Quote Originally Posted by Lycanthrope View Post
Amen, brother! Definitely live for RPGs here as well <3 Well, not exclusively, but I find it to be one of life's greatest pleasures <3
My brother from another mother



*grin* Not often I get to discuss RPGs, so forgive me if I relish this :3

One tiny little detail you're forgetting is that there were tangible consequences for NOT doing the side-quests in Mass Effect 2. By doing the side-quests you gain the loyalty of your followers, increase their survivability in the suicide mission, which upgrades your ship will have as well as some minor other benefits. By choosing not to do the side-quests, you could change the outcome of your game.

Can you think of so much as one tangible consequence for not doing a side-quest (chantry boards, mage collective) in Dragon Age: Origins?
Come to think of it I can't... In regards to ME2, yeah completing their loyalty mission did give you bonuses in the forms of them getting new powers, being able to peruse a relationship with them but that about it really. If they're all loyal they'll survive Suicide Mission, but if they're not they die. Not anything to the degree of what you stated earlier (Gonna quote here):

My problem with the Elder Scrolls is that they lack story, choice and tangible consequence. In the great tapestries of interwoven choices, consequences and drama...

What makes and RPG an RPG is the quality of its side quests and how they influence your main quest in unexpected and sometime kak ways I can live with around 7 main quests, but what I want are side quests that are excellent (Like the Shadow Broker DLC for ME2) and actually influence my main quest and keep me on my toes. To many times have devs promised use that (Fable, Mass Effect - not many choices carried over in the 2nd installment -...) and haven't delivered.



Agreed! Sheesh, I'm actually finding it difficult to remember events in The Witcher, must be time for another playthrough! Especially since I no longer have my previous saves (must have them for when Witcher 2 is released!)
I could never actually get into the Witcher hey, dunno why...



*nod* I have no doubts that I will enjoy Dragon Age 2. I just find it difficult to grasp a few... changes. A mage jumping around like a ninja on crack, for example, bugs me :/
That also got to me! The new powers in DA2 are MUCH cooler than DA:O, but having a mage jump around and swing like that is just odd, can you imagine Gandalf moving around like that !