Actually the thing I find amusing about Merrill's story after DAI is that Eluvians really can link to the Fade. So Marethari might actually have been right about the demon being able to use it to escape. (I just remember a lot of heated arguments calling Marethari an idiot on the grounds that there was no proof Eluvians can act as a portal to the Fade)
And yet Merrill herself asked Hawke to accompany her precisely because of this risk.
I was a little surprised at the lack of qunari and dwarves overall- I don't think there are any qunari besides Iron Bull in the game and dwarves are pretty rare too (Varric, Bianca, Carta mooks, that guy who works on your walls, one of Bull's Chargers...I think that's it). I guess it's relatively representative of Southern Thedas though.
It certainly felt that it was intended for either a human or an elf going through with a dwarf, there was some content here and there but not nearly as much relevance as an Elven PC would have had.
This game is not Elven centric. It is Elven highly involved.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a future DA game that makes it damn clear that its as Elven centric as DAI is Andrastan-human centric.
DAI just opens up Elven stuff a ton more than before, putting it at a place that humans always had for the last couple games anyway.
1. Human (still, even if less than the last two games)
2. Elf (partially very clearly, partially in a way that sneaks up on players)
3. Qunari (not highly involved, but getting more definition than the previous two games combined imo, even if not emphasis like the Act 2 of DA2)
4. Dwarf (really took back seat, but I expect DLC or the next game to really bring them back in a big way; they kinda take the place that Elves had, in DAI imo)
I disagree. The game dons itself with Chantry/human themes, but at its heart is a tale of elven desconstruction/truth.
The one that teaches you how to seal the rift, the reason you matter at all? Your elf companion.
Skyhold, your powerbase? Elven
The orb? Elven
The most iconic character from Dragon Age? Has the wisp of Mythal inside her, a servant to her will. As you or the other iconic character from DA can become as well.
Then you finish the game and...
You and the antagonist were pawns for an Elven "God", or whatever Fen'harel is.
I'd my suspicious after reading DAME, but now it's impossible not to be certain BioWare was just preparing the plot for what comes next.
She asks Hawke to come with her to strike her down if she gets possessed.And yet Merrill herself asked Hawke to accompany her precisely because of this risk.
I started as an elf mage, and after a few hours, I felt that *the inquistion leader is an elf* ? No way.. it's like youre president Obama. So i restarted as a human noble mage which for a time was good. Now I'm 30+ hours in the game and for me it feels totally stupid to play as a human with SO MUCH elven things getting thrown at me.. So yes, I too feel that it's more natural to play as an elf, but since it's a roleplaying game, you can play whatever you like.
My problem now is that I todally lost my motivation to continue as a human, and want to restart as an elf.. doh..
What I said to my roommate, who had yet to start a playthrough, after I finished my Dorf warrior playthrough:
"First and foremost, there is no right or wrong way to play the game. No race or class or gender is super superior to any other. That being said, a female Elf who romances Solas is the right way to play Inquisition."
(He ended up choosing a Qunari mage and is planning on riding the Bull. My second playthrough is an Elven rogue who's romancing Solas.)
After completing the game, I say 60% elf(mage) and 40% human noble. There are a lot of special dialogues and reactions if you are and elf and more so if you are a mage.
I agree here. My first playthrough was a female elf mage who romanced Solas. I have made character after character now trying to start another playthrough and having a tough time identifying with any inquisitor that isn't an elf. Seems like I will be missing part of the relevance of the game.
Using a lot of elf lore near the end of the game and having a romance with an elf god doesn't make the story elf-central.
I sometimes regret not having played a female elf and romanced Solas in my first game because it probably would have made the grand spoiler at the end even better.
Using a lot of elf lore near the end of the game and having a romance with an elf god doesn't make the story elf-central.
It's not the elf lore... that imo makes it very elf centric. it's the reactions I've got through the game if I was an elf. A human noble is nice, but aside from a few comments about you being a rich ass, they don't get much. In the end it's about everyone's feelings about what and who the main character should be.
The only place where I felt that the Dalish elf is out of place was the Winter Palace. I was like what he hell I am doing here ? I should be a human noble. The nobles commented that, whaat ? an elf savage is the herald of Andraste ? 
If Bioware made it more akward for the elf character at the Winter Palace, it would have been great.
Considering Solas was one of the two romances added AFTER the delay so it was not in the original version of the game, I don´t think so
I thought Dalish was pretty fun.
Yeah sometimes it's awkward , they are pretty cool in Halamshiral , and lots of people are willing to kiss your feet pretty quickly.
But the whole moment when you get Skyhold was just a beautiful thing roleplaying my Dalish Hunter.
First you learn the Mark is way more linked to an Elven God than anything Andraste related.
Then you lead the humans to an old elven place.
For a Dalish to find a place of safety , a "home" ...I mean if someone knows anything about losing battles and keep going on looking for a new place , it's the Dalish.
Also well Solas acting as your mentor , I always have a "WOW " moment during that scene.(ok whatever race you play I imagine it's always pretty great.I just think playing elf makes the whole thing more meaningful.)Also meeting Mythal when you have Mythal tatoo on your pc face feels pretty cool and surreal.
Nah, not really for me. It's just that some good chunk of new elven lore was put into the game to explain some as of yet barely touched subjects. Human inquisitor is still more relevant in the story for the most part with all the "Herald of Andraste", Chantry, Templars vs. Mages and human politics. It's just the last mission about the Temple of Sorrows and optional Solas romance that gives some ppl a feeling that an elf is a more involved option. Personally, I can't play any character except for human mage, just because of that same feeling - other races seem to be very poorly written into the Conclave prologue, they are outsiders with no first hand opinions. I just can't get attached to them, they do not fit. Human Circle mage on the other hand is the only class who has a legitimate business there and there are more reactions about being a mage in the game, unlike other two classes.
And, btw, Solas romance sucks. Way to wind up and then ditch a girl, what a douche.
i see some people keep insisting that an elf couldnt be a leader because of prejudice, you do realise that an elf could possibly one of the most influental and important people in dragon age origins, right? Leliana and many many, people in the game followed you etc etc, them seeing an elf as a potential leader is nothing considering the important role an elven warden can play, and the fact that the inq leadership Leli, Cass, Cullen and josie are very progressive. Anyway op, you are right. The game makes the most sense with an elven protagonist, especially a female one.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Is this some call for canonizing a Dalish Inquisitor who romances Solas?
Personally, I'll agree with the poster a few posts above. The game works best as a circle mage. It would seem that Dalish seems just as good as human noble though.. and better than the other non-human races.
Nah, not really for me. It's just that some good chunk of new elven lore was put into the game to explain some as of yet barely touched subjects. Human inquisitor is still more relevant in the story for the most part with all the "Herald of Andraste", Chantry, Templars vs. Mages and human politics. It's just the last mission about the Temple of Sorrows and optional Solas romance that gives some ppl a feeling that an elf is a more involved option. Personally, I can't play any character except for human mage, just because of that same feeling - other races seem to be very poorly written into the Conclave prologue, they are outsiders with no first hand opinions. I just can't get attached to them, they do not fit. Human Circle mage on the other hand is the only class who has a legitimate business there and there are more reactions about being a mage in the game, unlike other two classes.
And, btw, Solas romance sucks. Way to wind up and then ditch a girl, what a douche.
except none of that is really important. The mage/templar crap is hardly even explored or relevant later on. It turns out, as i myself suspected based on the ugly hat the figure in the fade was wearing, that it was none other than the divine. The real threat is a consequence of the very real manouvering caused by elven gods.Elven orb? check, elven gods putting it in wrong hands? check, most important people lorewise? all powerful elves/elven gods.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
except none of that is really important. The mage/templar crap is hardly even explored or relevent later on. . It turns out, as i myself suspected based on the ugly hat the figure in the fade was wearing, that it was none other than the divine. The real threat is a consequence of the very real manouvering caused by elven gods.Elven orb? check, elven gods putting it in wrong hands? check, most important people lorewise? all powerful elves/elven gods.
What do you mean? The mage/templar problem is huge, and how you handle it changes Southern Thedas forever. It's the most wide reaching choice you'll make.
My male elf mage game definitely felt the most involved the human one is alright but it feels like you're on the outside looking in on something you don't understand.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
My male elf mage game definitely felt the most involved the human one is alright but it feels like you're on the outside looking in on something you don't understand.
I think Dalish and humans are equally ignorant, when it comes down to it. The Keeper's first is only more depressing, since they think they know history so well.
Both struggle with identity and religion in interesting ways though. And both have a lot to think about when it comes to new paths in the future for their people/causes.
What do you mean? The mage/templar problem is huge, and how you handle it changes Southern Thedas forever. It's the most wide reaching choice you'll make.
Yea, exactly. Elven gods, Tevinter gods - all that is somewhere out there, a background lore that hopefully will be resolved in some future game. But real problems like who rules the empire, how magic users are treated around the world, what becomes of such an important religious institution as Chantry that is what should be important. Facing these human world problems as a dalish elf for me, personally, seems unfitting, especially considering that they seem to be ignorant not only of human history but also don't really know their own. But have fun with that.
Agree and I liked at end.
Cory: Look at you you wear your slave markings with pride.
Yea, exactly. Elven gods, Tevinter gods - all that is somewhere out there, a background lore that hopefully will be resolved in some future game. But real problems like who rules the empire, how magic users are treated around the world, what becomes of such an important religious institution as Chantry that is what should be important. Facing these human world problems as a dalish elf for me, personally, seems unfitting, especially considering that they seem to be ignorant not only of human history but also don't really know their own. But have fun with that.
you do realize that in our own history individuals of highly oppressed minority groups have garnered much respect and leadership, through charisma and hard work, right? Females in highly patriarchal and misogynistic societies, have lead powerful countries and have commanded the loyalties of millions upon millions of people across the ages. If for example you are a powerful and charismatic, dalish mage, then yes, you will be able to command the respect of people who might be prejudiced at first, its hardly as unplausible as some of you are making it out to be. Phoolan devi, known as the "bandit queen" was a poor little girl in a very poor indian village, who was sold to a man much older for livestock, then escaped and ended up raped by a **** ton of men in a village, then made her -own- group of outlaws, all male, who followed her loyally and she went back had all the men rounded up and slaughtered in that village and then became a politican at the end of her "career" as a bandit! 
People are capable of doing extraordinary things, even the most oppressed and downtrodden. If real extremely oppressed people without magical powers are capable of becoming great leaders then why shouldnt those with powerful magic at their disposal be able to? 
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