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[Fialka]

I like how DA took classic fantasy elements and put them on their heads. Dwarves are like typical fantasy dwarves, except they're practically going extinct and they're so mired in tradition and their cast system that their whole society is a train wreck. Elves are downtrodden and second class citizens instead of being the usual cliched "high and mighty elves". Mages are not the wise wizards they are in standard fantasy, they're ultra feared and prejudiced against and are big demon targets and are locked away in prisons all their lives. If you don't appreciate how this series takes what you typically expect from a fictional race and inverts it, I have to wonder exactly how you appreciate the series at all.

Exactly this... Now, just to be clear, I wouldn't really call myself a fan of modern fantasy.  I started playing Origins because of what I'd heard about the story, characters, etc.  However, I am interested in mythology - and reading through this thread I have to say... those of you who keep referencing what elves are "supposed" to be, you all do realize elves existed in fiction and mythology long before Mr. Tolkien ever touched a pencil. right?  Not there's anything wrong with his interpretation of elves, nor do I deny that it has had a huge impact on how elves are represented in modern fantasy - but it's just that: an interpretation.  I don't see why people seem to think it's some set-in-stone formula everyone else has to follow.  Frankly, I'm glad people don't.  I love that TES created their own elves that were alien-looking and had their own unique culture (though I do agree that Oblivion's character designs were... not good, elf or otherwise).  I also love that that the DA series took elves/dwarves etc. and made their own versions - with cultural issues inspired by those of real world peoples.

 

To bring this back on topic - I would agree that DA lore does tell us elves are generally supposed to be attractive to humans. The Inquisition elves we've seen so far (and to be fair there are just three not counting those early character models) do fit  - all are lithe, with delicate features, high cheekbones, full lips, etc. Personally, I find them all attractive, but that's subjective.  Also, just because a certain 'race' of people is considered generally attractive, doesn't mean every single member is going to be beautiful.  To use a real world example - a man tells me he finds Japanese women attractive.  I'm not going to take this to mean he thinks every single Japanese woman he sees is hot, just that he is more likely to think one is beautiful, cute, striking, than not.

 

Edit: Also, I do agree that DA2 missed the mark here  - though to be fair, I wonder if the lack of development time isn't partly at fault.  To me, it seems certain major characters - Fenris, Merrill, Orsino, Marethari - got more design time than the other 'generic' elf characters, and they turned out quite well.  Even if they still had those weird lollipop bodies.  I do appreciate what they tried to do in making the elves more unique, but it didn't really work for me.  I think the Inquisition elves strike a nice balance between looking not human but still being attractive by human standards.

[Elhanan]

Thus far, I like what is seen of Elves in DAI; the combined beauty of the Elven seen in DAO and the distinctiveness of the race from DA2.

Am not a fan of the extreme alterations generally made in DA2 and Skyrim, though there are exceptions that can be seen.

[Seraphim24]

I like how DA took classic fantasy elements and put them on their heads. Dwarves are like typical fantasy dwarves, except they're practically going extinct and they're so mired in tradition and their cast system that their whole society is a train wreck. Elves are downtrodden and second class citizens instead of being the usual cliched "high and mighty elves". Mages are not the wise wizards they are in standard fantasy, they're ultra feared and prejudiced against and are big demon targets and are locked away in prisons all their lives. If you don't appreciate how this series takes what you typically expect from a fictional race and inverts it, I have to wonder exactly how you appreciate the series at all.

 

I appreciate it mostly by looking at all the other western games out and going, ew. Although the humans in the series have been consistently pretty cool IMO.

 

It's an awesome cliche, if you want to call it that, and I just would of rather seen it go in the opposite direction. It's fine to change things to make it different but I don't know what they were going for with the Elves. If you want to just degrade every noble classic fantasy race into a bluntly nativist, primitive, and tribal society then they end up lacking as a source of interesting drama or conflict because there isn't any dynamism or power that would attract people to their culture. Consequently, the Warhammer approach seemed better, instead of turning elves on their head by making them weak, turn it on their head by making not simply powerful but near-gods.

 

The dwarves and mages both retained some sense of control over their destiny, and therefore it was still possible to be interested in them, the changes might of even made them more compelling overall. I'd also dispute that the series does a lot of inverting, the Tevinter Imperium is essentially the Red Wizards of Thay. The chantry and templars are pretty much synonymous with western Christianity. There are probably other examples, but I just found it grating that when they did decide to really change something, it was one of the things they were better off leaving alone. 

[Chron0id]

Hot elves?  What about hot qunari?  We need some more hot qunari!

[seraphymon]

Well with Qunari, we could say we have had cool looking Qunari like the Arishok, and perhaps Iron Bull. As far as hot, that just remains to be seen. Only quinari female so far has just been our own protagonist, which we can alter. so does not count.

[tmp7704]

It's an awesome cliche, if you want to call it that, and I just would of rather seen it go in the opposite direction. It's fine to change things to make it different but I don't know what they were going for with the Elves.

It seems fairly simple 'what they were going for with the elves' -- they've explored consequences of race losing its cultural identity and/or freedom. And yes, it's more interesting when done to traditionally powerful fantasy species than the opposite of making that powerful species even more powerful, as the latter doesn't exactly change much from the clichéd approach. It certainly doesn't "turn things on the head", just like making Superman capable of hurling planets around instead of just buildings doesn't really alter the basis of the character.

[MetalGear312]

You had me at "Holy virgin eating volcano gods." Will you marry my sense of humor please?

[Vumba the Wild Elf]

Look at Umaril the most superior Elf of his race. Beautiful bastard. BTW.This is probably what Aldmer looked like.

[Dermain]

*snip*

Look at Umaril the most superior Elf of his race. Beautiful bastard. BTW.This is probably what Aldmer looked like.

 

No, Umaril and those with him were half daedra. Aldmer looked like Altmer as can be witnessed in ESO.

[Vumba the Wild Elf]

No, Umaril and those with him were half daedra. Aldmer looked like Altmer as can be witnessed in ESO.

ESO is definitely not a lore friendly source, Aldmer where titanic, like the giants whom nords descend from.

 

By lore writer. For more on Giants and nord ancestry read the seven fights of aldudagga

Actual size

[Dermain]

ESO is definitely not a lore friendly source, Aldmer where titanic, like the giants whom nords descend from.

*snip*

By lore writer. For more on Giants and nord ancestry read the seven fights of aldudagga

 

Actual size

 

Which was only talked about being worked on, but was never actually in a game. As such it's as reliable as fan fiction since there are no other in game sources that support your claims.

[Vumba the Wild Elf]

Which was only talked about being worked on, but was never actually in a game. As such it's as reliable as fan fiction since there are no other in game sources that support your claims.

It's completed, here

http://www.imperial-...ights-aldudagga

 

There is a reason why the high elves are the tallest race, even taller than orcs.

[Chernaya]

I'm of the opinion Bioware shouldn't have to make their elves look like Tolkien elves or any other kinds of elves just because people like those elves and find them 'hot'. Admittedly I wasn't the biggest fan of the DA2 elves looks, but I still appreciated that they tried to make them look like a different race and they didn't just look like pretty uber feminine humans with pointy ears.

[Dermain]

It's completed, here

http://www.imperial-...ights-aldudagga

 

There is a reason why the high elves are the tallest race, even taller than orcs.

 

Given that the writing style does not match any of the other actual lore books for TES I am yet again calling it fan fiction. It has no relevance to the rest of the universe and is not mentioned in any of the games. 

[Vumba the Wild Elf]

Given that the writing style does not match any of the other actual lore books for TES I am yet again calling it fan fiction. It has no relevance to the rest of the universe and is not mentioned in any of the games. 

This is written by Micheal Kirkbride, the writer, and designer of Morrowind, and the one who wrote the lore of the Elder Scrolls. He is a legend.

[Dermain]

This is written by Micheal Kirkbride, the writer, and designer of Morrowind, and the one who wrote the lore of the Elder Scrolls. He is a legend.

 

Good for him? It's still not in any of the games, and as such is fan fiction.

[Vumba the Wild Elf]

Good for him? It's still not in any of the games, and as such is fan fiction.

They took the painted cow thing from the seven fights of aldudagga

[Hanako Ikezawa]

Good for him? It's still not in any of the games, and as such is fan fiction.

That's like saying Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne is fan fiction because it isn't talked about in Dragon Age: Origins. 

[Dermain]

That's like saying Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne is fan fiction because it isn't talked about in Dragon Age: Origins. 

 

Problem being it has been stated numerous times that the DA books/comics are all canon.

 

This is a "book" never mentioned in the games, it has no supporting evidence in the previous lore, and just happened to be written by some fellow that writes lore for TES series.

 

 

Many Headed Talos was also quoted verbatim by Heimskr.

 

Which may have just been an easter egg to people who are familiar with whatever it is he wrote.

[Mirrman70]

I would just like to point out that after morrowind, Kirkbride has not been that involved outside of writing some in game books and helping with the knights of the nine. He is credited with working on Redgaurd through Oblivion. Also the Elder Scrolls franchise is as susceptible to retcons as any other

[Mirrman70]

the last time Fox news got involved it was because they were calling Mass Effect an Alien Porn Game. we should be happy that the non-humans aren't super hot.