#you even see it extended to characters like taash

[taamlok]

this fandom (and tumblr in general) has a severe lesbophobia problem that no one is interested in addressing because they think identifying as queer absolves them of their bigotry

[rahabs]

Was there anything you liked about Veilguard?

The hair was an improvement over Inquisition's notorious fifty shades of bald. Emmrich had a lot of potential and was easily the best of what turned out to be bland, underdeveloped batch of companions that the game makes you coddle and affirm at every turn (or, in Taash's case, an insanely childish companion that I felt I had to babysit constantly). Davrin was also fine. The architectural design was beautiful to look at, even if the cities felt empty and stale. Some of the armour was nice, and an improvement on Inquisition. I wasn't a fan of some aspects of the CC (but that's more my general dissatisfaction with BioWare constantly issuing massive overhauls to the designs of elves and qunari, so it's not Veilguard-specific), but it was also a marked improvement over Inquisition. Combat was... fine. It got dull after awhile, but it was just your standard stuff. Nothing offensive. Solas' voice acting was great for the .5 seconds we got to see him. Some of the other characters were voiced well.

As I've said, my main issue just lies in the sterile, corporate writing--not just the companions. My dissatisfaction also extends to the general culling of roleplay options (and some of the reasons why they were cut--namely, because a certain head writer was against players being able to do things he personally didn't approve of, and yes, it's common knowledge as Weekes was vocal on social media about it for years), the rampant lore issues (which BioWare has always struggled with in this franchise; lore consistency is not Dragon Age's strength), the coddling and hand-holding (not just for companions but for all major plot points; it's like the game thinks we're all stupid toddlers who need everything spoon-fed and told to us in the most simplistic terms, leaving no room for nuance or discussion), and just how... demeaning a lot of this game felt, I suppose? Someone pointed this out once and it stuck with me, but this game feels more like it was designed for "lonely people who really like found family fanfiction and project way too hard onto interactive media." Everything's just constant affirmation, constant "how-are-yous" from Rook to the companions; you cannot disagree with a companion or risk hurting their pixel-feelings, even when the companions are objectively acting like arseholes. It kills the roleplay aspect BioWare has always been famous for.

Editing this response I gave to someone else on this post, because I should have expanded originally:

[…] I think part of the reason Veilguard fails is that, unlike DA2, in trying to cater to that “found family” crowd and recreate the feeling people got with DA2 especially, the writers forgot a crucial aspect of what makes found family dynamics work, or what makes them feel worthwhile to the audience: the conflict.  Part of the impact with DA2 is it takes time—literal years—for Hawk to help build that dynamic, and there are serious differences of opinions and many arguments, whether between Hawk and one of the companions, Fenris and Anders, Isabella and Aveline, Fenris and Merrill, Anders and Merrill, Aveline and Merrill, Sebastian and Anders, Hawk and their sibling (whether Bethany or Carver), et al, etc.  Can you imagine if Fenris and Anders had had one minor disagreement and Hawk held their hands and went, “I see you’re feeling a lot of big emotions about this, are you okay, maybe you should try getting along and seeing things from his point of view?” and that was that? Because that’s essentially what Veilguard does, and it’s part of why the game rings so hollow and the found family dynamic seems so contrived: it feels unearned. It is unearned.

In the end Rook feels more like a therapist to a bunch of whingey thirteen-year-olds than a leader of professional adults, and the sterile writing as well as the writers' deeming determination to coddle their audience just makes this M-rated game feel G-rated, and not in a good way. In the risk of going into spoilers, I'm not going to rant about the Executors (though know I hate them so very much) or about the whole thing with Southern Thedas (yes I'm mad, because it's so unbelievably lazy), but so many aspects of Dragon Age's lore was just... watered down to the extreme in this game.

Also, the fact that they turned the Antivan Crows, of all things--you know, the same Antivan crows who purchase and recruit child slaves, who kill them if the deviate, whom we've spent three games going "man, you guys are kind of nasty, aren't you" at, etc--into this soft, fluffy, weird little uwu family unit really stood out to me as a symptom of this game's overall problem, which is, again, the infantile writing and the overall issue of over-sanitisation. Everything has to be uwu family friendly and nice and no one can ever have bad thoughts or do bad things or be mean! Good vibes only! I mean, we spent years being told about Tevinter and its legacy of slavery, particularly in Minrathous, and there's none of that in this game. Just more good vibes because can't risk anyone being upset or encountering challenging narratives!

Also, a petty grievance: BioWare also failed to improve on the issues with the dialogue wheel from Inquisition, meaning you'll choose an option and then Rook says something completely different. Again.

I'm just so thoroughly disappointed in it.

[dangoesque]

Thoughts on Veilguard, now that I've finished. Read at your own risk

Fuck Solas. I think he is a good character, but I just wanna punch him half (or whole) of the time. My canon will be the "good one" probably, but it was SATISFYING besting this mf

I enjoyed the game, but it has flaws for sure

I liked the characters, but I can't say I'm super in love with anyone, if that makes sense? I like them a lot, but I don't get the hype like I did with Alistair, Morrigan, Cassandra, Advisors, the whole da2 gang.

In part, I think it's because I felt their personal quests were lacking. 3 missions and that's it? Tbh I don't remember how long the others were, but I also don't remember feeling "eh" about them either. These felt superficial and short. Like, they had potential but then it's over.

Like can you imagine extending the dilemma with Bellara's brother who I already forgot the name of

Or the pursuit of Illario taking longer

I think I was just ok with Davrin's and Taash and even they could have content extended.

Not to mention Harding. Good buildup and bam that's it thanks for coming byee

While I liked the game, I'm struggling with thoughts of replaying it. I honestly did the 3 endings just by replaying the final cutscene or so, so nothing you actually do affects it. What's the point? To explore romance options? They're not pulling me in.

Another factor is Rook's personality. I had to restart because I was struggling with my first Rook's idea and how their personality in game is. I love my Rook, but I think replayability is cut by a lot, by not allowing you to shape their personality more.

I feel like the choices are less of personality choice and what their reply is. Because "red" option is still going to sound kinda cheeky/playful.

The already mentioned everyone southern-thedas-apocalypse makes me worried more then leaving a bitter taste. Like I understand, it's a cop-out to deal with thousands of choices and you care so much. But it's also been 20 years (I think?) since Origins, so personally I do expect it to be totally different from then. It just makes me wonder if they'll ever do another game in the South, so we can deal with whatever is happening

Well of Sorrows. Personally, I had Morrigan do it so it didn't affect me, but I agree it's something that should've mattered.

Kieran is a mess maybe, my brain can't work all this out sometimes

At first, I was salty Varric was IN THE FADE and not one mention of Hawke. But then I learned.

Romancing Isabela having no option on VG. Listen, my pirate would NEVER not wear Hawke's favor. NEVER I'LL DIE ON THIS HILL.

Merril 100% AWOL. With all the eluvians. She could've become a Veil Jumper.

Lack of elven reaction to your gods being evil. And the immediate acceptance??? No one just thought Rook was crazy??? Except First Warden and he doesn't even go here.

Ok so 10 years, probably the word spreaded about the Dread Wolf. Maybe that makes kinda sense.

BUT WHAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE is no word of the followers Solas gained by the end of trespasser.

I'll still replay from the Harding vs Davrin choice. I chose Harding because I wanted to see the romance ending for Davrin. 100% disappointed about all the ending slides, felt like eh. But I think my canon will have Davrin leading the other team. Nim (my Rook) would've chosen the person she trusts the mostest to lead the other team to victory.

I am preparing to be disappointed with the fade shenanigans that ensue bc I have.. expectations and I don't think they'll happen.

I'm just afraid if Assan dies too.