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Hello, it's Ashe and I'm back with three more topics featured briefly by Game Informer's
month of Inquisition. This will be a dissection into their articles, which are linked in the
description below, where I combine the articles with lore from the world of Thedas.
Let's get started with the first topic:
After the success of multiplayer in the Mass Effect universe, eyes turned on the Dragon
Age franchise to replicate the same feature. While neither Bioware nor EA have confirmed
a multiplayer mode for Inquisition, it is safe to say we will see a multiplayer-component
featured in the next game. In September of last year, President of EA Labels Frank Gibeau
spoke out on EA's shift away from single player only experiences, stating that games will
include online applicatiosn and digital services. While Bioware devs have stated DA2 met EA's
multiplayer conditions, after Mass Effect's successful multiplayer, and the mysterious
teams mentioned but left unknown from Sprint Review Days, we may see more to come beyond
just online achievements.
I think what's important is how Sims 4 approaches the multiplayer component, a game we will
see a release of at Gamescom next week. The game is widely known for its single-player
only experience, and will set a standard for what demand is to come of a "multiplayer component".
We could possibly see a transition to more multi user-enriched experiences. Electronic
Arts will be featuring Battlefield 4, Titanfall and Sims 4 at Gamescom, which starts on the
21st this month.
As far as companions go, we know about the officially announced ones: Cassandra, Varric,
and Vivienne. What I want to point out, however, is a collision between what we've seen in
the past...and what was in the trailer. What I speak of is this single picture. The dragon
and the unknown charact,er correct? Let me divert your attention to the top right - the
five faces. If you don't remember, these characters are from the initial leak back in August.
The devs denied its existence and the descriptions given to said characters. But the characters
featured in the picture are the same that we saw in the survey. From left to right:
a female human, Dorian, Vivienne (who has been confirmed), a Grey Warden, and Sera.
The original text below the picture states Companion Jewellery, but the remaining text
is illegible on the video footage.
If we are to believe these characters to be our companions, that would bring the companion
total up to seven so far. While there are more characters mentioned, like Cole from
Asunder or the Iron Bull, they have yet to be shown.
At last, we come to the quote that Mike Laidlaw, Creative Director of the Dragon Age series,
has so gleefully noted in the Game Informer video, regarding the Five Game plan. In the
vid, he notes how Bioware has been looking forward to taking the franchise to a greater
depth, building towards a "five game plan and eve further". While the extension of the
series past Inquisition is expected due to the lore, it's interesting to think of what
we'll be seeing in future games.
Two things we should expect are the two blights - one for the Archdemon Razikale, dragon of
mystery, and the other, Lusacan, the dragon of Night. Considering the great length between
the fourth and fifth blight, approximately 406 years, awakening both Old Gods will have
to be provoked. The Fifth Blight, the one that the Warden ended in Origins, happened
because of the Architect. An intelligent Darkspawn that players were introduced to in Awakening,
the Architect is known for previously attempting to end the blights by killing the old Gods
before they turned Archdemons. And also, for trying to taint the surface world with Darkspawn
blood. If either Archdemon is to wake within the Dragon Age, it will most likely be provoked.
And considering the veil tearing in Inquisition, we may see a rather large push.
But there is another way to awaken a Dragon. And that is with its own blood. Dragon's blood.
This portion is more speculative and delves into a different aspect of the lore, but in
the Silent Grove, readers are introduced to Yavana, one of Flemeth's daughters. She details
on the dragon blood that exists in the Theirin line, Alistair's line. Dragon's blood has
an inert power in it, the reason why Calenhad the Great, first king of Ferelden, drank of
it to gain power. But the blood also has the capability to awaken and compel dragons. Yavana
wanted to use Alistair's blood to awaken one of "the last of the great ones". While this
Queen dragon may not be an archdemon, I strongly believe we'll see Dragons blood permeate throughout
the lore. Not only with Alistair as king, but also the old god child that Alistair and
Morrigan can have in the tale. And, of course, the heir of Alistair and a female Warden,
if a player chose to have a Cousland become Queen.
Additionally, beyond Dragon blood is Darkspawn blood, touched upon in the Warden's Keep DLC
of Origins. A mage named Avernus is still alive at Soldier's Peak, an old Warden tower.
By the use of blood magic, he is capable of tapping into some of the powers of Darkspawn
magic, and in his bizarre and horrific experiments, he creates a concoction that the Warden can
actually drink. It enhances a Grey Warden's capabilities by empowering his or her blood
with more abilities. It builds the taint into a weapon, surpassing just the ability to sense
other Darkspawn and the Archdemon.
If Grey Wardens can master the Darkspawn taint, it'd make them into a considerable foe. And
the Wardens are already up to something, alluded to in Dragon Age 2 as Stroud and possibly
Carver or Bethany mentioned while passing through Kirkwall. It is only fitting we will
see blood as a huge proponent in the future. Because I've had enough of blood mages and
templars.
And that's it on my end, for now. Thank you for watching. Links to Game Informer's month
long hub of Dragon Age Inquisiton, as well as my breakdown video on said hub, can be
found in the description. Thank you for liking, thank you for sharing, thank you for possibly
grilling me with questions and complaints in the comment section below. Be sure to subscribe
for more DAI info in the future, especially with PAX Prime coming up soon. Take care everyone.