105 réponses à ce sujet

[Wereparrot]

Skadi_the_Evil_Elf wrote...

Wereparrot wrote...

I'm sceptical of the whole assimilation thing. Rather, I think it more likely that a war of succession would have followed after either Cailin's or Celene's death (whichever outlived the other). Or maybe both would happen.

I am not. When two nations merge, the most powerful one dominates. Orlais would assimilate Ferelden in such a union. It would not be a union of equals, with ferelden bringing little to the table.

Well yeah but assimilation doesn't neccessarily lead to domination and suppresion. It often leads to integration. But that still leaves the question of Cailan's heir. The stubborn Fereldan nobility would not accept second place in a Ferelden-Orlais union should the heir rule first as Emperor/Empress of Orlais, and the Orlesians wouldn't accept it if he/she ruled firstly as King/Queen of Ferelden. Hence my belief that it would ultimately lead to war. Assimilation by marriage is a very risky enterprise. Personally, I would rather do it by conquest after the Norman example. Orlais had its chance to do this and failed. I'm not arguing; I see your point and I don't neccessarily disagree. 

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

Integration is often just peaceful domination. Given the nature of the Orlesians, and given the nature of the Fereldens, this is unlikely, as the cultures and attitudes, as well as forms of government, are at complete odds with one another. Ferelden, being inferior on most fronts at this stage, would be annihilated culturally as well as nationally by Orlais. Not to mention the Orlesians are far more cunning politically.



In terms of war, yes, it would likely lead to that, which is another reason why it would be a bad idea. The only way to avoid this is for Celene to have outmaneuvered the Bannorn politically and put them in a position where they can't go to war. Which is a possibility.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

klarabella wrote...

It could have been done by someone else. The tactic is a good one, but why does Riordan do it himself? It's not like he had faced an Archdemon before.

True. By someone else though do  you mean one of the other Wardens (PC/Alistair/Loghain)? Riordan was hoping his attack would be a killing blow, and the reason he elected himself was because age would send him into the Deep Roads sooner than the others. And after his Ostagar dialogue, it seemed like his taint-sense would make it easier for him than the recruits to get an idea of where would be a good place to attack from (he mentions something about 'listening in', and Alistair says in one dialogue that some of the older Wardens can understand what the archdemon is saying or something, IIRC (don't have toolset access right now)).

If those assumptions are correct, I'd argue that Riordan's GW experience and stronger affinity for the taint would make him better suited to doing the solo mission, even though he himself only specifies that it's his duty as senior Warden.

[Addai]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

Addai67 wrote...
(husband)


That seems like a reasonable explanation for why the plot is the way it is.   However if someone wanted to be nit picky they would say the area he attacked was on its back. not its wing.  If it crippled its stamina why were its hit point bar unaffected? (It starts with full hit points).

I'd urge you to watch that cinematic again. When the archdemon tries to knock Riordan off by slamming its back against a tower, Riordan throws himself off its back and drives his sword into its wing in an attempt to stay on. His sword then drags a gaping hole all the way through one major membrane (that hole is still visible in the final battle). Riordan falls to his death at that point, and you can see the dragon falling in the background at the same time.

So Riordan not only gets an attack in on its back, he also disables a wing. This is why you see the archdemon only being able to leap small distances on Fort Drakan, where it crash-lands.

Since other arch demons have been killed in battle, (even though it might take a years and years to eventually off them).   I might suspect that like like other dragons and giant monsters that maybe they just like to mix it up once in a while.   Like any warrior chief  they may simply find hiding behind their army too dull to stand....

With the exception of the first, the reason the other Blights take so long may well be because it's so difficult to fight an archdemon (flying, taint-flame spewing dragon) on equal terms. Riordan said at the gates that for them to have a change of killing the archdemon they'd *have* to get to high ground and attempt to draw its attention, which sounds like the creatures aren't in the habit of just landing in any old place where they can be conveniently attacked.

(husband)

Yes your right... although it is strange that dragging his sword acrossed its back was more instrumental in bringing it down then the actual wing stab (which caused it to just to momentarily loose some altitude)..    And isn't it interesting that even with the wound the arch demon still pretty much fights like a generic high dragon.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

Addai67 wrote...

(husband)

Yes your right... although it is strange that dragging his sword acrossed its back was more instrumental in bringing it down then the actual wing stab (which caused it to just to momentarily loose some altitude)..

Hmm...I saw the scene differently. Or wait, did you get wing and back mixed up there?

If so, I don't think it's strange at all. Without knowing dragon anatomy it's hard to tell if Riordan's initial stab actually hit anything important, and considering the size of the archdemon vs. the size of the weapon he could have just pissed it off (ponder jabbing a needle into your own body. Small enough that it could conceivably miss the important bits). As klarabella noted before, Riordan has never fought an archdemon. And I'd be willing to bet the shortage of dragons in recent years means he's never taken out one of those either.

A crippling blow, on the other hand, doesn't have to be life-threatening to severely disable. Twist your ankle and you'll have trouble running.

And isn't it interesting that even with the wound the arch demon still pretty much fights like a generic high dragon.

And better than Flemeth. But there's only so much a game's AI can account for, I guess.

Edit: But in an attempt to rationalise...dragons being highly territorial might be a reason why they wouldn't flee a fight. There's probably a reason why they're almost extinct.

And Flemeth...eh, maybe the supposedly-immortal don't fear being killed.

Modifié par Shadow of Light Dragon, 27 janvier 2011 - 09:09 .

[shatteredstar56]

Shadow of Light Dragon wrote...

And isn't it interesting that even with the wound the arch demon still pretty much fights like a generic high dragon.

And better than Flemeth. But there's only so much a game's AI can account for, I guess.

Edit: But in an attempt to rationalise...dragons being highly territorial might be a reason why they wouldn't flee a fight. There's probably a reason why they're almost extinct.

And Flemeth...eh, maybe the supposedly-immortal don't fear being killed.

Flemeth thought you couldn't beat her, and even if you could, she would probably have a back up. I bet we'll see her again. 
Dragons are territorial, an example being the High Dragon attacking you on ther High Mountain.  She didn't leave even after she was almost dead.  The archdemon couldn't fly, because of Riordan's attack.  It had nowhere to go, and so would fight to the death.