98 replies to this topic

[AndrahilAdrian]

Yes, I know its because DA2 is so stylized its practically a JRPG; I'm wondering what the in-universe justification is. He's much too young to be completely white (and his eyebrows are jet black). Was it a side effect of his trauma, ala the witcher? Does he dye it?

Edited by AndrahilAdrian, 21 June 2012 - 01:57 AM.

[wsandista]

He dyes it. He used to be the frontman for a emo band.

[Ryllen Laerth Kriel]

Yeah, I agree that he dyes it...all the better to look more like his favorite J-Pop boy bands.

[TEWR]

I always took it as a play on the old belief that when a person ends up suffering through a horrifying and traumatic experience, his/her hair would turn white as a result.

Because if you actually look at Fenris, he has black eyebrows. Which to me says that prior to the ritual he suffered he had black hair. And during it and afterwards, the trauma coupled with the pain and whatever else happened during/after it was finished. 

YMMV however. But I think anyone that says "He's just a JRPG character" is really just trying to slap that label on anything they can, but that's just me.

Edited by The Ethereal Writer Redux, 21 June 2012 - 04:08 AM.

[DarkDragon777]

Prior to DA2, he saw how bad the writing of his character would end up being that he became so shocked that his hair turned white.

[CuriousArtemis]

>.> You can't "dye" your hair white.

I personally want to know what kind of gel Alistair used to flip his bangs up like that. Oh wait ... Alistair was from DA:O ... which was the most perfectest game EVER, right?

[GodWood]

Typical DA2 design issue. Having some weird design choice that doesn't really fit the aesthetic of the setting/serve any logical purpose and then not even bothering to offer an explanation.

[jackofalltrades456]

DarkDragon777 wrote...

Prior to DA2, he saw how bad the writing of his character would end up being that he became so shocked that his hair turned white.

+100

[Jademoon121]

Severe trauma or a reaction from the Lyrium.


Or...you know, he dyes it.

Edited by Jademoon121, 21 June 2012 - 04:31 AM.

[TEWR]

And it's not like white hair is exclusive to Fenris. The PCs in both games -- and Awakening -- could have white hair and Sten had white hair.

At least I think the PCs could have white hair.

Edited by The Ethereal Writer Redux, 21 June 2012 - 04:49 AM.

[Ducky MoMo]

I have actually ran into a few customers at my place of work who were BORN with white hair, and like others have said, coulda been the trauma he went through, one on my bosses has white in her hair because of head trauma

[Face of Evil]

Changes in hair colour are a common result of contact with the supernatural.

Edited by Face of Evil, 21 June 2012 - 05:23 AM.

[Dio Demon]

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...

And it's not like white hair is exclusive to Fenris. The PCs in both games -- and Awakening -- could have white hair and Sten had white hair.

At least I think the PCs could have white hair.

Fenris could be half-kossith ... or like your previous statement significan trauma can turn hair white http://social.biowar...670156/12671422.

When Fenris had the lyrium burnt into his veins the pain was so much he lost his memory, and he said he can still feel it burning into his flesh. So I wouldn't just say Bioware wants to try and make Fenris look like *ahem* how do yoy say it a 'JRPG character'? The hair is a constant reminder to the player of the pain he went through.

[hussey 92]

stress

[elfdwarf]

my grey warden has white hair also hawke,
are you prejudice against white hair characters

[TJX2045]

As someone who has some grey hairs from stress, the idea that the trauma greyed his hair out is very probable.

[Orian Tabris]

In the Dragon Age world, some people are born with white hair (as in real life - though only for a year or two - a la me), and that hair colour stays with them, either for the rest of their life, or until their hair turns grey. If it were real life we wouldn't be given an option of making our characters' hair white (or even be given an option). If it were a Japanese RPG, we'd be able to have pink, blue, green and purple as well. Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas let you choose absolutely any colour for your character's hair, as natural colours, doesn't make them Japanese games.

[Orian Tabris]

Crazy Eyed One wrote...

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...

And it's not like white hair is exclusive to Fenris. The PCs in both games -- and Awakening -- could have white hair and Sten had white hair.

At least I think the PCs could have white hair.

Fenris could be half-kossith ... or like your previous statement significan trauma can turn hair white http://social.biowar...670156/12671422.

When Fenris had the lyrium burnt into his veins the pain was so much he lost his memory, and he said he can still feel it burning into his flesh. So I wouldn't just say Bioware wants to try and make Fenris look like *ahem* how do yoy say it a 'JRPG character'? The hair is a constant reminder to the player of the pain he went through.

If you'll look back on his Act 3 personal quest, when he meets Varania for the first time in over a decade, she doesn't give the least bit of surprise when she sees his hair colour.

His hair did not turn white from stress.

[Face of Evil]

Orian Tabris wrote...

If you'll look back on his Act 3 personal quest, when he meets Varania for the first time in over a decade, she doesn't give the least bit of surprise when she sees his hair colour.

His hair did not turn white from stress.

"Oh Fenris, when did your hair turn white? BTW, I lured you into a trap for your former master."

Edited by Face of Evil, 21 June 2012 - 07:11 AM.

[TEWR]

Crazy Eyed One wrote...

When Fenris had the lyrium burnt into his veins the pain was so much he lost his memory, and he said he can still feel it burning into his flesh. So I wouldn't just say Bioware wants to try and make Fenris look like *ahem* how do yoy say it a 'JRPG character'? The hair is a constant reminder to the player of the pain he went through.

That's how I've always taken it, yep . Not so much JRPG as other people claim he is, but more trauma-inducing color change. More so based on Face of Evil's linked TVTropes page that talks about supernatural elements changing hair color.

Orian Tabris wrote...

If you'll look back on his Act 3 personal quest, when he meets Varania for the first time in over a decade, she doesn't give the least bit of surprise when she sees his hair colour.

His hair did not turn white from stress.

Considering Fenris fought for his family's freedom by entering a tournament where the ritual was the prize, I'm going to assume they saw him being branded with lyrium and saw what it did to him.

Also, it'd be really out of place for her to just go "I knew it would be.... WTF happened to your hair?!"

Edited by The Ethereal Writer Redux, 21 June 2012 - 07:24 AM.

[Shadow of Light Dragon]

AndrahilAdrian wrote...

Yes, I know its because DA2 is so stylized its practically a JRPG; I'm wondering what the in-universe justification is. He's much too young to be completely white (and his eyebrows are jet black). Was it a side effect of his trauma, ala the witcher? Does he dye it?

Maybe elves can have naturally white hair in DA.

Maybe it was an OOC art thing. Like the lack of shoes.

[Orian Tabris]

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...

Orian Tabris wrote...

If you'll look back on his Act 3 personal quest, when he meets Varania for the first time in over a decade, she doesn't give the least bit of surprise when she sees his hair colour.

His hair did not turn white from stress.

Considering Fenris fought for his family's freedom by entering a tournament where the ritual was the prize, I'm going to assume they saw him being branded with lyrium and saw what it did to him.

Also, it'd be really out of place for her to just go "I knew it would be.... WTF happened to your hair?!"

I thought about that, but I doubt they would have actually gone to watch. Logically, Danarius would have a special place (like a room or something) to imprint the lyrium. Also, Fenris and Varania probably hadn't seen each other after the imprinting, since Fenris took a while to remember her, when they met - with Hawke and Danarius - inside the Hanged Man. Danarius is not a nice person, so it's unlikely he let his "little wolf" see her, or their mother.

[Wulfram]

Lyrium?

[Dio Demon]

Orian Tabris wrote...

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...

Orian Tabris wrote...

If you'll look back on his Act 3 personal quest, when he meets Varania for the first time in over a decade, she doesn't give the least bit of surprise when she sees his hair colour.

His hair did not turn white from stress.

Considering Fenris fought for his family's freedom by entering a tournament where the ritual was the prize, I'm going to assume they saw him being branded with lyrium and saw what it did to him.

Also, it'd be really out of place for her to just go "I knew it would be.... WTF happened to your hair?!"

I thought about that, but I doubt they would have actually gone to watch. Logically, Danarius would have a special place (like a room or something) to imprint the lyrium. Also, Fenris and Varania probably hadn't seen each other after the imprinting, since Fenris took a while to remember her, when they met - with Hawke and Danarius - inside the Hanged Man. Danarius is not a nice person, so it's unlikely he let his "little wolf" see her, or their mother.

Fenris is Danarius' bodyguard and I assume Danarius goes outside to hunt for kittens, virgins and brownies.Also  Danarius loved to parade Fenris around, so perhaps Varania saw her Fenris on the street.