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[ShadowLordXII]

The only way to really illustrate the threat of the darkspawn in a game that is not set during a Blight in a game would be to have most of it take place in the Deep Roads, which honestly I wouldn't care all that much for. 

 

I understand that these games take place after a Blight. Therefore, the darkspawn threat wouldn't be as "dire" as it was in Origins.

 

At the same time, there is a certain aesthetic and mood concerning the darkspawn that was lost after Origins. Not just in unnecessary art redesign and pointless retconning (namely concerning genlocks and emissaries), but also in how the darkspawn are treated and regarded in-story. They become an afterthought and fodder fuel rather than a sleeping plague that corrupts and destroys all that it gets it's hands.

[KaiserShep]

Personally, I thought the redesign was an improvement. I always thought the entire aesthetic was sort of crummy. 

[TheAtomicSurvivor]

Personally, I thought the redesign was an improvement. I always thought the entire aesthetic was sort of crummy. 

 

I didn't. There's a game I like, before Dragon Age. It was on the Dreamcast. Guts Rage, the Mandragoras were my favorite design as a kid. My favorite characters in comic books were the symbiotes.

 

I loved how the original Darkspawn reminded me of these designs of these old games. Because I am a horror, dark horror writer, I loved the fleshy, gross design. The twisted form.

 

That kind of Kubrick body horror. That's what made the Darkspawn so menacing to begin with, because they were the twisted forms of our bodies going against ourselves.

 

Instead they give that to Red Lyrium. Pretty.

 

But nowhere near as disgusting and beautiful as the original ugly brood mother. And I am not talking the "hot one" in the expansion. The original, gross, fleshy, tumors. 

[German Soldier]

There's also the fact that the Fifth Blight started in Ferelden when there were only a few dozen wardens present, that can't be coincidence.

 

 

This blight wasn't planned by the darkspawn it was an experiment went wrong that's why Urthemiel required half a year to become full archdemon given that he was corrupted by GW blood.

[KaiserShep]

I didn't. There's a game I like, before Dragon Age. It was on the Dreamcast. Guts Rage, the Mandragoras were my favorite design as a kid. My favorite characters in comic books were the symbiotes.

 

I loved how the original Darkspawn reminded me of these designs of these old games. Because I am a horror, dark horror writer, I loved the fleshy, gross design. The twisted form.

 

That kind of Kubrick body horror. That's what made the Darkspawn so menacing to begin with, because they were the twisted forms of our bodies going against ourselves.

 

Instead they give that to Red Lyrium. Pretty.

 

But nowhere near as disgusting and beautiful as the original ugly brood mother. And I am not talking the "hot one" in the expansion. The original, gross, fleshy, tumors. 

 

 

To be honest, I thought they looked kind of goofy. There was something about the genlocks' goofy grinning face that reminded me of the ogres from the Disney series Gummi Bears, and the original ogres were basically King Kong with halla horns. As one who is generally bored by body horror, I didn't feel that this was a meaningful source of menace, but then the darkspawn are kind of generic in and of themselves anyway. Their most interesting attribute is the lore around their origins. It's sort of why I don't care to deal with them all that much anymore until the writers are ready to really do something about them rather than just have us fight another horde while making no real difference. 

 

As for the Mother, "hot one" is kind of a crazy way to describe her. In any case, I think the uncanny design there is better because it's more obvious what she used to be. Really, it's more the origin of them that makes them more disturbing. The vague bulky tentacle monster is kinda meh to me.

[TheAtomicSurvivor]

To be honest, I thought they looked kind of goofy. There was something about the genlocks' goofy grinning face that reminded me of the ogres from the Disney series Gummi Bears, and the original ogres were basically King Kong with halla horns. As one who is generally bored by body horror, I didn't feel that this was a meaningful source of menace, but then the darkspawn are kind of generic in and of themselves anyway. Their most interesting attribute is the lore around their origins. It's sort of why I don't care to deal with them all that much anymore until the writers are ready to really do something about them rather than just have us fight another horde while making no real difference. 

 

As for the Mother, "hot one" is kind of a crazy way to describe her. In any case, I think the uncanny design there is better because it's more obvious what she used to be. Really, it's more the origin of them that makes them more disturbing. The vague bulky tentacle monster is kinda meh to me.

 

I like gross stuff.

 

I think they shouldn't have retcon the whole design. Kept the fleshy stuff and made it better. As said body horror is beautiful. Look I'm a haunted house actor, and I find things.....grotesquely beautiful.

 

They now look even more typical, boring and ordinary.

 

They just look like reskinned undead. I checked with tactical cam to get into their faces. Mmmm gorgeous. 

 

edit-

 

Just realized that I announced mild attraction to the brood mother the "hot one"

[Fardreamer]

I think the trouble is that there is no real answer to the darkspawn threat at all. It pretty much appears to be a totally hopeless situation until some miraculous solution presents itself, because they're a seemingly neverending immortal army of sleepless monsters that can't be killed faster than they can replenish their numbers. Not even the Wardens provide a good answer, because they're basically only good for stopping an organized horde on the surface by successfully terminating an archdemon. Once the supply of Old Gods runs out, their order becomes defunct. It's a fair bet that they not only expected to all die in the Deep Roads in this crazy plan, but that they would bring about the end of the Grey Warden order if, by some miracle, they actually succeeded.

Wardens are immune to the Blight. They're the only army which can fight darkspawn without losing every one who is wounded to turning into ghouls. They're not just for killing archdemons.

[Asha'bellanar]

Once the supply of Old Gods runs out, their order becomes defunct.

That is the assumption. But we know now (as do the Wardens) that Corypheus also commanded the Blight. So did/does the Architect. There are quite probably other of the original magisters out there, as well, and they, too, can probably command the Blight. So while it has always apparently been the case that Blights are led by archdemons, there is no reason to think that archdemons are the only way to lead a Blight, nor any reason to think that killing them (assuming they could even be found) will stop the Blights. Considering, too, that red lyrium is Blight-infected, it seems extremely unlikely that Blights will magically stop if all the archdemons are gone.

 

I have to wonder if the Wardens (at least the higher ups) actually DO know more about curing/stopping/ending the Blight and they've been keeping a lid on it, the same way the Seekers knew about reversing Tranquility. Would be an interesting reveal, storywise. They knew, could fix it, but didn't because, hey, then there's no need for Wardens...

[BansheeOwnage]

Yes. I'm aware. I actually have some understanding of how storytelling works. That doesn't mean I have to get on board with it when characters do stupid things, no matter what point the writers were making. I can both understand the point and simultaneously be so interested in the story that I am frustrated by their actions.

Okay, no need to be snarky. I couldn't tell from your post if you knew it was on purpose. There are plenty of people who make the exact same kind of post and don't get that.

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that 5000 decently strong demons plus 100 warden mages probably have a much better chance than 500 muggle wardens plus 100 warden mages.

Where are you getting those figures from? Because it looked to me like they only got to bind one demon for every mundane Warden who was sacrificed. That's not very impressive. I mean, I suppose the Nightmare could use its own thralls after they pull it through, but then why are they wasting lives on Rage Demons when they could be using them to bring over the Nightmare?

[ShadowLordXII]

Where are you getting those figures from? Because it looked to me like they only got to bind one demon for every mundane Warden who was sacrificed. That's not very impressive. I mean, I suppose the Nightmare could use its own thralls after they pull it through, but then why are they wasting lives on Rage Demons when they could be using them to bring over the Nightmare?

 

I was being as generous as possible as part of my point on why the demon-army plan would never work.

[thats1evildude]

Don't downplay how formidable of a challenge entering the darkspawn depths would be, especially since the surface can barely beat these guys when on the defensive.

 

I'm not. I don't think a Grey Warden army — even one bolstered by dwarven troops — would have succeeded in reaching the Old Gods.

 

But a demon army ... that's a different story. As I've stated, a lot of the advantages that darkspawn have are basically useless against demons. And demons are tough. I think it's telling that the Blight can run for decades and the surface world will still prevail, but in the bad future Alexius throws you into, Corypheus has conquered Thedas in just a year.

[ShadowLordXII]

I'm not. I don't think a Grey Warden army — even one bolstered by dwarven troops — would have succeeded in reaching the Old Gods.

 

But a demon army ... that's a different story. As I've stated, a lot of the advantages that darkspawn have are basically useless against demons. And demons are tough. I think it's telling that the Blight can run for decades and the surface world will still prevail, but in the bad future Alexius throws you into, Corypheus has conquered Thedas in just a year.

 

And as I point out in other posts, that still doesn't account for the sheer number of disadvantages which the army would face when entering the Deeps.

 

Cory has conquered the surface world of Thedas, we don't know what things are like in the Deep Roads. For all we know, Cory could have simply ignored the darkspawn and let them hack at the Dwarves.

 

On a side note, Cory has been consistent with ignoring the darkspawn and not taking advantage of his documented, shown and proven ability to control large portions of the darkspawn for his bidding. Even though there are multiple ways that Corypheus could help his plans with an additional darkspawn shock force to demoralize the people and control the Wardens more by showing them more proof that a Blight is a coming and that the demon-army plan is needed more now than ever.

 

Also keep in mind that the Demon Army was a ruse to control/weaken the Wardens and was never intended to actually fight the darkspawn. Corypheus wanted that army to conquer Thedas itself. This is also in combination with orchestrating Orlais' collapse via the assassination plot, the Chantry never stabilizing since the Mage-Templar war was never brought to an end, increased demon attacks and the Veil's eventual destruction via The Breach and potentially gaining the power of the Well of Souls. 

[Asha'bellanar]

Okay, no need to be snarky.

Sorry. I was in a purple Hawke mindstate. Genuine apology if it upset you.

[Secret Rare]

What's wrong with the writers who wrote this plot?

I don't know maybe they drink too much is not the GW fault they have to do as the writers command even jump from a cliff.

 

 

I have to wonder if the Wardens (at least the higher ups) actually DO know more about curing/stopping/ending the Blight and they've been keeping a lid on it, the same way the Seekers knew about reversing Tranquility. Would be an interesting reveal, storywise. They knew, could fix it, but didn't because, hey, then there's no need for Wardens...

The GW are well aware that the source of the blight are not the Archdemons but the broodmothers

 Archdemons are just some of the many critters that can control a blight 

 

I'm not. I don't think a Grey Warden army — even one bolstered by dwarven troops — would have succeeded in reaching the Old Gods.

 

But a demon army ... that's a different story. As I've stated, a lot of the advantages that darkspawn have are basically useless against demons. And demons are tough. I think it's telling that the Blight can run for decades and the surface world will still prevail, but in the bad future Alexius throws you into, Corypheus has conquered Thedas in just a year.

A demon army would have at best served the darkspawn and their mages or fled to not be infected,the only beings that can reach the old gods are darkspawns period,if they are intelligent like The Architect and his minions instead of 400 years they require few months.

[Qun00]

I approve of using blood magic. I disapprove of using demons. Demons always want something.

Pff... hahahaha.

"Blood magic comes from demons. They could counter every bit of lore I know."

- Avernus, a blood mage.

You might as well tell us "I love cheese. What I don't like is milk derived products".

[Fardreamer]

The Wardens intended to bring the Nightmare demon through the rift and bind it. That was the demon Clarel was going to bind. Weaker mages may only be able to bind one. But if Clarel bound the nightmare, that thing is an army by itself.

[ShadowLordXII]

The Wardens intended to bring the Nightmare demon through the rift and bind it. That was the demon Clarel was going to bind. Weaker mages may only be able to bind one. But if Clarel bound the nightmare, that thing is an army by itself.

 

There is no way that the Wardens would ever be able to control the Nightmare Demon. After all, how can you control something that's already controlling you and your men? You don't.

[Aren]

Wardens are immune to the Blight. They're the only army which can fight darkspawn without losing every one who is wounded to turning into ghouls. They're not just for killing archdemons.

Any one can kill darkspawns in fact each blight is defeated by an army,GW instead are tasked to isolate the AD and kill it.

[Aren]

But if Clarel bound the nightmare, that thing is an army by itself.

A mortal mage who want to bound one of the most powerful demons of the fade that made
even Solas look like a powerless noob?
Impossible,in fact it was the demon who was controlling them and Corypheus.

[Fardreamer]

Any one can kill darkspawns in fact each blight is defeated by an army,GW instead are tasked to isolate the AD and kill it.

 

Ehrm... you don't seem to understand.  The Blight is a disease.  Not just what they call it when the Darkspawn are led by an archdemon.  Play through the Crestwood story if you don't know what I'm talking about.  Everyone who catches the Blight eventually turns into a ghoul or simply dies.  Notice how Aveline's husband caught it in DA2, and your sibling catches it if you take them to the Deeproads? 

 

This is why Wardens are needed to fight darkspawn, because they're IMMUNE to it.

[Domakir]

Ehrm... you don't seem to understand.  The Blight is a disease.  Not just what they call it when the Darkspawn are led by an archdemon.  Play through the Crestwood story if you don't know what I'm talking about.  Everyone who catches the Blight eventually turns into a ghoul or simply dies.  Notice how Aveline's husband caught it in DA2, and your sibling catches it if you take them to the Deeproads? 

 

This is why Wardens are needed to fight darkspawn, because they're IMMUNE to it.

They are resistant but not immune.

[Fardreamer]

Right, but basically immune until it's time for their Calling.

[Domakir]

Right, but basically immune until it's time for their Calling.

They are not immune until the Calling. They are already infected but the infection is taking its time.

[Fardreamer]

They are not immune until the Calling. They are already infected but the infection is taking its time.

 

They have "mastered their taint" as Duncan put it.  That means they won't fall sick and die like normal soldiers do.  That's immune to the effects of the disease. Quit nitpicking just to nitpick.

[Domakir]

They have "mastered their taint" as Duncan put it.  That means they won't fall sick and die like normal soldiers do.  That's immune to the effects of the disease. Quit nitpicking just to nitpick.

Again thats not being immune. Otherwise they wouldn't die after x years.