37 réponses à ce sujet

[Wuartz]

After finishing my second playthrough of Dragon Age Inquisition, it got me thinking why I did it. The gameplay is pretty good, but the tactical RPG genre isn't my favourite type of game. It hit me soon though, that what I love about Bioware games are the characters. All nine squadmates from Inquisition are amazing (even Sera has her moments), and the huge, developed cast from the Mass Effect series is incredible.
 

This leaves me excited for the next Mass Effect game, and what characters Bioware will create next. Here's a list of my personal examples of character arcs I would like to see in the future.

 

• A squadmate goes through a complete change of perspective on life, and it's personality changes.
  A common thing I notice with Bioware games is that the characters often have their arcs done the moment you meet them. They have the same personality throughout the game, so the lines the characters say make sense at any point of the game.
  
  It would be interesting to see if Bioware can change this. Make a grumpy, bitter character go through something that makes him/her happier. Or vice versa, a jolly character loses everything, and becomes dark. The Dragon Age series does this to some extent with Alistair and Leliana, so it would be interesting to see it in Mass Effect as well.
   
• Character dealing with depression and suicide, and a way to fix it.
  Okay, to make this clear, this is NOT to make things more dramatic. Depression is a common thing in our lives that many have felt. It could happened to anyone, which makes it scary but relatable topic.
  
  What if a character during the story become depressed and asks the player to help them with a personal problem. If the player chooses to ignore the squadmate's request, there's a chance the squadmate will kill himself/herself without the player having any chance of saving them. But if the player helps them, the character will overcome their depression and be more positive in the end.
  
  I think this could have a big impact on people, that ignoring hurt people, not just renegade options.
   
• From uninteresting, to a vital character.
  Another thing you notice is how some characters are put in the sidelines, while others have lines all the time. Some good examples of this is Miranda/Liara from Mass Effect, and Morrigan/Alistair/Varric/Cassandra in Dragon Age.
  
  A good surprise would be that you meet a typical wildcard character that doesn't seem to have any depths other then being badass (Grunt/Zaeed/Iron Bull). He/she is there, providing the guns and the muscles, saying some fun lines here and there. Then, in the end, it turns out they are extremely important to the story, and have a huge role in the ending. Maybe they are the key to solving the problem? Or they turn out to be one of the main villains?

 

These are just some of my examples. Do you agree, and have anything to add yourselves?

[guntar74]

As long as I dont have to deal with anybodys family issues again...I really wanted to hire a therapist for the normandy so when they starting whining about that stuff I could just direct them there...Now I enjoyed mass effect 2 and its cast but really....Tali dad issues, Jacob dad issues, Miranda dad/sister issues, Samara daughter issues...thane son issues... So ya stop that lol. Also no more ice queens or hardasses turning out to be giant softees...

 

I do like your first example. In knights of the old republic 2 I thought the influence system was nice how you could make people kinda go light or dark. And it could actually enable unique party member cutscenes depending on what those lvls were, and you could see how it affected their personality a bit throught the game. Also changing the appearance of the character was a nice little touch as well.

 

I'm ok with your third example as long as it doesnt come out of nowhere to simply give you that "shocking" moment and actually makes sense.

 

Now as far as what i'd like to see....I always like being able to see a bad guy join up and actually stay a bad guy. Not suddenly join the team and see the errors of their ways, and hell sometimes even convince you to maybe rethink your role or ideals. I think It gets a little stale when its always your character convincing or changing everybodys opinions, let them have the ability to do that for me every once and a while.

 

Other than that I'm up for any new arcs they havent explored with characters before.

[Rivverrabbit]

I think the idea of having a villain of sorts on the team is pretty rad. It'd be cool to have them reveal their hand partway through, betraying players and escaping, and then you have to maybe hunt them down -- and your eventual revenge would be fueled by that betrayal. Or maybe it could be a "good" character who disagrees with you and breaks away to become an antagonist.

[Mcfly616]

Batarian (ex-slaver). 

[Vazgen]

I think the idea of having a villain of sorts on the team is pretty rad. It'd be cool to have them reveal their hand partway through, betraying players and escaping, and then you have to maybe hunt them down -- and your eventual revenge would be fueled by that betrayal. Or maybe it could be a "good" character who disagrees with you and breaks away to become an antagonist.

^This

For England, James ?
No. For me.

[Kynare]

Pretty much agree with everything you said. The one thing I've always loved the most with Bioware games is the impression that you can influence the people around you. Influencing the story is one thing, and a bit hard to satisfy all possible choices (as evident with ME) but influencing your companions is something completely possible and just as rewarding. When you think about it, some of Bioware's most favorite characters are the ones who you are able to influence the most.

 

Alistair = harden or remain unhardened following his interaction with Goldanna

Garrus = encourage to go renegade (Spectre) or paragon (C-Sec)

 

So yeah, more character arcs that your character can take part in? Absolutely.

 

 

I think the idea of having a villain of sorts on the team is pretty rad. It'd be cool to have them reveal their hand partway through, betraying players and escaping, and then you have to maybe hunt them down -- and your eventual revenge would be fueled by that betrayal. Or maybe it could be a "good" character who disagrees with you and breaks away to become an antagonist.

 

I actually wished they went that way with the VS. I remember before playing ME3, I saw a video spoiler on Youtube titled "Killing Kaidan" and I was like *GASP*! wondering what he did to deserve to be killed. And my mind jumped to alllll sorts of possibilities, like perhaps you stayed loyal to Cerberus in ME3 and ended up with the VS as your enemy and having to kill them. The emotional roller coaster that would have been for me...

 

I honestly do not mind interpersonal drama one bit. Take my favorite character and turn them against me. That's secretly what I desire in a story. 

[Rivverrabbit]

Yeah, I hope they wouldn't be afraid to do it because of the butthurt it might cause re: folks mad they lost a squadmate (but if you gained a squadmate shortly thereafter, that'd be alright. I'd be okay if you didn't, though, too; it'd make the betrayal that much worse).

[Mcfly616]

How about a squadmate that is an undercover Spectre. Being the eyes and ears of the Council and relaying mission progress to them. But it's only revealed towards the later parts of the game. Making the player feel conflicted towards them. As if they're a spy.

[Pasquale1234]

It'd probably be best if the traitor squadmate was not an LI.

The butthurt would be phenomenal.

[Mcfly616]

It'd probably be best if the traitor squadmate was not an LI.

The butthurt would be phenomenal.

 I really hope that fan service isn't in their thought process this time around. I want the devs to maximize their creativity. And damn it, I think it'd be totally awesome if some space babe swindled and seduced me, only for me to find out her true motivations. Then I could gun her down or try to turn her.

[Rivverrabbit]

DRAGON AGE INQUISITION SPOILERS

Players who romanced Solas got a pretty big surprise when he "betrays" them. And while this happens at the end of the game, and we don't know his real motivations as the Dread Wolf, or how that will all play out, the impact of that moment was awesome.

I think they could do it, definitely. Screw the butthurt. It'd be amazing. Gamers ****** and moan about ME3's endings (choices didn't have consequences! waaah!), then in MENext a love interest betrays you halfway through, and they'll complain just as hard. So if they're going to complain no matter what, why not maximize your artistic potential and tell a really rad story?

[guntar74]

Indeed. And if that characters betrayal is strong enough to actually get people pissed off, it means you did a good job writting them and got the player attached. Unless it make no sense and you just did it because, hey why not?, then ya thats a bad pissed off lol dont do that. But ya I feel if my character gets cheated, swindled or seduced by somebody than there needs to be some consequences for falling for it and not just easily resolve the issue with nothing going wrong.

[SNascimento]

About betrayals, Tali gave classified Alliance technology to the Migrant Fleet, but I can't remember something more, although I have the feeling I'm forgeting something. I was hoping Miranda could maybe side with Cerberus in ME3, alas she among many other squadamtes were on the train to the butcher shop. All that said, we did have the chance to betray a Wrex big time. That, from a purely interactive storytelling perspective, was utterly awesome. Well, Tuchanka arc was the pinnacle of Mass Effecte after all. 

[fraggle]

I would love to have things like these. There were some pretty cool minor changes with some characters already (as well as the "they can leave you" part), but it's never been done in a really big way.

 

I would love if they tried something like you guys said, because if it evokes any emotion in the player, it's great! Though I can also imagine the butthurt and whining from fans. Not everyone would like it (but screw them ).

[Kynare]

Indeed. And if that characters betrayal is strong enough to actually get people pissed off, it means you did a good job writting them and got the player attached. Unless it make no sense and you just did it because, hey why not?, then ya thats a bad pissed off lol dont do that. But ya I feel if my character gets cheated, swindled or seduced by somebody than there needs to be some consequences for falling for it and not just easily resolve the issue with nothing going wrong.

 

Like Morinth?

 

I'm not sure if they just did it for the hell of it, but it certainly should have been expected. That scene made me laugh my butt off.

[Winterking]

 I really hope that fan service isn't in their thought process this time around. I want the devs to maximize their creativity. And damn it, I think it'd be totally awesome if some space babe swindled and seduced me, only for me to find out her true motivations. Then I could gun her down or try to turn her.

You know, I once saw someone suggest that instead of Kai Leng being your Nemesis in ME3, that role should've been filled by Miranda Lawson. 

 

It would've been much better than the space ninja despite the expected rage of mirimancers. 

[fraggle]

You know, I once saw someone suggest that instead of Kai Leng being your Nemesis in ME3, that role should've been filled by Miranda Lawson. 

 

It would've been much better than the space ninja despite the expected rage of mirimancers. 

 

Ooooh, I would've liked that! Intriguing.

[Mcfly616]

Yeah, that would've made me a lot more interested in her character.

[SwobyJ]

I like all three of your suggestions, OP.

 

I do want a character to go 'completely' different throughout the game. We've never seen that in a Bioware game (at least not lately, I mean), as things generally still snap into a place, or just change a strong aspect of the character. Never actually a whole other way of seeing life. Or if we did (EDI?), it isn't shown to a degree that seems to make a difference. I'd like Bioware to really go ALL OUT on choice-consequence with ONE party member. Let us share stories about how unique we made that experience while playing!

 

Depression/suicide can be very hard to do properly. But I still want it to happen. I want Bioware to, fail or succeed, try at maturely telling this kind of story. I felt like they tried to touch aspects of this kind of thing with characters like, I dunno, Jack and Javik and such, but key word here is 'touch'. And for those two cases, Jack IMO was done crudely overall, and Javik was good but still a rather side aspect to things.

I think Bioware is trying to be ready to tell this kind of story, but in this medium, all sorts of things can go wrong with it.

When I read the 'Mass Shift' rumor that the Virmire Survivor becomes suicidal and I matched that to concept are of a standoff between the VS and a Reaper Augmented Shepard (tho he looked like Leng, so I dunno), I painted the picture in my head of a VS who is just utterly wrecked by losing X (Shepard, galaxy, I dunno - lost a lot, basically).

 

Uninteresting-to-Vital is great sometimes because it rewards those who paid attention, while triggering those who didn't pay attention to look back and find out what they missed. I approve of it, and I'd like at least one NME character to be like this. Though I'm thinking more like a certain character in DAI, as my case example...

 

 

 

Aside from that, I have a couple other concepts I'd love:

 

1)Aliens that we know of, but haven't had in combat before. Challenge expectations. Yes, this means Hanar/Elcor/Volus. Convince us that these guys could even be in battle. Give them a seriousness that we somehow don't regard as forced, but instead a fresh take on things... while still giving us a lot of laughs.

 

2)An AI that doesn't just make us see things in a new way (Legion, EDI), but instead, now that we largely have seen things in the new way by now (even those who still consider all AI to be buckets of bolts), open us to all of the possibilities of the future of AI - including the terrible ones. We're done with the Reapers, but I want the ghost of their actions to show itself in some direct, but many indirect ways. Personally, I'm not done with AI and I don't think Bioware is either, but I do want a fresh take on it in every game, not stagnant like a "Oh, we dealt with that before"

 

3)A character that illustrates the dark secrets that still exist in the galaxy, perhaps even including the species we 'thought we knew'. This is a theme I'd love the whole game to carry, but I'd like at least one squad character have it as their focus. We fought for a united galaxy in ME3, but we had all these hints in the background that these species of a united galaxy were simply not necessarily worth saving (if we take it to the super large scale at least). If we have Salarians, showcase their insane experiments and intentions. If we have Asari, reveal something terrible about their pre-spacefaring past. If we have Turians, show how they may take any measures to establish an order over a growing chaos around them. If we have Volus, have them end up exceptionally successful in the resulting ME3 power/economic vacuum and maybe even in a good way, but also show what some of them may become when allowed to dominate so much of the galaxy's workings and perhaps technology, and how greed can spoil such a good thing. Etc.

 

These are just concepts, to be clear.

[Abraham_uk]

You know what I'd like to see?

 

Random number generators being implemented.

 

That's right. The exact same action could have 2 or more possible outcomes.

The game rolls the figurative dice every time you make a decision.

Adds a bit of chaos and unpredictability to the proceedings.

[SwobyJ]

You know what I'd like to see?

 

Random number generators being implemented.

 

That's right. The exact same action could have 2 or more possible outcomes.

The game rolls the figurative dice every time you make a decision.

Adds a bit of chaos and unpredictability to the proceedings.

 

And hatred, as everyone just reloads over and over.

[ZergRush]

• Character dealing with depression and suicide, and a way to fix it.

 

Honestly, I don't believe suicide would be a good theme to feature on a videogame. We have seen characters with deep personal issues and mental illness signs in ME before, and I think it's good, to at least raise awareness on the subject. But I really wouldn't like to see they go down the depths of suicide. Just an opinion, though.

 

Back to OP's question, I would like to be presented with a life-or-death moral dillema at some pivotal point of the gameplot, that could lead to totally different outcomes at the end. Something like SW:KotOR, but not necessarily involving the PC him/herself.

[SwobyJ]

Honestly, I don't believe suicide would be a good theme to feature on a videogame. We have seen characters with deep personal issues and mental illness signs in ME before, and I think it's good, to at least raise awareness on the subject. But I really wouldn't like to see they go down the depths of suicide. Just an opinion, though.

 

Back to OP's question, I would like to be presented with a life-or-death moral dillema at some pivotal point of the gameplot, that could lead to totally different outcomes at the end. Something like SW:KotOR, but not necessarily involving the PC him/herself.

 

Except that time that guy killed himself in ME1. Or that other guy.

 

Though yeah yeah, I know what you mean. The more clear depression-suicide.

[ForgottenWarrior]

I don't want to see old characters, get rid of them already, their time has gone.

Make Tabula Rasa, i ask nothing more.

[SwobyJ]

I don't want to see old characters, get rid of them already, their time has gone.

Make Tabula Rasa, i ask nothing more.

 

You take that back.

 

Muh Tricia Helfer.