DA:I a Play-Through Diary™

     This post is a late entry, for I am almost done with my first Play-through in Dragon Age: Inquisition.  Although I have a page for this, where I will give my view on the world, I feel this will be a more intimate view of what I will observe during play. It will involve my characters as they experience the world via their abilities to affect the world, via their talents/spells, via their interactions with the companions because choices will be a differential viewpoint for each of those characters and also how they will see the world as being a different class. 

     

     The world of Dragon Age: Inquisition,  to some extent thus far (I wish the NPC would react more to the events that are occurring around them more... imagine that?!) allows NPCs to react to your character according to race and maybe class (My character is a warrior and haven't experienced this), However, the world reacts to her race: she is a Qunari.  Hence, playing a different race will provide more flavorful ways to experience the world of Dragon Age: Inquisition.

~~ Dear diary, I will write my characters' experiences in these posts to come. I will pour their hearts as their experience this breathtaking world. I will note all their plethora of emotions that they sense within their inner being, The first post will soon come after I pick up where I left off...

     Do stay tuned. I will post my first entry very soon. =)

Beta Signed Up for PATCH 5 for Dragon Age: Inquisition Ended as Soon as it Began

Beta Test: Patch 5, The Black Emporium

               Around the 13^th of February, 2015, BioWare announced, Patch 5 Beta Program for Dragon Age: Inquisition.  What this program supposedly entails is for a ‘select’ group of players—PC players—to test the patch before it is released. The mentality of this is to eliminate or reduce what patching a game usually creates.  Sometime another patch must be dispatched to patch-up the previous one.

               This news is posted on their BLOG as well as in the media and on their BioWare Forums: ‘A closed’ thread where the same article is pasted. This move to post information on the BioWare forums is recent, however, since the Developers (Devs) for Dragon Age, have vacated the forums where they were a vocal force to reckon with. Don’t get me wrong. I did enjoy having the Devs there. I used to write on the wall of then Lead Developer (Now Creative Director) Mike Laidlaw, leaving an occasional poem there along with kudos. I often commented on John Epler’s (Lead Cinematic Designer) and other Devs’ pages and status messages. The Developers were so down to earth—very approachable and open to our feedback. The Lead writer, David Gaider, would at times respond to a forum comment of mine, prior to Dragon Age II’s released.

The World of Dragon Age Inquisition (Launch) My First Impression

    ` When I reached the first area in Dragon Age: Inquisition, I was thunderstruck! This area is appropriately  entitled!   It does feel like a hinterland in the grandiose sense in size and beauty: The Hinterlands brings back a nostalgic feel to me.  It stems from memorable memories of my youth.  My childhood  years as well as my adolescent years were filled with verdant foliage, tall evergreen and seasonal trees, clear streams and waterfalls.  Nature abounded in my formative years of life.
   
      Nostalgia aside, I succinctly remember the Hinterlands.  Creative Director Mike Laidlaw not only showcased the natural beauty and uniqueness of the Hinterlands, he also introduced the female Qunari for the first time to us via a demo that sold Dragon Age: Inquisition to me,  to my heart, to my soul! For me,  the entire installment could have taken place in the Hinterlands (The Storm Coast and Crestwood to add a bit of flair).   It's varied! It's alive! It's breathtaking! 

     Now, to actually stand there and  experience the Hinterlands first hand  with my exotic heroine:  Erleona Khuranin so up-close and personal truly elevates my excitement for  this wondrous, majestic place to a euphoric level. Transfixed, I forget everything  except this enchanting, breathtaking world,  with its lush vistas, faunas and the sound of nature that abounds everywhere... (TO BE CONTINUED)

TO BE CONTINUED SOON

The Wondrous World of Dragon Age Inquisition (Pre-launch)

                                                                  June 12th, 2014

     Wow! What a stunning world!  I was speechless for a good bit before the word: WOW flew out of my lips!  The world before my eyes is so alive! Flourishing floras and wildlife that’s going on about their business welcome us along in this incomparable jewel of a game!  Life teems ubiquitously! And in that that moment, our regal, poised protagonist: our female Qunari appears and starts to stroll through this breathtaking world. As she walks and sometime jog along, the soothing, inviting voice of Creative Director Mike Laidlaw is heard, furnishing us about the world of Dragon Age: Inquisition.  Our female protagonist proceeds on.

A View from Her Window

When Life does come as: A B or C, what can one do?

Fretting, shuffling, jumping up and down, what will that solve?

Walking in the shadows, I saw her standing near her window.

Her silhouette a portrait on canvas: a soft contour, a goddess

In disguise!  My thumping heart, won’t stop despite

Trying in vain to pressure it with both hands hugged

Tightly to my chest!  The soft wind caresses her sheer

Transparent, white curtain, billowing, waltzing

Against her curvy hips!

 Hoot, hoot! An owl perching on a branch near her window

Caused her to turn in my direction; I dove down as if she

Could see me in the moonless sky. “You’re a Knight

Commander who’s on a day of furlough –relax man!”

“As if that matters?” A whizzing thought intertwined hastily  

With the previous thought in my mind.  I’m a man first!

At least I should start believing it at any rate.

I’m allowed to feel—to love! I’m allowed to love

Her with all my might even if it has to be encased within

The deep recesses of my heart!

© January 13^th, 2015

Erleona Khuranin's Song: The Case of a Stubborn Lore

She travels the land with her companions

And soldiers in tow. She dismounts

And surveys the land far and wide                                         

Searching, searching, searching—

She turns to her companions

And whispers an inaudible                                          

Instructions; her companions

Scurry about in every direction

The stoic figure looks about

Her gaze intense, her expression masked

The companions, after a while return

Empty- handed, covered in dirt

And sweat; she looks up and looks at each.

Her eyes, darker from their usual hue

She utters aloud: “This better be remedied!

It shouldn’t take hours on end to uncover a lore!”

Hairstyles I would Like to See in Dragon Age: Inquisition

As some of you who play the game already know the hairstyles for women in Dragon Age: Inquisition are really underwhelming, with many of them suited for males rather women.  They are unflattering to state the least.  I googled the web and found some hairstyles that I would like to see included in Dragon Age: Inquisition. I have included a few for men as well.  Since I am unfamiliar with the Frostbite engine and thus doesn't know its limitations, therefore, I can only hope.

Nevertheless, I have them here on my blog in the hope some of them make their appearances in an upcoming Hairstyles DLC or in a Patch. The hairstyles range from long, to medium to short, with updos and ponytails, which might avoid the problem with clippings.  The men ones are really cool.  The images are my creations. I used Photoshop CS6. 

Long Hairstyles for Women: