Dragon Age 2 Lead Writer Blasts Homophobic Fan

[Jaime_Wolf]

Fuck. Yes.

Say what you will about Bioware, but they're absolutely one of the best companies out there when it comes to issues like this.

 

[Logan Westbrook]

How the hell is the guy "homophobic"? That's just unnecessarily inflammatory, and from what I've read of the posts he's at least trying to give out his opinion in a coherent, inoffensive manner. It's not like he's bashing gays, or going "Dude, so friggin' gay! Let me bone more chicks!"

I don't agree with what he's saying, don't get me wrong, it's just that I find this article pretty hostile to someone who really was expressing a simple opinion in a non-derogatory manner. Some of his opinions could be seen as bigoted, but I just don't see it. Could someone explain to me how this comes off as homophobic? I really do want to know, because I just don't see it.

Seriously? The guy is so perturbed by male characters flirting with him that he wants a "No Gays" option in the menu, and you don't see that as just a little homophobic?

 

[JediMB]

The flirting dialogue options with Merrill start appearing around her Act 2 companion quest, as I recall. I figure she's harder to approach because she's so shy.

A warning, though: Merrill's act 3 companion quest is currently non-functioning. It starts off with a huge spoiler for how it's going to end, and then it only has a chance of actually working. We're waiting for BioWare to release a patch.

Well I think I am near the end of Act 2, I have two Qunari main quests and I have to find one more item for the herbalist quest, the Dalish creature thing in Sundermount, which I can't seem to find and nobody has any dialogue options to tell me where it is. Will things open up more for Act 2 if I do one of those main quests? Because I haven't even gotten any kind of companion quest for Merrill in Act 2 so far, which I found weird because everybody else had a companion quest of some sort right away after the Deep Roads, except Merrill.

"The Dalish creature thing in Sundermount" would be part of Merrill's companion quest, I believe.

Let's say you enter the Dalish village from the south, and run through it.

To the north-east, there's the path to the top of Sundermount, but to the north there's another path that stays on ground level. This is the one you want to take.

This path has three "exits", leading to different areas. Straight north takes you back to the world map. Right to the west of the northern exit is a cave with some challenging battles and a merchant with some exclusive items. To the east is a path that goes around the base of the mountain, eventually leading to a cavern... which is where you want to go.

EDIT: And don't do the Qunari quests until you're done with everything else. <.<

 

[Drazeric]

I thought it was funny as hell! To explain a little bit my party was avaline, anders and merrill. My buddy comes over and asks who the people were and my response was "a hardcore do gooder, a quirky elf and a gay human who heals me with his hands..." The look on his face was priceless. I did think it was a little weird that the only straight male you could have in your party was varric though.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Is it just me that never noticed anyone hitting on me in DA2?

If you avoid the dialogue options with the GIANT FUCKING HEART IN THE MIDDLE then you generally should be able to avoid unwanted advances, even then, if one of them does come onto you for the first time you can usually just get away with it if you politely say no, it's no big issue really, some people just aren't very comfortable with not having everything go their way.

That isn't true with Anders. You get forced into a situation where you have three choices: 2 flirt options and a reject. The problem begins when the reject chews Anders out and establishes your character as homophobic. I was forced to flirt with him because there wasn't a way to politely say no.

 

[Drazeric]

How the hell is the guy "homophobic"? That's just unnecessarily inflammatory, and from what I've read of the posts he's at least trying to give out his opinion in a coherent, inoffensive manner. It's not like he's bashing gays, or going "Dude, so friggin' gay! Let me bone more chicks!"

I don't agree with what he's saying, don't get me wrong, it's just that I find this article pretty hostile to someone who really was expressing a simple opinion in a non-derogatory manner. Some of his opinions could be seen as bigoted, but I just don't see it. Could someone explain to me how this comes off as homophobic? I really do want to know, because I just don't see it.

Seriously? The guy is so perturbed by male characters flirting with him that he wants a "No Gays" option in the menu, and you don't see that as just a little homophobic?

I dont see it as homophobic seeing as pretty much all of the male characters in the game wanted hawkes awesomeness...

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

He makes several statements indicating clearly he's only into women in Awakening, if you ever paid attention (which I doubt you did). And if you have actually bothered to pay attention to DA 2, you'd have caught the retconning. Female Hawke? Karl was just a buddy. Male Hawke? Karl was his first butt-buddy.

Not. fucking. cool.

Seriously, piss off back to whatever rock you crawled out from under you slimy little homophobe.

Aggressive much? He isn't being homophobic. He is pointing out an annoying retcon. Hell, Anders hit on you if you played a girl in Awakenings. Why couldn't they have just brought in a new character? Making Anders into the broody mess he was in 2 kind of ruins the fun he was in Awakenings.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I took the time to read that post in the link. All I can is this: David Gaider...YOU ARE AWESOME!

 

[ThisIsSnake]

Bioware says this but then the three romances I was intrested in pursuing were:
Morrigan as a female elf mage
Jack as Femshep
Aveline as FemHawke


I was even actively trying to sabotage Avelines relationship.

He makes several statements indicating clearly he's only into women in Awakening, if you ever paid attention (which I doubt you did). And if you have actually bothered to pay attention to DA 2, you'd have caught the retconning. Female Hawke? Karl was just a buddy. Male Hawke? Karl was his first butt-buddy.

Not. fucking. cool.

Seriously, piss off back to whatever rock you crawled out from under you slimy little homophobe.

Aggressive much? He isn't being homophobic. He is pointing out an annoying retcon. Hell, Anders hit on you if you played a girl in Awakenings. Why couldn't they have just brought in a new character? Making Anders into the broody mess he was in 2 kind of ruins the fun he was in Awakenings.

Simple solution, Anders = straight Justice = very bicurious (and not a gentle lover)

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

The only problem I have with homosexuality in dragon age 2 is that Anders just "becomes gay" if you're a guy. It was made apparent in Awakening he was straight "All i want is a pretty girl...". Anders made me sad by not being hilarious, and he made me confused when he just kinda blurted out that he was homosexual in mid conversation. It would be fine if he was always that way but now it's some kind of freaky continuity error.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Well you kind of go over board when every other male party member plays for both teams.

 

[theprokrastinator]

Bioware says this but then the three romances I was intrested in pursuing were:
Morrigan as a female elf mage
Jack as Femshep
Aveline as FemHawke

Thats exactly what I wanted to do!! :O
I was so anoyed when I couldn't flirt more with Jack, she was an amazing character, my only thought is that I guess it would have made her into a total stereotype to be a lesbian aswel. So I guess I'm proud of bioware for avoiding it.. but still.... *grumble*

 

[The Youth Counselor]

Anyway great job Bioware! This is why I'm a fan of your work and will keep buying your games.

 

[N00bits]

With the Anders thing- don't forget queer people typically try and conform to heteronormativity on a public face. Trying to pigeon-hole people who are bisexual is like trying to pigeon-hole straight people.

What I don't get about this guy's complaint is the assumption that a) everyone plays exactly who they are in RPGs (I don't, esp in Bioware rpgs) and b)that somehow characters need to be created with the intention of the romance. Lets be honest- I would rather a good, consistent characters rather than getting some sort of moronic demographically approved ratio of people. Liliana would have been an inconsistent character if she was not bisexual given her background, same with Zevran. Anders' back story is perfectly justified and I would argue that Anders does not 'suddenly turn straight' if Hawke is female, he just doesn't bring it up.

I bet this guy constantly complained about Will&Grace's proportional representation of homosexuals as well. Just as the dev said in his reply, only the absurdly privileged would perceive threat by not being catered to. I've noticed that the Dragon Age games are predominantly white, but I don't see him mentioning anything about that.

 

[Azdron]

I could totally support a no homo button. I mean really, My life has enough awkward moments in it already. I don't need them from man sluts in games. Unless its supposed to be funny, but this sounds less hilarious and more uncomfortable.

I mean at what point in a heated battle do you turn to one of your buddies and casually ask if he's up for some buttsex later? as you pull your sword out of some things gut in a suddenly highly phallic gesture? I mean what? or do you just try and slip it in while he's distracted?

Do rouges do it from behind now?

I take it back, this sounds hilarious.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

Two things:

One: To all the people who are complaining about Anders "Why isn't there a way to say no and get friendship points." Give me an example of a 'letting them down gently' line that actually works IRL, and doesn't make the person feel rejected and pissed at you.

Two: Who honestly gets so invested in their e-sex options for a videogame that they feel the need to complain about it on a forum?

 

[Smokej]

that's the reason i play a female character in newer Bioware games since at least half of the cast is bisexual...

 

[Tomo Stryker]

And just as i was beginning to be a bit happier with humanity i see this.

Balls to this i am going to buy an AK and build a time machine. I got something i need to make extinct.

No don't go... take the M4A1 to get the job done right, when you get back you can have yourself a beer.

 

[ImmortalDrifter]

Two things:

One: To all the people who are complaining about Anders "Why isn't there a way to say no and get friendship points." Give me an example of a 'letting them down gently' line that actually works IRL, and doesn't make the person feel rejected and pissed at you.

Two: Who honestly gets so invested in their e-sex options for a videogame that they feel the need to complain about it on a forum?

1: It's the fact that you have to go through it with him. With all other companions romance dialogue is a side option, with Anders you have to go through it. I would much prefer to not get involved at all than try to "let him down easy". (Don't want to be a dick either)

2: Who is so invested in complaining that he needs to go to a complaint forum to complain about other people complaining? lol