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Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2017 14:56:05 GMT
I had a question. I'm playing DAO for the first time in ages and have only played it twice before. I'm playing as a male Dalish elf. Am I limited to Zevran as my romance? I recall not really loving Zevran all that much.
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Post by dino on Oct 12, 2017 15:46:19 GMT
I had a question. I'm playing DAO for the first time in ages and have only played it twice before. I'm playing as a male Dalish elf. Am I limited to Zevran as my romance? I recall not really loving Zevran all that much. When you don't play with mods and only wanna romance a male one - Yes, Zevran is the only bisexual male. Alistair is straight. |
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Post by dgcatanisiri on Oct 12, 2017 17:49:08 GMT
There is a line, I feel, in terms of 'yeah, this can be internally consistent even if it's contradictory to common wisdom and attitudes' and 'this is being done to facilitate a story, damn the consequences.' The vallaslin reveal is one thing - we have been told repeatedly that the Dalish have lost their history, had it torn away from them by invading humans. And indeed, Solas himself brings up the element of how perspective is everything in the Fade, that a martyr or a monster depend on your point of view.
But Dorian is not our first love interest from Tevinter. Fenris is an escaped slave. If this were a legitimate 'oh this was always part of the tapestry, you just didn't know it before!' situation, he almost certainly would have been able to bring it up - a nouveau riche noble man has expressed interest in him. A noble man is expressing their desires with a male elven (escaped) slave. Surely he would have brought up that in Tevinter, this is done to get an urge out of the system, rather than a legitimate relationship where both parties love one another.
The vallaslin reveal recontextualizes the established lore. Dorian's story breaks lore because it exists independent of the previously established world, it is an outside story shoved into this setting.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2017 23:20:57 GMT
I suppose this is the best place to post this. Mary Kirby @biomarykirby If you have ever thought to yourself, "I would sure like to read a noir mystery story set in Kirkwall, written by Varric and starring all his friends from DA2." this might be the book for you: Dragon Age: Hard in Hightown Hardcover – July 31, 2018 by Varric Tethras (Author), Mary Kirby (Author), Various (Illustrator) www.amazon.com/Dragon-Age-Hightown-Varric-Tethras/dp/1506704042?pldnSite=1Prolific dwarven author and heroic companion of the Dragon Age games, Varric Tethras brings us the collected edition of his breakthrough crime-noir drama, Hard in Hightown (with help from his trusted human confidante, Mary Kirby)! This volume is beautifully illustrated by Stefano Martino, Álvaro Sarraseca, Andres Ponce, and Ricardo German Ponce Torres, with a painted cover by E.M. Gist!
Twenty years of patrols have chiseled each and every stone of the Kirkwall streets into city guardsmen Donnen Brennokovic. Weary and weathered, Donnen is paired with a recruit so green he might as well have leaves growing out of his armor. When the mismatched pair discover a dead magistrate bleeding out on the flagstones, they're caught up in a clash between a shadowy organization known only as the Executors and a secretive group of Chantry agents--all over some ancient artifact. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 6:12:09 GMT
I finally got to see the option in the Cousland origin for sleeping with Dairren. I didn't keep it as I don't normally do such overt flirting, but as I was restarting the game anyway, I decided to do a reload and check it out. It wasn't too bad! I liked how there was that small cutscene before the poor guy got killed and that you were able to mention him to Mom. [edit] Omg! (Yeah it's kinda weird he's not looking at your PC while saying this.) Also, I found out that you don't have to be overly flirty. If you end the conversation by first picking the "let's go somewhere private" followed by "maybe we can get together after you return from the South," end the conversation, talk to him again and pick the private option again, you get the option to ask him to come up to your room. I think this works pretty well for my character, as I just didn't like the "  I read the Thedas version of Kama Sutra" line. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 23:25:04 GMT
Do any of y'all ever take forever to go through these games because you have to go everywhere and do everything, even to clicking on all of the NPCs?  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2017 14:32:09 GMT
Argh, I seem to be re-entering another period of gaming meh: nothing's feeling new, except for actually new stuff which is feeling scary, as in "I don't understand, and once I've gone to the effort of understanding, I might not like it." Right now that's affecting my Inquisition play-through, which I've been really enjoying: although not perfect, I love it for Bioware's usual strengths of storytelling, lore and characters, and though Frostbite is decidedly imperfect, it looks pretty. I'd been looking forward to and largely enjoying a full play-through, but now I'm on the cusp of what are for me the most interesting bits (the DLCs, mostly by merit of relative lack of familiarity) I'm now getting that dreaded "can't be arsed" feeling. It may be just too much drudgery, partly the constant trawling the completed quest log and trying to find the barely perceptible "unread thing star" in the codex entries in order for the party banter to not get messed up, or it may be spending too many hours in one very long bout of shard collecting, but I'm now just thinking ...nah. Which is a bit sad. :/ I so wish it was possible to mod Frostbite: one of the things that's kept Bethsoft's games fresh for me long past their sell-by date is the ability to grab new and interesting things off Nexus or pointlessly but enjoyably spending too much time in Blender adding shoes and stuff to the game, but Frostbite only barely supports retexes, always the lowest common denominator of modding, and only then because of some very hard work from a bunch of dedicated and clever people. And I'm not sure things will ever change: obviously not with Inquisition, but I think a combination of Frostbite being reputedly extremely modder-unfriendly in itself and an extreme lack of willing on EA's part means it probably won't ever happen.  I suppose this is the best place to post this. Mary Kirby @biomarykirby If you have ever thought to yourself, "I would sure like to read a noir mystery story set in Kirkwall, written by Varric and starring all his friends from DA2." this might be the book for you: [wibble] I know I asked much the same thing on BSNUF, but does anybody know if it's a novel with pictures (in which case yay, books with pictures are too few and far between: and I'm in good company there, respected publishers like the Folio Society have expressed concern that traditional illustration is a dying art and one they endeavour to keep alive) or a comic strip? I'm hoping the former as the Dark Horse comics generally aren't quite to my personal taste. And will it contain new material or is it a compilation of the stuff we've seen in game? |
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Post by Red Fox on Dec 31, 2017 22:24:41 GMT
So I'm going to sit down and properly play all of these games starting with origins. My main goal for 2018.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 8:55:49 GMT
I know I asked much the same thing on BSNUF, but does anybody know if it's a novel with pictures ... or a comic strip? It seems like a novel with occasional illustrations. The codex entries for the book in the games aren't complete. Mike mentioned that Mary worked really hard on this, so I'm thinking it's a full-on novel, as Varric would write. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 4:32:58 GMT
I'm having difficulty with the fate of Connor on my current play.
Typically, I play a mage, so it doesn't seem too much of a stretch for me to suggest going to the mage tower to seek their aid. In addition, there are lingering feelings against Jowan, plus the typical prohibitions on blood magic, that don't make my mage character inclined to go with that choice.
On my current play, I'm on a Cousland warrior who doesn't know anything about magic, but is educated enough to basically know that blood magic is forbidden, so that doesn't make me inclined to use blood magic in that instance. The other alternative is killing Connor.
To see how it plays out, I decided to do a test run where I chose to kill Connor. The game practically beats you over the head by repeatedly and insistently -- via NPC pleading and continuous dialogue options -- stating that there "must be another way" to get to you hear the option of going to the mage tower. If you ignore those options, at one point Leliana even says, "It just doesn't seem like we're trying very hard," if you attempt to persuade her that killing him is the best option. Even during the final scene where you have the final option of killing Connor, you can elect to stop.
I'm not entirely against going to the mage tower in order to have this perfect solution, but it's poorly implemented in the game because it IS that perfect solution. If you take the time to go to the mages, and if you have to spend even more of that time doing the full mage tower mission, there should be some consequences for that, but there aren't. I wish this wasn't in the game at all, but it is, so I have to decide what to do.
Thoughts?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 4:59:59 GMT
I had a question. I'm playing DAO for the first time in ages and have only played it twice before. I'm playing as a male Dalish elf. Am I limited to Zevran as my romance? I recall not really loving Zevran all that much. I know this was from October, but I thought I'd chime in. To answer your question, yes if you're playing a gay character your only option is Zevran. If you don't mind using mods, there are some options. There is of course the Equal Love mod, which opens up all the romances, so then you can romance Alistair, as well as opening up certain romance-like options, such as having sex with Cammen in the Brecilian Forest area. For a Dalish elf, there are several mods related to Tamlen, including Bi Tamlen and Opening Cutscene Dialogue Fix. For a female character, there is a dialogue option that allows you to express care for him, which is then later carried over in some other NPC dialogue and in a later scene that I won't spoil. Let me make clear that this path already existed for a fem Warden, this mod opens it up to males. So, if you don't want to have an actual game romance for whatever reason, you can certainly have an involved headcanon regarding Tamlen and this mod would support that. (This is my favorite choice, were I to play a Dalish. I love the idea of being romantically involved with your best friend since childhood. Then there is the extreme angst factor since he dies. Since the Blight takes place over a year or so, that can certainly be used as a reason for not doing any of the romances in the game. Good for an Ultimate Sacrifice Warden, too, who will join Tamlen in the Beyond.) For everyone else, there is also the Ser Gilmore mod, which adds him as a follower and romance for all genders, races, origins. |
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Post by vertigomez on Jan 3, 2018 7:25:42 GMT
@vometia I know that feeling all too well! Honestly, if I'm in a DA mood but feeling "meh" about the playthrough, I just sit down and work out a new character concept, try to keep things fresh and interesting. Doesn't just apply to DA, btw. I do this with BG, NWN... everything.  Do any of y'all ever take forever to go through these games because you have to go everywhere and do everything, even to clicking on all of the NPCs?  I'm lucky, this never happens to me because I only click on characters/pick up missions that are in-character.  So I'm going to sit down and properly play all of these games starting with origins. My main goal for 2018. Me tooooo!  Well, I wouldn't say it's my main goal, but it's something I want to do before DA4 comes out. |
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Post by vertigomez on Jan 3, 2018 8:50:30 GMT
please god i need a distraction. Hey @nightscrawl in what ways are you changing your canon?  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 9:18:14 GMT
please god i need a distraction. Hey @nightscrawl in what ways are you changing your canon? Rofl Fem human mage > male Cousland warrior Alistair romance > no romance I'm using a mod that adds tags to flirts and dialogues that initiate romance so I can avoid them, so I can have more freedom in choosing dialogue options. In the past, I've tried to rack up approval by using the DAwiki as a guide, but this time I'm really going to try to roleplay, approval be damned. If I don't get personal quests or whatever else, then I'll just have to live with it. I still haven't decided on the Connor choice yet. I previously went to the tower because, as I said above, in playing a mage it seems natural to accept the idea of going to the mages for help. Also, I usually went to the tower first (based on gossip heard in Lothering), so it's a simple trip there and back. Recruit Zevran > not recruiting. This choice is different from Sten in that you can see that Sten regrets his actions, and I do like the idea of atonement. But Zevran, to me, is a gamble that he's not going to slit my throat while we're sleeping. I'm not going to take the risk. Playing a Cousland, and the bit with Howe, has also made my PC more cautious about associations. I will still save the mages. It's very easy to see the "I can't decide until I see for myself" rationale. I will still go with Harrowmont over Behlen. I'll have to see how I can work out the missions and dialogues so I can get a good grasp of their personalities before I decide in-game. I will still pick the neutral option between elves and werewolves. Instead of making Alistair duel, thus triggering the automatic execution of Loghain and making Alistair king, I will duel him myself and choose Anora. Loghain will still die, and I will keep Alistair as a Warden. Dark Ritual > refuse DR, commit the Ultimate Sacrifice. In DAA, I'll play the Orlesian Warden, but make all of those same choices. I wonder if it's pointless to play the DLC, especially Witch Hunt, if it's not with my Warden (since he's dead)? In DA2, I'll likely shift from fem mage to male rogue, but still romance Fenris. I'll keep most of my same choices. I'm not sure what I'll do with some of the followers. I normally game the approval through a lot of follower switching and such during quests that will net me the F or R I want. I'm not sure if I'm willing to do that this time. However, I prefer to have a rival Anders, but I do support mages and tend to pick nice options, so it might be necessary. |
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Post by vertigomez on Jan 3, 2018 16:43:54 GMT
Thank you for indulging me. I actually wanted to ask you about this earlier because I knew you were altering your canon but now seemed as good a time as any. I'm using a mod that adds tags to flirts and dialogues that initiate romance so I can avoid them, so I can have more freedom in choosing dialogue options. In the past, I've tried to rack up approval by using the DAwiki as a guide, but this time I'm really going to try to roleplay, approval be damned. If I don't get personal quests or whatever else, then I'll just have to live with it. That's convenient! It's all too easy to get ninjamanced in DAO. Especially by Leliana. So many seemingly innocuous dialogue options, so many broken hearts...  I saw your post on cBSN. It's kind of a tough one, but if you've taken care of all the chaos at the tower then that does cut down on the amount of time you spend away from Redcliffe and going to the tower is MUCH easier to justify that way. RIP Zevran.  I get that, too. Plus, even for characters who are on the fence, Wynne certainly seems more rational than Cullen at that point. I'd take Leliana (and Zevran, but... uh... ) to Orzammar and be sure to chat up the people of Dust Town if you want to get a full picture of their personalities and policies. Oooh, so who's getting left in the Fade come Here Lies The Abyss? Is Alistair hardened or unhardened? Rogues in DA2 are so much fun. Plus, Bethany! What do you suppose her fate will be? As for Friendship/Rivalry, I get where you're coming from about wanting to stay in character and deal with approval hits as they happen, but DA2 is the one game where I don't feel aaaannyy guilt about gaming the system. It's almost impossible not to when you've got characters like Fenris who don't like your pro-mage decisions but LOVE your anti-slavery decisions. Otherwise you end up in the dreaded neutral zone, and I can't believe that Fenris or Aveline or Anders or whoever would feel neutral about someone they've known - and possibly loved - for almost a decade. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 17:17:17 GMT
That Harrowmont/Bhelen thing was always troubling for me. Harrowmont was (apparently) the more decent person, but was so utterly beholden to the past; Bhelen was much more forward-thinking but he was a bell end. Whichever I chose seemed deeply unsatisfactory. I guess the head says Bhelen but the heart says Harrowmont, but there's no overlap.
I think in one of my Oranges games I let Loghain live: other than the treachery (for all its intricacies) in some ways I found him a more satisfying character than Alistair: I think just being more grown-up, though I superficially liked Alistair in too many ways he was like an irresponsible, sulky teenager. I was particularly irritated that when he was having a laugh at your expense, if you answered in kind you got a disapproval hit. Which is not unrealistic but it's still annoying. I should've really thought through my Inquisition play-throughs better to not have "irresponsible stroppy teenager is king lol" every time.
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Post by vertigomez on Jan 3, 2018 19:53:15 GMT
Bhelen's easy for me because I've played the DC origin so many times that it's ingrained in my head that he's my brother-in-law and the father of my nephew. That origin is a bit biased in his favor.  Even walking around Dust Town in the very beginning, before you know of his involvement with Rica, a random casteless woman will gush that, "Prince Bhelen smiled at me!" And if you try to talk to Harrowmont as a casteless dwarf - even if you're trying to put the crown on his head - he constantly belittles and berates you for being a dirty filthy brand. That kindly old man thing is reserved for all the other origins LOL. But it's obviously a very different decision without that perspective. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 23:05:10 GMT
RIP Zevran. I'm not going to kill him during the initial scene, just allow him to slink away. Does he appear later on with Talisen to finish the job? Oooh, so who's getting left in the Fade come Here Lies The Abyss? Is Alistair hardened or unhardened? I'm not sure. With the way I'm not caring about approval in DAO, I'm not sure I'll have the opportunity to do his personal quest. If I do, I'll just have to see how the dialogues play out. Plus, Bethany! What do you suppose her fate will be? Warden. I always take my sibling. They're adults and able to decide their own fate (that they want to go on the mission). Besides, I prefer the idea that this is a family affair, not Hawke just taking care of things. Considering the danger of being a mage in Kirkwall, it also seems dangerous to leave her there. but DA2 is the one game where I don't feel aaaannyy guilt about gaming the system. This is so true!  |
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Post by vertigomez on Jan 4, 2018 4:48:08 GMT
RIP Zevran. I'm not going to kill him during the initial scene, just allow him to slink away. Does he appear later on with Talisen to finish the job? Is that an option? I recruited him last night and I only remember seeing an option to invite him to join your party... or tell him that you can't let him live, in which case he'll turn hostile. As far as I know Taliesen never appears if you don't recruit Zevran. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2018 7:23:05 GMT
Is that an option? I recruited him last night and I only remember seeing an option to invite him to join your party... or tell him that you can't let him live, in which case he'll turn hostile. As far as I know Taliesen never appears if you don't recruit Zevran. In some previous play, I tested a bunch of the options to see them. I thought I recalled that he sort of hobbled off, holding his wounded side. |
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I read the Thedas version of Kama Sutra" line.
Well, I wouldn't say it's my main goal, but it's something I want to do before DA4 comes out.
Even walking around Dust Town in the very beginning, before you know of his involvement with Rica, a random casteless woman will gush that, "Prince Bhelen smiled at me!"
Much love right back at ya!
