118 réponses à ce sujet

[Blacklash93]

I'm interested in seeing opinions about Hepler's work on the Dragon Age franchise. Since we can't discuss the quality certain plots in particular on the Official Support thread for her on the Announcement board I decided it would be nice to make a thread to gather criticism and praise for her writing. 

What I know she' s written:

-DA2 Anders
-Dwarf Commoner Origin
-Anvil of the Void Quest
-Some Dwarf Lore
-Many Orzammar NPC's
-Sebastian
-Leandra
-Behthany
-Elthina
-Much of Legacy's Main Plot

Please feel free to add more and I'll update the OP.

I personally feel her work is pretty good. I liked all her characters (except Seb) and the quests she's written aren't too shabby either.

What do you think? What could Hepler improve on? What do you think her strengths are? Anything you'd like to note in particular about certain quests or characters she's written, negative or positive?

Note: There will be no insulting of Hepler on here as this is civil, constructive discussion. Anything that even comes close to a personal insult toward her will be reported. And no one will go as far as to say "I think Hepler should be fired."

Modifié par Blacklash93, 27 février 2012 - 03:00 .

[Merci357]

Interesting post, I was curious what characters/quests (besides Anders in DA2) she had written given the recent "events".

I disliked Sebastian, but simply ignored him for the most part. Anders, however, I disliked with a passion in DA2. But then again I'm quite sure he was meant to polarise, and if that's the case, she did a fine job.

That said, the rest of her work looks quite solid, to me. And for whatever it's worth, I don't think all companions are meant to appeal to everybody. That's the reason there are plenty to choose from in any BW game. Even if you don't like all of them equal, and I never did, I always could pick a few I enjoyed having along for the ride. And in the end, that's all that matters for me.

[Zanallen]

From what I understand, I believe she wrote Hespith. And that's awesome.

[TEWR]

And Branka.

[Tommyspa]

For Origins she wrote one of my most thrilling moments of the game in The Anvil of the Void with Branka and Hespith. For DA2 she also wrote my favorite character outside of Varric with Anders. And she apparently wrote parts of Legacy before leaving for maternity leave. So with all that I am seeing nothing but good things coming from her in Dragon Age. I like her third only to Mary Kirby and David Gaider. I feel like this writing team under Gaider is one of the best, if not the best in all gaming.

Modifié par Tommyspa, 22 février 2012 - 03:40 .

[BanksHector]

I have enjoyed all the work she has done on both DA games. Sebastian was one of my favorites.

[Mark of the Dragon]

How can people hate on her with that resume. I loved the Anvil of the Void Quest. Honestly my least favorite thing on the list is Sebastian. Even then I may not have liked the character but he was well made. I hope she continues the good work.

[Ryzaki]

I like most her work. Especially the broodmother part of Orzammar. Genuinely creeped me out my first playthrough.

[Costin_Razvan]

She also wrote Elthina.

[Sutekh]

As many, many writers, she has high and lows. I like what she's done with Anders very much, especially in the quasi-bipolar Justice / Anders thing. Very well done. Bethany and Leandra were a bit meh for me, especially the former. A bit Mary Sueish, perhaps? Too perfect, everyone likes her etc... Got on my nerves pretty fast (but maybe it was intended this way?)

As for DAO, the Mage origin was the one I liked the least - which doesn't mean I didn't, but I found the others better. The castless was good, but not great (again, compared to a couple others).

Hespith and Branka, on the other hand, were absolutely awesome. Maker, that build-up? One of my absolute favorite moments in the whole game.

So I'd say she's quite a decent writer, who would perhaps need to polish some of her characterizations a bit.

(The Wiki tells me she also wrote a good chunk of Legacy. In which case, quite a decent writer indeed. Also, Cullen. So I'm gonna fangirl for a bit, now )

[HiroVoid]

I liked most of her DA:O stuff. I think their should have been more focus on Mouse later in the game in the mage origin rather than Jowan. Also, I agree with the other posters here about Mary Kirby. Personal favorite writer in Dragon Age: Origins.

[Dr. wonderful]

She did Sebastion?

Hot damn.

I guess my least favorite on that list would be..no wait, I pretty much enjoy everything on that list. I stand corrected.

[Fenton]

Awesome. I loved Legacy, the dwarven stuff, Anvil of the Void line and Leandra. Sebastion I didn't midn at all. Glad I'm enjoying her work.

[HiroVoid]

Actually, I just looked on the Wiki, and it says Sheryl Chee wrote the mage origin and Cullen.

[ScotGaymer]

I love DA2 Ander's.

He is my favourite character so two thumbs way way up to Jen Hepler.

It's a real shame whats been happening to her of late, but good on the BW staff for sticking up for her.

[esper]

All good stuff (Well can speak for the Orzomar NPC's as that part was a bit unconcrete), but most of it I loved if not loved liked.

[Pzykozis]

The dwarves are my favourite aspect of DA:O so.. yeah.

Pretty much enjoyed everything on that list aside from Seb who I don't really have any feelings about hes a vacuum aside from the point where he randomly decides to bring an army against me to which I laugh.. poor seb.

Modifié par Pzykozis, 22 février 2012 - 02:50 .

[dheer]

Some of it's been ok. Mostly DA:O dwarven content, it seems. The commoner origin was one of my favorites.

DA2's Anders, Bethany and Sebastian however...yikes. Cringe-worthy material there.

Modifié par dheer, 22 février 2012 - 03:36 .

[Hambacon]

Oh gosh, Hespith's build up and then her final words at the end of the battle...goosebumps. Darn you Branka!

[Knightly_BW]

Thanks for the list of Helper's works OP. I was also wondering what she's written to attract that much ire.

Her DA:O works seems okay but a bit lengthy. Orzammar ain't my favorite part of the game. Except Broodmother/Hespith.

I can't comment about Anders on DA 2 as I'm ignoring him since the Awakening. Bethany in my case worst of the siblings. Funny thing just like Anders I hated her from the moment she opened up her mouth in game (Anders was written by Mr. Gaider on Awakenings tho'). Didn't have Sebastian DLC so can't comment on that.

In the end her characters tend to be my least favorite characters in game, that means she is doing good job on building distinctive characters. Also please keep in mind her characters are mostly fan favorite ones, I am the odd one in this situation.

Modifié par Asperius, 22 février 2012 - 03:51 .

[Huntress]

It seems she is the only capable writer of making me dislike with a pasion fictional characters.... Elthina!? Sebastian!!!! Aww I know I can't believe how much anger I feel knowing that Sebastian will abandon the fight because Hawke didn't want to please him.. aww too bad, so sad.. When will My Ladyhawke be able to kill him?

And I love  Legacy! I suppose the haters are totally out of touch with reality.

Modifié par Huntress, 22 février 2012 - 05:10 .

[nightscrawl]

It seems to me that many people are equating quality with whether or not they personally like whatever it is (Anders, Sebastian, etc). If she successfully provoked an emotional reaction from you, any emotional reaction, then as a writer she won.

Regarding Anders specifically, I've had a pretty volatile relationship with him as a character. I liked his humor from DAA and was quite surprised when he popped up in DA2 (I never do much spoilerific forum reading before a game is released), quite changed. Some of the humor was still there, but that was only a thin veneer over a core of darkness that is slowly exposed as the game goes on. The Rivalry path is especially intense, and IMO is the only way to play with Anders.

From my experience with him in DAA, I initially liked Anders, in fact he was my first DA2 romance. Then I played DA2 again and again, each successive time finding something to dislike about him. The transformation I had was pretty amazing. I've managed to RP entire scenes regarding some of my issues with Anders in my head, made possible only because I know what he would say in response, due in large part to her writing. I cannot stand him now, which is based mainly on my reaction as Hawke to some of the things he says and does throughout the game.

To me, that is a success.

[Stanley Woo]

Branka and Hespith were among my favourites in DAO. Rarely have I been that creeped out by a non-hooror game!

[royceclemens]

Bethany, eh?

If Hepler wrote the "Men are good for one thing, women are good for six" party banter, I'll worship the ground she walks on. That one line made me laugh harder and longer than a month of the CBS Monday night lineup.

[Finis Valorum]

She did some quality writing, if you ask me, though she made one big oversight by not considering giving Sebastian a scene where he can comfort Hawke after Leandra dies, if anyone should be able to understand loss of a parent I'd think it would be Sebastian.