45 réponses à ce sujet

[congokong]

If you didn't put it together, asari reproduction with other species resembles a parasitic relationship. They use the father species to strengthen the asari but give nothing in return to the other since the children are always 100% asari. If the relationship is monogomous then the genes of the father species die with them.

Although unlikely considering asari's long life spans, if the father species is left raising the child it is brood parasitism since the asari child doesn't have any genes from its father.
http://en.wikipedia....rood_parasitism

There is also the suggestion that asari can almost put other species under "love spells" which explains why every species seems to find them attractive.


Given the ME logic that asari somehow use the father species to randomize the asari offspring's genes to provide advantageous mutations, is there actually a benefit to choosing a father with strong genes? If all the genes of the offspring are asari but just randomized does it even matter who the father is so long as they aren't asari? Does the asari mother have control over what alterations take place? Specifically, I'm wondering if Liara is partially attracted to Shepard because he/she is genetically an exemplar of the human species and reproducing with him/her would greatly strengthen the asari?

Just curious if ME lore ever explained this.

[AlexMBrennan]

Specifically, I'm wondering if Liara is partially attracted to Shepard because he/she is genetically an exemplar of the human species

Well, since the 2nd part of that sentence is nonsense you can rest assured that Liara is not attracted to Shepard because of it.

As for the rest, do you also object to homosexual couples? After all, their genes too die with them. Or do you object to infertile couples adopting children because it's brood parasitism?

[congokong]

StreetMagic wrote...

As for their breeding in general, I
dislike it. They seem like typical space babes at first, but they're
freaky. But I don't know what the alternative is. Being pureblood has
it's own downsides (Ardak Yakshi and cultural stigma).

There isn't a real alternative since asari-exclusive parentings resembles incest and increases the likelihood of abnormalities (in this case Ardat Yakshi).

AlexMBrennan wrote...

Specifically, I'm wondering if Liara is partially attracted to Shepard because he/she is genetically an exemplar of the human species

Well, since the 2nd part of that sentence is nonsense you can rest assured that Liara is not attracted to Shepard because of it.

As for the rest, do you also object to homosexual couples? After all, their genes too die with them. Or do you object to infertile couples adopting children because it's brood parasitism?

You're just trying to pick a fight with false accusations. I don't "object" to anything. I'm stating it as it is scientifically.

And how is Shepard not a prime genetic example considering his/her abilities?

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Then Asari CAN mate with their own species and reproduce, so it isn't exactly parasitism. The father species doesn't exactly strengthen either.

[congokong]

sH0tgUn jUliA wrote...

Then Asari CAN mate with their own species and reproduce, so it isn't exactly parasitism. The father species doesn't exactly strengthen either.

First sentence of my OP:

"If you didn't put it together, asari reproduction with other species resembles a parasitic relationship."

Modifié par congokong, 19 janvier 2014 - 02:44 .

[congokong]

StreetMagic wrote...

congokong wrote...

StreetMagic wrote...

As for their breeding in general, I
dislike it. They seem like typical space babes at first, but they're
freaky. But I don't know what the alternative is. Being pureblood has
it's own downsides (Ardak Yakshi and cultural stigma).

There isn't a real alternative since asari-exclusive parentings resembles incest and increases the likelihood of abnormalities (in this case Ardat Yakshi).

Gotta love Bioware. They have a knack for creating an intrinsically broken species and then forcing the player to reckon with these issues. If nature took it's course, both Asari and Krogan have dangerous evolutionary implications. And Quarians can't even adjust to their own homeworld well after 300 years.. nor colonize another one.

That is true. It resembles human population growth though. With technological advancement the human population (like the krogan) has grown to levels far surpassing those presumably ever in human history. Hopefully humans don't get their own genophage. lol

[Leonardo the Magnificent]

The series never really brings up the parasitic aspect of Asari reproduction. The writers have a tendency to allow quite a few unfortunate implications slip through.

[congokong]

StreetMagic wrote...

I don't know why Liara is attracted. Either because of the Prothean connection or general character traits (maybe about Shepard being strong willed or how they've survived various trauma). I think it's more about her having a boring life and just looking at Shepard as some outlet for something else. A more competent Conrad Verner. Not any ulterior motives about genetics.

She doesn't necessarily think of Shepard as a potential mate though. In ME3, listen to the Aethyta conversations with her, if not romanced. She sees herself as something like Benezia was. An advisor.

I'm not necessarily suggesting that she's aware of it any more than humans are aware of their attraction to others based on their instinctual determination of "good genes." But if "good genes" are a factor in asari reproduction then it might be one reason why Liara is so into Shepard.

I have listened to the Aetheya conversations; both romanced and unromanced. Either way Liara advises Shepard but if they're not romantically involved then Aetytha suggests Shepard's sexually interested and Liara isn't opposed to the notion but doesn't believe it since they weren't intimate in ME1. It's clear Liara is in love with Shepard regardless if it's requited or not.

[congokong]

StreetMagic wrote...

congokong wrote...

StreetMagic wrote...

I don't know why Liara is attracted. Either because of the Prothean connection or general character traits (maybe about Shepard being strong willed or how they've survived various trauma). I think it's more about her having a boring life and just looking at Shepard as some outlet for something else. A more competent Conrad Verner. Not any ulterior motives about genetics.

She doesn't necessarily think of Shepard as a potential mate though. In ME3, listen to the Aethyta conversations with her, if not romanced. She sees herself as something like Benezia was. An advisor.

I'm not necessarily suggesting that she's aware of it any more than humans are aware of their attraction to others based on their instinctual determination of "good genes." But if "good genes" are a factor in asari reproduction then it might be one reason why Liara is so into Shepard.

I have listened to the Aetheya conversations; both romanced and unromanced. Either way Liara advises Shepard but if they're not romantically involved then Aetytha suggests Shepard's sexually interested and Liara isn't opposed to the notion but doesn't believe it since they weren't intimate in ME1. It's clear Liara is in love with Shepard regardless if it's requited or not.

Aethyta just says that even if there's no romance because she's a dirty old woman.

I chalk up most of Liara's "unrequited" characterization to writer's laziness. It bothers me, but they tend to treat every romanceable character with these overtones. It sticks out with Liara because she has more content than others, but it's no different with Ash, Tali, etc.. I mean, look at the beginning of ME3. It's almost written like Shep and the VS have some relationship, even if they don't. Mostly in the way things are choreographed (the Normandy taking off of Earth, the VS getting pummeled by Eva Core and Shep's response). With Tali, it's just in how Mark Meer adjusts his tone when talking to her or in trying to comfort her at times. They don't write alternative interactions for every situation, so they lean on things that can be sort of neutral, but the player is able to read romantic content into.

I don't agree with this.

I think Liara is a very well-written character. She is polite, logical. reserved, submissive, apologetic, caring but also very driven by emotion. She tries to hide it but it's there. That's why she becomes so crazy about Shepard (her first crush) and can you blame her? An asari at a similar age to a woman in their late teens gets saved by a dashing commander and is taken from an isolated existence on a mission to save the galaxy. Her emotional drive is also clear in how obsessed she gets in trying to kill the Shadow Broker. Her attachment to Shepard (unlike Tali) is more obvious because she's very emotional and also lonely. Most characters can handle being single in ME quite well but Liara doesn't. It's largely because she has no family/friends outside of the nucleus that is Shepard during all this as well as the fact that before the ME events she had the most sheltered life. That's largely why she has the greatest personality deviation through the series.

Regarding Tali, besides her conversation where she actually comes onto maleShep in ME2 there isn't any real sign of her interest in Shepard romantically. I believe all dialogue pre-romance is the same with male and female Shepard. She might act "girlish" but she's not as emotionally driven as Liara nor do I feel she is quite as into Shepard as Liara. Liara's attachment to Shepard was always on the border of obsession but never quite there.

Regarding the VS, the commander may care a bit too much about their injury in ME3 (especially if they're renegade) but I attributed that to them having a past together and just caring that they don't die. You only get dialogue that even hint at romantic feelings if you pick paragon anyway.

The only characters in the series who I'd say show unrequited love if unromanced are Liara and Kaidan.

Modifié par congokong, 19 janvier 2014 - 04:29 .

[Obadiah]

You ever notice that an Asari looks like a blue female humanoid with a starfish (face hugger) wrapped over its head for a face?

Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

[TheMyron]

From the way Liara describes it in ME1; Although the offspring will still be 100% Asari (all concrete genes acquired from the mother), the children can still inherent the abstract genes (like behavior patterns) from the father...

Liara said that during melding, the genes from both participants are shared.

[TheMyron]

Obadiah wrote...

You ever notice that an Asari looks like a blue female humanoid with a starfish (face hugger) wrapped over its head for a face?

Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

I wonder if/how the Asari would affect the look of the adult Xenomorph.

[ImaginaryMatter]

Love triumphs all?

[TuringPoint]

Technically this is commensalism rather than parasitism.  If your main interest in sex is pro-creation, it definitely is one-sided in certain ways.  But I wonder at calling it parasitic.The Asari doesn't take at the expense of the other being, unless they're an Ardat Yakshi.  

http://en.wikipedia....ki/Commensalism
http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Parasitism

Read that or take my word for it.  Or use a dicitonary.

The "father" does get the "pleasure," whatever that involves, of reproducing with the Asari.  And then the Asari has a "parasite" she gives birth to later, assuming they don't lay eggs. Similar to human relationships, the father may not have to deal with the responsibility of child rearing and is not subject to the trials of pregnancy.

It could be argued that the father in this case is more of a parasite, even.  Or has the potential to be.

Modifié par Alocormin, 19 janvier 2014 - 07:32 .

[TuringPoint]

Liara is very affectionate, even if she's only in a friendship with Shepard.  That's something I like about the character, which is very rarely put in to a video game.  Maybe with good reason, dunno.

IIRC for the most part there are options to skip those moments altogether. Unless you just go through conversations to complete everything.

Love the facehugger idea

Modifié par Alocormin, 19 janvier 2014 - 07:28 .

[shodiswe]

I've been thinking about this myself. It's hard to decide what one thinks. There is certainly the part which says the partner wont get to proreate and keep their lineage going. And the partner may put in considerable resources to maintaining kids that arn't their own.
But at the same time people do adopt children that arn't their own genetic ofspring.

What would be more questionalbe is if the Asari would be using very agressive hormone afrodesiak and other such methods that affects other species ability to reason.

The Geth might be the onlyones who are immune, which also makes them immune to special seductive Asari diplomacy. Boobs and such would have minimal effect on befriending a Geth.

I don't know, yes and no.

If they are happy then they are happy, if they are brainwashed then that might be immoral, but all life forms are using different types of methods to ensnare a mate.

Modifié par shodiswe, 19 janvier 2014 - 11:44 .

[von uber]

Of course, if everyone ends up exclusively with an asari then there will only be asari. Anyone know how many of them there actually are?