I like to play the race which (in my opinion) has the better story. In DAO it was human for me, so I played as a human and that was my canon Warden. For DAI I think female elf fits the story best, so I play as an elf.
If in DA4 I feel that the dwarf/qunari is the most relevant, I will play as that race.
When I play I usually try to play myself. It doesn't need to be in aesthetic, but in decisions. So human is the natural choice for me, but I also like to experiment with all different races.
This statement is what doesn't make sense. The Inquisitor literally blundered into the ritual and caught the rolling glowy ball. Is blundering solely a human activity?It really doesnt make much sense for the Inquisitor to not be human.
My memory is fuzzy, but doesn't it say for the non human races that they basically observed the meeting from a distance? And that human Inquisitor was the only one with actual permission to be there? Which raises questions on how a non-human Inquisitor got there before anyone else?
This statement is what doesn't make sense. The Inquisitor literally blundered into the ritual and caught the rolling glowy ball. Is blundering solely a human activity?
I agree that whole situation makes it possible for any race/gender to be the inquisitor. I know people would've liked a more Origins type of beginning, I do too. All inquisitors regardless of race or gender are too much alike personality wise. They need to change up the dialogue a bit for each race and not say the same exact things. I figured there would be a slight difference in how the American voice responded, but the British voices say exactly the same things. The British voices deliver the lines so much better IMO.
And the game does seem more human oriented at times, dialogue alone seems more human oriented. You think a dwarf or Qunari would be able to talk so proper at Halamshiral. A Qunari I figure would be more stoic and monotone. A dwarf would have a little more grit to what they say especially being a Carta spy. And I can't at playing a Dalish elf who is completely oblivious to many elven things in the Temple of Mythal. I facepalmed when my dalish elf said "Could Eluvian translate into Well of Sorrows?" Or correct me if I'm wrong are Eluvians not well known to some clans? Either way there is still lots of elven things that a Dalish inquisitor should have known that Solas has to educate them about throughout the game. I would understand if they were a city elf. Also every single race happens to know how to perfectly dance whatever Orlesian/noble dance you have with Florianne? A human noble would be the only one to really know to dance this over the rest of the races.
Eluvians are not well known, no. The keeper in Origins had never heard of one, they didn't know what they did, and it took a Circle mage to tell them that they were communication devices (which was also wrong). There are one or two miscues in the Temple which are scripting errors. It happens.
Why not play as human? Yeah, the game offers elves, dwarves, and qunari, but if you want to play as human, you can.
A lot of folks really push the "Humans are boring" angle... but that's like saying "Vanilla ice cream is boring." All that means is that you've never had really good vanilla ice cream. Vanilla is distilled from rare orchid blossoms. It's one of the most expensive spices in the world, and its fragrance is a known aphrodisiac. Wars have been fought over vanilla beans. That's hardly boring! I mean yeah, mint chip is my favorite, but mint grows everywhere. Vanilla is exotic. Ultimately, it's a matter of preference.
Trevelyan's backstory is just as interesting as Lavellan's or Cadash's, IMO. I guess it's just easier for some people to use their imagination about characters whose physical shape is different than they are used to.
Story fits better with a human.
They get better armor.
But I've played an elf and qunari too.
Honestly thought the story fit better with a Dalish elf. With Mythal and the Well of Sorrows etc.
but yeah humans do get better armor
First, experience has taught me that stories are usually written with the assumption of a human character, so I tend to prefer playing a human simply to dodge immersion-breaking moments of forced ignorance about my non-human protagonist's own culture ... and because only having significant cultural/physical/social status differences acknowledged once in a blue moon makes playing a non-human in a human-dominated setting feel pointless.
Second, I really wanted to roleplay a devout but open-minded Andrastian, so the Trevelyan background was the perfect fit even before the game smacked me over the head with the delightful "Herald of Andraste" business. Engaging with the implications of that for my character -- isn't it blasphemy to even hope it's true? what if it is true and I fail not only my people but also a mandate from my god? etc. -- fascinated me, even though the game failed to really bring it to life.
Third, I found the non-humans' reason to be at the Conclave pretty dubious, because it makes zero sense to me that a bunch of random and potentially hostile/criminal yokels would even be allowed within a three-mile radius of this colossally important and high-risk event, nevermind within immediate reach of the Divine herself. Also, the entire mage/templar war and future of the Chantry issue speaks much more to a human character right off the bat, even before the "Herald of Andraste" issue comes into play. I like to play characters who make the most sense to me in terms of feeling connected to the story -- in a dwarf-focused story, I'd most likely jump on a dwarf character.
Fourth, while I dislike the scrawny female human model, at least it doesn't look totally wrong like the "starving babyteen" elves or the "basically short humans but still-cute because that's apparently the most important thing about a woman" dwarves. (At least the male dwarves get a more distinct look with kind of cruder, heavier features, big noses and all.)
Haven't read through all of this, but I don't really get it as well. I never started a Dragon Age game (except DA2, duh) with a human as all the other races were always much more interesting to me. Non-mage humans are always just very similar, mostly have some kind of noble origin and live their lives as our ancestors did in the past.
Dwarves, Elves and Qunari have that whole different culture which is great to experience when other NPCs react to you.
I do understand the motivation to play as a human at some time. Might be for some character concepts one made or just to experience the difference.
Because most of us relate to being human. So we also play a human.
However my fav character is the city elf I created in Origins. I also created a human in Origins but I preferred the city elf more.
If it was trendy to hate on elves as its currently trendy to hate on anything related to humans people would do it.
Actually, I often get the impression that it is very trendy to hate on elves -- maybe not here, but definitely in many fandoms/games/settings. It's funny in a way because the things that the elves are accused of are usually at least as true for humans, but because we are humans, that's somehow fine. For example: elves are Mary Sues! ... when actually they're usually broken remnants whose time is long over while now the humans dominate everything, can do anything and usually better than anyone else too, are equally feared, admired and envied by all the other races, and are somehow the diplomatic mediators whose leadership everyone obeys and respects because they're just that awesome. Hello hypocrisy! 
Actually, I often get the impression that it is very trendy to hate on elves -- maybe not here, but definitely in many fandoms/games/settings. It's funny in a way because the things that the elves are accused of are usually at least as true for humans, but because we are humans, that's somehow fine. For example: elves are Mary Sues! ... when actually they're usually broken remnants whose time is long over while now the humans dominate everything, can do anything and usually better than anyone else too, are equally feared, admired and envied by all the other races, and are somehow the diplomatic mediators whose leadership everyone obeys and respects because they're just that awesome. Hello hypocrisy!
I haven't seen ANYbody call elves from DA Mary Sues. A particular character who happens to BE an elf might be a Sue, but elves as a whole are not Sues. That was kind of the entire point behind the elves in DAI, that they aren't the typical "pretty young people who are better than all other races" that they are in other fantasy (like LotR elves, who are perfect and can do no wrong).
In any game where I'm given the option to play another race, I will always play as another race - unless they are all ugly.
In DA, For both Origins and Inquisition, my first playthrough was an elf. For Origins, my 2nd and 3rd playthroughs were also as elves, because there were three different origins where you could be an elf. My 2nd Inquisitor was a human because I had already done the elf story and wanted to see a different perspective.
I haven't seen ANYbody call elves from DA Mary Sues. A particular character who happens to BE an elf might be a Sue, but elves as a whole are not Sues. That was kind of the entire point behind the elves in DAI, that they aren't the typical "pretty young people who are better than all other races" that they are in other fantasy (like LotR elves, who are perfect and can do no wrong).
....
There's an entire book dedicated to all the wrongs the Tolkien elves can do.
....
There's an entire book dedicated to all the wrongs the Tolkien elves can do.
'Can do' is decidedly different than 'actually do'.
Yeah, as I said maybe it's not true here but definitely in many other places. Elves can make for popular bait for sexist or homophobic slurs, too, sadly.
Why not play as human? Yeah, the game offers elves, dwarves, and qunari, but if you want to play as human, you can.
A lot of folks really push the "Humans are boring" angle... but that's like saying "Vanilla ice cream is boring." All that means is that you've never had really good vanilla ice cream. Vanilla is distilled from rare orchid blossoms. It's one of the most expensive spices in the world, and its fragrance is a known aphrodisiac. Wars have been fought over vanilla beans. That's hardly boring! I mean yeah, mint chip is my favorite, but mint grows everywhere. Vanilla is exotic. Ultimately, it's a matter of preference.
Trevelyan's backstory is just as interesting as Lavellan's or Cadash's, IMO. I guess it's just easier for some people to use their imagination about characters whose physical shape is different than they are used to.
You are making me really want a bowl of ice cream.
Actually, I often get the impression that it is very trendy to hate on elves -- maybe not here,
Oh, definitely here.
'Can do' is decidedly different than 'actually do'.
I guess I shouldn't have used the words "can do."
Tolkien elves actually DID a whole lot of horrible things. The Silmarillion is one elven **** up after another, all resulting frm their pride and greed.
Why don't you play human?
If there is a choice to play the other races, I will never play human for the simple reason that I already am one in real life. Furthermore, I play role playing games in order to role play characters, never to self insert in them, Playing as a human leads me down a slippery slope of self insertion which then ends up with me taking what is effectively an interactive entertainment, too seriously and and too personally.
Here are my main characters for a few fantasy games out there.
1) Dragon Age :- Male Dwarf Rogue and Female Elf Mage-Warrior.
2) Dungeons & Dragons :- Male High Elf Arcane Trickster Wizard and Female Dragonborn Paladin Bard.
3) Elder Scrolls :- Male Argonian Nightblade & Female Orc Battlemage.
Typical character alignments :- Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Good, True Neutral.
First, experience has taught me that stories are usually written with the assumption of a human character, so I tend to prefer playing a human simply to dodge immersion-breaking moments of forced ignorance about my non-human protagonist's own culture ... and because only having significant cultural/physical/social status differences acknowledged once in a blue moon makes playing a non-human in a human-dominated setting feel pointless.
Second, I really wanted to roleplay a devout but open-minded Andrastian, so the Trevelyan background was the perfect fit even before the game smacked me over the head with the delightful "Herald of Andraste" business. Engaging with the implications of that for my character -- isn't it blasphemy to even hope it's true? what if it is true and I fail not only my people but also a mandate from my god? etc. -- fascinated me, even though the game failed to really bring it to life.
Third, I found the non-humans' reason to be at the Conclave pretty dubious, because it makes zero sense to me that a bunch of random and potentially hostile/criminal yokels would even be allowed within a three-mile radius of this colossally important and high-risk event, nevermind within immediate reach of the Divine herself. Also, the entire mage/templar war and future of the Chantry issue speaks much more to a human character right off the bat, even before the "Herald of Andraste" issue comes into play. I like to play characters who make the most sense to me in terms of feeling connected to the story -- in a dwarf-focused story, I'd most likely jump on a dwarf character.
Fourth, while I dislike the scrawny female human model, at least it doesn't look totally wrong like the "starving babyteen" elves or the "basically short humans but still-cute because that's apparently the most important thing about a woman" dwarves. (At least the male dwarves get a more distinct look with kind of cruder, heavier features, big noses and all.)
Vanilla ice cream is good once in a while but after a time it gets sickening, at least for me. I have always preffered a mix of chocolate and vanilla when it comes to my ice creams.
The Female Elf in game looks fine, it is only the Male Elf that suffer with broken arms. The Dwarves in Inquisition look like how Dwarves have always looked.
I mean Dwarves and Elves are different species. As such one can assume, and rightfully so, that these species age and look quite different than humans.
The idea that Elves = Starving Babyteen & Female Dwarves = Short & Cute....Comes from a human centric point of view...A point of view that while does lay a solid foundation, is ultimately restrictive and constrictive.
I would actually say the entire notion of human-centric viewpoint in Thedas is laughably foolish given the fact that Elves and Dwarves settled on Thedas first. This is in fact true in many fantasy realms. So shouldn't it be Humans = big bulky freaks who get old and grow hair everywhere ?
Double ability points at level 2.
Played a dwarf in origins because of that OP racial passive and played a Human in this game because I love having an extra ability point.
Double ability points at level 2.
Played a dwarf in origins because of that OP racial passive and played a Human in this game because I love having an extra ability point.
The ability point becomes irrelevant since you can get up to 5 extra ability points in game for the Inquisitor and you can duplicate an Amulet of power if you wish.
You however, cannot duplicate 25% ranged defense and that includes all ranged defense, 25% magic defense and melee defense.
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