Inconsistency in Viconia's Tastes
Loub
Member Posts: 471
And yet Viconia has no problem whatsoever when romancing a half-orc. Change of heart, perhaps?
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Also, I think that Viconia doubts about this, I do know how racist Drow are, and I don't think they consider half-orcs more than dumb fighters and probably pleasure slaves. Then, she (Viccy) has a, well, common Drow addiction to sexual activities, I don't know if many people recalls that banter with Sarevok in ToB... When he says that he fears her after she tells him that Drow didn't consider male's pleasure (I think I'm missing something anyways).
"
But I'm going to try for a minute anyway, because I'm not comfortable with receiving credit for work I didn't do. So, for the record, I did write the bulk of the BG2EE dialogue for Dorn, Rasaad, and the new character.
The dialogue for Neera's chapter and The Black Pits 2 was written by members of Ossian Studios, under the management of Alan Miranda. I was underwater writing my portions at the time, so I'm not 100% sure on this but I *think* Zachary Holbrook wrote Neera's stuff. Other people that I believe were involved in various capacities are Rich Barker, Eloi Courchesne, Matt Rieder, and Russ Davis.
If I missed anyone or got any of that wrong, I hope the person/people I've inadvertently maligned will forgive me and someone will correct me -- if it happens, I'll update the post.
-- UPDATE: And it took me all of thirty seconds to realize I'd neglected to mention Liam Esler, who contributed to several romance dialogues with a number of characters. Sorry, Liam. "
@Loub I'm with @Necromancer -- Dorn is very handsome if you're into somewhat gruff-looking dudes. Yeah he's not a little smooth-skin blonde hair pretty boy but plenty of people think that somewhat big, rough-looking guys are sexy. And of course, everyone is different in their tastes. Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. Point being though, Dorn essentially looks like a human except for his under bite. Very handsome for a half-orc.
Excellent example using Cumberbatch, btw, @KidCarnival. I think I saw an interview with him where even he himself admitted he does not think of himself as being particularly good-looking. This, except get rid of the "not to belittle the work of Overhaul" part. I'm a critical, blunt asswipe and we all know that, so.
Note, however, that she makes no attempt to correct him. Seems pretty open to interpretation.
I will say this of Dorn il-Khan, however - in our travels, the one thing the half-cretok could be most relied upon for, beyond the hulking strength of his sword arm, was his presumption. He presumed the path he'd decided upon would bring him the power he so craved; he presumed the power he so craved would be the aspect of his life that would sate his thirsty nature. Once he had achieved such intoxicating ends, how else to think of those around him but as weaklings? We had both suffered from prejudice, true, had both become reliant upon ourselves and our capabilities - yet Dorn allowed such self-reliance and self-indulgence to blind him in certain ways. While I freely admit my own presumptions upon many things as I began my exile across the burning surface, I was forced to tread carefully and observe keenly to survive, where Dorn had the luxury to simply swing his heavy sword and be done with his challenges.
What I find most gratifying, in my remembrance, is that Dorn's presumptions lasted proven to a point - and after that, began to fail him. He presumed I would be burnt, after all. Though I may have arrived for my appointment with the flame, a certain kind of desire did prove my salvation - though the precise nature of that desire perhaps wasn't what either of us would have expected.
@Quartz: Cumberbatch... So that's how it's spelled.
Cumberbitches.
Except that Dorn is hypersensitive/paranoid about reactions to his race, as indicated even in the 1st BG.
Viconia's subsequent response distinguishes that, although a race may be generally disliked, an individual (namely herself) may still be considered attractive.
Yes, I know, off topic. :P
This particular snippet of dialogue was plucked from BG1, and not the second installment, which makes Dorn's statements about Lady Devir being burnt at the stake borderline prophetic. I also find it of no use knowing who wrote Dorn's storyline in the second, given that there is a possibility they did not write his in the first.
I also assume that I am falling once again into the abyss of psychopathy, judging by my own vocabulary and bleakness. Perhaps it would be best for this one not to dwell in these lands for a while, lest I provoke some higher power into punishing me due to my perverse and mockful nature. What do you think, @Heindrich?
Good day...
As has been pointed out in a different thread on a similar topic, there are no forum rules against criticisms of the game or Beamdog/Overhaul, and thus I do not see anything untoward going on here, even if I might not personally agree with everything said as a Baldur's Gate player and fan.
Actually I had avoided this topic so far because:
1) I haven't played a full saga playthrough with Viconia in my party, though I have seen a fair bit of her through Tord's Let's Play, so I am not entirely clueless about her.
2) I haven't seen much of Dorn, or experienced much of the EE characters in general apart from Neera.
But since I have been summoned, allow me to take off the 'mod hat' and express some personal views:
1)
This is one EPIC and complex game, with a huge amount of content and massive cast of characters. I think it would be very difficult to totally avoid some contradictions and/or questionable situations. For example I could make one of the most altruistic characters in the saga (Aerie) slaughter a tavern, and somehow maintain party reputation by bribing churches... Does that mean it's realistic? No of course not.
The game allows you to bribe churches to give players a mechanic to address a reputation crisis. The game doesn't make Aerie leave your party, or attack you, if you commit an act of evil, so that it gives players the freedom to roleplay morally ambiguous decisions. For example you might kill Drizzt "by accident", not knowing his identity...
Thus with the Viconia and Dorn situation, @Viconia_DeVir put it better than I could. It's up to you as to how you interpret her words. It might also just be a case that Beamdog decided that too many players would complain if they couldn't romance Viconia with a Half-Orc, so although it's 'unrealistic', they left the mechanics open for you to do so.
In a game with so much player choice, some of those choices are bound to lead to strange situations.
2)
As I said, criticisms of the game and the work of Beamdog are not against the forum rules, but I personally don't see the need to be a "blunt asswipe" for the sake of it. There is a difference between expressing an opinion, and being unnecessarily rude and dismissive of somebody's hard work and endeavour.
I personally think it's great that the writers and developers of this game that so many of us love are so accessible and active on these very forums, and so receptive to community feedback and tolerant of criticism, even where I personally think it crosses the line.
Edit: typo correction
A hint: if going through with dreadlocks, don't use the neglect method, or you'll be in a word for a hurt. And stench. And lice. And rejected applications for work. And dirty pillows.
I don't think Dorn particularly cares for his appearance, though. And I imagine his Body Odor would turn on a lot of guys out there, just ask any MSM out there, they'll either be or know someone who likes it. Surely there must have been more than that, given Viconia's usual eloquence