551 réponses à ce sujet

[j_j_m]

Astranagant wrote...

I think a change of locale should be something determined by where the overall direction of the series goes, rather than the opposite. The more recent Elder Scrolls games are a good example of what happens when you craft a series around changing geography rather than any kind of focused scenario or story. While each installment is well and good on its own, the series' fans don't really have anything to look forward to or anticipate in the next installment but a change of geography and updated graphics.

But anyway, Bioware: superpro writing, you earned my $60 and then some.

I don't see how not recycling the same characters and places somehow makes it "Oblivion". Oblivion for one didn't have much of a story, Dragon Age on the other hand does. That is one thing that keeps me on a "focused scenario".

The story and lore of DA works in a way it essentially affects all of Thedas. It wouldn't really matter where the sequels were set. You would be right back where you left.

Ferelden in DA:O was never put in a major role for Thedas. You would think after a full-length game and an expansion pack, this nation would be all but exhausted. Orlais and the Tevinter Imperium were the two nations in Thedas with the biggest influence on everything. You would find either of them mentioned on basically any text piece in DA.O. What better reason to change scenery?

Using the same characters for the entire series doesn't go without problems. After DA:Awakening your main Origins Warden should be around level 30 and regularly fights epic dragons and powerful villains. How exactly do you make another full-length game featuring the same character and not make it over the top ( In BG:ToB, you had to be fighting demi-gods left and right for it to make any sense)? Even if I didn't want to import my old character, and the story allowed me to start anew (like DA:Awakening), the character level has to accommodate with those that do import. Or are we supposed to believe some sort of excuse why our power level is reduced in the next installment of the game?

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see familiar faces and places in DA2, but I don't want everything recycled because some fanboys/girls wish so.

Modifié par j_j_m, 19 janvier 2010 - 09:15 .

[DJ0000]

I think after all the dlc and expansions are done your charecters story will probably be done and the next game will be with a fresh charecter but I would like to keep my charecter through the whole series.

[Giles_Warrior_Champion]

I would like to be able to hear my character speak actually you hardly ever hear him unless you switch back to him

[ozenglish]

Mr Gaider, I was reading the introduction to your first book The Stolen Throne, and whilst reading this I found the following:



"You encouraged my imagination, and that's more important that anything."



I hereby submit my request to work as your personal editor. :-)

[WrestlesWithKernels]

I have to echo the praise given to the writers. I just finished my first full run-through and was actually moved by the wrap-up. Particularly Morrigan's final goodbye. (Play as her friend and you'll see what I mean.) I'll even miss bumbling Alistaire.



As for the future, I see a bunch of threads left hanging in this story that I hope very much will be picked up in the future. The story of the dwarves of Orzammar is by no means over, in fact it could be the lead-in to a story about the ultimate defeat of the darkspawn threat (and innumerable smaller stories along the way). And then there's Morrigan. That's as great a hanging thread as I've ever seen and if the folks at Bioware don't pick it up (even to the point of Claudia Black returning for the voice acting) then there is no justice.



And just for the record, I _never_ say this kind of thing about games, any games. Dragon Age is special.

[Sandtigress]

Half-way through the game with my human noble, and just wanted to say how much I loved this origin. I used this character to demo the game for a friend, and even though she wasn't playing, she really got into story as well. (And Mr. Gaider, you did earn a "That's sick! How evil!" for the sword comment, just so you know.) I'm not sure which of the two are now my favorite - my Dalish elf or my noble. Usually my first game is always my favorite, so its unusual for me to get so into a subsequent character.

[Greenphrog]

Ginasue wrote...

I just want to tell the writers of the story how much I have enjoyed the little talking actions that goes on between characters as you travel about.  Never before have I enjoyed a RPG as much as I have this one.  I will stop what action I'm doing, just to sit and listen to whats going on between them.  There are times I get a good laugh at what some of them say to each other.

This is one of the best games I've ever played and I"ve been doing RPG's since back in the 80's.

Fantastic and a joy to play! 

And I usally do not replay a game for some time, now on my 3rd play.  if not for Mass Effect, maybe a 4th!

Modifié par Greenphrog, 25 janvier 2010 - 06:11 .

[Emperor Iaius I]

I'm on my... sixth? Seventh game now? I haven't replayed an RPG this many times since the original KOTOR, and if it keeps up it might even begin to near Morrowind in terms of hours I've spent on it.



KOTOR had an excellent story and great party members and I never expected an RPG in its style to be surpassed, but I do honestly think DA is better overall. Nothing will surpass how epic KOTOR's story ended up being, but I think the overall combination of storytelling and character development coupled with the vast lore base created for this setting takes the cake. The lore, the sense of a lived in world with a sense of history, is what I liked about the Elder Scrolls games and it's what I like best about DA.



So as much as I enjoy the party banter and all the characters (and I like them a lot!), I do think I would actually prefer a new nation and set of characters for any subsequent game in the DA setting. Ferelden is great but I think we've used it up--I want to see the other nations: Minrathous and the larger Imperium most of all, but also the splendour of Val Royeaux, the exotic atmosphere of Antiva City, and even the alien Par Vollen.



I already make my mages look Tevinter and pretend that's their origin anyway, and I'd love to be able to do that in the next game. Or (provided the required dialogue combinations aren't too insane) the ability to pick a different nation of origin/accent alongside race and class, regardless of the location. That would be delightful.



But that's getting into the technical aspects. Back to the writing, more of the same in terms of lore, in-game books, history, etc would be great. I love the sense that different nations have their own take on history, and what you perceive to be the historical reality varies greatly depending on who you're asking.

[TyroneTasty]

David, regarding the Nature of the Beast quest, to me playing as a Dalish elf, it was probably the most emotionally affecting quest because I felt it represented a beautiful reflection of all that had happened to the Dalish over the centuries regarding the injustices against them. There was a point where I had to make a decision about whether or not I should forgive what the humans did and up until that point I had consciously hated all things human in the game, often choosing the most negative line I could when ever it came up, but in that quest it made me think differently and brought up concepts of reparation and getting past things that have occurred in the past. It could be compared to the feelings any group that has been oppressed in the past struggles with themselves.



Now, I doubt a lot of people looked at it the same way as you had to be pretty invested in your character to see things in such a way I suppose, but for me it was probably one of the best quests I've played in an RPG because it went beyond simply getting loot or playing good and evil, or even the basic concept of choices. I'm not sure if you thought about this while writing the quest or not but I just wanted to let you know how this player read into it. I hope in the future to see quests that manage to touch on deeper concepts as this one did. A perfect melding of lore, scenario design, and character involvement.



Now I hate to be too optimistic, so with that praise, I want to say that I did not enjoy Leliana's song at all. I don't know who's idea that was but it simply did not work or at the least was not executed properly. At the least keep the instrumentation out of it and find a way to edit the voice to sound like it's actually being sung in a camp.



Cheers!

[Sandtigress]

As I was playing with some of the various options there, I realized it had never been answered, if it has even been asked, who wrote Fort Drakon and the Captured quest. Had me in stitches all night - I can't believe I broke out of there myself the first time! I will forever let my dear friends rescue me from now on - one of my favorite parts of the game!

[Mary Kirby]

Sandtigress wrote...

As I was playing with some of the various options there, I realized it had never been answered, if it has even been asked, who wrote Fort Drakon and the Captured quest. Had me in stitches all night - I can't believe I broke out of there myself the first time! I will forever let my dear friends rescue me from now on - one of my favorite parts of the game!

I was responsible for Captured.  I worked overtime to get all the various combinations in.  It was a labor of love, mostly.

[-Mozza-]

Mary Kirby what combination of characters is your favorite for Captured?

[Sandtigress]

Mary Kirby wrote...

Sandtigress wrote...

As I was playing with some of the various options there, I realized it had never been answered, if it has even been asked, who wrote Fort Drakon and the Captured quest. Had me in stitches all night - I can't believe I broke out of there myself the first time! I will forever let my dear friends rescue me from now on - one of my favorite parts of the game!

I was responsible for Captured.  I worked overtime to get all the various combinations in.  It was a labor of love, mostly.

Would it be awkward to say that I loved you?  In a totally hero worshipping sort of way, of course.    I really am so sad that I missed this on my first play through and had to watch some of the combos on YouTube to find out what I was missing!  You did an amazing job!

[Mary Kirby]

-Mozza- wrote...

Mary Kirby what combination of characters is your favorite for Captured?

In no particular order:

Sten and Oghren (They are horrible at this, by the way, but still fun.)
Leliana and Dog
Sten and Dog
Morrigan and Wynne
Zevran and Oghren

[AndreaDraco]

Mary Kirby wrote...
In no particular order:

Sten and Oghren (They are horrible at this, by the way, but still fun.)
Leliana and Dog
Sten and Dog
Morrigan and Wynne
Zevran and Oghren

Zevran and Oghren is undoubtedly my favorite pairing!

[Sandtigress]

Well, a bump to let the writers get more of that praise they deserve, and to ask a question!



Which one of you brilliant people wrote Sergeant Kylon in the Denerim Marketplace? I was reminded today how much I love him!

[circusmnky]

Mr. Gaider,



From a group standpoint. How much different is it to write the novels compared to the game? Do you discuss specific plot elements as a group or are you just set loose to *SPOILER* tell the story of Maric losing his mother and removing the usurper? I know you're doing all the actual writing, I'm just wondering what level of freedom you have. Hopefully, we'll see at least one more Maric book. You haven't told the story of his death yet or of Loghain's betrayal. Maybe you're saving that until you reveal that he's still alive in DA2.

[barkingM1]

Ginasue wrote...

I just want to tell the writers of the story how much I have enjoyed the little talking actions that goes on between characters as you travel about.  Never before have I enjoyed a RPG as much as I have this one.  I will stop what action I'm doing, just to sit and listen to whats going on between them.  There are times I get a good laugh at what some of them say to each other.

This is one of the best games I've ever played and I"ve been doing RPG's since back in the 80's.

So much word.   Second, third & three rousing cheers.

It's spoiled me for other games.  I started a little Oblivion the other day and stopped after 20 minutes because I was getting lonely, for pity's sake!

[Fangirl17]

Lol I also get lonely in games like Oblivion and Fallout 3 where you spend quite some time just walking around and killing things. I never get lonely in DA

[EccentricSage]

I'm glad I found this thread! It's been very enlightening!!!!



For me, it was the characters and their interactions that made me want to buy this game in the first place. The more I learned about it and the more spoilerific vids I saw on youtube, the more I knew I had to play this. The character interaction is something I think RPGs really need more of. To be honest, I think the blight it's self is the weakest part of the game. It's the situations and characters that it effects, and the plots it justifies, that are important. By contrast, Bethesda's Oblivion gave me a world I could move freely in, but absolutely no reason to care about saving it from the Daedra. With DA:O, the characters I encounter as well as a sense of history behind the PC gives me ample motivation to finish quests and to want to set goals.



This is also why I do hope the narratives of our PCs will carry on, along with whichever party members remained at our sides, in future expansions/installments... at least up to a point. I feel like I only began to get to know the party members, even the romance options, in the span of the game. It's such a brief slice of their lifetime, with so much uncertainty and excitement for their futures, with exception of the US endings, of course.



It would be an absolute tragedy for their stories to end so soon. We've had just enough time and experience with them to grow deeply attached, but are left with so many unanswered questions.



I think it would be very unique and fascinating to have companion specific expansions...A journey to Antiva with Zevran, to Orlais with Leliana, to Par Vollen with Sten, or to rule over Fereldan with Alistair, or if you're rebuilding the Gray Wardens, travel to various lands to gather recruits, and visit the Anderfels in the process. One would not be able to use every character file they have for every ending specific expansion... but most people have more than one character, or have multiple ending saves with the same character, so that actually would not be a problem. I'd be in it for the long haul... it would be well worth my money. I just want my story with the companions to continue... if possible, to the point where my Warden will die permanently. I think it would be incredibly beautiful to live out your character's life, choosing which stories we play out and how, until we come to our final, inevitable conclusion. I believe this would be a dream RPG for many people.



I understand why a writer would want to move on to the next major narrative, leaving the previous characters behind, but I think that would be a huge step backwards in game development. We've played that game before. Many times over. The game where you spend money and time investing in a world and characters just for it to end the same way every fantasy RPG ends... you saved the world, but your accomplishments are soon forgotten, because the game is over. BioWare has shown the capacity to overcome that limitation. And as I stated before, it's the character stories and origin stories that made the blight and the treachery of Loghain feel relevant. Otherwise it would have been just another 'help the bastard prince save his kingdom, and stop the icky monster invasion' type of story, which would have been a lot less impressive.



I really love these characters, so please don't abandon them for the easy fix that a cannon storyline provides. It would be a total waste of everything you built in this game, and it is in fact rather dear to me. Zevran alone is already one of my all time favorite fictional characters, yet I feel there could be so much more with him. He only just learns his place, and his feelings, in the world, and then the story ends. It feels unfinished to me. I want more. (You're just that good, Mr. Gaider)



I could brainstorm all day on plot devices to narrow down the endings that carry over to new content, free of charge, if it makes the writers' jobs easier and increases our chances of a non-cannon continuum. I do this in my head anyway weather I like it or not, weather it comes to any fruition or not. lol

[Jayelet]

As usual, I totally agree with you EccentricSage

[circusmnky]

Yeah, I'm totally with you on the companion specific quests and if DLC is how it comes I'm good with that. ME2 has those in-game (yes DA has them but they aren't as in depth) but both games could use more...especially DA. I'm not too worried about not seeing the supporting cast again though. They were all in ME2 even if you couldn't play them and I've seen a couple of our DA companions in trailers for Awakening. For me Alistair is the one I want to see much more of. After reading the novels and getting into those characters I can see how much he's like his father.



But I'm with you. More companion related quests. More companion to companion dialog/interaction. And let's keep building on what we've got.

[Maria13]

It is the sense that the main characters are real and that they live in a persistent universe or a parallel universe somewhere out there that really puts this game heads and shoulders over many others. It's driven me to fan fic!

[Pyroch]

I found this topic earlier today I have to say that I loved the story and the characters, the banter was a pleasant surprise that really improved the game for me. Personally I loved the dwarf (commoner and noble) and the city elf origins the most. I recently started my second play through and am still finding more things to enjoy in the game. Incredible work guys.

Slightly off topic, personally I don't care if the main character is voiced in conversations because I tend to imagine how it would sound often in my own voice though .

Modifié par Pyroch, 04 mars 2010 - 01:10 .

[VampireCommando]

Just wanted to say a very big thank you to all the writers and all the staff at BioWare that made it all possiable and delivered a truley epic experiance that words cannot even begin to describe how good it was. I also wanted to let you know that the end of dragon age made me cry a little and i dont care if that makes me sound stupid or weak but it did and i hope the writers carry on making such masterpices of story telling.