252 réponses à ce sujet

[David Gaider]

It certainly isn't about the panels. Just the same drivel that every thread on this subject eventually devolves into. Take it elsewhere, folks.

[Rylor Tormtor]

EJ107 wrote...

billy the squid wrote...

Quota systems are sh*t and should never be used. Its the same mindset as designing by committee, appease everyone and shove some mediocre tripe out.

The DA2 system with its faults is perhaps the better solution, given the finite time and resources available, without the need to lock everything down and box NPC to one group. DA2's problem was the NPC behaviour didn't change in relation to the player's actions. It occurred in what felt like a vaccum. ie: I could be a jerk to Anders, oppose every idea and view he had and he would still want to bonk the player character, that quite frankly, is stupid.

Their behaviour towards the player needs to fit that character's personality, and the behaviour of the player needs to inform the NPC's actions and opinion of the player, determining if that romance option is open. Actually making players work to explore the option, over time and making it more involved, mitigates the ambushing scenario with Anders, where the actions of the player counted for little in the following conversations.

I wouldn't say the rivalry system was bad. In fact when it came to romances I thought it was very interesting.

Some rivalmances were far more believable and engaging than their friendship counterparts. A Hawke who loves Merrill but hates how the mirror is ruining her life works brilliantly. Saving her from herself becuase he/she cares that much. 

The problem comes from lumping downright mean stuff with rivalry. A Hawke who disagrees with Fenris's views on mages and wants him to let go of his anger for his own sake? A brilliant romance path that I found really engaging. A Hawke who condones slavery and says he will take Oranna as his slave? And then Fenris comes and sleeps with them at the same house the slave is being held at! Now that really is a problem. 

It's a shame because the friendship/rivalry system worked well in many ways, particuarly with romances. They just needed to do something with the nasty, insulting and downright evil choices the player could make that wasn't lumping them in with rivalry.

My favorite characterization of the system when DA2 launched: 

Friendship Romance: Oh Hawke, I love you, let's have sex!

Rivalry Romance: Oh Hawke, I hate you, let's have sex!