122 réponses à ce sujet

[MorrigansLove]

DA2 Anders really did suck. He didn't actually have a personality, other than "I'm depressed because of the oppression and I want you all to know about it!"

[jlb524]

The word, 'adorious' in the vid's description is pretty awesome.

[Sajuro]

Merrill is adorable and that scene made me laugh and d'awwwwwwww

[Foolsfolly]

Mash Mashington wrote...

Ah yes, slap Zaeed all over your signature => complain about Anders killing innocents => Profit

I complained about Anders being a petty terrorist with no long term plans. He made things infinately worse for Mages in Kirkwall through his murdering of untold innocents.

Zaeed's a killer. But he's a mercenary with a huge bit of revenge in him. That's a lot more reasonable than Anders. If Anders wanted revenge against the Templars who tranquiled Karl, that's one thing. He could even go all 'Justice' on them and all.

But killing untold innocents in a nonsensical plan that caused for who knows how many innocents to die...it just wasn't thought out. He was a reactionary, a malcontent, not a revolutionary.

@ River5

When faced with an opressive, totalitarian system of government that
won't allow change through democracy, negociation, or peaceful
resistance, many will consider that violence is a better choice than
acceptance.  Even though violence should always be used as a last
resort.

I get that. I do. Sometimes you have an enemy that will not listen to anything other than force. That enemy wasn't the Chantry it was Meredith. Even Meredith's subordinates thought she was crazy. Finding a way to remove her from power (peacefully, forcefully, any damn way really) would help a whole hell of a lot.

Blowing up a whole building full of innocents, having all that burning debris light the entire city on fire, and causing a battle that allowed demons and abominations to run amok slaughtering all in their path was not the correct choice. Ever.

And then he has the nerve to assume he'll be some kind of hero to mages who are now being exterminated because of his delusional actions.

I don't symathize with him. He's not some leader, revolutionary, or even good guy. If he's a friend he goes complete nutso and if he's rival he's a victim to the demands of Justice (who's now Vengance which is very similar to 'Rage' which is a demon...).

I don't agree with his actions. War was likely...but there's no reason to start that war with a slaughter of the very people you're fighting for. Some sort of rebellion was in order. Shore up mage support, local nobles, and strike out against the Chantry and Templars. Send word to fraternities, get international support, pool the resources of the Circles of Thedas.

Anders does none of these, Anders thinks about none of these. He just explodes things and then rationalizes away why he did it. He's just another insane NPC for the third act to work.

Sajuro wrote...

Merrill is adorable and that scene made me laugh and d'awwwwwwww

She's seriously the most adorable thing BioWare's ever done. Great casting too.

Modifié par Foolsfolly, 26 juin 2011 - 11:40 .

[Sajuro]

Foolsfolly, I have to disagree with you partially, on a different level Dog from DA:O was the most adorable thing ever, but Merrill was definitely the most adorable elf/blood mage I could ever hope to meet.

[DreamerM]

I really want to like Merril.

I haven't gotten over the Evil Blood Magic thing yet though. That Mirror of hers creeps the hell out of me.

[Foolsfolly]

I found Dog from DA2 to be better than Dog in DA:O.

...everyone has their favorites.

[DreamerM]

MorrigansLove wrote...

DA2 Anders really did suck. 

DA2 Anders is why I will never ask Bioware to "bring back" a popular character from a previous game EVER AGAIN.

Really, gonna let my Head!canon anders be the one from the DA:A appendix. This Janders character is just no fun at all.

[Demx]

lol I'll have to try this next time.

[MinotaurWarrior]

Foolsfolly wrote...
I get that. I do. Sometimes you have an enemy that will not listen to anything other than force. That enemy wasn't the Chantry it was Meredith. Even Meredith's subordinates thought she was crazy. Finding a way to remove her from power (peacefully, forcefully, any damn way really) would help a whole hell of a lot.

That's where you're wrong. Meredith wasn't his only enemy. He was opposed to the status quo of locking up mages just because they were mages, preventing them from having lives of their own, and turning many of them into lobotomized drones just because the Templars didn't believe they had that special something required to resist demons. Removing Meredith from power would probably return things to the status quo, but that's not what he wanted to do.

[DPSSOC]

DreamerM wrote...

MorrigansLove wrote...

DA2 Anders really did suck. 

DA2 Anders is why I will never ask Bioware to "bring back" a popular character from a previous game EVER AGAIN.

Really, gonna let my Head!canon anders be the one from the DA:A appendix. This Janders character is just no fun at all.

I think DA2 Anders could have been great if we'd only been given more time in game.  Have him start out as good old DA:A Anders for the most part and then over the course of the game the fight with Vengeance starts to take it's toll leading to a gradual progression to moody, crazy Anders.

On topic; moments like this I can't decide whether I want to strangle Merrill, laugh, or cry.

[sphinxess]

DPSSOC wrote...

DreamerM wrote...

MorrigansLove wrote...

DA2 Anders really did suck. 

DA2 Anders is why I will never ask Bioware to "bring back" a popular character from a previous game EVER AGAIN.

Really, gonna let my Head!canon anders be the one from the DA:A appendix. This Janders character is just no fun at all.

I think DA2 Anders could have been great if we'd only been given more time in game.  Have him start out as good old DA:A Anders for the most part and then over the course of the game the fight with Vengeance starts to take it's toll leading to a gradual progression to moody, crazy Anders.

On topic; moments like this I can't decide whether I want to strangle Merrill, laugh, or cry.

Thats actually Merrills' way of saying "why the H*** are we trying to fool 4 smugglers guarding a warehouse?"

[Demx]

MinotaurWarrior wrote...

Foolsfolly wrote...
I get that. I do. Sometimes you have an enemy that will not listen to anything other than force. That enemy wasn't the Chantry it was Meredith. Even Meredith's subordinates thought she was crazy. Finding a way to remove her from power (peacefully, forcefully, any damn way really) would help a whole hell of a lot.

That's where you're wrong. Meredith wasn't his only enemy. He was opposed to the status quo of locking up mages just because they were mages, preventing them from having lives of their own, and turning many of them into lobotomized drones just because the Templars didn't believe they had that special something required to resist demons. Removing Meredith from power would probably return things to the status quo, but that's not what he wanted to do.

Didn't Anders also say that the Ferelden Circles were fun, until the abominations came.

Modifié par Siradix, 27 juin 2011 - 12:49 .

[catofnine]

Gabey5 wrote...

"Oh, Kitten..."

I'll have to try that for my next playthrough.  I normally follow Izzy's advice on that quest.

And hated?  Nevar!  I love her to bits.   

[River5]

Foolsfolly wrote...

Mash Mashington wrote...

Ah yes, slap Zaeed all over your signature => complain about Anders killing innocents => Profit

I complained about Anders being a petty terrorist with no long term plans. He made things infinately worse for Mages in Kirkwall through his murdering of untold innocents.

Zaeed's a killer. But he's a mercenary with a huge bit of revenge in him. That's a lot more reasonable than Anders. If Anders wanted revenge against the Templars who tranquiled Karl, that's one thing. He could even go all 'Justice' on them and all.

But killing untold innocents in a nonsensical plan that caused for who knows how many innocents to die...it just wasn't thought out. He was a reactionary, a malcontent, not a revolutionary.

@ River5

When faced with an opressive, totalitarian system of government that
won't allow change through democracy, negociation, or peaceful
resistance, many will consider that violence is a better choice than
acceptance.  Even though violence should always be used as a last
resort.

I get that. I do. Sometimes you have an enemy that will not listen to anything other than force. That enemy wasn't the Chantry it was Meredith. Even Meredith's subordinates thought she was crazy. Finding a way to remove her from power (peacefully, forcefully, any damn way really) would help a whole hell of a lot.

Blowing up a whole building full of innocents, having all that burning debris light the entire city on fire, and causing a battle that allowed demons and abominations to run amok slaughtering all in their path was not the correct choice. Ever.

And then he has the nerve to assume he'll be some kind of hero to mages who are now being exterminated because of his delusional actions.

I don't symathize with him. He's not some leader, revolutionary, or even good guy. If he's a friend he goes complete nutso and if he's rival he's a victim to the demands of Justice (who's now Vengance which is very similar to 'Rage' which is a demon...).

I don't agree with his actions. War was likely...but there's no reason to start that war with a slaughter of the very people you're fighting for. Some sort of rebellion was in order. Shore up mage support, local nobles, and strike out against the Chantry and Templars. Send word to fraternities, get international support, pool the resources of the Circles of Thedas.

Anders does none of these, Anders thinks about none of these. He just explodes things and then rationalizes away why he did it. He's just another insane NPC for the third act to work.

Except going after Meredith would likely have accomplished nothing...

If Anders had attacked Meredith and the Templars directly, Elthina, the
"ever reasonable one", would have stepped up, encouraged First Enchanter
Orsino to keep the mages in the Kirkwall Circle calm until a new
Knight-Commander has been reassigned, and new Templars troops arrive.

Meanwhile,
she would have refused to grant the surviving Templars the Right of
Annulment on the Circle, arguing that it was but the work of one
profoundly disturbed apostate.

Result? Status quo. The Circles
still exist throughout Thedas. Templars still have the mission to watch
over the mages. The Chantry still remains in power and are free to
spread their teachings (that mages are dangerous; can't be allowed to
live with the rest of the population, have children of their own, or
stay with their parents as kids, etc.). The mages still have no rights
(other than to submit to Chantry authority and live among themselves in
gilded cages, allowed to come out of them only with authorization from
the Chantry's appointed representatives, a.k.a. the Knight-Commanders
and First Enchanters)…

And you seem to forget that Anders has spent nearly a decade trying to gather support to his cause without success.  The only one with the financial means and power to accomplish any of what you have described would have been THE CHAMPION.  Why would any noble or international leader listen to the words of a wanted apostate?

My approach to the problem would have been to LEAVE KIRKWALL (in the
very beginning of Act III) and use my influence as Champion to gather
allies all across Thedas to try to "peacefully" oppose the Chantry, and
force them to step down. By keeping Anders actively working towards the
liberation of mages, instead of simply patting him on the back saying
"there there, I understand" while atrocities keep being committed
against his people all around him, I have this theory that it might have
helped him keep Justice in check.  Lol!

But no, I have to run
around the city aimlessly, while my spirit-possessed lover slowly looses
it and begins showing tell-tale signs of suicidal intent! Arrrg!

However,
given the limitations of the gameplay, and the very little support I
was able to provide Anders, I thought that him going after the ROOT of
the problem (the Chantry's control over the population) instead of
attacking the symptom (Meredith, the Templars, and/or the Circle) was
the smartest thing one could have done in an effort to bring some long
lasting change to the world.

[Foolsfolly]

However,
given the limitations of the gameplay, and the very little support I
was able to provide Anders, I thought that him going after the ROOT of
the problem (the Chantry's control over the population) instead of
attacking the symptom (Meredith, the Templars, and/or the Circle) was
the smartest thing one could have done in an effort to bring some long
lasting change to the world.

The Chantry isn't the enemy. Even if in the unlikely event that everyone casts down the Chantry distrust of mages is deeper than that. If not the Chantry some organization will rise to put down the threat of mages.

People fear what they don't understand and it's quite clear that your average Joe in Thedas fears mages. Even some of the more exceptional characters like the Arishok fears mages.

[DreamerM]

Foolsfolly wrote...

The Chantry isn't the enemy. Even if in the unlikely event that everyone casts down the Chantry distrust of mages is deeper than that. If not the Chantry some organization will rise to put down the threat of mages.

People fear what they don't understand and it's quite clear that your average Joe in Thedas fears mages. Even some of the more exceptional characters like the Arishok fears mages.

This is exactly why I am not against the concept of Mage Circles in theory. As compromises go, they could really be a lot worse.

The problems come from the fact that like any system, the wrong people put in the right places will abuse them for personal gain, or vendettas, or paranoia... And the mages involved have little-to-no defense when the Templars decide to become as...uh... "vigilent" about their duties as Meredith became. Well they can turn to blood magic, but that's a death sentence, in either the long run or the short run, and they know it.

There will always be those sickos that try it anyway, but the key to running a circle well is to deal with those cases without letting them get to you.

Modifié par DreamerM, 27 juin 2011 - 05:34 .

[rwscissors702]

In DAO it didn't seem to me Mages had it that bad off. Sure they live in a cage, but it's a gilded cage. I liken it to being conscripted into the military. Soldiers don't get to choose where they go or what they do. I would think that being Mage born and raised in the Circle is a better life than most peasant children get.

[andraip]

Merril will be back in DA3, as will Varric.

Since BioWare will only have ressources for one, the following will happen:

Varric visits Daisy;
Daisy transforms herseft into a Merrill, Varric and Bianca Harvester;
You have to kill the freaking Harvester;
After 6 hours of hitting at the Harvester's epic health bar a cutscene triggers;
In the cutscene Mr. Laidlaw appears mocking you that you still don't managed to kill the boss;
After another 5 hours you finally kill the Harvester;
Then Mr. Gaider pops up out of thin air, and presents to you... Gascard Du'Puis! A reknown Necromancer! And informs you that you actually supported Gascard in learning the dark arts of necromancy (and of course that you didn't kill him, if you did);
Gascard creates an undead Merrill, Varric & Bianca Zombie (that looks like a siamese twin), that will be a companion;
The Varrill (or maybe Merric) Zombie can be romanced by: ****** males (yh, Varric is bi now), hetero males (with the Merrill part of the Zombie), ****** females (Merrill part), hetero females (Varric part) and necrophiles (it's a Zombie).


So, BioWare will do exactly what the fans want:
Merrill will be back
Varric will be back
Varric will be a LI

Modifié par andraip, 27 juin 2011 - 08:42 .

[Foolsfolly]

DreamerM wrote...

Foolsfolly wrote...

The Chantry isn't the enemy. Even if in the unlikely event that everyone casts down the Chantry distrust of mages is deeper than that. If not the Chantry some organization will rise to put down the threat of mages.

People fear what they don't understand and it's quite clear that your average Joe in Thedas fears mages. Even some of the more exceptional characters like the Arishok fears mages.

This is exactly why I am not against the concept of Mage Circles in theory. As compromises go, they could really be a lot worse.

The problems come from the fact that like any system, the wrong people put in the right places will abuse them for personal gain, or vendettas, or paranoia... And the mages involved have little-to-no defense when the Templars decide to become as...uh... "vigilent" about their duties as Meredith became. Well they can turn to blood magic, but that's a death sentence, in either the long run or the short run, and they know it.

There will always be those sickos that try it anyway, but the key to running a circle well is to deal with those cases without letting them get to you.

Exactly my point.

The Ferelden Circle actually seems to work. Sure Irving plays a game with Jowan (and ends up losing it) in order to gain a political advantage.

But at the end of the day Irving and Gregior seemed to at least respect each other enough to realize both were doing their jobs and had the best interests of the Circle at heart.

It's a system that can easily be abused, as Kirkwall clearly shows, but the system can work. It perhaps it could stand to be less rigid but reform is what's needed not completely tossing the system.

Mages on their own, without guidance and being hunted by lynch mobs would be very much akin to witch hunts in our own past (which likely happens in Thedas anyway, except perhaps the Templars have some kind of tests they run on possible mages).

No system isn't better than a system. But the system should have some changes in it.

[Foolsfolly]

rwscissors702 wrote...

In DAO it didn't seem to me Mages had it that bad off. Sure they live in a cage, but it's a gilded cage. I liken it to being conscripted into the military. Soldiers don't get to choose where they go or what they do. I would think that being Mage born and raised in the Circle is a better life than most peasant children get.

The Circles definately got 'darker' in DA2.

In the first game the Circle was a prison. Mages were brought in, given a room and clothing, and they weren't ever allowed to leave. Ever.

Can you imagine that?

Imagine taking an office building, filling it up with people, assigning clothing and cots for them, and then having armed guards constantly watching them. Constantly expecting them to turn into monsters.

That's a psychological hell!

That's a horrible life!

And that's the Circle of DA:O. It worked. It did protect mages from civilians and it protected civilians from mages. But for the mages inside the Circle it was horrible. The same place, the same bed, the same walls, the same everything every day for the rest of their lives.

And the whole time they're suspected of doing wrong and under constant threat of possession by demons.

It's a horrible life. I feel truly sad for the mages' plight in DA:O. In fact it appeared many players did. And that was before people started saying things like "the Templars rape us, they beat us, they terrorize us, they eat our babies" and all that.

That level of villifcation wasn't needed in DA:O. Life in a Circle is clearly not fun nor mentally/emotionally healthy.

But DA2 darkened life in the Circle even more. We had 'Tranquil Solutions', tranquiling people who past their Harrowing, rape, abuse of power, and beatings for good reason other than Templars are Cruel and Evil.

I feel the darkening of the Circle system wasn't needed. Who agrees with the concept of life in prison simply because you were born? It didn't need to get darker for people to disagree with the treatment of Mages. But it did.

It's not as bad as "every Mage but Bethany is insane" that DA2 did to villify the mages but it's still bad. They didn't have to paint both sides so heavily in dark colors to make for a tough choice.

[Zeratul20]

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...

If they make Merrill evil in DA3, I will rage harder than a Rage Demon using the Pokemon moves Rage, Fury Swipes, and Thrash.


@Foolsfolly: What about Varric?

Admittedly, it would not be unthinkable. She -is- a bloodmage, after all.

[River5]

The Chantry isn't the enemy. Even if in the unlikely event that everyone
casts down the Chantry distrust of mages is deeper than that. If not
the Chantry some organization will rise to put down the threat of mages.

People
fear what they don't understand and it's quite clear that your average
Joe in Thedas fears mages. Even some of the more exceptional characters
like the Arishok fears mages.

Except right now, the Chantry IS the enemy.  Just because a dictatorship could be replaced with ANOTHER dictatorship doesn't mean that said dictatorship is harmless or shouldn't be fought.

It is a conquering military force, not a peaceful institution promoting free-will, and voluntary adhesion to their beliefs.

While I 100% agree with you that the fear of mages seems inherent to almost every non-mage (a bit like with the X-men movies, people fear those that are different, and naturally see them as
potential threats). The Chantry itself FEEDS on that fear and uses it as a mean
of control for both the general public, and the mages. The "security"
they offer allows them to remain in power.

They sanction that fear and that hate by basically interpreting the Chant of Light in such a way that they tell the population that mages powers are, by nature, abusive, and that they are not only RIGHT to fear mages, but whatever abuses they suffer are dictated by the Maker's will!

You can't hope to change the system while the Chantry remains in power.  No more than things can hope to change in Tevinter as long as the Black Chantry over there rules everything through their Magisters.

Whether it's the "Black Divine", or the Divine from Orlais, both have
equally abusive practices. The Tevinter Imperium is not a good example
of "what mages would do if they were free"... It's a good example of
"how, once again, religious teachings can be twisted to serve the
powerful, and justify their actions".

Whether the mages are
locked up in towers while the "good folks" are allowed to control them;
or the Magisters are at the head of the Chantry and controlling the
"good folks", ultimately, the situation is the same... One group is
enslaving another.

For change to occur, the Chantrys (black and white) must feel that there is something for them to loose by maintaining the status quo.  But with no one opposing them before, why would they ever consider it?

Foolsfolly wrote...

rwscissors702 wrote...

In DAO it didn't seem to me Mages had it that bad off. Sure they live in a cage, but it's a gilded cage. I liken it to being conscripted into the military. Soldiers don't get to choose where they go or what they do. I would think that being Mage born and raised in the Circle is a better life than most peasant children get.

The Circles definately got 'darker' in DA2.

In the first game the Circle was a prison. Mages were brought in, given a room and clothing, and they weren't ever allowed to leave. Ever.

Can you imagine that?

Imagine taking an office building, filling it up with people, assigning clothing and cots for them, and then having armed guards constantly watching them. Constantly expecting them to turn into monsters.

That's a psychological hell!

That's a horrible life!

And that's the Circle of DA:O. It worked. It did protect mages from civilians and it protected civilians from mages. But for the mages inside the Circle it was horrible. The same place, the same bed, the same walls, the same everything every day for the rest of their lives.

And the whole time they're suspected of doing wrong and under constant threat of possession by demons.

It's a horrible life. I feel truly sad for the mages' plight in DA:O. In fact it appeared many players did. And that was before people started saying things like "the Templars rape us, they beat us, they terrorize us, they eat our babies" and all that.

That level of villifcation wasn't needed in DA:O. Life in a Circle is clearly not fun nor mentally/emotionally healthy.

But DA2 darkened life in the Circle even more. We had 'Tranquil Solutions', tranquiling people who past their Harrowing, rape, abuse of power, and beatings for good reason other than Templars are Cruel and Evil.

I feel the darkening of the Circle system wasn't needed. Who agrees with the concept of life in prison simply because you were born? It didn't need to get darker for people to disagree with the treatment of Mages. But it did.

It's not as bad as "every Mage but Bethany is insane" that DA2 did to villify the mages but it's still bad. They didn't have to paint both sides so heavily in dark colors to make for a tough choice.

See, now you're arguing my point, exactly!  Lol!

To me, the sense of security that the Chantry offers is a false sense of security that simply allows them to keep absolute control.

I don't believe that the mages would be any more dangerous if they were
allowed to live within the general population, with laws protecting both
sides.

For example, when their powers manifest, young mages
could be immediately assigned as apprentices to a master that would
teach them how to use and control their powers.

Circles of Magi could be converted as a teaching institution, instead of prisons.
Laws could be put in place to regulate the use of magic, and people could be assigned to enforce them.

Most
mages will turn to blood magic as an act of despair. Remove the source
of despair, and you prevent losing so many mages to the dark side of
their powers.

If you allow them to live normal lives among
people... To love, have dreams and projects to fulfill, live with their
families, etc. Would they need any more reason to revolt?

Some
will always do. Just like some non-magical people will turn to crime.
But do we have the right to punish the innocent because of what he
*might* become? It makes no sense to me.

Freedom for the mages
does not mean them being allowed to do whatever they want with their
powers! And this isn't what Anders is advocating for either.

Freedom
for the mages is basically allowing them to share the same rights as
any other individuals. People who don't have magic must also abide by
certain laws. It should be no different for them. After all, if it isn't
right to kill a person using a spear, or control them through
extortion, it shouldn't be any more right to do so through the use of
magic.

I see no reasons why mages should be prevented to come
and go as they please. Making apprenticeship mandatory for all mages
(and keeping records) is one thing. But locking them up and taking their
families/lives/minds/dreams away from them is another entirely.

Also, the definition of what an apostate or maleficar is seems very subjective, and is too open to interpretation.  Especially when the people in charge of "policing" said apostates or maleficars are motivated by religious fervor and beliefs!

As
for people arguing that the Circles also protect mages from the general
population; if there were some severe laws against committing hate
crimes against mages, they would be protected from the population just
as well.

Segregation doesn't seem like a viable solution at
all.  Keeping people locked away from each other while allowing the
fear/hate to spread is definitely wrong.

Having mages become
terrified of what "normal folks" could do to them… While "normal folks"
are petrified of those wielding magic is not helping create a better
world.

You just end up having two groups that are completely unable
to come to any understanding, and that will stop caring about what they
do to each other.

Blood magic is fast, easy, and available. From
my understanding, there is no real need to learn the skill, only be
willing to make deals with demons.

Perhaps if mages were taught
to CARE about the world outside of the tower, and felt some sense of
connection, belonging to it, they wouldn't be so quick to give in to
temptation to protect themselves.  I remember Anders mentioning that the
most common way for mages to die is by their own hand.

If they
stop caring about their own existence, then why should they care about
people that show them no sign of mercy? Who sit idly in their homes
while they are being made Tranquil, and allowed to suffer?

Not
all mages are good people either. Some hunger for power, just like any
regular person could hunger for power. Some can be cruel, and vile. They
aren't ALL innocents… But should innocents be allowed to suffer because
of the few? I don't see it.

As for the risk of having
abominations running free on the streets, and mages automatically
seizing power and wanting to control/destroy the world if they weren't
controlled by Templars and Circles, that assumption seems a bit
ludicrous.

To quote a user named MathiasAmon on the Dragon Age
wiki: "The idea that all mages, freed from their fetters, would attempt
to take over the world, is also ridiculous. Mages are individuals, not a
hive-mind. Where one may want to make the mundanes cower in terror and
worship him while he shoots lightning out of his fingers, another may
want to use his gifts to better the lives of his fellow man. A third
might feel a moral obligation to use his powers to protect people from
mages like the first."

And, look at that, the Tevinter Imperium
has no "abominations running amuck on the streets" problem. How strange…
They have Magisters competing with each others for power and social
status, and policies that allow slavery to exist on their lands, but the
Imperium hasn't been overtaken by demons. How can it be? It goes
against everything that the white Chantry would like you to believe,
doesn't it?

It makes me sick that one could condone treating
sentient beings like "regulating a dangerous substance" instead of what
they are, PEOPLE.

People who have dreams, emotions, needs,
families, friends... Who love... People that have the possibility to
make right or wrong choices just like anyone else. People who should
share the same rights as the rest of their society.

Mages are
stripped of all rights, including the right of expression (those who
oppose the Chantry too strongly are made Tranquil), and their lives are
stolen from them.

I can't lose sight of that, and start seeing
them as "weapons" without feeling like I'd have to sacrifice my own
humanity in the process.

With the Chantry FINALLY collapsing, and mages now escaping their control, eventually, the general population, having lost their "protector", will need to start opening dialogue with the mages and find ways for them to coexist peacefully.

Either that, or the paranoia will escalate to such a point where we'll witness the complete anihilation of the human race in Thedas.  Or, then again, another dictatorship will slowly rise up in the place of the Chantry, promising people "security" in exchange for their submission, and things will go back to the way they were.

It's a risk, but a well-worth risk if the only other alternative was keeping things as they were.

Anders plan may not have been "full-proof"...  And forcing change can sometimes lead to greater disasters, but at least, he was willing to try something.  I can't remember having ever heard of any revolution where success was garanteed from the very beginning.

[LadyVaJedi]

I wonder if blood magic would be taught and how dangerous it is would take the appeal of it away. Let people know that you could and will loose your soul.