365 réponses à ce sujet

[Bone-Dragon]

When I think about the equipment issues in Dragon Age:Origins and Dragon Age 2, both games made it an extreme pain to do.

In Origins, player's had to basically find and match armor pieces, scrutinizing each little piece to make sure it was better than the current piece. It was tedious and not interesting at all.

In Dragon Age 2, companions had upgradeable armor, which was a definite plus, as it retained their unique looks and eliminated the need to compare armors. However, this system was undermined by the fact that there were only 4 upgrades per companion, and these upgrades were obscurely hidden in some of the most remote places, and if missed (progressing onto the next act) could never be obtained. Instead of giving the players millions of armor choices to choose from in Dragon Age 1, you instead gave them a task to find 1-2 needles in each act or to have a weakened companion.

Looking back at Origins, there was 1 nice method to getting your armor sets completed without a hassle - Wade. You went to the blacksmith with Drake/Dragon scales and Wade would make the armor sets (usually with some gold).

So why not introduce "Blacksmiths" into Dragon Age 3, where players could go to and purchase upgrades for each of their companions using gold (which they earn from Quests, Slain Opponents, and the excess useless armor sets/weapons your MC doesn't use, assuming the MC doesn't use the blacksmith himself). Players could also provide crafting materials (Iron, Silver, Gold, Gems, Scales, etc.) for massive discounts as opposed to selling them. However, crafting materials should only be used for discounts mainly, otherwise you will have players run into the Dragon Age 2 problem again - digging through piles of haystacks looking for a crafting piece they need to upgrade.

For Armor, the character can upgrade their armor quality, assuming they meet the requirements (STR/CON) to wear the heavier material.
You can also have unique upgrades for each piece of armor (Gloves/Helm/Boots) that can give unique properties, where players can select from say 3 choices for each unique piece/slot. And if later the player does not like the choice, they can buy the alternative - and have the option to pick between the upgrades outside of combat at any time.

This system can work even for weapons, even if in DA3 each companion has 2 weapons.

In the end, you want to eliminate the annoying micro management game found in a lot of RPG's while at the same time having a system where players can see, make, and feel the improvements they make with their choices. Avoid the obscure scavenger hunts, Eliminate the nit picky comparisons, and simply make the game fun to play.

[sami jo]

I do enjoy the unique appearances of the companions, but picking up a ton of great armor that I cannot use at all is just frustrating. The other frustration with having no control at all over the companion's armor was that it severely limited play style. In DAO I set up all of my warriors except Shale as str/dex and equipped them accordingly. Lighter armors with lower fatigue penalties allowed them to use their special abilities more often and very high dex meant they rarely got hit and landed almost all of their swings. I could adjust armor to the way I used a given character. At a minimum, the companion armor stats need to be more customizable. I'm joining the chorus requesting that there at least be a few options in-game. Izzy's undies with the AC of 200 stretched credulity to the breaking point. She would have looked just as sexy in tight leather armor and I wouldn't have felt as stupid sending her into a fight.

If you look at the mods on DA nexus, a huge proportion of them are appearance or armor mods that allow players to customize the look of their party. It sounds silly to admit to basically playing dress up with the characters, but I admit it, I do exactly that. Apparently my parents would have had far better luck getting me to play with those dolls they insisted on getting me as a child if I had been able to dress them up in armor and marched them off to battle. I use the Shadow Warden Armor, Armor of the Elven Warden and Dalish Ceremonial Armor mods in DAO almost entirely because they look great. The stats on them are reasonable, but I certainly have better armors available. One of the most frequent "minor" grumbles about DAO was the lack of variety in armor and weapon models.

[Taritu]

I prefer the ability to customize, as per DAO, I'm afraid. Armor looks like armor, and I'm ok with my peeps looking like they're in armor.

[Keladis]

Personally I like that each companion had their own unique look, but I would love to see one of either two thing happen in DA3

1: I would either like to see the companions be able to be equipped with all weapons and armor that drop, but do not have the equipment change their appearance, but if this approach is used I would love to see each companion character collect some different armor styles that they player can pick from over the course of the game.

2: If the first is unlikely I would like to see armor and weapon set drop that was styled for your companions.

[G00N3R7883]

When I think about customising companion equipment, the armour issue is less important to me than weapons.

I hated that each companion could only ever use one style of weapon, it just felt bad tactically. I can think of a few fights in Origins and Awakening where I had everyone go ranged. (Mostly against boss level creatures with an uber powerful melee attack that hits everyone simultanously - broodmother, archdemon, end boss of awakening). But in DA2, melee is melee and ranged is ranged, no matter what. Can we have secondary weapons back please?

As for armour, I agree with what seems to be the majority opinion - distinct visual style for each companion, but more choice within that style.

[warchanter]

I like to equip my party, so my vote goes for full party equipment. I'll add I'd like to see party members specific armor sets, so we can see them upgrade AND remain wisually unique.

[Pzykozis]

For me I enjoy the characters acting as though they're people with their own style, I'll be honest and say I don't really enjoy playing dress up with the characters, though I'd rather they had.. maybe an evolving look, perhaps tied into upgrades or something, a visual progression of sorts, or perhaps outright alternative outfits.

[Nelatherion]

Keep Companion Armour. It helps keep them unique, but perhaps a compromise where you can change the colour schemes of the companion armour would work

[errant_knight]

I want complete control of the inventory back. If they want to keep companion looks, then they can lead us into doing that bu having us finding items whose stats lend themselves to that character more than others. But as a player, I want to be able to decide that for myself, as it suits my roleplay. For example, if I want to roleplay that Morrigan is pissed off to no end because after she became an arcane warrior, I insisted that she wear armor, then I should be able to. If I want to roleplay that I though having armor with an uncovered chest was too stupid for words, and insisted that Leliana wear medium armor, then I want to be able to. Inventory isn't just about stats and the writer's take on character, it's also about roleplay and relationships between the PC and the companions.

Personally, I loved finding things and deciding who would use them according to the type of PC I had. Not being able to do so removed an element of the game that I really enjoyed.

Modifié par errant_knight, 08 août 2011 - 04:22 .

[rak72]

I agree with Errant

[Blastback]

FieryDove wrote...

Blastback wrote...

My thought is for every character to have a starting outfit that is uniquely theirs, which levels up with the character throughout the game. But, if the player wishes, it can be swapped out for other armor sets.

How about they wear the iconic look when goofing off at the hanged man/home etc. But when out doing quests with the PC they wear the battle armor we gave them be shown? No? Yes?

[Steppenwolf]

I want the ability to change the appearance of my companions, but I also understand the desire to keep them in a defined and iconic look. I want several outfits/armors/whatever for each companion that are unique to them and are in keeping with their design and personality. Like how fighting games have alt outfits that still show the character's personality but offer a different look than just dark red instead of light red.
For instance, Isabela could have had a few outfits available in each chapter and had outfits that included pants for those(me) who wanted her to look like a fighter and not a cheap "companion." Just my two cents.

[ReallyRue]

I like the style of DA2, where companions have their own unique armour, but I think they should have a few alternate sets too, so that if you don't like one outfit, or get bored of it, then you can change. In DA2, Merrill was the only one who ever had a complete wardrobe change, and that's only if you romance her.

Modifié par ReallyRue, 08 août 2011 - 07:37 .

[Sylvius the Mad]

ReallyRue wrote...

I like the style of DA2, where companions have their own unique armour, but I think they should have a few alternate sets too, so that if you don't like one outfit, or get bored of it, then you can change.

But that prevents us from giving them armour that suits a different combat role.

Carver's Act II armour is far too light to serve as credible armour if he's tanking, and yet that's all he gets.

[Jamie_edmo]

My thoughts is that you can give your companions watever armour you want but when they equip it its slightly different than when you wear it depending on what class/race they are.

For example equipping a dalish elf-rouge companion with leather armour would cause it to be painted green with dalish symbols and less armour on it (warriors would have more) whereas when you wear it, it would be in its default form etc,

So each companion would have their own design but could wear all the different types of armour, stats permitting, whether this is feasible for Bioware to do is another issue all together

Modifié par Jamie_edmo, 08 août 2011 - 09:17 .

[Serpieri Nei]

Curious, what is so unique about the companion’s armor? Isabella wasn't wearing the famed "White Tunic of Aspasia ". Nor was Varric wearing "Disco Fever". Nor were any of the other companions or can someone show me the store that only caters to Anders and why it only appears every 7 years when the sky is red and moon is eclipsed unless he falls in love which brings the emergency clause into place allowing him to upgrade before he’s up for renewal.

[Hurbster]

Just...more variety - an extra bit of twiddle on the wrist doesnt really cut it for me.

Modifié par Hurbster, 08 août 2011 - 10:28 .

[Big_Chief]

Honestly, I'd like to see what they did with Morrigan in Origins (or a variation thereof). Have a unique outfit with personality, but allow you to change it if you want/need to. Heck, DA2 even did this with Hawke. Hawke had the iconic champion's armor, but there were still others he/she could wear. I'm a little unsure about the specifics of how I'd want it implemented, such as would the outfits level up with you, or would you get them early game or late game, but ultimately I think that approach is the best of both worlds.

[blothulfur]

My sword and soul, selected writings from the Qun and a mabari to guard my back. What more could any warrior ask for.

[KenKenpachi]

blothulfur wrote...

My sword and soul, selected writings from the Qun and a mabari to guard my back. What more could any warrior ask for.

Hmm overall I agree, but I would wish to add to that, And a cannon to deal with the Mages.

[blothulfur]

At least the sound might drown out the whining for freedom.

[KenKenpachi]

Nah I'm aiming more for the Grapeshot route, just drown them in pools of their own blood.

[blothulfur]

Works.

[My_Decemberling]

I like having the companion have their own unique looks, it gives them more personality. However, I do like changing my armor for stat-purposes. I think a good compromise would be something like ME2 mixed with FF12 or something. Gives us a few different outfits for each companion, so those of us that are fashionistas out there can choose our favorites. lol. But ultimately, have equipment int he inventory screen that we can equip, it wouldn't show up on the character but it would increase def, armor, etc. So we could customize our characters stat wise. I thought that was sorely lacking from DA2. If I wanted Merrill to be my healer why couldn't I make her one? I made Morrigan and Velanna healers more than once. If I wanted Fenris to have a sword and shield and be tank rather than Aveline, why couldn't I? That's just my two-cents.

[In Exile]

On topic: 

The problem with generic armour is that it really amounts to the same thing once stats are involved. It's not as if in DA:O we had more than 5-6 useful endgame armours. 


My Aside to Sylvius (if you want to reply, let's do it via PM):

Sylvius the Mad wrote...
Value judgments cannot be persuasive, as they have no relevance beyond the speaker's own mind.

It wasn't meant to be persuasive. It was meant to illustrate a value. 

Almost right.  The "right answer" is independent of the PC. 

No. The player. It has nothing to do with the in-game reality. 

Since the player doesn't exist within the game's reality, describing the details of that reality relative to the player is nonsensical.

Things that don't exist can't exhibit characteristics.

In this case, we are debating altering the reality of the game (can the player choose anything about the companion's character?). As a result, we are already at the 'meta' level. 

1) Not relevant.
2) Not relevant.

Both are quite relevant. As relevant as your claim that we should pretend that an RPG is a real world. It's the very point at issue.

3) Patently false.

No, the opposite. Ambiguity is at odds with an RPGs, because mental fantasy is not what makes an RPG, but rather in-character decisions and the reactions to them. 

Ambiguity makes in-character decisions impossible. Remember your complaint about the paraphrase: because you can't go from paraphrase to the literal line your PC uses, the paraphrase is uselessly ambiguous (because it doesn't tell you what your character actually does) so it makes RP impossible.

You're right on the money (about the effect). All ambiguity does the same. 

Modifié par In Exile, 09 août 2011 - 06:30 .