#Dd1

[v60lt]

Being carried throughout the fight but you get the last hit so technically you killed the boss

[mikaikaika]

[uchivstheworld]

My favorite moment from Dragon's Dogma, Griffin's Bane at bluemoon tower

[olessan]

Disappointed that DD2 has no canonical male romance options? HELP FIX IT!

In Dragon's Dogma 2 you can choose almost any NPC to be your beloved/romance option, like in the first game. You can literally pick anyone, including random road guards, to shower gifts upon and raise their affinity.

However. Only two NPCs are canonical romances.

Ulrika and Wilhelmina, both human women, have unique romance quests and scenes that conclude intimately (without any platonic option). Those are the only NPCs in the entire game that have them.

No hate on the girls, they're among my arisen's best buds, but having them be the only two with fully fledged romance arcs in the entire game is a bit absurd.

Pre-release marketing highlighted Ulra, Wil, as well as Guard-Captain Brant, Prince Sven (who tbf seems pretty young), elven siblings Glyndwr and Doirieann, and Empress Nadinia of Battahl and her Guard-captain Menella (who I assumed were a couple). Any of those characters should also have had unique scenes like Wil and Ulra, but they don't. That effectively makes Ulra/Wil the canonical options.

None of the npcs care about the arisen's gender. The main issue is that there are no male options with equivalent romance quest. There's nothing but crumbs for the guy enjoyers, which is somehow a step back from the first game where there was at least Julian.

There are three dudes who would have been strong candidates according to their plot importance:

Brant is the arisen's first and most important ally in Vernworth,

Sven could have been DD2's Aelinore (young noble in need of help) and could've caused loads of plot drama,

and Glyndwr is your introduction to the elf culture through his curiosity.

Do they get unique quests beyond their initial ones? Nope.

Anyway, we can potentially influence some getting added officially instead of as mods:

Capcom has released a player feedback survey.

The survey has questions on what you like, dislike, and would like to see in future content updates. It runs until April 21 and may well influence the future additions to the game.

I laid it on thick about them adding more quests and romance quests, and also about a Bitterblack Isle-type expansion.The more people that bring it up these issues the better.

Go forth, arisen <3

[orinthered]

the 8k slowburn aelinore/mercedes fanfic in my mind

[doe-drawz]

Soo because reynauld never fails to steal everything from me in dd1 i figured i’d doodle dismas witnessing the worst robbery ever truly, good news the king and the doctor are preoccupied

[staircasecleric]

Overconfidence is a slow and insidious-

The leperrrrrrr

[ladymissfit133]

Been thinking about Dragon's dogma and its reoccuring stories about women navigating a patriarchal society and how individual action will never succeed against systemic oppression. How even women of noble birth are stuck following the whims of the men in their lives. How Aelinore's romance is all about her grabbing on to the little bit of agency she has and holding on to it with all of her power, to get but a taste of freedom, only for her ultimately go from the oppression of her husband and back to that of her father. she's probably never been as happy as she was in those sewers, not having to think of how she appeared, who saw her or what she was doing. it was just her and the person she herself chose to love. as someone who's never been able to make her own decisions, just dealing with the consequences of the one decision she made for herself must've felt incredibly liberating. And in the end the system still takes her back. she can't truly escape, to fight against something so much stronger than herself.

And Mercedes. Naive and foolish Mercedes, who wanted nothing more than to be seen as a knight. A position she as a woman is simply not allowed to have. Her individual wishes goes against what the system could ever accomodate but she does not understand this. She does not know that she will never have what her brothers have. She thinks that the system will give her what she seeks should she work hard enough. but that is not how systemic oppression works. It will never bend for an individuals hard work. She is merely deluding herself thinking the men around her see her as an equal. But she never will be. They will never give her that chance, hell, even when she insists on taking a job the man overseeing her sends you to make sure she is unharmed. And in the end the system wins and the best she can hope for is the respect of two people to allow her an uninterrupted duel. But she's still a woman. And the system will not allow her that same respect. And then there's Madeleine. Flirtations and pragmatic Madeleine, wanting nothing more than her own shop, yet obtaining such a feat as a poor peddler is difficult and she is forced to resort to illegal means in order to reach it. Means her male peers likely would not need to. And despite her craftiness she is still found out and forced to leave her hard-earned successes behind.

time and time again Dragon's dogma gives us stories about how individualism can not win against systemic oppression, but together we can do something. None of these women can escape their situation - they simply do not have the means to do so on their own. These are the kinds of narratives that games seldom tackle, and yet Dragon's Dogma does it in a very honest and brutal way: an individual is powerless against the wider structures. on your own you are powerless. It's a game that should be talked about more for its feminist themes i think, because they are there and they are strong. and then there's Dragon's Dogma 2. DD2 takes the more gender-blind approach to its own world. Where gender doesn't really matter at all. I can understand this approach, and a lot of times i think it is a good approach: unless you have something to say you should just let people feel like they belong in your world. Women are plentiful in DD2, they hold positions of power and make up half its instututions. this should be the default approach. But it also means DD2 can not say anything important about the struggles of groups, only about individuals. Because no one is truly oppressed based on their identity anymore. And i think that is a genuine shame because the first game had a lot to say about it. (and yes, i know about the beastren, but they're a fantasy race and thus do not count)

[bi-naesala]

Dismas and lovers

5. Crusader

Reynauld is slowly losing his mind.

Some days ago, a few of theirs have been sent out to the Weald with one objective: to kill the Hag that lives there once and for all.

Dismas had been chosen for this expedition, while Reynauld was told to remain in the Hamlet and wait for further instruction, which would be fine and all, if it wasn’t for the fact that… he’s terribly worried.

There is no use hiding it: he’s deathly afraid of what could happen to his friend.

He knows he shouldn’t underestimate him, that he’s strong and smart, and especially, he’s not alone, but… This is the first big, important expedition where they’re not sent out together, and he’s not good at waiting, not when his mind keeps concocting new ways in which Dismas could be killed without him even knowing about it, and finding out only when it’s too late.

He feels impotent, spending his days at the Hamlet, venting his frustration against the training dummies, even though that resolves very little – it’s all he can do.

It’s come to the point where, in his prayers, he’s started to include Dismas, praying to the Light for his safe return.

Why does he even care so much, though?

Of course, Dismas is his friend – despite their rocky start, he’s become someone dear to him – but as much as Reynauld worries about all his companions, he’s realized that Dismas has found a special place in his heart.

It’s strange, this feeling; it brings Reynauld back, to a time when he was younger and happier, when he had just met her. It hadn’t been love at first, but rather something built with time and… and it feels really similar to what is going on between him and Dismas, now.

Is it truly love? Is Reynauld even capable of loving anymore?

He thought not – he’s seen, he’s done, so many bad things… – but how could he explain the way Dismas makes him feel, then? The way he makes him smile and laugh, the way his mere presence is enough to put his mind at ease, the way he feels his chest tighten and his heart stop when he spots his face uncovered by the scarf he always wears; it all points to that.

But even if it is indeed love, what is Reynauld supposed to do with it? He cannot possibly reveal the depths of his feelings to Dismas who, surely, mustn’t feel the same.

How can he even think about sullying their friendship in such a way? He should be ashamed… But despite that, he keeps praying.

Anything, to get Dismas to come back safely.

The Light answer him on the third day: the news of party returning spreads fast throughout the Hamlet. As soon as he catches ear of this, Reynauld rushes at the gate, without even bothering to put his armor on – it would’ve taken too much time – wanting to see with his own if it’s true and, especially, to see if Dismas is among the survivors.

To say that he feels anxious would be an understatement. No matter how much he tries to keep calm, he just can’t; not even praying seems to help, this time.

He just needs to see him. He will be the only cure to this condition of his.

Where are they, where are they… Ah! He sees something!

Could it be? Is it them?

As the people – or creatures? – get closer, it becomes easier to see that, yes, it is them!

But is he… He’s here. He’s alive.

“Dismas!” Reynauld shouts, making way towards him. He didn’t necessarily want to appear this undignified, but as soon as he spotted him, his body acted on its own, without any way to stop it.

It’s then that the weight of all the anxiety and worry felt until that moment begins to make itself known; Reynauld feels weak – his legs tremble slightly, as if he had been the one facing off against the Hag – but he also feels extremely relieved.

As soon as he hears him, Dismas’ expression visibly changes, going from gloomy to excited. He calls for Reynauld as well, walking – he’ll need at least a whole year of resting before he can go back to running – towards him as well.

They meet in the middle, grasping at each other in a warm hug.

“Blessed be the Light, you’re alive!” Reynauld can’t help but to exclaim, burying his face against Dismas’ shoulder. He can smell the stench of battle – blood, sweat and who knows what else – but it doesn’t matter. It’s all proof that the Dismas in front of him is real, and not a result of him going actually crazy.

He hears a chuckle coming in response.

“Of course I am alive. What, were you worried?”

How can he sound so cocky even now? Well, he supposes that, after what he did, it’s in his rights, but still!

He’s truly impossible to deal with, and he knows it too! It drives Reynauld so crazy that…

He doesn’t even think about it, when he lowers Dismas’ scarf and presses their lips together.

Only when he feels Dismas’ hands hold onto his tunic, and him kissing back, he realizes what he’s done, but it’s too late to stop now, not when he can see how into it they both are – he can’t believe Dismas is kissing him back, he can’t believe this is all real.

He holds him like one would hold something precious – by now he has to admit that, well, he is precious to him – and can’t help but to smile in the kiss. It’s strange, how strong he feels at the moment, a complete turnaround from his initial weakened state.

He feels like he could take an army all on his own!

He hears the others passing near them – someone, he thinks it’s William, comments that it’s about time they got their shit together, whatever that means – and he should really pull away to greet them, but no matter how much he tries, kissing Dismas is just so addictive that he can’t stop.

There will be time for a proper greeting later, admitting that he’ll be able to look at them in the eyes after such a display; maybe he ought to learn from Dismas and act without shame.

When they pull away, all the thoughts inside Reynauld’s head come to halt, as he admires the man in front of him. It’s still hard to believe that he could ever look at someone and feel the same way he used to feel when looking at her, back when their marriage was still a happy one, but here they are.

He cups Dismas’ face between his hands, caressing his cheekbones with his thumbs.

“I missed you,” he finds the strength to say. Dismas chuckles.

“I can tell,” he replies, this cocky little thing, before his gaze softens. “I… I missed you too, you big oaf.”

Reynauld’s smile only grows larger, despite the insult – he knows he doesn’t really mean it – and he would very much love to lean down and kiss him again, and then again, and again, and again, but he’s aware of the fact that Dismas has just gotten back from a very challenging expedition; he’ll surely want to rest.

“Oh, I shouldn’t keep you here,” he says, then, disentangling himself – reluctantly – from Dismas. “I’m sure you’d love to get some rest.”

“That I do,” the other replies, starting to walk towards the rest of the group, though he waits for Reynauld to get the clue and catch up to him. It’s then that he brushes his arm, turning towards him. “I can look for you later, and… We’ll see.”

Oh, the implications are not lost on Reynauld, but even if they were, he would still be happy to spend time together, especially if his feelings are truly returned – they should talk about it, eventually, shouldn’t they?

Oh well, maybe it’ll happen after Dismas comes back to him, or maybe it’ll happen another time, but one thing is for sure.

“Yes, I’d love it.”

This is shaping up to be something special, and he can’t wait to see where it goes.

[unqualified-therapist]

gegg speech. we are gegg.

[ink-asunder]

I didn't know cyclopses throw vats of oil at you tbh

[sebsticle]

gonna start posting and drawing daily i hope

[mikaikaika]

Expectation Reality

[dany36]

uhhhhh hello??? HELLO???? this whole quest had me going "wtfwtfwtfwtfwtfwtf"????? LIKE...

ok not only is the duchess FOR SOME REASON already in love with the arisen EVEN THOUGH they've spoken once??? and we haven't done anything for her??? like hold up lol people were complaining about ulrika and wilhelmina being all over you in dd2 but at least you help them out (ulrika more than once like you literally save her life) before you get max affinity with them, but the duchess....?? you meet her once?? and she's already like "how can i show my love is pure" lady!! i don't know you and you're married!! 😭🙈 (even though i thought you were the duke's daughter at first whoops) and ugh what baffled me the most was the fact that the arisen put their arm on her shoulder?? like WAT WHY ARE YOU INTO THIS. STOP RIGHT THERE.

but ugh ANYWAY. what. was. up. with. THE. DUKE!! what the hell was that?? why was he trying to literally kill his wife and looking possessed/out of it while doing so. creeped me the hell out!! 😦

AND OK. i know the whole quest involved you not getting caught and i'm not sure if it's possible to just leave while aelinore is being assaulted without the duke noticing, but what i was trying to do was run and grab/tackle the duke a-la dd2 allard style lol but...upon being found the arisen just stands there?? like hello, the duke was trying to choke out his wife and we're just gonna stand there and do nothing, oh ok. i wonder what happens if you do manage to sneak out...? does aelinore end up hating you haha. edit: OMG i just looked it up and apparently the duke literally kills aelinore if you don't interfere!!! WILD!! 😦😦😦😦 sheesh good thing i stepped in even if i ended up looking like a fool!

either way omg this whole quest was crazy, i can't wait to find out more about what the hell is up with the duke!!! i'm not sure i dig the whole duchess-being-in-love-with-the-arisen thing but sheesh i wouldn't blame the poor thing if this is what she has been dealing with.

[olessan]

I was half joking but I'll take it

(pawn ID JY0ZRS6KJYNZ)

[larkscribbles]

Thank you old man for releasing the eldritch horrors in the basement it was truly an experience (I beat DD1).