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[ElitePinecone]

Prior to DAII's release, statements described Hawke as the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age - given the abrupt ending of the story arc with Exalted March's cancellation and the shifting of the setting (it would seem) to a more francophone area with a new protagonist, how does this statement hold up?

This is a non-spoiler forum, but apart from being Champion to one relatively minor city in the Free Marches and a murky involvement in sparking 'big events' (even if Hawke's actual role is largely reactive, and watching someone else spark them), what has s/he done by the end of the second game that warrants that description? Cassandra can *tell us* Hawke (and the Warden, for some reason) are important, but it's hardly obvious from the game content as to why that is the case.

Given the shift to a new setting for The Next Thing, and the confirmation that we'll be getting a new protagonist, it would be slightly strange if the game continued with the idea that Hawke is "the single most important character in Thedas". Would Hawke be imported into The Next Thing? Feature in the main story? Wouldn't our former protagonist's status as a plot-superstar overshadow The Next Thing's one, if the focus is on brokering peace? What about new players who had never heard of Hawke? 

DAII's protagonist is in a weird place, plot-wise (and, for all we know, literally). The game built them up to be a huge influence on Thedas, and we never really got to see why that was. If Hawke was ever "the single most important character", it was because someone outside the framed narrative said so, at the very end of the game, referencing events that (hopefully) would come up later on, if at all. 

But since we're (apparently) going to get a resolution to Hawke's plot in a roundabout way, and not through any sort of game content, was the importance of the character just exaggerated for marketing purposes? If the spotlight shines on The Next Thing's protagonist next, as someone trying to heal, fracture, influence, etc post-'big thing' Thedas, surely *they're* the most important person in the world (even because surely, the plot demands it). 

[AkiKishi]

I think whatever grand plan there was for Hawke went out of the window when DA2 flopped.
Or it could have just been marketing. Most important person in the world till the next one comes along.

[Urzon]

Hawke- The single most important (minor) character in the world of Dragon Age!

Modifié par Urzon, 02 juin 2012 - 02:25 .

[Wulfram]

I think that was what might be charitably called "marketing".

Modifié par Wulfram, 02 juin 2012 - 02:33 .

[AkiKishi]

Hawke - "The guy who gets Anders where he needed to be".

[Urzon]

Hawke-The man who was just there at the time.

Modifié par Urzon, 02 juin 2012 - 02:45 .

[whykikyouwhy]

Mike Darrah is quoted in that press release as saying that DA2 will be "...telling the most important story in our world."

And yes, Hawke is central to that. Each act of DA2 (and its related Big Bad) has a potential ripple effect on the rest of Thedas - all the more with Act 3 and the implications of what is to come (further explored in the novel Asunder). Also, it's possible to take into consideration the ramifications of what took place in the Legacy DLC. Hawke either had a hand in or was present to influence things to come. 

It's a little early yet to say that Hawke is not, or will not be, the most important person in the world of DA. It's possible (s)he become a figure of inspiration for others. Just because grand, monumental, earth-shattering change was not enacted by Hawke within the timespan of the game doesn't mean that such things will not occur down the line due to what (s)he set into motion.

I'm sure Hawke will be introduced to new players in future games through banter from other characters, codex entries, and rumors. After all, we never get to play Andraste or Red Jenny, for example, and yet they are individuals of importance and great interested in Thedas, and for some players.

[ElitePinecone]

BobSmith101 wrote...

I think whatever grand plan there was for Hawke went out of the window when DA2 flopped.
Or it could have just been marketing. Most important person in the world till the next one comes along.

The cynical side of me says it's just marketing to fit the whole 'Rise to Power' line (I never noticed, but the marketing team have a real thing for three-word slogans - Rise to Power, Fight for (the) Lost, Take Earth Back) - but the "single most important character" description is pretty specific. 

Hawke and the Warden (or Warden-Commander?) did go somewhere, for some reason. It doesn't explain why s/he's so important, and I doubt it was due to stopping a measly Qunari invasion or happening to be Champion of the city when things exploded. 

I'm more wondering if this was part of some overarching plot that we now won't get to see, since the plan is to move on to other protagonists.

[ElitePinecone]

whykikyouwhy wrote...
It's a little early yet to say that Hawke is not, or will not be, the most important person in the world of DA. It's possible (s)he become a figure of inspiration for others. Just because grand, monumental, earth-shattering change was not enacted by Hawke within the timespan of the game doesn't mean that such things will not occur down the line due to what (s)he set into motion.

I'm sure Hawke will be introduced to new players in future games through banter from other characters, codex entries, and rumors. After all, we never get to play Andraste or Red Jenny, for example, and yet they are individuals of importance and great interested in Thedas, and for some players.

This is all true, yes. 

My concerns with reactivity and agency aside (Hawke didn't so much rise to power as happen to be coincidentally present while other people did or planned big things), I can almost see that establishing a mythos or serving as an inspiration for future events is a valid way to become influential in Thedas.

I just get the sense that DAII's main plot is then underwhelming, since the emphasis is not on what Hawke achieved in the timespan of the game, but what occurs 'offscreen', and the character only achieves importance after they've been wrested entirely from player control. 

[AkiKishi]

ElitePinecone wrote...

BobSmith101 wrote...

I think whatever grand plan there was for Hawke went out of the window when DA2 flopped.
Or it could have just been marketing. Most important person in the world till the next one comes along.

The cynical side of me says it's just marketing to fit the whole 'Rise to Power' line (I never noticed, but the marketing team have a real thing for three-word slogans - Rise to Power, Fight for (the) Lost, Take Earth Back) - but the "single most important character" description is pretty specific. 

Hawke and the Warden (or Warden-Commander?) did go somewhere, for some reason. It doesn't explain why s/he's so important, and I doubt it was due to stopping a measly Qunari invasion or happening to be Champion of the city when things exploded. 

I'm more wondering if this was part of some overarching plot that we now won't get to see, since the plan is to move on to other protagonists.

Going somewhere is like a standard open ending. Revan went somewhere, the Exile went somewhere, they all probably go off to some cross dimensional pub and hang out. If they survived the Warden went somewhere as did Hawke.

Hawke really has no importance beyond being there when Anders did his thing. The best ending to DA2 would have been the one from the Usual Suspects that someone suggested. Hawke being just some guy/girl that Varric made up by looking around the room he was interogated in. At least that would have been worth a laugh for audacity.

[whykikyouwhy]

ElitePinecone wrote...

I just get the sense that DAII's main plot is then underwhelming, since the emphasis is not on what Hawke achieved in the timespan of the game, but what occurs 'offscreen', and the character only achieves importance after they've been wrested entirely from player control. 

I didn't find the plot underwhelming. It's just a different story, a slightly different approach to a protagonist and his/her role in the world. My opinion, of course, but I felt that Hawke's story was much more personal than the Warden's. The reprecussion of events in DA2 may echo much later in the overall narrative of the world, but I still felt as though Hawke had a significant and important role within them. Perhaps (s)he was just lacking that big trumphant pose moment that is typical for many an RPG.

[brushyourteeth]

Excellent point, OP.

Hawke still had some chance of meeting those expectations until the devs announced that his/her story was "over." Now the only way I can see Hawke being the most important person in Thedas without going back on those words is if his/her actions against the Qunari come into play in a big way in DAIII.

[HiroVoid]

The marketing tends to exaggerate a bit to hype up its products.

[Dakota Strider]

I think there were several companions in Hawke's party that were more important to the world of Dragon Age than Hawke. It is not a stretch to say both Isabella and Anders have done more to effect the world. And at least several of the companions from DAO are certainly more important than Hawke.

Modifié par Dakota Strider, 02 juin 2012 - 07:10 .

[Dakota Strider]

((grr dp))

Modifié par Dakota Strider, 02 juin 2012 - 07:10 .

[Realmzmaster]

Isabela is optional in the game. Hawke simply does not find out what was stolen. The encounter with the Qunari plays out normally. except there is no peaceful resolution to the problem.

[Get Magna Carter]

Hawke's "importance" seems to be not a reflection of anything he/she achieved but rather a result of people making him/her a symbol of something or other - and thus a rallying point with the potential to be a key player in future negotiations

either that or the word "important" was a misspelling of "impotent"

Modifié par Get Magna Carter, 02 juin 2012 - 09:15 .

[LightningSamus]

Stupid idea to make the character human only, i hope that is not the case in the next game.

Bioware tried creating a fantasy version of Mass Effect yet Hawke just baysat his/her family and did chores for people in the same city for almost 10 years.

All what happens could've happend without Hawke.

Now let me plays a a qunari Bioware.

[MagmaSaiyan]

LightningSamus wrote...

Stupid idea to make the character human only, i hope that is not the case in the next game.

Bioware tried creating a fantasy version of Mass Effect yet Hawke just baysat his/her family and did chores for people in the same city for almost 10 years.

All what happens could've happend without Hawke.

Now let me plays a a qunari Bioware.

no it wasnt stupid, they went off on what they had in mind, no other race could of worked unless they completely changed the "family" to your race, which they obviously did not have time to do(counting the voices also)

it was more only 7 since as far as we know he left well before the investigation and he probably didnt do any more "fetch" quest

people should really stop saying "this would of happend without Hawke" cause its the same thing with the Warden. and not actually going off of DC but i think Alistair would have been successful  

[Sacred_Fantasy]

The single most important person in Thedas statement is.over hyped in the same manner that Hawke's story was exaggerated and possibly twisted. That is what unreliable narrator does. To make the story spicy regardless the truth. Nothing to be taken seriously. It's just a bedtime story for children. A fairy tale to be told. In the end what matter the most is Cassandra's realization that the catalyst behind the global conflict is Anders. Everything else we see is nothing but tons of flashback and imagination from either Varric's or Cassandra's mind. The truth is we're playing Cassandra's role. To observe, analyze, to filter what is necessary and not to change or shape the outcome of what was already written inside the black book of the fairy tale of Champion of Kirkwall.

"It's in the Maker's hand now," said Leliana, closing the black book, indicated that Hawke's story is over. What's certain and remain is the chaos lies ahead. A herald to come as Morrigan said. For the real most important person in Thedas is DA3's protagonist, a saviour of the world from itself, A real PC - ( if BioWare learn from Hawke's mistakes )

[Sacred_Fantasy]

MagmaSaiyan wrote...
people should really stop saying "this would of happend without Hawke" cause its the same thing with the Warden. and not actually going off of DC but i think Alistair would have been successful  

That is why we have Darkspawn Chronicles. If PC warden doesn't exist than Vanguard Hurlock exist. And we have seen already both Alistair and Morrigan were slain.

So instead of Varric telling, "Word from across the sea that the Hero of Ferelden had defeated the blight," we get, "Word from across the sea that the Hero of Archdemon had destroy Ferelden and hundreds years of disaster is about to sweep the world. May the paragons be with us."

[Face of Evil]

"After the darkspawn destroyed Ferelden, the Fifth Blight came to an end at the border with Orlais, where the Grey Wardens — backed by legions of Orlesian chevaliers and troops from the Free Marches and Nevarra — slew the Archdemon. The Blight was ended before it could spread any further."

Even if the Warden had not slain the Archdemon, it's feasible that it could have been stopped from spreading any further. Ferelden certainly would have been lost, sure, but the doom of one country did not mean the end of the world.

But again, we've fallen into yet another unnecessary pissing match between the Warden and Hawke. What does this really matter? Is it not enough to say "They were both important" and leave it at that?

Modifié par Face of Evil, 03 juin 2012 - 12:57 .

[Sacred_Fantasy]

Face of Evil wrote...

"After the darkspawn destroyed Ferelden, the Fifth Blight came to an end at the border with Orlais, where the Grey Wardens — backed by legions of Orlesian chevaliers and troops from the Free Marches and Nevarra — slew the Archdemon. The Blight was ended before it could spread any further."


Even if the Warden had not slain the Archdemon, it's feasible that it could have been stopped from spreading any further. Ferelden certainly would have been lost, sure, but the doom of one country did not mean the end of the world.

That's too opstimic opinion. I rather go by historical records of the past 4 blights where there wre the wardens too. And still most part of the world were destroyed. Tevinter Empire was forever disintgrate and million lives suffer.

Face of Evil wrote...

But again, we've fallen into yet another unnecessary pissing match between the Warden and Hawke. What does this really matter? Is it not enough to say "They were both important" and leave it at that?

That's what happen when you undermine every other protagonist with over hyped "marketing" statement.

Modifié par Sacred_Fantasy, 03 juin 2012 - 01:03 .