I yell into the void about general fandom. Enjoy. Asks: Open! Main: @CSVidalDraws As this is a sideblog, I cannot follow back or like/comment directly.
For the sake or organization and easy linking on mobile, as these games have taken over this poor fandom blog.
all KOTOR posts
all Star Wars posts
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KOTOR Conversations
"KOTOR Conversations That Totally Happened” is an ongoing text post series of imagined banter between the characters from the “Knights of The Old Republic” game and its sequel.
Stories/Tiny Fics
Character Analysis posts
In most of my posts (except character analysis), the characters of Revan and the Exile are portrayed as I have made them in my own playthroughs of the game. Below is some information on them, if you’re curious. I have way too many thoughts about this!
Revan
Female | Scout/Sentinel | Dark Side
playlist + moodboard
Art: one; two; three
Headcanons: here, here, and here
Ship: Revalek
+ game choices: killed Bendak in final dueling match // killed Juhani // kept the gizka as pets // sided with the wookies against Czerka slavers // became Swoop Racing champion // destroyed Republic facilities to save the giant firaxan shark // sided with Master Uthar // rejected Carth's confession.
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Lysia Daak (Exile)
Female | Guardian/Master | Light Side
moodboard
Art: one
Ship: Exile/Atton
+ game choices: did not destroy Peragus II // sided with the Ithorians against Czerka // recruited the Disciple and Mira // became Pazaak champion // helped the settlers in Dantooine // sided with Queen Talia // agreed to have her connection to the Force severed // spared Atris.
I finished "Dragon Age: The Veilguard", so my updated opinions will be posted soon. Overall, do I regret playing this game? No. Do I think it is worth the full price? Also no. It's a decent game, but it has some major drawbacks, and it really won’t be going on my all time favourites list alongside "Inquisition".
Since no one answered my questions about "Dragon Age: The Veilguard", I ended up caving and buying the game, and here are my findings. Plus my Rook, because he is very cute.
Spoiler-free!
THE GOOD
The game is nowhere near as linear as some reviews made it seem! You can still explore large areas, finding secrets and picking up quests, and do said quests in whatever order you choose.
The Codex remains and is great.
The game looks beautiful, even at low resolution. I love the illustrated narrated scenes. The look of the 'hub world' is customizable and cozy too.
If party banter gets interrupted (e.g., by an enemy encounter), the characters will pick it back up later.
You can set an 'appearance' outfit to override the look of whatever armor you actually have installed. No more choosing between appearance and stats. All armors can also be upgraded.
You can pet cats and dogs, and even hug a baby gryphon. I have had Assam for one day and if anything ever happened to him I would kill everyone in Tevinter and then myself.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
There are many difficulty settings, including a "storyteller" mode for players who are more interested in the story aspects that allows you to disable death for your character. No need to stress about boss fights.
THE MAYBE
In general, I love the new combat system. I am not a fan of strategic combat, and this feels much more dynamic and fun. That said, they also made it way too complex. Besides short and long-distance attacks and skills, there are special effects using different key combos, using runes, setting up combo attacks between (otherwise independent) party members, and changing weapon types.
They did not override most decisions from previous games. Everything is simply not mentioned. The only exception is when you ask about the companions from "Inquisition", as it assumes all companions were hired, which wasn't obligatory to do. Also, for some reason, Vivienne is not mentioned at all.
Regarding discourse around the game: People are apparently complaining about the game being 'woke', but honestly the only thing I have noticed is that you can have your character be transgender. And maybe Taash struggling with her mother complaining she isn’t feminine enough (is that woke now?). That's about it. There is no 'woke ideology' in the game. I don't know who is making that up.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
THE BAD
The character creator is bad. You have to choose three different premade faces and morph between them instead of working with each separate feature (which you can only adjust a little). I couldn't recreate my Inquisitor properly because it was impossible to alter the eye shape to what I wanted.
I also couldn't give her the scars and tattoo she had. In fact, the scar and tattoo options aren't the best. Some scars look a bit cartoony. There are no small tattoos.
More bad writing: it makes no sense to sideline the quest to stop Solas and have the two evanuris be the villains instead. I think they are interesting, but this development is not the best.
Bad writing. Not all the time, but enough times to be noticeable. Emmrich talks like a cartoon character in his introductory mission, for example; fortunately, it seems to be toned down later.
Bellara has it the worst of all, though. She is the bubbly, ditsy maniac pixie girl that I am sure is some tech boy's dream. The 'cutesy' way she talks and squeaks honestly makes me uncomfortable. I have been actively avoiding having her in the party.
Choosing a faction doesn't really have that big of an influence on the game. Your faction will grow its influence faster and there will be a few lines acknowledging your history with them, but that seems to be about it. There are no special missions, nor a separate start like in "Origins". It feels a bit like an afterthought.
Despite having dialogue choices with different 'personalities', Rook always agrees with everything. The different lines all end up being the same basic response, just in different words/tones.
You can't talk to companions unless there is an event involving them. It's immersion breaking. Seriously, they couldn't have a couple lines on repeat?
I read some news that the only world state options we will have for "Dragon Age: Veilguard" are the Inquisitor's romantic partner, whether the Inquisition was disbanded, and how the Inquisitor decided to deal with Solas.
What a slap to the face. Are they going to completely ignore ongoing plotlines like the Warden's quest or force whatever their stupid canon is on us? Why would I pay 60€ for this game?
Apparently the internet hates "The Acolyte", but after watching the first two episodes I still can't figure out why.
It has twins separated and fighting for different sides, a mystery, revenge, the word 'mekmek', neat alien designs, showcase of different Jedi powers, cool fight scenes...
Alright, NOW I am wary of "Dragon Age: Veilguard".
Why would they eliminate imports from Dragon Age Keep? I understand wanting to have a refresher for those who played the last game a long time ago or just don't have a save, but why remove it as an option entirely?
Dragon Age Keep saves are so detailed and I really worry they are going to leave out most things in their in-game creator.
What I was most looking forward to all this time was to hear the updates on the old characters and plot threads, because "Dragon Age: Inquisition" is one of my favorite games ever. I don’t want the specific character dynamics and choices to be steamrolled. I love that world I helped shape. =/
Legitimately, the one thing that will keep me from buying the new game is if the devs just give us the basic choices and then force their "canon" on us for everything else.
Apparently the people of the internet are losing their mind - in a bad way - over the "Dragon Age: Veilguard" trailer. Honestly, there is a reason why I don't trust game trailers, and that is because they are hardly ever accurate. I will reserve judgement until we see the actual game.
That said, I *am* shallow, so I am a bit mad that none of the male companions (i.e., possible romanceable characters) looks cute to me. 😅 I'll still buy and play the game anyway - I have been waiting for so long to have updates on my Inquisitor and Warden! - but that's strike one, Bioware.
Priorities.
I love the new title, though. It sounds beautiful.
I wanted to make sims of my Revan and Exile (+Malak) from the KOTOR games. Spent an entire day looking - and failing to find - all the CC I needed, then pulled a "Screw it, I'll do it myself" and learned how to recolor items.
Behold my KOTOR sims and my first attempts at Sims CC ever. I am really proud at how the Exile's armor came out, and Revan's undersuit (which also has an underwear version based on the game). I also made Revan's mask, and Malak's suit, jaw piece, and head tattoos.
Most were recolors of game items, but I also recolored CC by @puna-sims (mask), @lady-moriel (jaw piece), and @natalia-auditore (hooded cloak). All mesh credit goes to the original creators.
While we're on the subject of KotOR, I find it funny that certain players are convinced it must be a mistake that killing Bendak Starkiller nets you dark side points, because he is a bad person after all.
Like yeah, why do you gain dark side points for being so dead-set on killing this man for money that you get the local mobster to bribe the authorities so they'll turn a blind eye to a televised illegal death match?
"Oh she's talking about that fucking video game again-" yeah okay I know. You think it's annoying? I have to listen to it in my head all the time. But you know what, I sincerely believe we don't talk about Jolee Bindo enough, actually.
"Love doesn't lead to the dark side. Passion can lead to rage and fear, and can be controlled... but passion is not the same thing as love. Controlling your passions while being in love, that's what they should teach you to beware. But love itself will save you... not condemn you."
Like???? Jolee took down the jedi's nonsensical prohibition on love in one fell swoop and made it sound like poetry in the process *chefs kiss*.
