41 réponses à ce sujet

[London]

Now that I'm on my second play through, I have come to realize that Act 1 was really the only act that I felt invested in the story.

I really wish they expanded this to an entire game. They had an entire game building up the Mage / Templar war only to sweep it under the rug after a 2 hour quest. I thought the breach could have had a lot more potential as well. Since spirits are attracted to places with both high magic usage and war, I was expecting this to become far more dire of a situation than it did. The explosion itself seemed to have caused more problems than the breech did overall. I was expecting the breach to be worse than the blight, especially with spirits roaming and mages running wild.

I think they really missed out on an opportunity for dramatic storytelling by wrapping up the breach and mage/templar issues so quickly. I would have liked to have seen more devastation from the breach, like losing Haven to the breach instead if what happened.

While I also enjoyed Act 2 for the Warden and Orleis political scandals, I have to say that the entire Corypheus plot fell flat for me. I just found the character dull and I have to really think to remember exactly why he was in the story, since every aspect of the story that he was not involved in was far more interesting to me.

I think that instead of speeding through the breach, mage / templar war, the Orleisian civil war, the Wardens, the eluvians and ancient elve story lines so quickly they could have cut those plots and spent more time also building up the main characters origin story (which was nonexistent) and also the events leading up it the conclave. Even more insane is that Josepheine mentions for me near the end of the game that all of these things took place over the course of a few months which is a little insane. (Well, in the romance plot she said she only knew me a few months).

These rushed story lines just really detracted from any of them really having meaning. Along with all the side quests, i really just didn't feel that anything else going on was all that pressing... I mean, it can't be that important if I'm spending afternoons catching goats and chasing Hallas...

[LightningPoodle]

I kind off agree. Corypheus seemed really under-played. He didn't feel bad at all like he should off been. The game didn't feel like a save the world game. And I preferred the templar/mage war above all else in the game. Probably because DA:2 set it in motion so we knew it would happen in this game. But again, very little actually went into it to make it feel like a war.

 

Something I've realised with this game is that there is far to much. You've got several wars going on. You've got an end the world scenario. You've got all these little bits in between that try to fill in the gaps. The point is, there is far to much to give each individual event justice. If this game was half mage/templar war, half save the world, I think it would have been a lot better, simply because we can plunge right in and come out of each feeling like we did something worth doing.

 

The way I see this game is similar to Destiny, even though it's not and nothing has been said to confirm it is or isn't but Destiny is going to go on for 10 years. 10 years worth of content is going to be added to that game, similar to most MMORPG games on PC. I feel like Inquisition could do a similar thing. We already have locations which don't even have to be visited in a play through. The game could have huge expansions filling in these locations, and adding more. Thedas is a big place, Fereldan and Orlais, being a smaller part of Thedas, are still pretty big. I don't think Hawke and the Grey Wardens had to be in the base game, at all. It was just another distraction. Add in the huge battle, the whole situation, make a real big deal out of these Wardens doing evilness in an expansion. Why not? I didn't feel they had to be included. I didn't feel like it put me one step closer to Corypheus. If it was an expansion, I think it would have been a lot better.

 

I love this game. I love it so much my first play through was done on nightmare difficulty. Beginning to End. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time playing it. But there are things that distract from the experience. I hope worthwhile DLC swoops in quickly because I don't know how many play throughs I will get through before I get bored.

[Former_Fiend]

I disagree, but that might be because I've never felt particularly invested in the mage/templar war at all.

[rpgfan321]

Yeah, Act 1 went by so fast when I was expecting something more. It really did not feel about the mage/templar war at all, but about your Inquisitor and obviously Corypheus. 

 

The most interesting act for me was 3 because it added more mysticism and expanded previous lore that had a different take on typical fantasy. Every act never expanded anything but only touched upon it. It tells the player such history exists in Dragon Age, but it never delves into it. I agree. 

 

If I think about the story anymore than I already do at this point, I will go crazy on how many times I go "why did they do this?"

 

But they did a great job with all the cast and characters. I have to admit and applaud for that. 

[Kevs]

Considering that the entirety of DA2 was to setup the scene for the mage-templar war, that part of the story did end too quickly. Corypheus was just a DLC (thought admittedly a well-made one compared to DA2 in general), yet he ended up taking center stage.

 

As for the demons falling out of the sky thing, we could have used more demons. A Fade Rift opening right in the middle of crowd of innocent people, now isn't that dramatic? Instead, the closest that innocent people got to Fade Rifts are one right outside the gates of Redcliffe, one inside the Chantry in Redcliffe, and one inside that Rift-worshipping cult in the Hinterlands. That cult one really bothered me since here we have, a bunch of people staring in awe at the Rift, yet not a single demon popped out to massacre them. How dull!

[Silith]

Disclaimer: I love the game very, very much and my only complaint is the way they handled the main story.

 

I kind of agree with you, but then I don't. I think the Mage/Templar conflict is interesting but I actually like how they resolved it.

When I went to close the breach in my first playthrough, I of course expected it to go horribly wrong. But then my character just marches in, closes it, and everyone celebrates. I was dumbfounded but then the frantic attack on Haven made sure that I never recovered and was in emotional turmoil the whole time. For me, the whole story mission is one emotional punch after the other, only because it surprises you at every turn. From a storytelling perspective I found it very effective and compelling because it was so surprising.

Furthermore, the Mage/Templar conflict serves as an effective way of branching two story paths without actually changing much - the whole game changes slightly but noticeably depending on whom you support. I don't see how one could have done this if the Mage/Templar war were drawn out more. Also, the theme of Freedom/Security was the one explored in DA2, so I understand that they didn't want to repeat that. As a player, I wouldn't have wanted to go on with the Mages/Templars for a whole second game either.

 

Act 2 kind of serves as an interesting filler, but the next punch comes in Act 3 and the Temple of Mythal, which introduces the theme of elven lore into the main story. Unfortunately, this gets promptly dropped again for a really underwhelming finale. I think they should have connected Cory much more to the previous theme - why doesn't he actually tell the Inquisitor what he is doing or why he is able to do it? He's a magister, he has to be more intelligent than your run of the mill videogame villain. Why doesn't he throw his remaining force at Skyhold? Why doesn't he recognize Solas? Oh, and to expand on Kevs' idea - Cory can obviously open the Breach again (why, though?) so couldn't he just open a fade rift in Skyhold to try and kill everyone there? Or if he can't, why doesn't he go to Skyhold and threaten everyone there with his mighty dragon? Why does he wait patiently for the Inquisitor to come to him? As it is, it was a waste of a villain who could have been extremely interesting from a lore standpoint if he was explored more. I guess Bioware didn't want to hint too much on Solas' involvement, but I think it would have helped the finale immensely if there had been SOME connection to it. Oh, and some real danger for everyone, while you're at it.

I would have been completely satisfied with the main story if the finale was fleshed out more. I'm hoping for a "grand finale DLC" then.

[Willowhugger]

 

Why doesn't he throw his remaining force at Skyhold?

Solas explains that his army is held together by the belief of his followers he's a god. He can't get bogged down in a battle against the Inquisitor so he just declares victory and leaves.

[Uhh.. Jonah]

I'm not so sure, only because we dealt so much with the Mage vs. Templar conflict during Dragon Age 2. I do think however that this game has a lot of great ideas compressed into short main quests that make the main plot feel all over the place, and weak in that respect. The war between the mages and templars, the civil war in Orlais, the breach, the demon army, the ancient elves. I just wish it was more focused on a single conflict instead of me feeling like I'm running all over the place solving everyone's problems while dealing with a fussy ancient magister.

[wright1978]

I didn't mind the Mage/templar thing being resolved in act 1. I quite enjoyed Corypheus, though think how his story conlcluded was somewhat of a damp squib

 

One thing I certainly think is that the rifts should have felt more threatening. We go to all these zones and close the rifts, but surely before they are closed their should be more demons roaming the countryside accosting settlements and the like. Right now it feels static like i'm popping round checking all my house's windows and shut properly and not the sense of urgency that i need to get these rifts closed to save the locals.

[JAZZ_LEG3ND]

Oh yeah, that's right, Mage Templar war is over now. I keep forgetting...

 

I feel like the civil war in Orlais played a bigger role in Inquisition than the Mage Rebellion, which is all kinds of wrong, I was really anticipating what was going to happen after DA2, I loved that finale, that holy crap the world's falling apart, Hawke's gotta put it back together... so good. Now… magic terrorist attack leads to random hero who can fix all the world's problems because green glowy thing, starting with all that stuff DA2 built up to… and unfortunately DAI doesn’t build up to anything on its own. It squanders the anticipation from DA2, and then just kinda falls flat.

 

Yep, still sour about this. I mean, I love Inquisition, but… enough with the 180s already, I grew really fond of Hawke, I wanted Hawke’s story to continue and conclude in epic fashion, that was the whole point. But instead we get Rift Jesus and plot threads bending over backwards to appease the DA2 backlash. Perpetual disappointment.

 

But alas, life goes on.

[Basement Cat]

I agree the plot was kind of all over the place. It might have been more solid if they had focused on one aspect and fleshed it out more. There is one detail we learn during the Hushed Whispers quest (if you read all the notes) that they never follow up on and it drives me right up a wall.

 

Spoiler

Leliana apparently has a very high resistance to the Blight, almost to the point of immunity. Why oh why can't we follow up on this? Why can't we talk to her about it? Especially if she is in a romance with the Warden. They are on a quest to end the Calling. Their girlfriend's apparent immunity to the thing killing them would probably interest them. And her too for that matter. 

[nightscrawl]

Even more insane is that Josepheine mentions for me near the end of the game that all of these things took place over the course of a few months which is a little insane. (Well, in the romance plot she said she only knew me a few months).

 

Thanks for this, I was wondering what the time lapse of the game was.

[LightningPoodle]

I agree the plot was kind of all over the place. It might have been more solid if they had focused on one aspect and fleshed it out more. There is one detail we learn during the Hushed Whispers quest (if you read all the notes) that they never follow up on and it drives me right up a wall.

 

Spoiler

Leliana apparently has a very high resistance to the Blight, almost to the point of immunity. Why oh why can't we follow up on this? Why can't we talk to her about it? Especially if she is in a romance with the Warden. They are on a quest to end the Calling. Their girlfriend's apparent immunity to the thing killing them would probably interest them. And her too for that matter. 

 

Spoiler

She is Andraste reborn. Probably.

[Basement Cat]

Spoiler

She is Andraste reborn. Probably.

Spoiler

I've heard that theory. Funny because Andraste was a redhead too. A banter between Sera and Cassandra reveals that tidbit. Maybe she's a descendant...

[LightningPoodle]

Spoiler

I've heard that theory. Funny because Andraste was a redhead too. A banter between Sera and Cassandra reveals that tidbit. Maybe she's a descendant...

 

Spoiler

Could be... interesting. I like that idea better, her being a descendant. Though in DA, it's probably more likely she is a Andraste, reborn or not. Just following fantasy procedure and all that. 

[mrs_anomaly]

Regarding Leliana

Spoiler

I hope she's not Andraste. I prefer descendant as well. For lot's of reasons..and by the way WOW what an idea- I've never seen that before. Guess I haven't spent enough time haunting this subforum. I waited until I was almost finished with DAI so I wouldn't spoil myself.

 

 

I love the hell out of this game but I also thought the plot got muddled with mutiple big bads. Of course I'm good at head canon things away such as "well IRL life doesn't make everything smooth and linear and timed for the best...story...yeah". So as stupid as it sounds I tend to view that lack of narrative pull as a concession to the gravity of the things happening in Thedas. My Inquisitor may need to drink up some love to fuel her badassery throughout Thedas while making pit stops in Skyhold but she has demons to slay, keeps to conquer for her forces, crusty magisters to smack down and a huge hole in the sky to fix. It's an ugly mess someone has to save. 

[Anouk]

Bioware use a lot from the tv serie Farscape. also in this game.

[Kevs]

I'm not so sure, only because we dealt so much with the Mage vs. Templar conflict during Dragon Age 2. I do think however that this game has a lot of great ideas compressed into short main quests that make the main plot feel all over the place, and weak in that respect. The war between the mages and templars, the civil war in Orlais, the breach, the demon army, the ancient elves. I just wish it was more focused on a single conflict instead of me feeling like I'm running all over the place solving everyone's problems while dealing with a fussy ancient magister.

It just bugs me that what essentially ended the mage-templar war is the appearance of the giant hole in the sky and a common enemy to the world. The root cause of the war doesn't really get addressed, except for the new Divine (whichever of the 3) just enacting radical reforms. Celene's quote during act 2 fits quite nicely here where she can change laws, but not change people's minds. I don't think a new Divine telling people what to believe in will so easily change how mages and templars interact.

 

I didn't mind the Mage/templar thing being resolved in act 1. I quite enjoyed Corypheus, though think how his story conlcluded was somewhat of a damp squib

 

One thing I certainly think is that the rifts should have felt more threatening. We go to all these zones and close the rifts, but surely before they are closed their should be more demons roaming the countryside accosting settlements and the like. Right now it feels static like i'm popping round checking all my house's windows and shut properly and not the sense of urgency that i need to get these rifts closed to save the locals.

What we needed are missions of saving people from Fade Rifts. Considering how threatening demons and demonic possession were in DAO and DA2, it was very odd that closing Fade Rifts are all optional side-quests.

[AresKeith]

I actually glad the Mage/Templar war wasn't the full plot, that was the most uninteresting plot in the series Imho

[Maconbar]

It just bugs me that what essentially ended the mage-templar war is the appearance of the giant hole in the sky and a common enemy to the world. The root cause of the war doesn't really get addressed, except for the new Divine (whichever of the 3) just enacting radical reforms. Celene's quote during act 2 fits quite nicely here where she can change laws, but not change people's minds. I don't think a new Divine telling people what to believe in will so easily change how mages and templars interact.
 

What we needed are missions of saving people from Fade Rifts. Considering how threatening demons and demonic possession were in DAO and DA2, it was very odd that closing Fade Rifts are all optional side-quests.

But how often do root causes get addressed? It seems that most human solutions to problems rarely solve the root problems because it is easier to deal with superficialities.

[Vylix]

I agree and disagree.

I like the idea of Corypheous causing the breach and that we have to stop him, It gives us an explanation as well as a set up for a future game, This said I was not nearly invested in post-haven events. The main story died down for me after that point, I just survived facing down one of the magisters that entered the black city and his dragon AND survived an avalanche/blizzard. Everything after that point just stopped feeling epic. My character seemed invincible from then onwards and the danger really just... Stopped. The trailers had me so psyched up for the breach being this extremely difficult thing to close, while having all sorts of demons pouring out everywhere. I was expecting seiges, dragons, Demons falling from the sky for more than the first 5 minutes not...This badguy that was badass at first only to die off and just kinda... Repeatedly lose to us for the rest of the game with poor or completely failed retaliation attempts, plus dragons just kind of minding their own business in their own corner of the map.

 

I think the second act needed more to build it up. More danger, More chance that we'd get defeated. The wartable needed more impact, It needed to feel like we're leading an army. I dont know, maybe even some supply stores of sorts which fill when we do gathering quests. These give us troops with better equipment, healers with more ability to rescue the injured, ect. Or have a coffers even that isn't our personal one. Like when we send people on gold earning quests or get more supporters we should have a higher gold flow and thus be able to do more things that affect the game, such as improving our defenses or buying the materials our soldiers need, More gold to recruit soldiers/healers, really anything that would have made the wartable tie into the game in a way that affected it.

I also think it needed to feel like the army mattered. Like how in origins we can recruit people and then have them help, but they have limited numbers. We need a way that gives us a tangible idea of what our power/influence is really giving us, and in turn that will give us more motivation to do some of the boring side quests. Even killing off the wardens at the war table didn't really have an impact. There were still some wardens standing around my camp, there was no ceremony ever held for them, no repercussions, nothing.

 

And some of those side quests really could have done more to impact as well. If I'm getting supplies to build things in the hinterlands I expect to see some of those things start showing up. that sort of thing. not... Lets do boring sidequest after boring sidequest to get enough power to get another area unlocked so i can do the main story bit for that area and then proceed to do boring sidequests again until I have enough power to repeat or advance the story mission. 

[Feranel]

I don't necessarily feel like the Mage/Templar war was swept under the rug after Act 1. But I think NPC dialogue kinda treats it like "Oh, the Inquisitor solved the mage/templar war!"  When in fact we didn't, the entirety of the second act is because we DIDN'T solve the war, we approached one side, but not the other, and that side fell under the sway of Corypheus, 

 

I think NPC dialogue could have reflected that better, the enemies you face the rest of the game are because you failed to bring peace to the mages and templars, and so one side made a deal with the devil.

[Eivuwan]

I'm fine with the way they moved the story, I just feel that there should have been at least one more core mission for each of the acts. It just feels like it was way too easy to beat Corypheus. And of course, the last battle was not exactly epic.

[kyles3]

The triumphant moment in the Skyhold courtyard with the sword and the hooray-hurrah is a great ending to a story. It's a victory that was earned after loss and struggle. The victory the Inquisitor celebrates at the real ending 70 hours later didn't feel earned to me. There's no struggle after you get to Skyhold.

[amranthe]

Ugh man this is tough. I think both sides have good points.

 

I felt much the same as the OP... but I also can see how people would be sick of the Mage/Templar conflict after DA2. Making all of DAI about it would have been a bad move, imo.

 

I think my trouble with it is not that it's resolved quickly... it's that it's so anticlimactic. You just... recruit/ally one side and that's it. The other side doesn't really get a mention except "Whoops oh no they're working for Cory now" because... why? Because I didn't get a chance to stop them for some reason?

 

I have played siding with both Mages and Templars and each one it just is so weird. You didn't really solve anything, you just kind of helped one side not get subjugated by Cory. Mages, Templars, and the Chantry are still at odds, and the best you get is a passing mention in the crawl at the end over who is next Divine.

 

Eh... it just feels to me that the entirety of DAI was a prologue for DA4 because nothing you did in this game mattered in this game. But maybe that's just me.