Qunari
Something that really upset me about DA2 is how they approached the Qunari. We’d already seen a Quanari before, Sten, so they’d already designed them, and gave us a basic understanding of their culture. While it was certainly different and easy for us to disagree with, it was understandable and human (or humanoid, if not quite human).
Then they went and dehumanized them. They gave them all fucking horns. They made them into demonic looking creatures, so it was nearly impossible to sympathize with them, especially if you hadn’t played the first game.
AND THEY DIDN’T EVEN GIVE STEN A FUCKING APPEARANCE.
The Qunari were actually always meant to have horns, but they removed them from DAO because it was too difficult to have Sten wearing a helmet with them.
They’re not really lacking in sympathy in the fanbase either. There are plenty of players who complained that they weren’t allowed to side with them in Act II, and there’s a lot of demand for a female Qunari companion in the next game. I don’t think they really came across any worse than the mages and templars.
If you want more Sten, he plays an important role in the comics.
