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[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

MKDAWUSS wrote...

What would have made Act III soooo much better is if certain blood mages were trying to prove the world that blood magic isn't as evil as everyone made it out to be (that it in fact can have some uses beneficial to society), and Meredith cracked down on them because she thought she was right (much in the vein that Loghain did what he did because he thought he was right). It would have stuck to the intended theme that not everything is cut black and white and would have had people rethink their positions on certain things.

Yes, I agree. There has been much debate over whether or not blood magic was "evil" in itself. I was actually hoping DA2 would shed some sort of light on this. But it seems to be pressing home the idea that Blood Magic is irredemable dangerous and evil.

My own opinion of Blood magic, is that it is in itself, corrupt, though the mage that practices it does not necessarily "evil".

Blood magic is like the anobolic steroids of the magic world. Mages use it to make themselves more powerful, often to achieve some goal, which can be a very benevolent, "goodly" goal, or an evil one. It depends on the mage itself. However, the magic/power itself seems to "poison" the mage's mind and body the more they use it, much like anabolic steroids do to people who use them. There are legit medical reasons for steroid use, and they can, in the short term, provide many benefits, if used for a specific purpose. But long term, continued use that is unecessary causes severe and dangerous changes to the mage. Thus, i can fully understand the Chantry's dread and prohibitions on blood magic, though in some cases, they take that to an extreme.

What I think  they should have done, however, is put a more human touch in the whole mage/blood mage issue. Instead, they make it look mages are a bunch of uncontrollable, power mad fools who only want to kill, destroy, or take over the world. Or that mages will practice blood magic regardless because they are a bunch of stupid, reckless fools. It also seems to imply mages can't be "normal" people, who just want to be free to live normal, happy lives with friends and family, or that they do not have the same basic wants and desires as "normal" people.

It just ended up dehumanizing them in the end, and never really shed light, or gave us more grey areas to ponder.

[KnightofPhoenix]

I think Bioware got way too caught up in the Anti-Tevinter Chantry propaganda. I don't think blood magic has to be necessarily dangerous. Like any weapon, it depends on the user. And if anything, relying on your own blood for power is less risky than lyrium and the fade.

But no, all of them are lunatics. We have this idiot who turned against her blood mage husband, and we help her get out. Only to turn hysterical a few years later and not only try to kill us, but also kill the one Templar who thought she was not an animal. I don't mind this, if it was at least counter-balanced by another prominent mage that wasn't scum (there was one mage we never knew who stood up to her, whimpering).

And agreed, making blood mages prove they can do more good than harm would have been much more interesting.

What Bioware did was not mages vs Templars. What Bioware did was blood magic / demons / strange idols vs everyone. Aka, a bad underdeveloped version of the blight.

[nos_astra]

I think they got caught up in anti-Tevinter Chantry propaganda with good reason. Most players naturally side with the mages, poor underdogs who are denied freedom, even without giving them backup by telling nice little stories about blood mages who just want to help that make you feel all warm and fuzzy. I suppose, they want to balance out the equally over-the-top anti-Templar propaganda of torture and rape.

Modifié par klarabella, 15 mars 2011 - 04:27 .

[KnightofPhoenix]

I think what they did is overkill.

Yes, the people naively crying about freedom and rights should have had something to make them think twice. But what Bioware did was essentially munch on them and then spit them out. I disagree with them and even I think it's too much.

Balancing could have been done in a more nuanced, subtle and mature way (exactly what they did in Act 2 with the Qunari). As it stands, everyone is a lunatic.

[Giggles_Manically]

EVERYONE IS INSANE!!!
THIS IS MADNESS!!!

Why could they not simply have stayed human?
Loghain was not corrupted by an idol, but by hate of Orlais.

Meredith got soul calibered and Orisino proved why mages can be dangerous.
God the end was silly.

Dont you have to kill Meredith if you side with the templars though?

[KnightofPhoenix]

Yes, she turns on you because....the idol did it.

[Giggles_Manically]

Yeah the ending for DA2 kind of ... well was not as good as Origins.

Fighting the Archdemon was very intense and the coronation was simply awesome.
While DA2 has... a soul caliber fight, and then a fade to black.

[MKDAWUSS]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

Yes, she turns on you because....the idol did it.

At least that has an explanation, albeit very lame. Orsino when siding with the mages...

[Costin_Razvan]

To a far more interesting topic then the ****ty end of Dragon Age II. It appears Gaddafi is winning his civil war, now that's a shocker.

What the rebels failed to grasp is that you can't win via convential warfare in a such a situation, and yet this is exactly what they attempted to do and failed. They almost took Sirt but now almost all the West has fallen to Gaddafi and once Misurata falls then he will just bring his entire army to bear against Benghazi.

I give it one or two weeks until this ends, unless of course the rebels are that stupid as to attempt a ;last stand in every city they still hold.

[KnightofPhoenix]

The Arab League voted pro no-fly-zone. That could be a turning point, if put into effect. But yea, the rebels acted stupid.

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 15 mars 2011 - 05:05 .

[Costin_Razvan]

The no-fly zone is a moot point now that Gaddafi is almost at the doorstep of Benghazi itself. Unless assets are already in place for it it would take weeks for it to be imposed, by which time it's already over.

And even if a no-fly zone is imposed in a few days Gaddafi will have very likely taken over the west by which point he won't need to care about controlling the skies. As for the if...well Russia and China don't want it to happen, and either of them can veto any such resolution in the UN.

[Xilizhra]

I think a better ending would have had Cullen be the second-to-final boss if you side with the mages, with you only fighting Orsino if you side with the templars. And then having the Circle seize control of Kirkwall.

[Eber]

Skadi_the_Evil_Elf wrote...

Eber wrote...

The city itself makes people crazy. It is well known the Veil is thin in Kirkwall and Hawke can also learn that the magisters were delibrately thinning it even further in the maze of caves, sewers and hidden passages below the city and that the power is still there.

So the demons have easy access to everyone in Kirkwall and that's why there's no point in reasoning with anyone. Kill them all. Burn the city. There's no sensible anatagonist to be found in this hellhole. No Loghain.

Quotes from codex (The Enigma of Kirkwall).

But that's the problem. Mystery dragon poo idols, thinning veils...it's still lame plot crutches. It implies that had the veil been normal, and the idol not brought up from the deep, everyone would just be hunky dory, spiffy doo. No crazy mage rebellions, no oppresive templars, everyone would just be feelin super with their lot.

Which takes away from the human element....

I very much agree. I did not mean to imply there wasn't a big problem here, quite the contrary.

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

I think what they did is overkill.

Yes, the people naively crying about freedom and rights should have had something to make them think twice. But what Bioware did was essentially munch on them and then spit them out. I disagree with them and even I think it's too much.

Balancing could have been done in a more nuanced, subtle and mature way (exactly what they did in Act 2 with the Qunari). As it stands, everyone is a lunatic.

The complete absence of moderates on both sides in the end just seems unrealistic. I mean, come on. Everyone on both sides is either possesed or insane, no matter what. Even in the Broken Circle quest in Origins, you encountered sane mages who were not maleficar who resisted the madness, and you had templars like Gregoire who were happy to take irving's words that everything was cool. DA:O had a better balance on the conflict in the end, no matter which route you took.

It's not even overkill, just really sloppy and lazy in storytelling.

Anyway, Ghadafi's winning? Doesn't surprise me, though much of the news has been about the japanese tsunami. It's been somewhat a break , sadly, from the endless chest puffing and empty posturing over Libya that was happening non-stop before. Just heard Saudi rolled in 1000 troops intp Bahrain yesterday. Dunno what that's all about, thought the demonstrations there had pretty much died down and mellowed out. Wonder if they are worried about something else, beyond the demonstrators.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Skadi_the_Evil_Elf wrote...
Just heard Saudi rolled in 1000 troops intp Bahrain yesterday. Dunno what that's all about, thought the demonstrations there had pretty much died down and mellowed out. Wonder if they are worried about something else, beyond the demonstrators.

The two obvious reasons are the fear of the spread of Shia protests (The Shia minority in Saudi Arabia is in fact concentrated in oil rich regions). And to thwart possible Iranian interference, which is linked to the first.

A more interesting news is protests in Syria. In Damascus and Aleppo. Small ones, but still. That like never happened in....30 years...

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 16 mars 2011 - 02:34 .

[Giggles_Manically]

Looks like protests are spreading to Canada.

Some FLQ like pamphlets showed up on cars near a French immersion school that my friend goes to.
Great.

Like we need those guys again.

[Eber]

.

Modifié par Eber, 27 mars 2011 - 06:17 .

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

@KoP: The Iranian angle makes sense. I was stationed right across the water from Bahrain, and I remember that both the Saudis and US government were worried about the Iranians trying to stir up **** in the area, now that Iraq had been crippled and contained. We were even warned about certain Iranian fundementalist extremists when we went to Bahrain, who worse these dark red turbans. I forget what they were called, but was told they were bad news, avoid them.

Either way, it's good the Saudis are taking pro-active cautionary measures, given all the problems errupting over the region. Better safe than sorry. Plus, I think we still have our naval base in Bahrain, so I'm guessing the Saudis move was supported by the US for that reason, as well as the oil issue. Interesting.

And now Syria? Are they signifigant protests, or just a bunch of bored college students trying to get in on the fun? Do you know what they are protesting over? I've also heard that Egypt's "glorious revolution" isn't going to smooth, that there's now sectarian fighting. Not surprising, really, given they wanted Musharek out, but had nothing to replace him with. But this seems to fit with the military running the country, I wouldn't be surprised if the military in Egypt isn't contributing to it.

@Giggles: Are you talking about the Quebec sessesion idiots? God, the people in BC and Alberta are probably celebrating and hoping they do. I know I would.

[Giggles_Manically]

Yeah I am talking about the Front de libération du Québec.
Bunch of morons.

Fewer and fewer people want Quebec to be separate every year anyway.
Just imagine a party running in one province demanding it be its own separate nation within a nation.. yet still be recognized under that nation it was part of.

I dont get it either.

[KnightofPhoenix]

Skadi_the_Evil_Elf wrote...
And now Syria? Are they signifigant protests, or just a bunch of bored college students trying to get in on the fun? Do you know what they are protesting over?

I don't think they are that significant. But the significance is that this never happened in 30 years.
Now I don't know the circumstances, I read it on BBC. I'll ask and see what are the reasons behind it. But it's in 2 cities, which seems to indicate that whatever they are protesting against is not an isolated incident. 

[Glorfindel709]

I'm really getting annoyed with Act 3..... they keep trying to push that not every mage is a raving lunatic, and as an apostate I really want to side with the mages....

BUT EVERY GODDAMN MAGE IS EITHER INSANE, A BLOOD MAGE, OR AN ABOMINATION WAITING TO HAPPEN

Seriously Bioware, where the hell did the complex human development that you've shown so often in the past go? Did you fire the old writing staff and hire a bunch of retarded 5 year olds in response?

Modifié par Glorfindel709, 16 mars 2011 - 05:03 .

[Morwen Eledhwen]

***ducks in with eyes covered to avoid DA2 spoilers. . .lalalalala. . .***

Chapter 4 of "Unbound" is now up.

[Costin_Razvan]

Anyway, Ghadafi's winning? Doesn't surprise me, though much of the news has been about the japanese tsunami. It's been somewhat a break , sadly, from the endless chest puffing and empty posturing over Libya that was happening non-stop before.

When it came down to it, quite a few people wanted him out of power but quite a few people also where willing to gladly die so he could stay in power. What the Rebels failed to understand is that dictators to have supporters, and Gaddafi with his system of tribal alliances has great support.

Using a flag of a leader that was overthrown, even if by Gaddafi, with massive popular support behind that move was a VERY bad move.

As for the West...idiotic thinking to strongly criticize Gaddafi and then do nothing about him when they had the chance. Almost as idiotic as it would have been to actually send troops there but eh.

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

Costin_Razvan wrote...


When it came down to it, quite a few people wanted him out of power but quite a few people also where willing to gladly die so he could stay in power. What the Rebels failed to understand is that dictators to have supporters, and Gaddafi with his system of tribal alliances has great support.

Using a flag of a leader that was overthrown, even if by Gaddafi, with massive popular support behind that move was a VERY bad move.

Yeah. If you're gonna rebel, have a plan for success before you go firing off your guns in the air and shouting "viva la revolicion". Wanting him gone is fine and dandy, if people are that sick of him. Starting a rbellion, without any plan or objective other than removing him, and not having the means to execute it successfully, is stupid. Maybe the rebels are relying on the hope that the West will fund and support them behind the scenes, like we did with the Mujadeen in Afghanistan. Which, given our track record in such areas, is something I really hope we don't do, at least without carefully considering long term possibilities and consequences.

As for the West...idiotic thinking to strongly criticize Gaddafi and then do nothing about him when they had the chance. Almost as idiotic as it would have been to actually send troops there but eh.

What annoys me is the excessive cries of outrage against human rights violations and "freedom", when we really know what it's about: oil. I understand why they keep up the moral charade, but it is really irritating to listen to.

I doubt the US itself will militarily intervene, since we are already mired in Afghanistan and Iraq. I doubt Europe will, the only countries who seem keen on the possibility of intervention are France and Britain. And while they have the strongest militaries in Europe, they are still tied into the EU. Much of Europe is still struggling with the financial crisises, and don't really have militaries capable of launching a successful attack on Libya, and then occupying and getting control of the situation after.

Of course, I could be totally wrong, and the US/Europe could end up doing something stupid and invading or interveneing. I have the tendancy to overestimate the intelligence and reasoning capability of politicans and world leaders, who never fail to astound me with their short sighted, terminally stupid decisions. Especially where oil is involved.

@KoP: let me know what you find out about the protests. Would be very interesting to learn what is happening there, and it's unlikely the media is really going to give a clear, neutral picture of the situation.

Modifié par Skadi_the_Evil_Elf, 16 mars 2011 - 06:23 .

[Costin_Razvan]

Yeah. If you're gonna rebel, have a plan for success before you go firing off your guns in the air and shouting "viva la revolicion". Wanting him gone is fine and dandy, if people are that sick of him. Starting a rbellion, without any plan or objective other than removing him, and not having the means to execute it successfully, is stupid.

From my perspective installing "democracy" in a country like Libya right now would involve parties that would be backed by businessmen from the shadows taking power. This is exactly what happened in my country after our glorious revolution.

It's far better for the Libyans for Gaddafi to keep power, freedom of speech is all well and nice but I would rather have a dictator then a bunch of companies controlling a country.

Maybe the rebels are relying on the hope that the West will fund and support them behind the scenes, like we did with the Mujadeen in Afghanistan. Which, given our track record in such areas, is something I really hope we don't do, at least without carefully considering long term possibilities and consequences.

You don't think they have already supplied weapons already? "Chuckle" We know at least Egypt has, but it's way too late for any direct intervention. Gaddafi is laying siege to Misurata in the west and preparing to march on Benghazi in the east, so much for the revolution.

Nothing, short of a nuclear strike, would stop him right now from winning.

What annoys me is the excessive cries of outrage against human rights violations and "freedom", when we really know what it's about: oil. I understand why they keep up the moral charade, but it is really irritating to listen to.

I doubt the US itself will militarily intervene, since we are already mired in Afghanistan and Iraq. I doubt Europe will, the only countries who seem keen on the possibility of intervention are France and Britain. And while they have the strongest militaries in Europe, they are still tied into the EU. Much of Europe is still struggling with the financial crisises, and don't really have militaries capable of launching a successful attack on Libya, and then occupying and getting control of the situation after.

Of course, I could be totally wrong, and the US/Europe could end up doing something stupid and invading or interveneing. I have the tendancy to overestimate the intelligence and reasoning capability of politicans and world leaders, who never fail to astound me with their short sighted, terminally stupid decisions. Especially where oil is involved.

The issue for Europe/US is that they need Oil from Libya and they know this, and what have their provocations done after Gaddafi wins? Well he swore to not allow any company from either France/US/Britain back in Libya. Only Germany ( who took the smart approach and resists the no-fly zone, which is a fantasy by now ) is going to be. We shall if he keeps his word on this.

As for invading Libya.....well wouldn't ANOTHER Afghanistan/Iraq be lovely? Gaddafi has strong supporters inside who would end up engaging in guerrilla warfare. I wish NATO luck if they are THAT dumb.