#i just love dragon age so much you guys......

[yes-these-obsessions-are-healthy]

The more I sit on it, the more obvious and blatant it is that Veilguard transferred over so many tidbits from Mass Effect over to Dragon Age IP (which is a BAD thing, because I loved Dragon Age in part because it did not play or function like Mass Effect). There is a reason why I never gave much of a damn about my Shepherds in Mass Effect. They were already an accomplished soldier of the Alliance. There is no deviation from that. All you can do is choose whether to be a nice or mean soldier in all three games. Your “background” chosen in ME 1 plays no huge part in how the world interacts with you because you are ultimately defined by two things that remain universal among all players: You are human, and you are a soldier.

That is how Rook is. You are a Chaotic Good that was being held back by your superiors because you went Top Gun on a mission + you are most definitely going to help Varric out because you’re best friends. The core of your personality is set in stone at the start of the game. Because you work with Varric you can’t be mean or evil because he wouldn’t want to work with such a person, I suppose. Contrast this with the Hero of Fereldan who can be an absolute bastard because the reason for being recruited by Duncan actually ties to their racial/class background and demonstrates how Hero =/= Good. This is scaled back a lot with the Inquisitor but there is still dialogue highlighting your race/class choice and some ruthless decisions (sacrificing the Chargers, letting Celene die).

Rook operates as an unholy melding of the Mass Effect Shepard circumstances and an even worsely executed Hawke (Hawke could at least be ruthless and callous to people and spit on their companions’ feelings with the utmost venom), and it creates this hollow avatar that is just.. ineffectually inoffensive. They’re a good guy who is doing the good thing for good reasons. No nuance, no friction, no doubts or opportunities to take on a “by any means necessary, fuck everyone’s feelings” or “actually we should burn this whole world down, I’m kind of agreeing with Solas here” (you were able to side with Meredith in DA2 for God’s sake). Even IF data shows that people don’t pick evil/mean dialogue options much of the time, most people want that opportunity for certain opportunities. Maybe they dislike a particular NPC, maybe they really do want to do a bastard run, maybe they want to RP a character who is an asshole and becomes good over the course of the game’s events or vice versa. Why deny us those opportunities?

Rook's backgrounds make no sense or gatekeeping is good, actually

It's didn't sit well with me ever since bioware admitted that all 6 background for Rook can be played by any race you choose

Looking back at Origins it's clear why most of the backgrounds were race-specific. Not only it provided a better understanding of the separate cultures (you wouldn't really understand what dwarfs are about if you were able to play as a surface dwarf commoner) it also established the rules of the world (elves are opressed, you can't become a queen/king cuz the nobles will riot, humans colonize them and inforce their religion and rules on everyone, dwarfs are considered weird)

Now, looking at the veilguard, I can't help but ask:

How can a fully grown dalish with vallaslin be a crow? They buy slaves as a way to get more assassins, usually elves, children, so they could easier ruin their psyche. why the hell would a dalish stand for it?

How can a qunari be a Gray Warden? Wardens don't discriminate, sure, but this far, we haven't even heard of a qunari warden. Rook should be a legend, Rook should be questioned at actually being a warden by NPCs, OR sit in some Warden outpost and being studied by their mages, because no one actually knows how Blight and joining might work with Kossith body instead of running around with Varric.

Veiljumpers were organized by dalish, right? Then why in the world would a human be allowed to join? How and why did they change their minds to accept literally anyone, even if it's a potential threat/thief(Morrigan)/zealot/etc..?

How can a dwarf, someone who isn't even connected to the fade be a Veiljumper?

How can a dwarf be a part of the Mourn Watch? A Mortalitasi, an exclusively MAGE order? What can they even do?? Preform a non magical mummifications with herbs and salts like Egyptians did? Sweep the mausoleum? Be some sort of a funeral organizer/lawyer/genealogist? That could've been really interesting if only the game actually bothered to say anything about it. It did not

"Well it's up to your headcanons!" then why make the backgrounds in the first place??? They don't matter anyway!

I mean, obviously it was just a way to promote the game to older fans. Look, the backstories! The thing you've been craving for is back in game! Only they forgot what actually made them so great. The most important part. They mattered, they created a basis for my character. They gave them families, connections. They changed the way my character is perceived (elves in general) and what they can do plotwise (become a monarch/paragon).

I don't fucking care if 3-5 NPCs might have some additional dialogues for me, cuz they don't matter anyway. I don't even know these people, i never met them before, my character did, but I didn't. And now I don't care enough to know. like, i'm playing as a mourn watcher, but before going to Nevarra i barely knew anything about them, and what i know now is still rather surface level shit

Let alone the fact that all the backgrounds are practically the same. You pissed off some influencial people by doing good and was send away. Bravo.

........if this post gets one like I'm writing my own ideas for DA4 protagonist's backgrounds

[lunarharp]

played dragon age 2...just simple scribbles

[mainalias]

replaying dao for the first time in 15 yrs and got the sten dialogue where tal-vashoth are referenced for the first time ever in dragon age and

I 100% interpreted this as the tal-vashoth were killing qunari the first time round, which makes sense because it's cryptic and comes after sten describing tal-vashoth as monsters that require killing.

but knowing more qunari lore now I get that this isn't him describing mysterious killings of qunari by tal-vashoth, this is sten describing people leaving the qun and becoming tal-vashoth.

the tal-vashoth take away his colleagues and friends because they are spreading doubt of the qun and causing others to leave as well, and sten is so indoctrinated that to him this is monstrous, and that's how he describes it to the warden but that is not what is happening at all

[a-drama-addict]

im. in my loving merrill moment (<- unending moment)

[dragonseeds]

there’s a horrible sickness in me that makes me want to stop and replay da:i whenever i start a different game. how am i supposed to resist the story of my own unwilling apotheosis? especially as lavellan, who doesn’t believe in the maker and who has every right to hate and mistrust the chantry but chooses to use what power they have to try save people, to fix what’s broken, no matter how afraid they are or how careful they have to be. walking side by side with the great trickster god/adversary of your people without knowing, befriending him, changing his mind about this world but ultimately not his choice. he understands what’s happening to you because it happened to him once and he gives you his castle, built over the place where he sundered the world, and paints your story there in frescos that will last long after you’re gone and after the story has been retold and reshaped so many times that the truth of who you are and what you did is lost—just as he did his own story, which was lost and perverted by war and propaganda, and he shows all of this to you knowing you’ll understand because you’ve lived through something similar, grown into something larger than yourself and your true name, and it doesn’t change anything but. he wanted you to see him just for a moment, even if he can’t tell you everything (or almost anything) and you can’t save him—because he owes it to you as a someone who is a friend, almost an equal, and because there’s no one else left who knows: a direct result of what he did to your people and which he now seeks to undo at the cost of this world.

[vaguely-concerned]

there's a painting hanging on a wall in treviso that is basically a whole ass raphael painting, some full on the school of athens shit, except there's a crow jumping out to stab someone right in the middle of it and everyone's freaking out. I love this game so much

[imaginaryanon]

ohhh, da fandom, how i've not fucking missed you lmaooo the new game's release is still a month away but already i'm reminded exactly why i became convinced i'd never want anything to do with that franchise again. jesus christ. except this time im 30 and hopefully better at tailoring my online experience to not exhaust me & make me pissed and anxious (even if half of da tumblr is like. already laser-focused on making this a shit experience for everyone who stumbles upon their fuckass posts huh hfgjhjhjd)

anyway i'm listening & learning & blocking even MORE tags & not looking at SHIT until i play the game myself <3 For Real this time. "oh but surely it's just an innocent opinion and not a spoiler or anything--" that is the devil talking. all posts abt veilguard rn are full of shit, on account of The Game Isn't Fucking Out Yet How Are You Guys Already Having Novel-Length Opinions (TM)!!!! anyway i simply don't need that kind of energy in my life

i enjoy these games too much to be chased outta here by deranged drama i'm not even a part of again 😭 get fucked & god unbless

[lavellun]

i finished it!!!! 🪞✨

[stinkrascal]

it is so sad that ive played each dragon age game multiple times like at least 60 hours in each game and over 400+ hours in inquisition and i still have like an elementary grasp on the lore

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

Hawke: You knew my grandparents? Elthina: I dedicated your mother into the Chantry. She was a beautiful baby. Your grandmother was a very proper lady, but she was beside herself that day. And your mother put a fist in my eye.

Suddenly I like Leandra a little bit more. I mean, who hasn't wanted to put a fist in Elthina's eye at some point during da2?

"Excuse me, Grand Cleric Elthina, a templar used your official seal to get away with kidnapping and murdering qunari." "Ah, well, the Maker will figure it out. The Chantry is a gentle mother who knows her children learn best when allowed to learn themselves."

"Hey, Elthina, the templars are abusing mages. They're forcing tranquility onto them for minor things, which is against the law, and it's only getting worse. Can't you do something?" "It's not my place to decide who is right, but the Maker will eventually."

"Damn it, Elthina, my mother and several other women were murdered by an actually dangerous blood mage because the templars and city guard couldn't be bothered to do their jobs!" "Ah, I'm sorry, that's so unfortunate. May your mother find a place at the Maker's side."

"ELTHINA the qunari beheaded the Viscount and now Meredith has taken complete control over Kirkwall and is looking for any excuse to annul the entire Circle with her Andraste complex, will you PLEASE do something to stop her before more people die??" "Hmmm, I see, but no. The Maker's time isn't man's time, we have no need to rush."

"Listen, you useless moron, you need to leave Kirkwall because shit's about to go down." "No, I will not leave. Who would hurt me? I'm Grand Cleric."

Even as a baby, Leandra knew this lady was an awful person. This is why you got blown up, Elthina.

[herearedragons]

First Cringetober entry!

Day 2: Self-Insert + Day 3: Unnecessarily Complex Fit

Obviously, I made a Dragon Age self-insert. Normally I’m all for being a mage, but being a mage in Thedas isn’t that fun, so instead my self-insert is an Orlesian (that’s where the Complex Fit comes from) dwarf alchemist who shows up as a vendor in Skyhold.

I decided that she’s from Serault solely because that’s the Stained Glass Place. She comes from a long line of fabled alchemists and now it’s up to her to uphold the legacy; she gets sent to Skyhold in an attempt to kickstart her career. And she’s pretty good! You can buy dyes/paints for outfit customization from her, as well as extra potions/grenades, recipes and ingredients.

If you buy enough stuff from her, she’ll confess that alchemy is more of a hobby to her and she’s trying to become an author, but her books keep flopping for some unknown reason. If you decide to look into it, you find out that she writes Thedosian sci-fi/fantasy, and (unbeknownst to her) all of her books are varying degrees of banned by the Chantry because it’s a lot of “what if everyone was a mage and we didn’t need Circles” and “what if we had sentient lyrium-powered vehicles possessed by spirits”. You can then do a war table operation to either get the books un-banned (Josephine), get her books onto the black market (Leliana) or have Cullen painstakingly attempt to explain to her why writing about spirit cars is a bad idea (Cullen).

[myfandomincolor]

Every time I start Awakening and meet Anders with his cockiness and flirting and looking like maybe he's gotten a full night's sleep:

[lelianaslefthand]

me: astarion disapproves? dont care didnt ask plus you have lice. deal with my choices boy

also me: fenris disapproves?? i'll redo this entire level if i must babygirl im so sorry

[streetsandsodiumlights]

hard to play dragon age with a new character bc im just completely head over heels in love with my warden. I think about them and im like yep this is it, let’s pack it up and go home

[amatres]

meet cute in the wilds ❤

also morrigan speaks to you so kindly when you're in her mother's hut, it's always interesting to see

[xhatake]

alt!

Send me "alt!" and I'll introduce you to a character I've rped in the past, want to play in the future or are currently playing somewhere else! [ ellis cousland @higheverlost ]

It was supposed to be a good day. Ellis had risen with the sun, eager to stretch the light of dawn as far as he could. Fergus was supposed to march with the majority of Highever’s forces that day & Ellis still had a sliver of hope that he may be permitted to go as well. it was a long shot, but there was an ache in his hear that could only be satisfied with acclaim. It had always been a dream of his to become a hero, sheathed in the blinding light of glory & gore. He was a second son, his legacy would be carved by his own hand. Stories of Grey Wardens riding into battle on the backs of griffons had filled his head since he was a boy. Surely the blight was the single thing that could see these fantasies become reality.

Ellis had shared a quick breakfast with his sister, assuming that their older brother, Fergus was spending time with his family before he marched ... it was then, that he & Lily had been summoned to their father’s side. they had gathered in the great hall with lord howe, who implied that his daughter may be looking for a husband. ellis politely declined. though they had not made it official, his heart belonged to another. Astoria had left only weeks before & Ellis already missed her. he wonders if he'll be a hero by the next time they met. she would get a kick out of that, surely.

There was one man who stood out against the others. In the mix of familiar faces, warriors, lords, he was introduced to someone else.a real-life grey warden, Duncan,  had stood in their halls. He looked exactly as Ellis had always imagined, a stone wall of a man with two blades that had likely seen more battles than Ellis could count... & Ellis could count pretty high.

Excitement had boiled over in his chest when Duncan said that he & his sister were his first choice of recruits. To Ellis’ dismay, his suggestion was shot down immediately. His father needed them here, to watch over Highever while they battled against the blight. Where Ellis opened his mouth to try & fight his father on the subject, Lily was quick to cut him off. She didn’t seem too keen on laying her life down for Ferelden & was already threatened with the loss of Fergus... She needed at least one of her brothers to see the end of this.

Ellis had nearly missed a passing conversation in all the excitement. Howe had made a point to identify he & Lily as Bryce Cousland’s younger children. He had thought nothing of it, distracted by another pressing matter... But in hindsight, he would wish he had taken note of it.

On his way to say goodbye to their older brother, the duo was stopped by their sweet mother. Her silver hair reflected the sunlight, radiating a certain grace. With her was a lady she was supposed to be going north with, away from the greater part of the conflict. Ellis nearly misses their conversation in the eyes of one of her pretty companions but snaps back to reality at his mother's firm voice. He & his sister's hounds had gotten into the kitchens, seemingly to gorge themselves on lard. but things were not as they seemed, as Backup & Fergie had unveiled a grand plan to stop the rats that threatened their home. nan had carried on & on until she heard the word ‘ rats ‘. after that she had been quick to throw the dogs a treat & rush them on their way. They had likely been coming from an old passage in the pantry, trying to invade the kitchens through.

The rest of the day passes like a dream, filled with more emotions than Ellis knows how to comprehend. He had exchanged a tearful goodbye with Fergus & accepted that he would be left behind. When he marched from highever with the bulk of their forces,a sinking feeling ignnited many racing thoughts of death, fears of loss...He had decided to distract himself with a different sort of company, inviting the woman he had met earlier to join him in his bedchambers for the night. His heart may belong to Astoria, but the sentiment did not yet extend to his body. Sleep takes him, providing temporary relief from an uncertain future.

What he does not expect is when he is woken in the night. It's his hound that wakes him; Fergie whines at the sound of steel clashing in the hall outside of his room. Ellis throws on his clothes, collects his weapons & wakes his companion. She doesn't make it very far, as she is killed when he throws his door open to see what's going on. It's a bitter feeling, but he pushes through regardless. He tears through men in armor that reflects the dim light of the candles that lit their halls. Despair settles in his stomach as he realizes their numbers are too great. Every time he dances out of the reach of one sword, another is ready to meet him. He braces himself as a man threatens to bring down his weapon on Ellis' face, but something stops him.

The swift ' thwip' echoes across the hall Ellis has torn was way into, resolving in an arrow through Ellis' opponent's chest. It was a powerful blow & he raises his gaze to see his mother, at last. It is strange to see her in armor. Usually, she was dressed like a proper lady, in the colors of their family. But there was something legendary about the ferocity in her eyes as she defended her son. They tear through the rest of their opponents with renewed faith, stopping only after the last of them stopped breathing. there were still the sounds of conflict echoing all through Highever, a warning of what awaited them when they left this hall. Ellis kicks over one of the dead men, recognizing the men as one of Howe's soldiers.

One of Howe's men. Betrayal. Ellis tries to contain the rage that begins to grow in his chest, coming to a thousand different conclusions of how this came to pass. All he could think was how lucky the lord was to be elsewhere, or Ellis would ensure he ended up in the same pile of gore as his men. Despite his rage, there is one thought that cuts through every assumption.

" We have to go. " Ellis speaks before his mother can react, his mind already racing in regards to the wellbeing of his sister. His mother nods & they come to the understanding that this will be their last night together. What Ellis does not know, however, is how determined his mother is to insure the survival of her children. Ellis mind is already racing, as are his breaths. For all he dreamed of battle, he had never thought it would find him in the walls of his own home, " We have to find Lily. "