and always let your conscience be your guide

[muladhara]

Last night I beat Dragon Age II.

I was kind of surprised about that, and I will agree with the consensus that, at a certain point, the plot starts to feel rushed. What I won't say, however, is that the entire game feels like that (which is a feeling I got from some of the complaints I read).

In the end, I sided with the mages, because no-one messes with my magic users. I wasn't expecting to have to fight Orsino as well as Meredith. I also did not see it coming that Bartrand's idol would turn out to be Meredith's sword. Well. No wonder she went batshit.

Now want to know how one becomes Viscount (I assume you take neither side and whenever someone asks what we'll do, you answer with, "I'll be Viscount!" I'll check out the wiki and/or a walkthrough. I think Bron'd be up for that sort of thing, lol).

And then, once my game finished, I created Bron (as mentioned momentarily above), who is a mage who hates mages. Go figure. (I like the absurdity of that. I can imagine it will amuse the crap out of me).

Also, for neatness' sake, here's a list of my current DA characters:

Julius Mahariel - Dalish Elf rogue. Recruited all possible allies, sided with the mages, sided with the Elves, killed Connor (I think? It didn't end well, anyway, because I hadn't done the Circle before Redcliffe), destroyed the Anvil of the Void, elected Harrowmont, defied the Cult of Andraste. Didn't romance anyone. Called Dog Cerberus.

(Also, because I haven't finished his playthrough yet: not sure about the ritual; will kill or exile Loghain; Alistair not going on the throne since he doesn't want to be king anyway).

Circe Cousland - Human noble warrior. Sounds like Aveline *g*. Intend for her to marry Alistair. Called Dog Odesseus (spelt like that because I am a terrible speller).

Haidée Caron - Orlesian Grey Warden. Disappointingly does not have a French accent.

Eirian Hawke - romanced Isabela to some extent (didn't finish it on purpose); also got ninja kissed off Anders, and think he carries a torch for her/hero worships her somewhat. Sided with the mages, mostly encouraged everyone to do what was right, took Bethany into the Deep Roads (whoops). Got 100% loyalty off everyone but Fenris (oh boy did he flip flop about like a beached fish).

This game was played importing Julius' incomplete playthrough. As a result she got to meet King Alistair, heh (although as I noted above, should I ever be arsed to finish that, Alistair's not going to be king in that turn of events).

Merrick Hawke - obligatory male character. Accidentally looks like Donnic.

Played using the Dwarven Warden pre-generated playthrough.

Bron Hawke - a female mage who hates mages. The weirdo.

Played using the Hero of Ferelden pre-generated playthrough.

Well, I say played for those last two, I haven't yet. And I might delete and remake Bron because looking at her icon on the BSN, she looks like balls (mind you, I was dog tired when I made her, so...yeah. Talking of icons on the BSN, mine's now Eirian ♥ - actually I ought to save them all and then upload the best ones here or something!)

~*~

I have some photos to show off, but I'll make a new entry for those tomorrow, since this entry got a lot longer than I intended.

Comments

[lassarina]

I love Dragon Age 2 so much. I can't even. I just love it. The ending is a little rushed, okay, and the mage v templar conflict is very lopsidedly presented--but oh I love it. I wish I had more time to replay it a dozen times (though I think I'd just stick to a diplo mage Hawke.)

[virkatjol]

I thought the end of DA:2 was so much easier than DA:O. I died so freaking much trying to kill the archdemon but made it through the whole last battle without dying once on DA:2. :/. I had fun playing it, but it's no DA:O for me. Mostly I play games for Claudia, but I enjoyed this enough to complete it. I hate HATE HAAAAATE the timer on the healing potion though. That is SO DUMB. I EARNED THOS FUCKING POTIONS LET ME USE THEM ALL AT ONCE IF I WANT.

[muladhara]

I like it a heap, and it's definitely not the slog that Origins was. It makes me feel like ME1 did, and that's good. Yeah, it has its faults, but they could be worse than they are.

Ha, yeah. Pretty much all I remember is "Mages r bad, m'kay?" rinse and repeat, except add about blood magic. And the templars aren't bad because...?

[muladhara]

I haven't played the end of DA:O yet, but I can believe it. And oh god, YES. Most of my deaths in DA2 were down to that fucking cooldown timer on the potions *shakes tiny fists*

[lassarina]

The templars are WAY WORSE if you pay any attention; the abuses they enact just make me twitch. I want to get all the achievements, but I'm having a very hard time talking myself into actually playing the Templar route for that reason.

[muladhara]

Oh yeah, I know that. I mean, the whole rite of Annulment and making the mages tranquil for no reason other than they can, for starters. But it's never really referred to in dialogue re: the mage/templar thing (not that I recall, anyway). I think the templars are asses. Protect the mages! is my default.

(I also think that that whole thing about blood mages actually worsens the situation. In that, maybe if the templars didn't bang on about it all the time, maybe the mages wouldn't consider it as an option? Am I thinking about this too much? ;) )

[lassarina]

No that's pretty much exactly the heart of the matter. Templars watch mages for any sign of blood magic; mages rebel; templars crack down; mages turn to blood magic in desperation; templars crack down harder; repeat.

[Trigger Warning!]
Mostly I meant the fact that if you listen to conversation in the Gallows, and a few of the side missions, it's made pretty clear that Templars can rape and abuse mages and there is no recourse. That right there is exactly why I can't support them.

[muladhara]

Ah, I must have missed that. Jeez louise. What a bunch of bastards. *shudders* (I mean, I never liked 'em anyway, but that makes me like 'em even less).