25 réponses à ce sujet

[King Dragonlord]

I normally have shades of opinion about everything in a Bioware game. Things to like, things to dislike but well its like this.

 

I hate Orlais. I have every last single thing about Orlais. The accents, The masks, The damned "Game", the obsession with style over substance, their pretentiousness, the dissembling, the buildings, their stupid faces  . . . everything. 

 

List of things I like about Orlais.

1 . . . 

 

I'm starting to think Loghain was right because I'd rather deal with the Darkspawn than the Orlesians. If Orlais is Thedas as the Empress contends, then Thedas can burn for all I care. 

 

I picked its next ruler solely on the basis of what I thought would most ****** off the Orlesians. And I'm going to try to factor that in wherever relevant from here on in. 

 

<catches breath><wheeze>

 

So yeah. Fereldan felt like a good homey fantasy setting. Kirkwall was dry and boring. But Orlais I hate. I hate being in Orlais. And its affecting what would otherwise be a very good game. I'm not saying "You must change things Bioware." or "Ruined 4ever." But wow, I've had my fill. If you enjoy it great. I hope the game does well and sells well but I personally won't pick up another Dragon Age game or DLC that spends this much time in Orlais unless I get to do lots of killing and burning things while there. 

 

I expect most of you like it but I'm hoping I'm not completely alone here. 

 

<crickets chirping>

 

Anyone? 

[Wissenschaft 2.0]

Hahahaha, you must not read the BSN much. Most people have a distaste of Orlais. But there are many ways in which you can improve Orlais and the thedas in general doing the game. Unlike the previous two games, your Inquisitors decisions seem the most likely to have lasting impact on all of Thedas.

 

That said, Tevinter has a lot of fans on the BSN and its arguably quite a bit morally worst than even the Orlesian Empire. So yeah, I take it most people just love to hate Orlais because they've picked up the Ferelden bias from Origins.

[BloodKaiden]

I enjoy Orlais, I enjoy the Game, I enjoy seeing the difference in traditions and culture throughout Thedas. Do I feel the next DA game should be set there, no. Let's go to Tevinter, Antiva, or somewhere else new.

[KCMeredith]

I'm with you on this, I hate them. I guess the normal folk are quite ok, the soldiers came across as good people and farmers/traders are probably not that bad either. But the nobles....wish I could've just killed everyone at the Winter Palace.

[Fireblader70]

Uh... well, I will admit I was always wary of a game set in Orlais because I, too, despise that sort of pomposity and pretentiousness. Makes me want to rip their masks off and shove 'em... somewhere painful. However, that kind of thing only really makes itself known in a couple of parts of the story. The accents I got used to and the environments were gorgeous. Plus, you can make fun of their ridiculous culture, so it's all good. 

 

If you ask me, though (which you didn't), the story screamed to be set in Tevinter. Corypheus is from Tevinter, magisters are the bad guys, the Qunari are tied to them, Dorian is from Tevinter... so why did we not go there?! Anyway, that's off topic.

[Costin_Razvan]

I feel Tevinter would have been a far better pick indeed. You could have portion of Tevinter with either the Free Marchers or Nevarra. What does setting the game in Fereldan and Orlais add anyway? In Fereldan it's not like you visit any important location besides Redcliffe.

[SaidRael]

I don't mind Orlais... I like to see different culture and stuff, 

 

I would love to see Nevarra through..

[King Dragonlord]

So I remembered just after writing this that there's a fair amount of Not-Orlais in this game. I'd just spent too long at the Winter Palace and suffered near-toxic levels of Orlais poisoning (Thankfully Orlais is both poison and ipecac so I'll survive )

 

Decided to take a jaunt over to Redcliffe though and see whats left undone there. Its cleansing. Rustic. Makes me feel like I'm playing a proper old school RPG.  

[Arl Raylen]

My only complaint is that Bioware didn't let us go full evil and just kill everyone in the Winter Palace.

[schall_und_rauch]

My only complaint is that Bioware didn't let us go full evil and just kill everyone in the Winter Palace.

 

That would've been fun: Full out slaughter of every single noble in Orlais, and afterwards, a romantic dance with Josephine on the balcony. "Be careful that you don't slip out on Duke Monsegnieur's liver, my dear ambassador."

[Monica21]

I normally have shades of opinion about everything in a Bioware game. Things to like, things to dislike but well its like this.

 

I hate Orlais. I have every last single thing about Orlais. The accents, The masks, The damned "Game", the obsession with style over substance, their pretentiousness, the dissembling, the buildings, their stupid faces  . . . everything. 

 

.....

 

I expect most of you like it but I'm hoping I'm not completely alone here. 

 

<crickets chirping>

 

Anyone? 

 

You are not alone. As an avowed Loghain apologist, I took one look at that first guy you meet from Orlais with his stupid heeled boots, popped leather collar, and mask with a mustache painted on, and thought, "Yep, that's a good reason to hate everything Orlesian."

[schall_und_rauch]

Not a Loghain apologist, but I would've loved having Isabela at my side, just to hear her constantly say in a dismissive tone "They are soooo Orlesian".

I even said that in front of the monitor a couple of times.

[AtreiyaN7]

I like political intrigue, I like the architecture, and I like the fashion. Also, they have pretty comfy beds. So I like Orlais on that level - doesn't mean I want to live there and participate in the Game long-term, though. The nobles are somewhat annoying, yes, but the trip was worth it just for the Ware in that one shop (yes, I really do Ware - singular and capitalized - because the proprietor has only one thing for sale).

 

In all seriousness, I enjoyed the Winter Palace - it was something different and not really what I was expecting to see in the game. Also, there was a very nice little garden in Val Royeaux that I was rather fond of.

[herkles]

I wonder if anyone likes the nobles in westeros either

 

 

My main issue with Orlais is that we don't see enough of the capital, nor enough politics and intrigue. There should have been much more politics, intrigue and the capital should have been much larger. 

[EmissaryofLies]

I hated the filthy Orlesians since day one; can't help but agree.

[Iadro]

Haha, Orlais IS pretty terrible. When I first heard Isolde's shrieking I bet my Warden wanted to hang himself, and better make that a twofer because Hawke runs into the very same lady at Prosper's party.

 

The idea that Orlais was not significantly depowered at the end of Inquisition is just sickening. I mean, let's be honest, the idea of more Orlesian clothes in future games is about as appealing as watching Hagrid and Mr. Tumnus make out in a hay loft. 

[Master Warder Z_]

Orlais is intact and in recovery at the end of Inquisition as it stands now

 

And given the Imperium and Nevarra are killing each other...their chief rivals are basically weakening themselves.

 

Orlais will remain a dominant power in the games to come.

[King Dragonlord]

I like political intrigue, I like the architecture, and I like the fashion. Also, they have pretty comfy beds. So I like Orlais on that level - doesn't mean I want to live there and participate in the Game long-term, though. The nobles are somewhat annoying, yes, but the trip was worth it just for the Ware in that one shop (yes, I really do Ware - singular and capitalized - because the proprietor has only one thing for sale).

 

In all seriousness, I enjoyed the Winter Palace - it was something different and not really what I was expecting to see in the game. Also, there was a very nice little garden in Val Royeaux that I was rather fond of.

 

You know, now that I have some distance from it, its not so bad. I can definitely see why people would like the look of Orlais. Its all very pretty, just a little too pretty for me in such large doses. 

 

And I absolutely agree that political intrigue can be fun. I just didn't particularly like the whole being coy and rubbing elbows thing. I think my kind of political intrigue centers around sabotage, negotiations, backroom dealings and such (negotiations other than "well Lord Poncy Featherwiggle wants to be able to strut around with his chest puffed out so if you'll be seen at this place talking to him . . .") 

[King Dragonlord]

Orlais is intact and in recovery at the end of Inquisition as it stands now

 

And given the Imperium and Nevarra are killing each other...their chief rivals are basically weakening themselves.

 

Orlais will remain a dominant power in the games to come.

More for me to burn and maim I guess.

[Treacherous J Slither]

You are not alone. As an avowed Loghain apologist, I took one look at that first guy you meet from Orlais with his stupid heeled boots, popped leather collar, and mask with a mustache painted on, and thought, "Yep, that's a good reason to hate everything Orlesian."

 

That guy was awesome.

 

I fully expected Orlesian nobles to be ridiculous and I wasn't disappointed. What amuses me the most about their nobility is that they're all dressed like clowns and yet somehow manage to take each other seriously. I like to do mocking voice overs in an intentionally terrible French accent. "Oh ho ho ho!"

[Farangbaa]

I loved playing the Game, don't think I've ever done something similar in a game.

[Pierce Miller]

Master Warder Z_, on 29 Nov 2014 - 10:47 PM, said:

Orlais is intact and in recovery at the end of Inquisition as it stands now

 

And given the Imperium and Nevarra are killing each other...their chief rivals are basically weakening themselves.

 

Orlais will remain a dominant power in the games to come.

Well I kept Celene for the express purpose of weakening Orlais.

[StrangeStrategy]

I love Orlais for the same reasons I love game of thrones; Court intrigue, so interesting.

All that pageantry, fanciness, polite words and decadent parties... All masking a really sinister cutthroat world. I find that very interesting.

 

I mean, I love Orlais from a game-perspective. But that life would suck IRL (And very real during the Dark Ages I bet, who knows? History teachers probably.)

[droitdivin]

I enjoy Orlais actually. Mostly because it is a whole different culture from other regions, which makes the game world have depth. 
I.e. the masks they wear are fashion because then people cannot read their faces while playing the Game (or so Viv says), I think it is a well thought-out culture with the fashion representing the mindset (of deception and intrigue & such) with a nice contrast of beauty (gold, baroque) and less pretty things (jealousy, assassinations, lust for power)

[Linkenski]

Orlais is very hammy and I think that's fine enough. It's supposed to strike you as a clash of culture which alienates you I think. As for the french accents... I'm also cool with that. Maybe you could take this super seriously and write it off as a completely cynical parody of frenchmen but I think it's a good choice which underscores how posh and pompuous the Orlesian culture is. Dragon Age was always a bit caricatured IMO. It doesn't necessarily make it bad.

 

I do think it was taken too far when a random dying NPC said "Merde" though, but I guess it was meant as an easter egg.