31 réponses à ce sujet

[Solace]

How would you say David Gaider's story in the games, compares to his story writing in his books?( I Never read any of his books)

[thats1evildude]

He isn't the only guy writing the games. But his books range from average (The Stolen Throne) to very good (Asunder).

[AresKeith]

I enjoy his writing

[Karlone123]

Yeah, it's kind of hard to compare his writing in books to video games given he is the only one writing a novel with his ideas alone, whereas writing a story for a with a team where they share ideas and sometimes takeover each others works.

[katerinafm]

You can't really compare his writing in-game to the writing in the books. The books he has written are written by him alone, while the game is a group effort. I find his writing very good, with Asunder being my favorite DA book of his that I recommend.

[PapaCharlie9]

DG must hate Grey Wardens, that's what I get from the novels and the game. He doesn't seem to much care for the Circle, or the Templars, or Orlesians, or the Dalish either. But maybe it's the same kind of love/hate thing that GRRM has with the Starks ...

 

All I know is that Patrick Weeke's Rogues of the Republic (fantasy series, outside the DA universe) is awesome and I'm expecting much from the change of lead writership. The Masked Empire was pretty good too.

[DuskWanderer]

I liked Asunder, though I haven't read any others.

 

In the games, he wrote Dorian, and he was incredibly uninteresting.

[Lady Artifice]

There are too many adverbs in The Stolen Throne.

Katriel gingerly does this. Maric hungrily does that.

But apart from that I'm a fan of his in general.

[Hunter111]

There are too many adverbs in The Stolen Throne.
Katriel gingerly does this. Maric hungrily does that.
But apart from that I'm a fan of his in general.

::snorts:: I haven't even read the books, and now I think if I do, every adverb is going to annoy me to death.

[Freedheart]

*Flashes back to Grammar Rock and starts humming "Lolly lolly lolly - get your adverbs here" curses Lady Artifice*    

 

@PapaCharlie - I am in the middle of the second book "The Prophesy Con" - love these books.  I told Patrick Weekes in a tweet that they should be movies or games, they are that much fun!  

 

As for David Gaider's books - I enjoyed the "Stolen Throne" in that it gave me a lot of insight into why Loghain was who he was in DAO, made him a much more sympathetic character, imo.  "The Calling" was like a gift, getting to know Duncan as a young man, after an all too short acquaintance.  And "Asunder" was probably my favorite, too...it's the only one I've gone back and re-read; there is a sense of urgency that made that book difficult to put down.  (As much as I enjoy Cole in DAI, I would've loved to have seen Rhys and Evangeline in DAI - talk about a power couple lol)

[Frybread76]

I have only read "Asunder" but was surprised and enjoyed it enough for a reread.  I apologize because I'm sure this has been asked, but are the books on level with the games in terms of canonicity?  For example, a certain character dies in "Asunder," and I was wondering if events like that would affect later games such as that person not appearing again.  Or are the DA books like the Star Wars EU books, which have had little-to-no impact on the movie canon?

 

One thing that I find jarring is how different mages and templars are depicted in the book I read from the games.  I know there is always a difference between what abilities characters have in a game versus a novel, but it's vastly different in this case, IMO.

[TheDovah]

I've only read the Calling and thoroughly enjoyed it. He made the Deeproads sound like hell on earth and truely corrupted instead of what we were presented with in Origins. His characters are good but i think he should have never handed over Anders to another writer due to DA2 Anders being poorly implemented.  But on average, i would say his writing matches his contributions to the DA games. Apart from the Deeproads. Shame the Deep Roads were not dark as hell and required torches all the time or risk walking into an ogre.

[Heimdall]

Generally, he has a good grasp of plot, but I don't think his style translates well into book format. I've yet to read a book of his that actually had me feeling attached to the main characters. Asunder might be an exception, it's definitely the best of the three.

I enjoy Weekes' work much more

[Sah291]

I've only read Asunder, and I liked it. Cole is one of my favorite characters so far, both the book version by David, and the version in DAI written by Patrick. I'm sure it was a challenge to write with as few references to DA2 as possible (considering the player could have come down on either side of the conflict). But it helped me to understand DA2 better and where the writers were going with that plot.

[Aimi]

I would say that his writing in the games is 'snorky' whereas the writing in the books is 'brambish'

[Hunter111]

I would say that his writing in the games is 'snorky' whereas the writing in the books is 'brambish'

I give your comment two snickle-snaps.

Or in other words, what are you talking about?

[Aimi]

I give your comment two snickle-snaps.

Or in other words, what are you talking about?

[PapaCharlie9]

@PapaCharlie - I am in the middle of the second book "The Prophesy Con" - love these books.  I told Patrick Weekes in a tweet that they should be movies or games, they are that much fun!  

 

Agreed, very cinematic in action and plot. Every time Icy comes on stage, I think of Solas. Brother from another mother.

 

That's kind of the one bad thing about the promotion to lead writer - he might not have time to write book 3! That would be a tragedy, since the next book has to be a long con. Situation is set up perfectly for it.

[Wissenschaft 2.0]

DG must hate Grey Wardens, that's what I get from the novels and the game. He doesn't seem to much care for the Circle, or the Templars, or Orlesians, or the Dalish either. But maybe it's the same kind of love/hate thing that GRRM has with the Starks ...

 

All I know is that Patrick Weeke's Rogues of the Republic (fantasy series, outside the DA universe) is awesome and I'm expecting much from the change of lead writership. The Masked Empire was pretty good too.

 

Actually, I say its the opposite. DG loves all those groups. Through hardship, suffering, and personal flaws, a writer makes a group interesting. If there are no conflicts involved with a group then readers/players won't be interested in them. Its all about that drama.

[PapaCharlie9]

Actually, I say its the opposite. DG loves all those groups. Through hardship, suffering, and personal flaws, a writer makes a group interesting. If there are no conflicts involved with a group then readers/players won't be interested in them. Its all about that drama.

Agreed, if he would just confine himself to individuals or even a small group. Like in The Calling, that was fine, just a few Wardens and one Tower. But in DA:I, it was like, okay, got to go big or go home. Let's blow up the entire Circle, the entire Chanrty and all the Wardens in Fereldan and Orlais!

[devSin]

The games aren't David's stories.

I have only read "Asunder" but was surprised and enjoyed it enough for a reread.  I apologize because I'm sure this has been asked, but are the books on level with the games in terms of canonicity?  For example, a certain character dies in "Asunder," and I was wondering if events like that would affect later games such as that person not appearing again.  Or are the DA books like the Star Wars EU books, which have had little-to-no impact on the movie canon?

The books are canon but don't supersede game canon.

Wynne is dead for everybody now. But if she died some other way in your game (prior to when the book takes place), then the events of Asunder happened a bit differently (but they still happened).

[Aimi]

That's kind of the one bad thing about the promotion to lead writer - he might not have time to write book 3! That would be a tragedy, since the next book has to be a long con. Situation is set up perfectly for it.

Drafts are completed and it's been in the editing back-and-forth for a couple of weeks now.

[Archerwarden]

@ Solace
I recommend reading The Stolen Throne for Maric and Loghain's back story. Loghain is so well written and his character is consistent in the game. As a player I have a difficult time executing him- my character does not though.

The Calling is my favorite book. One of the most moving scenes is with Julian and Nicolas.

Asunder is very good. Again his characters are excellent, grounded and believable much like his characters in game so far.

I am not sure that the lead writer is the architect for the plot outline though. I have a hard time believing that Mr. Gaider could write The Calling and still be the brain behind the time travel plot. <shrugs>. Obviously I don't know.

[TK514]

His writing definitely benefits from other people picking up the slack in the games and tempering his 'author's pet' tendencies.  His books aren't bad, but they certainly weren't page-turners for me.

[Fiery Phoenix]

Can't really compare, but he's a good writer nonetheless. I think I enjoy his writing in the books more, personally.