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[The Oracle]

I wonder what the limitations are of magical healing? I assume it can't replace a missing part or repair any extremely severe damage. Do we think it just heals wounds? Or perhaps it can help purge the body of infections and diseases. We see quite a few characters in game with scars that they are prominent/important enough to have mages on hand to heal. Do you think that they just choose not to or is it that even magic healed wounds still scar?

 

As it is, Bioware changed it to now be something that takes time and focus, and can't just be cast out in the field as an insta-heal. Now it only seems that our elfroot concoctions can do that. Which also compels me to point out how annoyed I get that we drink a healing draught and then smash the bottle on the ground. I figure that most of the Hinterlands are now covered in broken glass. Solas probably needs to drink healing potions to heal the cuts on his feet from shattered healing potions. It's a vicious circle. Has no-one in Thedas heard of recycling? Can't they just keep the bottles and wash them out for reuse later? Pfft.

[Elessara]

I wonder what the limitations are of magical healing? I assume it can't replace a missing part or repair any extremely severe damage. Do we think it just heals wounds? Or perhaps it can help purge the body of infections and diseases. We see quite a few characters in game with scars that they are prominent/important enough to have mages on hand to heal. Do you think that they just choose not to or is it that even magic healed wounds still scar?

 

As it is, Bioware changed it to now be something that takes time and focus, and can't just be cast out in the field as an insta-heal. Now it only seems that our elfroot concoctions can do that. Which also compels me to point out how annoyed I get that we drink a healing draught and then smash the bottle on the ground. I figure that most of the Hinterlands are now covered in broken glass. Solas probably needs to drink healing potions to heal the cuts on his feet from shattered healing potions. It's a vicious circle. Has no-one in Thedas heard of recycling? Can't they just keep the bottles and wash them out for reuse later? Pfft.

 

Also, how many glassblowers does the Inquisition employ to be making all of those bottles we constantly destroy?  I've seen glass bottles being made and whilst it doesn't take very long (unless you're making something specific) it's also not very fast.  And there are no factories mass producing the glass bottles.

[The Oracle]

"I'd like to outfit the troops, ensure that everyone has adequate armour, shoes, cloaks and backpacks. We also need more jars and bottles for preserving food to keep us supplied for a long, cold winter to come."

 

"Why, that sounds like an excellent suggestion Inquisitor, however we simply don't have the people or raw materials to do this. They're all busy making glass flasks for you so smash about Thedas. If you brought some bottles back, we could save time, labour and money to keep the Inquisition well equipped."

 

"You ah...want me to not smash the bottles? But that's part of the fun! It's so dramatic. I've even managed to lob a bottle over a house before. Ah...okay, forget my suggestions, just keep at the flask making"

 

*sigh*

[Sah291]

I wonder what the limitations are of magical healing? I assume it can't replace a missing part or repair any extremely severe damage. Do we think it just heals wounds? Or perhaps it can help purge the body of infections and diseases. We see quite a few characters in game with scars that they are prominent/important enough to have mages on hand to heal.

I'm guessing it's not strictly magic they are using to heal anyway. They probably can make many kinds of healing salves and medicines, but Thedas is only just starting to distinguish science as a separate field... Like in that convo you have with the Surgeon at Skyhold who tells you magic has limits and science is the future.

[Elessara]

"I'd like to outfit the troops, ensure that everyone has adequate armour, shoes, cloaks and backpacks. We also need more jars and bottles for preserving food to keep us supplied for a long, cold winter to come."

 

"Why, that sounds like an excellent suggestion Inquisitor, however we simply don't have the people or raw materials to do this. They're all busy making glass flasks for you so smash about Thedas. If you brought some bottles back, we could save time, labour and money to keep the Inquisition well equipped."

 

"You ah...want me to not smash the bottles? But that's part of the fun! It's so dramatic. I've even managed to lob a bottle over a house before. Ah...okay, forget my suggestions, just keep at the flask making"

 

*sigh*

 

You know, at the very least we could use the flasks as a makeshift projectile weapon.  Then they wouldn't be completely wasted.  Since apparently we have to smash every single one.

[Elessara]

I'm guessing it's not strictly magic they are using to heal anyway. They probably can make many kinds of healing salves and medicines, but Thedas is only just starting to distinguish science as a separate field... Like in that convo you have with the Surgeon at Skyhold who tells you magic has limits and science is the future.

 

That surgeon is wrong!  Wrong, I tell you!  Magic all the way!  Magic for President 2016!  No, not the former basketball player!  Magic will solve all of our problems!  Magic will save the world!

 

Excuse me, I think I'm scheduled to be possessed by a demon right about now ...

 

Seriously though, I really hope they limit science and technology to what it currently is.  I'm still a bit annoyed over the existence of cannons.

[Caddius]

I'm actually glad they included cannons. It'd be interesting to see how the development of pike-and-shot tactics would be affected by magic if they developed muskets too.

Really, my only problem with cannons and the like is that all those castles I upgraded in Medieval 2 have become sitting ducks. 

[Sable Rhapsody]

Seriously though, I really hope they limit science and technology to what it currently is.  I'm still a bit annoyed over the existence of cannons.

 

I tend to be in the minority on this one, but I genuinely like setting progression in terms of science and technology.  One of the things I really liked about Legend of Korra was how they advanced the setting from asian fantasy to asian steampunk during the decades-long lapse between Korra and Aang's times.  And magic and technology don't HAVE to be mutually exclusive in a setting unless there's an explicit lore reason for them to be that way.

[Illyria]

That's ... ironic?  Amusing at the very least.

 

But I agree, it's nice to see something different.

 

I'd like to see a dwaven pack next.  Or a pack of every armour in DAMP that isn't in the main game.

 

I admit to liking what I have now coined the "mudpuppy armor" (cuz it's mud armor, and looks good on Solas....wolf.....puppy...ummm. ), you can get in the Spoils of the Avvar. The other armor however, looks like one is tying their bedroll around their midsection (well, on males, at least - it's not so bad on females).

I am waiting on the qunari one, since I really did want it for the qunari PC's I have planned. And Bull. It's a no-go, if it doesn't get fixed for them. (though there is no denying that Sera can rock the mage wear, from the Spoils of Qunari )

 

Yeah, it's pretty bad.  I actually held off starting my Adaar until after the DLC came out and when I tried it I was very disapointed.  The tinting doesn't work, the body and face skintone don't match, Iron Bull loses his unique body textures and has a huge neck gap...

 

Sera looks so good in the qunari armor.

 

Dorian, iMO, looks the best in that armor on the men's side of things.

 

Iron Bull GREATLY Approves

[Sable Rhapsody]

I'd like to see a dwaven pack next.  Or a pack of every armour in DAMP that isn't in the main game.

 

The day I can put Solas in that Arcane Warrior armor will be a glorious, glorious day.

[Elessara]

I'm actually glad they included cannons. It'd be interesting to see how the development of pike-and-shot tactics would be affected by magic if they developed muskets too.

Really, my only problem with cannons and the like is that all those castles I upgraded in Medieval 2 have become sitting ducks. 

 

Cannons are a slippery slope!  Because then they'll create muskets which lead to hand guns which lead to automatic assault rifles which lead to laser guns which lead to spaceships.  None of those belong in a fantasy setting!  Swords, dragons, magic:  yes.  Guns, lasers, spaceships: no.

 

Yes, I am half joking.  But only half.  And I'll fully admit I'm quite close-minded on this subject.

 

And to keep this somewhat on topic ... Solas would totally disapprove of guns, lasers and spaceships in a fantasy setting.  Totally.

[Illyria]

The day I can put Solas in that Arcane Warrior armor will be a glorious, glorious day.

 

Heavy risk...

 

but the thiiiiiiiighs.

 

I just want to be able to use Neria's version of the Keeper robe.  The vanilla one is a little more bearable now I've got a mod that replaces the chainmail with cloth but it's still horrible looking compared to the male version.

[Elessara]

I tend to be in the minority on this one, but I genuinely like setting progression in terms of science and technology.  One of the things I really liked about Legend of Korra was how they advanced the setting from asian fantasy to asian steampunk during the decades-long lapse between Korra and Aang's times.  And magic and technology don't HAVE to be mutually exclusive in a setting unless there's an explicit lore reason for them to be that way.

 

I honestly prefer to keep my sci fi and fantasy separate.  I like both genres for different reasons.  Now, if we were going through Thedas from say, the Dragon Age to a thousand years from now, ok I'd expect to see scientific progress.

 

Thedas, a thousand years from now ... there really IS a ghost in the machine.

[midnight tea]

And to keep this somewhat on topic ... Solas would totally disapprove of guns, lasers and spaceships in a fantasy setting.  Totally.

 

Iiiii.... am not so sure. I think if it means progress and benefits to society and overall, he'd be all for it. Besides - in a technologically advanced, yet magical settings - or at least in one where there's no competition or division between the field we can have more fancy stuff than lasers Spirit bomb! Laser infused with power of pure ice! Semi-magical, semi-technological wormholes to another dimensions!

[Sable Rhapsody]

I honestly prefer to keep my sci fi and fantasy separate.  I like both genres for different reasons.  Now, if we were going through Thedas from say, the Dragon Age to a thousand years from now, ok I'd expect to see scientific progress.

 

Thedas, a thousand years from now ... there really IS a ghost in the machine.

 

If you've ever seen or played in the Eberron setting for Dungeons and Dragons, that's how I would think of technological advancement in a fantasy setting.  If the setting has magic, then magic will be part of that changing technology.  Eberron is high fantasy and high magic, but magic is a part of life for everyone.  There are magical guilds called Dragonmarked houses that control vital elements of the economy and politics.  There are airships and a lightning rail and living constructs, all powered by magic.  It's sort of halfway between high fantasy and steampunk, and you can kind of see the evolution of how you'd get from a more standard fantasy world like Dragon Age, to one like Eberron.

[Illyria]

I tend to be in the minority on this one, but I genuinely like setting progression in terms of science and technology.  One of the things I really liked about Legend of Korra was how they advanced the setting from asian fantasy to asian steampunk during the decades-long lapse between Korra and Aang's times.  And magic and technology don't HAVE to be mutually exclusive in a setting unless there's an explicit lore reason for them to be that way.

 

This is actually why I'm not enjoying LoK as much as I liked LoA (I'm on season two currently).  My biggest complaint is 'it doesn't feel like Avatar'.  If Thedas got too technologically advanced then it would start feeling too much like Mass Effect and not enough like Dragon Age.  I think the writers have to maintain a balance between the elements a technologically adavncing world and the medieval statis.

[Elessara]

Iiiii.... am not so sure. I think if it means progress and benefits to society and overall, he'd be all for it. Besides - in a technologically advanced, yet magical settings - or at least in one where there's no competition or division between the field we can have more fancy stuff than lasers Spirit bomb! Laser infused with power of pure ice! Semi-magical, semi-technological wormholes to another dimensions!

 

Yeah I was pretty much joking about Solas not liking it.  

 

Have to keep it somewhat on topic though, right?

[Caddius]

I understand why, but fantasy worlds that are static and forever High Medieval kinda throw me out of the suspension of disbelief. I like seeing the culture evolve along with the tech. And yeah, Legend of Korra is a good one. And realistic, since Avatar's technology was roughly 1870's.

[Elessara]

If you've ever seen or played in the Eberron setting for Dungeons and Dragons, that's how I would think of technological advancement in a fantasy setting.  If the setting has magic, then magic will be part of that changing technology.  Eberron is high fantasy and high magic, but magic is a part of life for everyone.  There are magical guilds called Dragonmarked houses that control vital elements of the economy and politics.  There are airships and a lightning rail and living constructs, all powered by magic.  It's sort of halfway between high fantasy and steampunk, and you can kind of see the evolution of how you'd get from a more standard fantasy world like Dragon Age, to one like Eberron.

 

I ... didn't like Eberron.  =\

[Elessara]

I understand why, but fantasy worlds that are static and forever High Medieval kinda throw me out of the suspension of disbelief. I like seeing the culture evolve along with the tech. And yeah, Legend of Korra is a good one. And realistic, since Avatar's technology was roughly 1870's.

 

The magic and the dragons and unicorns and such don't do that?

 

That kind of reminds me of one of my old DMs in D&D.  He would say, no your rogue can't evade that spell even though the rules say you can because it's too unrealistic.  The rest of the group:  Gosh, we kind of find it unrealistic to see a guy chant some words and have a fireball appear from his fingertips.

 

Why yes, the DM did get annoyed with us about that.  ;D

 

To me, that's kind of the point of fantasy, though.  Unrealistic, magical stuff. 

 

Sci fi, on the other hand, whilst unrealistic has an air of possibility about it.  If our technology advanced enough, we might be able to one day do this.

 

Both are awesome for different reasons.

[Sable Rhapsody]

I ... didn't like Eberron.  =\

 

LOL, fair enough.  I like blending and twisting genres, so things like medieval stasis drive me nuts.  As for Avatar, as long as the bones of the setting are still recognizable to me (the bending of elements, the Avatar as a spiritual bridge, etc.), I'm fine with changing it up.  I tend to suffer from the opposite problem where if the setting stays relatively too static for too long, I get bored with it.  Hence, hoping that Mass Effect: Andromeda will shake things up a bit.

 

The magic and the dragons and unicorns and such don't do that?

 

Magic and dragons and unicorns don't exist, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're immersion-breaking.  At least for me (and maybe for Caddius too), what breaks immersion is the nagging feeling that the setting doesn't live or breathe or change.  It's part of my beef with Warhammer 40k, despite how hilariously fun I find the setting.

[Elessara]

Also, Caddius and Sable Rhapsody - I'm actually quite enjoying this discussion.  It's nice to have a civil debate about why people like things.

 

Although, if Thedas became a technology infused yet still magical setting ... how would Solas react?  Would he embrace the new fangled gadgets or would he shake his fist and tell people to get off his lawn?

 

Personally, as long as technology didn't smother magic or harm spirits, I think Solas would embrace it.  Anyone remember that Babylon 5 episode with the technowizards?  That would be Solas.

[Elessara]

 

Magic and dragons and unicorns don't exist, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're immersion-breaking.  At least for me (and maybe for Caddius too), what breaks immersion is the nagging feeling that the setting doesn't live or breathe or change.  It's part of my beef with Warhammer 40k, despite how hilariously fun I find the setting.

 

Ok .. yeah I get that.  If nothing ever changes then, really what's the point, right?  I think I may be coming at this from a slightly different point of view though.  We don't really *see* much of a setting for a video game.  It's not really like say Forgotten Realms or Eberron where you advance through hundreds or perhaps thousands of years.  For Thedas, we have the Dragon Age, which will be about 100 years and we're almost halfway through that.  Unless they decide to make other games based in Thedas past that.

 

And should technology advance, it really shouldn't do so extremely quickly.  As in, today we have cannons and five years from now we have spirit powered super computers launching ships to invade alien planets.

[Sable Rhapsody]

Personally, as long as technology didn't smother magic or harm spirits, I think Solas would embrace it.  Anyone remember that Babylon 5 episode with the technowizards?  That would be Solas.

 

He's ok with blood magic, and I think he might even be enthusiastic about less dogmatic study of why magic works the way it does.  I dunno about non-magical advancements, though.  Surgery, anatomy, and medicine, sure.  Gunpowder and all its applications?  Maybe not, though that might be tinged by his prejudice against the qunari. 

 

As a random side question, do we know if the printing press exists in Thedas?  I kind of figured it did based on the relatively wide circulation of Genitivi's books.

 

For Thedas, we have the Dragon Age, which will be about 100 years and we're almost halfway through that.  Unless they decide to make other games based in Thedas past that.

 

And should technology advance, it really shouldn't do so extremely quickly.  As in, today we have cannons and five years from now we have spirit powered super computers launching ships to invade alien planets.

 

That's true, and fictional technology doesn't have to change at our modern breakneck pace.  But we've had a few world-shattering plotlines...and nothing's really changed.  No one's tried to take any of the things that our PCs discover and USE them, except for detrimental purposes (like red lyrium).  I dunno.  Maybe it's the optimist in me, but I'd like to think that SOME positive setting advancement happened after all the trouble my poor PCs went through 

[Elessara]

He's ok with blood magic, and I think he might even be enthusiastic about less dogmatic study of why magic works the way it does.  I dunno about non-magical advancements, though.  Surgery, anatomy, and medicine, sure.  Gunpowder and all its applications?  Maybe not, though that might be tinged by his prejudice against the qunari. 

 

As a random side question, do we know if the printing press exists in Thedas?  I kind of figured it did based on the relatively wide circulation of Genitivi's books.

 

 

That's true, and fictional technology doesn't have to change at our modern breakneck pace.  But we've had a few world-shattering plotlines...and nothing's really changed.  No one's tried to take any of the things that our PCs discover and USE them, except for detrimental purposes (like red lyrium).  I dunno.  Maybe it's the optimist in me, but I'd like to think that SOME positive setting advancement happened after all the trouble my poor PCs went through 

 

Pfft, printing presses?  No way.  They use that as punishment for all the novices in the Chantry.  Do something bad?  Spend a week printing out copies of Genitivi's books!

 

Unfortunately I understand *why* nothing earth-shattering/world changing has happened as a result of our PCs actions.  It makes it hard to do sequels for games especially if you want to give people a choice (or an appearance of choice).  It's a mechanics/programming/budget issue.