en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/952959 Comments by chilyn http://greywardens.com/2010/07/an-optimists-view-on-dragon-age-2-and-rpgs-in-general/#IDComment86162415 Very nicely written! Unlike that other hack and his "doom and gloom"... :P Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:00:08 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/an-optimists-view-on-dragon-age-2-and-rpgs-in-general/#IDComment86162415 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment86157895 I'm not sure that they will not allow class choices -- that would be a huge mistake. I think the main issue is that, when there is a whole world of races and peoples out there with very detailed and rich histories and cultures, you as a player are stuck with some guy from Lothering. :) Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:22:11 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment86157895 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment86157290 The ability to play as a female is still available, just not a part of their frontal marketing. :) Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:16:06 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment86157290 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85991359 So.... anybody think or dare hope that BioWare's grand plan with DA 2 is to capture the more mainstream action fantasy game market -- and then hit us with an MMORPG based in the Dragon Age world? Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:52:01 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85991359 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85979825 And if the posts about the colourful dialogue wheel over actually being able to read the text are true, that feels even more limiting. At least if you can read the text it sort of kind of maybe feels like you are the one deciding what the character says... Sat, 10 Jul 2010 18:01:50 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85979825 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85978136 You know, I think a lot of the question of "controversy" comes from how people define an RPG. A traditional RPG, in my understanding, is something in the realm of old school D&D -- you pick everything from race to class to background story and appearance. Name too. Dragon Age: Origins embraced all of these things (though even Origins limited you somewhat by only allowing you to choose from six possible origins). Now you get one origin possibility (refugee from the Blight), which could be viewed as either broad or extremely limited, depending on how BioWare approaches it. You lose the ability to choose much what can make your character YOUR character (including choosing a name -- you're stuck with Hawke, like it or not) -- therefore you lose the Role Play element as defined by a traditional RPG. You are playing a character that is defined for you by the story, and then you choose between options to shape the story toward a possible ending. This is not role play, this is novel play or movie play -- this is that boiled down subset of role play that was so popular in the 80's: Choose Your Own Adventure. Remember those? Some of them even allowed you to roll stats -- but the character was never yours. Games like Mass Effect 1 and 2, The Witcher, and all others of that set are awesome and fun to play -- but they are not really RPGs, no matter what the marketing people tell you. The Witcher at the least end of that scale, as you actually choose very little about the character, you simply help him make his choices -- just like you would in any -action- title that allows dialogue outside of in-game movies. Your not Playing a Role, you're helping a predefined character make one of a couple predefined choices. This can be said of Dragon Age: Origins as well, as there are limitations to a solo player video game that take away from true RP Gaming, but DA:O still made you feel like the character was yours -- could be YOU even. That's Role Playing. Once again, the marketing reasons for this change make sense to me. They need a sequel that will appeal to a larger audience so they can make money on a grand scale. There are more action "RPG" players out there than traditional role players. The Origin Stories thing was sooo last year -- and to be honest, they would not be able to use it twice. That wouldn't sell games in the same way. It wouldn't be as powerful the second time around -- but an action "RPG" with a seriously kick ass story based on the best selling solo RPG pretty much ever, and appealing to a broad range of gamers (especially console gamers) is gold in a really, REALLY big bucket. Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:47:35 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85978136 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85975694 LOL! I may not agree with everything you said -- but you frickin' rock man! :D Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:23:02 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/is-dragon-age-2-the-end-of-bioware-as-a-traditional-rpg-creator/#IDComment85975694 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/win-the-entire-dragon-age-line-up-with-bioware-and-the-escapist/#IDComment85727351 Both of you... please feel free to enter, win and donate to me. :D Fri, 9 Jul 2010 04:58:35 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/07/win-the-entire-dragon-age-line-up-with-bioware-and-the-escapist/#IDComment85727351 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment82022603 LOL! Very nice! I bet there were some nice traits below your obvious subconscious need for power and domination.... :P Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:41:33 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment82022603 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment81947400 Fair enough! Bear in mind that those things would be balanced by the other traits and specifics in the sections below the #8 bit. And I hear you on Numerology as a science (or not) -- but it sure makes for some interesting and random fun, yes? Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:24:58 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment81947400 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment81947014 Or not meant to be... two of a kind very often do not get along, after all! :D Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:21:41 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment81947014 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment81819721 Thanks for your comments folks! I thought it was a bit of fun, myself! Anybody try running their favourite NPC or companion to see if the numbers matched up to your impression? Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:26:58 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/whats-in-a-name/#IDComment81819721 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79538904 Well, to that I say: Good for you! And long live men secure enough in themselves to say so! RP'ers to the core, you be! Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:20:51 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79538904 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79247406 Xander eh? Didn't see that coming... always thought that guy should get more attention from women. Long live the geek that comes into his or her own! :D Wed, 9 Jun 2010 07:11:38 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79247406 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79221891 This is a very good point. Fanfiction opportunity? Wed, 9 Jun 2010 03:37:45 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79221891 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79221678 Thanks for all of the comments so far! I've tried to respond to all of them or near all of them -- though Intense Debate weirdness makes that difficult. I've truly enjoyed your takes from all sides! If I had the power I would release an army of trained Alistairs for you all to do with what you will -- or maybe just one. Because that would be funny. :D Wed, 9 Jun 2010 03:34:57 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79221678 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79221072 LOL! The accent seems to be a HUGE factor for the NA crowd. Wed, 9 Jun 2010 03:29:03 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79221072 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79220989 I hear you -- and it is refreshing to know that the entire female population of DAO gamers don't all have the same love for the guy. :D Wed, 9 Jun 2010 03:28:09 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79220989 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79220685 *kicks Intense Debate* Missed a few it seems... The committed male is less of a fantasy than it once was, I think -- but apparently it still prevails. Wed, 9 Jun 2010 03:24:43 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79220685 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79220523 Which Joss Whedon character? I compared him loosely to Angel a while back... Wed, 9 Jun 2010 03:22:38 +0000 http://greywardens.com/2010/06/so-how-much-and-why-do-you-love-alistair/#IDComment79220523