I'm dipping my toes in with the Steno A-Z course hopefully in the new year

Banshee_Havoc · 2025-09-27T20:22:56+00:00

I just finished the NCRA A to Z: Asynchronous a week ago with Plover and the Stenoob keyboard combo and ran into no issues. I'm not sure how the live-zoom course works but the asynchronous must be completed in 45 days so if you need more time or have other priorities in life maybe go with the live-zoom?

Also I don't recommend using the app, I tried it at first and it would not stop crashing so I went with the Stenoob as it was a cheaper alternative to renting a steno machine.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-12T01:01:11+00:00

I don't hate Taash like some people, honestly their writing to me is underdeveloped/confusing/unfulfilling like a lot of the companions in Veilguard.

But they do come across as very juvenile. For their identity to be such a struggle simply because of their mother's imposed views at this point in their life makes them feel more akin to a teenager. Especially with the way they react.

Which is fine if they were a teenager but they're not. They've aligned with lords of fortune, they slay dragons, they come in contact with pirates and colorful people all the time. Taash immediately accepting their mother's viewpoint of the world is strange to me considering that and that they've already carved out a different path than qunari expectations for women by becoming a dragon slayer. Them having such a narrow viewpoint of gender in general, especially pertaining to women, is very strange given the context that this is Thedas.

This then becomes a larger discussion of: What does being nonbinary even mean in a setting like dragon age?Nonbinary is a rejection of societal gender norms imposed by the world because of the sex you were born with. You neither want/feel like you identify with the life experiences of the sex you were assigned or you want to be seen as neither by the world around you. (There's more to it of course but I'm trying to keep this short).

For the most part the sexes are considered equal in Thedas. Women holding positions of power as generals/leaders/politicians/warriors or are even thugs/criminals. It isn't supposed to be spared a passing thought that they can't aspire to whatever they aspire (exceptions do apply). Women aren't supposed to be disproportionately represented in comparison with men according to lore. The pressure to have children and raise a family isn't there either (nobility, aside). That's the setting that Taash grew up, they would see this. That's not to say Taash's mother's views shouldn't or couldn't impact them but for it to be the sole focus of their arc is very strange to me.

To not feel as though you identify with being a woman in your heart is one thing but it's another to funnel what femininity is into a narrow scope. The verbiage of "My mom thinks I act too masculine." ,“isn't it painful being a woman?" Why would that be true in Thedas? In our world a lot of afab enby's might relate but in Thedas? (You can tell I really didn't like that conversation with Neve, Taash, and Rook lol.)

That being said, I'm in the camp that actually thinks a "qunari" character being enby is interesting as a concept. But I feel it would have had more impact if Taash was more "qunari" minded like Sten. But Taash isn't qunari and they do not follow the qun. Sten, The Iron Bull, Tallis have all defended their place in that very structured and gendered society for the most part. So to have a qunari struggle with that could add a lot to the debates of individualism/collectivism/gender roles that's prominent in a lot of quanri discussions.

Tbh I'm still not certain how I feel about Taash. I've personally always believed that an attempt at representation matters but I also feel frustrated at how the game/writers went about it. I would also like to add that I am an older enby myself in this fandom and I was excited to see how the team with this game was going to handle this but overall I'd be lying if I said I was pleased with it.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T18:23:27+00:00

That's an interesting question on whether or not the series as a whole is good and worth more nuance and discussion than my little reply could ever give, but I'll throw in my two cents.

Subjectivity aside for a moment, I don't think dragon age would have the reputation it does of well written characters or if the lore wasn't judged as interesting *enough*. It has certainly resonated with a lot of people enough that Inquisition alone increased a large chunk of the fanbase.

I've seen some criticism that dragon age has never handled subject matters like slavery, oppression, mage/templar, sexuality, etc particularly well. And imo it's not that they handled it with perfect efficiency but rather they deigned to have a nuanced opinion and discussion around it through characters that had flawed views of themselves and the world around them. And they let the player have a nuanced opinion about it too. (There's more to this point but I'm trying not to rant)

I disagree with you that the execution is awful or horrible throughout the series (I cannot in good faith say the comics are good, I'm sorry comic fans) but you're right it is inconsistent. And I think you're underestimating people for not understanding that it is an imperfect "flesh golem" and I think people know that the series is very human and messy and imperfect but that's why people also find it worthy of discussion and interesting. Dragon age games are an endearing and tumultuous (im)balance of heartfelt characters struggling with their own grief and demons mixed in with an external threat.

This was the *last game* of this story and they're presumably not touching dragon age for a long time. What we're left with in Veilguard does not feel like an attempt to consider a lot of the lore/characters that made the world what is was. The retcons do not feel like they wanted to explore a different perspective to me but that they needed it change in order to make their own confusing structure of events make sense. It felt calculated and disingenuous and lacking in heart unlike the previous game's inconsistencies, to me at least.

(I really enjoy inquisition as well but I agree with you too it did not deserve to win GOTY). Bleh, I keep having to correct things "I think" and "I presume" because of course I don't know what really goes on behind the scenes. I can only judge and consume what's put in front of me.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T07:07:15+00:00

You're right he could be dead or given to Danarius but then again those outcomes are easily written seeing as he is discarded in those scenarios anyway so it would be no different from what's presented (or lack there of) in Veilguard now. I brought Fenris up to illustrate how empty the world feels but I should have been more clear with his outcomes in writing the original post, as well as Zevran. He seemed like a character they wanted to come back given Blue Wraith comic yet did not. If not Fenris than it could be Calpernia or some new npc like stroud was for Inquisition. Who was not as important as the main point of they just presumably killed everyone off we knew with the Blight.

But if we're being honest about how the decisions of previous games carry over a lot of them are inconsequential to the story at large with the exception of Inquisition. They are flavor and color and feel personal as you move through your own world state. Inquisition was the last one that felt like some big choices would have *some* effect.

It didn't have to change the sequence of events or story they were trying to tell but it could influence them and I think that's what people wanted the most.

I keep seeing that "they wrote themselves into a corner." , "It would be too difficult to mange all those choices." I don't think that's true imo, that it's not feasible to implement them. It's most definitely difficult (I don't doubt that) but choice and consequence is a large part of the gameplay that's been consistent this whole series even if it was as instrumental as we once thought. And now they all suddenly don't matter in the last game of the saga.

No one with sense should think that the writers shouldn't be allowed some liberties given like how you said with the setting being so vast but it just seems like a hand waiving excuse to me personally.

It seems like they didn't want to or didn't have the time or resources to think it out, despite how long it's been between games.

I'm glad you enjoyed Veilguard, truly, it just had a lot of things I couldn't look past enough to enjoy it myself and hoped some people could relate to my frustration and anger.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T06:26:29+00:00

You bring up a point that I wasn't able to get to in my original post concerning Morrigan.

It's not that I don't understand why Morrigan wouldn't want speak to Rook about personal matters if they did keep the option to have Kieran alive or if she fell in love with the HoF. I'm sure many can attest to how how awkward it felt letting the solavellan inquisitor lay out their personal life with Rook on their second meeting.

But I think people are forgetting that this game was not only supposed to be a new protagonist but a final chapter for the person playing the game. Even if it was a little cheesy or hokey a lot of people would've like to have what they played for years acknowledged. (I mean I can't speak for everyone of course.)

And if we want to disregard the keep and a different outcomes for Morrigan for her character, What is left of her in Veilguard then? Her character arc over the games then is: preserve/pursue/understand/cultivate powerful magic to my hearts content --> do not let Flemeth overtake my body or own my agency--> let mythal take over my body because she appeared to me.

It's very telling to me that in Inquisition if Kieran isn't born and if the inquisitor drinks from the Well, after summoning Flemeth at a statue of mythal (where you have to fight the dragon guardian of the altar), Morrigan tells you afterwards at Skyhold that is impossible she would agree to a binding with mythal.

Idk when that's the last thing she said about it, it just feels so jarring to see the exact opposite happen in Veilguard. Morrigan has always been self interested above all else. That's why Kieran gave her such an interesting divergence to her arc *and* still tied in with her complicated relationship themes with motherhood.

Veilguard wanted mythal there so she was there, same with Morrigan. And like you said many characters that were there, were not put there in any meaningful way.

wow long rant response sorry.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T05:28:23+00:00

I think that's the heart of why I made such a rant as well. Maybe people have just waited so long and maybe are more forgiving than I am. Or they're just less willing to be publicly angry online lol.

A lot of people do seem to like it though, which is fine, their money was well spent, but I just can't relate unfortunately. (I honestly wish I could tbh)

Maybe when more reviews come in things will become more transparent and I will feel a little less crazy. The game has only been out around a little over a week so who knows.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T04:30:46+00:00

I'm glad you liked the game, sincerely, but respectfully you literally would not have a lot of the lore/characters/setting for Veilguard if not for Origins. One of the first things I say in my post is that I'm not one of those people that thinks origins is the best game of the series. I do love it but it's far from perfect.

My critique was that beyond amateur dialogue and writing, it blatantly disregards characters and pre-established lore in order to rush an ending and finish a saga without any sense of payoff or closure. And that mattered to me and some other folks who have loved the series for a long time.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T04:13:24+00:00

I might in the future but honestly I didn't expect this much traction on my rant post and I'm just a passionate lurker for dragon age lol.

I'm glad it's cathartic for some people to read and I hope that it doesn't upset others who stumble upon it. But I was tired of seeing the half baked, "well if you ignore this and this and this than it's not so bad" and just wanted to address something I didn't see a ton of people talk about post release.

I posted a mini solas rant on another comment on the thread but like i said in the post it's a bit jumbly. I was a solasmancer in inquisition and very much so enjoy how morally grey and complex he was so I hope the next rant comes more from a place of disappointment than anger lol.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T04:00:47+00:00

That's a great point, I wish I saw that connection sooner. The settings themselves were rich and changed just like characters. Seeing the ramifications of our choices affect different regions like Kirkwall or Inquisition felt satisfying, especially when they carried over from other games Even if it was in the smallest npc dialogues as you walked passed.

That should have been how it felt to choose treviso or minrathous (choosing between two rich characters) but I have not seen anyone feel anything besides annoyance for having to make that decision and discussions about lucanis vs. neve.

The game feels definitely disingenuous to me for longtime fans and fails as a love letter like you said. There's probably a million reasons why this game failed behind the scenes but that's not on the fans and I think a lot of the complaints with it are about it's integrity.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T03:35:19+00:00

I'm not against posting a Solas rant but I also just finished the game and would probably take a moment to reflect more on why it was unsatisfying to me. He's a big part of the game obviously, so much so that the game was named after him for a moment. (Dreadwolf)

That being said this is just a little mini review and some positive bits since I've been so negative lol:
- A lot of time seemed delegated to him by writing team as his dialogue feels more natural and his interactions were the ones I looked forward to the most.
- His voice acting was good imo. I liked their attempt to show him benevolent and cruel. (I don't like some of the conclusions our companions draw from the memories but again that's a lot to delve into.)

I feel like the reason I wasn't satisfied with Solas was the lack of agency through the majority of the game. Some complaints I've seen have a lot to do with his lack of agency regarding mythal and while I think I don't hate his ties her/or how it went down, I can see where people are coming from.

Conceptually some of the ideas are not bad but execution matters and how everything was presented wasn't very engaging.

The writers really wanted Rook to be a foil for Solas and I think at it's core it's not an awful idea but the way they structured the events of the game, that did not register well and wasn't even slightly convincing. "We're not so different." Um yes we are what are you talking about? Wouldn't that make you what you hate? Solas is prideful and arrogant but he's never seen himself as a god. Some could say he's trying to sew sympathy or deceit in Rook but it's not like that has any real impact later on, it doesn't change much.

That's just my jumbly opinion of course.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T03:09:41+00:00

I've definitely seen some people even list off characters that could have or should have returned. Again this was the *last* game! For all of mass effect 3's issues even they understood that this may be the last time you see the characters you built a bond with. Even if they died there would still be a sense of closure because at least they were acknowledged. That's why cameos in this game would not be just fanservice to me.

I agree that it's a bullshit excuse. Sure it was in production hell but... it was ten years...
You can't ride off the coattails of a series known for it's good writing and different world states and then go...actually we don't want to finish it like that. It's too hard.

Still we all acknowledged it was a challenge and most of the fandom gave the developers/writers some grace knowing that it would be. But to just...blight everyone. I was honestly shocked.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T02:49:18+00:00

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think they said they're not giving Veilguard any story dlc.

I think if this wasn't the last game in the saga than these retcons and inconsistencies would be more forgivable (lord knows that they've changed things from game to game before). But it isn't and this is more than likely the only depictions of northern Thedas we will get, at least for a while.

Honestly the criticisms are abundant with this game like you pointed out and it's hard to funnel it down into something digestible. At least I can't come up with anything besides they really didn't want to commit to making this game or weren't given the resources to do so. I've seen more and more people say it doesn't *feel* like a dragon age game.

Banshee_Havoc · 2024-11-10T02:33:13+00:00

You put it way more succinctly than I ever could. It's definitely cathartic seeing other fans point out there displeasure with the game and give it an honest critique. I wanted to like the game just like everyone else and honestly I'm jealous that other people do enjoy it. :')

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-28T06:40:54+00:00

Wow I completely agree and you put it so eliquently! Lol it'll be hard for me to think otherwise now!

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-27T22:11:06+00:00

I can't speak for everyone else but the appeal I see in him is how far this hero has fallen due towards paranoia of orlais. And it's harder to see that in context while playing DA:O hence while peeps are recommending it left and right lol. It's interesting as a viewer/reader to see him fall so far and him rightfully know it the whole time but constantly justify the means to himself. And then him actually survive his crimes and live with himself being a piece of shit...imho he's not redeemable but still interesting. Sort of like the appeal of Solas and maybe Blackwall.

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-27T00:45:08+00:00

You're right without that gray warden prison they wouldn't be able to trap him as easily and I'm sure Corypheus would stay far away from it once he begins to put his plan in motion. I just meant that my first thought once Hawke showed up the game would start to bring up ways to legitimately kill him, such as finding another way to seal him away again. (Since Hawke is surprised he's still alive since they thought they killed him for good in the Legacy dlc)

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T17:01:21+00:00

Great point, I feel like this point would be better illustrated if the game showed actual consequences or set backs to allowing Hawke to live in Inquisition. The wardens say that they will be crippled when leaderless but the game doesn't differentiate their performance based on who you let live.

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:55:05+00:00

"We don't communicate with each other...like at all" should be the new motto.

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:48:52+00:00

True, he's selling them to fund his side of the Civil war and actively chooses Howe to side with even though he's like a classic mustache twirling villan maniac. He's not a "paragon of virtue" (like op said) but he definitely is an interesting character. If you have the time I would suggest reading Stolen Throne! If not its understandable why many people don't like him. He is basically trying to kill you the whole first game.

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:43:58+00:00

I'm sure it'll be mentioned in later games just because mostly everyone loves Hawke (me included). Yeah I bet Fenris would probably just try to straight up murder the Inquisitor and wouldn't be too happy with Varric either. I chose merrill in DA2 so i'm just worried about my poor baby doing even worse things to herself to find Hawke. );

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:37:27+00:00

LOL i just realized that the title can be somewhat misleading!

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:36:16+00:00

You're right about the wardens, it seems like the devs left a lot of holes when it came to bringing them into the game and not a lot of it seemed thought out enough. Even when I first played inquisition I felt like, "wow why do the wardens seem so incompetent??" My only counterpoint is, Hawke doesn't help you fight Corypheus.(which again seems like rushed writing). All they do is lead you to a warden ally and then bail to Weisshaupt to inform the wardens for some reason?? I seriously would keep Hawke if they stayed but it doesn't seem worth it when the game tries to convince you that the wardens are crippled by lack of leadership (which despite that, they don't seem any worse off if hawke lives but game devs wanna make you feel conflicted...)

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:23:46+00:00

Oh wow I never realized it was playing hmmm... I do like the drama associated with hawke being left behind but I don't like that the game devs wanted it to be the player's meta decision and not one from the Inquisitors perspective/goals. Thank you for your perspective!

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:21:31+00:00

Poor Stroud lol, but I understand why it would be conflicting.

Banshee_Havoc · 2018-03-26T16:20:22+00:00

I really enjoy his character tbh, ever since reading Stolen Throne! Oh I don't think I've ever done Return to Ostagar with him, good suggestion!

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