it's basically a life-changing "screw you, bastard" to his sibling.
I feel odd saying this, but I do kinda wish Carver would be romanceable in a future game (certainly not as Hawke, of course.) I think after all he lives through in the course of the game, he just evolves into a pretty cool character. I feel about Warden!Carver in particular how I felt about Anders and Nathaniel after Awakening--like, I deeply appreciate this character; it's a shame I can't get to know him more closely with the character I'm playing now. Maybe it's partly because I have no siblings in real life, so I have no real-world understanding to connect with in the game, but in any case this was certainly an interesting exercise in "living" what I haven't lived despite that odd wish.
I also think--well, I think the family dynamic was very good for what was there, but I would've liked to see it more deeply explored. They made me love Leandra, Carver, Bethany... even Gamlen a little bit. Despite how well-plotted it was in terms of drama, I would have liked to see more interaction with them. More little homey scenes, not just everyone standing around in their allotted spot shuffling. It felt like, "here are the family characters. Click on them." And there's no bathtub, no kitchen space... don't the Hawkes ever eat? It was a dehumanizing space to virtually live in. Same with the estate--with the added fact that I would've liked to see more bedrooms. It would've been poignant to stop by a door, at least, and think, "this would've been X's room if he/she was still with me." And I sort of wish Leandra's room had been open. To rifle through her things after losing her would've had impact.
Much as I loved the Hawke family, that's one thing I would like to complain about--there isn't enough interaction for my tastes considering how much I appreciated the characters, and what is there utterly lacks a sense of domesticity which I think might have added a lot.
#54
Posté 02 avril 2011 - 10:16
Mad-Max90
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Carver was by far my favorite companion in the game, his lines with Varric are unmatched.
