138883 réponses à ce sujet

[Tishina]

Indeed, I think folks write what they want to write for a variety of reasons, and I'd rather not generalize why fans do what they do.

As for when folks became Cullen fans, many became fans in DA:O, but many also became fans in DA2. Like myself. So I don't know if I'd generalize that "most" were enchanted by the Amell/Surana/Cullen dynamic.

That's why I said "many if not most" since I know I'm only guessing by comments people have made, and I know a lot of people first became interested in him in DA2. No way to know which way the line falls (especially since I was admittedly fascinated by Cullen but skeptical of him as a convincing LI before the game launched )

[timebean]

Indeed, I think folks write what they want to write for a variety of reasons, and I'd rather not generalize why fans do what they do.

As for when folks became Cullen fans, many became fans in DA:O, but many also became fans in DA2. Like myself. So I don't know if I'd generalize that "most" were enchanted by the Amell/Surana/Cullen dynamic.

Agreed!  I always payed human rogue in DAO cause I like the back story (I love a good revenge tale).  Cullen peaked my interest in DA2, and made me actually go back to play a mage in DAO.

I like the mage/Cullen dynamic for the angst in DAI, and because I like paying a mage in that game for other reasons (ie, political climate, etc).  I find it hard to play an elf or write one...and have never finished a playthrough as a dwarf.  Boring old human works for me!

My favorite DAI dynamic, and I agree with some others here, is the human female warrior and Cullen.  Especially if they spec Tempar.  Oooohhh, the angst!!!!! Poeple, ya'll need to write these!!! I probably  won't ever write that one cause I did it for DAO and am all burnt out on writing a battle hungry female. 

[riverbanks]

I enjoy playing elves and humans alike in these types of games. Both give you an opportunity to play as someone you could never be irl, even a human character.

Yeah, this weird notion that you can only roleplay in a game if you play an exotic fictional race and that humans are only for self-inserts is pretty... nah. You can play a self-insert as an elf or a qunari as easily as you can roleplay "something you can never be" as a human. I'm sure never going to be a Grey Warden, some city's Champion, or an Inquisitor in real life, no matter the shape of my ears.

[MelissaGT]

So I just wanted to send out a bit of a *sigh* on my part. I've had folks on Tumblr making mention of my black and white "edits." They aren't edits! They are screenshots straight out of the game! DAI Cinematic Tools is where all the magic happens. 

 

 /endrant

[Tishina]

Agreed!  I always payed human rogue in DAO cause I like the back story (I love a good revenge tale).  Cullen peaked my interest in DA2, and made me actually go back to play a mage in DAO.

I like the mage/Cullen dynamic for the angst in DAI, and because I like paying a mage in that game for other reasons (ie, political climate, etc).  I find it hard to play an elf or write one...and have never finished a playthrough as a dwarf.  Boring old human works for me!

My favorite DAI dynamic, and I agree with some others here, is the human female warrior and Cullen.  Especially if they spec Tempar.  Oooohhh, the angst!!!!! Poeple, ya'll need to write these!!! I probably  won't ever write that one cause I did it for DAO and am all burnt out on writing a battle hungry female. 

My favorite class in DAO was DW rogue, actually. Oddly, I never really got the archer spec to work for my Warden rogues in DAO, but it's the other way around for me in DAI - archer's been easy, but I struggle with DW rogue because of changes in the controls. I also love S&S warriors, but mine are usually disciplined, professional soldiers (with the exception of one of my CE wardens.) I like mages for damage and such, but I don't actually enjoy RPing them that much, to be honest.

 

My first fanfic here was actually a human warrior meeting Cullen for the first time (well before we saw anything beyond the trailers or even knew much background.)

 

Yeah, this weird notion that you can only roleplay in a game if you play an exotic fictional race and that humans are only for self-inserts is pretty... nah. You can play a self-insert as an elf or a qunari as easily as you can roleplay "something you can never be" as a human. I'm sure never going to be a Grey Warden, some city's Champion, or an Inquisitor in real life, no matter the shape of my ears.

OK, this isn't what I said. I said many people seem to find it easiest to self-insert as a human, and I personally find it more fun to play something really different (and you can be the human warden or champion physically.) Sigh, I think I'm going to go back to bed, I don't feel like I'm speaking the same English as anyone else this morning since I tried really hard to craft an answer that made it clear I was explaining my personal reasons and respected everyone else's personal preferences, and instead, it's been picked apart...

[CuriousArtemis]

Thank you, I aim to please

 

I have been reading more stories since I am trying to write some myself and have noticed that most center on Dalish Mage/Cullen (which my first one was too, but that's more because she is the one I am playing right now). The ones that are with our lovely human Quizzy are almost all Mage too. I think my nest one will center on my female human Templar lady.

So why do you guys think it is? Or those who write, why do you chose that mating pair mostly? Just curious.

 

I ship him with my Dalish archer ... mostly because I like the feelings of mutual admiration and respect that could grow between a human soldier and a Dalish hunter. Both are warriors who ardently love their people and will do anything to protect the ones they care for. I feel like you need a connection to spark off a relationship between two otherwise very different people.

[CuriousArtemis]

As for when folks became Cullen fans, many became fans in DA:O, but many also became fans in DA2. Like myself. So I don't know if I'd generalize that "most" were enchanted by the Amell/Surana/Cullen dynamic.

 

I also became a fan after DA2; I didn't pay DAO until after DA2 anyway. Without DA2 to inform who he becomes, DAO Cullen is pretty meh imo ... especially if you don't play the mage origin (which I didn't for years). Then again DA2 Cullen only becomes truly interesting once you learn about his troubled DAO past.

[MelissaGT]

I also became a fan after DA2; I didn't pay DAO until after DA2 anyway. Without DA2 to inform who he becomes, DAO Cullen is pretty meh imo ... especially if you don't play the mage origin (which I didn't for years). Then again DA2 Cullen only becomes truly interesting once you learn about his troubled DAO past.

 

Well, he did have the hawtness...and dat voice going for him. 

[CuriousArtemis]

OK, this isn't what I said. I said many people seem to find it easiest to self-insert as a human, and I personally find it more fun to play something really different (and you can be the human warden or champion physically.) Sigh, I think I'm going to go back to bed, I don't feel like I'm speaking the same English as anyone else this morning since I tried really hard to craft an answer that made it clear I was explaining my personal reasons and respected everyone else's personal preferences, and instead, it's been picked apart...

 

Hey, I hear you. That's why I like playing my elven guys; they are sort of fantasy self-inserts... I always enjoy playing either a butch woman or a "softer" looking man; both reflect who I am inside. (Hence my current bad ass dwarf woman playthrough). Fantasy races can help one associate with one's true self better than standard human male/female sometimes. 

[CuriousArtemis]

Well, he did have the hawtness...and dat voice going for him. 

 

LOL I'm not really... "into" him, though? I mean, I just love him as a character, and have desperately wanted to romance him for years now. But I don't really think he's hot or anything... I wasn't a fan of the voice until DAI; I think Mr. Ellis knocked it out of the park.

[MelissaGT]

LOL I'm not really... "into" him, though? I mean, I just love him as a character, and have desperately wanted to romance him for years now. But I don't really think he's hot or anything... I wasn't a fan of the voice until DAI; I think Mr. Ellis knocked it out of the park.

 

I think he was one of the more attractive NPC's in DA:O (except for Ali!) and DA:2, however with DA:I they totally got it right for me...right up my alley! 

[CuriousArtemis]

I think he was one of the more attractive NPC's in DA:O (except for Ali!) and DA:2, however with DA:I they totally got it right for me...right up my alley! 

Well I think not so much personally for me in DAO lol But yeah, he was definitely good looking in DA2, and in DAI he's gorgeous!

[riverbanks]

OK, this isn't what I said. I said many people seem to find it easiest to self-insert as a human, and I personally find it more fun to play something really different (and you can be the human warden or champion physically.) Sigh, I think I'm going to go back to bed, I don't feel like I'm speaking the same English as anyone else this morning since I tried really hard to craft an answer that made it clear I was explaining my personal reasons and respected everyone else's personal preferences, and instead, it's been picked apart...

No, I think you made your point well, you were clearly speaking about your own experience. I do take exception to the general notion that human characters make for lesser roleplaying, but this isn't a personal attack on you or your post, it's more a general commentary on a notion I've seen repeated in this fandom too many times for comfort - that playing elves is the only "true" way to roleplay (weird how even dwarves don't count, isn' it?), that humans are "boring" and people only play them as self-inserts, or to project themselves as a pretty princess, etc. It happens with mages versus non-mage classes too, it's not just restricted to races. Coming from a background in tabletop RPG, where the only limit to roleplaying is a player's poor imagination, even the notion that people in video game fandoms think there are superior ways to roleplay sounds really weird to me.

Anyway, don't take it personally. It's not about how you do things in your game in particular, it's more a general note on a surprisingly common sentiment in this fandom.

[CuriousArtemis]

Well I have to say, I've never seen that sort of talk here in the Cullen thread. In fact I think most people played humans in DAO and it's evenly split between elves and humans in DAI. Now you want to feel unintentionally excluded and different, play a male character lol I think I may be the only person in the entire fandom whose canon DAO character is a male city elf and/or Dalish. However no one here has ever made me feel bad about that, minus a few snippy exceptions lol

[Monica21]

Yeah, this weird notion that you can only roleplay in a game if you play an exotic fictional race and that humans are only for self-inserts is pretty... nah. You can play a self-insert as an elf or a qunari as easily as you can roleplay "something you can never be" as a human. I'm sure never going to be a Grey Warden, some city's Champion, or an Inquisitor in real life, no matter the shape of my ears.

 

I have a really difficult time rp'ing as anything but a human because I can't think outside that. I know others are better at it, but I'm just not. Unless something drastic happens, human will always be my preferred race. I even have a really hard time making the "evil" choices. I tried a CE playthrough of NWN2 once and my alignment kept changing because I apparently just suck at making those choices. And even, right now with my elf Solasmance playthrough, I think she looks way too human. If it weren't for the ears I think she would make a conventionally pretty human, but a lot of that is just because it's my own experience in looking in the mirror every day and seeing a human and I don't do a good job looking outside that.

 

But yes, I agree with the general point here, that I, personally, prefer roleplaying a human because to me I'm already going outside of anything I'll ever do in real life. It's all just in personal experience and preference and I don't think there's a right way to roleplay. I know my canon will end up a human rogue female but those are RP decisions I've made that have to do with my preferred playstyle in addition to how I want the romance with Cullen to play out. Beyond that I don't know a heck of a lot about her.

[Teshayel]

Part of the attraction of Bioware games for me has always been the ability to self-insert In the IWD, BG, and Neverwinter Nights series my main character (leader of the 6-member group in IWD) was always a female paladin. The idea for me is to play as the kind of character I wish I'd be in real life - brave, strong, determinate, resourceful, and wise. In other words - I want to be a hero, because IRL I'm pretty boring With the DA series I was able to choose different classes (I prefer mages), but the idea is the same. 

 

At the end of the day there is no right or wrong way to play these games. You are either having fun or you are not, and that is the most important issue

 

What I always enjoy, however, is learning about ppl's RPing choices - what sort of background stories did you create for yourself? How does it affect your choices throughout the game? It's cool to see how differently the same story can feel from one gamer to the next

[Inanna Athanasia]

I have played as many Male wardens (both human and elves) as I do female. The only background I ever only play female is the Mage and thats cause I like to be sexually forward with Cullen and watch him run from me,lol, I am evil! I love that a male warden can go around asking women for a kiss in payment for him helping (Bella). I also love the banter of Leliana and Morrigan fighting over him and you don't have that with a female. As far as romance, I love Alistair and Morrigan equally so thats why I play pretty much equally male and females.

 

I DA2 I have a couple of female Hawke;s but 90% of characters are male (I love the Male Hawke's voice so much better!)

 

So far in DA:I I am mostly female (finished 4 now) and only 1 male just cause I had to romance Dorian just once! But I may go back and play a Male Qunari and romance Cassandra once too.

 

In a lot of games I like playing males better, in the ME series I have 3 or 4 Female Shep's and have played probably 10 or more Male Shep's just cause I enjoy a Male Shep better. ( ME " I love it when women fight over me."...Male Shep renegade lines are friggin awesome!)

[R2s Muse]

So I just wanted to send out a bit of a *sigh* on my part. I've had folks on Tumblr making mention of my black and white "edits." They aren't edits! They are screenshots straight out of the game! DAI Cinematic Tools is where all the magic happens. 
 
 /endrant

Um, is that bad...?

[Tishina]

Hey, I hear you. That's why I like playing my elven guys; they are sort of fantasy self-inserts... I always enjoy playing either a butch woman or a "softer" looking man; both reflect who I am inside. (Hence my current bad ass dwarf woman playthrough). Fantasy races can help one associate with one's true self better than standard human male/female sometimes. 

Part of my problem is that humans in fantasy games don't usually take me far enough outside myself to immerse myself in something unless there's something in their background or story that fascinates me. Honestly, there are too many games with much better combat and control systems that I can play a human in. If I were to play a human woman, I'd want to play a very hard-nosed professional soldier, and I just don't see that in the way they wrote the IQs dialogues.

[kalasaurus]

Well I have to say, I've never seen that sort of talk here in the Cullen thread. In fact I think most people played humans in DAO and it's evenly split between elves and humans in DAI. Now you want to feel unintentionally excluded and different, play a male character lol I think I may be the only person in the entire fandom whose canon DAO character is a male city elf and/or Dalish. However no one here has ever made me feel bad about that, minus a few snippy exceptions lol

Yeah, me neither.  Funny, because I've read the same complaints elsewhere but the complete opposite- that people who roleplay Trevelyans make comments like "get your elfy hands off Cullen" and that the only true way to roleplay Cullen's romance is to play as a human (mage, usually).  So, who knows.

 

Anyway... I think the general consensus here is that policing other peoples' roleplaying in a single player game = annoying and pointless.  But, I don't see any of that going on here luckily.  This thread has been very civil.

[Owlfruit Potion]

I have been reading more stories since I am trying to write some myself and have noticed that most center on Dalish Mage/Cullen (which my first one was too, but that's more because she is the one I am playing right now). The ones that are with our lovely human Quizzy are almost all Mage too.

Yeah, I was poking around the BSN recently looking for more character threads to hang out in and saw someone complaining that all Cullen fans only ship Trevelyan and hate Cullen x elves... I was like, are we reading the same AO3 / tumblr / devart / etc.?

 

I would never hate on anyone else's ship, and in fact I think all but one of my favorite fanfics are Cullen x non-mage Hawke, but I personally only ship him with Circle mages because I'm pretty anti-Circle (for reasons relating to how my Amell canon Warden and my mage second Hawke were treated reminding me of some real life situations I've been in) and if my favorite character since DA:O Hour 2 ended up giving the worst of himself to Circle mages by the end of that game and for most of DA2, I prefer to "live" in a worldstate where he also gave the best of himself to one in DA:I. Dalish mages are respected by their people for their magic, so they don't do it for me in this case.

 

Elves are my least favorite race to play as because in D&D / Pathfinder they're the Perfect, Tall, Beautiful, Long-Lived, Stat-Boosted, Lithe race that everyone wants to play as, and it's hard to get that taste out of my mouth and remember everything but "beautiful and lithe" is out for Dragon Age. They're more interesting to me in DA because of that, and I bumped Lavellan up to my second run because there's so much cool elven lore stuff in DA:I, but as a tallish and muscular person, I'm still looking at her running at the front of the screen and missing my Trevelyan looking more like me (or better yet my Shepard looking pretty much like me) and less like a typical female game character.

 

(EDIT to clarify: and just because they're my least favorite doesn't mean I don't like them! Elgar'nan vallaslin alone would have been reason enough for me to roll one. Just a little more excited for my Qunari and Dorf runs is all. SECOND EDIT: Not that I'm imaginative enough for those to work for me as self-inserts either, just that Qunari have no D&D baggage and my ideas and feelings about dwarves are pretty much entirely inherited from Aimo's tumblr.)

[MelissaGT]

Part of the attraction of Bioware games for me has always been the ability to self-insert In the IWD, BG, and Neverwinter Nights series my main character (leader of the 6-member group in IWD) was always a female paladin. The idea for me is to play as the kind of character I wish I'd be in real life - brave, strong, determinate, resourceful, and wise. In other words - I want to be a hero, because IRL I'm pretty boring With the DA series I was able to choose different classes (I prefer mages), but the idea is the same. 

 

At the end of the day there is no right or wrong way to play these games. You are either having fun or you are not, and that is the most important issue

 

What I always enjoy, however, is learning about ppl's RPing choices - what sort of background stories did you create for yourself? How does it affect your choices throughout the game? It's cool to see how differently the same story can feel from one gamer to the next

 

 

I have a really difficult time rp'ing as anything but a human because I can't think outside that. I know others are better at it, but I'm just not. Unless something drastic happens, human will always be my preferred race. I even have a really hard time making the "evil" choices. I tried a CE playthrough of NWN2 once and my alignment kept changing because I apparently just suck at making those choices. 

 

I love being able to RP a wide variety of personalities. I will fully immerse myself into playing that character, whether she's a noble KISA or a totally nasty anti-hero. A couple good examples are with other games: 

 

In Skyrim, my favorite character was a Nord assassin archer. She's just downright aggressive and nasty. With her stalking skills, mobs would be dropped before they even knew she was there. She ended up married to Vilkas and the two get totally carried away with being werewolves...um yeah, it was hawt.  . I installed this wonderful mod that lets you determine when your companions turn, so I set it up for him to turn at the same time - it was really cool to just go all REOWR! on bandits that really ticked me off. 

 

In Star Wars: TOR, my favorite character was a dark Jedi Knight. She was disillusioned with The Order and ended up falling in love with her Sith companion. She was a complete anti-hero to the max. 

 

In NWN2 I was even able to RP a totally CE character and finished the game with the "evil" ending. She was all about Bishop. 

 

I guess I just look inside myself and can really put myself in the shoes of that character. I'm not a bad person, at least I don't think I am, but I sure do love playing "nasties" in games. It gives me the opportunity to play someone that I could never/would never be. The same can be said when I play my KISA-types. 

[timebean]

I don't know why I have such a hard time playing an elf.  They have a very interesting history in this world, great for roleplaying and writing.  But I almost always end up as a human.  Maybe it's because the damned ears always clip the hair in the CC!!

 

Course, my newest elf is pretty cool looking, despite ears at the damned jawline (LOL)

 

Spoiler

 

[R2s Muse]

Yeah, me neither.  Funny, because I've read the same complaints elsewhere but the complete opposite- that people who roleplay Trevelyans make comments like "get your elfy hands off Cullen" and that the only true way to roleplay Cullen's romance is to play as a human (mage, usually).  So, who knows.
 
Anyway... I think the general consensus here is that policing other peoples' roleplaying in a single player game = annoying and pointless.  But, I don't see any of that going on here luckily.  This thread has been very civil.

I think it's also just an inevitable consequence of talking about the players as opposed to the game. That's always a slippery slope.

[Hellion Rex]

I don't know why I have such a hard time playing an elf.  They have a very interesting history in this world, great for roleplaying and writing.  But I almost always end up as a human.  Maybe it's because the damned ears always clip the hair in the CC!!

The men are waaayyyyy too thin for me. I need a muscly Legolas dammit!