CharlesPhipps wrote:The biggest disappointment for DA2 for me is the fact I really-really DO like a smaller more intimate fantasy story set in a single city where the stakes are much lower. The whole idea of Hawke as a Private Detective would have been better, I think if they'd doubled down on that and had him a professional problem solver instead of a rich aristocrat.
That would have been great.
I'm sure it's accidental, but it also would have served as a nice homage to Hawk, the antihero sidekick in Robert B Parker's 'Spenser' series. (Incidentally, Hawk in the TV adaptation was played by Avery Brooks, so we've come full circle nerd).
I'm sure others have written about this in this forum but I decided to throw my hat in with the subject of how to fix Act 2. I'm using Chuck's ideas as a bit of a launching point as it's a good place to lay the ground work so here we go.
First let's address the biggest issue, how is Hawke important. This one I think is relatively easy to answer, as the Qunari are the big bad of act 2 have it where the whole point of act 2 is for Hawke to get them out of Kirkwall and save the day and, using Chuck's idea here, have it where the whole point is building up a number of political connections with the Qunari, the Tevinter Imperium, the Nobles of Kirkwall and a Ferelden ambassador. You can still have the final fight as the Arishok hates Kirkwall so much, (can't really blame him as it really is the worst fictional city in history) that all it really needs is one more straw to break the camels back. Just change it were Aveline doesn't do something that is so obviously stupid by changing the person who the elves murdered had killed their sister and have a mission about it were it's up for debate whether him killing her was intentional or not.
As for why you are the one who is at the center of all this simple, give Hawke a couple of side quests that A) Get Hawke the attention of the Qunari and the Arishok and B) a few other quests that get Hawke the position on the Counsel of Kirkwall. This makes the events of Act 1 less pointless when in relation of act 2 and helps give the illusion that Hawke is important even if s/he is just a single player in this bigger game.
Now for the second biggest issue, why is Hawke staying in Kirkwall. This one is easy enough, Hawke's sibling just have them trying to get them out of the Templars or the Circle or main quest that is about learning of a way to free them from the Grey Wardens, (which fails but it gives you a better reason to stay instead of just because. Next have it where you save your mother dammit, don't force so much defeat onto the players, we don't like it!
Also, and ever one has said this at several times over but have the Templars and the Mages play a bigger role in the act 2. Their role in the plot is trying to make the two make peace as so just in case the Qunari attack we can have them count on them if and when the time comes. Meanwhile the two are engaged in a cold war that is only being kept from turning hot because of the Qunari threat.
Cut down on some of the more pointless side quests, make the conflict between the Mages and Templars more nuanced instead of making both sides just awful, give a bit more time to fleshing out Hawke's companions and act 2 of DA2 could have been great and maybe if it wasn't rushed through development this might have been the game we got.
Darmani, you are wrong. Plenty of people are going to play a Serf, especially people who already are of a strong left-wing position. That's why your backstory options in Dragon Age Origins include being a Castless Dwarf or an Elf in the Alienage.
"Believe me, there’s nothing so terrible that someone won’t support it."
— Un Lun Dun, China Mieville
Fuzzy Necromancer wrote:Darmani, you are wrong. Plenty of people are going to play a Serf, especially people who already are of a strong left-wing position. That's why your backstory options in Dragon Age Origins include being a Castless Dwarf or an Elf in the Alienage.
Weird fact but I was prepared to do a Human Peasant playthrough for Hawke as I resented not being able to do so in DA2. I was pissed by the revelation Hawke and his family are secret nobles.
Fuzzy Necromancer wrote:Darmani, you are wrong. Plenty of people are going to play a Serf, especially people who already are of a strong left-wing position. That's why your backstory options in Dragon Age Origins include being a Castless Dwarf or an Elf in the Alienage.
Fair enough, but most left winners I know who would choose would be more a discworld character than kayfabe serf
Darmani wrote:
Fair enough, but most left winners I know who would choose would be more a discworld character than kayfabe serf
Well, there is one famous farmer hero people love.
Dunno how to tell you this Charles, but that's a journalist.
If Chuck or a mod reads this feel free do delete my account. I would do it myself but I don't seem to be able to find a delete account option. phpBB should have such an option but I guess this isn't stock phpBB.
