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[Frenetic Pony]

A frank criticism of Dragon Age Inquisition.

 

Lot's of praise for this game, and a lot of it I agree with. Being able to explore a world rather than go down a linear path is fun. And the writing can be excellent, the companion quests are the best in the game for me.

 

So let's instead get down to the not so good parts. I will talk about the Exalted Plains as an example of some of the things that have gone quite wrong in Dragon Age Inquisition.

 

An axiom of good writing is "Is your story taking place during the most interesting time of your characters life/the setting they're in, and if not, why?" A rhetorical question obviously, and yet one that should be asked of The Exalted Plains.

 

A desolate ruined landscape, with things on fire and evidence of a great battle just before you came. All seem to scream "boy you should've seen this thing a week ago! Man that would be crazy, how did that house get crushed and burned down. Man that would have been cool to see I bet."

 

Instead... you show up in peace time. Quite possibly after the entire affair that started it is already over. Which is what happened to me, and leads me to another question. Which is "why the heck am I even here?"

 

I came to The Exalted Plains because... well it was kind of on the map. And the main quest told me I needed "more power" to continue it. Problem is, I don't know why I'm here, or what there is to do here. It's an entire area that's kind of... there to be there it feels like. In fact that's a lot of areas in DAI. You end up traveling to The Storm Coast, because there are missing wardens and you pick up Iron Bull. You go to The Hinterlands to get mother Giselle (how do you spell her name?) and get horses and solve the mage thing.

 

These are leading quests. These are reasons to go somewhere else. And they give reasons to do sidequests on the way. You see a diamond on the map to going to "do something important" and say to yourself "oh sure that sounds good!" But there are a lot of places in DAI that are there to... be there. I don't even know who I'm fighting in the Exalted Plains or why. And yes I pay attention to the story, and even pick up and read every codex entry I can find from scrolls to the landmark markers.

 

But in the Exalted Plains... I ended up asking myself "What is this place? Why am I here and why do I care?" So much of DAI lacks answers to these basic questions. Even the assigned War Map things that just take time feel like they have more impact that running around a battlefield filled with... stuff for no other reason than "It was there."

 

I realize a brief for DAI was "Make it more like The Elder Scrolls". But for Dragon Age, and Bioware, and DAI I've always felt the best parts were those with a good story backing, a compelling reason to go through with it. In The Elderscrolls you go to places because "hey that looks neat over there." And that's what the games built around. But that's not Dragon Age, or Bioware's strength. I'd love to feel that there was a reason besides "need more power" to go to some of these regions in Dragon Age other than feeling lost.

[Kimberly]

But you do get a quest that leads you to the Exaulted Plains if you do the companion quests. If you don't, then no, you have no real reason to go there.

[Frenetic Pony]

But you do get a quest that leads you to the Exaulted Plains if you do the companion quests. If you don't, then no, you have no real reason to go there.

 

That's the only reason I finally ended up there. And that's the problem with it and several other areas! All this "content" that just sort of... seems like its going to waste. I feel bad for all the people that obviously put thought and effort into the place and others like it because it's like "well what do I do here exactly?"

[SpiritMuse]

The Fallow Mire: Inquisition soldiers have gone missing.
Emerald Graves: Contacted by Fairbanks who will trade valuable information for help.
Exalted Plains: Reports from the front have mysteriously gone silent.
Emprise du Lion: Red lyrium has been sighted and bridges have been blown up.
Hissing Wastes: Venatori are searching for something of great value.

I guess it depends on your inquisitor which they find important or interesting enough to investigate.

[Kulyok]

Exalted Plains is probably The Worst Place out there, and I hear you. 

 

I wasn't bothered as much by other areas. Emerald Graves is a beaitiful place. Storm Coast and Fallow Mire are short and have main quests(Wardens+Darkspawn, Barbarians). Emprise has red templars, Wastes has Venatori, Forgotten Oasis is short and has a cool-looking temple(not, but still), Hinterlands is the most "voiced" area, because it's the first one you visit.

 

But Exalted Plains? I don't know why I dislike it. It has a cool Dalish clan with multiple quests, it has Solas' companion quest, it has a great backstory. But all I remember is climbing rocks for shards and trying not to get lost in those blasted undead barricades and trying to drown out the insect buzz. Sigh.

[Calders]

The Fallow Mire: Inquisition soldiers have gone missing.
Emerald Graves: Contacted by Fairbanks who will trade valuable information for help.
Exalted Plains: Reports from the front have mysteriously gone silent.
Emprise du Lion: Red lyrium has been sighted and bridges have been blown up.
Hissing Wastes: Venatori are searching for something of great value.

I guess it depends on your inquisitor which they find important or interesting enough to investigate.

 

The trouble is most these only relate to one small bit of the areas and aren't the start of a sub plot that leads you through the area.

[SpiritMuse]

The trouble is most these only relate to one small bit of the areas and aren't the start of a sub plot that leads you through the area.

 

Um? Each of those things is the main plot of the area. Sure, not all there is to find there, but all of those lead you to multiple places throughout the area.

 

The Fallow Mire is pretty much one big road to the Avvar stronghold with stuff along the way.

In the Emerald Graves Fairbanks will point you to the Freemen of the Dales and it leads you to all the different locations to hunt them down.

In the Exalted plains the soldiers are beset by undead and you have to go to places all over the map to wipe them out.

Emprise du Lion has you hunt all the Red Templar camps throughout the area, culminating in taking the fort.

The Hissing Wastes has you search out Venatori camps all over the map to find what they were looking for and get there first.

 

I'm not sure what else you might mean.

[Calders]

Um? Each of those things is the main plot of the area. Sure, not all there is to find there, but all of those lead you to multiple places throughout the area.

 

The Fallow Mire is pretty much one big road to the Avvar stronghold with stuff along the way.

In the Emerald Graves Fairbanks will point you to the Freemen of the Dales and it leads you to all the different locations to hunt them down.

In the Exalted plains the soldiers are beset by undead and you have to go to places all over the map to wipe them out.

Emprise du Lion has you hunt all the Red Templar camps throughout the area, culminating in taking the fort.

The Hissing Wastes has you search out Venatori camps all over the map to find what they were looking for and get there first.

 

I'm not sure what else you might mean.

 

 

Fallow Mire - OK I agree with that

Emerald Graves - Don't agree - OK I pick up the Freeman thing but that's not much of a plot its just go around killing a few gangs of mooks.

Exalted Planes - pretty much as above, the plot is resolved at the first camp the rest is just repetitive clearing of mooks, not what I call a plot.

Emprise du Lion - ohh look go around the map and clear a repetitive bunch of mooks... again

Hissing Wastes - yup you guessed it, more groups of mooks

 

I really don't consider these to be plots or any kind of story arc

 

Today we will be learning about both copy AND paste

[SpiritMuse]

Fallow Mire - OK I agree with that
Emerald Graves - Don't agree - OK I pick up the Freeman thing but that's not much of a plot its just go around killing a few gangs of mooks.
Exalted Planes - pretty much as above, the plot is resolved at the first camp the rest is just repetitive clearing of mooks, not what I call a plot.
Emprise du Lion - ohh look go around the map and clear a repetitive bunch of mooks... again
Hissing Wastes - yup you guessed it, more groups of mooks
 
I really don't consider these to be plots or any kind of story arc
 
Today we will be learning about both copy AND paste

Well that's basically your job as the Inquisition though, isn't it? Clearing out enemies and establishing your own presence to make the area safer. Paying attention to the quest text makes it all more interesting as you'll find different reasons for all of it. I found the stuff in Emerald Graves quite amusing, reading all the notes from the Freemen as they're increasingly shitting themselves at you effortlessly routing all their camps. And Emprise du Lion was also quite satisfying, destroying a major Red Templar operation and freeing the citizens from their clutches.

Meh, I guess it's up to you how interesting you make it.

[phantomrachie]

Well that's basically your job as the Inquisition though, isn't it? Clearing out enemies and establishing your own presence to make the area safer. Paying attention to the quest text makes it all more interesting as you'll find different reasons for all of it. I found the stuff in Emerald Graves quite amusing, reading all the notes from the Freemen as they're increasingly shitting themselves at you effortlessly routing all their camps. And Emprise du Lion was also quite satisfying, destroying a major Red Templar operation and freeing the citizens from their clutches.

Meh, I guess it's up to you how interesting you make it.

 

I loved those notes from the Freemen - it added alot of character to otherwise faceless mobs. 

[Calders]

Well that's basically your job as the Inquisition though, isn't it? Clearing out enemies and establishing your own presence to make the area safer. Paying attention to the quest text makes it all more interesting as you'll find different reasons for all of it. I found the stuff in Emerald Graves quite amusing, reading all the notes from the Freemen as they're increasingly shitting themselves at you effortlessly routing all their camps. And Emprise du Lion was also quite satisfying, destroying a major Red Templar operation and freeing the citizens from their clutches.

Meh, I guess it's up to you how interesting you make it.

 

I do confess I'm not really into reading lots of stuff when I'm playing games... so inevitably in the plot is being delivered through notes, codex entries or other text then its not really getting me interested.  I want it to come much more from conversations, or companion comments.

[Elhanan]

For myself, the Exalted Plains was about aiding the Dalish and other refugees that remained in a war torn land. It reminded me of scenes from the European countryside post-WW2, but now in a fictional setting. And it and the Emerald Graves are among my fave areas, though I also enjoy the snow-covered lands, deserts, and other regions depicted in the game.

[Iakus]

For myself, the Exalted Plains was about aiding the Dalish and other refugees that remained in a war torn land. It reminded me of scenes from the European countryside post-WW2, but now in a fictional setting. And it and the Emerald Graves are among my fave areas, though I also enjoy the snow-covered lands, deserts, and other regions depicted in the game.

 

Problem for me was, by the time I got to the Exalted Plains, I had already completed Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts.  So, yeah, the war was already over.

[phantomrachie]

I do confess I'm not really into reading lots of stuff when I'm playing games... so inevitably in the plot is being delivered through notes, codex entries or other text then its not really getting me interested.  I want it to come much more from conversations, or companion comments.

 

I don't like it when the entire story is delivered through codex entries or notes but they can add some really nice touches to the plot or the overall setting.

 

The notes left by the Freemen doesn't really add to the plot but they do give you the sense that an enemy is feeling the pressure of the Inquisition, that your presence is shaping the environment.

 

I get a similar sense whenever I change the landscape of an area by building a bridge over a gorge or poisonous swamp.

 

It's not necessary to the plot but it adds to the world building and really makes you feel like the Inquisition is having an impact.  

[Elhanan]

Problem for me was, by the time I got to the Exalted Plains, I had already completed Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts.  So, yeah, the war was already over.

Than think of them as troops stuck behind battling the Undead ravaging the people.

[Farangbaa]

You know that cute little dwarf woman that you speak to upon first entering the area? She tells you what's going on there and why you're there.

 

Every single *bleeping* area.

[In Exile]

That's a problem in every single RPG. It's too expensive design wise to be there during the cool stuff. And plot wise it would make no sense to be there during the war.

But you do get a quest that leads you to the Exaulted Plains if you do the companion quests. If you don't, then no, you have no real reason to go there.

You're meant to do exalted plains after emeraled glades. After you defeat the freemen of the dales there they escape to the exalted plains.

[In Exile]

I do confess I'm not really into reading lots of stuff when I'm playing games... so inevitably in the plot is being delivered through notes, codex entries or other text then its not really getting me interested. I want it to come much more from conversations, or companion comments.

That's the Skyrim and Fallout influence. Especially Skyrim. Those games venerate storytelling by archaeology. So Bioware implemented the same thing here.

[Jeremiah12LGeek]

Because when a Mommy and a Daddy get together...

[Reymoose]

That's the Skyrim and Fallout influence. Especially Skyrim. Those games venerate storytelling by archaeology. So Bioware implemented the same thing here.

 

It didn't come across as implementation rather than crude imitation. A codex entry/small note in a window isn't the same as a full page e-book that you could turn the pages of. It may not seem like it has an effect, but I still remember reading through all of 'The Real Beneziah' yet after 100+ hours of Inquisition, I can't really recall the specifics of any book I've read, only that most seem to have been written by Brother Genetivi.

 

Who, speaking of, has been a very prolific author no? You'd think we'd have more scholars and writers other than a guy who almost got killed by a cult.

 

On topic, the side-zones are less interesting that many MMO zones, so that says something. Even SWTOR had an engaging story in most zones, which I loved, but not only are zones like the Exalted Plains not engaging but it actually made me fall asleep being in the zone. The only highlight I would say is the swamp/unlockable area to the north with the dragon and the puzzle.

[SpiritMuse]

Problem for me was, by the time I got to the Exalted Plains, I had already completed Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts. So, yeah, the war was already over.

Except because of communications being down, they didn't get the news yet. So they think he war is still on. And it doesn't matter either way, there was a truce for the peace talks and the whole place has been taken over by undead in the mean time.

I do confess I'm not really into reading lots of stuff when I'm playing games... so inevitably in the plot is being delivered through notes, codex entries or other text then its not really getting me interested.  I want it to come much more from conversations, or companion comments.

I suspected as much. People who aren't into reading quest text tend to think stuff like this boring much sooner. Really though, most of the notes you find aren't that long, and the longer codex entries are not essential to the quests. Personally, I find it refreshing to find quests in other ways than an endless parade of people asking for your help.

[SongstressKitsune]

Problem for me was, by the time I got to the Exalted Plains, I had already completed Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts.  So, yeah, the war was already over.

I mean, the Battle of New Orleans during the US/Britain War of 1812 was a pretty big deal, as it helped catapult Andrew Jackson, the commander on the US side, into the American Presidency as the "Hero of New Orleans" -- and it occurred well after the peace treaty ending the war had been signed, because nobody in New Orleans, Louisiana knew that in Ghent, Switzerland, all the heads had agreed to stop fighting. So it's not exactly unrealistic!

 

Also, yeah, the undead and the Freemen are more of a problem for both armies, regardless of when you get there, than the opposite army.
 

Edited because my wording was pretty terrible, oops

Modifié par SongstressKitsune, 22 décembre 2014 - 07:02 .