A few mistakes don't invalidate everything about that article.
Since there's no possible way to misinterpet "we won't be doing Day One DLC companions this time", I see no reason to doubt that the article was correct.
Actually, it kind of does. I mean, I'm sure most is accurate. But parts may not be and the problem comes from not knowing which parts. So better to just disregard it.
Actually, it kind of does. I mean, I'm sure most is accurate. But parts may not be and the problem comes from not knowing which parts. So better to just disregard it.
That's a fairly dubious proposition, though, when we can clearly judge which parts are more likely to be correct.
Under what circumstances could the journalist be falsely led to believe that Bioware are scrapping Day One DLC? How could that fact possibly be misinterpreted? If we consider that it came with quotes explaining that companions needed to be integrated into the game, which couldn't happen if they were DLC, then I think it's extremely likely that this section of the article was accurate.
(Even more so, by the way, because developers commented on it later.)
That's a fairly dubious proposition, though, when we can clearly judge which parts are more likely to be correct.
Under what circumstances could the journalist be falsely led to believe that Bioware are scrapping Day One DLC? How could that fact possibly be misinterpreted? If we consider that it came with quotes explaining that companions needed to be integrated into the game, which couldn't happen if they were DLC, then I think it's extremely likely that this section of the article was accurate.
(Even more so, by the way, because developers commented on it later.)
Nobody says you have to do it too. I myself am ignoring the article.
Lol... He's trolling us all.Greg Ellis @ellisgreg 45s
@user
Best question by far as I have utterly no comprehension of what it means...
#ignorantvoiceoverbloke
Guest_StreetMagic_*
I'm feeling the strongest evidence is actually the 20 hours dialgoue.
20 hours of Cullen? Tell me I'm reading this incorrectly.
It's one thing to want to be openminded and happy for Cullen fans, but crissakes.
20 hours of Cullen? Tell me I'm reading this incorrectly.
It's one thing to want to be openminded and happy for Cullen fans, but crissakes.
Well, consider all of his variable responses depending on what the Inquisitor says and how they say them and the actual exposure time per playthrough is much less.
20 hours of Cullen? What?! Tell me I'm reading this incorrectly.
He's done 20 hours of VO recording so far, and has another 4 hour session next week. DG says each 4 hour session records 200-400 lines, so we're looking 1000-2000 lines up to this point?
Guest_StreetMagic_*
I was expecting a side character or quest giver at best. This sounds like a companion.
Like I said, I hope they give me a good hook. Because unlike most characters, I'm coming in with preconceptions of Cullen already. But I'll not get into that.
I was expecting a side character or quest giver at best. This sounds like a companion.
Like I said, I hope they give me a good hook. Because unlike most characters, I'm coming in with preconceptions of Cullen already. But I'll not get into that.
If he's a companion, I hope that he's so well-written that you can enjoy him regardless of your preconceptions. When I say enjoy, I don't mean like. I mean that I hope you develop some sort of strong feeling toward him because of his character development, good or bad, and that his part in the story is interesting enough that you can appreciate it. I certainly haven't liked every DA character, but I enjoy almost all of them 
I hope people who aren't excited for Cullen can have that feeling once they actually play the game.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
If he's a companion, I hope that he's so well-written that you can enjoy him regardless of your preconceptions. When I say enjoy, I don't mean like. I mean that I hope you develop some sort of strong feeling toward him because of his character development, good or bad, and that his part in the story is interesting enough that you can appreciate it. I certainly haven't liked every DA character, but I enjoy almost all of them
I can only hope the same thing.
Just to mention though.. it isn't that my preconceptions are negative. It's just that so far he's come off as fairly powerless and uninformed. Like any other bystander character. It's not like meeting Isabela in DAO, and watching her take on multiple people. With Cullen, I see fear in DAO and comical ignorance in DA2. He only redeems himself right at the end of DA2, but that's not enough for me. If he's suddenly a powerful ally now, I'm going to have to hear a good story. But I'll listen to it at least. I won't dismiss him outright.
If he's a companion, I hope that he's so well-written that you can enjoy him regardless of your preconceptions. When I say enjoy, I don't mean like. I mean that I hope you develop some sort of strong feeling toward him because of his character development, good or bad, and that his part in the story is interesting enough that you can appreciate it. I certainly haven't liked every DA character, but I enjoy almost all of them
Cheers, exactly. While I usually end up liking Bioware companions as people, as well as characters, there have been a couple times when I couldn't stand them as people but still loved them as characters. Alistair and Sebastian are both good examples, the indecisive princes who decided to grow backbones at exactly the wrong moments, demanding justice on the spot through the death of what may have been a close friend/strategic asset. No I did not like them, but I appreciate how much they managed to ****** me off.
My concern with Cullen is that thus far I've played through DA:II twice and didn't even realize he was the same guy from scene to scene. He's just not made any sort of impression on me, good or bad, I'm really hoping he'll turn out to be more interesting as a companion. From what I've read he's got potential, it's just got to be brought into the light.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
I don't think we've ever had a companion like this though. In both games, he's put in situations where he needs help. This is the main thing I know about him. First, he needs Gregoir's advice on abominations, then he's imprisoned in the Circle quest. Then in DA2, he wants our help on various Templar quests. And asks our random advice.. like if he should detain Keran.. even if we might be blood mages ourselves. lol.
There's nothing wrong with it. It's just that he comes off like any other questgiver NPC: Dependent. In need of a hero.
It's a little different than other companions, who seemed to already adventure a lot on their own. Or cause a lot of trouble on their own. I can see all of them have a novel all devoted to them. They're iconic. Not sure so about Cullen.
edit: Wait, Sebastian also comes off as a bit helpless to me. He's a bit like my Cousland, but if my Cousland didn't have it in him to take out Howe.
My main concern for Cullen is that I just don't feel he has the level of new information some of the other suspected companions would seem to have. Mostly, I mean Dorian and Cole. Dorian's concept is a Tevinter mage that's against the slavery and other injustices in Tevinter. That's an entirely new concept. We know very little about Tevinter thus far. Hearing from someone that learned magic there and that also has strong opinions about revision sounds extremely interesting, to me. Cole is a fade creature that's basically a swinging moral pendulum between "spirit" and "demon". Exploring what makes a spirit become a demon and what level of moral greyness there is for both is also extremely interesting to me. Both of these characters have the potential to add a lot of new information to in game lore.
So, my question is, what does Cullen have to add to the story? I just can't see him adding much new. We know where he's been for the past two games, which doesn't leave much window for him to have anything new to bring to the table. I'm not as interested in helping him sort out his baggage concerning the mage/templar issue as I am in conversing with characters that have wholly new lore information. I just can't really see him having anything to say that we haven't basically heard before, as things stand. It's not that I'm anti-Cullen. I don't hate the character at all. I just feel like I'll be disappointed missing out on what the other characters could have been if we just see more of the same from him, instead.
The only thing I can think of is that maybe he has information related to the red templars that will be interesting to the plot overall. That's the only thing I can think of that would tie him in to the main plot and offer an interesting story addition from him, unless he's been doing something completely unexpected since the end of DA2.
So, my question is, what does Cullen have to add to the story? I just can't see him adding much new.
The same could be said for Varric, imo.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
The same could be said for Varric, imo.
I wonder myself.
That one trailer has the Inquisitor saying something along the lines of "our search will take us to every corner of this land"...
Search for what? Maybe Hawke has something to do with that. Then Varric is relevant.
Or maybe they're just sampling ale and cake across Thedas.
He's done 20 hours of VO recording so far, and has another 4 hour session next week. DG says each 4 hour session records 200-400 lines, so we're looking 1000-2000 lines up to this point?
Looks like a standard amount of companion's lines. I remember DAII companions had around 1500 lines each.
Or maybe they're just sampling ale and cake across Thedas.
Ok, stumbling upon them eating cake would make a hilarious scene. 
Disclaimer: I really want to romance Cullen.
I think Cullen does have value because he's a templar. If that leak is accurate, red templars are going to be the Cerberus of DAI. Just as there was something noble about Cerberus (as represented by Miranda, Dr. Cole, et al), there's something noble about templars. A templar companion does a lot to show us that and prevent the story from being too one-sided.
Disclaimer: I really want to romance Cullen.
I think Cullen does have value because he's a templar. If that leak is accurate, red templars are going to be the Cerberus of DAI. Just as there was something noble about Cerberus (as represented by Miranda, Dr. Cole, et al), there's something noble about templars. A templar companion does a lot to show us that and prevent the story from being too one-sided.
Cassandra's a Seeker, and they fall under the same umbrella organization. Cassandra does fine for this and Cullen is redundant.
Disclaimer: I really want to romance Cullen.
A templar companion does a lot to show us.
Could've skipped the rest if you started with - "i want to romance".
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Cassandra's a Seeker, and they fall under the same umbrella organization. Cassandra does fine for this and Cullen is redundant.
I wonder if he has the same skillset as before (sword and shield). It seems from concept art that bearded Warden does. And Cassandra does. This is also redundant if Cullen happens to be the same.
I wonder if he has the same skillset as before (sword and shield). It seems from concept art that bearded Warden does. And Cassandra does. This is also redundant if Cullen happens to be the same.
From what I understand, we'll have greater control over follower skill sets this time around. So, if a character is a warrior, they aren't locked into W/S or 2H forever no matter what their initial build.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
From what I understand, we'll have greater control over follower skill sets this time around. So, if a character is a warrior, they aren't locked into W/S or 2H forever no matter what their initial build.
That's good, if true.
I wonder myself.
That one trailer has the Inquisitor saying something along the lines of "our search will take us to every corner of this land"...
Search for what? Maybe Hawke has something to do with that. Then Varric is relevant.
But Varric already told Cassandra everything he knew, so it doesn't make him essential per se (unless he lied about some of the stuff, ofcourse).
Guest_StreetMagic_*
But Varric already told Cassandra everything he knew, so it doesn't make him essential per se (unless he lied about some of the stuff, ofcourse).
It is odd, I'll admit. Hope there's a good reason. I don't want Varric to be another Garrus and have them overdo the "bro" thing or something.
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