it is different, and a little awkward the first time around but I've gotten use to it, and can pass the mission within 20-30 minutes with over 100 approval.
But I understand why someone would hate it. It involves a lot of talking and choosing the "right" thing to say. It also rushes you in some parts. During my first PT, I was late to the ballroom all 3 times!
Is it too early to say this thread is a waste of time?
I mean, you have a mission that is less about combat and more about paying attention, has intrigue to it, a fair amount of complexity, and also serves a purpose for the narrative, something that even Origins didn't really have, or tried to do and it was fairly clunky, like the Landsmeet.
What's not to love about it, really?
But with the OP's choice of thread title: 'How To: Waste Time the BioWare Way'
this just looks like yet another whining troll thread.
lexity,
How inconceivable to have a sense of humor while being critical. Shame on me.
Did we play the same mission? What's complex about being frugal with halla statues, pulsing the search, and listening endlessly within highlighted circles on the ground?
In the same way that Twitter cannot convey a deep conversation,
a thread title struggles to convey humour, particularly when it contains none.
Humor is subjective. Don't know if anyone told you.
Sadly the title lacked a subject as well.
That mission was boring like everything in Orlais. Whatevah....
Sadly the title lacked a subject as well.
That mission was boring like everything in Orlais. Whatevah....
I did not much care for it, and unless you had already done it before, or were following someone Else's walk through, it does take some time to complete, what with trial, and error save's, and returning to those saves to fix what you messed up. (Of course many of you will say I never used a walk through, or I just did it the first time in only 1 hour, Whatever! )
As for the dance, as it was pretty much staged, I found the Dance, with Rinoa in final fantasy 8 much more satisfying, and story motivated, but it was the highlight of the whole thing for me, if there was a highlight.
But I think the most flustrating thing for me was the time limit, I re-loaded a save on that one many time's just to be sure I got every thing, and then was never sure, as I felt rushed, just to get back in time to be Fashionably late.
Nope just my opinion, and every one has one, but it was a messed up deal for me too.
Worst part is i thought finally a mission where i can actually gasp inquire and piece together who the assassin is. That is until the villain comes and announces to me im the villain.
Worst part is i thought finally a mission where i can actually gasp inquire and piece together who the assassin is. That is until the villain comes and announces to me im the villain.
To be fair it was obvious who it was from the get go.
I also like the fact that the villain does try to kill you so you don't interfere with her plans. Although she did the bond move and left before you were dead. But hey, such aspects are common anyway.
I hate this quest also. In fact I wish I could skip it a la "skip the fade" mod like DAO LOL.
There are, however, a few things/highlights that I enjoy but overall it is a giant fracking chore.
(I enjoyed the introduction to the ball with your party members, the convos with the advisors, the moment with your romance, and meeting key characters from the book The Masked Empire at last, and that is it.)
Is it too early to say this thread is a waste of time?
I mean, you have a mission that is less about combat and more about paying attention, has intrigue to it, a fair amount of complexity, and also serves a purpose for the narrative, something that even Origins didn't really have, or tried to do and it was fairly clunky, like the Landsmeet.
What's not to love about it, really?
Ah, the good old BioWare zealots. OP is bringing up a valid point and he/she is a "troll/whining"
Paying attention? What are you paying attention to? Walking from a red circle zone to a red circle zone and picking the middle dialogue option each time? Then the idiot villain reveals itself and you get to pick from 3 generic leaders, on whom we have very little info? Oh wait, and the choice does not matter.
"Wicked Hearts" made me feel stupid and it make me feel that BioWare thinks that its fans are stupid. Here you have a great opportunity to make a investigative quest, where you act as an inquisitor (see what I did there?) and have to piece the evidence together to frame the assassin. Instead, you are pretty much told which dialogue options to pick, you walk from a red circle to another and the idiot villains reveals her plan to the only entity in the palace who can stop her and then leaves her minions to kill him/her. I had to face palm myself so many times during this level. Such a missed opportunity.
I like the fact that diverse types of quests exist in games like this, even if the visit to Halamshiral was not to my taste. What really irks me though is when these quests are a compulsory part of the main questline mostly because they are complete roleplay killers. You have to go there and sweet-talk the court with middle dialogue options, dance and wear a horrible outfit. If your inquisitor would object to any of these things, too bad, you get kicked out and have to start over again. There should have been alternatives and it could even have tied in with supporting factions in the Exalted Plains instead of it being so disconnected from the main plot.
The only thing my Lavellan inquisitor enjoyed about the experience of sucking up to human nobles in a city they stole from her ancestors was getting to utter the line "I beat you all at your grand game. You work for me now." (Even if it didn't feel like that in subsequent dialogue related to the events.)
Is it too early to say this thread is a waste of time?
I mean, you have a mission that is less about combat and more about paying attention, has intrigue to it, a fair amount of complexity, and also serves a purpose for the narrative, something that even Origins didn't really have, or tried to do and it was fairly clunky, like the Landsmeet.
What's not to love about it, really?
But it really isnt that. Theres still a fair amount of combat but it's in a timed area and you have to remember to put all your gear back on before engaging enemies. Intrigue...eh, I dunno. Most of the intrigue is if you read the book. Its not complex unless you consider always chosing middle dialouge option and looking up a Halla statue map online complex. Any complexity is because of bad quest design like with the locket where its hidden behind a locked door and then you have to bring it up in a specific order. Other than the combat theres nothing that really couldnt have been done with just a long cut scene.
Yeah, that's the only bad thing in my opinion: not wearing a mask.
If I got to wear a mask I'd rate it a 15 out of 10
I doubt they would insult someone like the Hearld of Andraste, since I think that would be likely political sucide.Yeah, it made no sense! Especially given how Leliana and Josephine go on and on about how one minor mistake can cause dire consequences in "The Game". Even servants wear masks. Seemed odd to me that you'd forgo such a huge tradition in the court-- I am always expecting some masked noble sauntering up to me and smacking me in the face with a glove and calling me out for daring to shun their mask wearing politic.
The exhausting thing about threads like this is that I feel compelled to comment to counter the OP's vote in some informal poll.
Dear Bioware, I loved this quest. I also like: games with bitter-sweet endings; games where my protagonist dies in the end; protagonists who can't always save their loved ones and are victims of fate etc.
Yeah, it made no sense! Especially given how Leliana and Josephine go on and on about how one minor mistake can cause dire consequences in "The Game". Even servants wear masks. Seemed odd to me that you'd forgo such a huge tradition in the court-- I am always expecting some masked noble sauntering up to me and smacking me in the face with a glove and calling me out for daring to shun their mask wearing politic.
Wasn't there a codex that outsiders arent expected to wear masks? I could swear I read or heard that somewhere. I would like to get slapped by a noble. Then I could cut of their hand and ask them if they understand the rules of The Game I'm playing.
I doubt they would insult someone like the Hearld of Andraste, since I think that would be likely political sucide.
That mission was boring like everything in Orlais. Whatevah....
Completely OT, but the hair style on your profile picture, the things I'd do so I can use it in game 
1-That mission was badly done.
2-It did Briala, Celene and Gaspard dirty.
3-It wasted Vivianne, a character crafted to shine in this very scenario.
4-For a non combative mission, it doesn't offer anything interesting to do. Limited Halla statues, seriously?! Oh no, I can only open so many doors...
5-Worst of all, it has no impact in this game, not even this mission since the decision is made in the end and we all know won't affect the next one.
Numbered your points because you just unfairly threw this amazing quest under the bus.
1- No. Will expand on that later.
2- All 3 of them were ALWAYS dirty, Ghaspard has always been vying for the throne, even made a coop so he can get it. He always wants to invade Orlais soo. Celene would do anything to keep her throne, she had elves slaughtered- a whole alienage infact, all part of that stupid 'game'. Briala was a spy and assassin under Celene's commands, she's also done a number of atrocities. Simply put, all three of them ARE dirty, it's up to you to decide which is best.
3- Aside from not wearing a dress, I really don't see what else could Vivienne have done, she had her place, she had her opinion and her fair share of dialogue, she's not in the position to make any decision for you.
4- Well not only do you get to engage in the Game, which by itself is an interesting experience. You also get to dance with the assassin you later get the option to kill or spare and turn her into your jester. You also dig up dirt on every leader which showed just how awful they all are. And yeah halla statues are limited, it's not like you're in a halla statue musuem.
5- That is the single funniest thing I've ever read in my life. No impact? Are you for real? Let me give you an example, when Ghaspard becomes emperor you get wartable missions that allow you to have him move his troops from Fereldan borders, forging peace, to Tevinter borders (which gets recognized in the ending slides.)
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