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[UgandanNinja]

It's pretty obvious that Bioware is heading towards a class struggle that will not only affect Feralden, but also the neighbouring states, as Mages invariably start demanding better rights, but it could have been handled better without every single mage ending up a blood mage.  In other words, basically supporting the Chantry's view that an eventual final solution is needed to deal with the mages... really...?

It feels a bit like the story got away from the writers, or merely DA2 was just a vehicle to pass some time so that Morrigan's God Child can have his own game (enter Beowulf references... yawn). God.. how'd I get so cynical. Please Bioware don't be like other devs..

Yoweri <3

Modifié par UgandanNinja, 31 août 2011 - 04:08 .

[John Epler]

Not every mage was a blood mage in DA2. Even among those who practiced blood magic, there were some who didn't misuse their power - Alain is an example of a mage who, while using blood magic at a particular juncture, never uses his power to dominate or control. It's even arguable that he's not even particularly culpable for 'falling in' with the bad crowd. He's scared, alone and looking for any way out, and when it's offered, he takes it - only to realize exactly who his new bedfellows are.

However, I think saying that 'the blood mages in DA2 tell you that the Chantry is right' isn't really looking at the whole picture. Kirkwall is stuck in a vicious cycle - the Templars tighten their grip on the mages, and some members of the Templar Order use this as justification to treat the mages as pets and/or slaves. Since Meredith isn't doing anything about it, some mages turn to blood magic as their only escape from what is (in many instances) a rather hopeless existence. Meredith sees the blood mages, ignores that, in some cases, her Templars share equal blame and uses it as justification to further tighten her hold.

Couple that with a city that was literally built on a foundation of blood (read the Enigma of Kirkwall Codex entries, or read them on the wiki), and you have a city that, even with a Templar Commander and First Enchanter who were completely cooperative with each other, would see a higher-than-average incidence of mage corruption. Since the two of them are anything -but- cooperative (Meredith's zealotry due to her past, and Orsino's attitude of resignation), it's really just a matter of time before something gives.

[John Epler]

craigdolphin wrote...

Fair enough I guess. But I have to admit I too was utterly sick of the constant mage-vs-templar theme by midway through Act 2. One quest in particular (involving lillies) infuriated me in this regard. Could it not have been an 'ordinary' nut-case for a change?

I really don't want to play DA3 if it is going to similarly endlessly bludgeon the same theme to death with darned near every quest and event like DA2 did. Surely there are other stories to tell, other dramas to resolve, that do not involve the conflict between mages and templars.

While I'm not a writer, I'd see it less as 'look, mage/templar war! Now let's talk about that from now on!' as 'look, mage/templar war! Now let's see how this is one more element, combined with what happened in Ferelden, to flavour everything that's happening from now on!' A Blight, followed closely by the partial and (relatively) unprecedented dissolution of an institution that's existed for a very long time will both have an effect on the world as a whole.

[John Epler]

SpearofUganda wrote...

But would that be enough to act as a catalyst for wider change? If you say the city itself lended itself towards the corruption of mages then why would the conflict extend beyond the walls of Kirkwall? I think the problem is that Kirkwall feels insular, almost detached from greater Feralden...

Kirkwall was a symbol that, yes, the 'tyranny' of the Templars could be successfully overthrown and the mages could break away from the control of the Circles. Whatever one's feelings on how justified the Chantry is in their control of the mages, if you existed in that situation, even if you spent every day believing that the Templars are there for the greater good and are a necessary precaution - there's still going to be a tiny part of you that realizes you are under the control of another.

And while the events in Kirkwall wouldn't be enough of a catalyst for -everyone-, there are going to be those who are on the edge - who won't resort to blood magic, but who see what happened in Kirkwall as both a symbol and a cautionary tale ('see, this is how bad the Templars can get'). And if there are enough charismatic mages in your Circle who are arguing to break away from the Chantry, well, there will be no shortage of less strong-minded mages who are willing to follow them.

There are certainly sufficient examples in the real world of the domino effect, where one group successfully rebels against an oppressive regime and many other groups follow suit. I don't think it's far fetched to believe the same would be true in Thedas. And whether or not the Templars really -are- unnecessarily oppresive in the majority of cases, if you're a mage, there's going to be part of you (however small) that feels that way.