miri1984 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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peopleofthedas2012-01-01 08:59 pm
miri1984) wrote in peopleofthedas2012-01-01 08:59 pm
Entry tags:
ASUNDER DISCUSSION POST
I will FULLY admit that I'm abusing my modly powers here, but I NEED TO DISCUSS STUFF. If you've read the novel, feel free to join discussion. If not SERIOUSLY SPOILERS. SO MANY SPOILERS. SPOILERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. DO NOT GO FORTH INTO THIS BLEAK NIGHT. I MEAN IT. I EVEN MADE A SPECIAL ASUNDER SPOILER TAG FOR IT.
DO YOU GET THAT?
SPOILERS.
Miri's SPOILERY RAMBLINGS.
SOOOO.
As far as the book itself is concerned, god I liked this WAY more than either The Stolen Throne OR The Calling. Most people know my tolerance for angst isn't high, and to me, the first two novels were just... angst hung together (and not PARTICULARLY skillfully, sorry DG) with thin plot. I honestly thought David Gaider has improved out of sight in his novel writing, and am a bit sad he's said he's not likely to write any more novels :(. Seriously I think he's just hitting his stride here, and if it continues to improve any further novels will be out of sight.
STILL there were things wrong with it. I didn't like the characterisation of Adrian much. I loved the IDEA of her character, but she seemed a bit.. forced. As though he needed a balance for the Templars, which is understandable, but she ended up being a bit comical in her obsession, and that could have been handled better.
Evangeline was AWESOME, but I think her change of heart came a bit out of nowhere? What does everyone else think on that one? (I've only read once, and I fully admit it could just have been the speed at which I was reading to make me think this).
I wanted more Shale. WHO DOES NOT WANT MORE SHALE.
I was still a bit confused about Cole at the end. I think we were meant to be? Were we?
Thinks I want to predict about DA3:
1. Lord Seeker Lambert will be at least ONE of the bosses, if not the main one. Cole MAY BE INVOLVED.
2. We may well get to see Rhys as either a playable character, or a quest giver. I'm thinking probably the latter, but MAKER WOULD IT NOT BE AWESOME IF IT WERE THE FORMER?
3. OMG TRANQUIL RISING UP AND REBELLING?
4. Very possible we'll see/hear of Hawke and/or Anders in some respect, depending on what decisions at the end of DA2 were.
What does everyone else think???
It wasn't that bad...but lord, it wasn't good
The story was predictable and formulaic. Quest. Walking, walking, Fade, walking back, surprise, nothing's what you thought it was, random romance, ending that's a setup for the next game. The conclusion was exactly what I expected from what Varric says at the end of the game: the Circles rise up and some of the templars go rogue to chase after them. For that matter, "Your precious Chantry's fallen to pieces and brought the entire world to the brink of war" pretty much sums it up.
I did like the cameos, especially Fiona (I just about died when she called out Elthina) and Shale; Wynne was the same sanctimonious biddy she's always been AFAIC. The new lore about the Tranquil was interesting, and definitely puts the Anders/Karl scene in context. And Cole was kind of interesting once it became clear that he wasn't just Abused Kid Template #27.
Unfortunately, I really didn't care about most of the other characters. Rhys was frankly boring and slightly whiny. Evangeline's about-face seemed to come out of nowhere. Adrian was a two-dimensional harpy whose betrayal was obvious from miles away. And Lambert...dear sweet Maker, could he have been more of a cardboard villain? He made Meredith look complex.
There were also a couple of WTF? moments, like Wynne's Staff of Plottiness that was there and gone with no real explanation. And I couldn't figure out why, knowing what they knew at that point, Justinia was all, "Sorry, we're making you Tranquil again." Shouldn't it have been clear by then that death is more merciful?
My take-away is that the novel format doesn't play to Gaider's strengths. His best characters rely on the dialogue-tree format; when he has to spend all of his time in their heads, they come across as kind of flat, at least to me. Same with the romances. In game, there's an interaction with the player that generates the result. In all of his novels, I find myself scratching my head wondering why the hell these people suddenly fell in love, and why I should care.
To sum up: Meh. Not the worst $9.99 I've spent by a long shot, and a reasonable way to spend the most boring day of the year at work, but I've read better fanfic.
Re: It wasn't that bad...but lord, it wasn't good
I like the idea of the novels, but I'm frankly a little resentful they tie in so heavily to the games that we miss context unless we have read the books. Kinda feels like EA is double dipping.
*sigh* I shall wait until there is a second hand copy bouncing around somewhere to read the full story.
Re: Miri's SPOILERY RAMBLINGS.
Fiona showing up at the end was kinda dumb, also. She was not particularly smart or strong, or you know, in the Circle, so why on earth would she be the Grand Enchanter?
BUT THE TRANQUIL OMG SO COOL!! Pharamond's inability to control his emotions was really tragic and I was really moved by his last few scenes. And Shale was fantastic, the Abyssal Rift was actually written well enough to be scary, and I thought Cole's "powers" were really interesting. I say powers in quotes because... I'm not even sure they existed, that was really confusing.
Cole was a demon the whole time I guess? So maybe Rhys murdered people? Or maybe he didn't? I was confused too.
Re: Miri's SPOILERY RAMBLINGS.
My guess was because as a Grey Warden (ex-Warden?) she was neutral, and wasn't technically affiliated with any particular Circle. And maybe she took a level in Badass since the Calling.
Re: Miri's SPOILERY RAMBLINGS.
Re: Miri's SPOILERY RAMBLINGS.