270 réponses à ce sujet

[Ieldra]

You can't avoid that really, since they've already gone that direction. A lot of the human nations in Thedas are inspired by real ones. Be it Britain, France, etc.. Same with religion. And as a general rule, Gaider said he imagined Thedas in somewhat realistic terms. "What I eventually settled on was a setting grounded in realism. What if our own history had magic and elves and dwarves? How might Christianity be different, if, instead of Jesus, it had been founded by Joan of Arc?...."

 

There are ways to go about making a truly alien fantasy setting, and this is far from it. They didn't take that route at all. And he was coming from D&D.. he wanted something more realistic than that.

All I'm saying is that creating one culture or ethnicity inspired by a real-world one in your fictional world does not incur an obligation to create another one, and I resent the implication that it does. Fictional worlds may be inspired by the real one, but they have their own identities. 

[JJDXB]

I'd find a culture inspired by the Khmer Empire awesome, simply because such things are so rarely made. However, you'd have to find a place for it on the atlas of the fictional world, and it would need to be a remote place because otherwise you can't answer the question "Why haven't we heard of it before" in a plausible way. It would also need an identity of its own within the cultural landscape of the fictional world, and it would need to be different enough from the original that served as the inspiration as a part of that identity. I consider these things primary, and representation secondary. Thedas is not Earth and does not need to look like it, not in ethnicities, not in religions, not in anything. Make the whole world look Asian, or Black, or whatever, I don't care, but let the world have its own identity and remain untainted by real-world identity politics as much as possible.

 

I suppose it's not just about the culture for me, but it's also the physical appearance.  When 'Asians' are included in western RPGs, we just end up with vaguely East Asian looking people, never anyone looking Western, Southern or South East Asian.  It's not so much representation, but it's the fact the representation is so skewed.  Thankfully Dorian at least confirms that Indo-Aryan looking people exist in Thedas, but if OP wants more Asians, I'd very much prefer if, for once, we didn't just have Japanese/Chinese.

 

EDIT: what I'm trying to say is that it's not that I am arguing for more representation per se, but that some people's request for more representation is very narrow and, well, unrepresentative.

[Winged Silver]

I think there's a lot of room for Asian inspired cultures, though in what form we'll see them remains to be seen. I'd be interested in seeing how they go about it, if they do. Asian influence in high fantasy style games seems rather rare (in my limited experience). It'd be a neat way to expand DA's horizons without retreading over other material that's been touched upon before. But I suppose we shall see.

[animedreamer]

I feel conflicted about this, as was mentioned already, adding real world ethnicities simply to crossover real world diversity is very and obvious to many forced. Shoehorning any real world cultures is already pushing it as is in a fantasy setting. Why be so specific about adding "Asian" specific cultures and people? It's a fantasy setting, why not ask for some NEW Original cultures and races?

 

At least three people including myself have suggested in other threads they open the floodgates and embrace a few new races and flesh out diverse people in the world of Dragon Age. In all three i think a overwhelming consensus was "I think we have enough races and cultures for them to work with." yet, here we are asking for yet another subgroup of humans simply because the HR Gods are saying that not every possible human culture/ethnicity has been represented in DA, that's elitists. 

 

Hey, if they said tomorrow that they're adding a expansion that caters to the demand for Asiatic cultures running from ancient China to feudal Japan, to Thailand I'd say "Alright whatever lets wait and see." but what's the difference between a human based on a Chinese or Japanese man/woman, and a say Tiger man/woman who embodied the same cultural cues? (Other than this example using the Elder Scrolls Khajiit.) 

 

in short, sure ask for more real world inspired cultures but at least try and make it fantastical to actually fit into a largely if not entirely fantasy world. Maybe they look like humanoid Ermines, I know I'd rather see a humanoid Ermine than Bruce Lee and Katie Chung fantasy edition. 

 

 

Ermine Lee is best Martial Artist Ever!

 

 

Ermine Chung is the fastest scribe in all the eastern Thedasian world!

[X Equestris]

If they can fit it organically into the lore, I think it would be a great idea. Perhaps someone from the Donarks or something.

[Farangbaa]

Why does it have to fit in the lore?

Just add someone who looks Asian. They don't have to explain why he looks like that.

They don't explain why Elves have pointy ears either, I don't see why they'd have to explain why some random dude looks Asian.

[Grieving Natashina]

Why does it have to fit in the lore?

Just add someone who looks Asian. They don't have to explain why he looks like that.

They don't explain why Elves have pointy ears either, I don't see why they'd have to explain why some random dude looks Asian.

<pops in>

 

BioWare themselves have said that they aren't going to throw in different real world races "just because."  This means that, in order for BioWare to do it, there has to be a lore reason for it.  For once, it isn't the BSN adding that stipulation.

[animedreamer]

If they can fit it organically into the lore, I think it would be a great idea. Perhaps someone from the Donarks or something.

 

Hmm, 

 

That's another thing, Lore wise we've seen pretty much the majority I think of the styles and influences of Southern Thedas. I mean seriously after 10 years if there were asianic textiles and manners of dress around I'd think they'd have made their way south by now. Is there a western or eastern thedas that isn't connected to the continent we've explored thus far? If so maybe they can be found there, but you'd think with all the sailing the Antivans do, they'd have discovered such a place already have been into heavy trade there.

[Ieldra]

Why does it have to fit in the lore?

Just add someone who looks Asian. They don't have to explain why he looks like that.

They don't explain why Elves have pointy ears either, I don't see why they'd have to explain why some random dude looks Asian.

Some person doesn't randomly look Asian. For that to occur, you'll have to have a place where people look like that, and for that to exist, there must be a lore background. Just as you can't simply give pointed ears and a super-slender body to a random person in a world without an elven race and expect people not to ask "What the heck is this elf doing in here? There isn't an elven race in this setting." 

[Draining Dragon]

Some person doesn't randomly look Asian. For that to occur, you'll have to have a place where people look like that, and for that to exist, there must be a lore background. Just as you can't simply give pointed ears and a super-slender body to a random person in a world without an elven race and expect people not to ask "What the heck is this elf doing in here? There isn't an elven race in this setting."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Farangbaa]

Some person doesn't randomly look Asian. For that to occur, you'll have to have a place where people look like that, and for that to exist, there must be a lore background. Just as you can't simply give pointed ears and a super-slender body to a random person in a world without an elven race and expect people not to ask "What the heck is this elf doing in here? There isn't an elven race in this setting."

They owe me one hell of an explanation for that Drow looking human though.

Lemme search my screens if I caught him somewhere...

Ugh, I can't find him. He's visible when you become the Inquisitor. Pitch black dude in the crowd with angel white hair, doesn't look like an Elf.

[tmp7704]

Some person doesn't randomly look Asian. For that to occur, you'll have to have a place where people look like that, and for that to exist, there must be a lore background. Just as you can't simply give pointed ears and a super-slender body to a random person in a world without an elven race and expect people not to ask "What the heck is this elf doing in here? There isn't an elven race in this setting."

Well, qunari pretty much come from "some place probably north from here, **** me if I know" as far as the lore we're given goes. If that's good enough for qunari then Asian-looking people can get away with just as little, too.

[Ieldra]

Well, qunari pretty much come from "some place probably north from here, **** me if I know" as far as the lore we're given goes. If that's good enough for qunari then Asian-looking people can get away with just as little, too.

The qunari have a well-developed cultural identity. If "some random gal who looks Asian" tells me she comes from "some way west" and then proceeds to give me a dozen Codex entries' worth of background information about the culture she comes from, and this culture is interesting, that's perfectly fine. Bonus points if that culture connects well with DA's dominant themes, as the qunari do. Without such a background, she just comes across as "some random gal who doesn't look as if she belongs in this world". 

[Farangbaa]

The qunari have a well-developed cultural identity. If "some random gal who looks Asian" tells me she comes from "some way west" and then proceeds to give me a dozen Codex entries' worth of background information about the culture she comes from, and this culture is interesting, that's perfectly fine. Bonus points if that culture connects well with DA's dominant themes, as the qunari do. Without such a background, she just comes across as "some random gal who doesn't look as if she belongs in this world".

Like the black dude with angel white hair.

I will take mad screenshot in my next run when I get to that point

[Captain Wiseass]

Shoehorning any real world cultures is already pushing it as is in a fantasy setting.

Aside from British, French, German, Italian, Spanish...

[tmp7704]

Without such a background, she just comes across as "some random gal who doesn't look as if she belongs in this world".

Ehh, no. Without such background it's just a character you don't get info on, but such ignorance is by no means basis to decide whether they "belong in this world". If anything, the opposite.

It's like deciding Sten doesn't belong in this world when you first see him in the cage, because you don't have any codex entries on qunari or anything at this point.

[SnakeCode]

Aside from British, French, German, Italian, Spanish...

None of those cultures exist in Thedas.

 

There are Fereldan, Orlesian, Nevarran, Tevinter, Antivan, Free Marcher, Dalish, Dwarven and Qunari cultures thus far.

[Captain Wiseass]

None of those cultures exist in Thedas.

 

There are Fereldan, Orlesian, Nevarran, Tevinter, Antivan, Free Marcher, Dalish, Dwarven and Qunari cultures thus far.

Yeah, and Ferelden is based on Britain, Orlais is based on France, the Anderfels is based on Germany, Antiva is based on Italy, Rivain is based on Spain (with the Qunari standing in for the Moors), and so on.

 

So adding a "based on China" culture to the mix would not be as setting-breaking as the post I quoted suggested.

[Calders]

Here's an idea... why don't we make games that are designed to be good games rather than delivery systems for social agendas, 

Revolutionary stuff I know but its just an idea.

[Gileadan]

Like the black dude with angel white hair.

I will take mad screenshot in my next run when I get to that point

I remember several such colorful wonders. I think the RNG is just going crazy on skin/hair color variation. 

[Fast Jimmy]

Excuse me! You do not need to be rude. This is a fantasy game. We can ask the developers for what we want. If I want an Asian Merchant,and they can put one in dark souls, why not here? It is not much to ask.

This thread has come up previously and Bioware devs have weighed in.

They did say they aren't against the concept of including other real-life ethnicities (like Asian), but if they did, they would make them a separate culture/group and explain where they came from. As opposed to randomly making NPCs in Thedas Asian.

[SnakeCode]

Yeah, and Ferelden is based on Britain, Orlais is based on France, the Anderfels is based on Germany, Antiva is based on Italy, Rivain is based on Spain (with the Qunari standing in for the Moors), and so on.

 

So adding a "based on China" culture to the mix would not be as setting-breaking as the post I quoted suggested.

Basing several cultures on historical RL ones doesn't mean they are obligated to represent every other one too. As I said before, i'm not opposed to a East Asian type culture being added in future titles (I'd actually find it very cool,) as long as it's added because that's something  the devs want to do, rather than being added to fill some fictional representation quota. If they do that, then they're forced to represent everybody. People of every race, culture ethnicity, sexual identity, gender identity etc. At what point does it become unfeasible?

[Ieldra]

Here's an idea... why don't we make games that are designed to be good games rather than delivery systems for social agendas, 

Revolutionary stuff I know but its just an idea.

It bears repeating, indeed.

[Captain Wiseass]

Basing several cultures on historical RL ones doesn't mean they are obligated to represent every other one too. As I said before, i'm not opposed to a East Asian type culture being added in future titles (I'd actually find it very cool,) as long as it's added because that's something  the devs want to do, rather than being added to fill some fictional representation quota. If they do that, then they're forced to represent everybody. People of every race, culture ethnicity, sexual identity, gender identity etc. At what point does it become unfeasible?

Given that we're talking about the limits of imagination, possibly never.