45 réponses à ce sujet

[Oreowen]

So, everyone is different in their preferences, and what one person loves about a game may be what one person hates. I am aware of this, and as such this makes my post a totally biased opinion.

But I am curious. is anyone else...uncomfortable...at being the special one and only person who can save the world in inquisition?
in every Dragonage game thus far, we do end up being the one person who saves Fereldan/Kirkwall/Thedas from something terrible. we are that special snowflake in the end. just like almost any game anytime ever the main character is the special snowflake who does the impossible (mario saves the princess). but I did notice one major difference between Origins/II and Inquisition which made it hard for me to relate to my character.

In Origins and II, you start off as effectively a nobody. just a dwarf slummer, a dalish elf, a Human noble, the Hawke child, etc, but no one who has anything immediately special about them. Hawke was no different from John Doe who lived up the road. and X Cousland was no different from the noble children in Denerim or the Bannorn. you were just a background character, who through circumstance, fate, and life choices. grew to become the Hero of the world.

But then theres inquisition. where immediately upon beginning the story, within the first hour of game play it is made apparent that you are the singular only person who has any power to stop the doom that is befalling Thedas. you're TOO important TOO early on. at least thats my opinion.

If young Cousland died during the attack on Highever, or during the joining. its still entirely possible that Alistair and his band could have defeated the blight (in fact as im sure you all know there is a DLC based around that exact concept) or if Hawke had died escapting from Lothering with bethany/carver. the other Twin could have risen to become the Champion. as a player character. you arent immediately the one and only person who can do the impossible. the one and only person who MUST do the impossible. you're just a guy/girl, and Dying is actually an option for you and the fate of the world.

But Inquisiton. before you even start playing. you appear from a rift in reality. from the Fade, with a burning mark on your hand. which somehow can close the rifts. you weren't playing along and fell into it. that was pre-decided by the gaming gods as you're background. heck unless you take the time to read the character bio you wouldn't even know you HAD a life before the Rift. (and lets be honest. not every gamer is that interested in the back story, thats just a play style for some people. doesnt make it wrong, just different)

I think thats what bothers me the most. we're never given the illusion of choice in becoming the Hero. DA:O you can flat out say "I dont want to be a Warden!" (but the game obviously pushes you to do so) or Hawke is just trying to survive and kinda stumbles into Championhood. you aren't given the option or the idea that if you died, things could still end up alright. If the warden died, Alistair could press on. If Hawke died, another younger Hawke / any Companion could have taken up the mantle. but if Inquisitor X died... the world ends, Period, there is no one else who has the capability to stop it (at least, thats how the game implies the scenario). mortality is NOT an option in this game. as my Nephew (who is also a huge DA fan) said, "it's too Hollywood".

Now I know some of you will agree, and most of you will tell me how/why I'm wrong or how thread X is this exact topic and im just repeating an old record, well thats fine, this is my opinion on the scenario and I am more than happy to accept criticism or alternate view points on the topic, it wont change how I feel about the game, because this is my opinion. just like you have yours. I simply wish to see who else shares my view on the topic.

Over all, as a stand alone game Inquisition is far above par (or below par? I clearly dont play golf) and is an amazing game in its own right. no one can tell me different. yes there are things that bother me. but I understand that they didn't make the game for just me. and what I hate, other people adore about DA:I . and heck im on my 3rd play through myself so clearly its good enough to warrent more than 1 runthrough. this is simply the opinion of one Grey Warden on one topic to the other inhabitants of Thedas.

I hope you all enjoyed my take on the topic. and have a safe and happy new year.

Sincerely yours;

Warden Commander, Owen.

[Nefla]

I do think you're given too much power and importance too soon, I would have preferred it if you had to do more to earn your way up and if you weren't a chosen one.

[hong]

It's a videogame thing.

[LightningPoodle]

Why can't people write these huge posts in Georgia or Times New Roman? Reading sans-serif in this quantity is a nightmare.

 

Sorry, this is just me being petty because I study typography.

[EmissaryofLies]

I agree with your Nephew; it's too Hollywood. I shared a similar opinion in a different thread that the previous titles were earned and the games were made better for it. Dragon Age Inquistion kind of jumped the shark for me in terms of just how important the protagonist is due to a mere accident. If it were not for Josephine's conversation in Haven, this Inquisitor would be completely faceless. 

 

I find myself uncomfortable with being the poster boy for a faith that my characters usually do not identify with. All the while I am repeatedly presented with choices that do little if anything to fix or address this issue effectively. The narrative all too often forced its biased agenda onto my protagonist and I felt as if I were watching a movie rather than playing a game with choices. That the game wasn't made for anyone who did not come into it with a specific set of opinions about the lore and factions of Dragon Age.

 

As you said, Inquisition is a great stand alone title. I think I like Origins and DA II more because they were personal stories that respected player agency and player choice. Inquisition just whittles my protagonist down to an action figure or mascot of the Andrastian Faith. It feels limited and unfinished; the protagonist feels weak in comparison to Hawke or the Hero of Fereldan.

 

Still trying to enjoy the game and find something to hold onto. I still love the Dragon Age. But the stories that are now being told do not seem to be for me.

[SardaukarElite]

I would greatly prefer a story of someone who triumphed through talent, hard work and resolve with a bit of luck than someone who through blind luck gets the magic plot hand and then has to live up to it.

 

It seems to me that Inquisition was trying to be a bland adventure story. The hero is a special chosen one, the evil is unambiguous, Corpheyus is covered in red crystals and wants to be a god, and you win without cost and throw a party.

 

 

Why can't people write these huge posts in Georgia or Times New Roman? Reading sans-serif in this quantity is a nightmare.

 

You could copy the text into something else and change the font if it really bothers you.

[Above Good and Evil]

I would greatly prefer a story of someone who triumphed through talent, hard work and resolve with a bit of luck than someone who through blind luck gets the magic plot hand and then has to live up to it.

 

It seems to me that Inquisition was trying to be a bland adventure story. The hero is a special chosen one, the evil is unambiguous, Corpheyus is covered in red crystals and wants to be a god, and you win without cost and throw a party.

 

 

 

You could copy the text into something else and change the font if it really bothers you.

 

But the hand is just one thing. Story-wise the player DOES triumph through hard work, talent resolve and a bit of luck since the Anchor is used solely for closing fade rifts and maybe one AOE attack - The Orlesian Civil War has nothing to do with it, and neither do a lot of other things like stopping the Freemen or taking out the Envy Demon. The Inquisitor still leads from the front, still shows bravery and sacrifice, still shows all the qualities of a hero. What if the Inquisitor was a coward? Or tried to excuse themselves  from fighting on the excuse that they need them alive to close Fade Rifts? THEN they'd be special solely due to the anchor. But the Inquisitor again still leads from the front and proves themselves the Herald not just because of the particle effects but also their qualities. 

The same can be said of the Warden really. They're only there because the taint marks them as a Gray Warden, but its ultimately their actions that mark them as special. Hawke is the only one who has no pre-requisite for his role, and people whined constantly about him being a useless failure. The way I see it the Taint/Anchor pushes them into the direction of the hero but the Warden/Inquisitor are the ones who keep walking that road through their choices and actions. Hawke was pushed to the role of Champion, but in the end they were ineffective because they ultimately chose not to DO anything except faff around until the endgame forced a choice. 

[SardaukarElite]

But the hand is just one thing. Story-wise the player DOES triumph through hard work, talent resolve and a bit of luck since the Anchor is used solely for closing fade rifts and maybe one AOE attack (...)
The same can be said of the Warden really. They're only there because the taint marks them as a Gray Warden, but its ultimately their actions that mark them as special.

 

For me the difference is that Grey Wardens are taken from a pool of talented people and made into what they are. Where as the Inquisitor is the only one of their kind. That is to say, The Warden was the person who happened to rise to the challenge of saving the World, while the Inquisitor was destined to save the World. Everyone was damn lucky the Inquisitor had the strength necessary, because if they hadn't no one else would have been able to seal the Breach.

 

I still appreciate that BioWare took the time to justify the Inquisitor as leader not just some poor fool with the magic key glued to their hand, and I still like the Inquisitor as a character.

[KaiserShep]

Look on the bright side: you're not playing the one and only character that seems to be able to solve everyone's problems across three games.

[Kuvira]

I find the ramp up unbelievable even in zero to hero storylines. To me, it was way more logical for my magic jazz hands to validate everyone not murdering me, and my qualities turning me into a leader. Instead of being random hardbody no. 13 who's like "yea, actually I'm like super qualified to do everything and just never got a chance to show it."

 

If it had been Sera who grabbed the Cory disco ball, the entire game would revolve around Solas physically hauling her to rifts and cursing her out in old Elvish while she went "ewww."

 

Edit: I headcannon the fact that my Inquisitor even charged in to check on Justinia to indicate she had a few more brain cells than average. I mean, really, wth was everyone else? I just have been pretty sharp.

[KaiserShep]

Edit: I headcannon the fact that my Inquisitor even charged in to check on Justinia to indicate she had a few more brain cells than average. I mean, really, wth was everyone else? I just have been pretty sharp.

 

Considering Justinia's importance, it's kind of a safe assumption that her guards were killed in the process. You don't just waltz in and say "Hey, Justy, ya dig a stroll with me girl?"

[Above Good and Evil]

For me the difference is that Grey Wardens are taken from a pool of talented people and made into what they are. Where as the Inquisitor is the only one of their kind. That is to say, The Warden was the person who happened to rise to the challenge of saving the World, while the Inquisitor was destined to save the World. Everyone was damn lucky the Inquisitor had the strength necessary, because if they hadn't no one else would have been able to seal the Breach.

 

I still appreciate that BioWare took the time to justify the Inquisitor as leader not just some poor fool with the magic key glued to their hand, and I still like the Inquisitor as a character.

The Darkspawn Chronicles shows that it doesn't MATTER if you're talented - If you're not THE Warden then the Blight goes on without a hitch. Alistair did things even a player couldn't do like hiring Qunari mercenaries or convincing Arl Howe to side with him. Hell you can make WORSE choices than Alistair and still end up winning. So while the Warden is taken from a pool of special people, apparently being THE Warden is all that's necessary as Alistair tries is damndest and still couldn't win. Same thing, if it was someone else who got the Mark I doubt they'd win since the Inquisitor was dead. Really though, I think powers don't matter - Narration-wise the character of the Warden/Inquisitor are blessed by sheer luck and fate. 

 

This reminds me of BG2 - You're not the only Bhaalspawn, but that doesn't matter since at the end of the game you're the one who's given the choice to be a God while the other Bhaalspawn are either killed or play second fiddle. 

[Carmen_Willow]

I look at it this way. Everyone's telling you you are the only one who can seal the breach; however, Corypheus is figuring out alternate ways to open the Fade. I suspect that if the Inquisitor should die, someone would figure out an alternate way to close the breach. You have to wonder how many failures the Wardens suffered before figuring out a formula for killing archdemons. I have to believe that, even without the Inquisitor, someone, some group would figure out a way to close the breach.  Maybe even the mages and the templars would have gotten together to do it. Solas certainly would have been searching for another key. Yeah, the "you're the only one who can do this" is a big burden, but it also may not be true.

 

As to people continuing to see you as "the Herald of Andraste" despite your protestations--that's pretty typical of humanity. Siddhartha Gautama repeatedly told his students that he was not a god, and look where he ended up.  In my Thedas universe, Andraste was telling her followers the same thing, but we have a tendency to deify or sancitfy anyone who is out of the ordinary.

[SardaukarElite]

The Darkspawn Chronicles shows that it doesn't MATTER if you're talented - If you're not THE Warden then the Blight goes on without a hitch. Alistair did things even a player couldn't do like hiring Qunari mercenaries or convincing Arl Howe to side with him. Hell you can make WORSE choices than Alistair and still end up winning. So while the Warden is taken from a pool of special people, apparently being THE Warden is all that's necessary as Alistair tries is damndest and still couldn't win. Same thing, if it was someone else who got the Mark I doubt they'd win since the Inquisitor was dead. Really though, I think powers don't matter - Narration-wise the character of the Warden/Inquisitor are blessed by sheer luck and fate. 

 

I always considered the Darkspawn Chronicles a rather bad joke, so I'm not sure how much use it is. But regardless, I'm not arguing any Warden could stop the Blight.

 

In Origins any of the Ferelden Wardens around before Ostagar had the magic plot thing needed to stop the Blight. Duncan, Alistair, The Warden, the various unnamed Wardens, even Jory maybe if he hadn't been an idiot. From that selection one person happened to have the talent / resolve / luck / good looks necessary to do everything else necessary. Quite easily none of them could have, and then it would have fallen on all the Wardens elsewhere in Thedas.

 

In Inquisition, of the one person randomly given the magic baseball, that one person has the necessary traits to save the world.

 

It's not a big deal, I just don't like magic destiny things and chosen ones as much as more mundane alternatives. I'd prefer it if Grey Wardens were just expert Darkspawn fighters over having a special ability to kill Archdemons as well.

[Above Good and Evil]

I always considered the Darkspawn Chronicles a rather bad joke, so I'm not sure how much use it is. But regardless, I'm not arguing any Warden could stop the Blight.

 

In Origins any of the Ferelden Wardens around before Ostagar had the magic plot thing needed to stop the Blight. Duncan, Alistair, The Warden, the various unnamed Wardens, even Jory maybe if he hadn't been an idiot. From that selection one person happened to have the talent / resolve / luck / good looks necessary to do everything else necessary. Quite easily none of them could have, and then it would have fallen on all the Wardens elsewhere in Thedas.

 

In Inquisition, of the one person randomly given the magic baseball, that one person has the necessary traits to save the world.

 

It's not a big deal, I just don't like magic destiny things and chosen ones as much as more mundane alternatives. I'd prefer it if Grey Wardens were just expert Darkspawn fighters over having a special ability to kill Archdemons as well.

Well we definitely agree on that. I prefer being the 'unchosen one', the person who wins not because fate foretold they would but because they won through sheer determination and force of will; this ambiguity plays a big role in games like Morrowind or Dark Souls where there's a prophecy but people have no idea if you're legit or just the one guy who manages to pull it off regardless. 

 

Still, even with the Mark I think the Inquisitor's strength is in their character and not the mark. If your character was a weaselly, selfish coward rather than one who's willing to fight dragons on the ground the mark would matter little. 

[Zombie Chow]

Yes, I was most uncomfortable being the Chosen One...but it made for a hell of a story for my Elf Mage.

The whole thing became a little like The Life of Brian, but played straight, which made it even funnier.

Being THE Inquisitor for being THE Herald was silly, though. And it stopped being funny at exactly this point:



I was very protective of the Inquisition's people, as I'm sure you were, too. I try to tell them not to risk their lives, because frankly as a Knight Enchanter I could solo the whole of Thedas. I understood I couldn't be everywhere at once and needed them to fight some demons because Hold On Guys I'm OMW.

But I'd never have asked them to stand up for me in front of their families. That made me sadface.

Beautiful story because of letters like that, though. Being revered just makes me feel awkward, still.

[Serza]

Yes, I was most uncomfortable being the Chosen One...but it made for a hell of a story for my Elf Mage.

The whole thing became a little like The Life of Brian, but played straight, which made it even funnier.

Being THE Inquisitor for being THE Herald was silly, though. And it stopped being funny at exactly this point:



I was very protective of the Inquisition's people, as I'm sure you were, too. I try to tell them not to risk their lives, because frankly as a Knight Enchanter I could solo the whole of Thedas. I understood I couldn't be everywhere at once and needed them to fight some demons because Hold On Guys I'm OMW.

But I'd never have asked them to stand up for me in front of their families. That made me sadface.

Beautiful story because of letters like that, though. Being revered just makes me feel awkward, still.

 

Wait, that t*t Morriss is a racist...?

That would make him incompetent AND no better than Threnn, who's actually willing to work with people originating in Orlais in the first part of the game.

[KaiserShep]

It's not a big deal, I just don't like magic destiny things and chosen ones as much as more mundane alternatives. I'd prefer it if Grey Wardens were just expert Darkspawn fighters over having a special ability to kill Archdemons as well.

 

Thing is, the Grey Wardens just being expert darkspawn fighters doesn't really work in the long-run, because if it's just a matter of knowing how to fight them, then there's nothing particularly special about them at all and they would be no more useful than any elite soldiers a kingdom can possess, and in far greater numbers. No matter what, there would have to be something unique about the Wardens that sets them apart and justifies their continued existence, and I'm not even sure if treaties would really cut it, because entire nations can ally against a common threat to the same effect.

[Kuvira]

Considering Justinia's importance, it's kind of a safe assumption that her guards were killed in the process. You don't just waltz in and say "Hey, Justy, ya dig a stroll with me girl?"

 

True. But between Justinia howling for help and Coryfish monologing in a big ol' blighted meatsack while carrying an ancient elven vessel of immeasurable power...nobody's spidy senses were tingling?

 

That's like...my one quibble with the flashbacks. The Inquisitor should have looked like she came out of a horror movie, covered in blood from all the mages/templars slaughtered by darkspawn. 

[zeypher]

Look bioware tried the not chosen hero in 2 and people hated them for it. I personally like sotries where you are not the chosen one but bioware is good at doing these kind of stories or more like their fans seem to want these kind of stories. I suggest trying some obsidian or CDPR games for what you want and it is what i do as well.

[SardaukarElite]

Thing is, the Grey Wardens just being expert darkspawn fighters doesn't really work in the long-run, because if it's just a matter of knowing how to fight them, then there's nothing particularly special about them at all and they would be no more useful than any elite soldiers a kingdom can possess, and in far greater numbers. No matter what, there would have to be something unique about the Wardens that sets them apart and justifies their continued existence, and I'm not even sure if treaties would really cut it, because entire nations can ally against a common threat to the same effect.

 

Maybe, I can certainly understand that as the motivation for making them as they are.

 

I didn't say it but there's still the Taint immunity, anyone else's soldiers would risk getting sick just by fighting Darkspawn. I think there's a few ways you could do it, they're just one of several Darkspawn fighting orders, or they're the Chantry backed one.

 

At any rate, Origins had to wipe them out in Ferelden to make the plot go, and Inquisition did the same thing again for some reason. So maybe it makes more sense for Darkspawn Interpol to basically disappear between Blights.

[SpiritMuse]

Wait, that t*t Morriss is a racist...?
That would make him incompetent AND no better than Threnn, who's actually willing to work with people originating in Orlais in the first part of the game.

I'm pretty sure this is a letter written by Morris to someone in his family where he defends his work for the Inquisition. So, no, he's not the racist in this case.

[Serza]

I'm pretty sure this is a letter written by Morris to someone in his family where he defends his work for the Inquisition. So, no, he's not the racist in this case.

 

Point taken.

[wepeel_]

You can say that without the Warden Alistair might have done the same thing and without Hawke one of his siblings may have done the same thing; but to me that seems like saying that without the Inquisitor, someone else might have chanced into the room with the Divine instead. The game never explores those options but instead simply leaves you in control of the person who just happens to be in the right place at the right time and because of that ends up with a potential to make all the difference.

 

It's also worth noting that it is a potential, not a guarantee, and it's up to you to make something from it. Going through what the Inquisitor goes through over the course of the game and coming out on top again and again against the odds isn't merely because of the Anchor. If someone else had ended up with it instead, things may have turned out very differently.

 

Other than that, it's not like real-world "success stories" result from nothing but proper planning and hard work. To really make it big, the element of chance or being in the right place at the right time is a factor at least as important as talent, skill or dedication.

[Above Good and Evil]

Look bioware tried the not chosen hero in 2 and people hated them for it. I personally like sotries where you are not the chosen one but bioware is good at doing these kind of stories or more like their fans seem to want these kind of stories. I suggest trying some obsidian or CDPR games for what you want and it is what i do as well.

People's gripe with Hawke isn't that he wasn't chosen by fate but rather that he didn't really DO much of anything and/or failed when he tried. If the Inquisitor sat on his ass and did nothing he'd be exactly like Hawke regardless of the green glove he has. A good example of a person not chosen by fate is Shepard - Sure he becomes the first Human spectre, but no fate or God decided that and he spends the entire 2nd game technically a criminal so that calling is ignored. He's just the one who has the skills and dedication to fight the Reapers to the bitter end.