I agree with this thread. I'm not a fan of pre-made protagonists who only end up mogging your custom one. These types of games for me mean me and MY adventure. Not [x] existing character and me playing theirs. However, my biggest issue is not pre-made protagonists in itself, as to how little your own custom protagonists feels like when compared to them. It makes me wonder what is even the point of playing your own character when they have zero roles compared to origin one?
DA:O did a great job in making your character feel important, while also telling the story of other characters. Your Warden had a backstory. You lived through their origin. That origin, later on, will come into play in your future events. It helped with making your avatar feel like a character that belongs in this universe over just pure blank slate (despite them being the silent protagonist).
So, far, the only "difference" ea offers when it comes to your character is if you play as Lolth-sworn drow. The game then mentions what happened before you got taken in by mind-flayers.
*The dark is familiar, but not comforting. It is a struggle to sink into your trance, weaving together memory, ambition, and purpose.*
*The vision in your mind is simple: a stone altar to Lolth, the knife upon it bloody with sacrifice.*
*Fire spills across your thoughts: dragon's breath. The tadpole slithers, twisting deeper into your skull.*
*Your head is about to burst. The memory consumes your mind, corrupting the trance.*
*Hell surrounds you, flames licking at your body. The tadpole in your head convulses.*
(post-check) *The flames fall away, a mere illusion. You sit the dark again, beside Lolth's majesty.*
*As the trance stabilizes, your breath deepens. Be it a cure or cage, something must be done about the tadpole.*
This is the only time your character's background is being mentioned. So, perhaps there will be a certain plotline for a custom character too. At least it is implied so in Lolth-sworn's case. I hope it will because if not, then honestly there is no point in even having a custom character option other than playing around in character creator to see what look you can give to your desired race.
