marshalleck wrote...
So in those four small paragraphs, you agree with me. The elves and dwarves in Thedas haven't really done anything for the ongoing story other than provided a focus for people with particular physiology fetishes.
I didn't mention the qunari for a reason. They are a non-human species that's well implemented and quite distinct from all other cultures of Thedas. Their semi-bestial physical form and austere philosophy clearly establishes them as the 'other' which is always fertile ground for storytelling.
The elves and dwarves are just there because it's a fantasy game, and what's fantasy without elves and dwarves amirite?
Um... no. I think you willfully misconstrued my words to serve your purpose. (I was trying to be fair and admit I didn't think
all humans were boring, just
most of them, and of course you used that against me. This is why I'm usually a **** on the forums.)
I don't agree that the elves and dwarves "haven't really done anything for the ongoing story." Quite the contrary, I think they've done a lot. Historically, the elves were the original inhabitents of the surface of Thedas, had way more magical ability than humans, and the humans
used elven magic techniques (such as using lyrium to enter the Fade) to conquer them and others. If it weren't for the elves' contribution, however unwillingly given, the Tevinter Magisters would never have gotten the magical power they needed to take over most of Thedas, which is what shaped most of the current Thedasonian socities, cultures, and countries.
Plus, it was because of the magisters' tyranny that Andraste rebelled, it was the elves who were the first to answer her call, and ultimately why she broke their power and become a religious figure. Not to mention the elf Garahel who single-handedly defeated the Archdemon in the 4th Blight--owing to everyone's continued existence. Not to mention Loghain's "Night Elves" who helped Fereldan overthrow the Orlaisian occupation. Not to mention the Dalish and Orzammar elves needed to help defeat the 5th Blight. Most humans owe their freedom and religion to elves, even if they don't know it or acknowledge it. (Not to mention an Elven Warden potentially saving everyone in the 5th Blight, but that's optional, so I'll only semi-count it.)
Not to mention the dwarves are the ones who harvest and process the raw lyrium that the Chantry needs to function. The Chantry controls its templars by keeping them addicted to lyrium, most Circle mages rely on lyrium to fuel their magic (in order not to rely on blood magic), and templars and mages use lyrium jointly for purposes like the Harrowing ritual (which Circle mages need to do in order to avoid death or tranquility). The Chantry runs on lyrium, and dwarves are the ones who provide it. If dwarves suddenly dropped off the face of the earth or all decided to stop providing lyrium to humans, the Chantry, Templars and non-blood mages everywhere would be hurting very quickly. They also wouldn't be able to harvest it for themselves since only dwarves are able to touch raw lyrium without bleeding out of every orifice and dying a very painful, messy death.
Not to mention it was a bleeding Deep Roads Expedition into the Dwarven Thaigs led by dwarven brothers Varric and Bartrand that led to the discovery of the
"Primeaval" lyrium that basically drove the entire DA2 plot to its climax. ("Haven't really done anything to contribute to the on-going story," like Hawke or any other human could have done it without them!)
When you think about it, the kossith have done every LESS for the ongoing story than elves or dwarves. They're relatively new to Thedas and haven't really interacted with anyone beyong those near Saharon and Par Vallon. Sure, there was the Arishok in Act 2 of DA2, then then you've also got to acknowledge Varric the Dwarf's contribution to the story with the Deep Roads Expodition in Act 1, the Dalish's contribution thanks to their connection to Flemeth (who saved Hawke at the start of the game only to give an amulet to them), the elven brothers' conversion that kicked off the Qunari Invasion in Act 2, and so on and so forth.
"Haven't contributed anything..." Most of DA:O and DA2 plots require the involvement of elves and dwarves to keep going. Heck, most humans built their society and religion on the backs of elves and dwarves. If the society of the latter two don't seem "distinct," it's because the former are so lazy and creatively challenged that they aren't able to come up with their own methods.
You don't consider elves or dwarves the "other"? Just the kossith? Really? An elf or a dwarf walks into a human settlement and they would be treated exactly the same way as though they were humans too? A human walks into an elven alienage or Dalish camp or a dwarven city and there's absolutely no physical, social or cultural difference between how they and Andrastian humans run their societies? The humans' ongoing treatment of elves during their long history together didn't occur from humans regarding elves as "the other"?
In fact, if Hawke had been an elf or a dwarf, would the story have been exactly the same as that of a human? Would all the residents of Kirkwall looked on him or her the exact same way they look on a human Hawke?
EDIT: As I said, I love the historical, cultural, and social perspectives of elves and dwarves as well as kossith, as their perspectives are unique to their races and cannot be seen from any other. Try as they might, a human will never fully understand what elves or dwarves go through or how they see the world any more than elves or dwarves can fully understand them. Even with a similar upbringing (like a human and an elf both living within a human city), they cannot have the same experiences or perspectives. A human will always see things differently from an elf and vice-versa, because they will always see and be seen as different, same as every other race. These are things you cannot escape in Thedas, and that's why I think race options are important: to see the world from different perspectives and explore the stories those conflicting perspectives could involve.
Modifié par Faerunner, 13 octobre 2012 - 01:10 .
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