Conference Call

GWJ Conference Call Dragon Age: Inquisition Spoiler Section

Dragon Age: Inquisition Spoiler Section - December 17th, 2014
So many Dragon Age: Inquisition Spoilers!

Join Lara Crigger, Karla Andrich and Shawn as they dive deep into Dragon Age: Inquisition spoilers.

To contact us, email [email protected]! Send us your thoughts on the show, pressing issues you want to talk about or whatever else is on your mind. You can even send a 30 second audio question or comment (MP3 format please) if you're so inclined.

Chairman_Mao's Timestamps

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Show credits

Music credits: 

Inquisition Tavern Music Composed By Trevor Morris, Maryden Halewell,Elizaveta

Intro/Outtro Music - Ian Dorsch, Willowtree Audioworks

Comments

Three hours! It'll take many a commute to listen.

I love that these are separated out, and I love that this is a good deep dive.

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

I love that these are separated out, and I love that this is a good deep dive.

Yes to both of these. What I don't love is that I haven't finished the game yet, so I have to hold off on listening!

Right there with you, Rallick!!!! I'm really looking forward to this, but I'm still somewhere in Act 2!!

UpToIsomorphism wrote:

I love that these are separated out, and I love that this is a good deep dive.

Me too. I assume this was done because of length and one of the goals for the site redeisgn was to split out the spoiler sections into their own episodes?

Also, oh my... 3 hours!?

When the new site is live I'll be grabbing all the spoiler section audio from old shows and then hosting them separate as planned. We'll probably keep new spoiler sections separate from main show going forward so Libsyn can handle the load of hosting them.

I usually really like these spoiler sections but this time it really started to feel like you all were nitpicking the hell out of the game. Perhaps just not enough distance from the massive undertaking of a game just yet?

MojoBox wrote:

I usually really like these spoiler sections but this time it really started to feel like you all were nitpicking the hell out of the game. Perhaps just not enough distance from the massive undertaking of a game just yet?

Not sure I understand what you mean.

MojoBox wrote:

I usually really like these spoiler sections but this time it really started to feel like you all were nitpicking the hell out of the game. Perhaps just not enough distance from the massive undertaking of a game just yet?

Well, you know what they say: The biggest fans are usually the harshest critics. If I seem a little critical, it comes from a place of love, because, honestly, I cannot overstate how much of an impact this series has made on my life. I feel about Dragon Age the way some people feel about Star Wars, or Star Trek. My feels are tribbles, and they can't be contained. So ultimately, the fact that I love the game is a gimme; the conversation has to move beyond that to be interesting..

Anyway, as I've made more headway into my pro-Templar playthrough, there are two things we discussed on the podcast I wanted to address further:

1) I'm seeing now that it actually matters a great deal to the plot whether you support the mages or templars.I thought it was just a few War Table missions, but no. For example, Samson doesn't appear at all in my game; instead I have a series of espionage missions involving a Tevinter ex-slave magister named Calpernia, a new character who's actually a lot more interesting than I originally anticipated. Plus, her quests involve more Dagna. Yay!

2) I've warmed to Josie considerably, mostly because I figured out how she's broken :D. That is, on further reflection I disagree that she's relatively normal, as Shawn claims; I think she's just good at putting up a front. Deep down, she's a complete control freak, to the point where it impacts her ability to form meaningful relationships (Leliana aside) and it keeps her constantly on the verge of nervous breakdown. Shawn made the point that her romance is very typical romance novel fodder, and I'm seeing now just how astute that is, because wow, she could have stepped off the pages of any Regency romance novel published in the past ten years.

Darn it, I want to listen but DA:I's at the top of my "Play in case of nothing else" list.

I'm an hour in and a third through? This is turning out to be a great way to catch all the important stuff I didn't experience in my playthrough.

I can't believe there was a bug that stops the character banter. I really enjoyed switching in and out characters to experience all of it.

While mechanically, this is a better game, I still like DAII more for its story and characters. Which is why I left Hawke in the fade (over Stroude). He would sacrifice himself for the man who saved his sister. Plus, this makes more sense for the Varric storyline (losing everyone close to him).

I would have loved to see Bethany (or Carver) just to catch up with them (especially how much the game uses mages, templars, and Wardens). I would have also liked to seen Merryl, Oghren, and Nathaniel. And of course, Shale

And I agree, there were too many dudes in my party. My first playthyough I wanted to play as I am, a straight male. Which meant my only romance choices were Cass or Josie. I didn't warm up to Cass (the thing that really turned me off was when she

Spoiler:

tried to kill Varric after Hawke shows up.

And Josie initially seemed vapid (though she does become more interesting during the romance quest). I would have liked to have a third option, and apart from Lelianna, I didn't see that woman in the game.

I really want to replay this game, once there are a few more patches. I had the Hawke voice bug, the Orlesian Court bug Sean mentioned, and the ambiant dialogue Lara and Karla had. I really want to wait till this summer and try this again, with hopefully everything patched up.

Not touched on in the podcast - the best part of the game were the French versions of the Tavern songs which were sung in Val Royeaux:

Some of my favorite screenshots from my first playthrough and a quarter:
http://i.imgur.com/ClZMjJW.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/mzgdgqY.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/3Dd4oOD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Wo2SPXK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/uA9ZBsC.jpg

Yay for getting the dream team back together! And also Shawn!

One of the things I think people miss about sending Blackwall to the Wardens is that it's a very mixed fate. Sure, he doesn't rot in a prison cell, but life as a Warden is pretty tough. If you send your sister to the Wardens in DAII, you get a letter from her that talks about how absolutely miserable she is. It turns out that sending her to a Mage Circle in a city that drives people insande, run by murderous blood mages, and controlled by an insane red lyrium-powered Templar is actually the far better fate.

The Wardens constantly hear the voice of the blight at a very low level. After twenty or so years, that voice starts drowning out everything else until you're sent into a dark cave to be torn apart by monsters. That's the life of every single Warden: constant horror combined with a terrible and inescapable fate.

Also, Shawn, how many people do you know that are kind of spacey, say random things and CAN READ PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS?! Who are you hanging out with?!

KaterinLHC wrote:

she could have stepped off the pages of any Regency romance novel published in the past ten years.

Like Pregnesia?

padriec wrote:
KaterinLHC wrote:

she could have stepped off the pages of any Regency romance novel published in the past ten years.

Like Pregnesia?

No. Pregnesia, while truly a masterwork of our modern age, is more of a contemporary thriller

"Regency" refers to a very specific (and VERY popular) subgenre of romance set in the 1800-1820ish British Empire. Lots of social politics, etiquette drama and floufy dresses, and heroines often making tough decisions to save their wayward sisters and ruined family finances. Also: duels. Lots of duels.

Basically, Josie's romance arc is 100% straight-up shameless Regency, and I'm thrilled to see so many gamers who'd never dream of touching a romance novel taking such delight in her arc.

Finished! That was the perfect way for me to catch up on all the stuff that I missed since I won't be cheating on my inquisitor with another.

Thanks for taking all the time to have that discussion and record it!

Loved the podcast!! Loved it.
It was great to hear about a lot of stuff I missed during my first play through.
Makes appetite for more podcasts from GwJ discussing only one game.

However - I must say the girls too often painfully overanalyzed a weakly written story played out with badly animated shiny Big Jim figures. But that might just be me.... so relax

Boo to this "overanalyze" nonsense. "Overanalysis" is not a real thing. If you're not interested in thinking more about something, then what makes it worthwhile to write out a comment telling others that they're thinking more than you want to?

On a program note: I really liked the way the podcast crew took the time to stop and explain what they're talking about. Just because it's a spoiler section doesn't mean everyone listening already knows all the details and background, so I really appreciate that you took the time to explain!

Tanglebones wrote:

http://i.imgur.com/Wo2SPXK.jpg

The Nug is a nice touch.

wordsmythe wrote:

Boo to this "overanalyze" nonsense. "Overanalysis" is not a real thing. If you're not interested in thinking more about something, then what makes it worthwhile to write out a comment telling others that they're thinking more than you want to?

On a program note: I really liked the way the podcast crew took the time to stop and explain what they're talking about. Just because it's a spoiler section doesn't mean everyone listening already knows all the details and background, so I really appreciate that you took the time to explain!

Tanglebones wrote:

http://i.imgur.com/Wo2SPXK.jpg

The Nug is a nice touch.

Yeah, Schmooples stayed in there, even with the hardened Leliana ending I got.

Via Tumblr:
IMAGE(https://31.media.tumblr.com/2e78498e89332e528ae8961e4cb41948/tumblr_nhn2mxVD4U1qbcsufo1_1280.png)

What if the only reason Solas went after the Orb is because it was all a big game of fetch? What if he wanted to destroy Corypheus because he wouldn’t throw the ball?

Tangle, that is so freakin' awesome.

I'm not done yet, but I've only 20min left on the podcast, so I figure I can get a pass and post. I really loved, loved, LOVED this spoilercast, it was absolutely awesome. And I agree with Wordsmythe, there is no over-analyzing here. It's crystal clear to me that DA:I was crafted with love and careful deliberation and that a lot of the elements there aren't there by accident.
Thank goodness it was only the three of you, though, or this would've been 12 hours long.

I found myself nodding in agreement with a lot of what was said, particularly since I picked a female Dalish mage as my inquisitor. And I think it was Karla who said, and I wholeheartedly agree, that the story truly resonates for a female Dalish character. Add to the mix that I romanced Cullen (***suppressed squees of glee***) and sided with the mages, and I got that whole "Before the Dawn" questline which just fit beautifully.

I'm thankful I didn't get the banter bug, because that must've SUCKED - big time. Is a BioWare RPG still a BioWare RPG without the party banter? In fact, I didn't get any bugs ingame aside from some resources not loading properly at the Winter Palace (the nobles would load but remain unmoving - eerie, but not game breaking). And the Mercenary Fortress quest never resolved because I'd already finished Varric's companion quest.

Seriously... Am I the only one who left the Hinterlands just as soon as humanly Dalishly possible? I was so engrossed in the story, I wanted to head out and help the mages ASAP, so I just left as soon as I had enough power points to unlock the quest. I didn't even get the Master of Horses (can't recall his name, he managed the stables in Skyhold) until much, much later.

I really loved that you spent so much time and each and every character, and I either agreement with the assessment that was made or discovered new tidbits (particularly about Vivienne, whom I loved to hate and didn't spend much time with). I really, really disliked Sera, and I think Lara hit the nail on the head on her count. She just doesn't evolve at all, there is zero character development. I was a bit disappointed with where they went with Blackwall too, and now that I've had the big reveal on Solas (and heard the feedback on his romance), I'm just unsure who my next Inquisitor will be. I'd planned on a pro-Templar somewhat more pro-Chantry playthrough this time around, a rogue. Female, because I can't see myself playing anything else. I thought I'd romance Solas, but I already went with a Dalish origin (and honestly, I'm not too excited about romancing Solas now, think I'll just YouTube it). Don't like Sera and Blackwall is... So not much choice left. Oh wait, will Josephine romance females? Maybe I'll go that route. I've already YouTube'd the Iron Bull romance and heh. Cullen's reaction was just priceless and adorable.

No matter how pro-Chantry I am, there's no way I'm building the Chantry upgrade to the garden this time around. That endless Chant of Light droning on in the background every - single - time I went to the war room, ugh.

Speaking of companions, I think you only mentioned in passing the game of Wicked Grace? How awesome was that scene!?!? I loved it so freakin' much. Almost everyone was there: Cole, Bull, Cullen, Josephine, Varric, Blackwall, Dorian... And have I mentioned how much I love Dorian? I didn't expect to, because I saw his silly mustache in the promos and thought "ew", but he just so awesome. Flamboyant, exuberant, smart. Definitely considering going with a male Inquisitor just for him. The scene in which him and Cullen play chess was also one of my favorites because it had my two favorite guys set up in perfect contrast to each other. Slightly awkward and adorable Cullen and roguish, charming Dorian.

And I haven't even mentioned Cassandra, but wow. I really disliked her after DA2, and what they did with the character here in DA:I. Wow. I won't reiterate what's already been said more eloquently in the spoilercast, but the writers just outdid themselves.

Well, I've gone on long enough! My thoughts are kinda thrown in there haphazardly, but that's just DA:I for you, there's so much to think and talk about that! Thanks for the spoilercast.

ETA: nice pick at the end there with the "I Am the One" tavern song, gave me shivers!

wordsmythe wrote:

Boo to this "overanalyze" nonsense. "Overanalysis" is not a real thing. If you're not interested in thinking more about something, then what makes it worthwhile to write out a comment telling others that they're thinking more than you want to?

Yeah, if you don't want to hear people "overanalysing" something a 3 hour long deep cut is not something to waste your time with.

I'm halfway through the spoilercast, but want to say a couple of things. If you play a Qunari the fact you are not a follower of the Qun doesn't make a difference to many characters, but Iron Bull puts you in your place if you refer to yourself as Qunari. You have quite a nice conversation about Bull hunting Tal Vashoth, and potential implications for your own family too.

As also, Certis, do you even Dragon Age? :p The Cole mission and drinking with Bull's Chargers are two of the high points of the game.

I went fairly agnostic in religious terms with my first (Female Rogue Qunari) Inquisitor and sided with the mages. I've started up a male human warrior and he will be more religious and traditional and go Templar. After DA2 I was going to be anti-mage, but when you meet Templar dudes in Val Royeaux and they just punch the cleric in the face I changed my mind, and I think it was for the best for that character.

I'm not sure how far I'll make it this time, I do want to try have a successful romance this time and see if I can get some other companion quests that I seem to have missed last time.

MrDeVil909 wrote:

I'm halfway through the spoilercast, but want to say a couple of things. If you play a Qunari the fact you are not a follower of the Qun doesn't make a difference to many characters, but Iron Bull puts you in your place if you refer to yourself as Qunari. You have quite a nice conversation about Bull hunting Tal Vashoth, and potential implications for your own family too.

Wow, that's fascinating! I wonder how that comes into play if you have Bull pick the Chargers over the Qun in his personal quest?...

Successful romance, though? What happened last time?

1) Dalish Femquisition was my first choice and I still really like it.

2) Perhaps relatedly, I'm now something like 130 hours in and haven't even gone to the ball yet. I think I made the right choice in not waiting until I was done to listen to this.

3) OK, Cassandra and Sera. So I was going to stick up for Sera because I like that it gives me an outside view on my own characters, in that I at least start every DA game trying to establish a fairly consistent mindset and ethos for my character, and that consistency plus the accidental-hero structure of DA games (other than Awakening) ends up, I think, looking a lot like Sera, right down to the weirdness of doing The Right Thing for Morality Reasons but then also expecting a reward, and the overly decorous Sera nook in Skyhold, despite all the proto-socialist talk and more important things to do than worry about throw pillows (or what kind of window dressings I have in Skyhold). So I appreciate that, and I think I especially appreciate how uncomfortable it makes me? Also she looks a little like one of my old Elder Scrolls characters.

Anyway, Sera's a character study that way, I guess, and I think Cassandra is too. It's not so much a story of learning and changing as it is a progressive revealing of surprising nuances and viewing things closer or from unexpected angles. I might even say that Cassandra's quirks and secrets are more cliched than Sera's.

And I think I just talked myself into bringing Sera around with me more often, even though I'm a rogue.

Eleima wrote:

Successful romance, though? What happened last time?

Not too sure, I quite liked Sera as an option initially, but when I lost interest I switched to Josie. I confessed my feelings and we had a romantic moment, but the rest of the romance didn't play out. I think I failed to go through all the conversation paths.

I also didn't get Solas, Sera and Bull's companion quests.

Oh and new playthrough is with Morrigans baby.

MrDeVil909 wrote:
Eleima wrote:

Successful romance, though? What happened last time?

Not too sure, I quite liked Sera as an option initially, but when I lost interest I switched to Josie. I confessed my feelings and we had a romantic moment, but the rest of the romance didn't play out. I think I failed to go through all the conversation paths.

I also didn't get Solas, Sera and Bull's companion quests.

Oh and new playthrough is with Morrigans baby.

Not sure if I mentioned this upstream, but the boy who plays Morrigan's baby is actually Claudia Black's son (adorbs!)

wordsmythe wrote:

So I was going to stick up for Sera because I like that it gives me an outside view on my own characters, in that I at least start every DA game trying to establish a fairly consistent mindset and ethos for my character, and that consistency plus the accidental-hero structure of DA games (other than Awakening) ends up, I think, looking a lot like Sera, right down to the weirdness of doing The Right Thing for Morality Reasons but then also expecting a reward, and the overly decorous Sera nook in Skyhold, despite all the proto-socialist talk and more important things to do than worry about throw pillows (or what kind of window dressings I have in Skyhold).

Your sentence is too long and broke my brain, Mister Editor.