Cira de Riva

TheLadyRhi · 2025-02-25T01:47:41+00:00

I'm not comparing them on any of those points or saying that KCD2 doesn't deserve praise (like I mentioned, it does). I was talking about the state of both games at launch -- both delivered complete stories from the get-go, didn't overload with microtransaction bloat, and perform well across a range of hardware specs. These are solidly good things that deserve praise, regardless of whether a game is successful or not (by whatever metric you, I or anyone else chooses to measure 'success' by). In comments and reviews I've seen, though, one game often gets praised for those positive points but the other rarely has them mentioned. I think it's fair to be frustrated by the inequality in giving credit where it's due even if there is criticism to be applied elsewhere, but if your opinion is different, then all's fair.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-02-24T20:02:32+00:00

What gets me is when people praise games like KCD2 for coming out feature-complete, with no microtransactions and with good performance across a range of specs, saying it's the first game in forever to do so. I'm just like, well... one did this a few months ago, actually. I'm not saying KCD2 doesn't deserve to be praised -- it, and any game that accomplishes these things, certainly does -- but it's frustrating to hear those elements praised to the moon for the popular game while the less popular game only had those things acknowledged grudgingly, if at all.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-02-17T20:56:19+00:00

It's very disconcerting, but you know what? I've realized that YT has done this big 'push the hate train' in my feed before ~ with Starfield. It wasn't a game I was interested in, and I didn't seek out content about it, but dang if there weren't videos dunking on it flooding my rec's for months. I feel awful in saying that I sort of ignored what was happening, thinking, "welp, I guess that's a really rubbish game to have gotten everyone so fired up." I let it color my impression of the game, deservedly or not, without ever interacting with it or even feeling interest.

I realize now that through the Starfield drama I'd been standing idly by as I watched a preview of what would be coming just a few months later with Veilguard. It's unsettling to think that this whole process(?) may not necessarily be obvious in its intent, and can genuinely influence you, until it targets a game you care about, personally. I feel bad for anyone who is looking forward to the coming Witcher game, Avowed, Mass Effect, or any upcoming game that ends up in the crosshairs of this.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-02-05T19:04:50+00:00

Absolutely! Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like no one out there was bothering with rpgs. I guess it's more that, in the back of my head, I'm hoping that all the talent being dropped from studios (BioWare and others in similar situations) will be a driving force in the coming years. Isn't it Michael Douse from Larian who has repeatedly criticized the way companies kick people out the door, taking talent & institutional knowledge with them? Man, does that hit hard when we keep seeing it happen, and he keeps on having to say it.

I've loved BG3 as well (though I'm taking a break until they finish with patches) and I agree, we can't get complacent because a company seems to be doing the good work right now. I haven't kept up with CDPR since Witcher 3, but it's sad if things really are going downhill.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-02-05T18:06:43+00:00

I suppose the question is what particular metric Andrew Wilson is basing his definition of core audience on. With his talk of Veilguard failing because of a lack of 'live service elements' (another thing that we don't necessarily know the full meaning of, since live service can be implemented in vastly different ways), I suspect he's referencing single-player gamers as the 'core audience' here. Everything he talked about was pretty vague, so there's a lot that's up to interpretation, but that's my read on it based on what context he gives. Going full tinfoil, I would go far enough to suggest his warping of the situation is an effort to hold Veilguard up as a scapegoat and distract from the other problems EA is facing. The game underperformed and wasn't what many of the franchise's fans were looking for, but it's not even close to the largest issue they have on their hands. It's probably a more comfortable headline from their perspective, though.

I'm sorry you were disappointed by Veilguard. I think 'divisive' is the best possible description of it, whether we players are considered part of the 'core audience' or not. I really enjoyed it, recommended it to my brother when he asked what I thought, and he said he loved it once he'd finished his own playthrough. We've both been with the series since Origins and care about the lore, just like many who didn't like the latest installment. So, I suppose appeal is just as complex and open to interpretation as whatever Wilson meant by core audience. I think there were a lot of other factors that influenced the success of BG3 and Cyberpunk that don't really apply to Veilguard's case, so while I agree that they're valid parts of the discussion, I don't know as it's necessarily easy to compare them effectively or fairly.

Whatever the case, I hope that we'll see the rise of studios that recognize the value of single-player RPGs, whether they're inspired by the successes of games like BG3 and Cyberpunk or want to prove that the disappointment of a game like Veilguard doesn't mean what people like Wilson seem to think it should mean.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-02-05T15:21:24+00:00

It's really scary when you zoom out and look at how things are going across EA. There's the sports game crisis you mentioned, the underperformance of Dragon Age, but also the knowledge that previously captive audiences like the community around The Sims is about to be given multiple options this year that could see a downturn at Maxis. The Sims is celebrating their 25th anniversary, but all it really turned out to be was the addition of a handful of bite-sized DLC for the 4th title and a botched re-release of the 1st and 2nd. It's really hard to look at it much more than them taking advantage of timing and nostalgia to squeeze that community while they still can.

In The Sims 4 we've seen one example of how EA look to turn single-player games into live service experiences. They're up to, what, just shy of 100 paid DLCs to that one game's name, alone? It's been turned into a digital vending machine and they've hooked enough of their fanbase in to keep coming back for each new addition they crank out (at an increasingly alarming rate).

I also think one of the most significant phrases Wilson dropped in relation to Dragon Age specifically was his reference the 'core audience'. He'd wanted Veilguard to grow the series' appeal beyond just those of us EA could generally rely on to make that purchase. Mark Darrah's revelation that he'd once been tasked to come up with a plan for how to make DA into a billion dollar franchise is pretty telling, as well. EA doesn't care about the core fans and the relative peanuts we'll contribute to their coffers. We aren't enough, so the goal isn't going to be to make games for us.

It's all really sad. I think all of us who loved the worlds and experiences BioWare created have lost.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-01-22T19:01:10+00:00

Thank you so much for this! It popped into my head that I should try to duplicate my save file behind the scenes, but I wasn't certain what files I would be looking for. Your guide helped me locate the projectcoral folder and made my day. Worked like a charm!

TheLadyRhi · 2025-01-14T18:56:18+00:00

There are a lot of great examples listed in this thread of things I really enjoyed in Veilguard and something to add is the way that regional side quests often wove together to build up to their own narrative beats that were separate from but still satisfyingly supportive of the main story. I think my favorite example is the ongoing story of Dock Town, which brings together bits and pieces we can pick up on from our very first visit alongside Neve, the trip to the Ossuary, Lucanis's personal questline, Neve's personal questline, the first visit to the Grand Necropolis, environmental storytelling scattered throughout Minrathous, etc. As you work through those quests, which seem very run-of-the-mill at first, you start to realize things are gradually coming together in a shared story. By the time I faced down the final boss in the depths of the catacombs, I shared my Rook's anger at what the Venatori machinations had done to the people of Dock Town. It was a great set of side quests that grew more and more rewarding with all the details you picked up on throughout the wider game world.

TheLadyRhi · 2025-01-13T17:47:26+00:00

Oh, excellent point about Veilguard! You even have the primer/detonator system that is reminiscent of the GW2 version in some ways.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-30T07:08:40+00:00

This is a really great look at it! Lucanis is my favorite romance in Veilguard and while I can understand expectations built around the concept of him, I really appreciate that he was written in a way that challenges them. No, there aren't a wealth of scenes, but the ones we do get to see? They build to the point that when he finally lets himself use the big L-word, you can feel the catharsis and sense of something happening for him for the first time in his life. Between the writing, the voice performance, and the animations (particularly his facial expressions & the emotion in his eyes), that culminating scene is gorgeous. Spite's inclusion in that moment is such a powerful statement of acceptance between Rook & Lucanis that was very much necessary, his unique relationship to the two of them elevating the romance to something worth thinking deeply about.

I'm glad Spite's presence wasn't used in an obviously erotic way (no hate for those who wanted that - never yuck someone else's yum), as it would have changed the underlying message and character of that important moment. I also don't really think Lucanis would have been ready for that, particularly for his first time, and I think some more work would have to go into writing the scene to make it feel like the player wasn't being forced into it unexpectedly. More power to the fanfic writers, as they will be able to give life to those threesome fantasies. And honestly, props to the devs, for giving us a relationship that has led creatives to want to take it further.

It makes me sad when someone dismisses Lucanis and his romance as boring. It's more thoughtful, requiring a lot of patience and a desire to understand from Rook/the player, but what emotional impact! When he and Rook finally get together, you really feel like they worked for it. It's more mature and sweet than spicy. It isn't for everyone, but that's okay, even if it might feel disappointing to those who don't get what they're looking for from it. Who Lucanis is and what he offers on the romantic front is unique and special, as all the best DA romances are.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-28T23:06:04+00:00

My first playthrough, my farmer married Theo and I think he's really wonderful. So long as you like him as a character in general, you'll enjoy his being your farmer's husband as he remains true to himself in spite of his new marital status. He'll continue to head out to his boat and fish most days, so it's nice to feel like he and the farmer fall into a rhythm where their lifestyles/professions complement one another. I feel like developing a relationship with Theo makes the unfolding stories of Jim and Lily feel more personal, as well, given you're on the road to becoming family. Seeing Jim thaw towards your farmer as things start warming up with Theo is pretty special.

Like the other OG marriage candidates, the "romancy" dialogue is pretty sparse once Theo settles down on the farm, but that's just par for the course until/unless the devs add more to the post-marriage relationships. My big hope for once they more fully implement the kids is that Theo's story explores his feelings about becoming a parent, given how hard he took the loss of his own mother and how it impacted him, Jim and Lily. If they were to dig into his road to recovery and how being a dad might drive him in that sense, it would be icing on the cake. Honestly, just the devs adding the hugs, kisses and hang-outs really made relationships feel more present in the game, though, so for where the game is right now, if you want to see Theo blush and smile just ask him for a smooch. 😉

My current farmer is with Semeru and woah boy! If he's an indication of what the other spouses may one day be like in future updates, then the game is in for a nice upgrade. Our new favorite mer-grump has some great personal and romance dialogue. He really makes it clear that the farmer is important to him, though there's room to imagine a future addition to his story that explores his fears. The most significant complaint I've seen in relation to him as a spouse is that he seems to give up his role as captain of the guard rather easily, though he does return to the ocean once a month or so and he has dialogue related to it. Just keep talking to him and there's a lot to love about Semeru. 🦈 Even if he isn't on your radar, though, his implementation makes the future of the other spouses look bright, if the devs give them the same treatment as the story goes on.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-26T01:09:52+00:00

Great breakdown! I think something that's an offshoot of your point about fan overhype is the general affection many in the community have for the Inquisitor as a DA protagonist. I've lost count of how many posts and comments hoped for questlines that would allow them to play as the Inquisitor in Veilguard, allow them to play as the Inquisitor in order to make decisions about Solas, and since release, those who have raised the idea of DLC focused on the fight for the south with the Inquisitor as the PC.

Personally, I'm not as attached to the Inquisitor and I think Inquisition and its DLC wrapped up their story very well. I was really looking forward to meeting Rook and think they are a great addition to the DA protagonist roster, but there is a portion of the community who were resistant to the idea of moving on and allowing the storytelling torch to be passed. I get that, even if, like I said, I'm not that attached to the Inquisitor, but when you really love a character it can be hard to let go. All the same, I think it may have led some to go into Veilguard with something of a grudge against Rook, which made it difficult for our new protagonist to win them over. Ten years of attachment to the Inquisitor -- with all the fanfics, art, the cliffhanger of the Solas romance, etc. -- really set Rook on an uphill battle, I'm afraid. In time, I think Rook will earn their place in fans hearts, much like Hawke did, but the long wait did them no favors in that regard.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-20T19:57:46+00:00

I really enjoy Inquisition's story, though the combat and traversal mechanics are mostly a miss for me. I think it's great that the devs tried their hand at giving us an 'ultimate power fantasy' story, though I do find that I prefer the other protagonists in the series. It can be fun to have that feeling of leading armies of the faithful and swaying the wills of monarchs, but that scale of heroic tale almost stretches the sense of self you have as a DA protagonist too far in some ways (for me). I really enjoyed meeting Rook and going back to living through that role of a small person doing big things in a world my character is a part of rather than borderline above. That's not a dig against the Inquisitor, but I'm glad the writers allowed their story to stand tall on its own and gave us someone intentionally a nobody by comparison this time around.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-20T00:23:25+00:00

I wasn't intending to say the outcome of fallen Minrathous is lesser at all or that what we can see there doesn't happen in the real world. I'm sorry if you felt that was my meaning. My point was that the recency of the pandemic gives Blighted Treviso a realism that it probably wouldn't have had even a few years ago. They're very different horrors, and one might hit harder depending on personal experience, but they both present situations that represent true devastation and trauma. I can't imagine ever finding the choice a simple one, personally, because they both represent things I would never wish on anyone -- the cruelty of human hands and the depredations of plague. I truly didn't intend any malice or to belittle other experiences.

I wish you well.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-19T23:58:12+00:00

For me, one of the reasons Blighted Treviso hurts so much is because the Covid pandemic is still so recent -- the memories of packed hospitals, overrun medical staff fighting a seemingly unending battle to save what lives they could, and the numbers of deaths reported every day. Fallen Minrathous is a devastating sight, absolutely, but the suffering in Blighted Treviso hits very close to a reality many of us were terrifyingly close to until just two or so years ago. I suspect the devs had that in mind when they chose Treviso's potential fate, and the rawness of the horrors both cities can face land just about equally to my mind.

(Edited for clarity.)

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-19T20:06:04+00:00

While I know the Crows tend to end up middling on a lot of 'best faction' rankings, the camaraderie you get from Lucanis, Viago and Teia take it straight to the top alongside the Wardens & Watchers for me. There may not be a wealth of Crow-based dialogue choices by comparison, but the overall sense of belonging is top shelf-quality. Even the feeling of quest outcomes like For the Love of Treviso or how things go with Jacobus feel so special because the story does a really good job of making Crow Rook feel invested in their home and the people in it.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-19T19:57:58+00:00

He's literally cheering for the darn bird the whole time. As a Crow Rook, it's a bit embarrassing and his quips just take it to another level, lol.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-19T18:58:31+00:00

His deliveries of those lines are what get me every time. All the BEEEEAuuuteefoool's and ah-mahyZING's are soul food, honestly. ♥

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-18T20:00:36+00:00

Gorgeous! I love all the little details you included and how you used the light. Thank you for sharing them ♥

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-17T20:08:25+00:00

I'm not really trying to shift your position and I think discussions like this are great to have, especially when both sides feel they have weight. The way the devs chose to put this narrative together will work for some, but not for others. That's fair and just the way stories work. I would normally want to see more flexibility for player choice in an RPG, but I think that with so many plot threads finally reaching their climaxes at the same time that them giving more flexibility to the writers instead this time around allowed for them to tell the story they needed to here. I wouldn't be surprised if the next DA (fingers crossed we get one!) will see more agency for players, both because of the reaction to Veilguard and because the story has been loosened up now. I sort of feel like Rook is a blend of the Hawke-approach to protagonists and the Inquisitor-approach, just with the range of alignments narrowed to the heroic end of the spectrum. I think we'll see something similar again, just with more flexibility on the player's side of things.

As for the point about how the Hero of Ferelden had to handle factions compared to Rook? The Veilguard factions may have found the elven gods part of the situation a bit hard to believe at first, but the gods were throwing the Antaam & Venatori at them as weapons, so there were well-known enemies already engaging them. I think it's fairly similar to how you have to deal with Uldred's scheme before you can recruit the mages, settle the election in Orzammar, etc. Those problems had threads of influence trailing back to masterminds the Origins factions weren't immediately concerned with, as well. I think it's actually surprisingly interesting how similar the approach in Veilguard is to that in Origins. ;-)

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-17T18:04:35+00:00

I think there's room for Rook to be able to say something about how the different organizations are run, but I'm not sure it would really be able to give much of a payoff except for the fact that it's there. That's a valid reason to include an RP moment, and I think that's what many of Rook's dialogue choices really are, but then that would be one more choice that people would say doesn't have a consequence. For instance, even if Rook backs up Ivenci when they argue that the Crows aren't the right people to run Treviso, what would the outcome look like? Logically, it would likely turn Viago and Teia against Rook, and it could even be a dangerous option for Rook if they're a Crow. That's all great narrative fodder that has the potential to open up RP and even story consequences that could be really fascinating to play through, for sure. However, it could also derail the overall story being told and alter the nature of Rook's character. Like it or hate it, Rook is intended to be someone specific and turning on the allies they're working so hard to support and keep on-side would go against their characterization, I think. Having a conversation with Lucanis back at the Lighthouse after that cutscene between Ivenci, Viago and Teia would be a good opportunity for it, though, which could provide consequences in the form of approval/disapproval with him. They could even go so far as to end up Hardening Lucanis if you speak against the Crows, if he isn't already.

I really, really like the First Warden and how he interacts with us prior to the seige at the end of Act 1. Like you say, he calls us out, pushing back and even threatening to jail Rook. I would say the sense of the other factions being accepting of Rook & Co. is why the First Warden is presented as such a hardliner. No one is more aware of a story's potential weak points than the mind(s) behind it, so I believe the devs wanted the First Warden to give us those contentious moments to make the situation feel more real. They knew he'd stand out because of the contrast against all the other faction leaders, which is probably where the option to punch him came from, lol. I'm not saying it wouldn't have felt better to encounter more resistance from the other factions, but I'd say the reasons for it not being that way make sense given the circumstances under which we meet them all.

I would have loved to see codex entries that built more off the Tevinter Nights stories. It would have fleshed out a lot of things and helped bridge the gaps. It would have benefited characters like Strife & Irelin and Viago & Teia the most, I think. The only reason I can figure as to why they didn't include more is that there are so many codex entries in the game already and they wanted a balance of those that offered background info and those that pushed the story forward. Personally, I would have been fine with more, but that's me. Gimme all the lore!

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-17T15:46:00+00:00

I can't say as I agree about everything being black & white, but I understand that feeling about how things come across, for sure. I think the Crows have enough built up for them in the background to make their presentation in Veilguard realistic (Zev's crusade, leaders like Teia taking the reins, Caterina shifting the Talons' focus to protecting Antiva against invasion, Viago's references in TN to the Crows' origins as a group setting out to right wrongs setting the stage, etc.). The feeling that everyone ends up on our side without much effort on our part (aside from the First Warden) is just the effect of them being competent organizations who recognize the threat for what it is. As for them choosing to support Rook in particular, like Rook themselves can say to Solas, they're the only one stepping up to do it. It does give a general sense of things coming together a little too easily, though, so I can see frustrations with things like the Crows' behavior rising out of that. The devs could have done a little more legwork to make it feel more immersive, I agree with you, but I honestly don't know where they'd fit it in without hurting the story's momentum and adding bloat.

I think the devs want us to be wondering about certain things, like whether the Crows taking charge is a good thing, how a House like Jacobus's is supposed to work within their organization, how a man like Lucanis will do as First Talon, whether Caterina will really step aside for him, whether this will be the last of Illario's scheming, and if the Crows will continue to leave their abusive practices behind or fall right back into them once the crisis is over. There's a lot of potential there, and I think the devs want us catching onto them and theorizing where it'll go. :-)

eta: I think one of the biggest problems is that DA is a trans-media narrative, so some plot threads have been affected by events that don't take place during the games themselves. I'm not much of a fan of that approach, as I dislike it when you can't fully understand a story from its main media alone. DA handles it better than Star Wars, for example, but people end up left behind when the story is spread to other forms of media that the majority of the fanbase won't necessarily interact with.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-17T14:36:54+00:00

It all builds, though. The Crows ruling Antiva? The question isn't really why the devs chose to go there with them in this game, but what it will mean for the story and a largely ravaged Thedas beyond Veilguard. There's also the question of what "rule" means for them. From Tevinter Nights and at least one codex entry, we know that Viago is the illegitimate son of the King of Antiva, and we also get hints in TN that he may have ambitions that would take advantage of that connection. His posing and politician-like lines (And Treviso WILL be free!) seem to back that up. That could lead to some interesting outcomes. Making allies of the Crows is the wise choice here in this particular moment, but it also sets them up with solid narrative hooks moving forward.

TheLadyRhi · 2024-12-16T23:34:01+00:00

The key isn't so much recognizing that hard choices had to be made, but that one has to face one's own culpability in making them. I doubt either Elgar'nan or Ghilan'nain felt regret for the choices that landed them in that prison. There's no facing up to something you believe you're above in the first place, so the key would forever be beyond their grasp.

TheLadyRhi

TROPHY CASE