Women may find him interesting, different, clearly intelligent... girls not so much
I give those who love him credit. At least as far as the game, real life relationships like that are horrible. Guy dumps you and you continue to love him and try to change him? And hope he will hook back up after?
I consider it unhealthy IRL. Hopefully, they will get a better ending to the relationship in DA4 via codex, on screen, or something that can savage the relationship.
To be fair, many of the romantic relationships in Dragon Age games are unhealthy in real life.
Morrigan tries to sperm jack you into a shady ritual to have your kids and then just runs off. If you refuse to do this shady ritual, she runs off on the eve of one of the toughest battle of your life. When you do see her again, you don't get to see your own son unless you are nice to her.
Isabela continues to want to have sex with others even when she is in a committed relationship (unless if you are in the third act).
Cassandra demands to be courted because its romantic to her which is not very different from a woman demanding an expensive wedding and an overpriced diamond engagement ring because its romantic to her.
Anders schemes behind your back to blow up a building with the express intent of starting a war.
Solas romances you, then breaks up with you (during which he might have removed something from you) and then in Trespasser declares his genocidal intents as well as his love before magically amputating your arm and walking away while watching you in his dreams.
@Ieldra: Stubborn because I won't agree to your point of view?
- Yes, I know Solas is an ancient elf that has existed for 3000 years or more.
- Yes, I know that he is "more" than a mage.
- Yes, I am aware that Solas' information dump (a bad way to write, but whatever) is revelatory.
- Yes, I am aware that he shows a "kind" of otherworldliness - for myself, it's blown WAY out of proportion by people and their standards for "wise" is really low.
However, I also think that if Bioware wanted to play with religion in a game about religion... and try to see if everyone would instantly jump on Solas' Cult of Personality... they succeeded with flying colors.
When writing a story... it is terrible form to use your characters like marionettes to perform stunts like "info dumps". If you're showing the mechanics... you're doing it wrong.
I question "in what way" Solas' information moves the story forward... everything moves the story forward. That his ending diatribe is revelatory in a mechanical sense makes little difference to me about my opinion of him. As I said:
- My first encounter was appreciative as I'm told he saved my life from both the Breach and the Mark.
- My next encounter was wary because he's dreamy about colliding the Fade and Thedas and having spirits live with people.
- Next, he approves of questions, but disapproves of being questioned.
- He asks me to activate these ancient elven devices and claims they measure the Fade. They prove quite useful so I concede.
- I do not get his private quest because by this time I've questioned him so much that he simply dislikes me.
- Then, he leaves.
- Then I find out that he didn't save my life. He tried to purposefully blow me up to get his magic orb working so he could tear down the Veil and destroy the current world because and ancient god incapable of feeling much, if anything, for modern Thedosians. He CAUSED the Breach that almost killed me... and CAUSED the Mark that almost killed me and ALLOWED the mark to continue causing me pain through the entire game... while never telling me anything. All of this, while unleashing an ancient Tevinter Magister on Thedas because his latest scheme failed like the rest.
I'm not into abusive relationships - friend or lover.
As for being stubborn - yes, I have conviction. I don't mince my opinions and I don't speak unless I am sure of what I believe. That doesn't make me right - it simply means that I wouldn't care less about Solas if I didn't feel "sure" about him.
You say essentially... that if I am right... you'll call it a retcon. Yet, you're hearing an opposing view point right now that suggests otherwise. I don't think I'm the only one that's stubborn. You are adamant that either your opinion about the situation is correct... or "retcon". "If" he turns out to be closer to my summation - I'll just chalk it up to him being a trickster god - and a lot of people fell for his deceptions. If I'm wrong... I'll change my view when more information is made available and act in my game accordingly... though - I'm still unsure how it's going to change my reaction to him.
What I expect from further interactions with Solas' storyline:
- We will have conflicting testimony from other ancient beings.
- We will uncover more information from Kal Sharok about the Titans and therefore the Evanuris.
- We will uncover more history about the fall of Arlathan in Tevinter.
- All of this will add to Solas' testimony and some of it will completely change it.
What can I say, I feel confident... I predicted the ancient elves were douchebags back during DA2.
To be fair, many of the romantic relationships in Dragon Age games are unhealthy in real life.
Morrigan tries to sperm jack you into a shady ritual to have your kids and then just runs off. If you refuse to do this shady ritual, she runs off on the eve of one of the toughest battle of your life. When you do see her again, you don't get to see your own son unless you are nice to her.
Isabela continues to want to have sex with others even when she is in a committed relationship (unless if you are in the third act).
Cassandra demands to be courted because its romantic to her which is not very different from a woman demanding an expensive wedding and an overpriced diamond engagement ring because its romantic to her.
Anders schemes behind your back to blow up a building with the express intent of starting a war.
Solas romances you, then breaks up with you (during which he might have removed something from you) and then in Trespasser declares his genocidal intents as well as his love before magically amputating your arm and walking away while watching you in his dreams.
^ Well not ALL of them, geez. The most negative thing about Josephine is that she killed one young man a long time ago and still feels so bad about it that she's practically in tears as she relates the incident.
^ Well not ALL of them, geez. The most negative thing about Josephine is that she killed one young man a long time ago and still feels so bad about it that she's practically in tears as she relates the incident.
I hear she doesn't sleep with you... clearly evil.
As much of a hard on I have for Solas, I must completely agree that his info dump in Trespasser was a bit of bad writing. I mean, the scene's direction and music and lead-up are of course gorgeous and climactic, but so much of the past was presented like a strict Q&A in the dialogue, which, given her out-of-control mark and everything, seemed awkward.
That said, when other videogames use flashbacks, I also cringe, so my tiny brain isn't really able to come up with a better way to present information, but I'm certain just stating things has always been advised against in writing 101.
Haha, yeah all the LIs are pretty horrible people when you put it that way. I wouldn't date any of them in IRL, obviously. I would probably date someone with some of Solas' personality traits sure, but that's not the same thing. I see characters like Solas or Morrigan more as archetypes, of the sort often found in fairy tales, so they interest me in that way. They aren't really meant to be realistic, IMO.
Josephine ? She is the most well adjusted and least toxic romance option we have ever had.
I hear she doesn't sleep with you... clearly evil.
She does. Its implied in a dialogue at the Arbor Wilds, just not shown.
As much of a hard on I have for Solas, I must completely agree that his info dump in Trespasser was a bit of bad writing. I mean, the scene's direction and music and lead-up are of course gorgeous and climactic, but so much of the past was presented like a strict Q&A in the dialogue, which, given her out-of-control mark and everything, seemed awkward.
That said, when other videogames use flashbacks, I also cringe, so my tiny brain isn't really able to come up with a better way to present information, but I'm certain just stating things has always been advised against in writing 101.
I kind of took it as fanservice, personally. Which I didn't mind, because, well, I'm a fan and I bought the thing because it promised answers. And you get them, straight from the wolf's mouth, as it were. It's not necessarily the best, most artful writing, but it did deliver what was demanded by the fanbase, as realistically as possible under the circumstances. I would have accepted a letter from him, of course, but that would have been boring. 
^ Well not ALL of them, geez. The most negative thing about Josephine is that she killed one young man a long time ago and still feels so bad about it that she's practically in tears as she relates the incident.
Lol....she's only killed one guy, and she's practically a Disney princess by Dragon Age standards.... Yeah, they are all pretty horrible people.
At least they aren't half as bad as the average bioware protagonst, who is typically some megalomaniac on a power trip, who kills batches of random mobs every time they adventure outside, and tells companions what they want to hear for approval and favors. Haha.
Man, that was the good thing about DA2. You could call out a companion for being a douche and still keep them around. Those were the days...
And this makes you wonder right? Why BW aways makes weirdos as our LI? Is it so hard to make a romance were the character have a interesting personality but manages to be a average person all the same? In that mindset, Mass effect did it a lot better. Miranda, Tali, Kaidan, Garrus, Traynor, Steve and Ashley (thought she could be an utter emotional time bomb at times), were all interesting romances, but at the same time nice people that you would like to hang out with.
I kind of took it as fanservice, personally. Which I didn't mind, because, well, I'm a fan and I bought the thing because it promised answers. And you get them, straight from the wolf's mouth, as it were. It's not necessarily the best, most artful writing, but it did deliver what was demanded by the fanbase, as realistically as possible under the circumstances. I would have accepted a letter from him, of course, but that would have been boring.
Haha, yeah all the LIs are pretty horrible people when you put it that way. I wouldn't date any of them in IRL, obviously. I would probably date someone with some of Solas' personality traits sure, but that's not the same thing. I see characters like Solas or Morrigan more as archetypes, of the sort often found in fairy tales, so they interest me in that way. They aren't really meant to be realistic, IMO.
Personally I'd have to see what people they are under normal circumstances, because nobody in their right mind would say that we can have people shaped by things like "a daughter and inheritor of a murdered elf goddess who's on a grand, centuries long mission for a reckoning that shall shake the very heavens" or "a thousands-years-old, god-like figure who created the Veil that has changed the world on some fundamental level and after millennia spent in a coma he's back to the world of living to fix his past mistakes... only he's found friends and possibly a lover in the meantime".
Like... those are some very some peculiar or sometimes extreme circumstances which nobody would find on Earth. Therefore I don't think many of characters we see in DA-verse would act or be the exact same people if they lived their whole life here.
... But it's also the reason why they're so fascinating, or why people like them or can try and understand them: we see people put in situations that either won't or can't happen in real life.
I mean, I don't think any of us will put be in a situation where they have to push a red button in order to destroy a civilization in hopes that it'll prevent something worse, or knowing that any time ancient horrors can sprout form the ground and zerg us...
And this makes you wonder right? Why BW aways makes weirdos as our LI? Is it so hard to make a romance were the character have a interesting personality but manages to be a average person all the same?
Bioware prioritizes and values sensationalism, drama and fee-fees highly. That is why many of the love interests we have are the way they are.
Yeah, it was kinda fanservice. In a good way, I thought.... But he actually doesn't really tell you anything at all. He says a lot of vague stuff to tease and give us things to ponder and speculate over, that sounds revealing, but reveals pretty much nothing crucial about his plan, or his true nature/origin. In my opinion.
Oh I don't know - even long before Trespasser I could extrapolate from things Solas said that he has a plan to either drastically change or perhaps even destroy the world. And then you have hints from his writer who said to pay attention to Solas banters or comments he initiates.
I kind of took it as fanservice, personally. Which I didn't mind, because, well, I'm a fan and I bought the thing because it promised answers. And you get them, straight from the wolf's mouth, as it were. It's not necessarily the best, most artful writing, but it did deliver what was demanded by the fanbase, as realistically as possible under the circumstances. I would have accepted a letter from him, of course, but that would have been boring.
my idea of fanservice would be like the inquisitor coming through the mirror and then having a angry make-out with Fen'Harel without any words spoken, and then he just leaves her with a letter explaining everything.
Staring at his pretty face while he talks about it is fanservice, but clearly they could've taken the above route just as well ^
@Addictress: Don't get me wrong... I know fans want things sooner than later... but wouldn't Tresspasser have been a LOT better placed at the beginning of a new game all about Solas?
Even I, who really dislikes Solas, would have rather had an entire game devoted to his made schemes - than this bit of tacked on fan service.
Had Tresspasser been the opening to DA:4 for example... it could have been an entire act taking several hours (the same length Pre-Haven takes... maybe 2 or 3 hours?) , revealing more information in a natural way (the entire game I mean), and then leaving the Inquisitor crippled and you playing the new PC (which could have been an agent of the Inquisition allowing your Inquisitor's existence to still be relevant.. while you play a new PC in the same hunt).
I think they made some leaps with Solas WAY too soon... played his cards WAY too fast... and made some very poor design choices.
For me... it portrays him as nothing but a liar and a manipulator who uses the Inquisitor for his own schemes.
There "is" a Solas I would have found compelling... but that ship has sailed (and let's face it... he's doing well in the fan-base department - he doesn't need me)
my idea of fanservice would be like the inquisitor coming through the mirror and then having a angry make-out with Fen'Harel without any words spoken, and then he just leaves her with a letter explaining everything.
Staring at his pretty face while he talks about it is fanservice, but clearly they could've taken the above route just as well ^
Ahaha I'm not a huge Solas fan or a Solasmancer, but I agree that would have been really damn awesome.
my idea of fanservice would be like the inquisitor coming through the mirror and then having a angry make-out with Fen'Harel without any words spoken, and then he just leaves her with a letter explaining everything.
Staring at his pretty face while he talks about it is fanservice, but clearly they could've taken the above route just as well ^
Yasss! I do have one inquisitor who would have taken that route, but the other is too much of a mom for it, they would be sad makeouts. Angry makeouts would be too hard to animate, though, considering they managed to screw up one simple kiss in the end cinematic.
@Addictress: Don't get me wrong... I know fans want things sooner than later... but wouldn't Tresspasser have been a LOT better placed at the beginning of a new game all about Solas?
Even I, who really dislikes Solas, would have rather had an entire game devoted to his made schemes - than this bit of tacked on fan service.
Had Tresspasser been the opening to DA:4 for example... it could have been an entire act taking several hours (the same length Pre-Haven takes... maybe 2 or 3 hours?) , revealing more information in a natural way (the entire game I mean), and then leaving the Inquisitor crippled and you playing the new PC (which could have been an agent of the Inquisition allowing your Inquisitor's existence to still be relevant.. while you play a new PC in the same hunt).
I think they made some leaps with Solas WAY too soon... played his cards WAY too fast... and made some very poor design choices.
For me... it portrays him as nothing but a liar and a manipulator who uses the Inquisitor for his own schemes.
There "is" a Solas I would have found compelling... but that ship has sailed (and let's face it... he's doing well in the fan-base department - he doesn't need me)
Yes, but only with a new protagonist for that new game, or continuing to play the Inquisitor for that whole game. Perhaps they thought since Solas was a companion in DAI, they'd need to tell us his big secret now, as they did with Corypheus in DA2, who became main antagonist in DAI. Not the best decision IMO.@Addictress: Don't get me wrong... I know fans want things sooner than later... but wouldn't Tresspasser have been a LOT better placed at the beginning of a new game all about Solas?
There's some evidence he may once have been a spirit, as I just found out from another thread. The context isn't completely clear, but it sounds rather compelling... and it's still compatible with his account of things in Trespasser.There "is" a Solas I would have found compelling... but that ship has sailed (and let's face it... he's doing well in the fan-base department - he doesn't need me)
That's why I see them more as archetypes, they represent something about human nature and the world... Characters like Morrigan, Flemeth, Solas, etc.... These are character archtypes we've all seen countless times in western literature and folklore. Good writers put their own spin on it, but they are reoccurring tropes/themes for a reason.Personally I'd have to see what people they are under normal circumstances, because nobody in their right mind would say that we can have people shaped by things like "a daughter and inheritor of a murdered elf goddess who's on a grand, centuries long mission for a reckoning that shall shake the very heavens" or "a thousands-years-old, god-like figure who created the Veil that has changed the world on some fundamental level and after millennia spent in a coma he's back to the world of living to fix his past mistakes... only he's found friends and possibly a lover in the meantime".
Like... those are some very some peculiar or sometimes extreme circumstances which nobody would find on Earth. Therefore I don't think many of characters we see in DA-verse would act or be the exact same people if they lived their whole life here.
... But it's also the reason why they're so fascinating, or why people like them or can try and understand them: we see people put in situations that either won't or can't happen in real life.
I mean, I don't think any of us will put be in a situation where they have to push a red button in order to destroy a civilization in hopes that it'll prevent something worse, or knowing that any time ancient horrors can sprout form the ground and zerg us...
my idea of fanservice would be like the inquisitor coming through the mirror and then having a angry make-out with Fen'Harel without any words spoken, and then he just leaves her with a letter explaining everything.
Staring at his pretty face while he talks about it is fanservice, but clearly they could've taken the above route just as well ^
Don't take the "show, don't tell" rule too seriously. It's just as invented as the rule against split infinitives, only this rule was a product of Cold War ideology rather than a dopey fascination with Latin grammar.As much of a hard on I have for Solas, I must completely agree that his info dump in Trespasser was a bit of bad writing. I mean, the scene's direction and music and lead-up are of course gorgeous and climactic, but so much of the past was presented like a strict Q&A in the dialogue, which, given her out-of-control mark and everything, seemed awkward.
That said, when other videogames use flashbacks, I also cringe, so my tiny brain isn't really able to come up with a better way to present information, but I'm certain just stating things has always been advised against in writing 101.
Retour en haut