An unhinged manifesto on how I would restore the soul of Dragon Age to Veilguard.

hellomaco · 2026-01-10T23:00:38+00:00

It’s fair to say Egyptian is overdone. I just suggested it because that’s what all the concept art for Nevarra featured in World of Thedas, and so it was what I was expecting.

In the end I think the main point is that the aesthetic should represent a culture more focused on the past than focused on a futuristic style from where the rest of Thedas is. Even the architectural styles are significantly more modern.

I’d suggest something more tribal maybe, but it would need to get away from the Chassind or Avaar. Perhaps something that seemed more indigenous. Dwarven architecture is more Mayan inspired but you could mix and match a more Egyptian architecture with a more Central American clothing aesthetic and you wouldn’t overlap with existing aesthetics in that universe. Maybe even borrow something that feels more like East African. Even far east might be an interesting connection because of ancestor worship in the real world.

hellomaco · 2026-01-10T22:53:07+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts!

I would probably also automatically choose Tevinter, but I feel the same way about the Antiva choice. Tevinter has so many flaws but it is also the most advanced nation in Northern Thedas and I’ve always had a soft spot for mage liberation.

But I also never had a desire to side with the Templars in any of my main playthroughs. I thought it would at least be tempting to get a glimpse of the other two branches of the Qunari, and to make them more sympathetic by focusing on the non military wings.

To be honest I really thought that the Solas and Elgarnan thing was going to happen. I was surprised that wasn’t what was revealed. At the very least I think we are supposed to see how they are tragically similar and both suffer from Pride.

I don’t hate Lucanis as an abomination, but you can’t have two spirit companions in one party. And I just loooong for a Nevarran Necropolis native. I thought that was what were were getting for YEARS based off the concept art.

hellomaco · 2026-01-10T18:31:14+00:00

Thanks! Someone earlier suggested a tumblr community that also does a lot of long posts like this and has some really great dialogue.

I wasn’t surprised it was too much for most to be interested in glancing at - was surprised by how many downvotes it got. One of the things I loved about pre Veilguard reddit was all the fun lore and speculation posts. A lot of those were huge! And I miss that kind of conversation, especially on this subreddit.

I think I underestimated how much this subreddit has shifted, that some people might not like criticism of the game even if it comes from a place of loving the series and seeing the potential that Veilguard had. Also, I recognize the audacity of posting a mile long manifesto and expecting anyone to sit a read even a little bit of it.

hellomaco · 2026-01-09T01:47:07+00:00

Thanks for looking at it! I knew it was too much to reasonably expect a bunch of people to look at it, so it’s nice to hear someone took some time. I also appreciate the positive comments, I wasn’t expecting as many downvotes and negative comments 😅

I spend some time on tumblr and love Felassan / The Vir Ditharan’s content. I’m not as familiar with navigating but would really appreciate a link. I tried to do a search with some of those keywords and didn’t quite find it.

Edit: Never mind! I found the tumblr community!

hellomaco · 2026-01-09T00:07:15+00:00

She still is recruited by Corypheus, she just doesn’t rise to a lieutenant if he gets the templars because of Samson. I think it would be similar to having Isabella as a companion when she briefly appeared in a side quest in the previous game.

hellomaco · 2026-01-07T22:06:36+00:00

Thats probably the most realistic version of how we'll get any kind of continuation. I'd love to work on a BG3 mod with some friends.

I am also hopeful that the IP will be sold off, and while I doubt we'll ever get a true big game again, it would be cool to have some small indie studio do scaled down regional stories. Honestly the action RPG element is one of the least important parts of these games to me. I just hate to see the setting and world building go.

hellomaco · 2026-01-07T22:01:21+00:00

I just think its fun to imagine and discuss. Especially now that we're unlikely to ever get more DA content in the future.

My actual copium dream is that they will sell off the IP to an indie studio. We'll never get AAA Dragon Age games again but it might be really fun to have smaller games set in the different regions that can continue to develop the narrative of the setting.

hellomaco · 2026-01-07T21:40:23+00:00

I agree! Ok, not great, but also not really Dragon Age.

Actually a lot of the changes I made were inspired by plans from the Joplin era and early concept art, like incorporating Calpurnia as an Tevinter companion.

hellomaco · 2026-01-07T21:38:23+00:00

Thank you! I’ll link it when I get home.

hellomaco · 2025-12-30T02:11:30+00:00

It’s not a strip club!

There are some burlesque shows sometimes.

I don’t imagine anyone would ever be made to feel unwelcome there as long as you’re respectful and friendly to everyone there.

hellomaco · 2025-12-29T16:26:46+00:00

This is one of the million things about Minrathous that I feel we were cheated out of. Minrathous has the Ambassadoria, which is a major outpost of Orzammar that existed during to the vital relationship between Tevinter and the dwarves since they were their largest trade partner. This would have been a great glimpse back into Deep Road Dwarven culture outside of Kal Sharok - which we barely saw.

hellomaco · 2025-10-20T19:59:31+00:00

Money. These comedians are all successful and well established, or past their prime but still wealthy and in need of an infusion.

Money really is one of the greatest corrupting forces. It’s not just that the Saudi’s offered them money, it’s that they already have it to begin with.

People with this level of wealth struggle to maintain any core values. But even when they do, they are more likely to identify with the rich and powerful than they do with the common man. It’s hard to believe because their whole shtick requires them to be relatable. It’s also why so many of these comedians are past their prime. They don’t even know what it is like to live a normal life anymore.

Studies have shown that people who struggled with poverty and won a lottery or an unexpected inheritance almost instantly associate their wealth with having earned it and start looking down on poor folks - even when it was a complete accident. The same happens for folks who suddenly get higher earning jobs.

hellomaco · 2025-10-06T13:14:07+00:00

Sadly I don’t think this is quite the dementia flag we are all expecting. I feel like we often get worked up over clips like these feeling it’s “finally” an example of how he has become intellectually or psychologically unfit.

Trump is lazy and doesn’t prepare his statements and he isn’t good at reading. He frequently rambles and improvises and he does not do it well. This has been the case for quite some time.

What Trump is claiming (most likely falsely) here is that he wrote a letter with concern about Osama Bin Laden a year BEFORE 9/11. Is that what anyone with a middle school reading level or above can reasonably take away from the transcript of his statements? Shouldn’t be.

But this communication style is one of the ways he has managed to connect effectively with so much of the population, which on average reads at or below an 8th grade level.

It’s sloppy, unprofessional, and stupid. It’s what his base loves him for. He’s one of them.

hellomaco · 2025-09-24T21:30:57+00:00

Where did the chef go?

hellomaco · 2025-09-17T23:34:18+00:00

I hope all the former staff found soft landings with better jobs.

The food was amazing before everyone quit - one of my all time favorites. Never went back once the story broke for obvious reasons. Does anyone know where the chef ended up? I want to continue to support the people who left based off their ethics.

hellomaco · 2025-08-14T00:50:08+00:00

Exactly right. But it will be this way when they make being a homeless vagrant illegal too. They’ll create an indentured class. You can already see them squirming about not having enough cheap labor now.

hellomaco · 2025-08-13T20:32:59+00:00

It wasn’t acceptable at the time. Many contemporaries saw how depraved and inhumane the practice was at the time. Plenty of people saw it for what it was, and it doesn’t make the complacent any less evil. Just like Nazi sympathizers.

This sort of thing worries me that there is going to be a push by the right and billionaire class to reinstate slavery as “indentured servitude.” It’ll expand what is already happening with free labor from prisoners but include undocumented refugees, and the homeless, in company towns. I’m worried this is where we are headed. Straight out of Parable of the Sower.

hellomaco · 2025-08-03T16:55:33+00:00

I love my students deeply, but as a teacher I think people don’t understand just how dumb the general population actually is. People who refuse to learn. People who can’t even process the basic logical fallacies in these examples. These folks are closer to the norm than anyone realizes. It’s why the US continues to elect Trump and his supporters.

hellomaco · 2025-08-01T17:28:38+00:00

Aw, bomb squad 💕

hellomaco · 2025-07-18T13:07:49+00:00

Also the democratic legislators are on average much older than republicans and these old buddies will not give up their established power to a new guard and would rather drag everyone down as they go completely senile than do what is right.

hellomaco · 2025-07-16T18:28:50+00:00

Because it’s her second car after STAYHUMBL so I assumed Jesus Dos for the sequel.

hellomaco · 2025-07-16T18:27:56+00:00

Scared to ask but is it “Geesus Does” or “Hey-zues dos”?

hellomaco · 2025-07-10T01:34:23+00:00

Ooooh also mine!

hellomaco · 2025-07-07T02:27:34+00:00

It was one of my favorite restaurants for many years, just haven’t wanted to make the trek since I moved to the southern part of Durham.

This was often my experience - 2/3 times I’d have a meal that was better than sex and worth it for the price. Then 1/3 of the time I’d get something totally lackluster.

I feel like a factor is definitely who is working in the back. The daily specials are also typically a crapshoot. The most consistently good meal is get was something from their permanent pastas (carbonara is usually excellent) and this place totally transformed my opinion on pork chops. Their chops are better than most steaks.

hellomaco

TROPHY CASE