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keltenaI've been playing Dragon Age: Inquisition lately. I'm five years late (which, to be fair, is basically right on schedule for me), but I finally have a computer that can handle it, and I'm having a blast. I'm honestly surprised by how good it is! It's not as perfectly tailored to my personal preferences as Dragon Age II (few things are), and it shares the rest of the series' writing weakpoints for the most part, but it's so polished and full of life. (The world is no longer brown! It's a miracle.) Someday soon, I will finally no longer fear spoilers for this series.
So far, Inquisition might actually have my favorite overall cast in the series? I didn't expect anything to be able to compare to DA2's ragtag friend group of outcasts who variously like or barely tolerate each other, and that's still by far the best party dynamic in the series. But... well, I feel like one of DA's greatest strengths is its ability to simulate the experience of that one friend/relative who we swear is really a great person aside from the whole [racism/classism/sexism/xenophobia/aggressive evangelism/totalitarianism/unique and special personal brand of assholery] thing, except it's every character instead of just one—and DAI's cast nails that. Almost everyone is likeable and engaging and deeply terrible in at least one respect, and in ways that play beautifully off each other and the game's themes too! I keep getting invested in characters and then being rewarded for it by seeing them be awful, and I could not be happier.
(Well, except for the woman I have an immediate crush on once again being straight. I miss the DA2 model, where everyone was bi unless you paid to download a heterosexual.)
Most importantly, though, you can finally choose armor for fashion. My companions no longer cease having unique character designs the moment I put them in generic armor, it's a miracle. They even let you change individual colors! Among other things, I have used this power to ensure Sera is kept outfitted with the most eye-searing outfit feasible at any moment:
It's what she would want, after all. My only regret is that there aren't more bright colors, especially in the metals and leathers. (Vivienne and Dorian are no doubt in excruciating pain, but I think it's a good learning experience for them.)
I think custom Cards Against Humanity decks have become my new default art form somehow, because I've found myself with the better part of a Dragon Age deck already. There are probably already a million out there, and I can't even play with other fans until I finish the game anyway, but... they're just so much fun to make. At least it seems to be shaping up promisingly enough so far, if quality of randomized plays is any indication:
![Marvel at perfection, for it is fleeting. / You have brought Sin to Heaven / And [-5 approval] upon all the world.](https://i.imgur.com/lOQs6Cx.png)
![Problems with [accidentally starting a romance]? Leliana recommends assassination.](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/357359501763936266/645773636447371276/leliana_no.png)
![Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of [helping people and killing people].](https://i.imgur.com/B4qXP1r.png)
![Hawke’s adventures with [the nerve to be mean to fictional characters] inevitably ended in tragedy.](https://i.imgur.com/NZ0Zd8D.png)
Someday I'll finally get around to making the Umineko and Utena decks I've been meaning to, and the resulting game will collapse into a black hole of mind-bendingly dense symbolism and inane anime humor that will ambiguously end us all.
So far, Inquisition might actually have my favorite overall cast in the series? I didn't expect anything to be able to compare to DA2's ragtag friend group of outcasts who variously like or barely tolerate each other, and that's still by far the best party dynamic in the series. But... well, I feel like one of DA's greatest strengths is its ability to simulate the experience of that one friend/relative who we swear is really a great person aside from the whole [racism/classism/sexism/xenophobia/aggressive evangelism/totalitarianism/unique and special personal brand of assholery] thing, except it's every character instead of just one—and DAI's cast nails that. Almost everyone is likeable and engaging and deeply terrible in at least one respect, and in ways that play beautifully off each other and the game's themes too! I keep getting invested in characters and then being rewarded for it by seeing them be awful, and I could not be happier.
(Well, except for the woman I have an immediate crush on once again being straight. I miss the DA2 model, where everyone was bi unless you paid to download a heterosexual.)
Most importantly, though, you can finally choose armor for fashion. My companions no longer cease having unique character designs the moment I put them in generic armor, it's a miracle. They even let you change individual colors! Among other things, I have used this power to ensure Sera is kept outfitted with the most eye-searing outfit feasible at any moment:
It's what she would want, after all. My only regret is that there aren't more bright colors, especially in the metals and leathers. (Vivienne and Dorian are no doubt in excruciating pain, but I think it's a good learning experience for them.)
I think custom Cards Against Humanity decks have become my new default art form somehow, because I've found myself with the better part of a Dragon Age deck already. There are probably already a million out there, and I can't even play with other fans until I finish the game anyway, but... they're just so much fun to make. At least it seems to be shaping up promisingly enough so far, if quality of randomized plays is any indication:
Someday I'll finally get around to making the Umineko and Utena decks I've been meaning to, and the resulting game will collapse into a black hole of mind-bendingly dense symbolism and inane anime humor that will ambiguously end us all.
