Tale

I just really would have liked to kill Petrice. And when Act 2 comes along, if Sister "I'm totally a different character see I have black hair" Betrice shows up, I'd be more accepting. The art of DMing is, at its core, all about filing the serial numbers off and hoping nobody looks too closely.

I did say "fine." It's acceptable enough to not hinder my enjoyment in itself. My comment on DMing is my new reaction to Dragon Age 2. It displays a readiness to completely ignore player choice in order to promote the author's intended plot as is. Leliana's back, regardless of whether or not she died. Sister Petrice calls out that you won't get to kill her , when the only reason we can't is we have no ability to attack in the middle of a cutscene as people walk right by you. It's all the frustrations of dealing with a DM's favorite NPC with none of the relief of sneaking out of his apartment with extra bottles of beer. It's not all bad, I'm cherrypicking negativity here. Isabela and Fenris are characters you never even have to meet, for example. However, Act 3 plays But Thou Must as if it's a running gag. You're forced to destroy the only reasonable people in the entire game because the plot won't progress until you do.

I actually find their writing to be fine. It's their DM'ing that's atrocious. They could use a more interesting antagonist, but that's not the bulk of what I consider good or bad writing.

Introduce a challenge. Present that challenge again later with an additional element or elements. Repeat. It seems so simple.

You can find out about his love affair with a lower caste by reading a letter in his room (it's the Dwarf Commoner origin's sister, in fact). You find out he's a murderer by playing the Dwarf Noble origin, since you're his brother and he frames you for the death of the other brother. After first convincing you that the other brother is going to murder you. Basically, the eldest was next in line for the throne. But he was a complete ****, and the nobility actually likes the Dwarf Noble Origin PC better (middle brother). Behlen is the youngest with no real prospect. Bhelen tells the PC that the older brother is plotting to kill him so that he can't threaten his succession. He tries to convince the PC to kill the eldest first. Whether you do agree or not, you end up finding his corpse in the Deep Roads and a couple of lower caste soldiers (obviously working for Bhelen) claim they saw you do it, forcing you into exile.

Actually, something does trigger. But not enough triggers. The bandit leader doesn't even show up until after you go into an area, then turn around. Which is kind of funny. He'll just pop up out of nowhere and stand there.

No, the Shaperate literally says the documents you are showing him are not the actual documents. Bhelen's man gave you fakes. And when you go back to him, he says he doesn't care. It's a test of loyalty.

That's bio-bashing? Most companies could only hope to be able to do that kind of thing. You call it fan-service. I call it experimental.

If you have a hard time believing that lobsters were once the dominant life form in the galaxy, then you just don't know, man.

They could have had a series of quests around getting to know both characters. If you consider adding content from nothing to be reasonable. But, as it stands, with the amount of content that exists in the game, they should have started being involved in earlier quests. Especially since the Arishok had better lead, being involved in both Act 1 and Act 2. They should have been more present in the game than the midboss.

The first glimpse of Meredith you get is when she walks past the thief in the intro cutscene after year one. Then you get a glimpse of Orsino in Act 2 during Feynriel's dream. Pretty much it until the end of Act 2. I think you'll be hard pressed to find someone who thought they were given significant enough roles and character development. The question, to me, is what Bioware will take away from that criticism. Will they scrap relateable villains who aren't always villains, instead go back to monsters that are ever threatening? Will they just do cutscenes that expand on what the antagonists are doing between segments (like Loghain)? Or will they actually integrate them in the developing plot better and give them character development?

I have to quote you before you fix it.

And if you talked to the Shaper, he reveals that the documents are forged. A deal was made with both houses, but it's only by the forging that it looks like the same deal. It's hard to conceptualize how the heads of the houses would be fooled by documents they should have copies of, but that's the implication.

Actually, that was Bhelen lying to you again. The documents were forged. That's the kind of problem I had with the quest. You find out more about the fact that Bhelen is a jackwad and that Harrowmont is a nice guy than you find out about how good or bad they'll be for Orzammar. Which you only get hints at.

You joke, but no matter what that complaint will be made. I don't think a dislike of health regeneration equates to that. I miss the old RSE games for that, limb damage being in effect for an entire mission. I don't recall either me or Hell Kitty mentioning health regeneration. There's a concept known as "they changed it, now it sucks." The more passionate a fanbase is with regards to a work, the more obnoxious they'll be with regards to any differences at all in subsequent works.

You joke, but no matter what that complaint will be made.

Actually, that quest did have the information. But not in a way that negates your complaint. There are two merchants you can ask about who they support and they'll tell you (Harrowmont supports the old ways! Bhelen is trying to change things!). That's it. They could have revealed the information better and in more reliable detail.

Did I hear people talking about Myrkul? SQUEEEEE Probably the most exciting conversation I've ever seen in gaming, period.

I wish trees could walk. Now that'd generate publicity.

Episode 27 is Gordon Freeman as a pirate. I can't breathe. hahahahaha

Obviously, there's going to be a Reaper civil war. Normandy SR-3 will be one.

Ended up watching Freeman's Mind. It's a Let's Play style machinima of Half-Life: Source with the guy talking as Gordon the entire time. He talks a little too much, but I'm finding it hilarious.

Just watched the first two episodes of Pioneer One. It's interesting and worth a watch, if terribly slow in pacing. I'm getting into indie movies/shows that are using Bittorrent as the official distribution channel. Next up is Zenith. The Tunnel is supposed to get a release in a couple of months.

Oh don't worry, they'll be saying that when it comes out regardless.

Using a defined protagonist is "kicking over the sandcastle," now. :/