Would you by any chance have a link?
I'd love to read the interview. I enjoy reading about what a writer was thinking when they write a certain character, but I don't have a Twitter or any such socially whatzits, so I usually end up out of the loop with them.
This is the interview. It's audio: http://www.nerdappro...patrick-weekes/
But some people transcribed the important/Solas-related parts, though a quick search just now got me incomplete fragments.
It was at one of the conventions, I think, the one Illyria mentioned, where Karin Weekes and Mike Laidlaw were taking questions. Someone asked about how the Solas romance started, and Karin called Patrick and let him talk to the audience. He said he had the idea, brought it up to Laidlaw, and Laidlaw said, "Yeah, sure, but we don't have the resources for multiple races," and Weekes said something like, "No worries, I sort of wrote it over the weekend with female elves in mind."
I guess he got bored of writing Codex entries.
Of course rumors of a certain elven apostate actually being connected to an elven god helped solidify my decision.
I had no idea at all what awaited me. I hadn't played an elf in DA before (well, aside from my glitched city elf intro that I abandoned). I thought she might wind up with Sera and I didn't expect as much elven involvement. It was the best way to play the first time through - Solas romance included. It adds a lot, even though the actual content is shorter.
This is the interview. It's audio: http://www.nerdappro...patrick-weekes/
But some people transcribed the important/Solas-related parts, though a quick search just now got me incomplete fragments.
Here:
http://forum.bioware...otaku/page-1737
http://knight-enchan...rmed-that-solas
I had no idea at all what awaited me. I hadn't played an elf in DA before (well, aside from my glitched city elf intro that I abandoned). I thought she might wind up with Sera and I didn't expect as much elven involvement. It was the best way to play the first time through - Solas romance included. It adds a lot, even though the actual content is shorter.
I had two human romances for Alistair (Amell and Cousland each), two elf romances for Zevran 
(Tabris and Mahariel each), a human and elf for Morrigan (Amell and Mahariel), and then an elf mage for Leliana (I forget hos last name). I only played the dwarf intros X). And then Elder Scrolls is always human and elves for me
Thanks. I swore I had that last one bookmarked but couldn't find it. The interview is definitely worth a listen if you have time though.
OLD MAN: Well, you see Elgar'nan was tired of the Emerald Knights' union asking for pay raises and dental care, so when he decided to protect his cup of holy coffee, he hid it inside an alchemical bottle with mysterious smoke and hired a reject from Dark Souls to guard it for eternity. (He would have have Ghilly make some horrible monster, but Mythal tipped him off that both Ghilly and her monsters used caffeine as fuel...)
...*shrug* There's a reason I don't play charades?
But in all seriousness, the sheer level of bizarre elven artwork in Ferelden is astonishing. Where are these Sylvaise-->Andraste statues I'm hearing about?
These are the ones I'm talking about (in a pretty distinctly elvhen context):
Also interesting is the fact that most of the figures seem have been uniformly defaced at some point since. Same statue, but no head and no hands offering fire. Added to the conceptual connection between flame and red lyrium makes me wonder whether something happened with Sylaise.
I definitely have elves in other games, but I don't replay games that often because I am really thorough and spend a lot of time. Usually when I replay, it is with much time in between. I've only done a full Origins replay once (partly because at one point, my PC had massive issues), but I have always intended another run, probably a mage run, with a Leliana romance.
This time, I was just tired of humans, especially humans with some sort of noble origins, and so I switched to Dalish. It was the best decision.
And yeah, the Solas romance scenes are tacked onto existing scenes, so it's shorted contentwise, but I still don't regret it.
These are the ones I'm talking about (in a pretty distinctly elvhen context):
Spoiler
Also interesting: the fact that the vast majority of the statues have been defaced at some point since. Clearly the same statue, but no head and no hands offering fire. It just makes me wonder whether something happened with Sylaise.
Spoiler
...huh.
That first statue? Is that in the Dalish Origin ruins?
The thing on the wall looks familiar as well. Reminds me of the Urthemiel design on the Architect's hat.
I definitely have elves in other games, but I don't replay games that often because I am really thorough and spend a lot of time. Usually when I replay, it is with much time in between. I've only done a full Origins replay once (partly because at one point, my PC had massive issues), but I have always intended another run, probably a mage run, with a Leliana romance.
This time, I was just tired of humans, especially humans with some sort of noble origins, and so I switched to Dalish. It was the best decision.
And yeah, the Solas romance scenes are tacked onto existing scenes, so it's shorted contentwise, but I still don't regret it.
...huh.
That first statue? Is that in the Dalish Origin ruins?
The thing on the wall looks familiar as well. Reminds me of the Urthemiel design on the Architect's hat.
Can't remember the exact context, but I think so. As for the skull-thing:
(huge image, beware)
Note how two of the other 'skulls' correspond to items we find in the Dalish camp, so almost certainly Pantheon. Sylaise? Maybe.
There are some suspicious similarities between the general lines of the skull and Kirkwall's sigil as well, but that's getting into deep conspiracy territory...
It was at one of the conventions, I think, the one Illyria mentioned, where Karin Weekes and Mike Laidlaw were taking questions. Someone asked about how the Solas romance started, and Karin called Patrick and let him talk to the audience. He said he had the idea, brought it up to Laidlaw, and Laidlaw said, "Yeah, sure, but we don't have the resources for multiple races," and Weekes said something like, "No worries, I sort of wrote it over the weekend with female elves in mind."
I guess he got bored of writing Codex entries.
And songs about Andraste's Mabari.
I agree playing as an elf who romanced Solas was definitely the most impactful first impression... although playing as Trevelyan later on made me realize just how not special a lot of our romance scenes and dialogues were X) and it was confusing not having the flirt option to push!
Humans and elves, I always play them
Suraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaana!
Sorry, Surana is my canon warden, and the origin I feel gets most overlooked by fans (there's some Cullen fans who don't even realise Cullen has a crush on her. It's all 'Amell this' and 'Amell that').
My first play through is almost always rushed. I want to finish the main game so that I don't have any chance of being spoiled and then I usually go back and play again. It takes awhile before I go through a completionelist play through though, they can become tedious. Origins also had a lot of replay value, more so I'd argue than Inquisition has. There were just so many choices X)
Yeah, humans, fricking a-holiest species of the bunch. I spend enough time around them! Haha, humans are always made out to be arrogant arses in fiction though... I have no idea why
We like to belittle ourselves in fiction, though I'm not sure if the reason for it is humility per se ;P Humans may be portrayed as a-holes, but it's usually those a-holes that save the world. Lots of interesting theories about our mindsets and culture can be drawn from here...
Anyhoo... humans are usually arses, but fortunately there are franchises where other races are a-holes as well. Like in Elder Scrolls Altmers and Dunmers are can be some first class arrogant arses. Also - cannibalistic, plant-worshiping Bosmers! I love them all!
Giv me dem flawed elfs.
It was also why I was happy that elves in DAI turned out to be complex and not perfect as well. So much potential lies in ancient cultures lost to greed, betrayal and all the delicious stuff that drama cookies can be baked from.
Anyway - I usually begin every fantasy RPG with a sort of vague 'template' I have (which usually I later re-model and they end up as my main), and it is predominantly A. mage and B. elf (preferably dark elf). Hence I began playing DAI that way - and I had no idea what I was in for, as I've never played either DA or any other Bioware game and only bought DAI after a couple guildies from Elder Scrolls Online sang praises about it. So I gave it a shot - with my 'tempelate' at first of course, which eventually evolved to my main.
Admittedly, at this point I have more Trevelyans PTs than I have Lavellans. I still have to give it a go with a Qunari and a dwarf.
And songs about Andraste's Mabari.
Suraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaana!
Sorry, Surana is my canon warden, and the origin I feel gets most overlooked by fans (there's some Cullen fans who don't even realise Cullen has a crush on her. It's all 'Amell this' and 'Amell that').
hehe...Surana is my canon warden as well. She flirted right back with Cullen..poor guy.
hehe...Surana is my canon warden as well. She flirted right back with Cullen..poor guy.
Mine flirted, but only because it was a way of attempting to reclaim power from the Templers.
My Surana did not like the Circle. Or Templers. Or the Chantry. But ex-Templer Grey Wardens are fine 
EDIT: Or Chantry lay sisters. It depends on what version of my canon I'm using.
And songs about Andraste's Mabari.
Suraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaana!
Sorry, Surana is my canon warden, and the origin I feel gets most overlooked by fans (there's some Cullen romancerss who don't even realise Cullen has a crush on her. It's all 'Amell this' and 'Amell that').
We like to belittle ourselves in fiction, though I'm not sure if the reason or it is humility per se ;P Humans may be portrayed as a-holes, but it's usually those a-holes that save the world. Lots of interesting theories about our mindsets and culture can be drawn from here...
Anyhoo... humans are usually arses, but fortunately there are franchises where other races are a-holes as well. Like in Elder Scrolls
Giv me dem flawed elfs.
It was also why I was happy that elves in DAI turned out to be complex and not perfect as well. So much potential lies in ancient cultures lost to greed, betrayal and all the delicious stuff that drama cookies can be baked from.
Anyway - I usually begin every fantasy RPG with a sort of vague 'template' I have (which usually I lately re-model and end up as my main), and it is predominantly A. mage and B. elf (preferably dark elf). Hence I began playing DAI that way - and I had no idea what I was in for, as I've never played either DA or any other Bioware game and only bought DAI after a couple guildies from Elder Scrolls Online sang praises about it. So I gave it a shot - with my 'tempelate' at first of course, which eventually evolved to my main.
Admittedly, at this point I have more Trevelyans PTs than I have Lavellans. I still have to give it a go with a Qunari and a dwarf.
. Legolas disapproves.
Anyway - I usually begin every fantasy RPG with a sort of vague 'template' I have (which usually I later re-model and they end up as my main), and it is predominantly A. mage and B. elf (preferably dark elf). Hence I began playing DAI that way - and I had no idea what I was in for, as I've never played either DA or any other Bioware game and only bought DAI after a couple guildies from Elder Scrolls Online sang praises about it. So I gave it a shot - with my 'tempelate' at first of course, which eventually evolved to my main.
I always have a looser template myself, which is usually a rogue (dual-wield) of whatever race has an interesting story or series of attributes. So, all of my DA canons are stabby rogue ladies. I establish a foundation when I start, name, some personality traits and values, infuse the provided backstory with some of my own, and then add to who this person is over the course of playing. I take my time on my first playthrough and go slooooowly, so my first is always my canon.
So I have a Warden who married Alistair, Hawke who ran off with Anders, and now this Dalish Inquisitor who, by the end, has had a lot of things to question. They are all pro-mage freedom though (based on somewhat different reasons). I'm pleased with them all in their own ways.
Though, speaking of Elder Scrolls Online, I started off as Dunmer Nightblade but my boyfriend decided to take a 'break' so I moved to a side character (since we had dark elf rogues for each other) and now I play my Altmer sorcerer most often. Which is weird since I'm generally rogue about 90% of the time and mage 10% and never warrior unless forced to be.
I always have a looser template myself, which is usually a rogue (dual-wield) of whatever race has an interesting story or series of attributes. So, all of my DA canons are stabby rogue ladies. I establish a foundation when I start, name, some personality traits and values, infuse the provided backstory with some of my own, and then add to who this person is over the course of playing. I take my time on my first playthrough and go slooooowly, so my first is always my canon.
I usually do the same (establish foundations and build along the way), but while I try to be thorough in my first run, I usually manage to omit something (or leave it "for later") and re-play my initial template (in case it actually got molded into something more/else) and pick/complete what I didn't pick before or do things the way I want them to
My other 'tempelate' is kinda... well, it's usually a rogue and I usually try and see how faithfully I can recreate a long-lived original character of mine in game's CC. It's never really perfect and they usually end up with different backstory story (for obvious reasons), but an interesting exercise nonetheless
You're a newbie to the franchise! Admittedley, it was only about a year ago that I first played Origins (which I definitely definitely recommend if you haven't played it yet) I saw it on a top 10 fantasy rpg games list and was like "meh, it looks like an online game" but then later I was browsing GameStop and it was $6 used, so I bought it...and it was love (obsession). Only a few weeks later I went and ordered Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening
I am I actually bought and began playing, but then stuff happened and later I gave it for TW3. I'll get back to it at some point - though right now I'm stalling it and instead pushing some of my DAI characters with unfinished PTs just in case there's DLC on the way. I've lost hope that we'll be seeing it anytime soon, but I at the very least I expect some kind of announcement in near future.
Speaking of Elder Scrolls Online, I started off as Dunmer Nightblade but my boyfriend decided to take a 'break' so I moved to a side character (since we had dark elf rogues for each other) and now I play my Altmer sorcerer most often. Which is weird since I'm generally rogue about 90% of the time and mage 10% and never warrior unless forced to be.
I have a VR14 Dunmer Sorc (my main) (mage DPS), VR14 Bosmer Templar (healer and stamina DPS), VR14 Breton Nightblade (mage DPS, sometimes stam DPS) and Dunmer vampire Dragonknight (currently leveling it to VR14) (mage DPS)...
At some point I'll probably get myself stamina/tank Dragonknight Imperial and I'm considering either having an Argonian or a Khajit. Altmer sorc is also an option.
As you can see, I usually play mages Rogues are my second-favorite class, and if the game allows to create mage/rogue mixes (like Dragon's Dogma) I usually go for that first
As for warriors/tanks.... probably my least favorite class, since they don't have the thing that I like - which is mobility. But I'm not writing them off: if the class or combat style is interesting, I'll play it. I have a warrior sword and board in DAI and enjoying it so far.
I am
I was about to ask you what TW3 stood for, duh, The Witcher, eveeryoonee is talking about it. As someone who obviously jumped on board for a third installment of a franchise and enjoyed it, do you think I'd enjoy TW3 if I never played the previous two and know next to nothing about the universe (I know the Witcher doesn't hunt witches and I read about the first games trading card controversy, that is all)? I'm debating whether or not I should get it... meh, either way I'll probably wait some months after Fallout 4 comes out and the price is down.
I've been doing the same thing in preparation of future DLC... then I found out there would be no more DLC for the last generation consoles. Now my hope has died, withered away and turned into despair. And yes, I am feeling very dramatic this evening *flourishes cape and steps off the stage*.
I was about to ask you what TW3 stood for, duh, The Witcher, eveeryoonee is talking about it. As someone who obviously jumped on board for a third installment of a franchise and enjoyed it, do you think I'd enjoy TW3 if I never played the previous two and know next to nothing about the universe (I know the Witcher doesn't hunt witches and I read about the first games trading card controversy, that is all)? I'm debating whether or not I should get it... meh, either way I'll probably wait some months after Fallout 4 comes out and the price is down.
I've been doing the same thing in preparation of future DLC... then I found out there would be no more DLC for the last generation consoles. Now my hope has died, withered away and turned into despair. And yes, I am feeling very dramatic this evening *flourishes cape and steps off the stage*.
This is why I play on PC 
Oh, and speaking of romance related things, I found this partial transcript of a panel at PAX East that had Mike Laidlaw and Patrick Weekes on it. I've had the audio for a while, but this is an easier share. http://sistersquish....ast-paxeast2015
Mike Laidlaw - So you know we created a budget for six romances and then this guy happened… [I imagine him pointing at Weekes?] …and we got more! But we did it in a way that we balanced it out. And so, I think just the spread there in some way let us be more exploratory with the Inquisition and romances. Because you know, I mean like Josephine is kind of the Disney princess so well, what else can we… what other beats can we hit, right? We don’t need to just kinda pile that investment into one person and go “well I hope everyone likes that one person” ‘cause that’s not how people interact.
I agree playing as an elf who romanced Solas was definitely the most impactful first impression... although playing as Trevelyan later on made me realize just how not special a lot of our romance scenes and dialogues were X) and it was confusing not having the flirt option to push!
Humans and elves, I always play them
I played as female human mage originally (Cullen romance was so boooring, btw) and was completely new to DA. Even though it didn't pack the emotional punch romancing Solas would have, it gave me the experience of Solas "sneaking up" on my character and gradually growing in importance throughout the game. For instance, after the scene in the fade with Trevelyan, I remember thinking, "What's up with this weirdo??". Then gradually I started noticing, "Whoa, this guy knows so much about everything that's going on, I should take him and Cole everywhere I go." Then after the ending I was in shock for a couple of hours (or days).
This is why I play on PC
My computer would go super nova if I attempted to play something more involved than the YouTube loading screen snake game on it.
I played as female human mage originally (Cullen romance was so boooring, btw) and was completely new to DA. Even though it didn't pack the emotional punch romancing Solas would have, it gave me the experience of Solas "sneaking up" on my character and gradually growing in importance throughout the game. For instance, after the scene in the fade with Trevelyan, I remember thinking, "What's up with this weirdo??". Then gradually I started noticing, "Whoa, this guy knows so much about everything that's going on, I should take him and Cole everywhere I go." Then after the ending I was in shock for a couple of hours (or days).
I'm about half way through the Cullen romance and I find it pretty adorable XD He's so cute, like a puppy, and you have this need to protect him from the world. That first kiss scene too squeee worthy and hilarious. With all that said though, I'm a Zevran > Alistair person and Solas > Cullen and not just because they're elves! I find something extremely attractive about the whole reluctantly falling in love and I have a dark side romance! Hmmmmm 
Cullen (minus drug addiction) and Alistair types are probably the best kinds of guys you could fall in love with in real life, but goodness knows my fictional romantic inclinations don't need to make sense (Love-hate relationships are hawt and so unrealistic and I definitely rivalmanced Fenris just so I could get that one scene where he pushes Hawke against a wall *.*). Umm, yeah... I'll just be over there *hides in corner*
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