67 réponses à ce sujet

[Enesia]

I think to some extent Bioware's failure with the Hinterlands is not firmly letting you know "Hey, your a fledgling organization nobody takes seriously. Yes, you're the big leader, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned, you're valedictorian at summer school."

That's the context for Hinterlands. Yes, fetch quests, yes, it doesn't feel very epic. The Inquisition is working in the mailroom of the big corporation of militant Thedas organizations. In that context, the area makes perfect sense.

 

You could have had the same effect with minor narrative quest as well. 

[MetalGear312]

Honestly, im enjoying the game by staying, obviously when you dont progress the story your not accessing all the features of a game.. isnt that like common sense?

You're probably in the wrong forum for that. But hey have a cookie, they're chocolate chip.

[BabyFratelli]

The more people tell me the leave the more I want to stay there forever. Rebellquisition. 

[DAJB]

Before the game was launched I read as many reviews as I could while also trying to avoid spoilers. It meant I only read the first one or two paragraphs of most, but the message was very clear: the beginning is okay, even if t is full of WoW-type fetch and carry quests, but the game really comes into its own after about 15 hours, which is when the story "proper" starts to step up a gear. Now that I've played a little, it's very clear that those first "15 hours" is a reference to the time spent in the Hinterlands.

 

Maybe it's just because I knew what to expect, but I'm thoroughly enjoying my time in the Hinterlands. The landscape is beautiful, the combat is (mostly) manageable, and there is so much to do. There is a Wow-like quality to it, but the fact that you are trying to pacify the region, earning Power, setting up camps and building watchtowers all adds extra significance even to the smaller mini-quests. Ironically, knowing that the story elements of the game will come more to the fore once I'm ready to move on, makes me happy to take my time here and not feel that I have to rush on as soon as I can.

 

Unlike some games which expect you to master all the controls and techniques within the first five minutes and often leave you floundering not knowing which button to press, I feel like the Hinterlands are a big playground where I can take my time getting to understand how everything works before it becomes really important. The fact that it's fun too is the icing on the cake. The fact that I know the story is still out there waiting for me is the cherry on the top! 

[Maverick827]

The more I'm getting into the game, the more I actually like the idea of being a bit overleveled.  Perhaps it will cut down on backtracking later in the game, if I'm proportionally stronger for that content.  I'll miss the challenge that would have been, but I feel like skipping content to stay a certain level would be harder to deal with.

 

Which quests would I skip?  How many?  What is my level supposed to be at right now?  Did I worry about being over-leveled in Origins?  I don't remember.  If not, should I worry about it here?

 

Too many questions.  Just check all the checkboxes until you can't any more.

[Ferretinabun]

Another Hinterlands lover, here.

 

I'm glad people are saying the other areas are way better, because if the Hinterlands is the simplest, most boring area then this game is going to blow my tiny, fragile mind!

[myahele]

I realized I haven't touched hinterlands since exploring other areas, will have to comeback.

Overall, the game is pretty clear that you need to have x amount of power in order to advance the plot. And people should have enough power by doing some quests/fade tears to leave asap

[mupp3tz]

I've been spending probably 70% of my time so far in the Hinterlands and today I've been trying to finish small quests all over.  I opened some areas and holy baby Jesus.  This world is wonderful.  I'm finding I have a place to go for what fits the mood/theme I'm feeling at the moment.  There's one place in particular that has me floored right now.  Just. Gorgeous.

[LadyCass]

Will leaving the hinterlands fix the gender bug? I think not, I'm waiting for that to be fixed before I progress any further in the story.

 

If you're willing to restart the game, if you switch between male and female before you start the game a few times, it will make sure you don't have that bug. If not, hopefully they'll be able to patch it. 

 

Still looking for the Red Lyrium items from that stupid video thing. But yes it's time for me at least to move on.

I've damn near explored the whole area anyway.

 

It's actually a quest from the war-table I believe. You have to go off to recruit someone and you get the weapons through that.

[BammBamm]

the problem with the hinterlands is not if you like it or not, thats just a matter of taste. the real problem is with completing the hinterlands first you will outlevel every coming content which makes it trivial and boring. in games with zones its commmon you have to finish one and after this advance to the next, but in da:i it will mess your game experience.

so maybe it would be a good idea to "help" players to understand that the hinterlands are not meant to complete first. this could be done by showing that the other missions are important and you have to go.......now. why for example dont tell the player the rescue of the soldier is important and should be done before they will die? that would motivate the players to have a break from the starting area and experience the "real game". the other thing would be to show level ranges for areas (funnily in some there is this information in others not). it would not force you to do anything but gives the players an important information. the lack of this little thing results in

 

a. people doing mundane quests they doesnt enjoy way to long because they think they have to

b. people outlevel most of the content that counts and make it boring

[Swordfishtrombone]

Yeah, was going to post that myself. Being somewhat of a completionist, I'm still in the hinterlands, and probably would have been there for a long time more, had I not stumbled upon the "PSA". Now that I know that I can just return later, I'll just finish up one quest, and then move on.

[Merchant2006]

I've spent about 14 hours in the Hinterlands, uncovering all the locations, doing all the side quests, finding hidden treasures, loot, closing rifts, claiming landmarks and at this point I've done as much as I possibly can. Did the same in Fallow, Storm Coast & Oasis.

 

The only thing stopping me is that Dragon. I'm Level 12 now and I haven't even visited Val Royeaux yet. I won't go there. Not until I have killed that Dragon!

[GrayTimber]

I love the Hinterlands, honestly. Spent most of my time there; the 15 hours on my first Inq. and probably equal on my second.

 

30 hours in the Hinterlands, creators... Still, it's fun. Different people play differently, how it's always been.

[ashwind]

I am actually neutral towards the Hinterlands. When I get bored of it, I return to Haven and try to find something else to do. Make small talks with companions, see what can be done in the war table. Scout some new areas and explore a bit, when I needed a change of sceneries, I go somewhere else.

 

Basically I follow my mood and I never feel that I absolutely have to do anything unless I want to do it.

 

I can understand that some players have a strong urge to complete everything there and then. If they see a "?" or a "!", they have to absolutely deal with it. If they see a bear, they have to absolutely kill it.... if they see a ram, they must skin it. They will have no complains if they actually like doing these things but some hated it and yet forced themselves to do it then complain about it... that is what I cannot understand...

[Chari]

The Hinterlands exists for power points, crafting, and working your way up to killing that g.d. dragon over by Redcliff. (:::shakes fist::: It killed me in one hit.) I think that's why it's a shangri-la for monotonous grinding. Since enemies can be too hard to beat, you can always go back to the Hinterlands (the "hub" as I think of it) and boost your shoe size so you can kick some bigger ass. 

One of the basic rules of any game, movie, book - do not bore your audience. You bore your audience and it will leave you

The first minutes, hours and/or quests have to be attention taking. In this period of time your audience decide if your work is worth time, if it is interesting 

Giving such fetch quests in the beginning is always a mistake... unless you do mmo and your audience love grinding. Single-player fans and mmo fans often have opposite opinions about this

[StingingVelvet]

I've done the Oasis and Swamp now and honestly the quests in both were the same boring, MMO-like slog as the Hinterlands. I don't see much difference. The main quest does improve, for sure, but the side content is the same boring crap.

[luism]

Mmo fans dont really love grinding they are just used to it and too addicted to mmo s to say f this I'm not doing it

[Enesia]

I'm inclined to agree.

Although we can't really know what someone prefers. Many play both types of games.

 

I decided to address your post, in context of the post that I agree with and you're the one to incline to agree. So, after I learned about my Hinterlands mistake, I still have to stay there for 4 levels. I like to move unto the other quest around 8. Hinterlands importance of keeping me engaged is crucial. I find fetch quest lazy designing and it doesn't keep me engaged as a player at all. 

 

It be interesting with narrative quest that could have established just as much as a fetch quest.

 

 

Such as

 

"Can you truly help us?"

 

"I can try,"

 

*makes a face*

 

"I guess I have to trust your word on this matter.....[insert quest here]"

 

If they want me to save this world from the end then they have to give me a starting connection to this world. Familiar companion faces, do not do this. Wrath of Heaven quest doesn't for me, either. Because my character is still confused about the situation, he has no clue why people are calling him a Herald. Thus having narratives with NPCs that connect me to the refugee camp, etc. Would have been a better way to say, save the world and these people.

 

None of the NPCs think you're important are cautious for your help, but accept it because they are desperate and the camp is under manned.

[Laerune]

To be honest you can do all the quests there aside from the ones which have level 12 mobs. I did all the quests aside from the reptile and my character survived. I love how you can explore caves, high mountains, the zones in the Hinterlands look so different from each other. I made Hinterlands safer for the people who live there and its fun to see how my actions have added stuff to the landscape.

 

I agree too that Hinterlands can be very mmorpg, which for me is a bit boring, but I have been assured by others that the zones after Hinterlands are anything but boring.

 

My advice, do other zones, but every few hours, go visit the Hinterlands and do few quests.

[dupont1]

In an earlier post I mentioned I was looking for that last land mark.  I had 15/16.  Well I saw a video and I know know where that flag is and what I have to do to get it.  I'm having too much fun to worry about ever going back to get it.

 

(I'm referring to the Hinterlands.)

[Archerwarden]

You know I understand what the fetch quests are for in Hinterlands - it is well explained in game. Don't imply that people who are disappointed in the game don't understand what the character is doing there. The first area should engage the player not put them off.

But you have heard about the pc issues? Yes? Makes combat tedious, among other things. Combine that with  all the Skyrim elements and the quests upon quests  and that makes me not want to play.

 

I jumped into Fallow Mire just see and it reminded me of Black Marsh  - that was good- so there may be hope if Bioware can fix some pc issues first- I'm not holding my breath.

 

 

If this wasn't Dragon Age or Bioware I wouldn't care.  But I love the games and therefore posting.

[Praehotec]

I've done the Oasis and Swamp now and honestly the quests in both were the same boring, MMO-like slog as the Hinterlands. I don't see much difference. The main quest does improve, for sure, but the side content is the same boring crap.

 

I would love if someone would address this.  This has been my experience so far as well.  I have cleared most of the Hinterlands and all (I think) of Fallow Mire.  The main quest is decent so far (collected Dorian as a party member), and the world absolutely OOZES character, but the majority of the side quests feel rather flat.  I am okay with fetch quests and, "go kill this," quests, but so many have minimal story, and little to no dialogue. 

 

For example, in Fallow Mire, there you find a scrap of paper in which an apostate writes about finding a powerful demon, and a quest is put in your log.  Why do I care?  The world is drowning in demons, why chase this one down?  None of your party says a word.  You eventually find his campsite, and kill him.  Quest over, no dialogue, no options for resolution of the problem, nothing.  There were a few other quests in Hinterlands that I did not even know I was about to complete it when the, "quest complete," marker flashed up on screen.  The hunt 10 rams quest was acutally one of the more fleshed out quests.  Some are barely more than telling you to move to a particular point on the map (find X landmarks, I'm looking at you).

 

The key is in the details.  Players need a context to do the quest in.  We (most of us) want dialogue and story behind our quests, more than three sentences of text on a scrap of paper that don't even tell us WHY we should do the quest.  What I think people are complaining is that some of the quests feel very much like quests seen in MMOs (such as SWTOR), which offer tons of quests with little real story.  Yes, there is some smidge of context to each quest, but not much meaninful dialogue or interesting quest progression. 

 

Having a large, open world is nice, but some people would like a slightly smaller world with a few less quests, but where each one is really fleshed out and meaningful.  Each side quest should feel, "hand-crafted," and well thought out.  Hopefully someone can chime in here and state that side quests are more involved and complex in other areas, but after two large areas, I haven't seen it yet.

 

Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the game, but it feels like it was made into a large, open world game just because gamers tend to drool over open worlds for some reason.  Bioware's games usually lend themselves to more linear (branched) quests, and I think that a more controlled, paced, but fantastic and meaninful story/quest with equally meaningful diversions, would be the best.

[Twinklesz]

 

 

Shhhh be carelful, you'll wake the fanboys/girls.

 

Change is good, if you dont like them dont do them, Skyrim was the same, the main quest makes up for it, origins had them too!! etc etc.