In the pursuit of great, we failed to do good.
Diplomats, spies, priests, mages, researchers, merchants... the Inquisition isn't an army, it simply has one. It's an N.G.O. Superpower with several branches. You could just as easily make an argument that showing diversity through their clothing shows their broad influence in all echelons of society.
That all you got?
Actually the Red Templars and Venatori are doing stuff. Remember? The red lyrium mining, searching for powerful relics, stuff like that?
That is the face of a man who just ate a kitten. Raw.
Would that it were so simple.
True, but the majority of them are just strolling around the countryside. What if Samson or Calpernia gave them time off and they were planning an outing in the Hinterlands?
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
That all you got?
They also have a really powerful Orlesian noble in their pocket. And if you don't save the mages they have the backing of a lot of influential Tevinter magisters, not to mention all the other spies and agents that do things like try to burn down Denerim, assassinate people...
That is the face of a man who just ate a kitten. Raw.
Pretty flower
^^ Then that means Corypheus have agents out in said countryside. Whether or not they are actively doing something somewhere (most of the time they are) if there's a red Templar or Venatori somewhere then it means that Corypheus is exerting influence in that area.
#IceBearForPresident
So there's an ice giant in the Frostback Basin. It's basically a standard giant, except it has a shitload of health and freezes anyone it hits with its ground pound. I'd say that its tougher than the DLC's final boss, but not so unreasonably powerful that I'd call it a Bonus Boss.
Oh, and interesting tidbit about giants from a codex entry. Apparently, they are like dwarves in that they don't go to the Fade when they sleep.
edited 28th Mar '15 11:12:28 AM by lrrose
Wait, it was implied that giants were basically animals and incapable of speech. How would people even know that?
The codex entry is an ancient Avvar saga. The Avvar know a lot about spirits, so the saga might have some validity.
Precise line: "Dead to dreams as dwarves below us."
edited 28th Mar '15 12:05:21 PM by lrrose
Perpetually Confused
I've come to realize how much I hate the war table. Not just the silly war table missions that feel like a facebook game that EA forgot to add the "Pay to remove timer" option. But rather, the whole system.
Your story missions are labelled on there with a giant glowing icon, and have a minimum level and a minimum power to go. Like, how artificial is that? It's a literal "You must be this tall to ride" sign.
"Quick! We must go save the empress of orlais! Minimum level 12? Hrmmm. Nevermind! First lets go do mineral survey! The assassination is not so urgent!" It kills the game's pacing by making doing padding mandatory. Because the game would take 6 hours to finish otherwise.
I mean, imagine in DA:O when the game gives you freedom to recruit the elves, mages, dwarves, or the Arl of Redcliffe, you picked Orzammar and the guard at the gate told you "Look I know the blight is pressing, but go do some quests in Denerim first coz this area's level 10 minimum"
edited 28th Mar '15 1:27:19 PM by Ghilz
Uniocular
That's exactly what they do. Except the do it by stabbing you repeatedly.
At least Inquisition has the courtesy to tell you first, so you don't waste your time.
"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."
Perpetually Confused
That'd only be true if DA:O had a difficulty curve. Which it doesn't. I've played the game enough time, you can do all four parts of DAO in any order.
Uniocular
You can. It'll just be a lot easier if you do it in the recommended order. Which you have to go to outside sources to figure out.
"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."
Perpetually Confused
Oh god. Having to figure things out on your own in a videogame. Perish the thought!
Better have everything carefully labelled with levels (including the monsters) so the player doesn't step out of bond and GASP risk being challenged! (And also make sure they visit the 3/4 of the games we couldn't be bothered to tie into the story in any way).
edited 28th Mar '15 1:56:11 PM by Ghilz
Uniocular
... Like, difficulty is fine and all, but Guide Dang It! is a thing, and I really don't understand why you're so upset about convenience.
Nothing's stopping you from going to the Winter Palace at level 6 if you really want, but I appreciate that I'm warned so I don't do that.
edited 28th Mar '15 1:58:55 PM by Mukora
"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."
Story missions only have Power requirements, not level.
Perpetually Confused
Which require doing a number of sidequest to meet. so still immersion breaking. (And don't tell me power represents earning nobles trust and backing for the inquisition to gain access to what you need to do coz I'll reply how does building tents or cages for the inquisition suddenly earn me an invite to the imperial palace)
"The inquisition? Here? How ridiculous" "But Ma'am, the inquisitor built TENTS!" "Well that changes everything!"
And yes, I hate having the levels displayed. It's annoying and immersion breaking and handholding and completely defeats the point of making the game a sandbox since it discourages exploration.
I know they're all representing the Inquisition but they can still do that without wearing the exact same outfit. Not all of them are militery types. Arguably, Josephine and Vivienne are diplomats to the Inquisition. Solas and Dorian are enchanters and reserachers except when they're out on the field. They can represent the Inquisition in their own way.
AT LEAST give the Inquisitor his own variation!
Uniocular
If that breaks your immersion, then it must be very fragile.
And I fail to see how a simple warning discourages exploration. Not knowing where it's safe to explore is what's discouraging for me- going to a place and getting killed and having no idea if it's because I'm not a high enough level, or because I messed up isn't fun to me. If it's fun to you, great. You can still go to those places when you're not the right level if you want.
edited 28th Mar '15 2:15:20 PM by Mukora
"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."
I just don't like how the content doesn't scale. The way Origins had it where you had a recommended order was fine. If you really wanted to and knew how to get past those mercenaries you could get into Orzammar before the game wanted you to and then do whatever. Then you could go wherever and still face an okay challenge rather than stuff ten levels below you.
edited 28th Mar '15 2:29:44 PM by Arha
The content not scaling is a plus in my book. I still remember the looks on those level 7 Wardens when they realized they were fighting a level 18 Inquisitor.
They emoted to stats that were only visable to the player did they? You sure they weren't frightened by the floating portraits, and were paralyzed by the startling realization that they weren't the main characters?
They still had enough of a face left to make an expression after you caved their skulls in by sneezing at them?
That all you got?
At least they still try and encourage you to move on by going "Anything three levels below you doesn't give you experience."
That is the face of a man who just ate a kitten. Raw.
Somehow only the first ten characters of my post showed up.
Regarding tents increasing power:
When you set up camp, soldiers will sometimes spawn nearby with chests filled with crummy loot that they found on patrol. Setting up camps increases the range of the Inquisiton's patrols, thus increasing the Inquisition's power and influence.
edited 28th Mar '15 2:43:00 PM by lrrose
The Inquisition is more than an army, though; they have spies and diplomats.
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."