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[nightscrawl]

I was mildly conflicted. It was funny and endearing, with the slight downside that I think he was portraying the campy stereotype a part of the fan base often reads into Dorian rather than Dorian's actual mannerisms. 

 

Still, the guy has serious charisma...and the Fenris cameo was fantastic. 

 

My thoughts exactly, which is one reason I liked the Fenris/Hawke Christmas video just a tad more.

 

 

If his writer isn't offended, how could they be?

 

I think "offense" in this case would be silly. If anything it would be, "*Sigh* just another one of those 'sassy gay' things." Let me tell you, as a huge Dorian fan, that sh*t gets really damn old since I feel he has a lot of dimension and depth. But it was well done, and funny on its own merits, and I don't think it would be fair to dismiss it on that alone. Dorian does have his moments, I certainly don't pretend that he doesn't or ignore those aspects of him. I suppose it's just tiresome when some fans act as if that's all he is.

 

 

Erm... sorry for this Dorian digression in the Cullen thread.

 

I've found that most of the library messenger banter concerning Dorian is bugged. I'm only able to hear the ones that Josephine relates about him in her office. To bring it back to Cullen... has anyone ever recorded all of those messenger banters? Unfortunately, when I make my Skyhold rounds, his office is a bit out of the way, and when I do happen to remember, the messenger is hardly ever there, and sometimes they are replaced by Ser (templar trainer). I do recall there is one about his birthday, but that's pretty much it.

[vertigomez]

This one?

[Fadburger]

Aww, I was hoping this would be multi-arc series like The Silent Grove/Those Who Speak/Until We Sleep comics.

 

I have no doubt its to do that as well as set up something in DA4, whether that is a couple of characters, a quest line (like the Orlesian Civil War in Masked Empire) or a secondary antagonist. It could just be to really tie up what happens to the very last of the Venatori and Red Templars. Otherwise there are just these weird scattered pockets.

 

Yeah me too :/ I mean it sounds like it MIGHT be in the future, hopefully if Magekiller's sales are good enough? To be honest I haven't read the previous DA comics, but I know the ME comics were more like several miniseries so I am hoping that's the case here...

 

Yeah...hopefully the next couple issues should shed some light...

[Ghost Gal]

I must say, I do love that Winter Palace dancing scene. It's so sweet and cool and romantic. I really appreciated that BW put that scene in there for Quizzy and their LI.  A great little detail that added alot of Heart.

 

Yeah, I adore it.

 

Although it does cause some laughs for Solasmancers. When you ask him to dance, he says something like, "I doubt the Orlesian court would approve of you dancing with an elven apostate." It's like, "I am an elven apostate! Can't sink much lower than that." I totally headcanon that she was paraded around as a "tamed savage" much like the poor real-life Pocahontas was when she was taken to England.

 

Although, confession time: I haven't romanced Cullen with an independent playthrough. It takes too long, so I just used my Solasmance playthrough, cut it off to just before kissing him on the balcony (which locks you into the romance), and had her go play chess with Cullen instead for that romance playthrough. I want to make a new playthrough with a Surana worldstate (not Tabris worldstate like with Solas), but I can't see any Dalish Inquisitor of mine choosing an ex-Templar over a fellow "heathen" elf. I can only see her choosing Cullen if she went to the Winter Palace first, where she can see Solas' questionable morals in action (Mr. "I do adore the heady blend of power, intrigue, danger, and sex that permeates these events"  ) and see that Cullen is a good and honest man who also detests the politics and backstabbing as much as she does. Doing so first means that I sacrifice getting to go to the Orlesian Ball as part of a couple with Cullen, though, which means no dance scene. 

 

I for one am in favor of a new PC  for the next game. Especially if we're going to tevinter. I would like a PC that is from the area. Along with all new companions.

 

I'd personally be okay with a new PC only if the Inquisitor can return as, say, a significant NPC or co-protagonist, if just to return to help resolve the Solas situation. The ending to Trespasser set the Inquisitor up as someone who vowed to stop Solas, and their final scene is shown to be looking for allies to either put him down or save him from himself. I'd be really disappointed if that setup had no pay-off.

 

Plus, Solavellan fans want closure to the romance. 

 

I also feel like if we are having new PC's every game, then they should really cut down on the cameos and returning companions as new companions. It creates this weird shift, or split in me. On the one hand I'm this new PC, and don't know these characters. On the other hand, I'm the player and we've been through hell together. So, I'm happy to see them and they're like yeah, hey whatever. 

   I do not find it satisfying.

 

Me neither (MORRIGAN! It's me! The woman who loved you and arranged to help you conceive your child! How do you not recognize me?!), but I feel compelled point out that we've had new PCs every game except for DAA, and that hasn't stopped them from including tons of cameos and returning companions every game. In fact, DA2 had more returning companions and cameos than DAA, despite how DA2 had a new protagonist with Hawke whereas DAA had the returning Warden. 

 

That's actually part of why I want returning protagonists more new ones (although I know I'm outvoted on this). If they're going to keep bringing back old companions and allies anyway, I want the game to acknowledge our shared history instead of, as you said, that "weird shift" where I know who they are and I want to catch up on old times, but they don't know my character so they're like, "Who're you? Back up!"   (I'll be especially upset if they do this for Solas. They can't have slowly built up the Inquisitor's history and relationship with Solas, who slowly rose to power and became a world threat right under the Inquisitor's nose, just for some random stranger from Tevinter to be the one to face off against him and stop him.)

 

And I admit, I was a tad bit envious of Bull and his Chargers. They seemed really close, like a little family. That was the kind of feeling I got with DAO and DA2 companions; a small band of outcast, roving "mercenaries" that needed each other. I did not feel that with DAI. I didn't feel like they were really "with" me as much as we were collaborating on a project, but their real alliances and "family" were elsewhere.

 

I mean, I think they wanted the companions to be kind of big shots in their own right, and with "their own lives" and all that. Which is great on paper,b ut-for me-in game it made for a bit of a disconnect.

 

I agree. I loved the fire-forged friends aspect of previous DA games and missed it for DAI. Everyone in DAI is always so distant and professional. With only a few exceptions, if you don't romance them then most companions and advisers keep you at arm's length and constantly remind you, "You're the HERALD!" or "You're the boss." I think Dorian, Cassandra, and maybe Cullen are the only companions/advisers who really, truly embrace you as a friend and make you feel close to them even if you don't romance them. With everyone else (including Varric), it's like, "Good to see you, boss," or "All touched up, Lady Herald?"

 

I get the feeling they wanted to make the Inqusition seem like this big, professional, political organization, so they wanted companions/advisers to emphasize the professional relationship between the Inquisitor and Inquisition forces. (especially Cullen, Mr. Consumate Professional, even in a romance.   ) But by having the companions and advisers constantly emphasize "You're the Herald/Inquisitor! I'm just your employee," if makes us feel so isolated and lonely. Maybe that's also what they're going for, since one running theme of the game is how the world idolizing you can make people forget you are and stop treating you like a person (as you can talk about this with companions and advisers all the time), but it sure is a lonely experience. Not trying to make a generalization about gamers, but many people in the modern world already feel lonely and isolated in real life; we don't want to feel that way playing a game.

 

For good or for ill, DAO and DA2 starts before the protagonist becomes famous, so you meet and connect with your companions as a regular person. Your companions knew you as the Warden or Hawke before you became "The Hero of Ferelden" or "The Champion of Kirkwall." For DAI, while it was a clever idea to have the game start with you becoming "The Herald of Andraste," and to have you meet most companions/advisers after you've become famous, it does prevent that emotional intimacy and close friendships allowed for DAO and DA2.

 

I wouldn't be sad if they skipped this for DA4. I want to feel close to my companions again, not an idol or a boss they keep at arm's length. 

[CuriousArtemis]

Can you imagine if the PC was a slave, potentially owned by Dorian?

 

Whelp I would probably not buy the game  

 

For good or for ill, DAO and DA2 starts before the protagonist becomes famous, so you meet and connect with your companions as a regular person. Your companions knew you as the Warden or Hawke before you became "The Hero of Ferelden" or "The Champion of Kirkwall." For DAI, while it was a clever idea to have the game start with you becoming "The Herald of Andraste," and to have you meet most companions/advisers after you've become famous, it does prevent that emotional intimacy and close friendships allowed for DAO and DA2.

 

Yeah maybe that's why the only person my inquisitor ever felt truly close to was Cassandra.

[Tishina]

Yeah, I adore it.

 

Although, confession time: I haven't romanced Cullen with an independent playthrough. It takes too long, so I just used my Solasmance playthrough, cut it off to just before kissing him on the balcony (which locks you into the romance), and had her go play chess with Cullen instead for that romance playthrough. I want to make a new playthrough with a Surana worldstate (not Tabris worldstate like with Solas), but I can't see any Dalish Inquisitor of mine choosing an ex-Templar over a fellow "heathen" elf. I can only see her choosing Cullen if she went to the Winter Palace first, where she can see Solas' questionable morals in action (Mr. "I do adore the heady blend of power, intrigue, danger, and sex that permeates these events"  ) and see that Cullen is a good and honest man who also detests the politics and backstabbing as much as she does. Doing so first means that I sacrifice getting to go to the Orlesian Ball as part of a couple with Cullen, though, which means no dance scene. 

You do know that you can play Solas's romance right up to the vallaslin scene and break up with him there, then go start the Cullen romance? Unless it was a glitch that they later fixed, I tested it on my very first playthrough (even have screenshots on the desk ) I didn't keep it, she was my Solas romance, but it can be a little frustrating when there are potentially 40 or more hours of game play between one romance scene and the next. Obviously this doesn't suit some people...

 

 

I agree. I loved the fire-forged friends aspect of previous DA games and missed it for DAI. Everyone in DAI is always so distant and professional. With only a few exceptions, if you don't romance them then most companions and advisers keep you at arm's length and constantly remind you, "You're the HERALD!" or "You're the boss." I think Dorian, Cassandra, and maybe Cullen are the only companions/advisers who really, truly embrace you as a friend and make you feel close to them even if you don't romance them. With everyone else (including Varric), it's like, "Good to see you, boss," or "All touched up, Lady Herald?"

 

I get the feeling they wanted to make the Inqusition seem like this big, professional, political organization, so they wanted companions/advisers to emphasize the professional relationship between the Inquisitor and Inquisition forces. (especially Cullen, Mr. Consumate Professional, even in a romance.   ) But by having the companions and advisers constantly emphasize "You're the Herald/Inquisitor! I'm just your employee," if makes us feel so isolated and lonely. Maybe that's also what they're going for, since one running theme of the game is how the world idolizing you can make people forget you are and stop treating you like a person (as you can talk about this with companions and advisers all the time), but it sure is a lonely experience. Not trying to make a generalization about gamers, but many people in the modern world already feel lonely and isolated in real life; we don't want to feel that way playing a game.

 

For good or for ill, DAO and DA2 starts before the protagonist becomes famous, so you meet and connect with your companions as a regular person. Your companions knew you as the Warden or Hawke before you became "The Hero of Ferelden" or "The Champion of Kirkwall." For DAI, while it was a clever idea to have the game start with you becoming "The Herald of Andraste," and to have you meet most companions/advisers after you've become famous, it does prevent that emotional intimacy and close friendships allowed for DAO and DA2.

 

I wouldn't be sad if they skipped this for DA4. I want to feel close to my companions again, not an idol or a boss they keep at arm's length. 

I dunno. I agree that Cassandra and Dorian are the most open about their friendship, but some of the others can become pretty good friends. Sera and eating cookies on the roof and playing pranks. Josephine babbles to you about work and tells you about how she was once a bard, a story that's obviously intensely personal to her. Iron Bull may call you "boss," but he'll get drunk with you and obviously treats you a lot like one of his Chargers (I mean, that probably is how friendship works in the Qun.) Vivienne trusts you enough that she'll take you with her when her duke is dying and let you see her at her weakest and for all her ambition, she asks about how you are doing several times. Cole freaks some people out, but I love that character (maybe not reading TME lets me view him only as he's presented in DAI - a spirit of Compassion.)

 

Yes, Leli and Varric are different from their prior appearances. I love this Leliana (original Leli was a bit too bubbly for my taste,) but I have to admit I didn't warm to Varric as much as I'd hoped. Cullen can actually be a little cool a lot of the time if you're non-romanceable. Solas is even cooler to non-Dalish, but he will warm up some over time.

 

I think the game needed a little more companion content for the length. And you don't become best friends with most of your companions, but most of them are older with their own lives already and you are initially a bit of a potential holy figure (even if that doesn't intimidate them, how well did that turn out for Andraste?) But you do become friends with all or most of them. And even though we tend to expect and want it, being close isn't necessary to work with someone.

 

As far as having an IQ returning, even though I don't like my IQs as well as my Wardens, I'd enjoy it. I think one of the reasons I don't personally see any point in a canon playthrough is because the character doesn't return. So, I slap together whatever combination makes sense or has potential for the IQ I'm working out. If we got returning PCs, that continuity would suddenly have some meaning to me. Obviously, a lot of people are very invested in particular playthroughs and don't have any problem feeling there's enough continuity for it to matter. But for me, it's 6 of one, half dozen of the other as to which warden I put with which IQ, etc. Doesn't really matter other than the Landsmeet decision about Alistair's fate.

[Ghost Gal]

Yeah maybe that's why the only person my inquisitor ever felt truly close to was Cassandra.

 

Same here.

 

Well, mine only truly felt close to Dorian, while Cassandra and Cullen were kind of runner-ups.

 

(I feel like they liked me more than I liked them. It took most of my first playthrough for Lavellan to warm up to Cassandra, then her approval took a nose-dive when she said "Why are we bothering with this heathen nonsense?" at the Temple of Mythal. Not cool, Cass. Cullen also slowly won her over the course of the game--hence why I weave it into my Cullen/Lavellan romance  --but the reason I don't headcanon they were besties is because I headcanon that he had a crush on her, but she was already taken with Solas, so that awkwardness always lingered under the surface.

 

And all the while Cullen was like,

(Sorry boy, no treats from me.)

(Found on Pinterest. Sorry, don't know the original artist.)

 

You do know that you can play Solas's romance right up to the vallaslin scene and break up with him there, then go start the Cullen romance? Unless it was a glitch that they later fixed, I tested it on my very first playthrough (even have screenshots on the desk ) I didn't keep it, she was my Solas romance, but it can be a little frustrating when there are potentially 40 or more hours of game play between one romance scene and the next. Obviously this doesn't suit some people...

 

No!

 

*ahem* I thought about that, but I don't think it would work for a number of reasons. For practical reasons, I've played this game so much I'm sick of it, so I don't want to sink dozens of hours into a playthrough that could go up in smoke if it turns out that glitch was fixed.  For roleplay reasons, I can't really justify Lavellan dumping Solas out of the blue. (Then again, it's not like the game lets you dump him earlier, assuming I saved the Winter Palace for last, my girl saw the Dread Wolf's true colors, then wanted out ASAP.) Even if I could, I don't really like the idea of starting Cullen's romance at the very butt-end of the game (after the Temple of Mythal), since you have to avoid him all game and then squeeze in a whole game's worth of romance progression into what I assume are a few days in-universe. x_x

 

I dunno. I agree that Cassandra and Dorian are the most open about their friendship, but some of the others can become pretty good friends. Sera and eating cookies on the roof and playing pranks. Josephine babbles to you about work and tells you about how she was once a bard, a story that's obviously intensely personal to her. Iron Bull may call you "boss," but he'll get drunk with you and obviously treats you a lot like one of his Chargers (I mean, that probably is how friendship works in the Qun.) Vivienne trusts you enough that she'll take you with her when her duke is dying and let you see her at her weakest and for all her ambition, she asks about how you are doing several times. Cole freaks some people out, but I love that character (maybe not reading TME lets me view him only as he's presented in DAI - a spirit of Compassion.)

 

Yes, Leli and Varric are different from their prior appearances. I love this Leliana (original Leli was a bit too bubbly for my taste,) but I have to admit I didn't warm to Varric as much as I'd hoped. Cullen can actually be a little cool a lot of the time if you're non-romanceable. Solas is even cooler to non-Dalish, but he will warm up some over time.

 

Okay, that's a fair cop. I guess I made it sound like I felt you can't befriend your DAI companions and advisers at all. What I meant was it doesn't feel like you can become as close to them as it feels like the Warden or Hawke could become with their companions, and certainly not as close as if you romanced them. 

 

For the most part, in DAO and DA2 it seemed like you could become very close, emotionally intimate friends even if you didn't romance companions. Sure, once you romanced them you got to see a different side to them (like Fenris bolting due to his intimacy issues, or Zevran revealing his undying romantic and sexual loyalty to someone once he falls in love), but for the most part I feel like you could still become extremely close with a companion even if it wasn't in a romantic or sexual way. You could still feel like your Warden/Hawke and X companion could forge a deep bond, bring out the best in each other, have each other's backs in not just battle but life, share a lifelong bond, etc even if neither of you ever wants to jump into bed or get married.

 

For DAI, I didn't get that impression. Sure, sometimes you could have a touching scene, or they could ask you to solve their problems, or admit something personal about their lives; but for the most part you don't have the option to become close friends. Having now tried several romances, I can say from experience that far too often I felt like if I didn't romance a companion or adviser, I didn't really become that close to them. (With Dorian and possibly Cassandra as the big shining exception(s)). It always felt more distant and professional/casual unless we started banging bits or whispering love poems to each other.

 

(Varric just broke my heart this game. The man who never met a stranger treats you like a stranger all game. )'=

 

I think the game needed a little more companion content for the length. And you don't become best friends with most of your companions, but most of them are older with their own lives already and you are initially a bit of a potential holy figure (even if that doesn't intimidate them, how well did that turn out for Andraste?) But you do become friends with all or most of them. And even though we tend to expect and want it, being close isn't necessary to work with someone.

 

It's true that it isn't necessary, but I think it's nice.

 

I missed the closeness allowed for DAO companions (and DA2, though I didn't play that one). For DAI, I didn't really like how the game forced you to be professional/distant with your companions and advisers (unless their name was Dorian and/or Cassandra, and/or unless you fucked them), rather than having the option to become besties the way DAO and DA2 allowed. I didn't really like feeling like I had to start courting a companion/adviser to feel close to them, or feel like I can only count one or two of my Inquisitor's companions/advisers as her really close friend out of a lineup of a dozen.

[Fadburger]

At the end of Trespasser I definitely got the distinct feeling we are going to get a new PC with the Inquisitor in the background...still involved but not remotely as much as DAI. And this is coming from somebody obsessed with Mass Effect and preferring/enjoying the continuation aspect of ME1-3 with keeping your same Shepard the whole time. 

[R2s Muse]

Hmm, just like me to roll by the Rutherford Homestead (aka Cullen Thread) when nobody's home. *Raps peeks through windows* *taptaptap-hello* 

 

Well, I'll just sit down here, and sort the Homestead mail. Brace yourselves for back to back posts from me....

Heeeeelllllooooo lloooo looo oooo !! 

 

Ah, you caught us (me?) during U.S. work hours! Welcome back, raps. Stay awhile!

[R2s Muse]

And this is the Cullen Thread:
 

 
  I saw this image and I just had to post it. lol.

[R2s Muse]

And I admit, I was a tad bit envious of Bull and his Chargers. They seemed really close, like a little family. That was the kind of feeling I got with DAO and DA2 companions; a small band of outcast, roving "mercenaries" that needed each other. I did not feel that with DAI. I didn't feel like they were really "with" me as much as we were collaborating on a project, but their real alliances and "family" were elsewhere.

 

I mean, I think they wanted the companions to be kind of big shots in their own right, and with "their own lives" and all that. Which is great on paper,b ut-for me-in game it made for a bit of a disconnect.

 

 Eh, but that's just me.

You know, I hadn't really thought about it until you said this, but I agree. I've been writing a lot of DA2 characters recently again, and I realize that I often describe Hawke's friends as family and how special that is. I hadn't thought about the fact that it doesn't feel like that for my Inquisitors. It's like the Inquisitor has work friends, which can always develop into more, but not family in the same way as Hawke. Like the DA2 companions also had their own lives, but I felt like Hawke was invited, too, you know? Like to the card games with Fenris and Donnic, or to Aveline's Solstice party. Given that the Inquisitor wasn't ever even invited to the Wicked Grace game until late in the game, it feels like the DAI companions maintained a certain distance. I realize now... I've sort of written about that in one of my Lavellan WIP stories. So, it's not just you.

 

You do know that you can play Solas's romance right up to the vallaslin scene and break up with him there, then go start the Cullen romance? Unless it was a glitch that they later fixed, I tested it on my very first playthrough (even have screenshots on the desk ) I didn't keep it, she was my Solas romance, but it can be a little frustrating when there are potentially 40 or more hours of game play between one romance scene and the next. Obviously this doesn't suit some people...

Keeping in mind that you don't get it all if you wait that late. You miss the Chantry scene with Cullen, because that is only triggered by returning from the Temple of Mythal. So, you can start the Cullen romance that late, but it's abridged.

[Tishina]

You know, I hadn't really thought about it until you said this, but I agree. I've been writing a lot of DA2 characters recently again, and I realize that I often describe Hawke's friends as family and how special that is. I hadn't thought about the fact that it doesn't feel like that for my Inquisitors. It's like the Inquisitor has work friends, which can always develop into more, but not family in the same way as Hawke. Like the DA2 companions also had their own lives, but I felt like Hawke was invited, too, you know? Like to the card games with Fenris and Donnic, or to Aveline's Solstice party. Given that the Inquisitor wasn't ever even invited to the Wicked Grace game until late in the game, it feels like the DAI companions maintained a certain distance. I realize now... I've sort of written about that in one of my Lavellan WIP stories. So, it's not just you.

 

Keeping in mind that's you don't get it all if you wait that late. You miss the Chantry scene with Cullen, because that is only triggered by returning from the Temple of Mythal. So, you can start the Cullen romance that late, but it's abridged.

Oh, I don't disagree with either of you that most of them didn't feel as close, and some were always going to be a little distant because of who they are - that whole personal agendas thing (Vivienne comes to mind.) I do think some of them like Sera would have felt that sort of closeness if there had been a little better proportion of content, though. And hands down, I felt closer to most of my DA:O companions than to most of my DA:I companions. I'm still sad there was absolutely no reference to modern Shale, even for a dwarven IQ who is presumably related, other than the hint that the Cadashes were forced out for trying to demand answers about what happened to her.

 

No!

 

*ahem* I thought about that, but I don't think it would work for a number of reasons. For practical reasons, I've played this game so much I'm sick of it, so I don't want to sink dozens of hours into a playthrough that could go up in smoke if it turns out that glitch was fixed.  For roleplay reasons, I can't really justify Lavellan dumping Solas out of the blue. (Then again, it's not like the game lets you dump him earlier, assuming I saved the Winter Palace for last, my girl saw the Dread Wolf's true colors, then wanted out ASAP.) Even if I could, I don't really like the idea of starting Cullen's romance at the very butt-end of the game (after the Temple of Mythal), since you have to avoid him all game and then squeeze in a whole game's worth of romance progression into what I assume are a few days in-universe. x_x

R2 has a point that you miss the chantry scene if you wait that long. But it came to mind because you mentioned wanting to break up with Solas after the Winter Palace. If you're playing on PC, you can test it and then just restore to before the breakup if it doesn't work. I broke up with Solas, went straight to Cullen's office, and tested to see if I could ask to speak to him on the battlement.  And you can do most other things with him before that - I kind of like the Perseverance quest before the romance anyway, it's a little touching (and maybe sad?) how surprised he is that you could still be interested after seeing that. But yes, it does cram a lot in very quickly (wouldn't actually be my first choice,) I just wanted to point out the option.

[R2s Muse]

Oh, I don't disagree with either of you that most of them didn't feel as close, and some were always going to be a little distant because of who they are - that whole personal agendas thing (Vivienne comes to mind.) I do think some of them like Sera would have felt that sort of closeness if there had been a little better proportion of content, though. And hands down, I felt closer to most of my DA:O companions than to most of my DA:I companions. I'm still sad there was absolutely no reference to modern Shale, even for a dwarven IQ who is presumably related, other than the hint that the Cadashes were forced out for trying to demand answers about what happened to her.

 

R2 has a point that you miss the chantry scene if you wait that long. But it came to mind because you mentioned wanting to break up with Solas after the Winter Palace. If you're playing on PC, you can test it and then just restore to before the breakup if it doesn't work. I broke up with Solas, went straight to Cullen's office, and tested to see if I could ask to speak to him on the battlement.  And you can do most other things with him before that - I kind of like the Perseverance quest before the romance anyway, it's a little touching (and maybe sad?) how surprised he is that you could still be interested after seeing that. But yes, it does cram a lot in very quickly (wouldn't actually be my first choice,) I just wanted to point out the option.

Yeah, I think you're right that it also depends on the companion. But, I guess it just feels so sad that if you can't pal around with Varric, who is palling around with everyone else... you're really the outsider, you know? With Sera... I dunno, could be. I personally despise her, so I pretty much avoid all of her content. But she's also an example of someone who has her whole Red Jenny network that has nothing to do with you. Like they others all have their allegiances, by design, since the devs always said early on that they wanted you to be the head of of people who were leaders in their own right already. So it was set up from the beginning to be different in that way. It just feels a bit bitter sweet, I guess (I keep wanting to write "bitter suite" LOL Hmm, I must have Xena on the brain). 

 

And, BOOO! on no mention of Shale. Number one son is playing DA:O right now after losing interest in DA:I mid-game. I had forgotten how engaging these characters are. He's killed Connor already. D'oh! "It wasn't my fault! There was nothing else I could do!" he says. And he keeps wanting to pick the first choice under the assumption that that's the "nice" thing to say. It should be interesting to see where he ends up.

[nightscrawl]

This one?

Spoiler

 
Thanks! Wow, five minutes of all of those. I had no idea.
 
 

Yeah me too :/ I mean it sounds like it MIGHT be in the future, hopefully if Magekiller's sales are good enough? To be honest I haven't read the previous DA comics, but I know the ME comics were more like several miniseries so I am hoping that's the case here...
 
Yeah...hopefully the next couple issues should shed some light...

 

 

From the original Polygon interview, it does seem like there are supposed to be additional arcs like the first run of comics.
 

Magekiller will also see the rise of the Venatori, the Tevinter cult that worships and works for Dragon Age: Inquisition's villain Corypheus, with the end of issue #2 corresponding to the destruction of the Conclave, the inciting event of the game. The first arc of the series will encompass the full plot of Inquisition, however, and after that it'll be striking out into new territory for the franchise.

[CuriousArtemis]

Oh, I don't disagree with either of you that most of them didn't feel as close, and some were always going to be a little distant because of who they are - that whole personal agendas thing (Vivienne comes to mind.) I do think some of them like Sera would have felt that sort of closeness if there had been a little better proportion of content, though. And hands down, I felt closer to most of my DA:O companions than to most of my DA:I companions. 

 

Yeah, I think you're right that it also depends on the companion. But, I guess it just feels so sad that if you can't pal around with Varric, who is palling around with everyone else... you're really the outsider, you know? With Sera... I dunno, could be. I personally despise her, so I pretty much avoid all of her content. But she's also an example of someone who has her whole Red Jenny network that has nothing to do with you. Like they others all have their allegiances, by design, since the devs always said early on that they wanted you to be the head of of people who were leaders in their own right already. So it was set up from the beginning to be different in that way.

 

Agree with you guys; I think the characters having separate agendas (Red Jenny, the Qun, The Grand Game) made it hard for us to get close to them, plus the actual content (time spent talking to and getting to know each person) felt way scaled back from DAO and DA2. Now I'm betting they could produce some numbers showing us that the sheer amount of dialogue is equal to the previous games, but the thing is it FELT like there was less dialogue. Maybe because there was such a massive cast of characters, and because the game itself was so long and massive as well. 

 

DA2, with its small setting and small cast remains my favorite, though it's hard to be impartial since it also contains my favorite romance.

[Tishina]

Yeah, I think you're right that it also depends on the companion. But, I guess it just feels so sad that if you can't pal around with Varric, who is palling around with everyone else... you're really the outsider, you know? With Sera... I dunno, could be. I personally despise her, so I pretty much avoid all of her content. But she's also an example of someone who has her whole Red Jenny network that has nothing to do with you. Like they others all have their allegiances, by design, since the devs always said early on that they wanted you to be the head of of people who were leaders in their own right already. So it was set up from the beginning to be different in that way. It just feels a bit bitter sweet, I guess (I keep wanting to write "bitter suite" LOL Hmm, I must have Xena on the brain). 

 

And, BOOO! on no mention of Shale. Number one son is playing DA:O right now after losing interest in DA:I mid-game. I had forgotten how engaging these characters are. He's killed Connor already. D'oh! "It wasn't my fault! There was nothing else I could do!" he says. And he keeps wanting to pick the first choice under the assumption that that's the "nice" thing to say. It should be interesting to see where he ends up.

True, I think it was set up differently from the beginning - in the other games, people are more directly dependent on you and your leadership. I rather like Sera's character, even if most of the time she strikes me as really young - the two drawbacks for me are the shallowness of her identity issues with the limited content and the fact if you aren't British, you need a phrase book to understand too much of what she says. I wouldn't have minded the change in relationships too much if there had been enough companion content to really support it. Of course, I'm one of those with the in-Skyhold glitches in advisor-messenger banter. I get ALL the Josephine banters most of the time, I think. If I'm lucky, I'll get to hear one for Cullen per playthrough. And I think I've heard one total for Leliana.

 

Yeah, the lack of any mention of Shale for a Cadash was depressing. Leliana, for Andraste's sake, who knew Shale never says a single word to a dwarven IQ about her, sigh.

 

You'll have to keep us updated on your son's playthrough!

[Fadburger]

And, BOOO! on no mention of Shale. Number one son is playing DA:O right now after losing interest in DA:I mid-game. I had forgotten how engaging these characters are. He's killed Connor already. D'oh! "It wasn't my fault! There was nothing else I could do!" he says. And he keeps wanting to pick the first choice under the assumption that that's the "nice" thing to say. It should be interesting to see where he ends up.

 

How old is your son? Mine is probably younger but wanted to play DAO so I got it for him and he started it (human noble named Finn...the dog is Poe lol) but hasn't played in a while, however he got to Lothering and wanted to release Sten........so he went and yelled at the Revered Mother and got like -10 from Alistair, I was so sad...I can't handle Alistair getting mad and losing all those points with him lol... I have a feeling he will probably end up killing Connor as well and end up doing all the short but brutal things like that, rather than use finesse and diplomacy lol

 

 

From the original Polygon interview, it does seem like there are supposed to be additional arcs like the first run of comics.
 

 

Oh yeah it definitely seems like there will be more, phew! And I am even more curious now what it's going to be since they said that they'll be going into uncharted territory now that they've got the DAI stuff out of the way. 

---

 

Also, I agree with everybody saying that the DAI characters are kind of kept at arms length except for a select few who you can become BFFs with and your LI. I wonder if that's on purpose though since they are referred to officially as the "Followers"...makes them sound more like disciples than friends. I haven't played DA2 yet but I know that in DAO people just kind of end up following/helping you, you don't actively go and recruit anybody the way you do in DAI (again it's more of an army situation than anything, it's even something set up for you before you even become the Inquisitor after all). Sure in DAO people have their reasons for joining you but it's their reasons not your targeting them as an ally for a specific purpose. 

[CuriousArtemis]

Also, I agree with everybody saying that the DAI characters are kind of kept at arms length except for a select few who you can become BFFs with and your LI. I wonder if that's on purpose though since they are referred to officially as the "Followers"...makes them sound more like disciples than friends. I haven't played DA2 yet but I know that in DAO people just kind of end up following/helping you, you don't actively go and recruit anybody the way you do in DAI (again it's more of an army situation than anything, it's even something set up for you before you even become the Inquisitor after all). Sure in DAO people have their reasons for joining you but it's their reasons not your targeting them as an ally for a specific purpose. 

 

I had a nice long post I was working on but I must have navigated away from it

 

Anyway, this comic pretty much encapsulates the relationships you form in DA2: http://kisu-no-hi.tu...st/118893387529

 

These people are your friends... nay, your family. I felt closer to them even than the folks in DAO. Which again I think could be based on personal preference. But still, there's a definite movement away from forming these kinds of bonds in DAI.

[Cerulione]

True, I think it was set up differently from the beginning - in the other games, people are more directly dependent on you and your leadership. I rather like Sera's character, even if most of the time she strikes me as really young - the two drawbacks for me are the shallowness of her identity issues with the limited content and the fact if you aren't British, you need a phrase book to understand too much of what she says. I wouldn't have minded the change in relationships too much if there had been enough companion content to really support it. Of course, I'm one of those with the in-Skyhold glitches in advisor-messenger banter. I get ALL the Josephine banters most of the time, I think. If I'm lucky, I'll get to hear one for Cullen per playthrough. And I think I've heard one total for Leliana.

 

Yeah, the lack of any mention of Shale for a Cadash was depressing. Leliana, for Andraste's sake, who knew Shale never says a single word to a dwarven IQ about her, sigh.

 

You'll have to keep us updated on your son's playthrough!

 

...I must admit my reaction to Sera was like   until someone (British) explained to me that it actually means something beneath...

 

Although, confession time: I haven't romanced Cullen with an independent playthrough. It takes too long, so I just used my Solasmance playthrough, cut it off to just before kissing him on the balcony (which locks you into the romance), and had her go play chess with Cullen instead for that romance playthrough. I want to make a new playthrough with a Surana worldstate (not Tabris worldstate like with Solas), but I can't see any Dalish Inquisitor of mine choosing an ex-Templar over a fellow "heathen" elf. I can only see her choosing Cullen if she went to the Winter Palace first, where she can see Solas' questionable morals in action (Mr. "I do adore the heady blend of power, intrigue, danger, and sex that permeates these events"  ) and see that Cullen is a good and honest man who also detests the politics and backstabbing as much as she does. Doing so first means that I sacrifice getting to go to the Orlesian Ball as part of a couple with Cullen, though, which means no dance scene. 

 

 

Oooh Okaaay actually... I do get a way of playing to "contour" this if you're patient. Believe it or not, my little girl Luthiel Lavellan's actually tried on all available romance option to her... even up to temple of mythal.

 

So... At Haven I got Lu flirting with everyone. I played the game & finish all area & side quest before starting the romance, starting Here Lies the Abyss & WEWH, then... play the game with the cullen romance (canon romance for Lu). Then save the game, goes back, replay all these main quest with different LIs & combination & basically got to taste Cullen& Solas & Josie & Sera & BW up to beyond Temple of Mythal when I start to get really lazy... The second, third pass etc I just skip all battle as much as possible & play it on casual :3.

 

...THe thing is, this rather kills my mood to play my real Solavellan Lavellan (although let's be honest, I freaking love Solavellan that's my favourite BW romance ever & I spent like a few hundreds of hours fanarting & discussing in that part). So I didn't have the energy of finishing my Solavellan Lavellan PT... And basically just watch people's PT, read everything about it. Still love it and still think it's my favourite story ever

 

 

I'd personally be okay with a new PC only if the Inquisitor can return as, say, a significant NPC or co-protagonist, if just to return to help resolve the Solas situation. The ending to Trespasser set the Inquisitor up as someone who vowed to stop Solas, and their final scene is shown to be looking for allies to either put him down or save him from himself. I'd be really disappointed if that setup had no pay-off.

 

Plus, Solavellan fans want closure to the romance. 

 

A thousand yes. *time to pass another thousand hours to fanart on that direction*. "Pssst Bioware, please have Revas/Lène Lavellan [or insert SoLavellan Lavellan's first name here] fanart as protag for the next game!!! This is a very cool idea!! Look at what you can make from this story"

 

...I'm doing that. At least I'll always have fanarts/non-canon comics/arts on that direction.

 

 

Funnily, I don't feel this needs with the CuLavellan since with Cullen it really feels, romance end wells it's time for them to fade into the shadow & live their quiet life... or do whatever it is they want but step down from the spotlight will really be a rest. Like in many other romance (Josie's, BW's, Sera's) it really feels like they are together & it's time to step down & have a rest.

 

But with Dorian romance & Solas Romance I truly feel the need of having the quizzy as next protag. Dorian's going to be tied to the next game alright.

 

 

Okay, that's a fair cop. I guess I made it sound like I felt you can't befriend your DAI companions and advisers at all. What I meant was it doesn't feel like you can become as close to them as it feels like the Warden or Hawke could become with their companions, and certainly not as close as if you romanced them. 

 

For the most part, in DAO and DA2 it seemed like you could become very close, emotionally intimate friends even if you didn't romance companions. Sure, once you romanced them you got to see a different side to them (like Fenris bolting due to his intimacy issues, or Zevran revealing his undying romantic and sexual loyalty to someone once he falls in love), but for the most part I feel like you could still become extremely close with a companion even if it wasn't in a romantic or sexual way. You could still feel like your Warden/Hawke and X companion could forge a deep bond, bring out the best in each other, have each other's backs in not just battle but life, share a lifelong bond, etc even if neither of you ever wants to jump into bed or get married.

 

For DAI, I didn't get that impression. Sure, sometimes you could have a touching scene, or they could ask you to solve their problems, or admit something personal about their lives; but for the most part you don't have the option to become close friends. Having now tried several romances, I can say from experience that far too often I felt like if I didn't romance a companion or adviser, I didn't really become that close to them. (With Dorian and possibly Cassandra as the big shining exception(s)). It always felt more distant and professional/casual unless we started banging bits or whispering love poems to each other.

 

(Varric just broke my heart this game. The man who never met a stranger treats you like a stranger all game. )'=

 

 

It's true that it isn't necessary, but I think it's nice.

 

I missed the closeness allowed for DAO companions (and DA2, though I didn't play that one). For DAI, I didn't really like how the game forced you to be professional/distant with your companions and advisers (unless their name was Dorian and/or Cassandra, and/or unless you fucked them), rather than having the option to become besties the way DAO and DA2 allowed. I didn't really like feeling like I had to start courting a companion/adviser to feel close to them, or feel like I can only count one or two of my Inquisitor's companions/advisers as her really close friend out of a lineup of a dozen.

 

I really really miss DAO (not DA2 at all in the end...). I miss the night in the camp, the soft song, a moment of respite, close conversation with your friends... While still going for the Big Adventure & Actually Get Things Done.

 

DAI... Feels really different. Idk how about non-Lavellan but as a Lavellan I truly feels how terrifying this is. Thrown to the world of Shem who insist despite your refusing to be called such, that you are the Herald of Andraste & proceeds to force it to you even if you stated clearly you don't believe the heck in Andraste. The only two prominent elven cast in the game (Solas + Sera) & another elf I happen to really love (Minaeve) treats the Dalish with disdain. Getting your clan killed.

 

And despite everything, realizing that you are alone. That's rather the essence of DAI IMO... You are like Ameridan, the first Inquisitor. All alone in the end, in an unforgiving world that doesn't forgive you anyway

 

Funnily, I just feels that Cullen actually among the very few who manage to admit, "okay I believe in the maker & you don't but it's OK you don't have to". Cass disappoint me on this term but well, that's making the character good & having flaws IMO. Dorian & Sera... nearly get their heads chopped by Luthiel the first time she met them. Viv nearly got instantly burnt to ash for that too, so does Morrigan. BW's been more neutral on that point IMO. Josie's... all calculating. Leliana, I'm disappointed you did romance Mahariel dammit. Solas... you too nearly got your head burnt to scrambled egg.

[Cerulione]

How old is your son? Mine is probably younger but wanted to play DAO so I got it for him and he started it (human noble named Finn...the dog is Poe lol) but hasn't played in a while, however he got to Lothering and wanted to release Sten........so he went and yelled at the Revered Mother and got like -10 from Alistair, I was so sad...I can't handle Alistair getting mad and losing all those points with him lol... I have a feeling he will probably end up killing Connor as well and end up doing all the short but brutal things like that, rather than use finesse and diplomacy lol

 

 

Oh yeah it definitely seems like there will be more, phew! And I am even more curious now what it's going to be since they said that they'll be going into uncharted territory now that they've got the DAI stuff out of the way. 

---

 

Also, I agree with everybody saying that the DAI characters are kind of kept at arms length except for a select few who you can become BFFs with and your LI. I wonder if that's on purpose though since they are referred to officially as the "Followers"...makes them sound more like disciples than friends. I haven't played DA2 yet but I know that in DAO people just kind of end up following/helping you, you don't actively go and recruit anybody the way you do in DAI (again it's more of an army situation than anything, it's even something set up for you before you even become the Inquisitor after all). Sure in DAO people have their reasons for joining you but it's their reasons not your targeting them as an ally for a specific purpose. 

 

I think it's purposefully done... In DAO, people joining you basically putting themselves as outcast. Grey Wardening was illegal & is a Death Warrant should you be captured. In DAI, joining you offers more benefit.

 

Whoops TOP! Please have my first fanart ever in my life: Pocket Cullen XD

 

[R2s Muse]

Agree with you guys; I think the characters having separate agendas (Red Jenny, the Qun, The Grand Game) made it hard for us to get close to them, plus the actual content (time spent talking to and getting to know each person) felt way scaled back from DAO and DA2. Now I'm betting they could produce some numbers showing us that the sheer amount of dialogue is equal to the previous games, but the thing is it FELT like there was less dialogue. Maybe because there was such a massive cast of characters, and because the game itself was so long and massive as well. 

 

DA2, with its small setting and small cast remains my favorite, though it's hard to be impartial since it also contains my favorite romance.

I also wonder if more of the dialogue was lost to us behind conditionals. There were so many variables in this game that I imagine there's just lots and lots of content I missed out on. in any given playthrough (besides the stuff that was broken and never triggered, like so much of the banter or some of Blackwall's explanations or the messenger banters, the list goes on). 

 

Ah well. 

[R2s Muse]

How old is your son? Mine is probably younger but wanted to play DAO so I got it for him and he started it (human noble named Finn...the dog is Poe lol) but hasn't played in a while, however he got to Lothering and wanted to release Sten........so he went and yelled at the Revered Mother and got like -10 from Alistair, I was so sad...I can't handle Alistair getting mad and losing all those points with him lol... I have a feeling he will probably end up killing Connor as well and end up doing all the short but brutal things like that, rather than use finesse and diplomacy lol

LOL I think that would have happened in my son's playthrough, too... except that he skipped Sten and Leliana altogether! LOL I had to make him roll back his save and do Lothering again. He's seven, so he pretty much prefers running around and killing things over all the chitty chat chat. I also had to walk him through Alistair's disapproval of him killing Connor in order to maintain his friendships. At least I finally taught him the 'save before you talk to anyone at camp' metagaming technique for max approval.
 
How old is yours?
 

Also, I agree with everybody saying that the DAI characters are kind of kept at arms length except for a select few who you can become BFFs with and your LI. I wonder if that's on purpose though since they are referred to officially as the "Followers"...makes them sound more like disciples than friends.

I think it's purposefully done... In DAO, people joining you basically putting themselves as outcast. Grey Wardening was illegal & is a Death Warrant should you be captured. In DAI, joining you offers more benefit.

 
They've always called them followers, though, in all three games. I think BW's plan for these particular followers was just different this time around.

[Fadburger]

LOL I think that would have happened in my son's playthrough, too... except that he skipped Sten and Leliana altogether! LOL I had to make him roll back his save and do Lothering again. He's seven, so he pretty much prefers running around and killing things over all the chitty chat chat. I also had to walk him through Alistair's disapproval of him killing Connor in order to maintain his friendships. At least I finally taught him the 'save before you talk to anyone at camp' metagaming technique for max approval.
 
How old is yours?
 

 
They've always called them followers, though, in all three games. I think BW's plan for these particular followers was just different this time around.

 

Oh good my son is 6, he'll be 7 pretty soon though in May...I just didn't want to out myself letting my son play Bioware games if yours was a teenager or something haha. I'm glad we are on the same page here though...I figure as long as he doesn't romance anybody there isn't anything TOO age-inappropriate lol. 

He skipped Leliana, but when he was leaving Lothering he saw Sten and I told him he could free him lol. I wish he'd have asked me a little more for help but the damage was already done so all I could do was sit and pout about Alistair, heh. Mine also prefers the running around and killing aspect over the talking, but I like that he has to read the options, good practice! I need to remind him about saving...sometimes he will turn off the game forgetting to save too, he doesn't seem to mind but it's painful to me haha. But alas, he hasn't played for a while so I haven't been able to teach him about that...I'll have to remind him about it xD I haven't been playing DAO much lately and I think he just gets inspired to play when he sees me play it~

As for the Followers thing, I didn't know that about the other games...I'm a relative Bioware newbie (got into Mass Effect last summer...June/July and DAI in November...DAO just a couple months ago) so I wasn't around for all the promo stuff about the older games. In fact the first time I heard of the DAI crew as "Followers" was in December when I went to Gaider's DA panel at GaymerX and heard him use the term. Before that I wasn't sure what to call them (such as squadmates when referring to the similar cast of characters in ME). 

[CuriousArtemis]

Personally I've always called them "companions." Not sure where that term came from!

[Fadburger]

Personally I've always called them "companions." Not sure where that term came from!

 

That's more what I would have assumed they'd be called for DAO and DA2, that makes a lot of sense.