100 réponses à ce sujet

[Kantr]

If it's not your own lifeforce you are using to power your spells then its someone elses, and why stop at just spells. I cant think you would be happy about it having your lifeforce stolen.

[grumpymooselion]

Well there is that demon thing. I heard they are kind of dangerous.

 

Hawke seemed to learn Blood Magic quite well, and the one DLC suggests it was learned from their Father. You don't have to learn it from a Demon. I never bought the veil being made weaker by Blood Magic thing, it seems shoehorned in, but I suppose we just have to accept that is the way they're going with Blood Magic. In DA:O and the majority of DA2 it just seemed like magic you used blood to power instead, for whatever reason making it stronger. I always felt like the veil being weakened thing was made up on the spot to made Blood Magic users seem more inherently "bad" to balance out how terrible they were making the Templars seem. The result is that before the addition of 'veil weakening' people seemed to side with the Mages more, simply because they seemed forced into making deals with demons for power to escape the oppression of Templars and the Church.

 

What I'm getting at is the veil weakening just seems to narratively convenient a way to try and make people think twice about who they sided with. Very last minute. I can accept it, and settle on the fact that this is the way Bioware chose to go . . . but it will never sit right with me. I guess what I'm saying is I'd rather they have gone into the real issues of power corrupting in and of itself, rather than 'blaming the gun for the actions of the person' types of story, because with the veil weakening addition that's what it sounds like. Blood Magic is bad because Blood Magic is bad and thus people that use Blood Magic are bad rather than the more complex and pointed idea of power corrupting people because people really are corruptible, putting the blame on the person and the decisions they make rather than the tool they chose to carry out their decisions with.

 

To me the idea that they were using their own blood, and could move on to using other people's blood, if they were that sort of person, was terrible enough, shocking enough. It outlined a person that could be self sacrificing, willing to risk their own physical health to help themselves (or others) in a bad situation . . . then contrasting this against where they could go from there. From saviour to tyrant, controlling the bodies of others, and using the blood of slaves to power their spells.

 

Making it a demon magnet and veil weakener on top of that just seems like knocking us over the head with the point.

[Former_Fiend]

The primary aversion I've seen is that blood magic can be used for mind control, and that's something that spreads paranoia like wildfire.

[Il Divo]

For the same reason that Batman is feared. People fear the misuse of power.

[Faerlyte]

Like any kind of power, it can be abused. It's more powerful than other types of magic so it's more feared, but obviously not everyone who practices it is going to be bad. Just because you possess something capable of terrible things doesn't mean you're going to use it for terrible things. It doesn't help that the underlying tone of the series is that blood magic is bad and whenever a blood mage is introduced in any capacity they are invariably corrupted to some degree, usually by consorting with demons. 

 

That is one aspect of the series that has always annoyed me. Nothing is so black and white. Not everyone is corrupted by power. 

[Han Shot First]

Blood magic is abhored because it gives mages more power. No one wants mages to have more power. 

 

I think the much bigger reasons for the distrust of blood magic is that it requires a person to commune with demons in order to access its abilities. This is obviously inherently dangerous for both the blood mage and society as a whole, since demons are manipulative and malevolent. Whether through possession or a weakening of the veil, those demons are seeking access to the world.

 

Also some forms of blood magic might require more than just the caster's blood. Things like human (or elf, dwarf, ect) sacrifice would obviously be a major taboo.

[Riverdaleswhiteflash]

I think the much bigger reasons for the distrust of blood magic is that it requires a person to commune with demons in order to access its abilities. This is obviously inherently dangerous for both the blood mage and society as a whole, since demons are manipulative and malevolent. Whether through possession or a weakening of the veil, those demons are seeking access to the world.

 

Also some forms of blood magic might require more than just the caster's blood. Things like human (or elf, dwarf, ect) sacrifice would obviously be a major taboo.

I just want to reiterate that there is evidence that it's possible to learn and use blood magic without needing to go through a demon. Though the idea that that's not so would lead to blood magic being abhorred. 

[Hanako Ikezawa]

I just want to reiterate that there is evidence that it's possible to learn and use blood magic without needing to go through a demon. Though the idea that that's not so would lead to blood magic being abhorred. 

Well, technically since blood magic was brought to Thedas by the powerful demons known as The Forbidden Ones, regardless how you learn blood magic it is the indirect result of them bringing it here. 

[Han Shot First]

I just want to reiterate that there is evidence that it's possible to learn and use blood magic without needing to go through a demon. Though the idea that that's not so would lead to blood magic being abhorred. 

 

While that is true to a certain extent, it isn't the usual route to blood magic. So far we've mostly seen people to turn to demons, which would certainly help explain why the practice is outlawed. Also as noted by Hinata, blood magic was originally introduced to humans by demons.

 

Beyond that its probably just a case of the most powerful spells requiring more blood than the caster can supply and still survive. That is probably where the sacrifices of slaves and such comes in. Obviously murder is always going to be one of society's greatest taboos.

[AlanC9]

Who says the reason has to actually be a true one, anyway? If people think that everybody who learns blood magic learned it from demons and is therefore about five minutes from RARR I AM AN EVIL ABOMINATION DIE DIE DIE!  -- which happens fairly often, actually -- it doesn't matter if that's how it works for most blood mages or not. (Doesn't Sarcastic Hawke have a line about wanting to someday get through just one week without being attacked by a crazy mage?)

 

And of course, when blood magic is outlawed only outlaws will have blood magic. Every blood mage is, by definition, a dangerous criminal.

[Riverdaleswhiteflash]

While that is true to a certain extent, it isn't the usual route to blood magic. So far we've mostly seen people to turn to demons, which would certainly help explain why the practice is outlawed. Also as noted by Hinata, blood magic was originally introduced to humans by demons.

I don't think we really know that. One theory is the Forbidden ones did it, another is that the Old Gods did it, and I think I remember reading that there's some speculation the elves invented it.

[Grieving Natashina]

This was from a similar thread about a month ago, so I'll just paste it here:

 

I honestly do think that blood magic is just another form of magic.  Whether it's inherently "evil" or not, it is proven that it's addictive as hell.  All the information suggests that the more blood and pain used for the spell, the more powerful it is.  I personally don't take that as a sign that the mage will automatically start seeking more power, yet that's one of the first red flags I see.  The lore seems mixed about how to become a blood mage.  Some say that you must make a deal with a demon, and others suggest that it is a power one can accidentally find and then harness for greater gain.

 

The biggest danger of blood magic, to me, is how powerful it really can be.  Even in our world, power is the biggest drug of them all.  Plus, we're talking about a group that has a subservient place in society.  I'm trying to be neutral with my word choice, since I really don't like the word slave.  It is true that they occupy a lower rung in society with regards to personal freedoms.  With that in mind, blood magic becomes even more dangerous.  It can go from "Wow, my spells are more powerful" to "if I can attain power, the templars/other mages can't hurt me" to "Screw it, power feels good.  Time to make them all pay."

 

There is a few exceptions, such as Merrill, that can be a blood mage for years and not turn into an abomination, but so far that appears to be rare.  If it comes down to life or death, then I can at least understand and empathize with such desires.  My concern about an emergency use of blood magic is...what happens when the emergency is over and the mage might still be alive?  I have a feeling it would unlikely go well.   I don't damn the mages for it, but I think it's too much of a slippery slope to do even in an emergency.

[Kantr]

 

-snip-

 

There is a few exceptions, such as Merrill, that can be a blood mage for years and not turn into an abomination, but so far that appears to be rare.  If it comes down to life or death, then I can at least understand and empathize with such desires.  My concern about an emergency use of blood magic is...what happens when the emergency is over and the mage might still be alive?  I have a feeling it would unlikely go well.   I don't damn the mages for it, but I think it's too much of a slippery slope to do even in an emergency.

 

It probably helps that Merrill is a dalish elf and was to be the next keeper , so maybe the elves know a few tricks about keeping demons at bay

[CrazyRah]

It probably helps that Merrill is a dalish elf and was to be the next keeper , so maybe the elves know a few tricks about keeping demons at bay

 

I'd say that sound reasonable, still a lot of unknown for us about their magic

[DooomCookie]

You know the whole blood puppet spell you had?  And one in DAO that was basically AoE crushing prison, with all these people being lifted into the air writheing in agony?  Yeah...

[Divine Justinia V]

I will always be on the fence with Blood Magic, but I'll never persecute someone for using it [depending on the spell]

[LobselVith8]

It probably helps that Merrill is a dalish elf and was to be the next keeper , so maybe the elves know a few tricks about keeping demons at bay

 

I don't think being a blood mage means that the respective mage will turn into an abomination by default, or even that it's rare for the mage to resist "demons". There are Grey Warden mages who use blood magic without turning into an abomination, and Avernus lived for centuries as a blood mage, even slowing down the process of his ghoulification. I think the issue might be the use of demonology.

[TKavatar]

Damages the veil. 
 
As for the rest: *Points at Tevinter*.

Even normal magic can damage the Veil according to the Masked Empire.

[Brass_Buckles]

Hm, to answer the OP's first post:

 

• Blood magic was initially learned from demons/evil spirits (whichever way you prefer to see them)
• Blood magic can be used for mind control.
• Tevinter magisters used to sacrifice thousands of people's lives for the sake of blood magic spells.  The most powerful blood magic spells require killing other humans/elves/dwarves/qunari/fex for fuel.
• Blood magic that doesn't sacrifice others requires self-harm, which generally isn't considered cool.
• Blood magic can weaken or tear the Veil.
• Any form of magic attracts demons; more powerful spells are worse.
• There's that whole thing with Tevinter slaves being kept for the purpose of sacrificing them for blood magic.

That's all I can come up with for now, but, you know...  there's probably other reasons.

 

But clearly, blood magic is bad news in general.  I do not tend to play blood mages, because despite that extra power I can't think most of my characters would want to go down that road.  Some of them, yeah, though they wouldn't sacrifice others even so.  But, for the most part... no.

[Cainhurst Crow]

You ever try to get a blood stain out of your clothes? Blood mages could bankrupt a country with how much cleaning bills people would have.

[KainD]

You ever try to get a blood stain out of your clothes? Blood mages could bankrupt a country with how much cleaning bills people would have.

 

Who cleans clothes of dead people? 

[Hrungr]

Maybe if Blood Mages were more... musically inclined there'd be less of a stigma. 

 

[Riverdaleswhiteflash]

Maybe if Blood Mages were more... musically inclined there'd be less of a stigma. 

 

Blood Mage bards? Why is the Empress not funding this?

[KainD]

I wonder, blood mages still get fatigued lore wise do they? Casting spells always strains the user? Or if there 1000 slaves to cut open, a blood mage can cast spells for days non-stop?