Dragon Age creator David Gaider has mentioned taking over the writing of fan-favourite recurring character Cassandra in Dragon Age Inquisition, following the departure of a BioWare colleague.
In Gaider’s newest and seemingly final social media thread discussing the collection’ characters he labored on, the previous franchise boss mentioned that Cassandra’s romance had been tough to pin down.
Cassandra was initially being written in Inquisition by Jennifer Hepler, a veteran of the collection who beforehand labored on Origins, Awakening and Dragon Age 2. However Hepler left BioWare throughout Inquisition’s growth “across the time a bunch of GamerGate dudes determined Jennifer was in some way accountable for ALL of BioWare’s faults,” Gaider wrote. “The consequence was a LOT of ugly harassment.”
“Is that this why she left? You’d must ask her, however it undoubtedly did not assist,” he continued. “The essential factor is, she left – and there was no person as senior nor as superhumanly quick as her to take over any unfinished work.”
Gaider ended up taking over Cassandra himself, however says he struggled with how a “pious, self-righteous character” would have romantic attraction. The answer got here after he discovered a webcomic created by a fan which joked about Cassandra secretly being one thing of a fangirl for Varric’s books.
CHARACTERS – Day 9: Cassandra
That is the final of the (main) characters I wrote throughout my time on Dragon Age. I may go into others, and thought of transferring onto Stray Gods… however I really feel like fewer would have an interest, and I actually cannot sustain the tempo. So let’s make this the final, for now.[image or embed]
— David Gaider (@davidgaider.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 8:59 AM
Handle cookie settings
This prompted Gaider to rethink Cassandra’s “idealistic and awkward ardour”, and the very fact she had put the participant character – the Inquistor – on a “messianic pedestal” for being the Herald of Andraste and chief of the Inquisition. Within the ultimate sport, settling down with Cassandra primarily requires the Inquisitor to persuade her they’ll nonetheless be a traditional romantic companion along with all that.
Cassandra ended up being Inquisition’s most-chosen romance choice, Gaider confirmed, “by margin”. The least, once more “by margin” was Dorian.
Gaider has beforehand mentioned writing Dorian’s story and the non-public inspiration he drew from to try this, in addition to early plans to allow you to carry your Gray Warden character from Dragon Age Origins into Inquisition.
As for current launch Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Metacritic lately responded after the backlash to that sport noticed its customers scores overview bombed.
