Still though, the specialization was simply removed and switched out, not necessarily retconned.
Regardless, I do think mages will have options to perform blood magic acts during the course of the game since we lack the spec now.
I think Kain means that blood magic was retconnetted as always evil, and for this was removed as an available spec.
I think so too.
Isn't reaver an evil type of spec? I really don't think being evil was the reason for the removal of bm. Rather it would be the difficulty imposing the effects of it's use in game (which has been discussed ad infinitum here recently). No idea whether reaver would or should have similar difficulties in portrayal, but the effects of bm seem more grand and insidious.
Retconned is a reason. Abolished, no.
How was it retconned?
I posted a similar post in another thread. Both Reaver and blood mages have now negative effects on the user, but the consequences and differences in the game as a blood mage are bigger then as a Reaver. The same could be said for Necromancer, who wouldn't be seen well in Orlais, but has less effects and consequences than blood mage.Isn't reaver an evil type of spec? I really don't think being evil was the reason for the removal of bm. Rather it would be the difficulty imposing the effects of it's use in game (which has been discussed ad infinitum here recently). No idea whether reaver would or should have similar difficulties in portrayal, but the effects of bm seem more grand and insidious.
Isn't reaver an evil type of spec? I really don't think being evil was the reason for the removal of bm. Rather it would be the difficulty imposing the effects of it's use in game (which has been discussed ad infinitum here recently). No idea whether reaver would or should have similar difficulties in portrayal, but the effects of bm seem more grand and insidious.
I've never thought of Reavers as being an evil spec... I mean, they drain "life force" and get stronger as they're closer to death, which doesn't seem evil on it's own. The ritual to create them involves the blood of a high dragon, but you could only get that in DA:O by committing sacrilage... still not quite approaching "evil" territory, although the Cult of Andraste was apparently also involved in human or animal sacrifices on some level... I don't know. There's no direct connection to demons, and it's not illegal to be a reaver, so I guess I just see them as very enthusiastic warriors with a non-magical life-drain power.
It was stated in the codex, I believe that Reaver are affected by the blood they drank. Their urge to kill grows.
I guess this just goes back to the blood mage discussion then, regarding what you do with your power versus the power controlling your actions. I mean, 80% of the game revolves around killing, regardless of your class. I wouldn't consider an increased desire to kill to be detrimental unless the game implemented some kind of "rage meter" that builds slowly while you aren't killing, then removes player control and forces you to attack anyone nearby when it gets full. Berserkers also supposedly have trouble controlling themselves sometimes, but the player never experiences this...
I think that the only way I'd consider a spec to be evil in and of itself is if you needed to commit a certain action to continue to access your powers, like cannibalism or sacrificing innocents to a demon once a week. Otherwise, it's just another power set... any type of magic or weapons skill can be used for evil, after all.
It now supposedly has to have some nasty consequences for the user, because it is apparently objectively morally wrong and crime always pays..
It was always displayed as such. The only characters that disagreed were justifying themselves. Even the ominous, knowing more than us personalities like Flemeth and Morrigan scoffed at characters that thought otherwise.
From the description of it Champion is now a defensive spec rather than a buff/debuff spec like it was in Origins, so it sounds like it's been pretty significantly overhauled.
Other than that I suspect the others wont change much
No it wasn't displayed as such. I don't care about character opinions on the issue, only facts.
Where is my blood mage?
I ate it. 
Needed a bit more salt, tho
No it wasn't displayed as such. I don't care about character opinions on the issue, only facts.
Fact, the only people in game to say blood magic is not inherently evil were themselves blood mages. Fact, Flemeth (super ancient magical being of unknown origin) said it wasn't a worthwhile investment (paraphrased).
There is one consistent message about Blood Magic from Origins on forward; Blood Magic is foolhardy, perilous and a trick. If you walk that path you're walking in the dark.
I saw no such message.
Fact, the only people in game to say blood magic is not inherently evil were themselves blood mages. Fact, Flemeth (super ancient magical being of unknown origin) said it wasn't a worthwhile investment (paraphrased).
I don't care if it's considered evil, what I am saying is it doesn't pose any dangers to the player more than any other magic. If Flemeth think it's not a worthwhile investment then she is a fool.
I don't care if it's considered evil, what I am saying is it doesn't pose any dangers to the player more than any other magic. If Flemeth think it's not a worthwhile investment then she is a fool.
It doesn't matter if nothing bad happens to the player. have you ever heard of plot armor? they decided to drop the blood mage spec this time around because they felt that they were unable to provide a mechanic that would portray this negative effect. The PC just happens to be a "Special Snowlflake" (I think that is the term being used now) however they don't want to have the PC immune to the negative effects of blood magic any more.
It doesn't matter if nothing bad happens to the player. have you ever heard of plot armor? they decided to drop the blood mage spec this time around because they felt that they were unable to provide a mechanic that would portray this negative effect. The PC just happens to be a "Special Snowlflake" (I think that is the term being used now) however they don't want to have the PC immune to the negative effects of blood magic any more.
There is no negative effect to speak of, no plot armor needed. Lore doesn't support any negative effects.
Still Warriors got two new specs like the others did
There is no negative effect to speak of, no plot armor needed. Lore doesn't support any negative effects.
Other than that outside of the player character and Merrill all the blood mages are either insane or tyrants? (arguably still crazy)
Still Warriors got two new specs like the others did
I like to think it's because warrior need the least amount of reworking.
The specialisations do seem interesting to me. I'm very curious about them. But what I'm more curious about is: a) how soon do you choose a specialisation... is it from the beginning? Is it a certain point? Is it a quest?
And how the rest of the talents/abilities/etc breakdown...are there going to be options for your character outside of your given specialisation? I'm very curious about how they're going to allow you to create your builds.
I was thinking getting a specialization would be like DA:2, when you reach a certain level the option appeared. That's wishful thinking on my part.
Other than that outside of the player character and Merrill all the blood mages are either insane or tyrants? (arguably still crazy)
Most blood mages we met in game were perfectly sane, as in mentally healthy, that's not arguable. If you don't like them or their goals, fair enough, doesn't make then crazy.
I like to think it's because warrior need the least amount of reworking.
That probably is the reason, still would've been nice
Most blood mages we met in game were perfectly sane, as in mentally healthy, that's not arguable. If you don't like them or their goals, fair enough, doesn't make then crazy.
I never realised that turning the senior enchanters of the circle into abominations, killing a bunch of women to resurrect a dead lover, sacrificing thousands of slaves to enter a mythical extradimensional city of gold, absorbing your fellow mages to become a flesh golem and irrationally kidnapping the PC's sibling/lover despite the fact that in some playthroughs the pc actually saved them from being killed even though they tried to kill the PC. nearly every single major character that dabbled in blood magic had some kind of mental or emotional instability.
I never realised that turning the senior enchanters of the circle into abominations, killing a bunch of women to resurrect a dead lover, sacrificing thousands of slaves to enter a mythical extradimensional city of gold, absorbing your fellow mages to become a flesh golem and irrationally kidnapping the PC's sibling/lover despite the fact that in some playthroughs the pc actually saved them from being killed even though they tried to kill the PC. nearly every single major character that dabbled in blood magic had some kind of mental or emotional instability.
From everything you have mentioned probably the only unstable person is Quentin, because a body made of different women doesn't bring his love back, everything else if perfectly fine, you just don't agree with their ways.
Retour en haut
