2068 réponses à ce sujet

[daveliam]

Just out of curiosity, Elite, what evidence are you using to inform your "best guess" that it's a 3/3/3 party balance?  I don't know if I've seen anything to indicate either way, so I'm curious.

[littlebrightpanda]

One popular version:

Rogues: Varric, Sera, Iron Bull

Warriors: Cassandra, Feathers, Cullen

Mages: Vivienne, Solas, DHMG

 

Others:

Rogues: Varric, Sera, Cole

Warriors: Cassandra, Feathers, Cullen, Iron Bull

Mages: Vivienne, Solas

 

Rogues: Varric, Sera

Warriors: Cassandra, Feathers, Cullen, Iron Bull

Mages: Vivienne, Solas, DHMG

 

+other combinations with possible companions we haven't seen so far (and as we do not know the classes of a few "confirmed" companions, anything is possible).

Just because somebody has something like a spear in his hand in some concept art, doesn't mean he is going to be a Warrior (check the DHMG-guy thread for that). So the only "confirmed" party constellation we have right now is:

 

Rogues: Varric

Warriors: Cassandra

Mages: Vivienne, Solas

 

+ Cullen (who we don't know in what form of companionship he is going to appear), Feathers, Iron Bull, DHMG, Cole, other companion we know nothing about <- all of these people could be anything. 

So far, most BioWare games had an uneven distribution of classes, so it might be possible they go for equal this time around, but it doesn't lower the chances for uneven as well. 

[ElitePinecone]

I don't actually have any evidence for that combination specifically, which is why it's a guess

But the eight companions so far seem to amount to three warriors and three mages, with two rogues. If the last companion is Cole (I know that's a big if), then he'd make it three rogues. 

 

I suspect, even though I have zero evidence, that a 'balanced' companion roster might be that way because DA: Inquisition is integrating the companions and their classes into gameplay systems like its predecessors never did. If all of the classes have unique exploration skills and necessary roles in combat, then it doesn't make sense to leave any one class short-changed. Three of each at least guarantees that the player has a wide selection of characters from each class to take with them, even if some characters end up leaving or not being recruited.

 

If it's 3/3/3, then that might reflect a conscious decision that treats the classes as important parts of gameplay and combat.

[ElitePinecone]

^ I guess what I mean by that is: outside combat, class differentiation for the companions in previous DA games really had no impact on gameplay besides rogues being able to unlock doors and chests. 

 

But if warriors are suddenly as important as rogues in interacting with the environment, and if even mages have unique skills that will unlock new areas or do interesting things (like burn down the Red Templar ships near Crestwood, in the PAX demo), it would make sense that each class is as important as the others.

 

In combat, if there are some enemies that almost require a balanced party to overcome (like the Venatori gladiators with their huge shields), I suspect the game would want to promote that balanced party by offering an equal number of each class. That way, the player has three representatives of each to choose from when assembling a party.

 

I could be entirely wrong, though, but as far as I see it the likely ninth companion in Cole would make the party 3/3/3.

[Rhea]

I only know that I know nothing. Socrates

 

We'll have to wait and see. 

[Phate Phoenix]

I wonder if this means I could actually be right about the Iron Bull being an NPC. 
 
If it's an even distribution:
 
WARRIOR: Cassandra, The Grey Warden, Cullen
ROGUE: Varric, Sera, Cole
MAGE: Vivienne, Solas, Dorian
 
With the LI's:
MALE: Cullen, Solas, Dorian (only if six LI)
FEMALE: Sera, Cassandra, Vivienne (only if six LI)
 
This is still my guess. (Yes, yes, Ellis didn't appear to understand the questions he was asked, but, still. I'd thought this with less information!)

[ElitePinecone]

There's far stronger evidence for Iron Bull being a companion than for Cullen, though.

 

Not least because a bunch of magazine previews confirmed it last week.

[Phate Phoenix]

There's far stronger evidence for Iron Bull being a companion than for Cullen, though.

 

Not least because a bunch of magazine previews confirmed it last week.

 

Oh, sure, totally. This is just what I think. 

[Nocte ad Mortem]

Honestly, I still think Cullen will be an NPC advisor, rather than a companion. I've still got the bets on Iron Bull/Dorian/Cole. But we'll see. 

[ahellbornlady]

I think we're gonna have 4 warriors.

 

Warriors: Cassandra, Bearded Warden, Cullen, Iron Bull

Rogues: Varric, Sera.

Mages: Vivienne, Solas, DHMG

 

This is my best guess. We only had 2 rogues in DA2 as well, didn't we? Not counting DLC companions.

[Phate Phoenix]

I think we're gonna have 4 warriors.

 

Warriors: Cassandra, Bearded Warden, Cullen, Iron Bull

Rogues: Varric, Sera.

Mages: Vivienne, Solas, DHMG

 

This is my best guess. We only had 2 rogues in DA2 as well, didn't we? Not counting DLC companions.

 

For DA2 we had:

 

W: Aveline, Fenris, *Carver

M: Merrill, Anders, *Bethany

R: Isabela, Varric, *Sebastian, *Tallis

 

You could argue that the base game had a 2/2/2 split, discounting your siblings who only hung around for an Act.

[Nocte ad Mortem]

I don't think you can look to past games to see what the "balance" should be. There was no real reason to the balance of the past games. I mean, people point out lack of mages as supposedly intentional, but if they'd had more time and resources, they actually wanted Jowan as a companion in Origins. I don't think the past numbers mean anything.

[Phate Phoenix]

I don't think you can look to past games to see what the "balance" should be. There was no real reason to the balance of the past games. I mean, people point out lack of mages as supposedly intentional, but if they'd had more time and resources, they actually wanted Jowan as a companion in Origins. I don't think the past numbers mean anything.

 

True. I just like looking at past patterns. I can see why they wouldn't have wanted a 4-mage party in previous games, but in DAI, I get the feeling they've changed so much that it opens up the option.

[ahellbornlady]

I don't think you can look to past games to see what the "balance" should be. There was no real reason to the balance of the past games. I mean, people point out lack of mages as supposedly intentional, but if they'd had more time and resources, they actually wanted Jowan as a companion in Origins. I don't think the past numbers mean anything.

 

Nobody knows true suffering like us Jowan fangirls.

[DooomCookie]

Benefits to a 3/3/3 split are twofold.  Allows the possibility of a single class party for all classes, adding variety and challenge to gameplay.  There's also more choice.  For instance, if you wanted a healer in DAO, you had to put up with Wynne, which limited your choices in the ashes and circle questlines.  Every class has two conventional 'roles'.  Tank or 2H for warriors, damage or healer for mage, dual wield or archer for rogue.  With 3 companions of a given class, we can get one early on that we can specialise either way and then one of each role later on.  That effectively gives you a choice for every role.

 

So yeah.  My 'dream team' would be:

Warriors: Cass, Bearded warden, Iron Bull

Mages: Viv, Solas, DHMG

Rogues: Varric, 'Sera', someone completely new.

[GVulture]

^ I guess what I mean by that is: outside combat, class differentiation for the companions in previous DA games really had no impact on gameplay besides rogues being able to unlock doors and chests. 

 

But if warriors are suddenly as important as rogues in interacting with the environment, and if even mages have unique skills that will unlock new areas or do interesting things (like burn down the Red Templar ships near Crestwood, in the PAX demo), it would make sense that each class is as important as the others.

 

In combat, if there are some enemies that almost require a balanced party to overcome (like the Venatori gladiators with their huge shields), I suspect the game would want to promote that balanced party by offering an equal number of each class. That way, the player has three representatives of each to choose from when assembling a party.

 

I could be entirely wrong, though, but as far as I see it the likely ninth companion in Cole would make the party 3/3/3.

Maybe the lack of rogue environment options is one of the reasons we haven't seen any other possible rogue companions lurking about. The warrior and mage trees appeared to have way more options and thus, would require more companions to cover them all.

[ElitePinecone]

That's true, I suppose. 

 

Assuming that companions couldn't learn all the exploration skills, and assuming that all of the skills are needed to access all areas or unlock all exploration content. We may even need to return later with the appropriate companion, which rewards exploration and visiting a region multiple times.

 

(In truth, we don't actually know if companions *can* learn exploration skills - I just assumed that. Maybe it's only something the player character can learn, or something? Though that does sound weird.)

[Aimi]

(In truth, we don't actually know if companions *can* learn exploration skills - I just assumed that. Maybe it's only something the player character can learn, or something? Though that does sound weird.)

Didn't the alpha footage show Cassandra smashing down the door of the Venatori-held keep in the Western Approach?

[ElitePinecone]

Yep. But I'm not sure if that was an exploration skill. 

 

I'm not even sure what the exploration skills actually do, or when they're used. Bioware haven't even really mentioned the system yet, let alone explained it.

[keightdee]

Responding to something further up this page: I'd much rather have two rogues than two mages. My rogues are always rather neglected—poor things—as it's my preferred class to play. I don't think I got Varric past 50% friendship or rivalry until my third play through, and Isabela only by accident.

 

It's looking to pan out like we won't have a chevalier companion, which is a shame, as the chevaliers in Masked Empire were great. I can imagine it'd be a challenge to justify their membership in your party, though, honor-bound to the Orlesian nobility as they are. A washed-up, dishonorable ex-chevalier mercenary would be interesting for sure but that seems to be Iron Bull's archetype.

[GVulture]

That's true, I suppose. 

 

Assuming that companions couldn't learn all the exploration skills, and assuming that all of the skills are needed to access all areas or unlock all exploration content. We may even need to return later with the appropriate companion, which rewards exploration and visiting a region multiple times.

 

(In truth, we don't actually know if companions *can* learn exploration skills - I just assumed that. Maybe it's only something the player character can learn, or something? Though that does sound weird.)

I thiiiiink the exploration skills are lightly covered in the demo from last year? They mentioning giving Cassandra skills to be a one woman battering ram. It wasn't clear if that was her combat tree or if it was part of the exploration skill trees.

[GVulture]

Responding to something further up this page: I'd much rather have two rogues than two mages. My rogues are always rather neglected—poor things—as it's my preferred class to play. I don't think I got Varric past 50% friendship or rivalry until my third play through, and Isabela only by accident.

 

It's looking to pan out like we won't have a chevalier companion, which is a shame, as the chevaliers in Masked Empire were great. I can imagine it'd be a challenge to justify their membership in your party, though, honor-bound to the Orlesian nobility as they are. A washed-up, dishonorable ex-chevalier mercenary would be interesting for sure but that seems to be Iron Bull's archetype.

Same. I am perfectly fine only having two rogues because if I am not playing a rogue I am playing a mage. Which is another reason I don't mind if they go warrior heavy on the companions because I never play as one. I wonder what the metrics are on the PC classes...

[GithCheater]

My preference is that there will be 3 mage companions plus Cole as the 3rd rogue companion.

 

If Cullen is a templar companion, and Feathers the Grey Warden is a sword & shield warrior companion (and Cassandra is also a warrior) ... I hope Iron Bull is a mage mercenary.

 

With X-Box magazine stating that mages can wear armor (but possibly have a fatigue penalty), I am clinging to a faint hope that Iron Bull, despite his massive muscular build, "breaks the mold" stereotype of thin "pencil neck" mages.

[keightdee]

^ I don't care what that dude's class is as long as there's a "press A to ride on shoulders" option.

[ladyofpayne]

Let's count: 8 characters

• Warrior: Iron Bull, Cullen, Grey Warden, Cassandra (4)
• Rogue: Varric and Sera (2)
• Mage: Vivienne and Solas (2)

One left. I think warrior or rogue. Rogue is more realistic.

mr. Mutachio supposed to be the last.