Dragon Age Inquisition: Snake was Right, y'all gonna Love this Game - Page 11

**Revising Ocelot** · 12-28-2014, 11:58 AM

I'm 99% sure it uses the Battlefield engine, Frostbite.

Oh, and I now have both DA2 and Inquisition. Turns out my brother is not a racist old bastard like the rest of my family, but the post was slow. Who knew? I will play DA2 first, and I will mash the X button on my 360 controller for maximum Awesome.

pochercoaster · 01-05-2015, 09:51 PM

Alright, so I finally got around to playing it and DA:I is fucking awesome. I haven't played the previous two (just watched Erick play them here and there) because I thought it would be too hard but it's actually not that bad. I love that I can micromanage everything in battle if I want or just sit back and let stuff happen.

Cassandra makes the same disgusted noises that I make IRL and it's endearing.

Also holy crap it's pretty.

Also yeah I'm veeery early on in the game and I am unfamiliar with the lore so I don't have much commentary on that front.

Edit: OMG there's ponies!!!

Overcast · 01-06-2015, 01:36 AM

I almost wish you'd do a lets play because all these initial reactions seem adorable.

pochercoaster · 01-07-2015, 12:30 PM

I would, except I'm too busy and disorganized to maintain any kind of consistency with that kind of thing.

It would be hilarious though considering how awful I am at games.

---------- Post added 01-07-2015 at 09:30 AM ---------- Previous post was 01-06-2015 at 11:10 AM ----------

Is there any evidence in Dragon Age lore that The Maker exists? It doesn't seem like there is so I guess I'll be rolling atheist, even though Cassandra won't like me if I do :<

Edit: Sera is THE BEST.

Edit 2: except for the transphobic joke mentioned earlier :<

Solid Snake · 01-07-2015, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pochercoaster

Is there any evidence in Dragon Age lore that The Maker exists? It doesn't seem like there is so I guess I'll be rolling atheist, even though Cassandra won't like me if I do :<

I'm impressed with the sheer diversity of religious belief regarding concepts like The Maker and Andraste (basically, she's DA's Jesus figure) in Inquisition. It'd be easy to paint all believers with the fundamentalist brush, particularly since that's the (factually inaccurate!) view of religion in the so-called Dark Age, but as you get to know your crew in Inquisition there's a lot of differentiation among the cast and it's fascinating that they really took the time to flesh out unique theological perspectives in a fantasy world like this.

As for Sera, personally I was never a huge fan, in part because she always reminded me of those Marxists who think everything's about Class to such an extent that they'll gleefully be offensive, insensitive asses about everything else. I still like her as a teammate who provides an interesting perspective but, damn, it's strange to reflect on how Cassandra is actually much more progressive than Sera once you dig beneath the surface.

pochercoaster · 01-08-2015, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

I'm impressed with the sheer diversity of religious belief regarding concepts like The Maker and Andraste (basically, she's DA's Jesus figure) in Inquisition. It'd be easy to paint all believers with the fundamentalist brush, particularly since that's the (factually inaccurate!) view of religion in the so-called Dark Age, but as you get to know your crew in Inquisition there's a lot of differentiation among the cast and it's fascinating that they really took the time to flesh out unique theological perspectives in a fantasy world like this.

Yeah, like, I appreciate that there is varying levels of devotion and.. traditionalism? among the characters and even within the chantry. Like, personally, religion doesn't bother me, just the organized/structural aspects of it. And DA:I seems to be about picking about the structural faults with the chantry, the templars, and so on, and they're doing so with lots of depth and it's really refreshing.

Edit: In fact, as an atheist, it would probably bother me if they didn't show depth within the chantry and also the faults in other organized groups because that would seem too much like making out dickheaded atheists (e.g. Richard Dawkins) and their (admittedly small number of) followers (who pretend intolerance is unique to organized religion while being just as intolerant and conservative as organized religion) as the solution. Or something.

Like I'm still drawing the conclusion that templars are gigantic dicks and that the chantry is kind of dated but it's not like the game makes it a super obvious black and white choice the way, say... Skyrim did with the stormcloaks and imperials.

Quote:

As for Sera, personally I was never a huge fan, in part because she always reminded me of those Marxists who think everything's about Class to such an extent that they'll gleefully be offensive, insensitive asses about everything else. I still like her as a teammate who provides an interesting perspective but, damn, it's strange to reflect on how Cassandra is actually much more progressive than Sera once you dig beneath the surface.

Yeah, I think I enjoy her mostly because she is an unrefined asshole who is obsessed with breeches.

I wonder if somewhere else in the game there's a character with a more intelligent marxist stance? That would be nice.

Anyways, I met Vivienne last night. I'm not sure I'm too fond of her, but I am fond of her wardrobe, cause damn. It's cool to see a resplendent, powerful female black character.

In general, I enjoy the wide cast of female characters and the depth with which they are written. Same for the male characters, actually, because god knows the typical male hero gets pretty boring.

Edit: Oh yeah, and I also finally met Iron Bull and Krem, and they're fantastic. I don't need to repeat every one of Iron Bull's* humorous lines, but I want to.

*THE Iron Bull

Solid Snake · 01-08-2015, 06:28 PM

I didn't particularly mind Vivienne when I first met her, but once I saw the way she interacted with all the other characters, it became apparent that she was putting up a charming facade for the Inquisitor by virtue of the power s/he wielded, and her default personality around people who aren't gifted with incredible world-saving power is trash.

I really like Dorian. In fact whenever I get around to creating a pro-Mage male Inquisitor I am absolutely going to romance him. He has a completely unique religious and political perspective from every character you've met so far but he's a similar breed of progressive-minded reformer. He has some elements of Vivienne's arrogant wit but unlike Vivienne, Dorian doesn't seem to treat others with the same degree of scorn or contempt. (Though I can't imagine he and Bull will be great friends given their respective national identities.)

It's funny because when I first met Dorian and when I first met Vivienne I had the opposite impressions about them, then Dorian grew on me while Vivienne soured as I scratched beneath the surface.

I know I said this in chat too, but one thing I really like about DA2 and Inquisition is how Bioware doesn't shy away from using their games to make thinly veiled progressive political statements, while casting the protagonists as clear agents of liberal change and reform in their conservative societies. Cullen's the progressive Templar with a conscience and a brain in his head, Dorian's critical of Tevinter, Bull is nothing like the 'typical' Qunari, Solas and Cole challenge conventional assumptions about the very threat of the Fade and spirits that you're fighting against, Cassandra is surprisingly questioning of her own religious convictions and favors pretty substantive Chantry reforms, even Leliana for all her spymongering makes it pretty clear she supports the mage rebellion. It's not quite the same as DA2, which had you feel as if you were playing the oppressed fighting against their own oppression, but it's a worthy sequel to DA2 in the sense that now you're playing the same personalities that were oppressed in the original title, but who are 'liberated' through their affiliations with the Inquisitor and the destruction of the conservative order with the loss of all the Chantry bigwigs into a position where they can be more active agents in changing the power structure of all of Thedas, and not just one small city in Kirkwall. It's as if DA2 purposefully makes you feel hopeless and helpless in the wake of seriously disturbing oppression of minorities, and then Inquisition says "Here's some weapons, here's your opportunity, now change it."

It makes me appreciate Dragon Age as a series all the more when I contrast it with Mass Effect, which for all its glitz and glamour really never tried to make similar political statements despite the fact that it actually takes place in our own Milky Way galaxy. I mean the extent of Mass Effect's themes often boiled down to "Brazenly obvious racism; isn't it fucking atrocious?" and there's nowhere near the same complexity or nuance.

pochercoaster · 01-14-2015, 04:05 PM

Man, fuck the quest markers and maps in this game. I have spent entirely too long running in circles in redcliffe castle like an idiot just trying to find the last red lyrium shard. What the fuck? I'm tired of looking up walkthroughs for redcliffe castle.

Edit: It was just... sitting on the floor? I'm pretty sure I immediately picked up all the ones that spellbinders dropped, so... wtf? Well, whatever, I'm happy to get on with the game.

Solid Snake · 01-15-2015, 04:06 AM

So I just saw the scene between Dorian and his father.

1: Awesome game is awesome;
2: Dorian is the best LGBT character in a videogame ever;
3: I love Dorian, and also why did I create a female Inquisitor for PC, I so want to romance him it's not even funny;
4: Bioware deserves massive props for making me feel so strongly for a character like Dorian that I'd rather romance him than any woman in this game;
5: Dorian is 11/10 best character in game;
6: The extremely rare use of the word 'fuck' (when Dorian says 'fucking') in this scene is just, damn Bioware;
7: Seriously whoever wrote Dorian is Bioware's best writer and should write every character;
8: I'm never going Templar route in future playthroughs, fuck choosing Cole over Dorian

EDIT: Another thing I love is how Tarot cards for your teammates change as their stories progress.

pochercoaster · 01-19-2015, 05:13 PM

Haven't progressed too much in the story yet, but unnnnhh I love this game SO MUCH I WANT TO MARRY IT.

-Vivienne is bitchy but not one-dimensionally bitchy like most media portray bitchy women. She's like real life bitchy women I know, if that makes sense?

Like I still don't like her, but I like how real she is.

-I like how the combat is still engaging even on easy mode. I'm playing an archer and every time I do a leaping shot it's like the most satisfying thing ever.

-I want to play with Iron Bull more but he just sucks too much in combat and that makes me sad.

-Dorian is fantastic.

-Jospehine is hawt and has poofy sleeves and I'm trying to romance her.

12-28-2014, 11:58 AM	#101
Revising Ocelot Douchebag Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Probably somewhere in England. Posts: 1,897	I'm 99% sure it uses the Battlefield engine, Frostbite. Oh, and I now have both DA2 and Inquisition. Turns out my brother is not a racist old bastard like the rest of my family, but the post was slow. Who knew? I will play DA2 first, and I will mash the X button on my 360 controller for maximum Awesome. __________________ magic sucks

01-05-2015, 09:51 PM	#102
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	very late to the party Alright, so I finally got around to playing it and DA:I is fucking awesome. I haven't played the previous two (just watched Erick play them here and there) because I thought it would be too hard but it's actually not that bad. I love that I can micromanage everything in battle if I want or just sit back and let stuff happen. Cassandra makes the same disgusted noises that I make IRL and it's endearing. Also holy crap it's pretty. Also yeah I'm veeery early on in the game and I am unfamiliar with the lore so I don't have much commentary on that front. Edit: OMG there's ponies!!! Last edited by pochercoaster; 01-05-2015 at 10:00 PM.

01-06-2015, 01:36 AM	#103
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	I almost wish you'd do a lets play because all these initial reactions seem adorable. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

01-07-2015, 12:30 PM	#104
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	I would, except I'm too busy and disorganized to maintain any kind of consistency with that kind of thing. It would be hilarious though considering how awful I am at games. ---------- Post added 01-07-2015 at 09:30 AM ---------- Previous post was 01-06-2015 at 11:10 AM ---------- Is there any evidence in Dragon Age lore that The Maker exists? It doesn't seem like there is so I guess I'll be rolling atheist, even though Cassandra won't like me if I do :< Edit: Sera is THE BEST. Edit 2: except for the transphobic joke mentioned earlier :< Last edited by pochercoaster; 01-07-2015 at 05:07 PM.

01-08-2015, 06:28 PM	#107
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	I didn't particularly mind Vivienne when I first met her, but once I saw the way she interacted with all the other characters, it became apparent that she was putting up a charming facade for the Inquisitor by virtue of the power s/he wielded, and her default personality around people who *aren't* gifted with incredible world-saving power is trash. I really like Dorian. In fact whenever I get around to creating a pro-Mage male Inquisitor I am absolutely going to romance him. He has a completely unique religious and political perspective from every character you've met so far but he's a similar breed of progressive-minded reformer. He has some elements of Vivienne's arrogant wit but unlike Vivienne, Dorian doesn't seem to treat others with the same degree of scorn or contempt. (Though I can't imagine he and Bull will be great friends given their respective national identities.) It's funny because when I first met Dorian and when I first met Vivienne I had the opposite impressions about them, then Dorian grew on me while Vivienne soured as I scratched beneath the surface. I know I said this in chat too, but one thing I really like about DA2 and Inquisition is how Bioware doesn't shy away from using their games to make thinly veiled progressive political statements, while casting the protagonists as clear agents of liberal change and reform in their conservative societies. Cullen's the progressive Templar with a conscience and a brain in his head, Dorian's critical of Tevinter, Bull is nothing like the 'typical' Qunari, Solas and Cole challenge conventional assumptions about the very threat of the Fade and spirits that you're fighting against, Cassandra is surprisingly questioning of her own religious convictions and favors pretty substantive Chantry reforms, even Leliana for all her spymongering makes it pretty clear she supports the mage rebellion. It's not quite the same as DA2, which had you feel as if you were playing the oppressed fighting against their own oppression, but it's a worthy *sequel* to DA2 in the sense that now you're playing the same personalities that were oppressed in the original title, but who are 'liberated' through their affiliations with the Inquisitor and the destruction of the conservative order with the loss of all the Chantry bigwigs into a position where they can be more active agents in changing the power structure of all of Thedas, and not just one small city in Kirkwall. It's as if DA2 purposefully makes you feel hopeless and helpless in the wake of seriously disturbing oppression of minorities, and then Inquisition says "Here's some weapons, here's your opportunity, now *change* it." It makes me appreciate Dragon Age as a series all the more when I contrast it with Mass Effect, which for all its glitz and glamour really never tried to make similar political statements despite the fact that it actually takes place in our own Milky Way galaxy. I mean the extent of Mass Effect's themes often boiled down to "Brazenly obvious racism; isn't it fucking atrocious?" and there's nowhere near the same complexity or nuance. __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text. Last edited by Solid Snake; 01-08-2015 at 06:30 PM.

01-14-2015, 04:05 PM	#108
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	Man, fuck the quest markers and maps in this game. I have spent entirely too long running in circles in redcliffe castle like an idiot just trying to find the last red lyrium shard. What the fuck? I'm tired of looking up walkthroughs for redcliffe castle. Edit: It was just... sitting on the floor? I'm pretty sure I immediately picked up all the ones that spellbinders dropped, so... wtf? Well, whatever, I'm happy to get on with the game. Last edited by pochercoaster; 01-14-2015 at 04:21 PM.

01-15-2015, 04:06 AM	#109
Solid Snake Erotic Esquire Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,563	So I just saw the scene between Dorian and his father. 1: Awesome game is awesome; 2: Dorian is the best LGBT character in a videogame ever; 3: I love Dorian, and also why did I create a female Inquisitor for PC, I so want to romance him it's not even funny; 4: Bioware deserves massive props for making me feel so strongly for a character like Dorian that I'd rather romance him than any woman in this game; 5: Dorian is 11/10 best character in game; 6: The extremely rare use of the word 'fuck' (when Dorian says 'fucking') in this scene is just, damn Bioware; 7: Seriously whoever wrote Dorian is Bioware's best writer and should write every character; 8: I'm never going Templar route in future playthroughs, fuck choosing Cole over Dorian EDIT: Another thing I love is how Tarot cards for your teammates change as their stories progress. __________________ *WARNING:* Snek's all up in this thread. Be prepared to read massive walls of text. Last edited by Solid Snake; 01-16-2015 at 04:15 AM.

01-19-2015, 05:13 PM	#110
pochercoaster rollerpocher tycoon Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,808	Haven't progressed too much in the story yet, but unnnnhh I love this game SO MUCH I WANT TO MARRY IT. -Vivienne is bitchy but not one-dimensionally bitchy like most media portray bitchy women. She's like real life bitchy women I know, if that makes sense? Like I still don't like her, but I like how real she is. -I like how the combat is still engaging even on easy mode. I'm playing an archer and every time I do a leaping shot it's like the most satisfying thing ever. -I want to play with Iron Bull more but he just sucks too much in combat and that makes me sad. -Dorian is fantastic. -Jospehine is hawt and has poofy sleeves and I'm trying to romance her.