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[LectureMaster]

David Gaider (@davidgaider.bsky.social)

CHARACTERS - DAY FIVE: Zevran I was going to skip over Zevran, honestly, as I felt like I didn't have a lot to tell in the way of stories about him... but I know he still has some (ardent) fans. Plus, on reflection, I thought maybe I DO have a few things to say. 😅 Sooo we'll see how this goes.

bsky.app

A long thread from David Gaider on the creation of the bisexual character Zevran, in DAO. They pitched the Zevran as bisexual rogue/assassin from the inspiration of CIA (allegedly) recruiting gay men as assassins because they rarely had familial ties. Honestly, this was a much better process to fit in queer characters in video games in an organic way.

Some key snippets:

You might ask "Aren't you gay, Dave? Weren't you already pushing for this?" And the answer to that is, emphatically, "no, not at all".It might seem odd looking through the lens of 2024, but there was no talk of 'representation' or 'diversity'. Not at any level where we were aware of it, anyhow.

But, back then, I'd always assumed my private life and my work in games would never meet.

I'd been reading about the CIA and one thing that stuck with me was how they'd (allegedly) recruit gay men as assassins because they rarely had familial ties.Zevran wasn't going to be gay (bisexuality wasn't a question of representation, but a cost-benefit compromise) but that was the inspiration.

Gone are the good old times.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Way cooler than whatever that abomination Taash was.

That would have been a cool way for sure. I'm also completely fine with queer characters if they fit into the story or game like any character assuming it's organic. I like a lot of them from games and movies like Puri Puri from OPM, Griffon from Berserk, the Drill Rockstar killer from Slumber Party Massacre 2, Gay Tony from GTA IV's DLC, Veronica and Arcade from New Vegas, Abel from Star Ocean 3 etc etc. I don't even view these as woke even if it did had a homosexual character. Very different compared to the evil and insane shit that pushes their sick agenda onto you.

 

[Ridicululzz]

You might ask "Aren't you gay, Dave? Weren't you already pushing for this?" And the answer to that is, emphatically, "no, not at all".It might seem odd looking through the lens of 2024, but there was no talk of 'representation' or 'diversity'. Not at any level where we were aware of it, anyhow.

Wow, far cry from how it is today.

 

[Spukc]

Didn’t read a single fucking thing

 

[Puscifer]

David Gaydar is so full of shit because he wrote BG2 and Kotor and they had lesbian relationships lol.

But I guess the difference is how organic those relationships felt and developed vs I'M NON BINARY AT THE DINNER TABLE.


NB: I almost feel like that scene could've been well done. The Mom mentioned there's a word for Qunari who didn't feel right in their body and seemingly accepted that. Taash could've mentioned to her parent how she felt, not as a man or woman, and it could've been a really intimate and understanding moment but they dragged real world politics and wording into it making it "I'M COMING OUT MOM AND DAD" sitcom level shit

 

[Nickolaidas]

David Gaydar is so full of shit because he wrote BG2 and Kotor and they had lesbian relationships lol.

But I guess the difference is how organic those relationships felt and developed vs I'M NON BINARY AT THE DINNER TABLE.


NB: I almost feel like that scene would've been well done. The Mom mentioned there's a word for Qunari who didn't feel right in their body. Taash could've mentioned to her parent how she felt, not as a man or woman, and it could've been a really intimate and understanding moment but they had to drag real world politics and wording into it making it 100% "I'M COMING OUT MOM AND DAD" sitcom level shit

All I saw was a mentally ill writer who has a sick fantasy of watching their bigoted mother affirm their sexuality before having her head cut off as punishment for misgendering them.

 

[Peroroncino]

What a stark differences in approach, and it clearly shows too, Zevran was a great character and it never really stood out to me negatively that he was bi, since it didn't feel preachy or performative, whereas T(r)aash is literally an abomination who is like a roadblock between you an immersion dispensing words like "non-binary" in a fucking fantasy setting.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Gaider is GOAT, under his guidance LGBT chartacters in DA were written perfectly well and slotted nicely in the overall story. Hell, Dorian is one of the best companions in the series with his sexuality woven deeply into the origin story of the character in a meaningful way, and I loved every minute with him despite being married straight white male. That's talent.