Now that I've reached the copious elfsplaining, I feel I can probably comment somewhat sensibly. <3 First of all, I want to thank you for giving me words for what bothered me and thinky thoughts about things I hadn't noticed. <3
Firstly, I am totally with you on the things you liked. I really, really liked those. (Though I'm a bit conflicted on the straight characters. On the one hand, yay Bioware's treating sexuality as part of people's character and the narrative rather than a gameplay mechanic. On the other, we have so many straight characters in games already.)
With regard to Dorian's companion quest, I think it's partially a matter of whether his experiences resonate with you? *nods to novel_machinist's experience being so different* I liked that they were clearly trying to show that they were listening and tried to go for a more positive story, though I recognise that it's problematic.
What did you think of Sera? She's not as vocal about her sexuality as Dorian, but she did strike me as pretty open about it. But the portrayal of her sexuality strikes me as the "just happened to be" that you wanted from Dorian and didn't get. So I'm curious. (Disclaimer note: Sera's portrayal actually sits wrong with me for reasons I don't have words for.)
Characters who would have been thematically appropriate to return, such as Merrill, didn't, while characters who did show up are poorly used and executed, written into corners by worldstates.
I think one of the reasons they didn't bring back Merill is likely to be that worldstate corner. In order for Merill to show up (with enough knowledge to rival what Morrigan has to offer) they'd need to invalidate at least the worldstate I wound up with, possibly more. It would have been nice to see Merill again, though.
And it's funny how when Merrill, an actual elf, tries to explore forgotten parts of her heritage she's foolish and endangering the clan and ostracized, but when Morrigan explores some of the self-same topics she's elevated, willing to look everywhere for knowledge and to preserve the old world. Hmmmmmm.
It's been a long time since I played DA2, but as I recall didn't they ostracise her because of the methods she used rather than the goal she used those methods for? That also fits better thematically with the mage conflict in DA2.
Why this choice? Why keep Solas so quiet or provide some other elvhen voice to do this part? Sure, with the Flemeth reveal it makes some poetic sense. But is this really the price you want to pay for your poetry? Presenting a non-elf as the local authority on all things elf-related?
I suspect it's a lot of reasons, but the predominant one for me is that narratively Morrigan is the best fit. Much as I would have loved to see Merrill again, the only way to get her to take Morrigan's place in DAI would be to invalidate at least one potential worldstate in DA2. If not Morrigan you're already looking at bringing back a lesser character and you'd likely run into exactly the same issue you've already mentioned with Stroud. They wouldn't have the screentime to carry the same weight of Morrigan (or Merrill).
To be honest, though, the latter half of the game just doesn't work as well because of that scripting error you mentioned at the end. (I'm less forgiving of QA than you seem to be, though. I got annoyed with it the first time my Dalish Inquisitor had selective linguistic amnesia in the Exalted Plains. It's not just the Temple of Mythal. It's the entire second half of the game. You have to play an Andrastan or an antheist.)
And... since we're back on things we liked. I think the only left for me to say is that you've said all I could say on the things I liked. <3 (I loved Dagna and Scout Harding. And Krem. I'm a little sulky we didn't get him as a companion. Josephine was a treasure and I too wish they'd done more with her character/the diplomacy angle.)
I look forward to finishing it (and go into it semi-prepared about the ending). I really hope Bioware keeps this up. They've been trying so hard and they are making progress.
And thank you for this guest post! I've really enjoyed it and have been able to return to my game with a lot of things to consider and think about. It'll be interesting to replay it with these thoughts in my mind from the beginning. ^_^
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Firstly, I am totally with you on the things you liked. I really, really liked those. (Though I'm a bit conflicted on the straight characters. On the one hand, yay Bioware's treating sexuality as part of people's character and the narrative rather than a gameplay mechanic. On the other, we have so many straight characters in games already.)
With regard to Dorian's companion quest, I think it's partially a matter of whether his experiences resonate with you? *nods to
What did you think of Sera? She's not as vocal about her sexuality as Dorian, but she did strike me as pretty open about it. But the portrayal of her sexuality strikes me as the "just happened to be" that you wanted from Dorian and didn't get. So I'm curious. (Disclaimer note: Sera's portrayal actually sits wrong with me for reasons I don't have words for.)
Characters who would have been thematically appropriate to return, such as Merrill, didn't, while characters who did show up are poorly used and executed, written into corners by worldstates.
I think one of the reasons they didn't bring back Merill is likely to be that worldstate corner. In order for Merill to show up (with enough knowledge to rival what Morrigan has to offer) they'd need to invalidate at least the worldstate I wound up with, possibly more. It would have been nice to see Merill again, though.
And it's funny how when Merrill, an actual elf, tries to explore forgotten parts of her heritage she's foolish and endangering the clan and ostracized, but when Morrigan explores some of the self-same topics she's elevated, willing to look everywhere for knowledge and to preserve the old world. Hmmmmmm.
It's been a long time since I played DA2, but as I recall didn't they ostracise her because of the methods she used rather than the goal she used those methods for? That also fits better thematically with the mage conflict in DA2.
Why this choice? Why keep Solas so quiet or provide some other elvhen voice to do this part? Sure, with the Flemeth reveal it makes some poetic sense. But is this really the price you want to pay for your poetry? Presenting a non-elf as the local authority on all things elf-related?
I suspect it's a lot of reasons, but the predominant one for me is that narratively Morrigan is the best fit. Much as I would have loved to see Merrill again, the only way to get her to take Morrigan's place in DAI would be to invalidate at least one potential worldstate in DA2. If not Morrigan you're already looking at bringing back a lesser character and you'd likely run into exactly the same issue you've already mentioned with Stroud. They wouldn't have the screentime to carry the same weight of Morrigan (or Merrill).
To be honest, though, the latter half of the game just doesn't work as well because of that scripting error you mentioned at the end. (I'm less forgiving of QA than you seem to be, though. I got annoyed with it the first time my Dalish Inquisitor had selective linguistic amnesia in the Exalted Plains. It's not just the Temple of Mythal. It's the entire second half of the game. You have to play an Andrastan or an antheist.)
And... since we're back on things we liked. I think the only left for me to say is that you've said all I could say on the things I liked. <3 (I loved Dagna and Scout Harding. And Krem. I'm a little sulky we didn't get him as a companion. Josephine was a treasure and I too wish they'd done more with her character/the diplomacy angle.)
I look forward to finishing it (and go into it semi-prepared about the ending). I really hope Bioware keeps this up. They've been trying so hard and they are making progress.
And thank you for this guest post! I've really enjoyed it and have been able to return to my game with a lot of things to consider and think about. It'll be interesting to replay it with these thoughts in my mind from the beginning. ^_^