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[Teddie Sage]

What is Dragon Age?
Dragon Age is what you want it to be. 

[KaiserShep]

Yeah but what is Dragon Age?
If only the series had an actual identity 

 

I never really thought of this "identity" stuff as something to really be concerned with. It seems to me that what people want is for the setting to stagnate and stay the same throughout the entire series. What is the identity of Dragon Age when we go to new locations, have new protagonists, new companions and new plots in each game, possibly having years in between?

[Saphiron123]

For me social issues in DA is hardly a problem as all stories delve into social issues. Once again, just look at the Baron quest, it has social issues written all over it. However, my problem is how social issues can be handled. IMO, BW handles their social issues rather poorly and it strips it of it's humanity whereas CDPR maintains it. Humans are complex creatures with many layers and I have to agree with Tishen that the Baron story by BW would have been a lackluster caricature with a sermon moreso than a humane story.

As for fantasy fulfillment, I don't think BW nor CDPR should cater to anyone's fantasies. They should just tell their stories how they're meant to be told and whomever doesn't like it should simply find new entertainment to indulge in. I've accepted that after playing W3 there is nothing else DA can offer me but their BSN forums for discussions et al. But I will say that what I do love about BW games is that I can roleplay something other than a straight white male and I'll always love them for that. I agree with Velvet that there is nothing wrong with a company changing to offer a chance for others to role play something different. IMO, the problem only occurs when the franchise loses it's foundation and bastardizes it's own lore to accommodate the changes. Instead of just creating a new IP. I can't imagine the TW series would have been if CDPR caved in to fans who wanted them to add a CC, make a brand new character that can be a woman, et al. The story is about Geralt of Rivia, not random RPG main character #5. And that's what I love CDPR for.

edit: lol what on earth needed to be edited BWmod03???

I agree with what you say about social issues here. Bioware doesn't address them anymore, they preach. In DAO the elves were discriminated against and it was a central theme for an eleven warden, in DAI it's mentioned only in passing. Even with Celene who slaughtered an entire alienage. In DAO and DA2 there's a lot of hate for groups who are different, the Qunari in particular have everything categorized in a certain way with very little deviation, such as Sten's speeches to the warden and wynne about how women simply don't fight and belong in other vocations. DAI meanwhile rewrites the Qun to preach about acceptance and transgenderism, where despite Gaider's rewrite, neither sten or the Arishok would be so rediculously flexible in how they see gender.

And it does preach. Long winded narratives teaching us about LGBT affairs. It's hilarious how much it's aimed at straight people as opposed to LGBT people who they're supposed to be including. It wasn't written to talk with us, it was written to talk at us.

Either everyone is accepted by default, or we get long winded explanations about why they should be... Unfortunately it throws conflict and mature and well thought storylines aside to do it.

[Elhanan]

I agree with what you say about social issues here. Bioware doesn't address them anymore, they preach. In DAO the elves were discriminated against and it was a central theme for an eleven warden, in DAI it's mentioned only in passing. Even with Celene who slaughtered an entire alienage. In DAO and DA2 there's a lot of hate for groups who are different, the Qunari in particular have everything categorized in a certain way with very little deviation, such as Sten's speeches to the warden and wynne about how women simply don't fight and belong in other vocations. DAI meanwhile rewrites the Qun to preach about acceptance and transgenderism, where despite Gaider's rewrite, neither sten or the Arishok would be so rediculously flexible in how they see gender.

And it does preach. Long winded narratives teaching us about LGBT affairs. It's hilarious how much it's aimed at straight people as opposed to LGBT people who they're supposed to be including. It wasn't written to talk with us, it was written to talk at us.

Either everyone is accepted by default, or we get long winded explanations about why they should be... Unfortunately it throws conflict and mature and well thought storylines aside to do it.

And Surprise; I disagree. I find that the DA series including DAI does a good job of presenting religion, LGBT, and other issues in a reasoned manner overall. As one that opposes many such opinions, I contend that examples given in Bioware titles are well written; well presented (eg; Dorian, Cortez in ME3).

For preaching, there are shows on TV that often only present a single viewpoint (eg; Law & Order: SVU).

[Morroian]

I agree with what you say about social issues here. Bioware doesn't address them anymore, they preach. In DAO the elves were discriminated against and it was a central theme for an eleven warden,

 

Only really for a city elf and it doesn't really come up much after ostagar.

[TheOgre]

Only really for a city elf and it doesn't really come up much after ostagar.

I didn't play an elf so much so I'm a bit iffy on this one but i remember a lot more descrimination for elves in DAO

[Shechinah]

I didn't play an elf so much so I'm a bit iffy on this one but i remember a lot more descrimination for elves in DAO

 

I think, I think, I remember that when it was directed towards the Warden it was for the most part composed of being called a knife-ear and confused for a servant with the exception of the City Elf and Dalish origin respectively which delved the most into it, the former the most of the two. 
 

[MoonDrummer]

Well the Witcher 3 has completely blown me away.  No point comparing it to DA:I though, it would be like comparing Real Madrid to Swindon Town. 

[Aren]

I never really thought of this "identity" stuff as something to really be concerned with. It seems to me that what people want is for the setting to stagnate and stay the same throughout the entire series. What is the identity of Dragon Age when we go to new locations, have new protagonists, new companions and new plots in each game, possibly having years in between?

I do not believe that he was referring specifically to the setting actually, when he mentioned the identity of the Dragon age,after all everyone knows that each nation in Thedas is quite different.

However from a technical point of view, sometimes this franchise it seems to not know what it want to be, 

 -An RPG with driven side quests and multi race each with an Origin,

-A game  without multi race and a more fleshed out protagonist

- MMO semi- open world with fetch quests and with  multi race options poorly implemented and poorly executed ala Skyrim?

i'm sure that in order to satisfy their fan base in DA4 they will pack all these elements together,after all  it seems that if you want to make a good soup you have to put as many ingredients as possible in your recipe,this is the way in which the DA team seems to work, a little bit of DAO,a little bit of Skyrim,a little bit of the Witcher,a little bit of  fans suggestions and we will have DA4.

[animedreamer]

having played the game now, yes i can honestly say be more like Witcher 3, maybe take some notes, when it comes to cinematic cutscenes, and dialog camera angles. Fashion, god please take them up on fashion, Geralt is a grizzle monster hunter but still manages to put together various ensembles that actually look different, not just fundamentally different like the inquisitors.

[Elhanan]

having played the game now, yes i can honestly say be more like Witcher 3, maybe take some notes, when it comes to cinematic cutscenes, and dialog camera angles. Fashion, god please take them up on fashion, Geralt is a grizzle monster hunter but still manages to put together various assembles that actually look different, not just fundamentally different like the inquisitors.

Much prefer fewer cinematics and cut-scenes overall, as I prefer actual gameplay to watching small films. Some of us have lobbied for ages to get away from the excess seen in some titles (eg; ME3). Love that game, but dislike sitting through minutes of film to get to actual gameplay (eg; dialogue).

Cannot speak to fashion, but also like the crafting looks available for both Mage and Rogue in DAI. Of course, Geralt is the only choice to play in TW3, so perhaps there are more tailored looks for that character over the many possibilities of DAI.

[Eelectrica]

When it comes to cinematics, I can honestly say I don't care either way.

Games like Pillars of Eternity, Shadowrun Dragonfall play just fine without them. Actually playing PoE now as I don't want to lose momentum on my second playthough.

[KBomb]

Well, I will say this much-- CDPR knows how to do Masquerade Ball. The clothes, masks, scenery... The drunk rich guy in the fountain yelling "I'M A KRAKEN" Great stuff.

[In Exile]

having played the game now, yes i can honestly say be more like Witcher 3, maybe take some notes, when it comes to cinematic cutscenes, and dialog camera angles. Fashion, god please take them up on fashion, Geralt is a grizzle monster hunter but still manages to put together various assembles that actually look different, not just fundamentally different like the inquisitors.

 

I've played a lot further and have more detailed feedback (on what IMO TW3 does better and worse; it's a mixed bag to me), but Jesus, to call most of the outfits I've seen so far abhorrent and an offensive to my senses actually understates how horrible I find them. 

[herkles]

I've played a lot further and have more detailed feedback (on what IMO TW3 does better and worse; it's a mixed bag to me), but Jesus, to call most of the outfits I've seen so far abhorrent and an offensive to my senses actually understates how horrible I find them. 

 

The funny thing is that most of the armor designs in the witcher 3 are drawn from real world designs of the late medieval and renassiance period. I personally like it, but then the inner historian jumps in joy at things like that . 

 

Anyways I do strongly encourge looking to the real world for designs. Of course as it is fantasy, one can change things and use bits and peices from other areas. As Tevinter is based on the Byzantine era of the Roman Empire, why not look at armor of that time? but don't limit yourself to just that period, which btw did change throughout the centuries, but look to other areas, take ideas from the medieval Persians, Indians, and anywhere that could inspire you. I do find using real world designs is the best place for armor designs. 

[herkles]

One thing I think would be better is instead of having the inquistorial camps or something like that, use villages, sprinkle them throughout areas. They should be the spots that people go to in order to resupply and get aide. 

 

Perhaps some areas aare inhabbited by bandits or monsters and must be reclaimed first before people will come back, something I been enjoying in TW3.

[AresKeith]

One thing I think would be better is instead of having the inquistorial camps or something like that, use villages, sprinkle them throughout areas. They should be the spots that people go to in order to resupply and get aide. 

 

Perhaps some areas aare inhabbited by bandits or monsters and must be reclaimed first before people will come back, something I been enjoying in TW3.

 

Setting up Inquisition forces at villages would've been interesting

[VelvetV]

One thing I think would be better is instead of having the inquistorial camps or something like that, use villages, sprinkle them throughout areas. They should be the spots that people go to in order to resupply and get aide. 

 

A "village" that consists of 5 houses, like in TW3? No, thanks. I'd rather prefer camps

 

As for fashion, like some others I find it awful to look at, no matter how accurate it is. To a modern person it's so... ridiculous!

[KBomb]

A "village" that consists of 5 houses, like in TW3? No, thanks. I'd rather prefer camps

As for fashion, like some others I find it awful to look at, no matter how accurate it is. To a modern person it's so... ridiculous!

Yet, some if those small villages have more life in them than DAI... what is it, two villages? The Summer Bazaar compared to Novigrad? The Masquerade from the Witcher 3 compared to the one in DAI? Villages where you actually see mothers holding babies, women doing the wash, men working the field, children playing and singing, chickens, geese, cows, goats, pigs,horses and dogs wandering about also add to it.

And some of the places you go to people are speaking foreign languages. It certainly feel more alive.

[Elhanan]

Haven, Redcliffe, Crestwood, The Lion, and a couple in the Exalted Plains (burning and ruins), Emerald Graves (people living in a canyon) are the ones I recall; perhaps others. And seem to recall these folks were performing tasks at hand, esp the refugees in the Hinterlands, which is another one. Rams, Nugs, horses, Druffalo, Halla, and Mabari can be seen about the populated areas. And Orlais has another language.

It certainly feels alive, and has fantastical critters to boot; ask about the Nug leather....

[Bayonet Hipshot]

I agree with what you say about social issues here. Bioware doesn't address them anymore, they preach. In DAO the elves were discriminated against and it was a central theme for an eleven warden, in DAI it's mentioned only in passing. Even with Celene who slaughtered an entire alienage. In DAO and DA2 there's a lot of hate for groups who are different, the Qunari in particular have everything categorized in a certain way with very little deviation, such as Sten's speeches to the warden and wynne about how women simply don't fight and belong in other vocations. DAI meanwhile rewrites the Qun to preach about acceptance and transgenderism, where despite Gaider's rewrite, neither sten or the Arishok would be so rediculously flexible in how they see gender.

And it does preach. Long winded narratives teaching us about LGBT affairs. It's hilarious how much it's aimed at straight people as opposed to LGBT people who they're supposed to be including. It wasn't written to talk with us, it was written to talk at us.

Either everyone is accepted by default, or we get long winded explanations about why they should be... Unfortunately it throws conflict and mature and well thought storylines aside to do it.

 

This. There is very little grayness in Bioware's storytelling. There is a lot of preaching.  I can guarantee you if Bioware did The Bloody Baron storyline they would portray him solely as a sexist misogynist who deserves every shite that is coming to him. They would not have portrayed him in a gray manner like CDPR did. 

 

 

 

I do not believe that he was referring specifically to the setting actually, when he mentioned the identity of the Dragon age,after all everyone knows that each nation in Thedas is quite different.

However from a technical point of view, sometimes this franchise it seems to not know what it want to be, 

 -An RPG with driven side quests and multi race each with an Origin,

-A game  without multi race and a more fleshed out protagonist

- MMO semi- open world with fetch quests and with  multi race options poorly implemented and poorly executed ala Skyrim?

i'm sure that in order to satisfy their fan base in DA4 they will pack all these elements together,after all  it seems that if you want to make a good soup you have to put as many ingredients as possible in your recipe,this is the way in which the DA team seems to work, a little bit of DAO,a little bit of Skyrim,a little bit of the Witcher,a little bit of  fans suggestions and we will have DA4.

 

 

This. The game is inconsistent. It has no idea what it wants to be. 

 

A good soup with as many ingredients as possible ? I thought you end up spoiling a soup that way ?

 

 

The funny thing is that most of the armor designs in the witcher 3 are drawn from real world designs of the late medieval and renassiance period. I personally like it, but then the inner historian jumps in joy at things like that  . 

 

Anyways I do strongly encourge looking to the real world for designs. Of course as it is fantasy, one can change things and use bits and peices from other areas. As Tevinter is based on the Byzantine era of the Roman Empire, why not look at armor of that time? but don't limit yourself to just that period, which btw did change throughout the centuries, but look to other areas, take ideas from the medieval Persians, Indians, and anywhere that could inspire you. I do find using real world designs is the best place for armor designs. 

 

You even see that the weapons in The Witcher 3 have a grounded feel to them. They do not look big and bulky like some of the swords we have in DAI. The same goes for the abilities that both Geralt and his enemies have. There is no ridiculous backflips or jumping down from rooftops. Moreover, the armor & weapons in Witcher 3 don't look squeaky clean, they look like they have seen genuine wear and tear. 

 

 

having played the game now, yes i can honestly say be more like Witcher 3, maybe take some notes, when it comes to cinematic cutscenes, and dialog camera angles. Fashion, god please take them up on fashion, Geralt is a grizzle monster hunter but still manages to put together various ensembles that actually look different, not just fundamentally different like the inquisitors.

 

What I loved was the little details with the fashion suits. Geralt hates them yet if he wears them for the proper occasions, ladies like Triss and Yennefer respond positively to him. Especially Yennefer if you wear black & white. 

 

Wish Josephine would complement the Inquisitor if they had a good taste in fashion. Alas, we only have a silly brown pajamas to wear in game. 

[AresKeith]

 

I do not believe that he was referring specifically to the setting actually, when he mentioned the identity of the Dragon age,after all everyone knows that each nation in Thedas is quite different.

However from a technical point of view, sometimes this franchise it seems to not know what it want to be, 

 -An RPG with driven side quests and multi race each with an Origin,

-A game  without multi race and a more fleshed out protagonist

- MMO semi- open world with fetch quests and with  multi race options poorly implemented and poorly executed ala Skyrim?

i'm sure that in order to satisfy their fan base in DA4 they will pack all these elements together,after all  it seems that if you want to make a good soup you have to put as many ingredients as possible in your recipe,this is the way in which the DA team seems to work, a little bit of DAO,a little bit of Skyrim,a little bit of the Witcher,a little bit of  fans suggestions and we will have DA4.

 

 

The bolded part shouldn't be a concern because it's less about "identity" and more about what story they wanna go with in the said Dragon Age event

 

The side quests and the shift to semi-open world isn't really an "identity" issue because it's on a technically view point