#been playing this whole game to get all my Inquisitor crumbs

[lunian]

romantic Solavellan this and that, what about damn dramatic platonic Solavellan because it was treasured to me af with all same "I can change him" bs ✨️

the hell he has such adoring look at his chaotic trickster god friend who had been fooling them all 192729 times and almost ruined the world

[dippedinmelancholy]

TW for spoliers for Dragon Age Inquistion (I guess????? It't been 10+ years guys) I keep seeing a lot of people talking about Solas and how horrible he is ( keep my wife's name out of your mouth, I love him your honor) but like, honestly as someone who fell in love Dragon Age Inquisition, it triggered my entire love for the whole series . . . people are missing something huge. Literally all of the main companions, and honestly all of the Advisors, are morally grey, fucked up people. Cole - Literally a spirit/demon. Kills people to 'help'. Varric - Bro is in a long term affair with a woman he can't/won't commit to, is constantly running from responsibility. Sera - Claims to be on the side of the small and helpless, could not give two fucks about the elves at all. Is obscenely racist and cruel, especially if you're playing Dalish. Doesn't seem to give any fucks for how her actions make others feel. Cassandra - Seeker/Templar. Thedas cop. Doesn't care that the mages are regularly abused and violated. Blindly believes in the Chantry, and even after she is given evidence of their fucks ups, cannot pull herself away. Iron Bull - Once again, massively dangerous, worse than a cop. Warrior/master spy. Openly infiltrates your group, sees no sin in how the Qunari operate or stripping people entirely of rights. Blackwall - War criminal????? Fucks you in a barn and leaves???? Takes on the identity of a Warden all in hopes that he can pretend hard enough to be a decent person. Again, dude fucks you in a barn. Jail. Gross. Vivenne - Hungrily plays the politics of Orlais. Believes in keeping the mages in Circles, regardless of the abuse, and is constantly out for her own gain. Her reasonings are wholly selfish. Dorian - Bro defends slavery like five minutes after meeting you. The need for gay rights doesn't fix that my guy. Solas - Doesn't see anyone in the world as people unless/until you change his mind. Sees the Iquisition as a means to an end, and your Inquisitor as someone to manipulate to get to his end goals. Cullen - Reformed Templar, fighting addiction and his past crimes. Abused, violated, he didn't believe mages were people. Josephine - Was a Bard in Orlais. Sounds nice, actually murderous. Killed a friend, is haunted by the act. Though sweet, plays the Game as ruthlessly as anyone else. Leliana - Assassin, murderer, has no problems with being brutal and manipulating everyone for her end goals. Every single one of them are terrible. They are people who have done terrible things, brutalized others, and yet have chosen to stay with the Inquisition. From all corners of Thedas, and yet dedicated to protect the world. Even Solas. His goal to tear down the veil isn't a desire to destroy the world. It's to save the very crumb of his people that remains. And in all of these characters, YOU shape them. You help them choose to be better or worse. That is the beauty of Inquisition. When the world is falling to shit, the sky is literally caving in and a would be god is trying to destroy you all out of spite, PEOPLE come together. They want to protect the world. If you're going to apply a cold, unmoving and non-understanding moral compass to Solas, you better be prepared to do it to every single one of them.

[akuna-fanclub]

The thing about Bode is, you don’t have to forgive him for what happened—but you can find yourself *understanding* why he did it. Ultimately, I think choosing the Empire felt like his only hope. His wife had been k*lled by an inquisitor, because of his force sensitivity, and now he was on the run, with a little kid by his side. By working for the enemy, Denvik promised him that Kata would be safe if he quote, “stayed useful”. I feel like at that point, he was so far into it, it was easier to keep doing his bidding, while knowing that Kata was safe.

The first time we see Bode, Cal, and Kata interact—Bode feels genuine here. He’s trying to explain to Cal why he did what he did, and Cal doesn’t get it. That’s why when Bode says that he doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a father, I feel like that’s super important for the next game. Because Cal will essentially sort of have to play parent for Kata, and now he’ll see firsthand. Personally I think that line resonates a lot more than we realize, that whole scene in general. At the end, on Tanalorr, it’s clear that they would’ve been willing to Give Bode a Chance, but at that point we see a VERY different Bode than we saw back on the imperial station. I feel like this is the first time we actually see Bode as any sort of “villain” vs someone who was just struggling, and it’s interesting to see why it took so long, but I feel like it’s super telling.

Especially when in all the force echos, we see how much regret he has for what he’s doing to the Mantis crew. You can see it in the cutscene before Cordova dies too, when the imperials attack, Bode looks up, then closes his eyes as if indicating that he’s regretting what’s about to come. Especially because he worked so closely with Cordova for a bit. And he WAS a Jedi!!! I don’t think it’s so much that Bode is anti republic/Jedi, but mostly that he’s so beyond desperate to keep his daughter safe that he’s done some things that he regrets. And THAT is why he’s one of my alltime favorite characters. Like they built sooo much into this one character, and managed to pull it off flawlessly in ONE game??? Incredible. Ate and left no crumbs.

Also, we have to remember, in one of the force echos, he literally tells Denvik that he promised to share which inquisitor killed his wife, if he turned in Cere’s location. Denvik of course goes back on this, and Bode rightfully gets upset—but can’t do anything. There’s so much pain, and regret behind Bode’s character, and his voice actor and the entire crew just *chefs kiss*, nailed it.

[thedragonagebigbang]

Bang Creator Interview: Tumblr: @ciellajess  |  AO3: CiellaJess

The Collaboration period has begun! In these quiet months before works are due, we want to foster a sense of excitement, camaraderie, and celebration among our participants. To that end, all participants were given the option of a formal interview by our mod, Dema, or an informal “ask-game” survey. We hope you enjoy getting to know our phenomenal creators as much as we have!

Interview with CiellaJess

CiellaJess and Dema talk Good Clean Solavellan Fun, favorite romances, and Veilguard plans

Dema: You're my first artist interview, and I am excited to talk shop. What inspires you to make art of Dragon Age?

CiellaJess: I just love the world and the characters. It's one of those things that just gets in my head and I can't let go of it. Every now and then I pull out a game, and get sucked back in all over again.

Dema: When you first played, did you start making DA art right away? Or did it percolate for a while?

CiellaJess: So I started DAO and DA2 multiple times back when they came out. I'm a giant RPG nerd and have a lifelong dragon obsession, but for some reason they didn't grab me and I always moved on to something else. But for some reason, when I tried Inquisition, it was just the right time or place I guess and I was hooked. I started art for that right away. Then I went back and plowed through the other games, no problem. I still mostly do Inquisition art, but I also love drawing my Warden too. Plus all the great companions.

Dema: Would you say you're primarily a character-artist?

CiellaJess: Completely. I wish I were better at landscapes and architecture, the ones in the game are fantastic, but it's never been my strong suit.

Dema: Mmmm yes. I deeply feel that, lol. The eternal struggle 😅What was your first piece of Inquisition art?

CiellaJess: A little two panel comic. I'd just beaten Vinsomer, shortly after the breakup scene with Solas. Dorian and Bull had gone down and it was just my Rogue Inquisitor and Solas managed to eke out a win. I had this little vision in my head of them happy and triumphant and looking at each other. The remembering that they were broken up. I had planned a whole comic, but only got around to the two panels. Them ecstatic and them remembering.

Dema: OOF

CiellaJess: Still probably the formative story for my whole Solavellan romance 😂

Dema: Solavellans sure know how to have fun! I'm trying to think how many times Solas has broken up with my characters....

CiellaJess: It's fun to have your heart broken over and over again, right??

Dema: Like, here I am again, crying into my popcorn. Do you have more than one OC for Inquisition, or are you fully devoted to the Saddest Elf?

CiellaJess: I've started a bunch. I keep trying to do an 'evil' playthrough, with a Trevelyan warrior that wanted to be a Templar. He even features in a fic I'm working on. But usually, some time after I get to Skyhold, I always  wanna go back to my Lavellan. I'm definitely a lil polyamorous when it comes to DA, but I have my favs for sure.

Dema: What are your top 5 romances?

CiellaJess: Solas, Zevran, Alistair, Isabela, Fenris. And Adoribull for bonus points. I've also been playing with the idea of [REDACTED], which is why I'm excited for the fic I got 😁

Dema: I am gunna redact that, but YEAH!!!!! I am excited for you! Related to collaboration: have you done a Big Bang before?

CiellaJess: Nope, this is my first one!

Dema: Welcome! What made you decide to join?

CiellaJess: I've done a few DA fic exchanges and they're always a blast. With DAV coming out, I was on the lookout for something like that. This seemed perfect!

Dema: We have gotten so lucky with the timing. Are you watching all the DAV news closely or are you enforcing some boundaries, haha? I'm personally vacillating back and forth between not wanting to see anything and going absolutely batshit over the tiniest crumb of a detail.

CiellaJess: Constant vigilance! 

Dema: Hahaha! What part has you most excited?

CiellaJess: I love the factions. Especially since it seems like they'll actually be addressed by the companions. Trying to figure out which I'm gonna try first has been hard.

Dema: Are you feeling equally split between them or are you between two or 3?

CiellaJess: Right now I'm leaning towards Shadow Dragons. My initial thought was Veil Jumper, but I tend to do elven rogue, and that felt like doing another version of Bellara. Then I read an interview that mentioned that Solas sees himself in Rook, and now I think that a former elven  slave that's working with the Shadow Dragons to try and rebel against Tevinter felt very much like young Solas. I'm really feeling that dynamic. Of course, that could all go out the window as soon as I get my hands on the game.

Dema: Haha, yeah, but it is so fun to think about!

CiellaJess: Definitely!! And I don't wanna miss out on the others either. Helpfully, my husband will probably go Mortalitassi, so I can watch him play that 😂

Dema: Brilliant strategy. Divide and Conquer. Thank you so much for your time today, it has been great interviewing you! I am excited to see your piece in a few months!CiellaJess: Yay! I'm so excited! Good luck with the rest of them!

[becky-helene]

a wild rambling long post appears

Is it weird that I’m excited for Mass Effect Andromeda….even though I’ve never played any of the Mass Effect games?

Or, is me thinking it’s weird the truly weird thing?

I haven’t played the ME games for the same reason I haven’t played DAO or DA2 in a very long while: PS4 player, and attempting to play DAO on PC a little while ago showed me that, other than Sims, I’m a console player through and through. I just didn’t enjoy Origins as I did playing it when I was on my PS3. And even the fact of that’s the only way I can play previous games wasn’t enough to make me power through my console>pc feelings.

It would’ve been great if I had had this thought of “let’s try Mass Effect!” back when my PS3 was still in the land of the living, but alas, one cannot go back in time. Dang.

And unfortunately, playstation hasn’t joined Xbox in the whole backwards compatibility for some games, ME included, thing. Dang again.

I’ve played DAI over and over again. I’m on my 23rd/24th Inquisitor (according to the save files, its 23, but Dragon Age Keep has me at 24, so I may have accidentally deleted an Inquisitor from the save files….oops. Here’s hoping if/when [it had better be *when*, Bioware] we have DA4, it’s like DAI where you import from the keep, and not dao->DA2 where it went via a save file. Or if DA4 has option for either way to import previous game).

And, mind you, that’s 23/24 *just* on PS4 (since late August/early September-ish 2015). Throw in all the PS3 game saves I lost in the “great PS3 meltdown of July 2015 which happened while I had let my ps plus subscription lapse so oh yay no online storage and therefore resetting PS3 to give it a, albeit short, life extension led to losing alllll my saves, and yes I know it’s been a year and a half but I’m still upset about it okay!”, the total bumps up to close to, if not over, 40.

I’m not bored with the game, since clearly I still enjoy it enough to keep on making new games, but it’s at the point where I’ve done all that can be done (barring some exceptions…of the Qunari alliance, and Cullen staying on lyrium indefinitely variety…..because NOPE. They were nope before Trespasser, and even bigger nope after hearing what happens in or after Trespasser if those choices had been made. Never have done them, and never will do them. Nope). I’ve romanced everyone at least once, played all the races, different personality types (though, not all. Even in a game I can’t be completely mean and ruthless, as my whopping 1 time playing a redHawke in DA2 showed me), Mages, Templars, different Divines, all that. It’s all revisiting it at this point.

Which, again, is still enjoyable. But now I’m wanting that feeling I had in the first few handful of playthroughs where everything was a new experience.

I’ve thought about getting into like Skyrim or something to have something “new” to play, but I’m on the fence. Given my history with video games (long story short….I know, too late….before DAI I felt like I ~couldn’t~ play any video game beyond Sims or fighting games. I’d try, have difficulty doing even simple things, get frustrated, give up, and convince myself I was just too stupid for Rpg/action/adventure/etc type video games. Playing DAI, and going back and playing Origins and DA2 pulled me out of that mentality), I’m just worried I’ll revert to that old thinking the second I get frustrated. Then again, dragon age has built up my video game confidence somewhat that maybe I wouldn’t…I don’t know. Skyrim remains a possibility for the future, I guess.

I know Mass Effect =\= Dragon Age, but meh, both are Bioware, and I keep hearing how Andromeda is going to have some similar things from Inquisition (like crafting! Yes! Oh how I’ve become a crafting addict. I feel like, other than parts it plays if doing Before The Dawn, the only reason I go to Emprise De Leon is for the plentiful tier 3 crafting items gathered or dropped by like Snowfleurs or Red Templars lol. Hell, most of the time I only play The Descent past the opening just to get the barrel with the dragon crafting stuff lol. I think I’ve played all of descent maybe 3 or 4 times, done half of it a few more…..and a lot of just getting to setting up camp so as to get the goods lol) and all that, so….yeah I’m excited for that. Replaying DAI….without replaying it lol.

I guess I’m overthinking and wondering, do I have the “right” to be excited and feeling like omg I have to get it day one.

I’ve had sort of similar thoughts about dragon age in the past. I got into it through Inquisition, and even that was months after it’d been out, then went back and played the previous two games about two months into dragon age obsession. I felt like I was tardy to the party, not to mention not having “earned my stripes” of like waiting and excitedly anticipating the next game in the serious gobbling up the slightest crumb of news.

Trespasser was the great equalizer, since then yeah I was right there freaking out over the trailer release right along with other folks, and now the speculating and waiting and GOD DAMNIT BIOWARE WHEN ARE YOU AT THE VERY LEAST GOING TO CONFIRM THERE WILL BE A DA4 has done the rest of the balancing out differences between newer fans and those who’ve been around for years. So, that’s lessened my feelings of “do I have a right to be excited/love it to this extent?” Because the answer is yes, yes I do.

It’s different with ME because, in not playing it, the excitement is without the proper context. It’s like when I was playing DAI before I went back and played the other two. “Oh okay Hero of Ferelden, Champion of Kirkwall, Alistair, Archdemon, Anders blowing up the chantry etc etc…..those are important things…..oh yeah totally know that…..cuz I read it on the wiki….ahem…..”

So when I read/hear people talking about Andromeda in possible similarities/differences/general comparison to the previous games, I’m just like “….yay?…..is that….is that good?” To myself. I’m more excited for it on the basis of “new game! New rpg! New Bioware game!” than others who are “new Mass Effect!!” excited.

Ah well, at least there’s being excited for Injustice 2 as well. Played and loved first Injustice, so my feelings of “oooomg that trailer why isn’t it may yet!” has a lot less “yeah, but have I ~earned~ the right to be excited?” mixed in it.

My only “hmm, I may have messed up” feelings there are from chastising myself for not sticking with the Injustice comics and only reading the first 2-3 ‘years’ of it, lol.