6175 réponses à ce sujet

[Faerah]

It's official, this thread is all grown up now. We have our first dev posts.   

[David Gaider]

I'm interested in how the team chooses romanceable characters! I can only assume the character's appearance has something to do with it.
I remember reading/watching dev talk about The Old Republic, where a character designer lamented that they were told to change a character's broken nose because the character was a love interest and had to look "pretty."

 

Character appearance has less to do with the choice than you'd think. Discussions regarding who's romanced happen pretty early, when all we have to go on is early concept art--maybe. A lot can change between that time and release, and usually does. So the fact that someone is a romanceable character factors more into their appearance development later, rather than the other way around.

 

And it would be a lie to say it doesn't factor in to some extent. There's a limit to how much, of course. An artist being asked to make someone "conventionally attractive" sits about as well with them as someone asking to make a story "have more mass appeal" would have with me. Our interpretation of such a request would be that they want the character/story to be more boring, whereas we like the ugly bits that make something more unique and interesting. That said, if the character artists take a romanceable character and produce a face that we can't imagine anyone wanting to kiss, a discussion will be had no matter how "interesting" they think the character looks. That consideration, however, does not generally overrule everything else. It's a negotiation.

[illymiel]

 

 

 

2) Before someone goes on at length about how "conventionally attractive" the character they're referring to as "Cole" is, they might want to wait until they actually get a closer look. As a suggestion.

 

 

 I hope it will be not like that.

 

[BubbleDncr]

Personally I've always thought the guy in the trailer/last supper image everyone's pointed to as being Cole(who probably is but as Mr. Gaider pointed out, we don't "know" that yet) looks rather dopey.

 

Just my two cents.

 

He's always looked like the human version of Sandal to me.

[The Night Haunter]

Character appearance has less to do with the choice than you'd think. Discussions regarding who's romanced happen pretty early, when all we have to go on is early concept art--maybe. A lot can change between that time and release, and usually does. So the fact that someone is a romanceable character factors more into their appearance development later, rather than the other way around.

 

And it would be a lie to say it doesn't factor in to some extent. There's a limit to how much, of course. An artist being asked to make someone "conventionally attractive" sits about as well with them as someone asking to make a story "have more mass appeal" would have with me. Our interpretation of such a request would be that they want the character/story to be more boring, whereas we like the ugly bits that make something more unique and interesting. That said, if the character artists take a romanceable character and produce a face that we can't imagine anyone wanting to kiss, a discussion will be had no matter how "interesting" they think the character looks. That consideration, however, does not generally overrule everything else. It's a negotiation.

Thanks for the info

 

Knowledge is Power.

[Tootles FTW]

I found the concept of Cole romantically appealing in that "Patrick Swayze in Ghost"-kinda way, but upon actually reading Asunder I realized the concept and the reality were not computing.  Cole just is not capable of being a consenting adult in Asunder.

 

The original appeal is there for me, but not as the character was in Asunder, no.  

[Kisari]

I found the concept of Cole romantically appealing in that "Patrick Swayze in Ghost"-kinda way, but upon actually reading Asunder I realized the concept and the reality were not computing.  Cole just is not capable of being a consenting adult in Asunder.

 

The original appeal is there for me, but not as the character was in Asunder, no.  

This is how I feel too. But then I love demons/monsters/occult creatures and there isn't much for that... Hakuoki is the only fix for it! ; ;

Not interested if he isn't interested though. Where's the fun in that?
Of course that doesn't mean I can't lament that his character wasn't taken in a different direction. He'll still probably be my favorite and I'm sure I'll still love his character but y'know.

[KirstyLionheart]

I never thought Cole was conventionally attractive.. I adored his personality.. and that made his erm, "unique" appearance all the more endearing because it seemed to fit with his personality and story. I wouldn't care if Cole had Freddy Kruger's face.. I still love Cole.. romance or no romance

[CENIC]

Character appearance has less to do with the choice than you'd think. Discussions regarding who's romanced happen pretty early, when all we have to go on is early concept art--maybe. A lot can change between that time and release, and usually does. So the fact that someone is a romanceable character factors more into their appearance development later, rather than the other way around.

And it would be a lie to say it doesn't factor in to some extent. There's a limit to how much, of course. An artist being asked to make someone "conventionally attractive" sits about as well with them as someone asking to make a story "have more mass appeal" would have with me. Our interpretation of such a request would be that they want the character/story to be more boring, whereas we like the ugly bits that make something more unique and interesting. That said, if the character artists take a romanceable character and produce a face that we can't imagine anyone wanting to kiss, a discussion will be had no matter how "interesting" they think the character looks. That consideration, however, does not generally overrule everything else. It's a negotiation.

Thank you for answering!
Character concepting sounds fascinating (but also much more complicated than I imagined)

[KirstyLionheart]

Ok so now we've seen how adorable and beautiful Sera is.. I can't wait to see Cole properly (:

[Faerah]

Ok so now we've seen how adorable and beautiful Sera is.. I can't wait to see Cole properly (:

Not going to lie, I'm getting pretty hyped. Even though we're all 99% sure it's Cole, a confirmation will be nice.

[KirstyLionheart]

Not going to lie, I'm getting pretty hyped. Even though we're all 99% sure it's Cole, a confirmation will be nice.

Yes! I've been thinking about this recently.. just imagining if they introduce him as some completely random assassin that happens to look like Cole or something..    </3

It won't happen. That's our Cole. (: Bring on E3!

[Omikuji]

Oh dang, look at that! When I go on a tad bit of a break suddenly there's a Gaider posts here! XD

 

That whole designing a character thing based on simple descriptions and things of that nature is why a concept artist has so many concepts of a character before a final. It's a lot of testing ground and I'd imagine it'd be committee based with the actual designers of the game with what gets picked? 

 

Cole never came off as pretty to me, certainly from his descriptions of being compared to a drenched mouse/rat in the book at one point (the only pretty ones I pictured in my head from the book was Rhys and Eva, then again they had heart shapes towards each other and their descriptions tended to be from one to the other). The conventional pretty one of that table still reads as Cullen to me. I like Cole because I liked everything about him from the book, I could easily relate with his plight and want to see what he does next with himself. 

 

One thing I really hope to know when we get a better look at Cole in better lighting, is freakin what eye color he has. I really like knowing what color eyes a character has, and if that blasted hair gets in the way of that I hope there would be a mini side quest to get him to brush his hair.

[KirstyLionheart]

One thing I really hope to know when we get a better look at Cole in better lighting, is freakin what eye color he has. I really like knowing what color eyes a character has, and if that blasted hair gets in the way of that I hope there would be a mini side quest to get him to brush his hair.

I'm going to guess brown. Nice deep, dark brown.

And I love his hair..

[KirstyLionheart]

I love how this thread is parallel to Cole's personality and story... empty.. lonely.. full of negativity, yet a flicker of hope and faith from a select few

[CENIC]

I'm going to guess brown. Nice deep, dark brown.

And I love his hair..

I'm hoping for brown eyes too! Not enough characters have dark eyes, despite that being the majority IRL. And as others have pointed out about Evan Peters' character Tate Langdon from American Horror story, having light hair and dark eyes is a good contrast.

[KirstyLionheart]

I'm hoping for brown eyes too! Not enough characters have dark eyes, despite that being the majority IRL. And as others have pointed out about Evan Peters' character Tate Langdon from American Horror story, having light hair and dark eyes is a good contrast.

Mhm.. very haunting.. in the best way possible. (:

[CENIC]

I'm also kind of... relieved to hear that Cole may not be as attractive as I've been assuming he'll be.

 

If he doesn't look like this...

 

 

...it'll be a lot easier to not be a bad person!

[SnakeCode]

2) Before someone goes on at length about how "conventionally attractive" the character they're referring to as "Cole" is, they might want to wait until they actually get a closer look. As a suggestion.

This has really got me thinking. We know by the end of Asunder that "Cole" now knows that he isn't actually Cole (the young mage who's appearance he has taken on.)

 

What if throughout the game, he slowly starts reverting back to his original appearance, whatever that may be? So as the being that was Cole slowly gets replaced by the original entity that was Cole in the first place, so does his appearance reflect that. Becoming less the young man, and more of the spirit/demon/entity.

[The Night Haunter]

This has really got me thinking. We know by the end of Asunder that "Cole" now knows that he isn't actually Cole (the young mage who's appearance he has taken on.)

 

What if throughout the game, he slowly starts reverting back to his original appearance, whatever that may be? So as the being that was Cole slowly gets replaced by the original entity that was Cole in the first place, so does his appearance reflect that. Becoming less the young man, and more of the spirit/demon/entity.

That could actually be pretty cool, if done right.

[KirstyLionheart]

Kind of feel pretty horrible for feeling so ungrateful right now but... Vivienne... really? Didn't we already have a TONNE of information and screenshots of her on her follower friday? Was really hoping for Cole or "Dorian". Screw me lol. At least E3 is right around the corner. ^^'

[Kisari]

Kind of feel pretty horrible for feeling so ungrateful right now but... Vivienne... really? Didn't we already have a TONNE of information and screenshots of her on her follower friday? Was really hoping for Cole or "Dorian". Screw me lol. At least E3 is right around the corner. ^^'

She was the first and last of Follower Friday. xD
Yeah E3 is tomorrow so while it sucks... well hopefully the floodgates will be open. Or at least start opening a little. Although if that's the only pre-E3 companions shown maybe those are the only ones that we will get info on. Don't really know I guess, can only wait.

[KirstyLionheart]

She was the first and last of Follower Friday. xD
Yeah E3 is tomorrow so while it sucks... well hopefully the floodgates will be open. Or at least start opening a little. Although if that's the only pre-E3 companions shown maybe those are the only ones that we will get info on. Don't really know I guess, can only wait.

: ( *sniff*

Ah I'll get over it

[TheWhitefire]

Yikes. So many people demanding a romance with a developmentally delayed demon in the form of a human who thinks knifing people while making them stare him in the eyes is fun. Seriously, before you go on hoping that Cole (if it is indeed Cole) be an attractive blonde tortured soul, go and actually read Asunder. This is not a character capable of consenting to any kind of relationship. He is a sociopath. He thinks the rules of right and wrong either don't exist or don't apply to him. He knows killing people is wrong, yet he does it anyways because of compulsions and because the rules are different for him.

The only time he stops himself is because he thinks it will get him into trouble with his friend, not because he thinks it's wrong. And then at the end of the book he goes and does it again, but this time is fully aware he is not actually Cole. He's... something else. And the rules do not apply to him, in his mind.

That's, quite frankly, terrifying. Even Jack still had a sense of right and wrong, and though she was crazy and violent, she wasn't outright sociopathic. Morinth is closer to Cole, but even she lacks the fact that he's developmentally delayed. The whole idea of a romance with Cole is disturbing and quite frankly, as Gaider has said, inappropriate.

[Devtek]

Yikes. So many people demanding a romance with a developmentally delayed demon in the form of a human who thinks knifing people while making them stare him in the eyes is fun. Seriously, before you go on hoping that Cole (if it is indeed Cole) be an attractive blonde tortured soul, go and actually read Asunder. This is not a character capable of consenting to any kind of relationship. He is a sociopath. He thinks the rules of right and wrong either don't exist or don't apply to him. He knows killing people is wrong, yet he does it anyways because of compulsions and because the rules are different for him.

The only time he stops himself is because he thinks it will get him into trouble with his friend, not because he thinks it's wrong. And then at the end of the book he goes and does it again, but this time is fully aware he is not actually Cole. He's... something else. And the rules do not apply to him, in his mind.

That's, quite frankly, terrifying. Even Jack still had a sense of right and wrong, and though she was crazy and violent, she wasn't outright sociopathic. Morinth is closer to Cole, but even she lacks the fact that he's developmentally delayed. The whole idea of a romance with Cole is disturbing and quite frankly, as Gaider has said, inappropriate.

 

To be fair, the one at the end of the book wasn't "wrong" from a number of perspectives (If it was a choice in game I would kill that character too). He was avenging his friends by removing a monster of a person in his own right, especially the only man who had ever tried to help him. The rules of "right" and "wrong" are subjective and completely dependent on societal norms.  I sincerely doubt a that a demon thinks killing a village full of people is "wrong".  Cole only starts to believe what he does is wrong when Rhys teaches him that it is, from a "normal" human point of view. Although some humans in DA believe that what Cole does should be done to every mage, as a mercy to them because of their "affliction".

 

I don't think that he should be a LI either btw.