While this was kind of true for the Romans, it's usually overstated to a fairly dramatic degree - both the degree to which it happened and the degree to which it was different from other contemporary societies.
Oh, sure. But I think in this case the writers are entitled to a bit of artistic license regarding whether they'll follow actual history vs. it's popular narrative.
Oh, sure. But I think in this case the writers are entitled to a bit of artistic license regarding whether they'll follow actual history vs. it's popular narrative.
What is this Roman Borrowings Trope you speak of? Is this a trope employed in, what, entertainment? Because I just don't understand how you are applying these terms.
What is this Roman Borrowings Trope you speak of? Is this a trope employed in, what, entertainment? Because I just don't understand how you are applying these terms.
While this was kind of true for the Romans, it's usually overstated to a fairly dramatic degree - both the degree to which it happened and the degree to which it was different from other contemporary societies.
Yes...I didn't realize I was being dramatic and overstating anything. I was agreeing that the devs seem to be looking to Rome as inspiration. Also, while yes, cultures have done this for time immemorial, Rome is an easily identifiable analogue for the LCD players. The devs probably haven't nor do they expect the player to understand the entire history of the Roman empire. Or the history of Western civilization. I'm happy you seem to have a deep understanding of it, though.
While this was kind of true for the Romans, it's usually overstated to a fairly dramatic degree - both the degree to which it happened and the degree to which it was different from other contemporary societies.
However, Rome tends to be the best known example of such successful appropriation post-conquest...at least in the public mind. The reality may have been more nuanced (and let's be real, history always is). But most people are not well-versed in the intricacies of the past even when it comes to their own countries, let alone one long turned to dust. In any case, simplified or no, Rome was the basis for Tevinter, and using it as a parallel in conversation is to be expected. Like Kissiebear said above, it's about what's readily recognizable, especially when you're trying to market your product to a wider audience. People know Rome, or at least the broad strokes of it. Getting into minutiae isn't something that suits this discussion, because only the broad strokes were used.
Pretty much, yes. The Beyond is the term used by the Dalish to indicate the Fade. Sometimes it also seems to be synonymous with The Void, but that seems to be more inconsistently used in the games. Sometimes The Void = The Fade, and sometimes it sounds like it's implied to be somewhere separate.
Huh... so they think their gods are in demon land.
The Dalish's theology is a bit of an inconsistent mess when it comes to Fade denizens and their gods relationship with it and each other.
The Dalish's theology is a bit of an inconsistent mess when it comes to Fade denizens and their gods relationship with it and each other.
I think the Dalish may have to relearn...everything. They have been wrong about a lot of things.
Wouldn't just go to the crossroads that Morrigan shows us? I think people said that you can see it during the cutscene.
The thing is that Eluvians can be redirected, so like....all the eluvians could lead to the crossroads as a default, but some have been redirected elsewhere.
how are they even passing the time? where ever it is they're trapped
I'd literally rather die than be forced into close quarters with my family members for two thousand years
how are they even passing the time? where ever it is they're trapped
I'd literally rather die than be forced into close quarters with my family members for two thousand years
I think it would be worse alone.
We see a lot of Tevinter-esque architecture in the physical Fade. But perhaps that's a mistake on our part, assuming that it's meant to be representative of Tevinter. What if their own architectural style, like everything else related to their culture, was simply something they stole from the elves? That would be in-keeping with the twist that their culture isn't truly their own, but a human facsimile of a much greater elven empire.
This is assuming that whatever we see in the Fade is a "reality", which it is not necessarily. The Fade is basically a "unsolid" realm that is shaped strongly by the expectations and imagination of the visitor and his state of mind at any particular point in his journey. We do know that whatever demons we find there might just be representations of the fear, anger, sorrow, sadness (, or trust, faith?) of the visitor. Their real shape (or if they even have one*) is not assured.
Moreover, when the group in DAI arrives in the Fade, there seems to be no consensus as to what it is actually like. Hawke claims it looks not like she remembers it. Also it does resemble but not repeat the DAO Fade. But not only Hawke, also Solas and Cole don't quite recognize what they see. They all claim it was "a different part" of the Fade, but I find that argument rather weak because so far (DAO - Circle, DA2 - village) the Fade had been an "overlay" to the physical world, extending and altering it, not a completely different place.
* What I mean is that we cannot even be sure that there is a physical equivalent of the entities in the Fade. They might well only exist in the minds of the visitors (like event-triggered occurrences injected in the mind at specific points, shaped as whatever works best for the individual). Any death in the Fade might not be due to physical harm but simply a death of fear or similar. But this is just a side note to extend the idea.
TLTR: whatever architecture we see there might not be there but only a representation of our (Inquisitor) expectations.
In general, your discussion is really interesting and something I had not yet thought of. We are presented a situation of mythology (all gods, elven or Tevinter) vs. the political world (Thedas). This is actually like the Roman pantheon vs. the Roman empire.
However, I can even extend this further --and, yes, now I'm getting carried away-- to the contrast between both worlds that "shared" a mythology. The Roman and Greek pantheon are basically equivalent, while their political systems have become famous for opposing world views; Greece being the "cradle of democracy", the Roman Empire representing a totalitarian system following a policy of expansion**. This might well be applied to all of Thedas, with the mythology being the least common denominator.
Then again, I am just babbling.
** Not meaning to imply reality had been so simple, but only pointing out what is most commonly associated.
*snip*
I agree. With all of it.
Though that could be me just hoping that the whole history and mythology of Thedas is going to be something crazy and new and exciting versus the drab overused big bad cutout they usually use. Solas/Fen'Harel gives me hope that everything people have been taught about Thedas is wrong. Because I want something devastatingly complicated and having to make super heart wretching decisions.
I hope for so many things. Please Bioware gods....
No, it's a trope employed in older historical writings and discussions of Roman culture. It's not really a common thing to find in entertainment.
It's okay, I get ticked off when people history wrong as well. So does Solas.
I agree. With all of it.
Though that could be me just hoping that the whole history and mythology of Thedas is going to be something crazy and new and exciting versus the drab overused big bad cutout they usually use. Solas/Fen'Harel gives me hope that everything people have been taught about Thedas is wrong. Because I want something devastatingly complicated and having to make super heart wretching decisions.
I hope for so many things. Please Bioware gods....
If there's one thing Bioware is good at it's over complicating the back story. I just feel sorry for people who haven't been reading all the codex entries and don't much care for elven history. I suspect they're about to get hopelessly lost. Alternatively, I'm going to get angry when all this fabulously vague information is presented in a glaringly obvious five minute intro sequence so that everyone can keep up, thus murdering the mystery.
I'm just praying that whatever they do next (please be a twin soul double blight, please please please) that they won't do to any of the elven pantheon what they did to Corypheus. They deserve better. The deserve glitter and headdresses and terrifying theme songs and to squish the PC, as any self respecting ancient deity would.
It's okay, I get ticked off when people history wrong as well. So does Solas.
If there's one thing Bioware is good at it's over complicating the back story. I just feel sorry for people who haven't been reading all the codex entries and don't much care for elven history. I suspect they're about to get hopelessly lost. Alternatively, I'm going to get angry when all this fabulously vague information is presented in a glaringly obvious five minute intro sequence so that everyone can keep up, thus murdering the mystery.
I'm just praying that whatever they do next (please be a twin soul double blight, please please please) that they won't do to any of the elven pantheon what they did to Corypheus. They deserve better. The deserve glitter and headdresses and terrifying theme songs and to squish the PC, as any self respecting ancient deity would.
YOU I LIKE YOU.
And twin soul double blight would be AMAZING....THERE ARE NO WORDS
I have to make this a thing...
Also! I'm going to a convention in October and I'm cosplaying as Mythal.
I just have no idea how to make all the plate armour. The studded leather I've got covered, but all that metal is beyond the skill of my sewing machine. Anyone got any ideas? Cardboard looks tacky and I don't have any convenient black smith friends.
If I can't figure it out I'll have to throw in the towel and go as Vivienne. 
It'd still be fabulous I guess but it wouldn't be the same.
Also! I'm going to a convention in October and I'm cosplaying as Mythal.
I just have no idea how to make all the plate armour. The studded leather I've got covered, but all that metal is beyond the skill of my sewing machine. Anyone got any ideas? Cardboard looks tacky and I don't have any convenient black smith friends.
If I can't figure it out I'll have to throw in the towel and go as Vivienne.
Foam board works I think. I've seen a lot of people use it for metal armor and weapons, and then adding details with Crayola air dry clay. And of course just painting it all to look like armor.
Foam board works I think. I've seen a lot of people use it for metal armor and weapons, and then adding details with Crayola air dry clay. And of course just painting it all to look like armor.
I'll give it a shot. I've never done this before so I'll either get by on beginners luck or I'll blow up the house.
YOU I LIKE YOU.
And twin soul double blight would be AMAZING....THERE ARE NO WORDS
I have to make this a thing...
I just hope they make it awesome. Not like the Fifth Blight, which yeah Origins was a good game, but the main bad guy was really Loghain, not the Archdemon. They can't do that here. None of this human bad guy for emotional gut punch business and then you have to kill two mute dragons. Imagine Falon'din and Dirthamen as living breathing blighted deities wielding the sort of power that Corypheus could only fumble after, one of whom can see your very thoughts and the other commands death itself.
All of Thedas would drown in blighted glitter.
I don't care what they do for the next game, so long as it's exactly that. Also Tevinter and Kal Sharok, and what's up with those Executors? But Double Blight is my main requirement.
Side note: they talk about the song of the blight, which corrupts even old gods, right? So who's doing the singing?
I'll give it a shot. I've never done this before so I'll either get by on beginners luck or I'll blow up the house.
I just hope they make it awesome. Not like the Fifth Blight, which yeah Origins was a good game, but the main bad guy was really Loghain, not the Archdemon. They can't do that here. None of this human bad guy for emotional gut punch business and then you have to kill two mute dragons. Imagine Falon'din and Dirthamen as living breathing blighted deities wielding the sort of power that Corypheus could only fumble after, one of whom can see your very thoughts and the other commands death itself.
All of Thedas would drown in blighted glitter.
I don't care what they do for the next game, so long as it's exactly that. Also Tevinter and Kal Sharok, and what's up with those Executors? But Double Blight is my main requirement.
Side note: they talk about the song of the blight, which corrupts even old gods, right? So who's doing the singing?
We need more forgotten ones.....
Also! I'm going to a convention in October and I'm cosplaying as Mythal.
I just have no idea how to make all the plate armour. The studded leather I've got covered, but all that metal is beyond the skill of my sewing machine. Anyone got any ideas? Cardboard looks tacky and I don't have any convenient black smith friends.
If I can't figure it out I'll have to throw in the towel and go as Vivienne.
I would so love to see a Mythal!! LOVE!!!!
I'll give it a shot. I've never done this before so I'll either get by on beginners luck or I'll blow up the house.
I just hope they make it awesome. Not like the Fifth Blight, which yeah Origins was a good game, but the main bad guy was really Loghain, not the Archdemon. They can't do that here. None of this human bad guy for emotional gut punch business and then you have to kill two mute dragons. Imagine Falon'din and Dirthamen as living breathing blighted deities wielding the sort of power that Corypheus could only fumble after, one of whom can see your very thoughts and the other commands death itself.
All of Thedas would drown in blighted glitter.
I don't care what they do for the next game, so long as it's exactly that. Also Tevinter and Kal Sharok, and what's up with those Executors? But Double Blight is my main requirement.
Side note: they talk about the song of the blight, which corrupts even old gods, right? So who's doing the singing?
The 5th blight was a bit of a baby blight tbh, defeating it with the at max 4 wardens is still one hell of an accomplishment don't get me wrong, but I think that whatever the architect did meant that the darkspawn weren't ready. After 400 years since the 4th blight the amount of Darkspawn should have been huge, I would say most survived and have gone back to digging, so the 6th blight could happen soon enough. 
Also the return of griffons was timely.
As for the singing, June has been in the shower for the last 1000 years.
As for the singing, June has been in the shower for the last 1000 years.
OMG. YOU ARE A GENIOUS. DRAW THIS RIGHT NOW. I DEMAND IT. I NEED IT. I WILL NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT IT.
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