35 replies to this topic

[Archmage Silver]

So, what do you think about the new setting for Dragon Age? I like it, and not only because it gives BioWare freedom to make it "fit the game".

[Tom]

I wont form an opinion untill Ive seen more. It doesnt sound like a bad idea, but it COULD go horribly, horribly wrong. Is there any place I can find information about it?

[Archmage Silver]

Not much besides Bioware's site forums, but be sure to read the previews linked from the Bio site. At least they're including a reptilian race (maybe draconic), yet to be named. The game seems interesting right now, even though they're not telling us that much.

Edited by Archmage Silver, 05 December 2004 - 01:53 AM.

[Sovran]

I'd say way to go, even though it could go horribly wrong: at least they're trying something new. (Many other things could go horribly wrong, too, so I'd rather think in terms of what could go right. I have hopes for this game, anyway. :)

I would have been this <---continue ad absurdum---> happy if they'd gone for something completely different than the Tolkienesque demi-human enchilada, while they were at it, but I guess that wasn't to be. Ah well. I just hope the "other playable races" won't translate into a mysterious offshoot of the elven race called the Dark Ones. :P

[khay]

I believe such a different campaign setting wouldn`t have gathered the attention they plan to see, people are usually reluctant to try out something they aren`t at least remotely familiar with (or so I believe).

I think it`s a good idea, seeing the effort they are supposed to put in it, it can`t go THAT wrong.

[Archmage Silver]

Yep, and if it does go wrong in some spots it's up to the modders to improve it. And as there's coming a modding tool for DA, improving the game should be quite easy for the talented ppl around here. Heck, might aswell try to learn mod DA myself... yes, I think I do it.

[Tom]

I would have been this <---continue ad absurdum---> happy if they'd gone for something completely different than the Tolkienesque demi-human enchilada, while they were at it, but I guess that wasn't to be.

Check out The Fall then (a game which khayman alerted me to last night ) as they have gone for a similar to fallout setting. It looks very cool, I got the trailer for it (which they seem to have even written a song for themselves, which is also very cool.) Also they managed to create a new world for the elder scrolls series without too much harm, in fact the elder scrolls world rocks. Perhaps this will end up in the same vein?

[khay]

I wonder if the song is the one made by Darkseed -- that`s a great German band and I know that they`re making the title theme for The Fall. I`m looking forward to that game and the upcoming Darkseed album (January-February 2005, I believe) since they plan to return to their 2000 roots.

To keep it on topic, if the setting will feature halflings or at least half-elves, then I`m going like it.

[Feanor]

In my opinion, it would have been better to stick to the AD&D settings. For 2 reasons :
1. A lot of players (who tried BG, IWD, NWN or ToEE) are already used with the system and this way they will not waste their time reading a manual for a new setting.
2. A new developed setting only for Dragon Age can't be as complex as AD&D. AD&D has probably hundreds of books and manuals and the result is a maximum attention for details. For instance, I think about Tamriel and Toril : while Toril's history is very detailed, Tamriel's history is extremely vague. The same about their geography, mythology, religion, economy and so on. OK, maybe players don't care too much about it, but, for me, I like to know something about the world where the plot is set.

[Archmage Silver]

Well, then you won't be disappointed!

1.08: What world does Dragon Age take place in?

Dragon Age is set in a new world developed by BioWare. A large team of writers and artists have been busy detailing the societies, religions, history, races, monsters, and economy of the Dragon Age world. Several new languages are also being developed for Dragon Age by a linguistics expert.

And add a brand new ruleset. This sounds good to me, at least now.

[Tom]

For instance, I think about Tamriel and Toril : while Toril's history is very detailed, Tamriel's history is extremely vague. The same about their geography, mythology, religion, economy and so on.

This is also a bonus though, because the games can write the history and change what happens, rather then certain events not being able to occur because accordng to the history of that world they didnt. Imagine what would happen if some company made a game that changed some large even in Toril's history? There would be riots in the streets! I suppose that The Elder Scrolls series is a bit different, because the games and their makers have the freedom to change the history and make up events, and I always like it when I read a history book in Morrowind detailing what my character in Arena did. And Tamriel's history isnt nearly as vague as you claim, but because the game created the history it isnt pre-defined. From this point of view the new world is a good thing, however as Feanor says there are a lot of people who like familiar settings and there are many people who probably know Toril's history far better then Earth's

Edited by Tom, 06 December 2004 - 01:35 PM.

[Sovran]

1. A lot of players (who tried BG, IWD, NWN or ToEE) are already used with the system and this way they will not waste their time reading a manual for a new setting.

True enough. And we should take into consideration those for whom the learning curve of BG1, for instance, was still too steep. The Candlekeep area was quite challenging and who am I kidding. So they don't want to RTFM. Too bad.

(And too bad I need a version of reality where original games actually sell for that to work. )

2. A new developed setting only for Dragon Age can't be as complex as AD&D. AD&D has probably hundreds of books and manuals and the result is a maximum attention for details. For instance, I think about Tamriel and Toril : while Toril's history is very detailed, Tamriel's history is extremely vague. The same about their geography, mythology, religion, economy and so on. OK, maybe players don't care too much about it, but, for me, I like to know something about the world where the plot is set.

On the other hand, we can always hope that the DA setting will be very complex. True, it probably can't be as complex as FR or the like, considering how many years those have been in existence (and, simultaneously, in the making), but it'll be unexplored. For better or worse -- without that patina of having been lived and played in. Or maybe that patina of having been run through so many times that even jokes about a dwarf's beard just aren't funny anymore. Ha ha.

This is also a bonus though, because the games can write the history and change what happens, rather then certain events not being able to occur because accordng to the history of that world they didnt. Imagine what would happen if some company made a game that changed some large even in Toril's history? There would be riots in the streets! I suppose that The Elder Scrolls series is a bit different, because the games and their makers have the freedom to change the history and make up events, and I always like it when I read a history book in Morrowind detailing what my character in Arena did. And Tamriel's history isnt nearly as vague as you claim, but because the game created the history it isnt pre-defined.

That can be a bonus, but has its risks, too. I haven't played Morrowind or Arena (only Daggerfall...) so I suppose I can?t avoid using ToB as a warning example: I thought the fanfares of Charname's impact on the world got a bit tedious. When Elminster made his final appearance, was I supposed to think, "Gee, I pwn"? What I thought was, "Shoddy writing. Why should the world revolve around my character, powerful though she is?" Sure, I want to see that my character?s actions have consequences, but if too much of the game world is determined by how I play, the illusion of being in a world with a life and breath of its own fades.

But? I don?t want to believe that they?d go that far.

A large team of writers and artists have been busy detailing the societies, religions, history, races, monsters, and economy of the Dragon Age world. Several new languages are also being developed for Dragon Age by a linguistics expert.

Instead, I want to believe in this sales pitch.

[fallen_demon]

I like it, less complexity could actually be a good thing for a plot, less things to worry about and take into consideration when telling your story. Plus I like the feeling of discovering a new world while playing. Plus, the won't have to answer to what a bigger company that owns the rights to the world thinks is acceptable, and won't piss off fans by changing something in an already established world.

[Archmage Silver]

Aye, that's the spirit!

[oralpain]

I like the idea beacuse I am not fond of D&D 3rd edition, and I am even less fond of the forgotten realms.

[MantraSong]

Personally, I think it is a good idea to try something new. Although I can honestly say that I have never played 2E exept in computer games, and the same for Forgotten Realms, my personal opinion is that the actual history matters less than the illusion of history, the feeling that things have gone before, whether or not they actually have. So, while the history has to be made for the player to feel like (s)he is in a complete world, not as much has to be made: only what pertains to the adventure. In Baldur's Gate, for example, you know that the world has a history, because you get occasional references to Baldur, and so forth, but the only real "history" you are told is your own, about being a Bhaalspawn.

[Schatten]

Well, then you won't be disappointed!

1.08: What world does Dragon Age take place in?

Dragon Age is set in a new world developed by BioWare. A large team of writers and artists have been busy detailing the societies, religions, history, races, monsters, and economy of the Dragon Age world. Several new languages are also being developed for Dragon Age by a linguistics expert.

And add a brand new ruleset. This sounds good to me, at least now.

urmmm.... you dont believe everything the devs say, do you? i think the history and rules wont be as complex as some may used to be but i like it this way. i dont know if i would play it if its just another d&d game.

[Archmage Silver]

I normally wouldn't believe half of this, but since BioWare has all the copyrights I'd like to think that they manage to do what they promise. For once.

[Avenger_teambg]

I don't mind high fantasy (tolkien-like world), but all games in the same corner of the world (sword coast), really made me frustrated.
I welcome Bioware's decision, it was a wise one. They are not encumbered with licenses and other crap that hinders development. Hopefully they hired talented people who are able to build a complete world from the grounds up.

[Archmage Silver]

Yep, let's hope that they did indeed hire some talented folk for this. I wonder if they would get Jeremy Soule to compose the music?