170 replies to this topic

[Archmage Silver]

BioWare certainly didn't waste their 18+ rating sticker...

[Archmage Silver]

Anybody else notice Casavir (of NWN2 fame) in Denerim?

[WeeRLegion]

BioWare certainly didn't waste their 18+ rating sticker...

Oh, I don't know, it all still seems pretty mild to me.

Excepting the occasional decapitation -which are all too rare-, and stabbing ogres in the face with maces and axes, the violence mostly consists of a few red pixels, I don't think there's anything particularly brutal about it, nothing that'd beat BG2's total chunkination anyway. .p

As for the other side of the ratings, there aren't even nude boobies, and I don't think those warrant an 18+ rating anywhere, as long as they don't remain in the center of attention for all too long a time.
Implied oral sex going on? That's just implications, not even the least bit of nudity.

Alcohol? Sure, it's mentioned, but you can't even get drunk. And there's no real drugs to speak of, none that could sensibly be compared to real world substances on any level.

Nahh. Methinks it should be rated 15+ at most.

[Archmage Silver]

In Finland maybe... not countries where people are taught to be politically correct though, err on the side of caution as it were.

[Eleima]

@WeeRLegion: Actually, I've just had a thought, there *is* a drug implication, the Lyrium for templars. Just look at what it did to that poor older templar in front of the Cathedral in Denerim... Tsk, tsk.


Amen to that Archmage Silver, stole the words right out of my mouth. As a French American who is continually doing a split over the Atlantic, I have a particularly unique perspective on the subject. The US (but Anglo-Saxon cultures in general, but I'm sticking with the US, because that's what I know best) have a history of being slightly prudish when it comes to matters of violence and what I'll dub as sexual content. We're brought up to think that's it's naughty and dirty and bad, when in fact, everyone's drinking or hooking up behind closed doors (those of you who've been to college know what I mean). In France (and I'll assume part of Europe too, from the reactions of you Finish guys), it's part of life and well, if a politician has a mistress in our parts, we're not all that surprised, because hey, they aren't saints.
So as long as I'm not seeing any body parts flying around, I'm not too perturbed. Although my naïve mind thought at first "wait, there's a bug with that couple in Howe's estate, why would that woman be kneeling... oh."
So yeah, it's not *too* bad. Still, I wouldn't put this game in the hands of my fourteen year old cousin.

Okay, that's enough for the philosophical and sociological musings, back on topic! Yay, Dragon Age is out!
Ooh, by the way, did any of you take Leliana in the Fade, when fighting to free the Circle of Magi? I thought her retort to the Sloth demon, "You have no power over me", oddly echoed the movie Labyrinth (which I simply adored as a child). Anyone else get that feeling?

Edited by Eleima, 19 November 2009 - 01:28 AM.

[WeeRLegion]

@WeeRLegion: Actually, I've just had a thought, there *is* a drug implication, the Lyrium for templars. Just look at what it did to that poor older templar in front of the Cathedral in Denerim... Tsk, tsk.

Oh, I did think of that, but I just did not think it compared to real world stuff. ^^

Sure, you get addicted, but there's no implication of it being used recreationally anywhere; even in the quest where you smuggle lyrium into the circle tower, it's intended use is explained to be simply to offset the 'diminishing returns' of standard dosage for the purpose of building magical ability.
Well, ok you can make something of that, but still, it's far removed from anything real; Alistair goes as far as to question if it has any relevant positive effect.
So no, I don't think it'd be good for teaching anyone a habit of drug use/abuse. .p

[Kulyok]

Regarding sex, I'm confused why they made such short romances but put so much effort and opportunities to the Pearl threesome/foursome?

I like the word "prude", myself. I'm perfectly comfortable with one forever ever after partner, no cheating, limited nudity and so on. But I'd like more lovetalks!


Also, my human mage heroine is walking everywhere in her bra and panties(because robes make her look fat), and nobody even reacts!

[EvaineDian]

There was something wrong with the order in which I got the lovetalks, some made references to things neither my PC nor I myself could know by the time I got them. I went to Redcliffe first, Alistair told me who his father was and quite soon afterwards, he wanted to visit Goldanna in Denerim. When I got there, Eamon was still sick and hadn't talked to us about the Landsmeet and his plans for Alistair. So I went to Denerim, talked to Goldanna and... one of the reply options said something like

Spoiler

"You're going to be king"

. I probably should have guessed the second Alistair told me who his father was, but I didn't and I hated that this reply option was there and spoiled the surprise. As far as I remember, there were several situations like that.

Too few lovetalks, I agree. I remember Alistair whining about Duncan and suddenly I was sleeping with him and then, there was nothing. (And Alistair's face during the sex scene is so damn creepy!) I assume that Alistair still has more content than Zevran and Leliana, what with all the Landsmeet and Redcliffe talks? That's so frustrating... I would welcome it if he was prude as hell and didn't want any cheating etc., but just talked to me more often.

[Eleima]

But I'd like more lovetalks!

I agree!!! We want more love talks!

There was something wrong with the order in which I got the lovetalks, some made references to things neither my PC nor I myself could know by the time I got them.

I had the same problem while juggling Leliana, Alistair and Zevran. The romances didn't progress at the same speed, and while I intended to romance Alistair, I wanted to see how far I could go with the others before I was forced to break it off. I had gone through all stages with Alistair (

Spoiler

the rose, first kiss, we go see his sister, he invites me into his tent, etc

), and then, completely out of the blue, he comes up to me, and asks what is the nature of my PC's relationship with either Zev or Leliana. (

Spoiler

This being after we had declared passionate love for each other

) I guess it might be a tiny bit my fault since I was tinkering around with all options, but there should be a check for the other romances, preventing his

Spoiler

invitation into his tent

from triggering before the other romances have been terminated.


I might have gone a bit overboard with the spoiler thingies, but I'd rather be safe then sorry...

[WeeRLegion]

I like the word "prude", myself. I'm perfectly comfortable with one forever ever after partner, no cheating, limited nudity and so on. But I'd like more lovetalks!

Meh. I think the point was that with 'adult content' (with only bikini 'nudity' (and therefore no sex, but only dry-humping), and violence that is hardly shocking to anyone who's ever played a computer game that doesn't involve the carebears) at it's current level, the game hardly warrants an 18+ rating.
Seriously, I think the 18+ sticker is just another lame marketing strategy that the nice people at EA have saddled this game with. xP

So ah, while more adult content would certainly help to make the world a bit darker, I personally would prefer it if they rather just fixed the current content; have the romances and whatnots clash properly.
As it is, a female PC can go steady with Leliana, then go for the pearl threesome with Zev & the redhead, then have a separate fling with Zevran, and finally go on to badgering Alistair the chaste about coming to her tent, and no one will EVER ask WTF she's up to.
All in that small camp area... And no one notices or cares. *sigh*
Seriously, I swear, I tried it. XD

Oh, but the gore. Yeah, that's something the game needs more of. Not just the ridiculous all-or-nothing blood-splatter, but more fatality animations for the average creeps.
Dismembering your enemies could be one of the greatest delights a combat oriented game of this challenge rating could offer.
Alas, there's only the occasional decapitation, otherwise it's just slash-slash-slash.
Come to think of it, they really should have made a separate set of animations for blunt weapons, it looks all too silly when you stab an ogre in the face with a mace... Or, well, stab ANYTHING with a mace, which is what characters often do...

[EvaineDian]

I had the same problem while juggling Leliana, Alistair and Zevran. The romances didn't progress at the same speed, and while I intended to romance Alistair, I wanted to see how far I could go with the others before I was forced to break it off. I had gone through all stages with Alistair (

Spoiler

the rose, first kiss, we go see his sister, he invites me into his tent, etc

), and then, completely out of the blue, he comes up to me, and asks what is the nature of my PC's relationship with either Zev or Leliana. (

Spoiler

This being after we had declared passionate love for each other

) I guess it might be a tiny bit my fault since I was tinkering around with all options, but there should be a check for the other romances, preventing his

Spoiler

invitation into his tent

from triggering before the other romances have been terminated.

No, I don't think it's your fault at all, it's bad game design.

I went through with the other romances, too, and if I remember correctly, there was one point where I could actually sleep with Leliana and still stay together with Alistair... I don't remember how I managed it, I think Leliana first asked my PC if there was something going on between her and Alistair, my PC said she would break it off with Alistair, and she slept with Leliana. Afterwards, she dumped Leliana, went back to Alistair and declared her love to him... How could she sleep with Leliana in front of the fire right next to Alistair without him noticing? I think he should have interrupted right when she first kissed Leliana or even much, much earlier! As far as I know, they only react to your flirting with others when you talk to them, but never say anything without being asked. That you can get that far without any proper resistance is definitely bad design. (As far as I remember, this is not possible with Zevran, because if you say you love Zevran, Alistair already knows I dumped him.)

I would have liked to see proper romance conflicts, the three of them fighting for my PC - or not, depending on how much influence you have with them or if their personality calls for it or not - Zevran doesn't seem to be the type who would care that much for somebody to really fight. But they should definitely do something.

Edited by EvaineDian, 19 November 2009 - 08:51 AM.

[Kulyok]

Agreed. I'd like to see a proper conflict between Alistair and Zevran, for one.

Hmm, I never tried going through one romance, dumping him and going straight to the other. Maybe, just maybe... um, it sounds tempting, anyway. But I'll probably feel terrible about it, so I think I'll do full Zevran romance with a Dwarven Noble girl or something.

[Eleima]

I agree with both kulyok and Evian Dian. I would've like to see a jealousy scene between the potential love interests. I can totally see Alistair snapping and challenging Zev to a duel, or something. But... *shrug* Hopefully, they'll rectify that next time.

Ooh, ooh, my Mabari War Dog just dug up a "Dirty Pair of Pantaloons"!! The description says "These pantaloons, crusted with soil, were probably buried for years before the mabari dug them up. On closer inspection, it appears that they were once either gold or silver in color." Is that priceless or what? Certainly made me chuckle!

And did anyone else fight Gax'Kang? That certainly brought up painful memories from BG2!

Edited by Eleima, 20 November 2009 - 03:10 AM.

[WeeRLegion]

I've tried him a few times, but eh. Failed always, don't think I'll try again unless someone posts a surefire way to kill him. Or maybe I'll try to do it on easy once I get around to running a double mage party.

[Choo Choo]

Hey, with all the content they keep adding post-release (or hell, even pre-release), would it be possible to beg them to fix stuff like romances and add lovetalks and stuff?

[WeeRLegion]

Of course not, CC, there's no money in that. .p

[Choo Choo]

Hell, I'd pay money for more NPC content. That interests me a hell of a lot more than this Return to Ostagar thingy they're releasing now.

[Eleima]

Amen to that, Choo Choo! I'd rather pay for more dialogs in camp, romance conflicts and the like than for this "Return to Ostagar"...

[WeeRLegion]

Yes, but fixing the romance conflicts falls into the patch category; it wouldn't really be new content, as in a feeble way they supposedly already are there somewhere.
Asking anyone to pay for a patch would with certainty piss off a lot of people, me included. xP

Banterpacks though? Sure, that'd be great.

[Icendoan]

Ooh, ooh, my Mabari War Dog just dug up a "Dirty Pair of Pantaloons"!! The description says "These pantaloons, crusted with soil, were probably buried for years before the mabari dug them up. On closer inspection, it appears that they were once either gold or silver in color." Is that priceless or what? Certainly made me chuckle!

Pantaloons. How many sequels do we have remaining?

Icen