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Parent Protag

Débuté par Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_* , oct. 13 2012 04:58

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#1
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 04:58

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Before my suggestion in another thread becomes buried, I came up with this idea just for kicks. I understand the devs are doing whatever is already in their game plan - I made this up purely for fun (and the sheer joy of speculation).  

All this talk about "What family members will we have in DA3?" got me thinking. So many people say yay or nay to siblings. So I started thinking about different family dynamics for a hero in a game. 

What if the DA3 protag were a parent? A single parent, a la Captain Sisko-style. That kind of thing. It'd make for an interesting story, giving the protagonist a unique edge over his/her predecessors (hawke, warden). A single parent of a son/daughter aged, I dunno, somewhere between 8 to 13 years old. And perhaps the kid exhibits mage abilities, so the chantry steps in and forces your protag to give up the kid. Thus setting the tone of the rest of the story, regarding family dynamics/drama/intrigue. 

(A lot of emphasis was placed on parents losing their mage children to chantries in preceeding games. I figure why not make that come full circle? Heh. Circle. No pun.)

If the game (like DA2) takes place over the course of many years, the protag's child can obviously go through a lot of changes and grow to a young adult. And so on and so forth. I dunno. I thought that would be a different approach - and certainly unique. Also, I think players would be more attached to their hero's child vs. their hero's brother/sister/mother. 

Food for thought. 

Modifié par Trista Faux Hawke, 13 octobre 2012 - 05:27 .

#2
Wifflebottom
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 05:02

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That seems very interesting actually. I'd be down for it, it makes the Mage/templar conflict more personal regardless of whether or not you yourself are a mage, I know Bethany kind of did that but she was irrelevant to the overall plot of DA2 I thought. Really cool idea.

#3
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 05:06

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Thanks. ;)

I think I'd be most attached to my protag's child - even if the child grew to be 17 or 18 if there's a 5 year span in the game (or longer). It'd definitely create many conflicts of interest. Say the child (age 16) breaks out of the chantry and you corner him/her and he/she begs for your help. Then your hero has to make a decision: either protect your kid or do what the chantry expects of you as Inquisitor. It can all go in so many different directions, really.

edit: What's also interesting is that you'd be more than just Inquisitor, Champion, Warden, or the like. You'd be Mother, or Father, to your kid, and that title will deliciously conflict with your official title. Mother/Father (though not glamorous) carries the most weight.

Modifié par Trista Faux Hawke, 13 octobre 2012 - 05:09 .

#4
Eveangaline
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 05:20

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I'd be more interested in this in a game with time skips like da2s. You can choose to get knocked up/knock someone up in the first part and after a timeskip there's a kid

Also, the male dwarven noble grey warden could become a parent, although it just meant a new mini quest

Modifié par Eveangaline, 13 octobre 2012 - 05:21 .

#5
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 05:24

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Eh, I was just thinking it starts out with a kid (not a baby, but older like preteens/early teens) already, no need for getting yourself/someone else knocked up in-game. It's just a backstory that already happened, you know? (No need to waste resources on something that is easily implied from the start.) Kind of like how you start out in origins knowing you're a city elf about to get married.

Besides, it's more dramatic to just spring it on the player. In walks your 12 year old, exhibiting magic abilities, and someone else in the room is telling you, "You need to make a decision as to what to do with your son/daughter."

Haha. No player would see that coming. Oh the pressure.

Anyway, I think a lot of players are asking for, "Give me a story that will punch me in the feels." I can see DA3 hitting most players square in the feels if the culmination of the protag's relationship with a son/daughter ends on the whole "Cats In the Cradle" idea. >:)

e.g. "YOU WEREN'T AROUND FOR ME WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOM/DAD! NOW I'M A BLOODMAGE."

Modifié par Trista Faux Hawke, 13 octobre 2012 - 05:38 .

#6
Wifflebottom
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 06:02

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Well to prevent forcing the player to care for one side of the conflict that they didn't want to, they could implement something so that at a certain point in the game you have to choose a side, Mage or templar, a young person from that side joins you and then over the course of the game you could act as a mentor and form a parental bond without actually being related. They'd both basically be orphans because the Mage wouldn't have met their parents being raised in the Circle since they were a baby and the Templar would have been abandoned by their parents and forced to join the Templar Order to avoid living in the streets. Do all that and I think we've got something going!

#7
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 06:06

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^^^^ yes! And you're right, it keeps the player from being forced to one side or the other.

#8
Aldora92
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 06:43

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I think the mage/templar sympathies are basically gone to dust anyway... I was under the impression that the templars had split away from the chantry and that the all of the mage towers had broken away also... this leads me to believe that the templars would entrust the First Enchanters to keep the peace while the templars themselves hunt blood mages and maleficarum. There is now too much bad blood between both factions for them to remain under the same circle roof.

I do like the idea of being a parent though, as I was shocked to see my dwarf noble become a father twice, yet never getting to meet his first child... Morrigan tried to keep me away from OGB but I won her around to the idea of us being a family. It would be cool to import this character and have some correlation between the son of the swamp witch and the leader of a new dwarven noble house and nephew to the king of orzammar (as his father disappeared my son would have assumed command of the house)

I do not like the idea of a child being torn away and sent to a circle, but I think it would serve best if us, as the heroes, were pulled away from the child, who has to stay with your siblings/parents while you run off to save the world, or a small part of it anyhow...

#9
Cimeas
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 06:45

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I think that would be a fantastic idea, and they could easily use facial features/skin colour/etc.. to make your child look a bit like you. (They don't have to look the same- you could just say the mother was a different (human) race.)

Of course people like Sylvius would claim that this would be removing player choice, but I disagree. This would add a huge amount of player choice, because it would create an incredible relationship that could push storytelling in the genre forward.

Do you become the rich guardian, not caring about your son but giving him money to do what he wants. Would you be the hated parent, sending him off to boarding school and scolding him when he doesn't do well. Or would you be a father figure, teaching him, caring for him, building that bond?

This would be an incredible thing, if done right.

#10
Svanhildr
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:13

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This is a really interesting idea! One that I would totally be willing to explore in a game.

#11
CuriousArtemis
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:15

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Aww I really like this idea. I actually prefer playing young characters, but I enjoy writing parent characters. I would like the kid to be very young at first though, maybe 5-6 years old, so that my PC doesn't start off too old.

The only bad thing is that if the child is a mage, it makes it hard for the PC to be pro-Templar. I always found it impossible to be pro-Templar in DA2 because either Hawke is a mage of his/her sister is one.

#12
Chaos Lord Malek
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:16

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This is a fantastic idea. I highly approve it (i didn't remember at first who Sisko was, but then i got it , that he was from DS9)

#13
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:17

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Aldora92 wrote...

I think the mage/templar sympathies are basically gone to dust anyway... I was under the impression that the templars had split away from the chantry and that the all of the mage towers had broken away also... this leads me to believe that the templars would entrust the First Enchanters to keep the peace while the templars themselves hunt blood mages and maleficarum. There is now too much bad blood between both factions for them to remain under the same circle roof.

I do like the idea of being a parent though, as I was shocked to see my dwarf noble become a father twice, yet never getting to meet his first child... Morrigan tried to keep me away from OGB but I won her around to the idea of us being a family. It would be cool to import this character and have some correlation between the son of the swamp witch and the leader of a new dwarven noble house and nephew to the king of orzammar (as his father disappeared my son would have assumed command of the house)

I do not like the idea of a child being torn away and sent to a circle, but I think it would serve best if us, as the heroes, were pulled away from the child, who has to stay with your siblings/parents while you run off to save the world, or a small part of it anyhow...


If that's the way the game is intended to go (no circles etc.) then your suggestions would definitely work too. I was just randomly tossing out story schemes centered around a son/daughter. The bottom line? There has to be drama. 

Modifié par Trista Faux Hawke, 13 octobre 2012 - 07:17 .

#14
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:20

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motomotogirl wrote...

Aww I really like this idea. I actually prefer playing young characters, but I enjoy writing parent characters. I would like the kid to be very young at first though, maybe 5-6 years old, so that my PC doesn't start off too old.

The only bad thing is that if the child is a mage, it makes it hard for the PC to be pro-Templar. I always found it impossible to be pro-Templar in DA2 because either Hawke is a mage of his/her sister is one.


Eh - I assume parents in Thedas can start out as early as 17/18 with no real skepticism. That means if you had a 10-13 year old son/daughter, that'd put your protag around the age of 27-30. That's not old. :::crosses arms::: (lol jk.)

#15
Dhiro
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:21

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But what if my character doesn't want any kids? And what about homosexual characters, will the children be adopted? Do I get to tell them that?

#16
Overlord_Mephist
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:23

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Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

Thanks. ;)

I think I'd be most attached to my protag's child - even if the child grew to be 17 or 18


Everytime I try to post my thoughts on it I keep giggling at the thought of a successor to the Bethany mod. 

It would be interesting(not the mod lol) however... how would the PC go around changing the world when he has hostage material lying around.  It would be nerve wracking for an adventurer

*you return from the deep roads*

Your child was killed by assassins while you were away
Random darkspawn ate your child
Elf uprising killed your child
Bloodmage turned your child into a human collage.
Your child never really existed, and you're just insane

#17
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:36

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Dhiro wrote...

But what if my character doesn't want any kids? And what about homosexual characters, will the children be adopted? Do I get to tell them that?


What if my character didn't want a brother or sister in DA2? What about the homosexual/lesbians who wanted to become king/queen in DAO? That's the way the cookie crumbles.

#18
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:37

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Overlord_Mephist wrote...

Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

Thanks. ;)

I think I'd be most attached to my protag's child - even if the child grew to be 17 or 18


Everytime I try to post my thoughts on it I keep giggling at the thought of a successor to the Bethany mod. 

It would be interesting(not the mod lol) however... how would the PC go around changing the world when he has hostage material lying around.  It would be nerve wracking for an adventurer

*you return from the deep roads*

Your child was killed by assassins while you were away
Random darkspawn ate your child
Elf uprising killed your child
Bloodmage turned your child into a human collage.
Your child never really existed, and you're just insane


Exactly. So much is at stake with a child. 

#19
CuriousArtemis
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:42

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Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...

Aww I really like this idea. I actually prefer playing young characters, but I enjoy writing parent characters. I would like the kid to be very young at first though, maybe 5-6 years old, so that my PC doesn't start off too old.

The only bad thing is that if the child is a mage, it makes it hard for the PC to be pro-Templar. I always found it impossible to be pro-Templar in DA2 because either Hawke is a mage of his/her sister is one.


Eh - I assume parents in Thedas can start out as early as 17/18 with no real skepticism. That means if you had a 10-13 year old son/daughter, that'd put your protag around the age of 27-30. That's not old. :::crosses arms::: (lol jk.)


Well, I am older than that, so I agree with you, that's not old :lol: But I like playing young protags... like my Dalish and city and Circle elves, I imagine to be around 18.

#20
CuriousArtemis
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:44

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Dhiro wrote...

But what if my character doesn't want any kids? And what about homosexual characters, will the children be adopted? Do I get to tell them that?


There are plenty of gay folks who've had kids. It happens, just like with straight people. It can be something you regret (the sex, not the kid) and something you didn't necessarily enjoy... same with straight folks lol

#21
Dhiro
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:48

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Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

Dhiro wrote...

But what if my character doesn't want any kids? And what about homosexual characters, will the children be adopted? Do I get to tell them that?


What if my character didn't want a brother or sister in DA2? What about the homosexual/lesbians who wanted to become king/queen in DAO? That's the way the cookie crumbles.


But having a sister and a brother aren't linked to your character choices. Leandra and Malcom had sex and the twins happened, Hawke's input wasn't needed. Having a kid, however, is something that depends of the character's will.

And I'm not sure how the queen/king thing is related to forcing homosexual characters to have children? Both Alistair and Anora are heterosexual and a same-sex couple can't produce an heir, which is important. :huh:

#22
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 07:59

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Dhiro wrote...

Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

Dhiro wrote...

But what if my character doesn't want any kids? And what about homosexual characters, will the children be adopted? Do I get to tell them that?


What if my character didn't want a brother or sister in DA2? What about the homosexual/lesbians who wanted to become king/queen in DAO? That's the way the cookie crumbles.


But having a sister and a brother aren't linked to your character choices. Leandra and Malcom had sex and the twins happened, Hawke's input wasn't needed. Having a kid, however, is something that depends of the character's will.

And I'm not sure how the queen/king thing is related to forcing homosexual characters to have children? Both Alistair and Anora are heterosexual and a same-sex couple can't produce an heir, which is important. :huh:


1. Kids can be accidental or the product of forcible rape. Choices can be there or not be there - doesn't matter, it happened before you sat down to play the character. The cards weren't in your hands at that point. Dragon Age is not 100% immersive. People need to start realizing that.

2. Gay players who wanted to romance Alistair and marry him to become soverign, couldn't. They'd have to marry Anora in order to be ruler.

Moving on...

This thread is speculative, for the sake of fun ideas/theories/storyline in regard to the protag if he/she were a parent.

Sorry to sound rude, but if you're uncomfortable with this thread - please leave. 

I will not entertain a "what if my character is gay/doesn't want kids?" derailing of the topic. End of discussion. 

Modifié par Trista Faux Hawke, 13 octobre 2012 - 08:07 .

#23
Guest_Trista Faux Hawke_*
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 08:02

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motomotogirl wrote...

Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...

Aww I really like this idea. I actually prefer playing young characters, but I enjoy writing parent characters. I would like the kid to be very young at first though, maybe 5-6 years old, so that my PC doesn't start off too old.

The only bad thing is that if the child is a mage, it makes it hard for the PC to be pro-Templar. I always found it impossible to be pro-Templar in DA2 because either Hawke is a mage of his/her sister is one.


Eh - I assume parents in Thedas can start out as early as 17/18 with no real skepticism. That means if you had a 10-13 year old son/daughter, that'd put your protag around the age of 27-30. That's not old. :::crosses arms::: (lol jk.)


Well, I am older than that, so I agree with you, that's not old :lol: But I like playing young protags... like my Dalish and city and Circle elves, I imagine to be around 18.


Ahhhhhh

Well yeah. I don't see why having a 5 or 6 year old to start off with would be an issue then. :) 

I like how the second game took place over almost a decade. That leaves a lot of room for change. Going from 5 years of age to 15/16 years of age would work too. Plus the game's playthrough could evolve beyond a decade, who knows? 13 year timespan? 12? 

#24
Dhiro
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 08:04

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Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

Dhiro wrote...

Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

Dhiro wrote...

But what if my character doesn't want any kids? And what about homosexual characters, will the children be adopted? Do I get to tell them that?


What if my character didn't want a brother or sister in DA2? What about the homosexual/lesbians who wanted to become king/queen in DAO? That's the way the cookie crumbles.


But having a sister and a brother aren't linked to your character choices. Leandra and Malcom had sex and the twins happened, Hawke's input wasn't needed. Having a kid, however, is something that depends of the character's will.

And I'm not sure how the queen/king thing is related to forcing homosexual characters to have children? Both Alistair and Anora are heterosexual and a same-sex couple can't produce an heir, which is important. :huh:


This thread is speculative, for the sake of fun ideas/theories/storyline in regard to the protag if he/she were a parent.

Sorry to sound rude, but if you're uncomfortable with this thread - please leave. 

I will not entertain a "what if my character is gay/doesn't want kids?" derailing of the topic. End of discussion. 


I'm simply trying to offer a counter-point for your idea, since this forum is a place where we can discuss things, after all. Of course, if you want a thread where everybody just agrees with you, I'll leave you to it. Good luck.

#25
CuriousArtemis
Posté 13 octobre 2012 - 08:08

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Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...

Trista Faux Hawke wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...

Aww I really like this idea. I actually prefer playing young characters, but I enjoy writing parent characters. I would like the kid to be very young at first though, maybe 5-6 years old, so that my PC doesn't start off too old.

The only bad thing is that if the child is a mage, it makes it hard for the PC to be pro-Templar. I always found it impossible to be pro-Templar in DA2 because either Hawke is a mage of his/her sister is one.


Eh - I assume parents in Thedas can start out as early as 17/18 with no real skepticism. That means if you had a 10-13 year old son/daughter, that'd put your protag around the age of 27-30. That's not old. :::crosses arms::: (lol jk.)


Well, I am older than that, so I agree with you, that's not old :lol: But I like playing young protags... like my Dalish and city and Circle elves, I imagine to be around 18.


Ahhhhhh

Well yeah. I don't see why having a 5 or 6 year old to start off with would be an issue then. :) 

I like how the second game took place over almost a decade. That leaves a lot of room for change. Going from 5 years of age to 15/16 years of age would work too. Plus the game's playthrough could evolve beyond a decade, who knows? 13 year timespan? 12? 


Yeah I think if the time skips had been smoothed out that DA2 timeline would have been executed really well! I like how Hawke "grew up" in Kirkwall basically. Would have been better if s/he were around 20 instead of 25 though. But even at 25 you could defintely have a kid around 5-10 years old. p.s. All my Hawke's were gay, girls and boys both, and I would still love for them to have had kiddos xD

Or imagine if the kid hits his/her teens and becomes a staunch supporter of your PC's enemy (Chantry or mages) DRAMZ!!! Or rejects your way of life, a la Jake becoming a reporter instead of entering Star Fleet *to use your DS9 analogy*
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