fantasy-frog

[fantasy-frog]

mmm not to be a solasmancer on main but im thinking about those few days after the Cole debacle if a solavellan Inquisitor encourages him to remain a spirit. just. Solas, watching her fret so much in the aftermath, terrified that she may have taken someone's choice away, worried that she influenced what Cole wanted somehow, watching her sheer relief and unbridled joy after Cole's, free and light and brimming with happy incredulity, "but you didn’t change, didn’t make me change. Thank you". He watches her, and thinks of Mythal. Thinks of devotion, and abuse. Regret. Thinks of Cole, and spirits and Wisdom and Pride- Thinks, wistfully, achingly, "in her hands, I might have been safe".

[fantasy-frog]

Thread of fate – Part 3 Part one • Part two (2016)

[fantasy-frog]

A version of the letter from Varric to Charter, if Lavellan romanced Solas, that was not linked correctly in the game:

And another version, if Lavellan romanced Solas but vowed to stop him by any means necessary:

[fantasy-frog]

The banters that Solas has with the companions change into completely different conversations if you have not found Solas’ memories!!!

Solas actually has 4 completely different banters (the most) with Emmrich, depending on whether Emmrich is a lich, and depending on whether Emmrich knows Solas is a spirit. There’s a slight variation of Emmrich hasn’t finished his personal quest. I have seen recordings of the last 3 but not the first. (These are not completely accurate btw I was in a hurry.) The Wisdom Spirit and the Professor are natural best friends and every conversation ends with “it would be a privilege to speak with you further”

He has two banters with Bellara, one where she asks him why he killed Mythal, and this one when Bellara has not seen his memories (greeting different if she had not finished her personal quest)

If Taash hasn’t seen Solas’ memories, they ask him if Elgar’nan’s dragon can be saved instead.

If Lucanis has not seen Solas’ memories, Spite will say Solas “Smells like tears. And lying.” 😭😂

Neve’s conversation with him doesn’t vary.

I think Harding’s changes depending on whether she knows the truth about the titans, but it was hard to tell exactly how without it being recorded.

[fantasy-frog]

Veilguard cut content that made me lol

Since the Varric letter made everyone sad - here are some more of my favorite finds after spending literal hours combing through Frosty Editor. Funny edition.

Behold, what was lost:

naked ghilan'nain?!

2. bran (update: I have been informed that this one is actually in game, I just missed it!)

3. the Randy Dowager is only part of Solas' erotica collection, apparently

anyway, more to come soon!

[fantasy-frog]

young solas for @/suzthesnooze on twt

[fantasy-frog]

MY ROOK! ATTEMPT #2. I MADE HER TOO PRETTY I KEEP PAUSING THE GAME EVERY 5 SECONDS TO TAKE MORE SCREENSHOTS

@fantasy-frog

[fantasy-frog]

[fantasy-frog]

“Solavellan is a heightened, mythic romance, with the pall of a curse. Their last words are like wedding vows, and I love that it keeps the same dark myth feeling. She is marrying the god of misfortune with archdemon blood on his lips, blood on his hands.”

Alix Wilton Regan: “Amen 🙏”

Anyway so Lavellan’s voice actress responded to my description of the dialogue in the last scene between Solas and Lavellan as a wedding vows and a wedding ceremony with “Amen 🙏”

[fantasy-frog]

Useful tips for new Veilguard players

Under a cut for people who want to go in 100% blind (and because there are some very mild spoilers).

Return to the Lighthouse regularly to check on your companions. There will be a symbol on the map next to their picture if there's an interaction available.

If two characters are in the same room but there is no symbol on the map, going to meet them will trigger a banter (the same type you'd get while travelling).

Companion arcs are divided into three types of interactions: conversations, outings, quests. While quests probably don't have a time limit (emphasis on probably), the others might disappear as you progress further into the main story.

I strongly suggest doing every side quest before starting the following main quests: A Warden's Best Friend, The Siege of Weisshaupt (can confirm you'll fail some quests if you don't do them first), Blood of Arlathan (haven't tested it myself, but it seems to be that kind of quest).

Exception being the Crossroads' quests, which can be done whenever (most of them require you to be at a higher level anyway).

The final act starts with a warning. Be sure you've done all the quests you wanted to do (Crossroads included) before you go further.

There are some unmarked quests in the game that grant unique rewards. Some of them won't trigger until later in the story, so don't hesitate to return to areas you've already visited before.

Companion level-ups are tied to their approval. You can raise their approval by doing their personal quests or by completing quests with them in your party. Some of them will also approve of killing specific types of enemies (for example, Davrin with darkspawn).

Merchants may sell valuables that can increase your stats, so don't overlook that tab! Hovering over the items tells you which ones will give you a boost (mostly drinks).

You can sell your valuables to faction vendors in order to raise said faction's strength.

Items may have a different value depending on which faction you're selling them to. For example, Blight-related items will be worth more points if you sell them to the Grey Wardens.

(spoiler) You will lose access to a faction midway through Act 1, but you can still raise their strength by selling your valuables to a vendor in the Crossroads (marked on the map).

Selling your items isn't necessary to get a faction to 3 stars. In most cases (not always, some may depend on choices you've made), doing all their quests (including companion quests) is enough.

You don't need to max out a faction's strength to get them to 3 stars. However, maxing out unlocks the faction's final vendor rank, which then gives you access to unique items.

Having all factions to 3 stars isn't required to get the best ending. (One of my factions was still at 2 stars when I played the final act during my first playthrough, and I saw no difference. Though I would still recommend raising most factions' approval as much as possible.)

Completing companion quests and making the right choices during the final act is important, however.

If you want to unlock all possible endings, you'll need to complete quests in the Crossroads.

[fantasy-frog]

I need everyone who didn’t read the books to know that Felassan (who’s name means slow arrow in elven)

This guy

Who was in several of solas’ memories and has notes around the lighthouse and crossroads

Was in the masked empire. He was a friend and mentor of Brialas and helped her with her efforts to use her relationship with Celene to improve the lives of elves in Orlais (and tried to let her down gently when it became apparent that was not enough).

He refuses to let Briala tell him the code for the eluvian network so that he cannot give it on to Solas. Refusing to tell him would not be enough to keep it from him. When he meets with Solas he tries to convince him that modern elves should be given a chance. Solas murders him, his ally of thousands of years, for this.

In inquisition, Cole says this:

This is what the Betrayal of Felassan represents. Solas murdered his trusted friend and ally because he though modern elves were people whose lives had value.

[fantasy-frog]

I think the thing that Gets Me about Veilguard is just how much of an impossible task it had heaped on it from EA from the start of its inception.

It’s arguably supposed to be a soft reboot for the series while ALSO being a follow up to Inquisition. These are two fundamentally incompatible goals in my opinion. This game had to walk the most insane line of any video game in recent memory. I guess EA wanted to have their cake and eat it too.

And the more I think about it the sadder I become for the original team who worked on Joplin. From what I’ve seen of the art book, Joplin was going to be about as firm a sequel to DAI as you could get - with references to rescuing whoever was left in the Fade, having Calpernia and Imshael as companions, having to fight Solas’ agents, etc.

Then EA makes them scrap it for live service. Fine. But wait - now we’re scrapping it again. Back to single person RPG but you also kind of need to distance yourself from the previous games as much as possible while still somehow being a follow up to the previous game.

New setting, few returning companions, and new Big Bads in the form of Elgarnan and Ghilanain to get a clean slate. Any mention of what’s happening in the South (where we spent 3 whole games!) needs to be relegated to letters and codex. ** I dont have the art book yet, so I dont know if these two were supposed to appear in Joplin beside Solas - or if Solas was supposed to be the sole antagonist in that iteration of the game.

But.. I hope you see what I mean when I say this game had a monumentally, borderline impossible task ahead of it. And when I think of it that way, I think it did as good a job as it possibly could. Especially since the actual development time was closer to 3ish yrs to get what we know of as datv today even though it’s been 10 whole years since DAI.

I hope it’s successful enough to get DA5, but who know’s what’ll happen.

I wish everyone except the EA execs who meddled with this game’s development and are seemingly trying to kill dragon age a pleasant day. I have a cynical detective I need to romance 😔

[fantasy-frog]

I returned after a 2 year hiatus

[fantasy-frog]

Dreadwolf

[fantasy-frog]

one of the most important things, perhaps the most important thing I have learned in my life is that nice people can fuck each other up in monstrous ways. people can be bone deep kind and loving and self reflective and still lash out under pressure. people can be earnestly neighbourly and charitable and hospitable and generous and still find themselves in situations where they become selfish. people can be well meaning and easygoing and gregarious and hold deep seated opinions that turn them into vicious little bullies under the right conditions. nobody is just one thing, and nobody stays one way. every person is a kaleidoscope and they will surprise you. you will surprise yourself. it's not a warning and it's not a judgement and it's not an excuse, and it's certainly not a reason to stop trying or to stop trusting. it is just a fact.

[fantasy-frog]

Article: 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard's Ghilan'nain Is Nightmare Fuel Without Her Mask'

Look at your own discretion, it's uncomfortable.

[source]

[fantasy-frog]

I see no difference