No desire for conversations? Then the new Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be exhausting. Because only a good relationship makes your companions stronger.
The interactions with the numerous companions have always been an important part of the game in all Dragon Age titles. Extensive dialogues with many choices are simply part of the core DNA of the series. Although this is optional in most cases and can be safely ignored – in the upcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it’s important.
What’s the deal with relationships? Relationships in Dragon Age: The Veilguard are an important aspect of the game. So important that it even affects gameplay – at least that’s what Game Informer reports.
Companions, therefore, have a “relationship level”, kind of an indicator of their affection for your character. While this isn’t a complete novelty and is known from other games, in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it also has a gameplay significance.
Your choices in the game and conversations with companions affect how much a companion likes or trusts you. This, in turn, unlocks talent points sooner or later, albeit to a very limited extent. The companions have very few talent points, but these significantly determine the abilities they can use in battle. The better the affection of your companions, the more options you can choose to be more versatile in combat.
As is typical for Dragon Age, you can place different emphases in conversations when responding. You can respond emotionally, rationally, or even sarcastically – and depending on who you are speaking to, some will like it, while others may not at all.
Why was this done? Relationships are of particular importance in the new Dragon Age because they are not only a barometer for how a romantic relationship stands with the respective character, but mean more.
According to Game Director Corinne Busch, “Relationships are a key element, not just as a romance option but also friendship. We didn’t just want to address the relationship your character has with the companions but also the relationships among the companions. It’s a family that has found each other, and at the end of the day, they need to trust that they look out for one another.” (via Game Informer)
This can also be noted elsewhere. If you do not build a romantic relationship with a specific character, the companions may find a partner themselves. So it could happen that you suddenly notice that two of your companions have become involved with each other.
There are also some criticisms of the relationship system in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Because all characters in the game will be pansexual. While this is essentially a nice thought with a lot of freedom for players, it could also make the companions seem a bit colorless and boring.
