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SubponticatePoster posted:I think what bugs me the most about this plotline is that while Fiona may have agreed to indenture the whole group Tevinter contracts ain't worth poo poo down here. The second he went back on his promise she should have told him to get hosed since we showed up to offer an alternative and we have our own army. The Imperium isn't going to risk another EM against them for what amounts to a group of outcast fuckups. Plus how he got the Arl to just up and leave is another big mystery. The codex says the Arl goes to Denerim to ask for help from the Queen (or King, or both depending on your world state) but leaving your nigh-unassailable fortress in the hands of a foreign rear end in a top hat just seems like bad strategy. The way I figure it, a lot of people associate the Inquisition as being a part of the Chantry or the same as the first Inquisition (zealots hunting Mages). When Fiona saw for herself what the Inquisition stood for she offered them the alliance. But because Alexius messed with time to get to the Mages nearly after the destruction of the Conclave, where fear would be most abundant, he could manipulate Fiona into signing onto Tevinter with promises of protection and safety (after 10 years of indentured servitude). And since Fiona never sees for herself what the Inquisition is really like, with only their name to go on and all of the Anti-Mage connotations connected to it, she's sticking to Alexius (but you can see she's getting disillusioned with his 'help' and it only grows from there). And no one is in a position to launch an Exalted March at this point, as well. In any case, I'm not too hard on Fiona for trying to save her people after the Conclave's destruction, with nearly everyone blaming Mages for it, and taking a deal like that. A lot of people in this game make decisions they wouldn't normally make when cornered (or maybe it's cause I'm the sort of guy who gives second chances). SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 14:05 on Apr 1, 2015 |
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Apr 1, 2015 14:00
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SgtSteel91 posted:The way I figure it, a lot of people associate the Inquisition as being a part of the Chantry or the same as the first Inquisition (zealots hunting Mages). When Fiona saw for herself what the Inquisition stood for she offered them the alliance. But because Alexius messed with time to get to the Mages nearly after the destruction of the Conclave, where fear would be most abundant, he could manipulate Fiona into signing onto Tevinter with promises of protection and safety (after 10 years of indentured servitude). And since Fiona never sees for herself what the Inquisition is really like, with only their name to go on and all of the Anti-Mage connotations connected to it, she's sticking to Alexius (but you can see she's getting disillusioned with his 'help' and it only grows from there). He also infested the mages' ranks with his flunkies spreading pro-Tevinter propaganda, rumors of Templar resurgence, and pressure to accept whatever deal offered by threatening to split their already weakened forces. Combined with his ability to "reset" anytime things don't go his way and you can see that Alexius would get them to agree eventually.
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Apr 1, 2015 14:26
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Geostomp posted:He also infested the mages' ranks with his flunkies spreading pro-Tevinter propaganda, rumors of Templar resurgence, and pressure to accept whatever deal offered by threatening to split their already weakened forces. Combined with his ability to "reset" anytime things don't go his way and you can see that Alexius would get them to agree eventually. IMO it would have been better writing if the mages were happy with the alliance and Alexius didn't immediately poo poo all over them so we felt like we really needed his cooperation/permission. Also  I recorded the next big plot mission last night and I forgot how long it was. I'll probably have to split it into 3 updates.
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Apr 1, 2015 16:30
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Nobody but like one Mage we see in Redcliff (and I think she may be a Venatori agent spreading rumors and encouraging to take the deal) likes working with Vints, but they see no other alternative. You're not given a option to offer Fiona a better deal (at that point at least). And Fiona does say "gently caress this we want no part in this." But that's later (and imo, it would have been the perfect chance for her to throw Alexius across the room and you, her, and the Redciff Mages kick Alexius and the Venatori's butt instead of what happens in the mission and Alexius just limply accepting defeat).
SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 16:39 on Apr 1, 2015 |
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Apr 1, 2015 16:37
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I think that the situation would seem better if it were shown that Alexius actually did have mage noncombatants under his "protection". That would justify everyone else being willing to tolerate him for a while in order to ensure their safety. As it is now, the mages do seem oddly passive about the people that they clearly do not trust at all even if they are desperate for support. Eh, at least they're better than their Templar counterparts. "Huh, the boss is acting kinda weird recently and our officers are looking strangely red and crystalline after trying that new lyrium. Aw well, I'm sure it's nothing."
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Apr 1, 2015 20:37
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So when do you have to choose whether to pursue working with the mages or the templars? Did we already pass that? The mage path is certainly interesting, but I didn't see the Templar path so I was curious about that. Also, regarding Agent stuff: If you bring Vivienne along to talk to the mage woman at the crossroads, you can ask her to convince the woman to join; so you don't need to be a mage or have the perk. And that other guy you met and told him about the dead woman, that was a bit of a dirty trick by the game. Your response options are "Join the Inquisition" or "You failed her. Go home." The second one sounds like classic puppy-kicking rear end in a top hat option, but it's really misleading. If you tell him to Join the inquisition, he joins as an Agent in the Forces category. He's some type of lord, and if you tell him to "go home," you really say "there's nothing more you can do here. Go back and help your people" and he still becomes an Agent, except for Connections, I think it was.
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Apr 2, 2015 03:43
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Schwartzcough posted:So when do you have to choose whether to pursue working with the mages or the templars? Did we already pass that? The mage path is certainly interesting, but I didn't see the Templar path so I was curious about that. The point of no return is when you hit the war table mission, which explicitly tells you that it locks in this choice.
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Apr 2, 2015 03:54
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Schwartzcough posted:So when do you have to choose whether to pursue working with the mages or the templars? Did we already pass that? The mage path is certainly interesting, but I didn't see the Templar path so I was curious about that. The game shows you two mutually exclusive missions that explicitly warn you that you will be prevented from doing the other if you pick one. Going to Redcliffe to meet the mages doesn't lock you in, it just gives you some background on the situation. Unfortunately, there isn't an equivalent mission for the Templars. After Val Royeau, you don't see any non-rabid Templars unless you do their mission.
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Apr 2, 2015 03:56
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It's kinda funny just how well Sera and Cassandra get along during party banter.
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Apr 2, 2015 04:48
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grack posted:It's kinda funny just how well Sera and Cassandra get along during party banter. Sera has a serious crush on Cassandra.
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Apr 2, 2015 04:52
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Cythereal posted:Sera has a serious crush on Cassandra.  Cassandra will also get nicer to Sera if you take them out more. She'll apologize for making fun of her or for being snooty.
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Apr 2, 2015 06:36
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Cythereal posted:Sera has a serious crush on Cassandra. Oh I know. It's funny running with Viv/Cass/Sera as a party because the banter goes all over the place between the three of them. Also Cass being mostly oblivious to Sera's attempts at flirting.
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Apr 2, 2015 09:19
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Torrannor posted:It was the seat of the Maker and was basically heaven, where the virtuous souls went after death. But some Tevinter mages, encouraged by their gods, decided to enter the Fade physically to try to reach the Golden City, to become gods themselves. But the city turned black, they were cast out and became the first darkspawn. At least that's the story that the Chantry teaches, with clear Garden of Eden parallels. On the spoilers you mention, I read an interesting theory about that stuff. Major DA2 and DA:I spoilers, in this link - discussing Red Lyrium, the Primeval Dwarf Thaig and how they might be connected to the Blights and Golden City. Forgive the tumblr link, but I've not seen it posted/discussed elsewhere. The theory seems sound to meat least, though I've not played DA:I, only Origins and 2.
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Apr 2, 2015 21:32
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You guys don't have to spoiler poo poo from DA2. If that link you're posting has direct spoilers to stuff we haven't seen yet then just put a warning on it. Varric mentions red lyrium at the Temple in the second video so we know it's around. Next round of chatting with him we'll ask him about it directly so folks not in the know can get some background info. tl;dr: It's bad, mmmkay
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Apr 2, 2015 21:37
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SubponticatePoster posted:You guys don't have to spoiler poo poo from DA2. If that link you're posting has direct spoilers to stuff we haven't seen yet then just put a warning on it. Varric mentions red lyrium at the Temple in the second video so we know it's around. Next round of chatting with him we'll ask him about it directly so folks not in the know can get some background info. Oh but it gives such a lovely piquant flavour to nugs or druffalo or whatever the hell people actually eat in Thedas
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Apr 2, 2015 22:45
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grack posted:Oh but it gives such a lovely piquant flavour to nugs or druffalo or whatever the hell people actually eat in Thedas They eat cheese, of course. Smelly cheese from Orlais.
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Apr 3, 2015 10:50
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SubponticatePoster posted:So does Butts! So do the iron bull and blackwall. Basically everyone hearts Cass.
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Apr 5, 2015 06:20
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   Goddamnit A short video in which all sorts of things broke. We chat with our advisers and get a little backstory. The next major plot mission is done with the thread's choice of Cassandra and Iron Bull joining us (the third party member is mandatory which is why we only had 2 companions to choose). It's a very long mission and I'll probably end up splitting it into 3 updates.
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Apr 5, 2015 23:40
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Ah, strange conversations and weird clipping issues. My last playthrough I was trying to fight the Highland Ravager (the hardest of the 10 high dragons) and I found it with it's head stuck in the wall and just... vibrating. That's my best so far. Should've gotten a screenshot.
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Apr 6, 2015 05:21
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   Whoa Things are happening! This choice between allying with the mages or the Templars doesn't have a huge impact on the plot itself, but it is the deciding factor for your post-game which is why I didn't put it up for a vote. Both choices result in pretty long missions. I think this particular one is more fun and makes more sense story-wise. Turns out there's all sorts of weird poo poo going on and if we can't unfuck the situation the world is screwed. We learn a tiny bit about the major antagonist and get a glimpse of a very unpleasant future. I won't say much more than that until people have had a chance to watch the video. When we're all done I'll write a post about the other option in spoiler tags so people who haven't played the game won't get anything ruined unless they want to.
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Apr 9, 2015 14:37
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Let me just reiterate: loving. Tevinter. ... Or rather, now that it's not longer spoilerish, loving. Venatori.
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Apr 9, 2015 19:08
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Fiona is a moron Edit: Also Dorian has terrible, terrible fashion sense. grack fucked around with this message at 20:10 on Apr 9, 2015 |
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Apr 9, 2015 20:07
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kaosdrachen posted:Let me just reiterate: look man, they just wanna be gods, that's not too bad and it's completely understandable. It's not like their last attempt at godhood created an endless army of orcs, resulting the in the basically obliteration of the dwarves and the resurrection of their dragon gods as mighty immortal demons or anything.
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Apr 9, 2015 20:19
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I like the "Stop being a loving stereotype you moron" dude. That book thingie says "He walked the Golden City" or something about the Elder One. (Spoilered guess) Is he one of those magister dudes you guys mentioned entering the Golden City and turning it black? What does that red crystal poo poo do? my dad fucked around with this message at 21:14 on Apr 9, 2015 |
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Apr 9, 2015 21:10
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my dad posted:What does that red crystal poo poo do? Red lyrim does many things. All of them bad and most of them involving a quick departure from the lands of sanity.
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Apr 9, 2015 21:17
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Geostomp posted:Red lyrim does many things. All of them bad and most of them involving a quick departure from the lands of sanity. Basically? It's tiberium, or warpstone if you're a WHF fan.
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Apr 9, 2015 21:20
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Lyrium is nasty poo poo. It's a mineral mined by Dwarves who are resistant to it's effects, and worked by Dwarves or Tranquil. It's the basis of potions which can be used by mages to enhance their spellcasting (game effect: replenishes mana reserves) and it's the source of the templars ability to block magics. It's also used in the crafting of runes which make magical items. It's also toxic, sanity-sapping, addictive, and is the sort of bad news you'd expect from pretty well anything magic and fade related in Thedas. Red lyrium is worse. Regular (blue) lyrium will debilitate it's ingestor and erode their judgement if they aren't very careful about how much they ingest and how often. Think 'magical heroin'. Red lyrium can drive someone mad by mere proximity. A small idol made of the stuff was responsible for much of the poo poo that went down in Kirkwall back in Dragon Age 2. Just ask Varric about the stuff.
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Apr 9, 2015 22:45
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And making matters even more fun, red lyrium is contagious. It was locked away deep underground, in a primeval dwarf ruin that predates any known dwarf civilization, until Hawke and friends brought some back to the surface. Now it's spreading, and no one has any idea how to stop it. It's one of the lesser problems facing Thedas in Inquisition.
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Apr 9, 2015 22:58
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my dad posted:
It's cannon that the Elder One was one of the magisters, but the other part is still up for debate. According to the Elder One the Golden City was already black when he and his other idiot buddies showed up. grack fucked around with this message at 23:52 on Apr 9, 2015 |
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Apr 9, 2015 23:45
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my dad posted:I like the "Stop being a loving stereotype you moron" dude. quote:That book thingie says "He walked the Golden City" or something about the Elder One. (Spoilered guess) Is he one of those magister dudes you guys mentioned entering the Golden City and turning it black? To sum up Fiona's explanation: First it drives you crazy, then it starts turning your tissues into more Red Lyrium while keeping you alive throughout the process, presumably -- or maybe hopefully -- until it spreads into your more vital organs.
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Apr 10, 2015 05:53
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Wow, The Iron Bull and Casandra are taking this whole thing way better than the characters I brought along (Blackwall and Sera). They seem to be on the "I just lost my job and my girlfriend broke up with me" levels of depression, and not "I'm half insane and dying of horror-fantasy cancer in an apocalyptic hellscape" levels of depression.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:34
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Schwartzcough posted:Wow, The Iron Bull and Casandra are taking this whole thing way better than the characters I brought along (Blackwall and Sera). They seem to be on the "I just lost my job and my girlfriend broke up with me" levels of depression, and not "I'm half insane and dying of horror-fantasy cancer in an apocalyptic hellscape" levels of depression. Cassandra adjust surprisingly quickly. Iron Bull is just happy he gets to hit things again.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:39
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Can I just say the time-travel aspect really irked me? I can't even think of why, but when playing this mission, when I realized "we time traveled", it just pissed me off. I still can't put my finger on it, and I still don't like it. But Dorian is cool. Sidenote: why does Cullen say "we can't in good conscience order you to do this" before the quest? Why would he even issue us orders? Aren't we in charge of the Inquisition, or did I miss something?
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Apr 10, 2015 07:41
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Not yet. We're just vitally important to the success of its current mission. There is no singular leader of the Inquisition at the current point in the story.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:03
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drkeiscool posted:Can I just say the time-travel aspect really irked me? I can't even think of why, but when playing this mission, when I realized "we time traveled", it just pissed me off. I still can't put my finger on it, and I still don't like it. At first, I assumed they were just transported to another part of the castle (a sort of The Fade 2.0, or something) but nope. Time travel. I'm going along with it, but I agree it just feels... Out of place - and that's despite all the other crazy things I've seen throughout the first game and what I've seen here so far.
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Apr 10, 2015 17:07
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Yagyumi posted:At first, I assumed they were just transported to another part of the castle (a sort of The Fade 2.0, or something) but nope. Time travel. I'm going along with it, but I agree it just feels... Out of place - and that's despite all the other crazy things I've seen throughout the first game and what I've seen here so far. I dunno, I think they set it up decently what with the whole "he's destroying the fabric of time!" shtick earlier. That said there seems to be an astoundingly non zero percentage of people in the thread that didn't see this coming from a mile away 
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Apr 10, 2015 17:22
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FoolyCharged posted:That said there seems to be an astoundingly non zero percentage of people in the thread that didn't see this coming from a mile away I was expecting the game to put us earlier in time, to the point where he first started trying to gently caress with the mages and before they'd actually agreed to anything.
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Apr 10, 2015 23:43
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Employee Appreciation Day We found Leliana   And if this is what Solas means when he says "imagine a world without the veil," well he can gently caress right off.It seems things aren't going so well for Alexius in the future. His time magic doesn't work before the breach was created and so the Elder One is rather upset. He's locked himself behind a special door and we have to murder our way through the castle to find the keys. Fine by me.
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Apr 11, 2015 09:09
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I think I figured it out: Dragon Age has always been somewhat grounded. While there are some exceptions, the setting feels... normal? for lack of a better term. It's a good mix of low fantasy and heroic fantasy (DA:O with more heroic, DAII with more low), and even with magic and demons and stuff, it's stayed low key about it. And then all of a sudden, we're time travelling. I mean, seriously? Time travel? In Dragon Age? And the whole "bad future" and "back to our timeline" felt so cliche. It just completely took me out of the game, and whenever I would get back into it, some other Thing would happen that made me roll my eyes, and it all started with this mission. But if it sounds like I'm pissing on the LP, I'm not; SubponticatePoster is doing a great job, so thanks for that.
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Apr 11, 2015 10:18
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If this hasn't been mentioned yet, time travel is a BIG THING and you can follow that line in near future when you get to next chapter.
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Apr 11, 2015 12:22
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