When asked if new players would feel lost in what has become a traditional Bioware type of RPG experience, Laidlaw categorically said “No”. Part of bringing the world forward, as he put it, is The Keep, an online adjunct to DA:I that will allow both new players and veterans to tailor make their experience. Veterans will be able to upload saved game files from previous entries in the series that will bring Thedas into focus based on the decisions made in the older two games. These files won’t bring characters into the game, but the decisions made in them will have an impact on how the game plays.
New players will be able to work through the Keep’s content to build a story to their liking that also will create a tailor-made experience for them or, as Laidlaw said, they can pop the disk in and start with the default game that is just as fun and interesting as any other. Little else is known about the Keep but it’s probably very likely that much more will be forthcoming in the very near future as players prepare for Inquisition.
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Experiencing the world, living in it, interacting with it, will be something that players will want to engage in. According to Laidlaw, the Frostbite engine has opened up a huge world of opportunity for the development team by allowing them to create an enormous world that dwarfs the size of either of the series’ predecessors. While not as open world as Skyrim, there is plenty for players to discover and Laidlaw, as Creative Director, has made sure that there are valid and important reasons to explore within Thedas. There will be hidden nuggets of influence and lore tucked away in remote corners of the game world that will be worthwhile to discover and will help fill out the always-useful Codex that keeps track of the game’s most important discoveries.
“I purposely told the level designers not to tell me what they had put in a given area so that as I played through it, I could, for instance, crest a ridge and have an ‘aha’ moment at what I found.” Laidlaw said.
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When asked if there is an “end” to the game, Mike replied, “Yes, well, there is a conflict to resolve, a singular conflict that needs to be solved and where the core story arc ends. The Inquisition is a means to that end. But players can continue playing after that seminal moment.” (This is similar to the way players could continue playing and exploring in Mass Effect 2.)
A few other nuggets of information Laidlaw mentioned:
- The gift-giving system for companions is essentially gone, though there will be some opportunities to do so. Players will build relationships with companions by helping them achieve their goals. Romance in Inquisition will be largely based on conversation.
- The Inquisitor will be voiced using both an American and British accent. Players will get to choose which they prefer. “It’s all about choice.” Laidlaw said. When asked if other localized versions of the game will have similar choices, Mike responded in the positive.
- It was previously announced that players would run into a character of significance from The Masked Empire novel recently released by author Patrick Weekes but Laidlaw snuck in a hint that it’s possible that players may run into several of the book’s influential characters. Whether any of them will be able to be recruited as a companion or not remains to be seen.
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Dragon Age: Inquisition is setting itself up to be a worthy addition to the Dragon Age series. After the somewhat bad taste Dragon Age II left in players’ mouths, it appears that Bioware is on the right track again. The Inquisitor and the enormous job that she has to do throughout Thedas will be daunting but will be exactly what fans of RPGs have been seeking for a good long while.
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What are you most looking forward to in DA:I? Let us know in the comments.
Suzie Ford is the Associate Editor and News Manager at MMORPG.com. You can follow her on Twitter @MMORPGMom.
Special thanks to my best friend for her input. This interview would have been much less than it is without her thoughts and ideas. You know who you are. Thank you.
