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"And you've got me now too."

"Couldn't have asked for a better day"

And what if I pass away right here

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Veilguard elves

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The hand on the thigh??? I'm weak.

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One thing I really, really love about FFXVI is how many big, burly men show their emotions. Society often seems to tell guys that you can't cry or show weakness if you are to be seen as masculine and I just love that this story leans into being both strong and emotional for male characters that channel a lot of testosterone.

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Super last minute painting for Dragon Age Day of my wife <3

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Honestly I really really miss the times when we had time to build our own opinion on games (or whatever other experience tbh).

I actively avoided the marketing campaign for the start because I felt it was too aggressive and too revealing. When I started playing, I blocked aaaaaall the tags and stayed away from my social channels as much as I could, because I started to see the criticism and I wanted to decide by myself what I liked about the game and what not.

But it’s hard, and info still leaked into my feeds, and it’s sad to admit that those opinions did influence how I see some aspect of the game. I started to feel “meh” while playing because some of the critics were true but I didn’t know anymore if they were my own opinion or if I was being influenced (I’m kind of ashamed to admit it because I consider myself a person capable of critical thinking lol).

I have to be honest, here: the spark in my heart is rekindling since I reactivated my socials but actively seeking people who enjoyed the game.

Again being influenced “against my will”? Who cares at this point. Truth is, the “full Dragon Age experience (TM)” as I know it is 10% made from the game itself and 90% time spent within the fandom, sharing favorite moments, creating missing scenes, analyzing hidden lore, and well, enjoying a world-set we all share a love for.

I can’t wait for the bad criticism to definitely go away so I can again enjoy my Dragon Age heaven for the next years to come ❤️

I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel a sort of guilt for liking Veilguard

Every critique I see, shallower storytelling, companions, weaker dialogue, is one I agree with, and yet I still like it. I like exploring the maps, I like the companions, I like the main story. I like every main story quest even if it’s not the in-depth story I would have preferred

And I can’t help but feel like I shouldn’t. I love this series too much, am I disrespecting it? I choose to focus on the parts of this game that I love, I choose to focus on what this game is over what it is not or what I think it should’ve been, and love it for that. There are parts I would tweak, and in my head and writing I do tweak those parts. But I still like it

It could have to do with so much constant exposure to negativity around the game. When other members of my community, including close friends, aren’t enjoying it, it genuinely feels like I’ve made a poor judgement. I’ve deluded myself into thinking I like this game because I want to. But then I play it and actually have fun, and the whole cycle starts again

I do think time with soften the views the fandom has on Veilguard, I’ve already seen it start to happen, and it isn’t like I’m the sole person who enjoys it. At least half the fandom does. But the criticism is so vicious and often full of blame towards fans who do enjoy it. It starts to get to me. But that’s not anyone’s fault but my own

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Varric's Second: Defining Rook's Narrative Role

"That's why you're my second in command."

Is one of the first things Varric says to Rook in the entire story, and it seems innocuous, on its face; a piece of exposition, nothing more. However, it will define Rook's narrative role far more than may be initially obvious, and tells us some key facts about Rook immediately.

A second, especially in a situation where one may get in a fight (i.e., a duel) is someone who stands for one of the primary participants. They negotiate on their behalf, organize the details, and, in some cases, take over for them should they be unable to continue. They must be someone that the primary has absolute confidence in to represent them.

Now, you know Varric. Liar, Author, Handsomest Dwarf in Thedas. You know what kind of person he is, what he values. What kind of person do you think he'd choose to represent him directly?

There have been many complaints about how nice Rook is, but I submit to you that by placing Rook as Varric's second at the beginning of this story, Veilguard is giving you prerequisites for the sort of person they are.

Bioware has always done this; no matter what else they are, the Warden has to be someone who will accept the responsibility of ending the Blight. Hawke must be someone who tries to take care of their family. The Inquisitor must be someone who, when thrust into a position of power against their will, will step up and take the reins. These qualities are immutable; it maybe that Hawke, the Warden, and the Inquisitor are the kind of people who can save the world relatively alone. Veilguard is telling you Rook is not that kind of person.

On an external level, the reason for this is that if you are going to invest heavily into making the companions lifelike and narratively significant, you have to justify the expense. As many people as possible have to see that content, or the studio is going to call it a waste of resources. If Rook can dismiss them they cannot have major plot arcs, because that's a waste of money.

But diagetically, this problem is solved by Varric's introduction. Does anyone seriously believe that Varric would choose someone to DIRECTLY represent him-- stand in for him morally, physically, and philosophically-- that would abandon their friends? VARRIC TETHRAS, the man who bribed the Templars to stay away from Anders' clinic for years, the man who supports Merrill in her quest to summon a demon, the man who stands by Hawke no matter what-- does anyone think THAT MAN would pick someone to stand in for him who doesn't care about their companions? I think implying he would would have been a gross mischaracterization.

Rook is not the kind of character that would want to save the world alone, even if they could, because Varric wouldn't choose that. They are Varric's second, and that one assertion tells you an enormous amount about them.

This feels like a good place to end for now, and makes this post relatively spoiler-free. I want to talk about Varric vs Solas throughout the narrative in future, so watch this space for links to that.

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Caught Davrin mid-blink while going wild in photomode

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Ok guys, given that I still have the spoilers tag blocked so I might miss something, but…. WHERE ARE ALL THE DAVRIN KISS GIFSETS???

I might got spoiled years ago with Cullen since he was super popular but… really??? I found only ONE 😭

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DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD

Davrin

(⁘)

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DAVRIN Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024) 22 Minutes of Gameplay with BioWare

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davrin | the veilguard combat part 1

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davrin | get to know your companions

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Davrin study. Expect more of him because I'm in love

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Welcome, Rook

I wanted to introduce you my Ayanne Aldwir (✿˘︶˘✿)

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Oh gosh I started following you back in the DAI heyday for Cullen stuff and while I know it has been ten years for some reason the toddler tag made me feel SO OLD. PS Davrin is a cutie pie. Griffon dad is love.

Ahahahah and that’s my second child, too!! My older one is 6 years old XD

I know, I feel old too and kind of weird thinking so much time has passed, but still I love this place because it always feels like a welcoming home, even if I’m less young.

I have to admit DA romances feel different now (and play differently in my head), with me being 40, married and with 2children. Not less, but just different.

I’m not a role-player in the strict sense of the word. I make only ONE character and it’s usually very similar to myself. So my Inky was 30ish and, just like me, she was starting her serious relationship that would have led to marriage.

But Rook? She’s 40ish but she’s DEFINITELY not married. How do you flirt at this age? What is going on in your head? Your expectations, the “rhythm” you wish things to progress with your significant one, or even before that, the way you handle a crush.

I KNOW these things are not really dependent from one’s age, but still for the first time I find myself in “uncharted territory”, where I cannot use my personal experience to connect with Rook. It’s ok of course, it let me explore new things, ideas and feelings, but again, just different to what I was used to :)

Well lol ok SORRY if wrote that much, I got carried away XD I missed receiving messages! Also thank you for sticking with time since the old golden Cullen days ❤️

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I JUST KISSED DAVRIN!!!! ❤️💯👌🔝💕

And just after Assan interrupted us, my own toddler (in real life lol) waked up calling for me too, lol XD LET US GROWN-UPS DO OUR THINGS OKAYYY?