Wynne on 23/10/2009 at 12:43

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I like these comments. I like them hard. :thumb:


Totally. :) Especially since that person has apparently not even read The Stolen Throne, which in my opinion was quite a nice and bittersweet introduction to the game universe, and The Calling, which I will be reading on the plane to London.

Anybody who would like to preview Dragon Age's story and/or writing can probably get their hands on either a library copy or a used copy on ebay or a new copy, depending on how much faith you have in David Gaider's ability.

Mr.Duck on 23/10/2009 at 18:59

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Holy shit....Wynne lives!!!

HUZZAH!

:D:D:D

Jason Moyer on 24/10/2009 at 01:17

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No, I gathered it from having played every game Bioware has made for the past 10 years and noticing that they tend to recycle the same characters, storylines, and gameplay elements over and over.

That doesn't keep me from liking most of their stuff, although I really can't stand generic high fantasy so I may end up passing on this one and waiting for ME2 to come out. I just played a bit of the free companion RPG they've released as a webgame and while I enjoy the combat the short amount of dialog/story in it is annoying as fuck. That's probably due to it being completely boring high fantasy moreso than actually being a bad example of whatever rpg stereotype they're going for, however.

Wynne on 24/10/2009 at 23:44

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Aww, I love you too, Ducky. *hugs* I moved across the ocean and am now studying psychology in a foreign language. Small changes, y'know how it is... ;)



"Generic high fantasy" is much said about a universe you haven't really investigated. Dragon Age: Journeys was not made by Bioware, and it's a free fucking flash game, not a novel. You want story, try the books.

The notion you are apparently failing to entertain thus far is that Bioware might have learned something from those 10 years of making RPGs. They're not breaking the mold, but then again if you have elves with tails instead of pointy ears, they're not elves anymore and you might as well call them something different or you'll just be confusing and annoying players. But there are things they're doing with the molds that aren't typical.

--Human nobles of Ferelden, instead of being priveleged pansies, are brought up with the attitude that they had damned well better earn their place in society. Mages (who can also be elves) are regarded as severely freaky by most, and with good reason; a mage who can't resist the temptations of demons becomes possessed and can kill hundreds or even thousands of people before being put down. There's a system in place to ensure that this doesn't happen, but it's a somewhat brutal one.
--Elves were enslaved, only recently emancipated, and now live in the slums and do menial work in human households. They have a rich culture that is dying out. Those who live outside human cities wander the forests in caravans, seeking artifacts to regain knowledge of their lost heritage. Almost like a Native American/gypsy thing going on.
--Dwarves have a sophisticated caste system in place, and if you don't have a caste you might as well be scum; even the servants look down on the casteless. Honor is very important to noble families, but there is nonetheless a great deal of concealed treachery and watching your back is a necessity. Dwarves also have a problem with fertility which has led to a sensuous culture. Brothels are plentiful, and it's possible for a casteless dwarf to elevate their position by sleeping with a noble and producing a child from that union which is the sex of the noble in question (because children inherit their same-sex parent's caste.)

Call me lame, but I find it rather interesting, and I don't see this take being done in other fantasy games.

I can't blame anyone for thinking the "New Shit" trailer was fucking hilarious, because it was. But if you haven't read the novels or developer posts, and you're only glancing at the surface and deciding you'll hate the game because of that--what's even the point? Go ahead and be skeptical all you want, but trying to sound informed when you weren't in fact paying much attention can lead to feeling like an ass once you see what the actual case is. Granted, when the game in question turns out to be good, one generally doesn't care what one thought before or how it sounded.

Regardless, Bioware has come up with an unusual but probably effective device for relaying feedback outside press circles.

(http://dragonage.bioware.com/game/event/)

On the 19th, you will have about 40 normal, everyday people from countries around the world who can tell you exactly what they liked and didn't like about what they saw of the game over the 24-hour period they had access to it.



According to the writers, particularly David Gaider, the plan for Dragon Age was to ensure that "evil" doesn't really factor in. Sometimes the nice choice gets you a warm fuzzy feeling and nothing more. Sometimes the cruel choice gets you candy. Sometimes when you meant to be kind, somebody gets screwed over. Sometimes when you meant to be cruel, your actions were actually the best thing that could've happened. And when it comes down to it, even the "bad guys" mostly want what's best for their country, they just have different ideas about how to do it, and most of them feel that ruthlessness is a necessity. Which it probably is.

Even the darkspawn are more than just the snarling monsters they seem, and uncovering what they are seems to be a part of uncovering the lore of the universe. Heh, there's also a pretty funny parody-meme about a sheep... it's a long story.

EvaUnit02 on 25/10/2009 at 09:51

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Oh hey, Wrex/Canderous/Whirlwind/etc analogue (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/oghren-trailer-dragon-age/58083) is a dwarf in this one, oh and he's disgruntled about his culture and wants to quickly get back to killing things - just like Wrex and Canderous. Yeah, Bioware by the numbers.

He's also voiced by Steve Blum, doing his boring old tough guy performance, that he's been using since Cowboy Bebop. On a related note, I wonder if Raphael Sbarge is reprising is his "whiny male love interest with a dark past" archetype from KotOR/ME1?