155 réponses à ce sujet

[Rawgrim]

Wynne counts as half a spirit, I think. So 2.5 spirits vs 3 dwarves. I agree with the OP. I hope we get 1 or 2 brand new dwarves in DA4, ot some expansion to this game.

 

 

Shale counts as .5 dwarf too. 3.5 dwarves then.

[Grieving Natashina]

I'm guessing Dwarven players are even fewer in number.

 

On topic, sure Varric was fan service to some extent, but look at DA2. He spent the whole game narrating as a prisoner of Cassandra. It's not at all surprising he's still around. For all we know the third game starts right after Cass finishes his interrogation.

 

I'd like to see more varied Dwarves too. DA2 was ridiculous. No females, and the ones that were in game, besides Varric seem to be treated like jokes, like the Volus in ME2.

I didn't see Bartrand as a joke, but he was rather unceremoniously clobbered with the villain bat.     

[caradoc2000]

To this date there are 4 Dragon Age games:
 
1) Origins
2) Awakening (Expansion)
3) DA2
4) Inquisition

Four games? What happened to Dragon Age Journeys?

[wetnasty]

It was pretty obvious if you even played the first 5 minutes of DA2 that Varric would be back in some context in future series. If Cassandra would be a character, why not Varric? 

 

This definitely was not some last minute decision based on fan service 

[TKavatar]

It was pretty obvious if you even played the first 5 minutes of DA2 that Varric would be back in some context in future series. If Cassandra would be a character, why not Varric? 

 

This definitely was not some last minute decision based on fan service 

 

IIRC when Varric is being interrogated, he asks if he can be freed and leave after telling Cassandra about Hawke's story. I didn't get the feeling that he was going to travel with her after DA2's epilogue at all.

[Zehealingman]

As long Varric didn't become an admiral/ an expert for the reap - .... breach and still insists that he joins me on the Nor- ... Skyhold, I don't have a problem with it.

[NUM13ER]

This becomes even more worrying when dwarfs in game are often associated with people who have dwarfism in the real world. It relegates people with "disability" into the asexual category.

Actually I'd argue associating Dwarves with real life dwarfism is equally worrying. The Dwarves of fantasy tend to have physical advantages rather than the disadvantages of real life dwarfism. They're not disabled humans, they're a race of short people.

All they have in common is they are both shorter than the average person. And the comparisons end there. Many people, regardless of height, associate with the dwarves for different reasons.

I don't like the fact people will jump to the more sinister reasons first (ie. Bioware hates real life short people) rather than explore more practical reasons. Maybe dwarves aren't as popular as the other races? Perhaps Bioware didn't feel the need to add another Dwarven companion just for the sake of it? 

[daveliam]

I'm not sure if I'm convinced that a dwarf LI would be poorly received.  Imagine if in Sigrun, Dagna, and Varric were all LI's..... I imagine them all being very popular.  I'm not sure if I've ever seen anyone on the BSN talk negatively about Sigrun.  She's one of the most well received companions overall, I think.  Dagna was a minor character in a throw-away side quest and five years later, people are still asking for a Dagna romance.  And Varric romancers have been vocal this whole time. 

 

I think that it's the typical dwarf stereotype (i.e. Oghren) that most people aren't interested in romancing.  Not dwarves as a species.  I think an attractive and well written dwarf would be just as popular as any other LI, to be honest.

[xyzmkrysvr]

Umm aren't you forgetting Jerrik and Brogan Dace, the two dwarf companions from Golems of Amgarrak? I know that was just a DLC, but they shouldn't be forgotten (although they were probably the most boring companions Bioware has ever created...)

I would love to see Dagna as a future companion/possible LI. After 10+ years, I'm hoping she will have matured and mellowed out a bit and it would be really cool if she was the first mage dwarf (I know it's not supposed to be possible, but I think there will be one at some point...)

[DarkKnightHolmes]

I don't mind Varric. My only concern is that they'll screw him up like they did with Anders.

[daveliam]

Umm aren't you forgetting Jerrik and Brogan Dace, the two dwarf companions from Golems of Amgarrak? I know that was just a DLC, but they shouldn't be forgotten (although they were probably the most boring companions Bioware has ever created...)
 

 

Well, if we want to be technical then there's also Gorim, Frandlen Ivo, the dwarf scout from A Noble Expedition, Leske, Jerrick and Brogan Dace, and Tug.

 

But I don't think that we are talking about temporary companions. 

[NUM13ER]

I don't mind Varric. My only concern is that they'll screw him up like they did with Anders.

Anders is kind of a one time deal. Not like they can have another character possessed by a demon and change their entire personality as a result...twice.

[Maria Caliban]

Anders is kind of a one time deal. Not like they can have another character possessed by a demon and change their entire personality as a result...twice.

Red lyrium.

[RedIntifada]

Actually I'd argue associating Dwarves with real life dwarfism is equally worrying. The Dwarves of fantasy tend to have physical advantages rather than the disadvantages of real life dwarfism. They're not disabled humans, they're a race of short people.

All they have in common is they are both shorter than the average person. And the comparisons end there. Many people, regardless of height, associate with the dwarves for different reasons.

I don't like the fact people will jump to the more sinister reasons first (ie. Bioware hates real life short people) rather than explore more practical reasons. Maybe dwarves aren't as popular as the other races? Perhaps Bioware didn't feel the need to add another Dwarven companion just for the sake of it? 

 

People with dwarfism can have a whole range of abilities that is why the term "disability" is problematic as it obscures the fact that many people who are "disabled" have particular skills and some of them are stronger than many people of regular height. While action characters in games may have more skills a lot of men would not be able to do this https://www.youtube....h?v=EVGCAbUQpZI. Dwarfs in game have a "disability" i.e. the inability to use magic but that is also turned into an ability through magic immunity. One of the army leaders in Dragon Age Origins commented about how it was harder for them to march as much because of their shorter legs. We should also be aware that dwarf mythology is based on actual little people.

 

Clearly many people who are short statured identify with them as they provide a heroic imagining of their role in the fantasy world (regardless of how real people with dwarfism and RPG Dwarfs would compare in game stats). And when dealing with LI clearly the fact that real life dwarfs and people with dwarfism have the same physical descriptors ie. heads and chests proportionately larger then their limbs, the question of whether people see them as sexually attractive is quite connected.

 

I am not saying "Bioware hates real life short people" what I am saying is the society we live in, which the writers also live in, tends to view people with "disability" as people that "normals" would not possibly be sexually attracted to. If dwarves are sexualised it is usually as some fetish rather than as sexual human being who also happens to be a dwarf. I don't think the lack of LGBTI characters in earlier bioware games was a sign that Bioware hated LGBTI people, what I am saying is that it wasn't thought about. These days the hidden issue is "disability" and how we tend to infantilize people with disabilities (like dwarfism) thinking we need to protect and look after them rather than seeing them as rounded adults that we may choose to have adult relationships with. This isn't particularly surprising, most video game franchises still infantilize their women characters and good on Bioware for consciously breaking out of that mould.

[ziloe]

OR, Varric came back because his story wasn't over. He spent all of DA2 telling someone else's story. Now we have a chance to learn more about him.

[RedIntifada]

Out of curiousity do we know who the Dwarf 3rd from the left in this picture is http://www.incgamers...on-1024x539.jpg ? The bow on the back looks like it could be bianca and it is weird that Varric would not be in this image (especially if it has all the other companions) on the other hand Varric is blond and doesn't have a beard.

[AllThatJazz]

Out of curiousity do we know who the Dwarf 3rd from the left in this picture is http://www.incgamers...on-1024x539.jpg ? The bow on the back looks like it could be bianca and it is weird that Varric would not be in this image (especially if it has all the other companions) on the other hand Varric is blond and doesn't have a beard.

 That's Varric, it's a shadow not a beard Hair is giving the Bioware folks all sorts of problems in Frostbite from colour to texture! 

[WildOrchid]

OR, Varric came back because his story wasn't over. He spent all of DA2 telling someone else's story. Now we have a chance to learn more about him.

 

That's a very good point.

[Maraas]

That reminds me.

Spoiler

There seems to be quite the laser-like focus on party members. Understandable, perhaps, considering those are the characters with whom you spend a great deal of time...but if we're to talk in terms of representation I'm a bit uncertain why 5:4 would be awesome and 6:3 somehow equates to horribleness on our part. Naturally your mileage will vary, in terms of what you want to see, and I won't tell you what that should be.

 

We. however, approach the equation a little differently. We come up with roughly even numbers in our concepts, even across gender lines, across racial lines as well as across classes. We (as in the team, not just the writers) pick the concepts that we like the most, and while there's always a point where we discuss diversity, there are many points of diversity we have to consider. Class diversity is perhaps highest on the list (in terms of gameplay utility), along with a diversity of viewpoints and how they intersect with the story. Gender diversity is also considered, but when we look at it in terms of representation, we look at it in terms of representation across the entire story—not just in the party.

 

Re Varric and his return:

Spoiler

So, in short, no: fan requests would never form the basis for bringing a character forward into a series. Ever. I would also never make a character into a love interest solely on that basis.The only time I’ve brought a character forward for any reason other than that they fit into the story was Oghren in Awakening—and that didn’t really work as well as I’d have liked. I doubt I’ll do it again.

[Ailith Tycane]

Really? Lack of dwarves on the surface is under representation?

 

That's like walking into Orzamar and saying "Where are all the humans?? Humans are so underrepresented here." 

 

There aren't a lot of dwarves in the game because the game mostly takes place on the surface, and dwarves on the surface are rare. They live underground. Surface dwarves lose their caste and they think that if they go outside they could fall into the sky.

[Amirit]

You know, as much as I LOVE Varric (and very, very happy to see him again) and as much as I like Blackwall the way he is now... I can not stop myself picturing a dwarven Gray Warden as a companion. The role, that fits the race so perfectly, the natural superiority every dwarf feels over other races, the very idea of a serious enough (but not overdone) dwarf in the party - all makes me hunger for such a companion. 

[Askanison666]

1) I didn't know Dagna was in DA:I 

2) I cannot wait to see Orzammar in this current gen and it's open world nature that DA:I will be about.

3) I am glad that we can be a Dwarf character again.

4) I am sure there will be some Dwarf NPCs that is part of the Inquisition, but I am talking more about companions, people that actually fight with you, can be romanced, and so on.

 

 

Personally, I would like to see Kal-Sharok over Orzammar. Maybe even the Dwarves reclaiming a few of their lost thaigs since the end of the Fifth Blight.

 

As for Varric, I enjoy him. Brian Bloom is a great voice actor and I think his portrayal of Varric is what makes me enjoy him as much as I do.

[cindercatz]

Really Varric makes a lot of sense. He represents surface dwarves, commerce, an information network, and a personal connection to Hawke and His Amazing Friends, which could come in handy with the Inquisition looking for them and the Hero of Ferelden. He also serves all the narrative needs mentioned before, has a natural jumping on point from DA2, and could represent the best option as the first romanceable dwarven character in the series if they go that route. I don't consider him just fan service at all, though I'm sure it's a factor.

 

I would've loved to have Dagna, I suggested her, but she doesn't check all those boxes. Maybe in a future game. You can always create more interesting companion characters, sure, but that's no reason to exclude Varric this time. Also, I enjoyed Oghren more in DA:A than DA:O. I like a returning character here and there as part of the mix.

[Daerog]

While I wouldn't mind having a dwarf warrior companion again, I don't think they are that underrepresented considering their history/background/culture.

 

Ya, could have an ex-Carta member, or a body guard for some noble companion, or some dwarf that just wanted to live happily in some village but the MC just had to stroll by and convince him/her to join up. I don't know how the writers go about developing characters, but there is really nothing stopping them from making a dwarf companion, as they have had plenty of surface dwarf npcs (friends and foes). Not saying they should, just that the lore wouldn't trouble them.

 

Probably what is really lacking are dwarfs being the main villain.

 

We've only had one qunari companion so far, so they are the least represented... (DAO: 1 elf, 1 qunari, 1 dwarf; DAOA: 1 elf, 2 dwarf, 1 spirit; DA2: 2 elf, 1 dwarf; DAI: 1 dwarf, 1 spirit, 2 elf, 1 qunari... or whatever, may have forgotten some)