Janine "Iris Ophelia" Hawkins' ongoing review of gaming and virtual world style
On of my favorite features in Dragon Age: Inquisition (and there are a lot to choose from) is the ability to select the materials you'd like to use for an item you're crafting and have that choice reflected in the end result. You'll see it not just in its stats and bonusses, but in how it actually looks. Just as important as picking materials with helpful characteristics is picking a leather for my overcoat that won't clash with the muted blue samite of my sleeves, or making sure that Cassandra isn't running around in bright red and green-tinged metal plate.
It's a fascinating system, but it has a benefit that I'm not sure even its creators intended. There's one thing you can do with these materials that makes every aspect of the game immeasurably better...
Plaideweave. It's a bright yellow plaid print, perfect for adding a little, ahem, color (and humor) to a character you might find a bit bland on their own. Okay okay, I'll admit that elven mage companion Solas has grown on me a lot since the early game, but I bet chuckling whenever I caught a glimpse of him in his practically fluorescent yellow plaid tunic played no small part in that change.
Either way, Dragon Age: Inquisition's materials system can offer you much more than just stats. Are you the kind of Inquisitor who'll parade around in silk brocade, or keep it simple with practical wool? Frankly, it's nice to even have the choice.
Tweet
MMO developers should steal this idea and run with it. Too often the only avatars who don't look like mud are those who dropped some serious change in the cash shop for "dye packs" or other cosmetic enhancements.
Posted by: Arcadia Codesmith | Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 12:58 PM