Well, that wasn't a catchy title, but I do think that it describes what I would like to discuss here rather well. Here's a suggestion that's probably mostly of academic interest, since the plans for how to design the story and gameplay probably has progressed too far for any radical changes, but since there are lots of people on the forums who like to discuss hypothetical game design, I thought I'd share my thoughts.
There's a lot of complaints about the Blood Magic specialization not being recognized by the characters in the game world. I'm wondering if it would be possible to not make Blood Magic a specialization, but rather a set of extra abilities similar to the abilities gained in Warden's Keep. That way, you would gain them through an in-world event, similar to how it happened in Origins. It wouldn't necessarily need to be balanced against the other specializations in this case either. You could instead choose to make Blood Magic as powerful as the story intends it to be instead of about as powerful as other specializations. It's power could instead be balanced with reactions from characters in the game. That way, the game wouldn't suffer from the rather horrible game play/story segregation which took place in DA2 and to a lesser extent in DA:O.
Mage specializations, Blood Magic and Game Play/Story Segregation
Débuté par
Aldandil
, sept. 26 2012 08:34
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#2
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 09:20
Xewaka
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They addressed this point in a con panel: They've stated that they would like to (if time and budget allows) to give each specialization certain weight in how the world reacts to the character (possibly through a specialization-specific sidequest). They've also stated that the most likely way they could afford to give each specialization its own content is to make the character able to pick a single specialization, rather than two, so they can avoid the permutation issue (having to do a quest per spec combo triples the amount of content needed).
#3
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 09:38
Wulfram
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If becoming a blood mage doesn't have a huge impact on the games story, it shouldn't be made available.
#4
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 10:33
Jackums
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I support this approach.Xewaka wrote...
They addressed this point in a con panel: They've stated that they would like to (if time and budget allows) to give each specialization certain weight in how the world reacts to the character (possibly through a specialization-specific sidequest). They've also stated that the most likely way they could afford to give each specialization its own content is to make the character able to pick a single specialization, rather than two, so they can avoid the permutation issue (having to do a quest per spec combo triples the amount of content needed).
#5
Guest_FemaleMageFan_*
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 10:54
Guest_FemaleMageFan_*
Guest_FemaleMageFan_*
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Yes! I support single specializations! I wonder what they will do to the reaver class
#6
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 11:21
themageguy
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This is a BRILLIANT idea!
I'd gladly sacrifice a second spec for a more in-depth single spec.
Maybe my dreams of being recognized as a blood Mage in game will come to fruition in DA3.
I guess we'd have a damage focused spec, healing and support and then a hybrid/ melee.
I'd gladly sacrifice a second spec for a more in-depth single spec.
Maybe my dreams of being recognized as a blood Mage in game will come to fruition in DA3.
I guess we'd have a damage focused spec, healing and support and then a hybrid/ melee.
#7
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 12:18
Big I
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Wulfram wrote...
If becoming a blood mage doesn't have a huge impact on the games story, it shouldn't be made available.
Also get rid of the divide between blood mage as it plays in-game and the codex. The codex tells us you can use blood magic to control or read minds, to summon demons, etc. Blood mages you see in Dragon Age can create cursed werewolves, extend their own life, even trap the soul of an Arch-Demon! Then you spec to blood mage and...nothing.
Blood mage characters should get to use the cool blood mage powers.
#8
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 01:23
hexaligned
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I think the entire system needs an overhaul, in both games it felt tacked on. At least in the first game there was the added "treasure hunting" aspect of finding the sidequests to unlock them, that was the best part of specs in general as far as I'm concerned. Even then there were annoyances, for instance if you wanted to play a reaver, you most likely would not have the Sacred Ashes unlocked and completed at level 7.
It would be a resource hog, but I would like them to become major story/mechanic choices. It should change the way you essentially play the class. The blood magic mechanic is actually one of the better ones imo. It makes another stat have a large importance, it has restrictions (on healing, which is in itself a major mechanic), and it has a lot of RP potential, even if the previous 2 games didn't do a good job of supporting it. If anything I would hold blood mage up as the one spec they should model the others off of. (Well, other than AW.)
It would be a resource hog, but I would like them to become major story/mechanic choices. It should change the way you essentially play the class. The blood magic mechanic is actually one of the better ones imo. It makes another stat have a large importance, it has restrictions (on healing, which is in itself a major mechanic), and it has a lot of RP potential, even if the previous 2 games didn't do a good job of supporting it. If anything I would hold blood mage up as the one spec they should model the others off of. (Well, other than AW.)
Modifié par relhart, 26 septembre 2012 - 01:24 .
#9
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 07:48
mazariamonti
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LookingGlass93 wrote...
Wulfram wrote...
If becoming a blood mage doesn't have a huge impact on the games story, it shouldn't be made available.
Also get rid of the divide between blood mage as it plays in-game and the codex. The codex tells us you can use blood magic to control or read minds, to summon demons, etc. Blood mages you see in Dragon Age can create cursed werewolves, extend their own life, even trap the soul of an Arch-Demon! Then you spec to blood mage and...nothing.
Blood mage characters should get to use the cool blood mage powers.
Thats the most annoying part of being a blood Mage to me (besides no one including the PC caring) the NPC blood mages get all of these really interesting powers, and then you get to like....hurt yourself for extra mana and stuff. If anything it should be the other way around.
#10
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 07:53
Ex-Paladin
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I'd actually play a Blood Mage if they did something like that!Xewaka wrote...
They addressed this point in a con panel: They've stated that they would like to (if time and budget allows) to give each specialization certain weight in how the world reacts to the character (possibly through a specialization-specific sidequest). They've also stated that the most likely way they could afford to give each specialization its own content is to make the character able to pick a single specialization, rather than two, so they can avoid the permutation issue (having to do a quest per spec combo triples the amount of content needed).
*has never played a blood mage in Origins/Awakening nor DA2* 
#11
Posté 26 septembre 2012 - 07:54
silentassassin264
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I wish they had done single specialization in the first place. I don't care about having a bunch of sort-of-okay specializations. Having one done really well would be perfect. It made no sense that being a Reaver which is like a non-mage blood mage never gets anyone's attention. Or how Meredith doesn't seem to notice you have Templars powers which the Chantry tries to keep a close reign on. Or how you end up with Antivan Crow training and the Antivan Crows don't notice. Etc. etc. I am all for the specialization choice being more than getting new powers and actually being special.
