633 réponses à ce sujet

[Regan_Cousland]

For all of you who wants the Inquisitor back - how do you think they're going to handle romances in this case? Romantic relations are the signature of Bioware's games and a large number of players chose to pursue them. What to do then with a new romantic options - infidelity, chastity or a break-up to the previous romances? Since you know, 6/8 of the Inquisitor's LI's almost surely won't be present in the next game.

 

That's a good question -- but I haven't got the time to think about it right now, so please allow me to respond with a question of my own:

Should we really let our obsession with romance dictate whether we can continue to play as a particular protagonist or not?

Let's imagine that the inquisitor were the most beloved protagonist in BioWare history. Should we say, "Nope! She can't appear in Dragon Age 4 because she's already in a relationship, and her love interest isn't going to be a companion. We can't possibly have a game in which the hero doesn't get to speak to her lover twenty-four hours a day."

 

Aren't our priorities pretty screwed-up if we make that call for that reason?

 

[renfrees]

That's a good question -- but I haven't got the time to think about it right now, so please allow me to respond with a question of my own:

Should we really let our obsession with romance dictate whether we can continue to play as a particular protagonist or not?

Let's imagine that the inquisitor were the most beloved protagonist in BioWare history. Should we say, "Nope! She can't appear in Dragon Age 4 because she's already in a relationship, and her love interest isn't going to be a companion. We can't possibly have a game in which the hero doesn't get to speak to her lover twenty-four hours a day."

 

Aren't our priorities pretty screwed-up if we make that call for that reason?

 

I can assure you that the decision to cut romances will alienate a large part of playerbase and won't really attract new customers. Romances are what sets Bioware's games apart from the others of its genre, not amazing storylines, villains or heroes.

[BansheeOwnage]

For all of you who wants the Inquisitor back - how do you think they're going to handle romances in this case? Romantic relations are the signature of Bioware's games and a large number of players chose to pursue them. What to do then with a new romantic options - infidelity, chastity or a break-up to the previous romances? Since you know, 6/8 of the Inquisitor's LI's almost surely won't be present in the next game.

The Mass Effect franchise managed to keep its old romance options while adding new ones along the way. I'm not saying it was done perfectly (not at all), but it shows that there is a precedent for it and Bioware could always improve, as they should do in every regard.

[renfrees]

The Mass Effect franchise manage to keep its old romance options while adding new ones along the way. I'm not saying it was done perfectly (not at all), but it shows that there is a precedent for it and Bioware could always improve, as they should do in every regard.

So are you saying that Bioware should transfer 8 old characters from the previous cast as well as add a certain number of new ones (some of which should also be romanceable)?

[BansheeOwnage]

So are you saying that Bioware should transfer 8 old characters from the previous cast as well as add a certain number of new ones (some of which should also be romanceable)?

I'm not saying they should do anything, concretely. I'm saying there is a precedent for almost exactly what you just described. One would hope they would improve, of course, but two of the interactions with previous romances in ME2 were just one conversation. They wouldn't have to make the returning romances play as large of a part as they did previously, although that would be nice.

[vbibbi]

So are you saying that Bioware should transfer 8 old characters from the previous cast as well as add a certain number of new ones (some of which should also be romanceable)?

And have the Inquisitor divorce Sera or Cullen.

[BansheeOwnage]

And have the Inquisitor divorce Sera or Cullen.

You forgot Bull.

[ottffsse]

Haha romances are easy to handle: ex quizzy gets a letter from whoever is in keep romance state letter 1.) "oh I love u but I have this mess here I have to deal with..... I know you have bigger things on your mind with Solas etcetc don't worry about me." letter 2. (before endgame) "we are sorry to inform you that blank (insert romance here) died in this tragic accident / event / skirmish. Now X quizzy really mad, just another good reason 2 get 2 work and stop Solas.

Or they are away on a" quest" like if HoF when romancing Morrigan.

[renfrees]

Aaand they'll spend the whole game without either developing their existing romances or having a chance for a new relationship (since technically they're not single). How many players would be satisfied with that, do you think?

 

As I said, what you want is Awakening 2.0, but it was called expansion for a reason.

[tanuki]

Aaand they'll spend the whole game without either developing their existing romances or having a chance for a new relationship (since technically they're not single). How many players would be satisfied with that, do you think?

 

As I said, what you want is Awakening 2.0, but it was called expansion for a reason.

Why would there be no new romances? Not all Inquisitors have LI and even those who had can opt for a new relationship (again, it has been done before in ME2). Married ones are out of luck I guess *shrug*.

[vbibbi]

Why would there be no new romances? Not all Inquisitors have LI and even those who had can opt for a new relationship (again, it has been done before in ME2). Married ones are out of luck I guess *shrug*.

That...would enrage a good number of fans. Not worth the backlash Bio would receive for this.

[Qun00]

Not the arm part. Regrowing arms is weird.

It totally isn't.

https://encrypted-tb...3Ktr2jdTsMG913g

[TK514]

I admit that the subject initially turned me off ("Another returning protagonist thead? Ugh!"), so I'm coming to the discussion late. Having now actually read the OP, I am surprised to find that, to an extent, I agree.

Before Trespasser, I was prepared to forget about the Inquisitor and never look back. After, however, I find the prospect of seeing them again considerably more interesting. I agree that their story is not over, and find that the Inquisitor without the Anchor (and lower arm) engages my imagination in ways the powered up Inquisitor never did. Now we have a character who the writers can showcase using his wits and mind to adress a global threat rather than the typical 'hit it until you win' that we usually get.

And therin lies the problem. The gameplay of Dragon Age is of the "kill things and take their stuff" genre. There really isn't room for a non-combat point of view character in that kind of game, and I'd rather the Inquisitor not replace their missing arm. Ideally, for me, BioWare would make DA4 where the main character and the POV character are different people. The story would be about the Inquisitor vs Solas, but it would play out through the experiences of one of the Inquisitor's agents.

Sadly, I'm not entirely certain that BioWare is ready to write such a game, and I'm even less certain the fan base would be willing to accept it.

[Regan_Cousland]

For all of you who wants the Inquisitor back - how do you think they're going to handle romances in this case? Romantic relations are the signature of Bioware's games and a large number of players chose to pursue them. What to do then with a new romantic options - infidelity, chastity or a break-up to the previous romances? Since you know, 6/8 of the Inquisitor's LI's almost surely won't be present in the next game.

 

Saying "6 out of 8" of the inquisitor's LIs won't be present in DA4 is just speculation. 

Most of our former LIs won't be companions: we know that. But there's nothing to prevent all of our former LIs from returning in one way or another, via unique encounters specific to whatever relationship we happen to be in.

Inquisitors who didn't romance anyone in DA:I would, of course, have their choice of a hottie from the new line-up, and inquisitors in relationships would have to decide whether to betray their existing lovers or remain faithful.

See -- it's not that complicated a problem to solve. In fact, having to resist temptation is an interesting personal conflict that can spice up an RPG. 

As ever, everything depends on the quality of the writing and presentation.

 

P.S. And betrayal isn't the only way to end a relationship. Maybe you and your existing LI can have a fairly amicable break-up if you meet the new love of your life in DA4. 

Fiction is drama, no? Drama is the reason we play BioWare games. By saying, "Get rid of the inquisitor so that our romances are smooth sailing in the next game!" you're saying, "I want less drama!" -- and that's absurd, isn't it? You wouldn't watch a thriller at the cinema and walk out because it's too tense and too interesting. lol

[renfrees]

Fiction is drama, no? Drama is the reason we play BioWare games. By saying, "Get rid of the inquisitor so that our romances are smooth sailing in the next game!" you're saying, "I want less drama!" -- and that's absurd, isn't it? You wouldn't watch a thriller at the cinema and walk out because it's too tense and too interesting. lol

This is a popular but false belief, inflated by media sensationalism. A story, and especially a story or relationship doesn't have to be dramatic to be interesting. In fact, when I see attempts to "spice up" romance via drama, I call it a writer's impotence to create an engaging story without the crutch of shock-content.

[Nefla]

Aaand they'll spend the whole game without either developing their existing romances or having a chance for a new relationship (since technically they're not single). How many players would be satisfied with that, do you think?

 

As I said, what you want is Awakening 2.0, but it was called expansion for a reason.

Come to think of it, if they made the inquisitor v Solas thing an awakening style expansion that would be awesome. Those of us that want to play the inquisitor and take down Solas personally would be able to, and those that don't would be able to start fresh in the next game. 

[Regan_Cousland]

A story, and especially a story or relationship doesn't have to be dramatic to be interesting. In fact, when I see attempts to "spice up" romance via drama, I call it a writer's impotence to create an engaging story without the crutch of shock-content.

 

Well ... if you really don't want drama in your fictional relationship, your path is clear:

1. Don't cheat on your current lover. 

2. Don't romance anyone in Inquisition, or pop into Dragon Age: Keep and tweak your relationship status to read "single and ready to mingle".

Although, if you're too afraid to simply break up with your current lover in DA4 in order to be with someone else, you should grow a backbone. lol

[Ann'Nonnie'Mus]

This is a popular but false statement, inflated by media sensationalism. A story, and especially a story or relationship doesn't have to be dramatic to be interesting. In fact, when I see attempts to "spice up" romance via drama, I call it a writer's impotence to create an engaging story without the crutch of shock-content.

Its not exactly false because every story has drama in it. Literally impossible NOT to have drama in a story. Even comedies. Drama isn't just, 'Oh my gosh your being so dramatic!' It basically means something has an emotional impact.

 

So fiction is drama

 

And a story would be boring without it. 

[renfrees]

Come to think of it, if they made the inquisitor v Solas thing an awakening style expansion that would be awesome. Those of us that want to play the inquisitor and take down Solas personally would be able to, and those that don't would be able to start fresh in the next game. 

That's an interesting concept I can get behind. The problem is that it'll create totally different stakes in both Northern conflict and Solas' conflict for the Inquisitor and a new protagonist. I'm not sure if the writers can pull this off.

[Regan_Cousland]

Come to think of it, if they made the inquisitor v Solas thing an awakening style expansion that would be awesome. Those of us that want to play the inquisitor and take down Solas personally would be able to, and those that don't would be able to start fresh in the next game. 

 

I'd be more than happy with that.

 

Give us a focused, thirty-hour expansion that concludes the conflict between the inquisitor and Solas, and then begin afresh in DA4.

[Ann'Nonnie'Mus]

That's an interesting concept I can get behind. The problem is that it'll create totally different stakes in both Northern conflict and Solas' conflict for the Inquisitor and a new protagonist. I'm not sure if the writers can pull this off.

I don't think it'd be hard at all. Because your new protag is going to be dragged into all the mess regardless how they feel about it. So will the inquisitor. And Solas will be a part of Da4 in some capacity, not necessarily the main plot but he'll be in there, so new protag is going to be dragged into that. And you have to think, part of the reason why the inquisitor is even going to tevinter is to find new allies. They can't just go there and be like, 'your helping me, and you and you and you.' They'll be made to help with allies in return for their help, therefore being dragged into the conflict.

[Nefla]

I referred to Trespasser, not DAI base game. As I said, the percentage of people who purchased and completed Trespasser is going to be a small portion of the people who purchased the base game.

 

So in the prologue, we have to get involved in the plot and setting, meet characters (most likely companions like Cassandra/Varric/Solas), get used to the game interface using the specialized mechanics accounting for one arm or a prosthesis and the mechanics for our companions who will use the standard combat gameplay, and catch new players up to how the Inquisitor has this personal history with the antagonist which took up the entirety of the previous game to describe. Or are we going to have flashes of our relationship with Solas throughout the game as we uncover his plot?

 

I haven't played the Witcher so I don't know how it handles protagonist transition between games, but in ME, I will say that the beginning to ME3 was very abrupt and if I were a new player to that game I wouldn't have known what was going on. Granted, it's the last game of a trilogy so new players shouldn't be surprised that there's a lot of backstory to catch up on. And the antagonist in ME1 is really Saren until he reveals the Reapers. After that, Shepard does not have a personal vendetta against Sovereign or Harbinger, s/he has the overarching goal of stopping unrelatable cosmic horrors from destroying the galaxy. That is different than our Inquisitor who journeyed with Solas, potentially romanced him, feels betrayed by him. A lot more variables, a lot more personal.

But...that's exactly the kind of thing they did with Inquisition itself. New players don't know what the fade is, what the temple of sacred ashes is, what the Divine is, who or what the mages and templars are and what their history is, what a mage circle is, what the Chantry is, what Tevinter's reputation is, what the Qunari are, what role elves have in society, what the Dalish are, who Varric, Cassandra, Cullen, Leliana, etc...are, what the relationship between Ferelden and Orlais is, and so on. The game didn't do a very good job of introducing new players to that stuff and explaining it to them yet there were still new people playing DA:I as their first in the series. Plus I think most people who start a series on the 4th installment expect to be somewhat lost. I think if they take more time and care on the writing than they did in DA:I then a continued protagonist will be just fine for new players. If they don't, then it will be even more confusing than DA:I even with a new protagonist.

[renfrees]

Although, if you're too afraid to simply break up with your current lover in DA4 in order to be with someone else, you should grow a backbone. lol

What it has to do with fear and lulz, I wonder? And I'm not sure if you're in position to tell me what I should or shouldn't do.

[Nefla]

That's an interesting concept I can get behind. The problem is that it'll create totally different stakes in both Northern conflict and Solas' conflict for the Inquisitor and a new protagonist. I'm not sure if the writers can pull this off.

For me it would give a chance to wrap up the story between the inquisitor and Solas and free up DA4 to be about a war between Tevinter and the Qunari. Maybe then each game afterwards can be separate (no continued plotlines with new protagonists, no returning companions) and have smaller stakes than "the world is going to be destroyed by evil people/monsters/dragons." This is my new wish.

[vbibbi]

Saying "6 out of 8" of the inquisitor's LIs won't be present in DA4 is just speculation. 

Most of our former LIs won't be companions: we know that. But there's nothing to prevent all of our former LIs from returning in one way or another, via unique encounters specific to whatever relationship we happen to be in.

Inquisitors who didn't romance anyone in DA:I would, of course, have their choice of a hottie from the new line-up, and inquisitors in relationships would have to decide whether to betray their existing lovers or remain faithful.

See -- it's not that complicated a problem to solve. In fact, having to resist temptation is an interesting personal conflict that can spice up an RPG. 

As ever, everything depends on the quality of the writing and presentation.

 

P.S. And betrayal isn't the only way to end a relationship. Maybe you and your existing LI can have a fairly amicable break-up if you meet the new love of your life in DA4. 

Fiction is drama, no? Drama is the reason we play BioWare games. By saying, "Get rid of the inquisitor so that our romances are smooth sailing in the next game!" you're saying, "I want less drama!" -- and that's absurd, isn't it? You wouldn't watch a thriller at the cinema and walk out because it's too tense and too interesting. lol

Okay, but being realistic about how Bioware is going to approach the idea of their audience, they are not going to go this route and pi$$ off a vocal percentage of their fans. Take a look through the character threads to see how passionately people discuss their romances and favorite characters. If we have Inky as PC again, following this idea, Bio would have to:

 

write dialogue and make cameos for DAI LI's who are in the game but not returning as companions

 

write dialogue and a romance path for new companions who are romance-eligible

        write dialogue for an Inquisitor who did not romance anyone in DAI but is now romancing someone in DA4

        write dialogue for an Inquisitor who did romance someone but is now pursuing someone new

 

write dialogue for breaking up with former LI or cheating with a new LI

 

hire voice actors to record all of these dialogue permutation, including hiring the returning LI dialogue, which is extra if they otherwise would not have shown up in DA4

 

and most importantly...deal with the fallout from fans for being able to break up with the love of their life from the previous game just for a fling! or be mad that in order to experience a new romance option, the fans' PC must break up with their current partner.

 

This really isn't feasible from a fiscal perspective or from a consumer-relationship perspective. And this is for the small percentage of players who finished DAI and played Trespasser. Which I assume is not the majority of the players Bioware hopes will purchase DA4

 

 

Come to think of it, if they made the inquisitor v Solas thing an awakening style expansion that would be awesome. Those of us that want to play the inquisitor and take down Solas personally would be able to, and those that don't would be able to start fresh in the next game. 

This is probably the only method in which to appease those wishing a personal resolution between Quizzy and Solas, and those wanting a completely new DA4 PC. Unfortunately, the chances of this are...infinitesimal.