I wasn't specifically talking about her swordsmanship. I was speaking about her anti magic capabilities as a Templar. I'd argue that one doesn't have to be exceptional in swordsmanship to be very adept at repelling and cancelling magic.
Lambert deflected fireballs and magic missiles with his sword so...it certainly doesn't hurt.
Well first, I disagree on your use of zealot for the templars anyway. You don't have to be a zealot to strongly believe in what you are doing, which Cassandra did, even when she found out about the corruption in her organization. Practically nothing could waver her faith. Just because she's not for killing any and all mages in a mass genocide doesn't mean anything. Cullen wanted to kill the mages in that tower, yes, because it was greatly compromised and he had no reason to believe the surviving mages were strong enough to resist like he was, because that is no small feat. I bet Cassandra would have agreed with him given the circumstances. I would have too, had I not been the one to save the remaining mages and see firsthand they were ok.
Yeah, but he's the freaking Lord Seeker. I'd be surprised if he wasn't good with a sword and good with cancelling magic.
Yeah, but he's the freaking Lord Seeker. I'd be surprised if he wasn't good with a sword and good with cancelling magic.
He would have been a far better character then that nutjob Lucius to introduce
He's currently dancing the Hellfire Rumba!
He's currently dancing the Hellfire Rumba!
Like Wynne
Like Wynne
Meh. She was pretty far from my favorite mage. At least the spirit of Faith (the only interesting part about her to me) is in Evangeline! So I still win.
Meh. She was pretty far from my favorite mage. At least the spirit of Faith (the only interesting part about her to me) is in Evangeline! So I still win.
I think the only way for mages to win is to fight with guerrilla-style tactics.
I mean, mages have range. Fireballs, Tempests, Storms of the Century, and so on can be used for mid-to-long range devastation... but those also tend to reveal the location of the offending mage quick smart. And the mages do not have a numerical advantage over the templars, despite Varric's insistence of "and then, FIFTY BLOOD MAGES burst out of Hightown!"
No, they need to be sneakier about it. And that means, using magic and those aforementioned sellswords for the greatest asset in armed conflict - covert ops and enemy intelligence.
Runes can be laid down and primed as traps for unsuspecting Templars. Since ancient elven Arcane Warrior techniques have apparently become so widespread as to be co-opted and rebranded by the Chantry, there's no reason the rebel mages can't have a few Chasind shapeshifters in the ranks. Don't use these in suicidal head-on attacks - work with your mundane support troops to infiltrate Templar camps and strongholds. A pair of strong flying birds, such as owls, can easily transport a set of grappling hooks, for example. Grease + any flame spell make punitive acts of arson accessible to even an apprentice-level mage. Earthquake spells can level granaries and destroy supply depots - and who says the mage has to wear robes and an enormous staff, basically flaunting their magi-ness to the world? The object, I surmised, was to win, not make some sort of doomed statement?
Send more infiltrators, who are not WEARING ROBES, into Chantry hotspots like Val Royeaux and Halamshiral. Stir up discontent among the native elven population - Val Royeaux's alienage is apparently some sort of monstrosity packed to the brim with starving, abused inhabitants, largest in Thedas, and I can't imagine Halamshiral's elves being anything but quietly restive at living in a city built mockingly over the ruins of the Dales. Leave a few nasty surprises here and there. The Chantry's leadership has just been decapitated at Haven - now is the time to strike at the core.
If you must summon demons - and I'd advise against that, since they're more likely to eat YOU as a matter of convenience rather than do what you ask them to - set them in a primed circle and leave them ready-to-summon in false camps for the enemy to find - nothing ruins a Templar's day like clearing out an abandoned mage camp and triggering a wave of demons. Cost effective, and we know it's doable since Danarius did it in DA2 in his Hightown mansion, after all.
Finally, don't stay in one obvious location for them to bring out the siege engines/complain to the local rulers. And for the Maker's sake, what has Tevinter ever done for you?!
Yes, if the mages of the circle had leaders with any real sense of battle tactics, they probably could have lasted longer.
Actually, I just realized while typing this... Fiona was a grey warden. You'd think she'd have some sort of battle knowledge already, especially since Grey Wardens often fight outnumbered.
Ah well. But there is something to be said for Templar training and battle knowledge, at least against mages, anyway.
Yes, if the mages of the circle had leaders with any real sense of battle tactics, they probably could have lasted longer.
Actually, I just realized while typing this... Fiona was a grey warden. You'd think she'd have some sort of battle knowledge already, especially since Grey Wardens often fight outnumbered.
Ah well. But there is something to be said for Templar training and battle knowledge, at least against mages, anyway.
To be fair, she was a coward he abandoned her responsibilities.
If she's anything like Anders... she was probably a crap Grey Warden.
To be fair, she was a coward he abandoned her responsibilities.
If she's anything like Anders... she was probably a crap Grey Warden.
She didn't really abandon her responsibilities, Cailen's magical seed removed her taint. Something to do with dragonblood, I forget, really.
@Colonelkillabee: I have to say... I think someone like Daveth would have said: "Damn, now I have to go kill another bloody Darkspawn and go through another bloody Joining."
Being a Grey Warden is more than just hearing Darkspawn in your head.
@Colonelkillabee: I have to say... I think someone like Daveth would have said: "Damn, now I have to go kill another bloody Darkspawn and go through another bloody Joining."
Being a Grey Warden is more than just hearing Darkspawn in your head.
She tried. The Joining wouldn't work a second time.
@Xilizhra: Is that so?
I stand corrected and retract my statement about her then - at least as far as the Wardens are concerned.
“The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools.” – Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War (ca 410 BCE)
Thucydides explains rather aptly why the Rebel Mages could not last very long and had to seek refugee status in Ferelden as well as enslaving themselves to a Tevinter magister. It is also why the Templar Order at Therinfal Redoubt were so easily fooled by the Envy Demon.
This is why Knight Enchanter and Arcane Warrior are excellent mage specializations. They allow a mage to actually fight properly. I mean even if Templars dispel a Knight Enchanter's magic or an Arcane Warrior's magic, they can still put up a fight using a backup actual weapon since they have the skill to fight with no magic.
Mages with swords ha.
Knight Enchanters, Arcane Warriors-nothing more then grade schoolers taking a weekend Karate class.
It takes years to build the skill set required of a blade wielding warrior.
Of course, only if we're talking about arcane warriors fettered by Templar oversight. Mages that are free to hone their martial skills would likely have the advantage. If two combatants can wield swords, the one that can also shoot lightning will probably have the edge. I imagine a powerful mage in Tevinter that learned to be a Knight-Enchanter would have had years of practice with no restrictions.
That's where magic negating comes in. I would love to see a fight between a skilled experienced templar and an arcane warrior. Would be close.
Mages with swords ha.
Knight Enchanters, Arcane Warriors-nothing more then grade schoolers taking a weekend Karate class.
It takes years to build the skill set required of a blade wielding warrior.
I don't know...Vivienne might give you a run for your money.
Of course, only if we're talking about arcane warriors fettered by Templar oversight. Mages that are free to hone their martial skills would likely have the edge. If two combatants can wield swords, the one that can also shoot lightning will probably have the edge. I imagine a powerful mage in Tevinter that learned to be a Knight-Enchanter would have had years of practice with no restrictions.
I'm wondering what the Imperium's mages would think of such a specialization. If they took to it, I'd imagine Tevinter Knight Enchanters, or whatever their equivalent, would be very strong.
I don't know...Vivienne might give you a run for your money.
Of course, only if we're talking about arcane warriors fettered by Templar oversight. Mages that are free to hone their martial skills would likely have the advantage. If two combatants can wield swords, the one that can also shoot lightning will probably have the edge. I imagine a powerful mage in Tevinter that learned to be a Knight-Enchanter would have had years of practice with no restrictions.
http://dragonage.wik...s_(short_story)
Vengeance Anders here killing a Templar quite easily. Mages have a leg up with Blood Magic or Spirits/Demons or if they become powerful enough to negate Templar tactics like Morrigan.
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