109 réponses à ce sujet

[Dark83]

You have to consider intentions, here.

What's so evil about a bomb? It blows stuff up, sure, but we need it to mine and construct and such.

At the same time, if somebody is seeking bombs, we generally infer that Random Joe there isn't exactly a good guy.



Blood Magic is like a nuclear weapon. There's nothing inherently evil about it, but its use is most likely (hah) harmful, and anyone who seeks it most likely has malicious intentions.

[Taleroth]

Dark83 wrote...

You have to consider intentions, here.
What's so evil about a bomb? It blows stuff up, sure, but we need it to mine and construct and such.
At the same time, if somebody is seeking bombs, we generally infer that Random Joe there isn't exactly a good guy.

Blood Magic is like a nuclear weapon. There's nothing inherently evil about it, but its use is most likely (hah) harmful, and anyone who seeks it most likely has malicious intentions.

But Chain Lightning and Earthquake are totally kosher.

Maybe they've got to power lightbulbs or demolish condemned buildings.  There's a million uses for Inferno that have nothing to do with destruction.  Like, lighting a bonfire for the school rally.

Modifié par Taleroth, 17 novembre 2009 - 09:18 .

[Dark83]

Taleroth wrote...

Dark83 wrote...

You have to consider intentions, here.
What's so evil about a bomb? It blows stuff up, sure, but we need it to mine and construct and such.
At the same time, if somebody is seeking bombs, we generally infer that Random Joe there isn't exactly a good guy.

Blood Magic is like a nuclear weapon. There's nothing inherently evil about it, but its use is most likely (hah) harmful, and anyone who seeks it most likely has malicious intentions.

But Chain Lightning and Earthquake are totally kosher.

Maybe they've got to power lightbulbs or demolish condemned buildings.  There's a million uses for Inferno that have nothing to do with destruction.  Like, lighting a bonfire for the school rally.

Aha, that's precisely my point.

What can Blood Magic do that you can't with Chain Lightning, Earthquake, etc? Even the Drain Life/Mana (in the setting) should be possible on your friends. The ONE thing (as far as I know) that Blood Magic can do that the other magics can't is control and influence people.

Which is why people who strive to learn it become questionable - other than delving into and controlling the minds of others, there's no reason to do so. (As far as I know, any how.)

[Sarethus]

Dark83 wrote...

Taleroth wrote...

Dark83 wrote...

You have to consider intentions, here.
What's so evil about a bomb? It blows stuff up, sure, but we need it to mine and construct and such.
At the same time, if somebody is seeking bombs, we generally infer that Random Joe there isn't exactly a good guy.

Blood Magic is like a nuclear weapon. There's nothing inherently evil about it, but its use is most likely (hah) harmful, and anyone who seeks it most likely has malicious intentions.

But Chain Lightning and Earthquake are totally kosher.

Maybe they've got to power lightbulbs or demolish condemned buildings.  There's a million uses for Inferno that have nothing to do with destruction.  Like, lighting a bonfire for the school rally.

Aha, that's precisely my point.

What can Blood Magic do that you can't with Chain Lightning, Earthquake, etc? Even the Drain Life/Mana (in the setting) should be possible on your friends. The ONE thing (as far as I know) that Blood Magic can do that the other magics can't is control and influence people.

Which is why people who strive to learn it become questionable - other than delving into and controlling the minds of others, there's no reason to do so. (As far as I know, any how.)

Actually the main reason that good or even simply non-evil mages might be drawn towards blood magic is simply that it is a power boost.

Casting a spell normally might kill one darkspawn or might heal one person.

Casting the same spell with blood magic might kill five darkspawn or might heal five people.

Also when you consider the Lyrium trade is strictly controlled by the Chantry, I could see some mages who have ideas for rituals that might not meet Chantry approval (or the ritual might meet Chantry approval but apostate mage might not) turning to blood magic as a substitute.

[Saurel]

Dark83 wrote...


Which is why people who strive to learn it become questionable - other than delving into and controlling the minds of others, there's no reason to do so. (As far as I know, any how.)

Maybe they just suck at the normal destructive magic and resort the seedy destructive magic because it seems easier. Like Jowan ...


I could totally see that.. "So Desire Demon, you're saying this will actually make me a decent mage?"

[Dark83]

Heh. Regardless though, all I meant was that it's like a nuclear bomb. Every nation has bombs (Tempest, Inferno, etc), but when they look for nukes, everybody goes "OMG!"



Inherantly it's just another way to get power, but the possible misuse and the potential motives of the ones using/seeking to abuse is what makes Blood Magic so "OMG!" for the people in the setting.



There's really a huge difference between a mage being artillary (which is basically what they do) and having everybody's mind controlled. People get antsy about that sorta thing, whereas if you toss fireballs around then you're just portable artillary.

[Nhani]

Dark83 wrote...
What can Blood Magic do that you can't with Chain Lightning, Earthquake, etc? Even the Drain Life/Mana (in the setting) should be possible on your friends. The ONE thing (as far as I know) that Blood Magic can do that the other magics can't is control and influence people.

The simplest way to put this is that the result isn't all that matters. If you picture regular Magic as a Cannon, then Blood Magic - excluding the whole mind control bits - is essentially an equally devastating Cannon that fires people instead of cannonballs.

I mean, if all you care about are the results, then Blood Magic isn't really all that different from regular magic. Not all feel the ends justify the means however, and depending on how you see it, using Life as ammunition to end Life is either one grand middle-finger salute to your enemies or an enormous affront to all living things.

It really depends on how your own personal morality swings, really.

[Sable Rhapsody]

Blood magic also isn't necessarily taught by demons, though it is in the game. I agree with Dark's analogy of a nuke; it's just a ramped-up version of how destructive magic can usually be. My mage spends her time happily dropping Chain Lightning and Inferno and Crushing Prisons on people; arguably, she would have done less damage with blood mage powers.



I think the other problem with blood magic is that it allows a second-rate two-bit idiot of a mage like Jowan to become terrifyingly powerful--hell, the kid incapacitated the PC, First Enchanter, Knight-Commander, and killed a lot of templars. I don't have any inherent problem with blood magic, but because it can be such a quick and easy path toward tremendous power, it requires a certain kind of individual to control his/her ego and wield it responsibly.

[Grovermancer]

BTW, I gave Wynn the BM specialization on my recent play-through. Why not? IIR the stats were more helpful than the other specializations. Didn't give her any BM spells though.

[TheSmilingDude]

Nothing, there's nothing whatsoever evil about blood magic just as there's nothing whatsoever evil about guns. You can't blame tools for their wielders.