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[Majestic Jazz]

If the six Star Wars movies were about the rise, fall and redemption of Anakin Skywalker, and the Hobbit/LOTR books are about the journey of one ring carried by two Baggins, then after completing DAI today, it appears that the trilogy is telling a story about the Elves. When I say Elves, I mean in terms of lore, mythology, and their place/footprint within Thedas and so on.

 

Coming into DAI I was playing a world state which was mainly human and pro Chantry. My Warden was a noblewomen who became Queen and was a devote Andrastian. Hawke was pro chantry and my IQ was a human noble, pro Chantry. But it seems that the game was actually less about Andraste and the Maker and more about the manipulation of Elven gods/historic figures i.e. Solas and Flemeth. 

 

Not that I am complaining because I have always seen myself as pro elf anyways, I just wanted to do a pro chantry playthrough first. Having beat DAI now, I feel like going all the way back and doing a marathon trilogy playthrough of DA as a male elf (not sure if he will be a Mage, Dalish or city) who romances Morrigan or Leliana. Then playing DA2 as a male mage Hawke who romances Merril and playing the Legacy DLC last, right before the final mission in DA2. Then coming into DAI playing as a female elf mage who romances Solas. This time always having Solas in my party and paying extra attention to him.

 

Also on these 3 playthroughs I will try to read EVERY codex regarding elven lore and magic. It just seemed that towards the end of the game, playing as a Human who is pro-chantry, I felt like an outsider as opposed to the beginning of the game where it felt like the core story was centered around the Chantry/Andraste.

 

Also replaying DAO will allow me to get a better understanding of Morrigan, and Leliana as I will try to make her my 
Divine when I get back to DAI. Also I am not sure who I should romance in DAO, Leliana or Morrigan and if I should do the Dark ritual or not.

 

 

But yeah, has anyone else felt the same way? I believe that by going back and playing DAO and DA2 after DAI, I would have a much different perspective of the games than what I did back in 2009 and 2011. Of course I will not do this right away, it might not be until this summer when I get around to doing this cause I want Bioware to release some weapon/armor dlc packs for single player as well as a new single player story DLC before I start DAI again.

 

Thoughts?

[Blackzio]

Yep, that's what i was thinking, it completely changed some views i had of the game.

I always took the flemeth is a ****** and wants to murder morrigan for granted. 

 

And when you think about, makes perfect sense being about elves, it was their land in the first place.

 

After i finish my 2nd inquisition ill begin origins probably (im on vacation, so yeah, this is shaping up to be my nerdiest vacation ever...)

[Nimlowyn]

I feel like Dragon Age is about Thedas, and the elves are a part of it. That said, like you I played a human noble Andrastian, and while I enjoyed it, when finishing the game I thought, "Wow, I have to play as an elf next." Especially since there is extra information you learn at the Temple of Mythal only if you play an elf (I won't spoil it for you just in case). 

 

I was a bit indifferent about the Dalish before. Since playing DAI I find them much more interesting and compelling. My Dalish Inquisitor may be my canon one. 

[Chuvvy]

I think that's an oversimplification. Elves are an aspect of the story, to say they are THE story, ignores the many other plot points in the franchise.

[Wompoo]

I'm heavily biased towards elves since DA:O... the Chantry the Templars the Humans and the Qun, in the words of Sera can eat it, an arrow in their face. As for the series being about Thedas, to be honest I feel zero empathy for Thedas. The Elves yes and even the Dwarves to some extent, humans I couldn't careless about (yes, guilty of playing a Noble in DA:O, purely to get a decent ending).  Mostly I would prefer to have an epic hero and epic tale about my character, not Thedas (Inquisition fails like DA2 did to feel epic... they were either epically repetitive or in a way epically MMOish). I so miss being able to converse with my party any where at any time (dislike the Mass Effect model). All in all I want stories about my characters (Elf Elf Elf Elf Dwarf ) not humans in Thedas, boring.

[TheBlackAdder13]

Elf this, elf that, I'll elf your mom. 

[DementedSheep]

Thing is, even if a large part of the wider story is about ancient elven gods much of the stuff in the games is geared towards humans. The most balanced is DA:O but DA2 you have to be human and in DA:I human still feels like what the plot was written for. You get more interaction with humans, the mage/Templar conflict (which is fairly large thing in all 3 games) is a mostly a human conflict, you get a lot with the Chantry and you get human political struggles.

 

In DA:I the humans have the most legitimate reason to even be at the conclave while elves have the most sketchy one. Wanting to know how the war was going so you clan can decide what to do is ok but how would you spy? you have tattoos on your face so you can't pass as a servant. Maybe if you manage to attach yourself to a merc group you could get in? I don't see it being so easy to get acceptance as an elf leading the inquisition and being a religious icon (it's bought up but it's not a huge deal).  I don't think getting high court approval should really even be possible as an elf and why the hell is my Dalish who has never had anything to do with the courts brilliant at orleasin dancing? Presumably Josie would have taught her the basics but even still, that seem a bit weird. The game seems to forget you're elf  on occasion like when you get the temple of Mythal and you automatically ask what is it is ("temple" and "Mythal" should be self explanatory for a Dalish) and you can't even recognise depictions of your own gods. The big bad is straight out of chantry legend.

[Blackzio]

Thing is, even if a large part of the wider story is about ancient elven gods much of the stuff in the games is geared towards humans. The most balanced is DA:O but DA2 you have to be human and in DA:I human still feels like what the plot was written for. You get more interaction with humans, the mage/Templar conflict (which is fairly large thing in all 3 games) is a mostly a human conflict, you get a lot with the Chantry and you get human political struggles.

 

In DA:I the humans have the most legitimate reason to even be at the conclave while elves have the most sketchy one. Wanting to know how the war was going so you clan can decide what to do is ok but how would you spy? you have tattoos on your face so you can't pass as a servant. Maybe if you manage to attach yourself to a merc group you could get in? I don't see it being so easy to get acceptance as an elf leading the inquisition and being a religious icon (it's bought up but it's not a huge deal).  I don't think getting high court approval should really even be possible as an elf and why the hell is my Dalish who has never had anything to do with the courts brilliant at orleasin dancing? Presumably Josie would have taught her the basics but even still, that seem a bit weird. The game seems to forget you're elf  on occasion like when you get the temple of Mythal automatically ask what is it is ("temple" and "Mythal" should be self explanatory for a Dalish) and you can't even recognise depictions of your own gods. The big bad is straight out of chantry legend.

thing is, at that point, the inquisition is a force to be feared, if you play their game, they have to respect you, if you are qun or elf or whatever, Orlesians may be set in some pretty stupid traditions, but they aren't idiots to ignore the power of the inquisition, specially if they see that you can also beat them at their own game. (But behind your back they must be talking **** about you if you're not human)

[Precursor Meta]

I hope it isn't just about them but that's where the story seems to be headed.

 

But on the bright side, maybe you wont feel out of place when playing as an elf from here on out.

[LobselVith8]

Thing is, even if a large part of the wider story is about ancient elven gods much of the stuff in the games is geared towards humans. The most balanced is DA:O but DA2 you have to be human and in DA:I human still feels like what the plot was written for. You get more interaction with humans, the mage/Templar conflict (which is fairly large thing in all 3 games) is a mostly a human conflict, you get a lot with the Chantry and you get human political struggles.

 

Even the quests in the Dales, a predominantly elven region, are mainly focused on Andrastian humans.

 

In DA:I the humans have the most legitimate reason to even be at the conclave while elves have the most sketchy one. Wanting to know how the war was going so you clan can decide what to do is ok but how would you spy? you have tattoos on your face so you can't pass as a servant. Maybe if you manage to attach yourself to a merc group you could get in?

 

To be fair, it's not as though we don't have examples of Dalish in Origins and Dragon Age II who voluntarily left their clan - Velanna and Merrill are two prime examples. Lavellan is also wearing a mercenary uniform, so I'd presume the Dalish protagonist assumed the role of a gun for hire.

 

I don't see it being so easy to get acceptance as an elf leading the inquisition and being a religious icon (it's bought up but it's not a huge deal).  I don't think getting high court approval should really even be possible as an elf and why the hell is my Dalish who has never had anything to do with the courts brilliant at orleasin dancing? Presumably Josie would have taught her the basics but even still, that seem a bit weird.

 

I suspect you're right and that the Inquisitor was likely trained beforehand, since even a Free Marcher noble may not necessarily have known Orlesian dance moves. However, I think your notion about being a 'religious icon' is a reminder that the storyline focuses primarily on the Andrastian faith, and tends to marginalize everything else. I do wish that Lavellan's (potential) faith in the Creators and Cadash's (potential) belief in the Stone could be explored more.

 

The game seems to forget you're elf  on occasion like when you get the temple of Mythal automatically ask what is it is ("temple" and "Mythal" should be self explanatory for a Dalish) and you can't even recognise depictions of your own gods. The big bad is straight out of chantry legend.

 

Which is unfortunately an issue with Cadash and Adaar as well, when the narrative ignores their background and the story treats them as though they are an Andrastian human.

[omgodzilla]

I'm heavily biased towards elves since DA:O... the Chantry the Templars the Humans and the Qun, in the words of Sera can eat it, an arrow in their face. As for the series being about Thedas, to be honest I feel zero empathy for Thedas. The Elves yes and even the Dwarves to some extent, humans I couldn't careless about (yes, guilty of playing a Noble in DA:O, purely to get a decent ending).  Mostly I would prefer to have an epic hero and epic tale about my character, not Thedas (Inquisition fails like DA2 did to feel epic... they were either epically repetitive or in a way epically MMOish). I so miss being able to converse with my party any where at any time (dislike the Mass Effect model). All in all I want stories about my characters (Elf Elf Elf Elf Dwarf ) not humans in Thedas, boring.

 

Elves are jerks just like humans. Give them some actual power and they'll commit just as many atrocities as humans do. 

[jlb524]

The franchise still seems pretty human-centric to me with the occasional dash of elf.

In rare times, they'll sprinkle in a pinch of dwarf.

Even rarer, you'll taste a subtle hint of qunari.

[omgodzilla]

The franchise still seems pretty human-centric to me with the occasional dash of elf.

In rare times, they'll sprinkle in a pinch of dwarf.

Even rarer, you'll taste a subtle hint of qunari.

 

I wanna taste more Qunari. 

[Cainhurst Crow]

Nah, I disagree. This series is about the darkspawn, blight, and taint.

 

Main threat from Origins? The blight. Main threat from awakening? Intelligent darkspawn caused by a Magister from the black city. Main threat from DA2? Red lyrium, which is lyrium infected with the taint. Main threat in Dragon Age Inquisition? Magister from the black city using tainted lyrium to turn into a god.

 

Every big threat the games faced have all been related to, directly or indirectly, the blight, the taint, and the darkspawn. This trifecta, or rather the number 3, appears to be a recurring theme of the game as well, more then elves or darkspawn.

 

How many companions can you have? 3.

How many grey warden initiates are recruited by duncan? 3.

How many wardens survive loghians ambush? 3.

How many people do you need to recruit with the treaties? 3.

How many qunari rule over the qunari people? 3.

How many top figures are there in the chantry? 3 (Divine, Left Hand, Right Hand)

How many main areas can you explore in DA2? 3 (Kirkwall, Wounded Coast, Sundermount)

How many acts in Dragon Age 2? 3.

How many Advisors? 3

How many times can you enter the fade in DAI? 3

How many times does Corypheus die in the Series? 3

 

Point is, The team working on dragon age really like the number 3, and the blight, and elves.

[cronshaw]

Also on these 3 playthroughs I will try to read EVERY codex regarding elven lore and magic. It just seemed that towards the end of the game, playing as a Human who is pro-chantry, I felt like an outsider as opposed to the beginning of the game where it felt like the core story was centered around the Chantry/Andraste.

 

 

 

I'd guess that is the way you are supposed to feel

since most of what the Chantry has been preaching and what players have been reading in lore entries is propaganda, half-truths, myths and legends

The first codex entry I read in DA:O I realized this.

All of the lore has a point of view: a bais.

None of the lore entries come from an omniscient narrator

It is one of my favorite things about the series

[NotBeouwulf]

Only two Wardens survive Loghain's ambush, unless Dog is considered a Warden.

Corypheus dies at least 4 if not 5 times (Legacy, possible during conclave, twice in the Temple, and at the end).

The Right and Left Hand are agents of the Divine, they are not in the Chantry Hierarchy.

[Cainhurst Crow]

Only two Wardens survive Loghain's ambush, unless Dog is considered a Warden.

Corypheus dies at least 4 if not 5 times (Legacy, possible during conclave, twice in the Temple, and at the end).

The Right and Left Hand are agents of the Divine, they are not in the Chantry Hierarchy.

 

The Warden, Alistar, and Riordan.

 

We see him die on screen 3 times. Once in Legacy, Again at the Temple, and finally at the end.

 

They might as well be, given that the line of succession goes to one of them.

 

Speaking of which, Amount of candidates for divine, 3.

[Mann42]

Point is, The team working on dragon age really like the number 3, and the blight, and elves.

The Rule of Three is common everywhere, not just Dragon Age. It's common in stories, religion, mathematics. art composition, economics, and even game design.

 

The human mind has a 3 fetish. Once you know about it, you'll see it everywhere.

[NotBeouwulf]

The Warden, Alistar, and Riordan.
 
We see him die on screen 3 times. Once in Legacy, Again at the Temple, and finally at the end.
 
They might as well be, given that the line of succession goes to one of them.
 
Speaking of which, Amount of candidates for divine, 3.

Riordan was not at Ostagar

Twice at the Temple, after you flee into the Eluvian the spirit gets him.

And the line of succession doesn't go to them, they are only considered because all the normal successors died and there is a dearth of suitable candidates.

Also, the reason there are three companions are that there are three classes in DAI. And three candidates allow them to have two extremes and a compromise

[Dean_the_Young]

Nah, I disagree. This series is about the darkspawn, blight, and taint.

 

Main threat from Origins? The blight. Main threat from awakening? Intelligent darkspawn caused by a Magister from the black city. Main threat from DA2? Red lyrium, which is lyrium infected with the taint. Main threat in Dragon Age Inquisition? Magister from the black city using tainted lyrium to turn into a god.

 

Every big threat the games faced have all been related to, directly or indirectly, the blight, the taint, and the darkspawn. This trifecta, or rather the number 3, appears to be a recurring theme of the game as well, more then elves or darkspawn.

 

How many companions can you have? 3.

How many grey warden initiates are recruited by duncan? 3.

How many wardens survive loghians ambush? 3.

How many people do you need to recruit with the treaties? 3.

How many qunari rule over the qunari people? 3.

How many top figures are there in the chantry? 3 (Divine, Left Hand, Right Hand)

How many main areas can you explore in DA2? 3 (Kirkwall, Wounded Coast, Sundermount)

How many acts in Dragon Age 2? 3.

How many Advisors? 3

How many times can you enter the fade in DAI? 3

How many times does Corypheus die in the Series? 3

 

Point is, The team working on dragon age really like the number 3, and the blight, and elves.

 

I'll just throw in that there are some strong indicators that the Blight and Golden City are tied into the elves.

 

If you drink from the Well of Mythal, certain parts of the temple become legible. One of these codexs talks about a terrifying weapon of one of the gods, importantly noted as golden, that was sealed as a potential doomsday weapon of sorts. Another of these codexs talks about soulless workers of the earth that might be an analog for the Darkspawn, which ties into a mural of the elves fighting some dark threat from underground (which itself ties into the DA2 DLC about the Corruption demon-thingie that the Dwarves sealed on the surface outside Kirkwall).

 

There's a good thread or two about it here somewhere, but some of the implications of DAI are that not only does the Blight predate the Magister invasion of the Golden City, but that (in some sense or fashion) it was related to/created by the ancient elven gods.

 

 

As for the number three, it is true- but it's also pretty standard in fiction. 'Three' is the number of balance, and is useful in many contexts to allow for distinction and development rather than merely contrast. Also think of the classic literary divisions of rising action,  climax, and falling action- three again.

[Ajna]

Nah, I disagree. This series is about the darkspawn, blight, and taint.

 

Main threat from Origins? The blight. Main threat from awakening? Intelligent darkspawn caused by a Magister from the black city. Main threat from DA2? Red lyrium, which is lyrium infected with the taint. Main threat in Dragon Age Inquisition? Magister from the black city using tainted lyrium to turn into a god.

 

Every big threat the games faced have all been related to, directly or indirectly, the blight, the taint, and the darkspawn. This trifecta, or rather the number 3, appears to be a recurring theme of the game as well, more then elves or darkspawn.

 

How many companions can you have? 3.

How many grey warden initiates are recruited by duncan? 3.

How many wardens survive loghians ambush? 3.

How many people do you need to recruit with the treaties? 3.

How many qunari rule over the qunari people? 3.

How many top figures are there in the chantry? 3 (Divine, Left Hand, Right Hand)

How many main areas can you explore in DA2? 3 (Kirkwall, Wounded Coast, Sundermount)

How many acts in Dragon Age 2? 3.

How many Advisors? 3

How many times can you enter the fade in DAI? 3

How many times does Corypheus die in the Series? 3

 

Point is, The team working on dragon age really like the number 3, and the blight, and elves.

 

3 is my lucky number, and 33 haunts me every day of my life.

 

To the OP - definitely do it, I'm glad that I played a Dalish Solasmancing Mage in my first PT which is my canon.  It felt very right for me.

[QweenBeen]

DAI is most definitely about the elves, and their cannon is a female mage elf imo. However, DA is about the dragon age, from start to finish, they're going to lead us through the tumultuous 99 years that all ages last for. It started with the Orlesian overthrow in rebellion, and will probably end with a quanri invasion. The qun age...ick... but I think there is so much more than elves in these stories, I just think it's their time to grow stronger, but I don't think they're a dominant part of the lore.

[Draining Dragon]

What did you expect?

Every Fantasy story with elves becomes about the elves eventually.