9 réponses à ce sujet

[Vazgen]

The question is answered easily in games like Skyrim where you have to read a spell tome to learn them. But how do mages in Dragon Age learn new spells in the field? Do you have any ideas on how to roleplay that?

[Merle McClure II]

I personally figure that manipulating Fade Energy is something that once you get the basics down it's just a matter of experimentation and elaboration of existing theories ... I suppose that if you want an excuse to limit your spell choices you could only allow yourself to start a new "school" of magic after each major Quest Line and/or personal milestone.

[Mike3207]

I imagine it might be like Dungeons and Dragons from what I remember it-you have a list of spells and you simply have to practice them to learn the spells. You spend a level learning the spell, and then you can call upon it at will, as long as you have sufficient mana.

[Vazgen]

So, after looking over spells of Wynne and Irving and the ones I plan to use for my character I came up with such roleplay:

Schools of Creation and Entropy are two aspects of the School of Matter [1], [2]. Thus, the basic principles of learning spells from those schools should be similar. Starting spells are Glyph of Paralysis and Vulnerability Hex (I think these two lines are the closest ones of the two schools). After encountering Wisps during the Harrowing Spell Wisp is unlocked. After that, exploring storerooms and encountering poisonous spiders nets him the idea behind Grease. He continues his research into glyphs afterwards. Then, encountering death and corruption that darkspawn spread and drinking their blood gives him the necessary knowledge to start the Life Drain tree. After that he continues his research in the School of Entropy alternating Life Drain and Hex trees alongside training in Shapeshifter magic with Morrigan. Until getting to the Urn of Sacred Ashes which, with the manual from Denerim, gives him an idea behind Spirit Healer specialization. His studies return more to the Circle magic and he maxes out Arcane (with Wynne's help), Spirit Healer and Glyph trees. 

[1] The Four Schools of Magic: Creation

[2] The Four Schools of Magic: Entropy

 

I couldn't figure out how would the Circle teach spells like Death Magic, Death Siphon, Death Cloud, Sleep, Horror - all these seem quite dark in nature and border blood magic in their appearance and effect. The main schools of the Circle (based on Wynne, Irving, Jowan and apprentices during magi origin) seem to be Creation and Primal schools with small interest in first two trees of Entropy and Spirit schools. The Walking Bomb, Mind Blast, Disorient and Life Drain trees seem to be not really suitable for the Circle.

 

Thoughts?

[Merle McClure II]

It makes sense to me .... although something to consider is that before Jowan the Circle had what basically amounted to "Blood Magic for Dummies" in their main library where anyone had access to. 

[Vazgen]

It makes sense to me .... although something to consider is that before Jowan the Circle had what basically amounted to "Blood Magic for Dummies" in their main library where anyone had access to. 

Yeah, they were not quite careful about it. I think, most of those spells are problematic to teach because you can't really test them out in the Circle Tower. Like Death Magic, for example.

When Irving says that someone witnessed Jowan practicing Blood Magic, what spells could he have used? Blood Sacrifice requires an ally, Blood Wound and Blood Control require target (and the target won't survive it, or will remember it for sure). Only thing left is Blood Magic, so he can use his own blood to power spells. But then, when and where did he learn how to overpower multiple targets? 

[Mike3207]

The Spirit and Entropy trees are a bit more esoteric in design. I'd imagine there would have to be sufficient interest and the Chantry would want alternatives to mages who would at least consider blood magic if Spirit/Entropy weren't around. I'd imagine the Chantry felt that could live with those alternatives, rather than having mages focus their attention on blood magic.

[Vazgen]

The Spirit and Entropy trees are a bit more esoteric in design. I'd imagine there would have to be sufficient interest and the Chantry would want alternatives to mages who would at least consider blood magic if Spirit/Entropy weren't around. I'd imagine the Chantry felt that could live with those alternatives, rather than having mages focus their attention on blood magic.

I think that the Chantry allows those spells to exist because they are 1) too interconnected with other, beneficial schools (Spirit - Primal, Entropy - Creation) and learning one might very well require some knowledge in the other 2) blood magic thins the Veil where it's used - something that those spells don't do. 

[Merle McClure II]

Well, basically what Jowan did was cast Blood Wound in that scene ... I don't think he has it later if you send him into the Fade which strikes me as an oversight as opposed to a lore issue.

 

 

As for what Jowan was practicing, probably some minor from of mind control on the Tower cat or some such thing ... or perhaps something as simple as a Templar seeing him cut his hand and casting a normal spell, the spell effects that Blood Magic are described as being capable of are much more diverse then the four we get access to in game. 

[elephunky]

I think of it in terms of as their experience increases so does their understanding of the magic they practice and the ability to manipulate it.