Mass Effect fans were less than pleased when AI companions were packaged off and sold as DLC, so there’s been a worry for a while that Bioware may do the same with Dragon Age: Inquisition. Mike Laidlaw, creative director for the game, put that fear to bed over the weekend but raised another.
Followers disappear at the sight of horses.
Firstly, that bed I talked about:
@Virtussignum All followers are included in the game. No DLC followers.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 24, 2014
Now, that disappearance act. In Inquisition you’ll have ridable mounts for the first time in the series. One of Laidlaw’s followers asked whether your followers would have their own mounts. Apparently not:
@TaylorW15000 Neither. They disappear until you hop off.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 25, 2014
It seems that one thing all your followers have in common is a deep seated fear of horses, best of all the animals.
This has wider implications than giving me an opportunity to link to a looped song clip. Bioware added a colour to the world of Dragon Age by having your followers talk to each other as you explored its environments. Depending on who you selected to accompany you would alter which conversations you would hear.
If you insist on mounting up then you’ll miss out on all that, and more
@Megin_Akoss No. There’s lots to hear, and lots if reasons to not be on a horse.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 25, 2014
Unfortunately, there will be no flying mounts.
@CaiosTheSlayer We are not tackling flying for DAI.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 22, 2014
Other details Laidlaw revealed was the new focus on set piece battles:
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 27, 2014
An increase in the base level difficulty:
.@Atrotic Difficulties work just as before, though normal’s getting a bit of a bump so it’s more challenging than DAII.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 27, 2014
(While keeping the ability to change difficulty mid-play.)
@kathrynb42 @Atrotic Difficulty can be changed in-game, just like before.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 27, 2014
And, Cole’s magical trousers:
.@Zalodu There was a brief period where Cole’s pants insisted on walking several feet to the right of his torso. Kind of fitting, really.
— Mike Laidlaw (@Mike_Laidlaw) June 28, 2014
Tim saw Inquisition at E3 last month and was left stunned by its dragon fights. Though, if you can’t stand the wait till Inquisition’s release, Fraser’s collected together the top 15 RPGs on PC.