My favorite commander

CONFESSION:

While I loved having a mabari in Origins and DA2, I really hope there are no ‘wild’ attacking mabari in the next game. We had them in Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age Inquisition. Its such a cheap cop out. How about something like random geese? Geese can be terrifying.

CONFESSION:

I want to see a Dragon Age version of a Javelina. They’re basically like smaller versions of the wild boar. They live in family groups and they can be mean if you come across them.

Credit: Image provided by Confessor

Javelina Fact Sheet

Javelina, what are they, and where can you see one? - New Mexico Wildlife magazine

CONFESSION:

While I don’t hate Orlais, I am definitely not a fan but as a fan of classical music I absolutely 100% loved the score/theme. It was just so beautiful and it perfectly captured what Orlais is. Even to this day I occasionally hum the tune. And I only hope Tevinter has an equally memorable theme that captures its essence.

CONFESSION:

I will never not forget how criticized I was for not creating the typical porcelain mythal vallaslin wearing Dalish elf. First I am a biopc. Second, I am sorry but for a nomadic race, the dalish are going to be out in the sun and dealing with other elements. They’re not going to have flawless skin. For a fandom that claims they support diversity and representation some in this fandom sure get upset when someone wants their elf to look different from the rest.

CONFESSION:

I wish people didn’t mischaracterize the Dalish so poorly and remove the bad things they have done. No amount of popular fanon or novella thinkpieces is going to remove the canon status of Dalish elves leaving their magical young in the woods or many clans hating non-Dalish elves for virtue of being essentially not being Dalish … and that’s okay.

The canonical oppression of the Elvhen does not mean their group is divorced from meaningful critique on shitty things, nor does it mean that oppression is somehow deserved in-canon and these decisions are just the “evil BioWare writing team” who want to be dicks to fictional elves.

In a game that tries desperately to cling to grey morality, it means that both sides are going to do questionable and morally debatable things to give a nuanced choice - this is grey morality, like, the literal definition. It was the right move to make from a game standpoint, even if it is a bit of a barbaric decision, because it doesn’t just paint the Dalish elves as “pure” who can never do wrong or perform poor actions and gives players a choice on their personalfeelings

CONFESSION:

I really love the Mabari. I really do. And while I know it will never happen I would love to see a Dragon Age version of the Alaskan Malamute. I guess I just want to see a Dragon Age version of a fluffy dog.

CONFESSION

In DA2, the statue of Hawke commemorates the Qunari being defeated and driven out of Kirkwall. Considering at least one of the likely plots of DA4, I would love if the DA4runner or whatever our protagonist’s title is could get a replica as an aspirational furnishing for good vibes.

So after getting 56 submissions I shut everything off

I understand that we all build up our own expectations and ideas about games before they are released, and even before information comes out. I know that there is a section of the Dragon Age fandom that does not want a heavily Solas-related storyline in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, either because they dislike him as a character, like him a lot and don’t want to have to kill him, or for other reasons. I also know that the DA:D title reveal has reignited some of these worries.

We are all entitled to feel different ways about things. But I would like to ask people to consider how that negativity will impact other fans, and how those feelings can be framed in a way that does not seem designed to ruin the excitement of others.

Some of the negative confessions from the name reveal have been nuanced and thoughtful. Some of them have been brief but respectful. Some of them have been extremely hostile, towards the devs and towards other fans. Please be considerate.

On a personal note, not related to confessions, I think that despairing over something as simple as a game’s name is almost always a mistake, especially when it comes to deciding that it confirms everything that you don’t want to experience. We can all make informed guesses about DA:D’s plot, but that is still what they are – guesses. Talking yourself into dreading something that you were once looking forward to is a choice that you are allowed to make, but is that what you really want?

Thank you for reading.

-SMC

CONFESSION:

I was 17 when Inquisition came out and back then I did not appreciate the tavern music. I just thought they were annoying and did not understand their point at all. I replayed the game during the lock down and maybe its because I’m older and more patient I now love the tavern music. Some of them are just so beautiful and really enhanced the atmosphere of the game. And although I’m no fan of Orlais I thought it was so great we heard French versions of the tavern songs. I really hope we see something similar in the next game. Little things like that really add to the game.

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PRIORITY NORMANDY : A MASS EFFECT FANZINE

Calling out all MASS EFFECT fans !! It’s an absolute pleasure for me to be part of the @normandyzine : the store will open on February 12 ! The cast is absolutely INCREDIBLE so trust me, you don’t want to miss it ♥