#i'm more of an observer when it comes to da fandom stuff like this but jfc sksksks

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

Soooo, I've read a lot of differing opinions about Veilguard at this point, and one I can't stop thinking about is how aggressive some people get about the idea of critiquing it by comparing it to the previous games.

"It should be judged solely on it's own merit; there's a deep and beautiful story being told that everyone's missing by focusing on what it's not!"

"It's been 20 years in game since Origins! Things have changed, so it's really bad faith to criticize it for not being exactly like the other games!"

I've played DAO, DA2, and DAI several times. I'll play them and DAV several more times in the future. I'm going to compare all four games and treat it as one long narrative. That's not something new, and it's how I find engaging with Dragon Age the most enjoyable.

However, I also sympathize with this perspective because I believe it's born from frustration. I see it as people over-correcting in their vexation, as wanting others to love it like they do and the obstacle in that is the hyper-fixation with the previous games... so if we remove that, then everyone will see it for what it is: a great game with a great story.

I totally feel that... But, that sympathy goes out the window once those same people start throwing out that, "If you don't like DAV's writing then that's because you lack critical thinking skills, media literacy, and are just an overall moron who can't comprehend themes in good storytelling."

Like... no, buddy. C'mon, that's not the way to go about that.

If you played DAV and adored it, if you were emotionally invested and thought to story it told was powerful, if you love the companions and thought the romances were beautiful... then yes, it's upsetting to see so many others dismiss the good and shit on it for "not being Origins."

And yeah, if you solely focus on what it's not, then you do miss out on the things it does well, because it DOES do a lot of things well!

But, I also think this way of approaching DAV is flawed, and insulting someone's intelligence because they're not engaging with the story the way you do is unproductive.

Just... y'know what?

You're right—If you toss DAO, DA2, and DAI aside and just look at DAV by itself, it IS a much more enjoyable, comprehensible story.

Because then you don't have to stomach the fact that the Crows purchase children and groom them into assassins with most of those children not surviving the process.

You don't have to think about how the Dalish would never be okay with the humans, dwarves, and qunari in the Veil Jumpers touching ancient elven artifacts.

You don't have to remember the horror of the Brood Mothers that birth darkspawn, or how they're created with women the darkspawn capture: "First day, they come and catch everyone. Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat. Third day, the men are all gnawed on again. Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate. Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn. Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams. Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew. Eighth day, we hated as she is violated. Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin. Now she does feast, as she's become the beast. Now you lay and wait, for their screams will haunt you in your dreams."

You don't have to remember all the slavers that came after Fenris, or any of the things he described Tevinter to be. You don't have to deal with feeling bad about all the apparent slavery and extreme racism that runs rampant in Tevinter because you don't see it, you just know it's a thing and that the Shadow Dragons are fighting it.

You don't have to be horrified about Morrigan's current state because you don't have to think about the way Flemeth physically, mentally, and emotionally abused her; "My mother's stories curdled my blood and haunted my dreams. No little girl wants to hear about the Wilder men her mother took to her bed, using them till they were spent, then killing them. No little girl wants to be told that this is also expected of her, once she comes of age."

The ending cutscene between Solas and Flemeth in DAI? Rewritten, so you don't have to remember the way it actually went.

You don't have to think about the implications of the Antaam being here. You can just forget the slow, steady build up of three games regarding the qunari plans of invasion. Oh, and if you push Taash to embrace their qunari side more, you don't have the think about Karash being "rehabilitated" and what that actually means.

Everything with the Chantry, the Circle, mages and templars can be forgotten because that's just a southern problem. Don't worry about it.

You don't realize just how shallow of a protagonist Rook is because you don't have to think about the depth of choice that was given to the HOF, or how interesting the personality system was for Hawke.

The only thing that matters about the Inquisitor is who they romanced, whether they disbanded the inquisition, and how they feel about Solas... That's it. You don't need to remember that they were the sole survivor of the conclave, burdened with a mark that slowly killed them and resulted in them traumatically losing an arm; forced to be the face of the Inquisition; no longer seen as a person in the eyes of those they led, but as the Herald of Andraste. Betrayed by the wolf hiding within their inner circle. Betrayed by the people they saved.

You don't realize how much the romances truly lack because you can just forget the effort put in the previous romances that would make every single playthrough feel unique with varying approaches and ends for each romance.

But y'know... it's been 20 years. Time's changed.

Except that doesn't erase the past, and that's what Veilguard seems to want to do.

Like... we're not criticizing DAV for being inconsistent in it's lore/storytelling with the other games because we're media illiterate morons. Most of us aren't comparing all four games to each other because we want to make bad faith takes.

We're also frustrated. I'm frustrated.

I've posted a lot about my third playthrough where I'm roleplaying as Carver for my Rook. It's the most engaged and excited I've really felt while playing DAV despite having fun in my previous playthroughs... and I'm so engaged because 1. Carver is one of my favorite DA characters and the story implications of him being Rook is just *chef's kiss* and 2. while I'm playing, I'm actively rewriting everything in my head.

I just... what does that tell you? Y'know??

And again, I want to reiterate that I understand why this take I'm criticizing exists. I'm just trying to put into words the flaw of raging at people for comparing DAV to DAO/DA2/DAI in a sympathetic way instead of hitting fire with fire, y'know?

I wouldn't be saying all of this if I didn't care about Dragon Age or feel similar irritation with how the fandom engages with the writing sometimes.