When you hear the word "Inquisition" in a fantasy related context what do you imagine?
Personally I imagine Spanish inquisition, WH40K (which many people consider to be not unlike DA setting) and also this:
I expect mysteries, suspicions, witch hunt, interrogations, executions, paranoia, "everyone can be an enemy" mentality. I think many people feel the same. This has been brewing in my brain for some time, and it explains some of the frustrations I have with the game's plot.
Now what DA:I has to do with "Inquisition" and how it uses that name? I can imagine BW writers discussing how to name the new game. "Inquisition" definitely sounds cool for many fantasy fans. Well, that's great. Cool sounding name = more money!
The actual DA:i Inquisition is nothing like the Inquisition one could've expected however (no one expects the Spanish inquisition though 
). The organisation depicted in the game severely hurts my suspension of disbelief and in fact shouldn't even be possible (and neither its enemies). Essentially it is a breakout branch of the Chantry that somehow claimed land inside Ferelden and started acting independently and gathering military force. Supplies and rationing problems aside I find it highly unlikely that any king would tolerate an independent military organisation in the borders of his own freaking kingdom. Same goes for Corypheus openly gathering armies. Ok, maybe it can be explained by mage vs templar war that has thrown everything into chaos, and everyone's minding their own problems.
However, it also feels nothing like Inquisition. Inquisition is supposed to be similar to some sort of secret service. DA:I inquisition is a cross over between some really weird warband and a charity organisation willing to take any freak Thedas has to offer (and feed them with... what?). Pro mage Inquisition also feels against everything Inquisition should be about, but I can see how it could be pulled off... not like it was done though.
Now onto its enemies. Corypheus acts openly with little to no subterfuge, which seems both silly in his position and atypical for a threat you'd expect something called Inquisition to fight against. His goal is to reenter the Fade - something that was actually done before and he just needs some magical resources to accomplish. Why the hell does he need a massive army and why does he bother interfering with politics like in Orlais at all? If he just kept quiet he could've easily reached his goals.
I find throne room judgement to be a particularly distasteful part of the game. They add very little to the plot (unless its something personal like Blackwall). They feel like a weird kind of fan service to me, sole purpose of them being to make the player feel more important (different thrones and latex costumes for the Inquisitor included). They also feel disappointing compared to what actual Inquisitor duties should've been - performing interrogations and making decisions not knowing if the information you have is actually true, who is guilty and who is innocent.
There are almost no investigations, suspicions, fighting vs hidden enemies etc in the game called Inquisition (well, Wicked Hearts maybeee).
Ok, rant mode off.
Now some speculations of what could've been. i don't consider myself to be any good at storytelling, so feel free to throw your handful of rotten eggs. But I think this way the game plot would at least be more "Inquisition" like.
1. Villain - Corypheus. He can possess bodies of other people. Apparently, according to DA2, he also does not need to change into his original form. This power alone could've made him a much better villain, if he was a little bit smarter. So, what if he actually gets smarter and loses some of his Extremely Ancient And Extremely Dumb Ancient Wizard feel. And tries to utilize his possession abilities to further his goals.
Furthermore, what if he mostly uses subterfuge, hidden agents/cultists and trickery (admittedly he did this on several occasions, but also combined it with openly gathering abomination armies in plain sight for no good reason). What if he tries to infiltrate the Inquisition (maybe himself, maybe with some of his followers)? After all, he needed the Anchor. I honestly don't see how assaulting Haven is an optimal strategy for this, given that the Inquisitor is a retard who usually walks in the wilds with only 3 other people hunting rams. Also, abandoning the idea immediately after meeting the Inquisitor for a brief minute looks stupid. Maybe he felt that the Anchor was damaged, but personally I wouldn't give it up before dissecting the inquisitor just to see if it helps.
His main goal is to reenter the fade - something that can be accomplished with the either Anchor, Well of Sorrows or lots of slaves and lyrium according to the old Tervinter methodologies. I honestly dont see why he needs to go into open confrontations to do any of this.
2. Inquisition. Imo the inquisition should at least partially be fighting hidden enemies (emphasis on hidden), including among its own ranks. Paranoia, witch hunt, traitors everywhere feel should be there. Demonic possessions among the members of the Inquisition (esp mages)? Someone in the Inquisition working for Corypheus (even better if it's one of the companions). Corypheus himself possessing someone in the inquisition and toying with PC? Also, hidden blood magic cults investigations, making "the lesser evil" kinds of decisions - aka kill everyone in the village or let an extremely dangerous demonic infection spread for instance? The kind Crestwood major had to make? One I also wanted to see as a part of Inquisition theme is doing horrible things to prevent things that are even worse. That's what WH40K Inquisition often does after all.
... More thoughts to be added later...
Feel free to throw your rotten eggs!
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