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Dragon Age: Inquisition; who's excited?
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Topic Started: Mar 9 2014, 03:28 PM (15,502 Views)
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UltaFlame
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Jan 18 2015, 04:30 AM
Post #261
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Thanks Poui.
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Rrrrrgh all this spoiler talk makes me want to play the game and beat it.
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Asphodel
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Jan 21 2015, 03:25 AM
Post #262
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Electric Indigo
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This game is [radio edit]ing stupendous.
Will post thoughts on "What Pride..." after I figure out how to use this video capture software, because summaries aren't cutting it anymore. >___>
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Artemis
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Jan 21 2015, 03:31 AM
Post #263
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Plus Ultra
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Told you so
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Asphodel
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Jan 21 2015, 03:43 AM
Post #264
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Electric Indigo
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The Solas romance gets so unbearably cheesy, but as a hopeless romantic I love it. Impressive, considering apparently BioWare threw it in once they realized they had time enough for it.
Spoiler: click to toggle Which may explain why the Inquisitor doesn't get laid.
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Asphodel
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Jan 21 2015, 05:34 AM
Post #265
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Electric Indigo
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Okay, back at it.
What Pride! So this quest went from being a fairly ho-hum traipse through a fairly ho-hum forest to something really incredible. But yes, I was disappointed in the Arbor Wilds themselves. A few GIFs I saw on Tumblr, and the Wilds themselves being far south on the map, led me to believe that we'd get a wintry forest, not something jungle-esque. It's a minor complaint, but I love my snow environments, even more so if they're endgame.
But the Temple of Mythal made up for everything. Corypheus's kamikaze move was both hilarious and amazing, and I don't know if it was intentional on his part. I'd forgotten that he could do the body-surf thing, and it would explain why the Wardens and Malcolm Hawke had sealed him in the Vimmark mountains in the first place. Though I was frustrated with my Dalish Inquisitor asking who Mythal and the other gods of the elven pantheon were, the chance to respond to Morrigan's observations about them with real stories about her clan did wonders for her characterization. Solas was also quick to chime in and remind the Inquisitor that the stories she'd heard about the old gods were just that: stories.
Also, bringing along Dorian was a good call on my part: his reaction when the Sentinels told him that Elvhenan fell due to civil war was priceless. Completely at a loss for words.
My Inquisitor submitted to the Sentinels despite them raising the middle finger to the Dalish, because god forbid she insult the ancients she so often swoons over. Suffice it to say, I didn't have Morrigan to help me out after that.
Samson's was a fantastic reappearance and, like Corypheus, it was a genius move on BioWare's part to bring him back in this capacity. Very pleased with that boss fight, and I'm glad I was able to use Dagna's rune to weaken him. Cullen's personal quest had disappointed me due to the fact that we never ran into Samson, but I feel I can be more forgiving in hindsight. Since this Inquisitor doesn't do judgments - instead I headcanon them as the advisors and companions collectively deciding what to do with the prisoners behind the scenes - he will likely be sitting in the Skyhold dungeon for the rest of time.
I agonized over the Well decision for about fifteen minutes until I realized "Wait. My Inquisitor is an elven lore geek. Why wouldn't she drink from the Well of Sorrows, consequences be damned? Despite forever being on Morrigan's bad side now, the ensuing scene was gorgeous and totally worth it. Corypheus slamming ineffectually against a defunct Eluvian was the icing on the cake. I have no idea who the apparition that came out of the Well to stop him was, though. I'd love to hear some other accounts of what happened there from others who have gotten this far.
Also, what am I saying? The Sentinels themselves were amazing! I'm unsure as to whether they are truly the ancient elves - as in, unaging, straight from the time of Arlathan - or simply their descendants/disciples. They do have Vallaslin, but I think Solas or the Inquisitor comments at one point in the Arbor Wilds that it is somehow different. But that whole thing was a mind[radio edit]. As someone who never found the elves in Dragon Age to be particularly interesting, this was a huge revelation.
So now I assume I'm at the final quest. Before that, I'm going to wrap up my active side quests, finish up everything companion-related, and complete my collections. I'll save some content for my next playthrough.
Also, because I enjoyed it so much, I went ahead and recorded the third Solas romance scene which takes place after "What Pride..." I went with the most bleeding-heart dialogue options in most cases, because I couldn't help myself. So now you guys don't have to bother with this guy to see what happens. You're welcome.
Spoilers, obviously. Like, the first spoken line spoils the climax of "What Pride..." [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUFA7I4Q0cg[/youtube]
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Saturos
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Jan 21 2015, 06:32 AM
Post #266
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heart-under-blade
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omfg that third solas scene you linked; After What Pride Has Wrought holy shit the heartbreak. I feel for your poor Inquisitor, standing there all desolate. ;~; - Quote:
-
Though I was frustrated with my Dalish Inquisitor asking who Mythal and the other gods of the elven pantheon were, the chance to respond to Morrigan's observations about them with real stories about her clan did wonders for her characterization.
Yeah, I had similar thoughts. I actually made a separate save so I could view both consequences of the Well: either yourself drinking, or Morrigan drinking. The whole "elven lore geek" part definitely rings, and I love that the Inquisitor actually lashes out at Morrigan, and rightfully so, saying "This is my heritage!" As for the vallaslin, I figured out it was slave-markings when either the Sentinels or Corypheus call you out on it (probably the former), but I just found that even more heartening. Who doesn't like a good underdog story? And truths, meanings can change over the ages, but that makes them no less valid (or at least, so my Inquisitor would say -- she was always very keen to defend the Dalish). I wouldn't have chosen to remove them, but at least it lead to a super feels scene with Solas and a gorgeous visual. It's really cool of Bioware to include that. And yeah, the scene drinking from the Well is great.
Oh man Asphodel, hurry up and get through the game. I can't wait to get your reactions from this point forward.
Btw, you can do the next plot point thing without triggering the end of the game. The last quest starts with Doom.
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Saturos
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Jan 23 2015, 12:24 AM
Post #267
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heart-under-blade
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Would any/all of you lovely folks be willing to write a review of Dragon Age: Inqusition, or at least contribute some thoughts on it, for an edition of the Temple News?
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Asphodel
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Jan 23 2015, 12:46 AM
Post #268
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Electric Indigo
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I would be happy to offer some thoughts, and I was planning an extended post once I finished the game. I don't know when you would need the review itself, though, since I'm probably going to have to spend the next two weeks wrapping this game up due to other commitments.
Re: Solas scene - Saturos
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holy shit the heartbreak. I feel for your poor Inquisitor, standing there all desolate. ;~;
I felt so bad for her! But then, I was ecstatic because that's exactly, exactly how I wanted the scene to go in the first place. Everything about it was amazing, and both characters showed great emotion throughout that scene. My favorite moment in the game by far. I was so happy with the dialogue options in that scene, and how my Inquisitor carried herself in general. She felt like an actual character there, the one I had built early on. Super-pleased with it all-around. I may have made her a bit too weepy there, but I felt her story needed some drama at this point anyway. And I agree with you regarding the Vallaslin, and I personally wouldn't have had them removed either, for the reasons you mentioned. Having to wrestle with a character who makes big decisions on an emotional whim, and who is easily swayed by Solas in the first place, has made this playthrough a lot of fun for me. I'm certain that having her Vallaslin taken away will be something she comes to regret later on. Also, on a completely unrelated note, I just completed Iron Bull's personal quest. Probably the single most glaring example of BioWare's difficulty with conveying drama through action and cinematic techniques. The whole thing was silly and inconsequential. I like Bull's personality and all, but on the whole he's been the most disappointing companion by a wide margin. The whole thing went like "Oh god, Inquisitor! Do we order the Chargers to retreat or do we let them die and save the Dreadnought?" And then when you sound the horn to have the Chargers retreat, Iron Bull and the elf are all "welp, that's it, no Qunari alliance." It's like, what? How is this choice so binary? My advice for that quest, to make it more enjoyable: bring Dorian. Bring Dorian everywhere. He's incredible.
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Saturos
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Jan 23 2015, 12:54 AM
Post #269
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heart-under-blade
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Vivienne was definitely the most disappointing for me, followed a little bit by Sera. I actually deliberated for a little while over the choice at the end of Bull's personal quest, but considering what Bull wanted/the friendship my Inquisitor had with him, and
Bull's personal quest how my Inquisitor feels about the Qun as opposed to strong personal bonds, human humour, and just general apathy towards the Qun in general -- so I chose to save the Chargers.
That quest made me like Bull more than I did before, because it throws into contrast what he's been telling himself and the life he thinks he's living, versus what his heart and individuality has kind of "snuck" him into when he wasn't paying attention. And there's several scenes with the Chargers up til this point and drinking with Bull in general that I really got a feel for them as a whole secondary group with their own diverse cast, interests, and general stuff that was more or less incidental to our whole quest. tipped the scales quite handily.
EDIT: As for an article, the issue was just in the planning stages now, so write away. If we don't get it for this one, it'd be the next, but mid-feb seems like a likely point for us to shoot for.
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Asphodel
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Jan 23 2015, 12:59 AM
Post #270
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Electric Indigo
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I resolved Bull's quest the same way you did, yeah, but mostly because
Spoiler: click to toggle My Inquisitor hates death in general, especially when the potential victims are right in front of her. But she also reasoned that the Chargers were like family to him, the same way the rest of the companions are to her, and she put herself in Bull's shoes for that moment. I did see the scene where you got to meet the Chargers, though, and that definitely helped with my decision.
Plus, she doesn't know the difference between the Qun and a pancake. And neither do I.
Also
Vivienne's quest I was disappointed with the brevity of Vivienne's quest. And then I thought to myself an hour later "well, wait, did she poison the guy?" Even if she didn't, the conversation you have with Vivienne and the two Orlesian nobles at Skyhold comes off as extremely sketchy on Vivienne's part, and screams of a Machievellian ploy. Hearing rumors around Val Royeaux that she was suddenly in the running to become Divine cast the quest in a whole new light, though my Inquisitor was and is too stupid to realize what may have been going on there. So while it was short, I wound up liking it in hindsight. Dorian's quest was the same.
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Saturos
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Jan 23 2015, 01:07 AM
Post #271
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heart-under-blade
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Dorian and Vivienne's personal quests I actually [radio edit]ing loved Dorian's, since it wasn't airy-fairy fantasy but was immediately relevant to what's happening in the world today: that the rift between Dorian and his father is because his father tried to used magic to make him straight, which is basically what happens at those "pray the gay away" camps, and just as psychologically damaging. I was delighted that Bioware addressed that, and dealt with the anti-homosexual perspective in such a forthright way.
Vivienne's, yeah I thought she was definitely poisoning the guy, but it was more just putting him out of his misery or something. I guess that maybe not really explaining anything about it does leave it more open-ended, but I really don't care about Vivienne enough to care about what she is or isn't doing. If she were machinating to get herself made as Divine maybe that'd be more interesting, but I actually didn't hear much of those same rumours beyond a dialogue option one time to suggest Vivienne consider being divine.
I can't think of a more traditional and archaic candidate for Divine. <_<
Ending spoilers Seccy, I'd be curious as to how that played out, since your unspoilered "I picked Vivienne in the end" comment was about making Vivienne the Divine, right?
Also, I'm thinking we might make this Temple News a Valentine's Day edition, so that certainly plays in with Inquisition. 8D But you don't have to talk solely to the romance aspect of it.
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Necare
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Jan 23 2015, 02:23 AM
Post #272
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Fallen Angel
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I'd totally be up for contributing to the Inquisition aspect of the News. Or the News in general.
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Saturos
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Jan 23 2015, 02:25 AM
Post #273
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heart-under-blade
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If you're interested as a regular contributor, go join the group for it and access our sexy secret forum
We're thinking of a valentine's day special too, so whatever's relevant to that, feel free
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Asphodel
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Jan 24 2015, 10:57 PM
Post #274
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Electric Indigo
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Can I spend 3,000 words gushing about nugs?
So now that the areas are all mostly explored, I'm going to go take on the dragons, but with the added condition that each fight be done with a random party. First up: Mage-quisitor, Varric, Vivienne and Dorian. Time to get rekt.
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Saturos
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Jan 24 2015, 11:13 PM
Post #275
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heart-under-blade
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I've been clearing out areas and just did the Storm Coast and ran into the dragon there with a party of Sera, Blackwall, and Solas.
Still curbstomped it. >_> I really need to go on Hard mode.
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Asphodel
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Jan 24 2015, 11:33 PM
Post #276
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Electric Indigo
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Hard mode is the way to go in every Dragon Age game, imo. Not soul-crushingly difficult, but you do have to think tactically to win most battles.
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gnik drazil
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Jan 25 2015, 02:02 AM
Post #277
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The sun no longer sets me free
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i've put in 50 hours (holy fukc really? already?) and i've only completed 4 areas.
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Hisui
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Jan 25 2015, 09:16 AM
Post #278
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Seccy "no fun allowed" Secundum
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- Saturos
- Jan 23 2015, 01:07 AM
Dorian and Vivienne's personal quests I actually [radio edit]ing loved Dorian's, since it wasn't airy-fairy fantasy but was immediately relevant to what's happening in the world today: that the rift between Dorian and his father is because his father tried to used magic to make him straight, which is basically what happens at those "pray the gay away" camps, and just as psychologically damaging. I was delighted that Bioware addressed that, and dealt with the anti-homosexual perspective in such a forthright way.
Vivienne's, yeah I thought she was definitely poisoning the guy, but it was more just putting him out of his misery or something. I guess that maybe not really explaining anything about it does leave it more open-ended, but I really don't care about Vivienne enough to care about what she is or isn't doing. If she were machinating to get herself made as Divine maybe that'd be more interesting, but I actually didn't hear much of those same rumours beyond a dialogue option one time to suggest Vivienne consider being divine.
I can't think of a more traditional and archaic candidate for Divine. <_< Ending spoilers Seccy, I'd be curious as to how that played out, since your unspoilered "I picked Vivienne in the end" comment was about making Vivienne the Divine, right? Also, I'm thinking we might make this Temple News a Valentine's Day edition, so that certainly plays in with Inquisition. 8D But you don't have to talk solely to the romance aspect of it. Satty-yep. Not sure exactly how I did it, since I'm still only about 1/3 of the way through my 'do everything' run. Spoiler: click to toggle But she basically turns the world into a less-evil Tevinter.
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Saturos
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Jan 26 2015, 02:05 AM
Post #279
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heart-under-blade
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I know that feel, Gnik.
Endgame spoilers, @Seccy omfg she would, that snotrag. Luckily I don't like her. Did you or did you not love that ending though, Seccy? =P That seems like an outcome you'd be down with.
Also, I was doing this fad for Rumble and have been planning on doing it for Inquisition. Both for my Inquisitor and for myself, especially now that I've beaten the game. Both what she thinks about everyone, and what I think about everyone. Credit to HJ for the format.
Inquisitor Ilyasviel | Social Preferences |
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Strong Like | Like | Neutral | Dislike | Strong Dislike | Cassandra Varric Dorian Cullen
| Iron Bull Blackwall Leliana
| Josephine Cole
| Solas Vivienne
| Sera
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Mine | Character Preferences |
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Strong Like | Like | Neutral | Dislike | Strong Dislike | Inquisitor Ilyasviel Cassandra Varric Dorian Leliana
| Cole Solas Cullen
| Iron Bull Blackwall
| Josephine Sera
| Vivienne
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Since this was my first playthrough, for the most part my Inquisitor and I had similar opinions. Of course, a lot of my opinions came through from how she reacted to stuff. Like I disliked Solas for the longest time because I was affronted through her.
It would've been neat to do this as I was playing through and see how my/Ilyasviel's opinions changed throughout. It definitely would've been very different.
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Asphodel
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Jan 29 2015, 01:18 AM
Post #280
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Electric Indigo
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I'm on the seventh dragon, still randomizing my parties for each fight. Dorian has been along for every one. The dragons, all of them, hate his guts. Each fight has consisted of me directing our Tevinter friend to run for his life around the arena while the dragon tears him to pieces and/or jumps on him while Cassandra/Blackwall/Vivienne try to determine why they're such shit tanks.
Vivienne, though. She could take on dragons just by herself if she had the opportunity. I'm not even playing as a Knight Enchanter and it's still unbelievably OP. I'm just sitting there watching the fifth dragon going through its death throes and Vivienne just says "How uncivilized."
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