Dragon Age: The Veilguard - How Solas & Rook Saved Thedas (THE END)

[@l.k.9485]

I really enjoyed this game. I loved loot itemization (it was exciting to level up items for new abilities and make new builds), exploration, and build variety. The story was ok to me, but the ending was fantastic. This game reminded me of FFXV a lot. Another game with huge flaws, but great gameplay, companion relationships, and a great final act. The game was also really pretty, bug free, offline, and no microtransactions. Despite the flaws, I think this game deserves more praise and is a good direction for AAA gaming. I don't comment much, but I felt I needed to bring some positivity about this game into the ether.

[@SaintMarianne]

Personally I think the Executors aren’t involved as literally as some people are believing. I think they’ve been working to destroy the powers that control blights and have been prodding events in that direction but not making every choice on a micro level.

[@ConfusedOracle]

im probably coping but i like to think they're just lunatics who think they orchestrated everything but they din't and it was a coincidence

[@rhunmahariel7877]

I love the ending, let me say that outright. And I loved it more on my 2nd run. I actually liked many things more after my 2nd run. And I think I set myself up for Rook better than most because I went in planning to play a nonchalant, gallant, charming, kind of himbo character. I made Kuruk from Avatar but as a Qunari Lord of Fortune lol. I planned that for months. So it panned out really well for me. Then my 2nd Rook I made a young Uncle Iroh but as a Dwarf Warden -- and I find that combination so gratifying. There are a few moments that specifically a Dwarf Warden has different insights on. And playing him to be jovial yet wise and often melancholy really worked for me. I could go on further and critique/praise more, but I wanted to highlight my biggest critique. The lack of cameos/connectivity. There are several characters that I feel SHOULD have been in Veilguard. The two biggest being Cole and Fenris. Replace the Caretaker with Cole -- 1000% more interesting, and actually makes sense considering his relationship with Solas. And your choice to make him more human or spirit would only have to affect how he behaves. Would be a good opportunity to also finally bring Rhys and Evangeline into the games proper through those 2 Compassion Spirit side quests. Then for Fenris -- super easy, make him a Shadow Dragon. Also, make him the 3rd warrior companion. His story would change slightly based on DA2, but the comics set him up perfectly to come back as a companion in Tevinter. Other characters who should have played a role: - Merrill as the Veil Jumper's Eluvian expert instead of Morrigan. - Kieran and the Warden (if romancing Morrigan) in the Crossroads -- instead of being with the Veil Jumpers, have them live in the Crossroads like they did partially when first raising Kieran. If wanting to stay away from voicing and creating a 3rd protag (also for all the different variations of what happens to the Warden), just simply have Kieran say something about them. Kieran then, could've served as your enchanter (assuming he's a mage, which is highly likely). - Calpurnia and Marius -- super easy Shadow Dragon tie in, small side quest or even them just being present in the hq. - Vaea should've been the 3rd rogue companion. For those who don't know, she's a squire in the comics, and she could've been a fun hybrid between a rogue and a warrior. - Shayle -- same sentiments -- she goes to Tevinter at the end of Origins to "de-golemfy" lol. She should be there. - Sten/Arishok -- while yes the antaam we see are not his qunari, I feel like he should've had at least some kind of say in the conclusion of Treviso's plot. Again, I could go on with pages and pages of praise/critique/analyzing -- but I'll cut it short there lol. Again, I love the game still. Cried like a baby at the final quests both runs.

[@ZynfulLegate]

Goated stream! Congrats on finishing!

[@spellandshield]

It's so funny you did not expose yourself to spoilers all this time....to now see your reaction!

[@amypetty5013]

So you see what I meant, right? About how the quality of Act 3 is just so stunningly well done relative to the rest of the game? This is what I meant by how the final quest chain highlights the weaknesses of the rest of it. And I 100% feel like the entire third act is the single BEST Dragon Age sequence across the ENTIRE franchise. If the entire game had been at that same level of quality, Veilguard could have been the greatest DA title in the whole series.

[@rhuanrizzi]

Weisshaupt was really good as well. This game was released unfinished, basically. A lot of the writing feels as if in the early drafts stage, specially in the beginning, but when it gets polished, boy it's good

[@barubary436]

The most amusing thing is that problems with the writing actually causes you to underestimate the writing, making the ending that much more impressive. As such, I was totally blindsided by the apparent guest writing from M. Night Shyamalan.

[@Burnouts3s3-z2v]

Thank you for playing and sharing with us!

[@Cheesecakeeeee]

21:27 moments before disaster

[@bexrex97]

XD

[@bexrex97]

Followed by 'nobody has died yet' :')

[@SaintMarianne]

I think the Varric twist just needed a scene or two where the people who knew him are told he died. If you could tell the Inquisitor / Isabela he was gone all along when they’re both with you at the end it would be better imo. Still like the reveal overall though

[@dave3076]

I would have joined you last night only it was midnight over here. Thanks for the stream and glad you enjoyed the game, Slandered. You've played it, so I don't have to :)

[@MEBOLOR]

I think Taash story line was great and the best companion quest lines in the game. This is the first time in a video game where you faced with a character becoming non-binary and them going though the process of discovering it with you the player character. I never felt more uncomfortable in a video game then when Taash outright said she was non-binary to her mom and I was just there to deal with it, and I just loved it because it felt real in a way like there was no right or wrong answer it was just the player processing what just happens while the characters are also reacting to this news. I this couple with the fact that Taash never got to talk to her mom after this was extremely sad, but played perfectly into the theme of accepting your self as who you are by not waiting on someone else's acceptance. This story was good because it was mainly companion character focused rather than fighting some bad guy that the companion has beef with like many of the other stories.

[@jasminelove02]

Did you notice that the Juggernaut look like Night-Commander Meredith?

[@cracmar03]

It always looked same ? It's same face as Juggernaut from Kirkwall. Even Inquisition had one standing in Hissing Wastes inactive I recall.

[@amypetty5013]

I had to leave pretty quick and didn't get to participate in the after-game discussion. But on the subject of Taash: there's something said about questioning the decision to write their story to be one of conflict with their parents' struggling to accept the concept of their child BEING nonbinary. A crucial detail was never brought up: Taash's story was INTENDED FOR NONBINARY PEOPLE. Setting aside even that Weekes who wrote Tassh is themselves nonbinary, this story was meant as an "I see you" to young people who ARE experiencing that reality: their parents either just don't, or are struggling to, accept their children's new identity. And there's PLENTY of value in that. Kala Elizabeth's comments were spot on in addressing people's apparent complaint that there was only one correct way to present Taash's story. And I say that even though I'm in full agreement that Taash's story could have been much better written.

[@ShepardCommander]

nonbinary people dont exist. Just like people who claim to be wolves dont exist.

[@bexrex97]

Taash's mum accepting them and then sacrificing herself is what made it for me. The scream was such a powerful moment. I think the final moment had to play out with the parent/child conflict to work but the writing could of been smoother overall

[@iudicael906]

I honestly don't see what's so stellar about the ending, you're too generous to this game.

[@SaintMarianne]

It’s an evolution of one of the best designed final missions in gaming history (The Suicide Mission) which significantly ups the stakes, fully delivers on tone and story closure, and is supremely fun to actually play. It’s probably the best closing sequence Dragon Age has ever had and leaves a very good final impression.

[@cracmar03]

@@SaintMarianne Ending is pretty much peak BioWare to me. It has everything I would have wanted from ending and BioWare work. Consequences, choices, action with good pacing, meaningful characters, themes working as well, dramatic decisions (sorry not sorry Harding, you will die everytime for me, I enjoy Davrin too much) and dose of ptsd from Juggernaut being the thing from DA II ending ...

[@Goldussst]

There's no doubt in my mind this is the Best ending and final fight of any DA games

[@longjohnbaldry7360]

I'm with you. I feel like people treat this game like a culture war.