Dragon Age: Origins - An Idea

[Double A]

Um... john... may I remind you of Bowser in CoV?

Anyway, I don't think I got to that part of Dragon Age yet. I dropped everything else when Mass Effect 2 came out.

Gonna go play DA more now though.

[Secura]

My favourite part of DA:O.

I loved the Landsmeet because it was a chance to see just how far-reaching the politics of Ferelden was; even in the remote reaches of the country, Arls were suffering against the Darkspawn due in part to the loss of their men at Ostagar. You became part of the politics, you saw the effects... definitely my favourite part alongside the Quest for the Sacred Ashes.

Might I request if you are basing this on NoTW style games at CFC, please, please, please don't have some mega-awesome unlynchable unkillable supervillain a lot of those games seem to have.

Hahaha, you're not the first person to offer a critique of the NoTW games; I'm not sure I like the idea of revealing all the roles at the start of the game (even though some of them are obviously covers), but I guess that's a vital roleplaying component of the series. I think there's going to be a sense of continuity, so choices made by characters continue over into other games, including specialisation and spells/abilities (though they can be undone, for a price!), but no character will be overwhelmingly powerful or unkillable; I think the whole informed minority aspect gives the mafia enough of an advantage as it is.

I'm not certain that roleplaying in the NOTW sense would fit the storyline, especially in the case of special characters; consider the role of Beskie, the loveable mabari hound, and imagine roleplaying that... you'd be pretty transparant if you're just going woof, woof, pant, pant for the duration you're alive, because let's face it, nobody's going to lynch the wuvvable pup. :3

I think the roleplaying aspect for this game actually comes through the mastering of spells/abilities, the advancing through specialisations and the pursuit of individual goals; it would mirror NOTW in the sense that it is a continuing storyline shaped by the players, whether they are the heroic Grey Warden or the Architect himself. Continuity is key.

An example of what I mean... let's consider my least favourite character in the game, perennial crybaby and "I'm not a Blood Mage, honest!", Jowan. Let's say that he is a character in a Circle of Magi-related storyline, and that his personal goal is to escape the tower with Lily, as is his plan in the Mage starting quests, while keeping his newfound powers a secret from her.

If the players of Jowan and Lily both survived and escaped the tower, and the blood magic was kept under wraps, then they would feature in another game later down the line, perhaps whereby they are masonic in nature and have to keep each other alive... perhaps Jowan will have shirked his blood magic powers and taken up a different school altogether.

But what if Lily found out about the blood magic? Well then, Jowan would leave the tower alone, and the pair may appear in another game together, whereby Lily might end up having to hunt Jowan down (and kill him, or vice versa) or defect to his side and escape again... to another game, perhaps.

And, of course, there's the possibility that Lily might die, whereby we'd see Jowan in later games with accelerated prowess in blood magic; a barbaric, unstable apostate. Or Jowan could die, whereby we may never see either of them again... who knows?

There's so many possibilities, it's just a case of getting narrative ideas down. I wanted to try a 'royale'-esque game first, comprised of all the well-known/pivotal characters to get used to the mechanics and balance the game out, but it depends on how people feel about that.

[Double A]

Or, you know, the town could be bloody horrible until the end, and everyone but 5 guys die, or even better, a mafia win.

[Secura]

Or, you know, the town could be bloody horrible until the end, and everyone but 5 guys die, or even better, a mafia win.

There's avenues for that sorta of outcome too, wiseguy! :P

[johnhughthom]

I'd also ask that your write ups contain no jokes as lame as that Sylvester Stallone one in the Footballodium please...

[Secura]

I'd also ask that your write ups contain no jokes as lame as that Sylvester Stallone one in the Footballodium please...

You know it rocked... meanie. :<

[Askthepizzaguy]

You know it rocked... meanie. :<

Yes, it was quite rocky.

[Double A]

HOLY CRAP GOLEM FORM IS AWESOME

[johnhughthom]

You're still doing the Mages Tower quest???

[Secura]

Righto, good news!

I have decided that I'm going to draft up a small-sized game, around 15-18 players or so hopefully, to fully test the mechanics and narrative direction before hopefully making the whole thing a lasting series across the Org. Having mulled over storylines, characters and such, I decided what better way to decide then to ask you guys directly?

Essentially, the trial game will be based upon one of the six origin quests that begin the game; Human Noble, Dwarf Noble, Dwarf Commoner, City Elf, Dalish Elf and Magi.

So, please post which one you liked most and why; once I've got a fair amount of votes, I'll have an idea of which characters to use, can start drafting up Role PMs and play through the origin again to get a feel of where I can fit the mafia mechanics into the narrative.

Hopefully it's going to be good. :3

[Double A]

You're still doing the Mages Tower quest???

Sort of. I'd be done if I didn't have to keep coming to the org and checking this thread for updates. Oh, and the WWI game.

I got to a part where there are 2 chests in a room (past the dragon-things and then the next encounter) and if you go up to them you get bumrushed by half a dozen shades and a yellow "lesser" rage demon.

[Double A]

Righto, good news!

I have decided that I'm going to draft up a small-sized game, around 15-18 players or so hopefully, to fully test the mechanics and narrative direction before hopefully making the whole thing a lasting series across the Org. Having mulled over storylines, characters and such, I decided what better way to decide then to ask you guys directly?

Essentially, the trial game will be based upon one of the six origin quests that begin the game; Human Noble, Dwarf Noble, Dwarf Commoner, City Elf, Dalish Elf and Magi.

So, please post which one you liked most and why; once I've got a fair amount of votes, I'll have an idea of which characters to use, can start drafting up Role PMs and play through the origin again to get a feel of where I can fit the mafia mechanics into the narrative.

Hopefully it's going to be good. :3

Dwarf noble! Dwarf noble! DWAAAAAAARF NOBLE!!!!!!!

[Secura]

Dwarf noble! Dwarf noble! DWAAAAAAARF NOBLE!!!!!!!

That'd be an interesting one, for sure; imagine if there were standard rules in place, you'd just have everyone role-claim and then lynch Bhelen or something! xDD

The mafia wouldn't be quite as clear cut as that though; there's plenty of dissident nobles, unruly commoners, Proving combatants and Darkspawn to be had in Orzammar.

[Double A]

Orzammar is by far my favorite place I've been to so far (granted that is just the Circle, the Fade, Orzammar, that Dalsih village next to the temple of doom, and some pansy Dwarf's house in Redcliff before I went to get Wynn instead).

Oh, and the Fade is actually below 0 on my like-o-meter. So, yeah. If you vote for mage, I will kill you,

[Secura]

Orzammar is by far my favorite place I've been to so far (granted that is just the Circle, the Fade, Orzammar, that Dalsih village next to the temple of doom, and some pansy Dwarf's house in Redcliff before I went to get Wynn instead).

You went to Redcliffe... and then left? I guess that you spoke to Teagan and the others... and that someone warned you not to leave? :3

Oh, and the Fade is actually below 0 on my like-o-meter. So, yeah. If you vote for mage, I will kill you,

I think a story based on the Mage Origin would likely focus on the things that happen after the Warden's following up to his/her recruitment after Jowan escapes. :P

[TheFlax]

I'm also pro-Dwarf Noble Origin, although I haven't done all of them. (My main is a female Elf Commoner and I did the Human Noble too.) I'd be open to trying out something different. What I like best in the Dwarf Noble Origin is all the politicking going on and it has a great temporary companion.

I did not find the fade as bad as most people did though, I think it did some interesting things, likewise in the expansion.

[Secura]

it has a great temporary companion.

Gorim, right?

I loved how he interacted with the Warden at the start, whether you were male or female, kind or an utter d-bag.. but that love quickly dissolved into a sense of loathing; I purposefully take the long way around Denerim to reach the tavern and such because I don't want to hear him yelling "DWARVEN CRAFTS! FINE DWARVEN CRAFTS!" for the millionth time. xD

[Double A]

You went to Redcliffe... and then left? I guess that you spoke to Teagan and the others... and that someone warned you not to leave? :3

I couldn't persuade the Dwarf and his two bodyguards to fight, and I was poor, so I reloaded my save in my camp and went to the Circle to get more stats and anther level in persuade. I love rogues' 2-levels-to-get-another-skill-point thing instead of the warrior/mage one every three levels. Oh, and lockpicking. That's always useful.

[Secura]

I couldn't persuade the Dwarf and his two bodyguards to fight, and I was poor, so I reloaded my save in my camp and went to the Circle to get more stats and anther level in persuade.

Phew, I totally panicked there; let's just say that there might not have been much of Redcliff left had you departed and returned later. Wise move. :3

Oh, and lockpicking. That's always useful.

I never take lockpicking, even when I'm a Rogue; Leliana is my absolute favourite companion and features in every single party I have in every game I've ever started... and she'll be cropping up a fair amount in these games as a result. xD

[TheFlax]

Gorim, right?

I loved how he interacted with the Warden at the start, whether you were male or female, kind or an utter d-bag.. but that love quickly dissolved into a sense of loathing; I purposefully take the long way around Denerim to reach the tavern and such because I don't want to hear him yelling "DWARVEN CRAFTS! FINE DWARVEN CRAFTS!" for the millionth time. xD

Yeah, I didn't get to Denerim with my Dwarf Noble, I've been told by many I would be disappointed.

I never take lockpicking, even when I'm a Rogue; Leliana is my absolute favourite companion and features in every single party I have in every game I've ever started... and she'll be cropping up a fair amount in these games as a result. xD

Lots of Leliana is fine with me, even if she's not my favorite character.

[Double A]

I like Leliana, but since I always want 2 wizards (one for healing and one for blowing the crap out of everything), one tank (Alister), and one other (tank or DPS rouge, aka me) I don't have room for her.

Maybe I'll do a healing-mage next playthrough so I can take her, Morrigan, and Alister.

I also realize I can't spell today. So I'm just going to have to finish my fourum-ing early today and improve my vocabulary with more RPGs.

[Double A]

Hey, I think the secondary goal for everyone shold be to collect and subsequently burn the most Blank Vellum.

[johnhughthom]

I also realize I can't spell today.

It took you until today?

[Double A]

Actually, I spell rather well. Of course, you can't really tell because of spell-checker, and your overall annoyance with me hinders any good impressions I don't try to make.

[johnhughthom]

Actually, I spell rather well. Of course, you can't really tell because of spell-checker, and your overall annoyance with me hinders any good impressions I don't try to make.

Gah? My constant mockery of you actually means I kinda like you. Silly boy.

[Double A]

I know john, I recognize admiration when I see it.

[Secura]

Boys, get a room... Zevran's getting excited! xD

[johnhughthom]

How about doing a decent Dalish Elf origin story from scratch Secura?

[Double A]

Oh right, that reminds me.

I just heard Zevran speak for the first time. Why is he Spanish?

And yes john, I think we all agree that the Dalish origin story was a bit... lacking. In every department.

[Secura]

How about doing a decent Dalish Elf origin story from scratch Secura?

I take it you didn't like the game's own version?

I felt that it was very disjointed and far-fetched, which annoys me because I feel that the Dalish have one of the richest storylines in Thedas; the origin opens with you and Tamlen pointing your bows at a group of humans, and I guess it's there to show some of the Human-Dalish tension that exists in Ferelden, but after that, it fades away and you don't get any serious elusions to these racial tensions until the Landsmeet set of quests.

Furthermore, I didn't like the manner in which you encounter Duncan; the whole mirror thing that absorbs Tamlen or whatever the fudge it does, and yet such an artifact isn't seen again throughout the entire game, as though the object was simply there to serve that purpose because they were all out of ideas, deus ex machina style.

Out of all the origins, it was probably the weakest one, so it would be hard to form an basis for a story which could translate into a mafia game, but I like a challenge.