36 réponses à ce sujet

[Leomerya12]

...who don't really do anything to help you in your quest.

I love Bioware, I do. I really, really, do.
But WHERE ARE THE BLACK COMPANIONS!?

There have been none (and do not mention STEN. NO.) in the Dragon Age world.
In the Mass Effect world we got Ashley (who, let's be honest, didn't know was voiced by a Black woman, and  looks-wise could pass for any-goddamned-thing... plus, as a gay man, I sacrificed her for Kaidan, so I never got to know her anyway), Jacob (YAWN), and Anderson (who, although is quite awesome, really wasn't a companion).

Instead what we got were a bunch of Reptiles/Amphibians (Turian, Salarian, Krogan), a couple AI's (EDI/Legion), blue White women, and an Arabic-sounding suit-lady.

It's like goddamned Disney with their princesses; a Middle-Eastern one, an Asian one, a feline one (Nala), and even a freaking Mermaid all before we finally got a BLACK one.

Just saying.

[Pitznik]

Maybe there are just no black people in Ferelden/Kirkwall?

[Dutchess]

Isabela was pretty dark. although probably not truly "black".

[Leomerya12]

Pitznik wrote...

Maybe there are just no black people in Ferelden/Kirkwall?

Ha. +1

[CuriousArtemis]

In the leaked information regarding potential DA3 companions, one of the characters appears to be black!!! Very exciting.

In ME, you forgot the shuttle pilot ... I forget his name. The one whose husband died. I couldn't romance him because I felt like a homewrecker. Oh right, STEVE.

Yeah, Jacob was a huge yawn-fest.

Ashley looks pretty white to me.

It depends on how each person identifies "Black" as to whether or not you would consider Isabela "Black." She definitely has skin that is darker than the typical NPC. That's really it, though.

Elsewhere in DA2 I recall two Black men. The guy selling armor in Lowtown and Guardsman Maecon.

So, yeah. Let's step it up, BW.

[Xilizhra]

Rivain seems Moorish in ethnicity, but have we ever seen a nation in Thedas that'd actually have black people come from it? Even the kossith are paler than that.

[CuriousArtemis]

Xilizhra wrote...

Rivain seems Moorish in ethnicity, but have we ever seen a nation in Thedas that'd actually have black people come from it? Even the kossith are paler than that.

Nope.  But I think they should just be there anyway, inspersed with the populace.  There should be all kinds of skin colors and ethnicities.  It's more interesting that way, plus it feels good as a player to see characters like yourself.

[Dutchess]

motomotogirl wrote...


Elsewhere in DA2 I recall two Black men. The guy selling armor in Lowtown and Guardsman Maecon.

So, yeah. Let's step it up, BW.

There was also the owner of the Bone Pit. I don't recall his name at the moment.

[Leomerya12]

motomotogirl wrote...

Xilizhra wrote...

Rivain seems Moorish in ethnicity, but have we ever seen a nation in Thedas that'd actually have black people come from it? Even the kossith are paler than that.

Nope.  But I think they should just be there anyway, inspersed with the populace.  There should be all kinds of skin colors and ethnicities.  It's more interesting that way, plus it feels good as a player to see characters like yourself.

+1.

Also, DA fans are far more civil than ME fans. Holy Christ.

[SeptimusMagistos]

Where exactly do you expect the black people to come from?

The current racial make-up came about as a result of mass involuntary transportation. Before then seeing black people in temperate climate was a true rarity.

[Dutchess]

SeptimusMagistos wrote...

Where exactly do you expect the black people to come from?

The current racial make-up came about as a result of mass involuntary transportation. Before then seeing black people in temperate climate was a true rarity.

This. There is no need for the DA world to fully represent this world. It's a fantasy world after all. There are elves and dwarves, and strange giants with horns on their heads. It's already not comparable to our world. It would unnecessary to include every possible race in the game just so people will not feel "left out". It's a game. 
If there is a country in Thedas with black people, or Asian people... that's fine. But it should be included because it suits the lore, not because somebody who plays the game wants his race included. If you want to see a representation of your skin, you can always give your main character that look. I haven't heard people in the game with my accent either, and I don't mind.

[Amirit]

renjility wrote...
 It's a game. 
If there is a country in Thedas with black people, or Asian people... that's fine. But it should be included because it suits the lore, not because somebody who plays the game wants his race included. If you want to see a representation of your skin, you can always give your main character that look. I haven't heard people in the game with my accent either, and I don't mind.

So very true. Game has to be about the lore. You brake this - and you brake the game.

[EricHVela]

renjility wrote...
 It's a game. 
If there is a country in Thedas with black people, or Asian people... that's fine. But it should be included because it suits the lore, not because somebody who plays the game wants his race included. If you want to see a representation of your skin, you can always give your main character that look. I haven't heard people in the game with my accent either, and I don't mind.

I agree that it must fit the lore.

Yet, I think there are enough unexplored areas in the Dragon Age setting to accommodate the equivalent of all countries and races in the real world.

The question is: When will they be able to fully explore those opportunities. You can only fit so much into a single game. I think it would be interesting for a game to take place mostly in a setting that is dominated by a non-Caucasian race similar to a real-world race. I think it would be a nice change of pace from the typical medieval-fantasy setting.

Again, it has to fit the lore. Additionally, I think it has to have a good purpose within the story. I don't want to see a new setting just to pander to someone. I've seen enough pandering to people like me to make me nauseous from all the eye-rolling.

[Crimson Moon]

I'm hoping for an Asian-type character visiting Thedas.

[KENNY4753]

Crimson Moon wrote...

I'm hoping for an Asian-type character visiting Thedas.

Kai Leng will fit right in with his ninja sword

[Crimson Moon]

KENNY4753 wrote...

Crimson Moon wrote...

I'm hoping for an Asian-type character visiting Thedas.

Kai Leng will fit right in with his ninja sword

It's a bit stereotypical for a kung fu type character. I'm thinking more alongside of a mage. (Did I just turn the game into Diablo?)

[KENNY4753]

Crimson Moon wrote...

KENNY4753 wrote...

Crimson Moon wrote...

I'm hoping for an Asian-type character visiting Thedas.

Kai Leng will fit right in with his ninja sword

It's a bit stereotypical for a kung fu type character. I'm thinking more alongside of a mage. (Did I just turn the game into Diablo?)

What country would an asian character be from in Thedas?

[SerTabris]

KENNY4753 wrote...

What country would an asian character be from in Thedas?

The Jade Empire.

On the original topic, though, it seems to me that since we've already established (with some NPCs like the Bone Pit owner) that there are black denizens of Thedas, they have to come from somewhere. Therefore, there aren't any in-universe reasons not to do it. It seems like a good idea to me, and I'd be happy to see it.

Modifié par SerTabris, 23 août 2012 - 06:13 .

[Amirit]

Sorry, but Bone Pit owner is from east, like Iran in our world. And I am sure he mentioned Antiva (definitely east). It has nothing to do with African black.

[CuriousArtemis]

KENNY4753 wrote...

Crimson Moon wrote...

I'm hoping for an Asian-type character visiting Thedas.

Kai Leng will fit right in with his ninja sword

OMG Seriously that was really so very stupid. Asian guy with Asian name with Asian cliche katana ... I don't even know what they were thinking.  I'm surprised there was also not a wise-cracking black guy with a fro, or a feisty Latina female crewmember. 

Kai Leng was like a character from a different game who accidentally stumbled into a sci-fi RPG.

SerTabris wrote...

On the original topic, though, it seems to me that since we've already established (with some NPCs like the Bone Pit owner) that there are black denizens of Thedas, they have to come from somewhere. Therefore, there aren't any in-universe reasons not to do it. It seems like a good idea to me, and I'd be happy to see it.

 

Yeah, as others have said, Hubert is not Black.

Darker skin = hotter climate (lighter skin = colder climate).  So for all you folks who go on and on about "the lore" and what not, let's just say the black and brown people come from "somewhere up north" and be done with it.  

I'm sure it would just be so immersion-breaking for some of you if you saw the occasional black or brown person walking about Thedas. Talk about a game-ruining experience. *rolls eyes*

[SerTabris]

motomotogirl wrote...

Yeah, as others have said, Hubert is not Black.

Darker skin = hotter climate (lighter skin = colder climate).  So for all you folks who go on and on about "the lore" and what not, let's just say the black and brown people come from "somewhere up north" and be done with it.  

I'm sure it would just be so immersion-breaking for some of you if you saw the occasional black or brown person walking about Thedas. Talk about a game-ruining experience. *rolls eyes*

Ah, I see. I apologize for the mistake (and feel a bit embarrassed about it). In any case, what you suggest works fine from my perspective, and I would agree.

I could also see some type of character who just doesn't want to talk about where they're from. (Like when you start talking to Sten in DA:O, and ask 'tell me about your people' and he just says 'No.')

[CuriousArtemis]

SerTabris wrote...

Ah, I see. I apologize for the mistake (and feel a bit embarrassed about it). In any case, what you suggest works fine from my perspective, and I would agree.

Don't be embarrassed   

I get toooo passionate about this topic.  I think sometimes other people on this forum get really upset because they don't want to think about race issues, or gender issues, or what have you.  But for me, this sort of thing is really important...

[Amirit]

More important the lore? It's not like you can simply bring the whole new race into game. There has to be a history, relation with other races and so on. OP simply asked for black skin and get the simple answer - we are in the north, you do not get black people in the vikings villages.

[sylvanaerie]

Hubert was Orlesian. Now whether he was a full native of the country or imported from another place--seems more Rivaini in features/tone, is another story. He was voiced by the same guy who did Riordan.

I would love to see a larger racial diversity (and maybe the next chapter of the tale will put us in a place with it), but it's more important to me to see the story stay lore friendly. Thinking about the only place that may have a huge diversity of races might be Tevinter with their slave trade, importing any number of people from other parts of the world--though elves seem to be a particular favorite among the magisters--they certainly don't limit themselves to just elves.

And hey, there are always mods (if you have the PC version of the game) to alter any NPC's to look however you wish. Skin in a game is just skin deep, lacking the inherent cultures that are attendant to the different races. DA2 is trickier but it's really easy to mod anyone you want in DAO.

[MissRedZelda]

I actually kinda agree with Amriti. Dragon Age is set in medieval Europe, a time when seeing a person of darker skin than a Southern France/Spain/Southern Italy was such a big rarity, that it was a big deal when one present (for example, Shakespeare's 'Othello'). Just because the game is made in our day and age, where seeing others of a different races is not a big deal, doesn't mean it has to follow the same societal rules. The game is trying to be historically accurate. There's a reason there are no, or a very small number of, Black people is historical European movies.

If they do introduce a 'Moorish' character, it'll introduce a whole new aspect to the game, and a new setting. And I'm all for that. It'll expand the DA world, just like our own world was expanded when England/France/Spain documented the countries they discovered.

Moto, I understand that you are passionate about these things, but there is the DA lore you have to consider. There aren't any 'Black' people because the NPCs and the PCs don't know they exist. Da's equivalent to Africa has not been discovered yet, and they haven't ventured to Thedas either.

Oh, and Isabela is Ravain. It's supposed to be fantasy counterpart Spain/Portugal. So, her dark skin is because of that reason.