Neanderthal
Arcane
The Qunari were alright in the first game, in fact they an the dwarves were far and away more interesting than any of the humans or (shudder) elves. Thing is that this was done way better in Torment a decade afore with the culture of Sigil, the planes an their inhabitants, as well as Dak'kon and his species.
O course thats all part o that 80s/90s struggle that went on to try an break away from the dull, generic settings of AD&D, which introduced us to Birthright, Planescape, Ravenloft, Dark Sun etc. Of course it failed as most folk want their simplistic shit an same old roles.
Even Calimshan in BG2 was way better than the first game in this regard, its culture was easily defined through a few simple measures, "A pearl to you, ach its red ink to even discuss it." The moratorium on magic was also a nice bit of unique content, and backed up by gameplay as all these things should be. Mask of the Betrayer did even better here with Rasheman, standing in stark contrast to the utter blandness of the Sword Coast an Neverwinter.
Still I think AwesomeButtons right, they could and should go further, I want to feel like a stranger in a strange land, learning the ways and piecing shit together through subtle hints and peculiarities. Instead i'm usually bored off me arse, yawning as I grind through another mob, collect identikit crap, snore through another infodump or wince at painfully cutesy sub par Joss Whedon "witticisms."
O course thats all part o that 80s/90s struggle that went on to try an break away from the dull, generic settings of AD&D, which introduced us to Birthright, Planescape, Ravenloft, Dark Sun etc. Of course it failed as most folk want their simplistic shit an same old roles.
Even Calimshan in BG2 was way better than the first game in this regard, its culture was easily defined through a few simple measures, "A pearl to you, ach its red ink to even discuss it." The moratorium on magic was also a nice bit of unique content, and backed up by gameplay as all these things should be. Mask of the Betrayer did even better here with Rasheman, standing in stark contrast to the utter blandness of the Sword Coast an Neverwinter.
Still I think AwesomeButtons right, they could and should go further, I want to feel like a stranger in a strange land, learning the ways and piecing shit together through subtle hints and peculiarities. Instead i'm usually bored off me arse, yawning as I grind through another mob, collect identikit crap, snore through another infodump or wince at painfully cutesy sub par Joss Whedon "witticisms."