1316 réponses à ce sujet

[LadyDamodred]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...
You are assuming that an intelligent darkspawn, if he corrupts an Old God, gets controlled by the song again, would not lose his intelligence.
That doesn't make sense.

Intelligence = independence.
The Mother wanted to restore the song because she felt empty without it. Had she succeeded, she would have returned into being a content slave, she wouldn't retain her intelligence, as her autonomy and independent thinking is taken away and replaced by the will of the Archdemon.

Plus, remember that the Mother no longer hears the song. She can't even find the old god, which I think drove her to madness. If all the darkspawn are freed from the song, they can no logner serarch for the old Gods, insane or not.


So there is no possiblity of an intelligent blight. The only intelligent being in a blight is by definition the Archdemon. As all the darkspawn are enraptured by its song.
Only the Architect seems immune to this and he doesn't know why and how.

Argh, no.  Clearly I am failing here somehow in getting what I'm trying to say across.  I do not think that once freed that darkspawn will be controlled by the song.  I think it is gone forever for them, hence the insanity.  That does not stop them from wanting it, or trying to see if they can find it again.  Can they find the old gods now that they can't hear the song?  No.  But they can follow other darkspawn that do.  And when those darkspawn do find an old god, I think the crazy ones will still want to follow it, if only on some slim hope that the song will return.  That is where the intelligent part would be.

[tmelange]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

tmelange wrote...
Who knows why the Architect achieved intelligence? But! If it happened of its own accord for him, I'm content to see if it happen of its own accord for the rest of the darkspawn horde WITHOUT the Architect and the crazy experiments on wardens.

So he could live as a pariah for his entire existance?

Think about it. You are the only intelligent and free person and you see your people being uncivilised, savage and enslaved to the song they hear. Wouldn't you want to do something about it?

All the Architect's crazy experiments pale in comparision to what his bretheren do when they find an Archdemon.
Yes, the Architect is very ambitious. Perhaps impossibly so. But I respect that.
If there is any hope of the darkspawn becoming something other than the blind locust that they are, it's the Architect.

I am not sayign you are wrong mind you. It actually took me 10 minutes, while pausing the game, to come to a decision. I am still not sure about it.
But I believe that if the Architect can free his people, then he and his bretheren deserve the right to be free and to build their own civilisation. 

I do think, from the Architect's own perspective, he has every right as an individual to do what he thinks he needs to do to "free" his people if he believes them enslaved. I think he's likely wrong, just as he was wrong in the case of mother, and I'm not willing to let him be that wrong. If I have a chance to kill him, I think I have to take it. otherwise, all the deaths that come from his machinations indirectly fall at my feet as an enabler. 

[KnightofPhoenix]

LadyDamodred wrote...

KnightofPhoenix wrote...
You are assuming that an intelligent darkspawn, if he corrupts an Old God, gets controlled by the song again, would not lose his intelligence.
That doesn't make sense.

Intelligence = independence.
The Mother wanted to restore the song because she felt empty without it. Had she succeeded, she would have returned into being a content slave, she wouldn't retain her intelligence, as her autonomy and independent thinking is taken away and replaced by the will of the Archdemon.

Plus, remember that the Mother no longer hears the song. She can't even find the old god, which I think drove her to madness. If all the darkspawn are freed from the song, they can no logner serarch for the old Gods, insane or not.


So there is no possiblity of an intelligent blight. The only intelligent being in a blight is by definition the Archdemon. As all the darkspawn are enraptured by its song.
Only the Architect seems immune to this and he doesn't know why and how.

Argh, no.  Clearly I am failing here somehow in getting what I'm trying to say across.  I do not think that once freed that darkspawn will be controlled by the song.  I think it is gone forever for them, hence the insanity.  That does not stop them from wanting it, or trying to see if they can find it again.  Can they find the old gods now that they can't hear the song?  No.  But they can follow other darkspawn that do.  And when those darkspawn do find an old god, I think the crazy ones will still want to follow it, if only on some slim hope that the song will return.  That is where the intelligent part would be.

Ok, this is getting confusing lol *inhales*

I think the main source of disagreement is whether the song is gone forever or no. I do not think it's gone forever. The mere fact that the Mother remembers the song and wants it back, seems to me that it is possible to reclaim it, if the old God becomes an Archdemon (that's when the song is sung at its strongest).

The song seems related to the taint. Even tainted humans and dwarves can listen to it (Ruck). Heck, even the Wardens listen to it. But only during a blight (That's key, it shows that the song is very strong when an archdemon awakens) . So I do not think it's something people are born with, it's acquired. If it's lost once, it can be reclaimed again. But that's speculation on my part.

Plus, the Mother is a failed experiment. Clearly the Withered and the messenger do not want to hear the song again, as they are not insane. Even the fIrst didn't seem to care much about it, despite following the mother, which he vowed to kill after her betrayal.
The Architect was tryign to correct his mistake and destroy the Mother. If he can learn from his mistake, he can continue to free darkspawn and make sure they don't go mad.

I know that as players, we are ignorant about the real nature of the taint, the song and all that. I felt it's too risky to kill him now. You felt it's too risky to let him live.
Both are valid. I never said I was right. It took me a long time to make that decision.

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 20 mars 2010 - 02:53 .

[tmelange]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

No, by definition, the Blight only occurs with an Archdemon.
http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Blight

Only the Archdemon has enough control and power to enslave the whole species to its will, via the song.
If the darkspawn are freed, they can still organise hordes, but it won't be like the blight. Just liek we never had any human warlord capable of uniting all humans under his rule and banner.

Furthermore, the purpose of the blight is to eradicate all life and not a single darkspawn has a say in it. If the darkspawn are freed and capable to think for their own, they don't have to obey anyone. But with the song and an archdemon, they have no choice.

This reference is not to a definition that defines the blight as an absolute; it's a definition of the blight by virtue of how it has always happened in the past. In other words, it doesn't preclude that there could be another prime mover, if, for instance, the darkspawn were intelligent enough to organize themselves in the future; it simply says that a blight, as it has always happened in the past, happens when the archdemon rises up to provide control.

If you read the rest of the definition, the "blight" is the spread of the corruption, by virtue of the presence of a massive number of darkspawn on the surface of the earth. The argument that an intelligent darkspawn wouldn't be compelled by the archdemon, hence no impetus to drive the blight simply is not wise. If you don't believe that one intelligent, charismatic individual can move an entire horde by virtue of the strength of their personality you don't know history. Intelligence enables any darkspawn with enough influence to step into the shoes of the archdemon for purposes of a blight.

The lack of an archdemon does not equal an end to the potential for corruption and blight while the darkspawn horde exists.

Modifié par tmelange, 20 mars 2010 - 02:55 .

[LadyDamodred]

Hehe, somehow our conversations tend to go this way.



There is a lot we cannot know, like the song being gone forever. I am of the opinion that once changed, the darkspawn would not just revert back. I think they are somehow severed from 'oneness' of the song, but that's just my own opinion, based on nothing more than how GW and tainted react to it. But I have nothing more to go on.



And yes, I'm not trying to say one way is right and another wrong. Hence why I tried both ways to see what would happen, and then stuck with my first choice. I think this is more of a 'why u do dis' type of discussion, trying to reason out what we know and we we chose what we did.



And if I may be honest, I would have been completely shocked if you chose to kill the Architect, KoP. Not that I claim to know you, but from our Loghain discussions and what else I've seen on the forums, allying with the Architect seems like a very 'you' decision, and I mean that with absolutely no disrespect.

[KnightofPhoenix]

@tmelange. I already said, hordes can still be organised with a freed darkspawn. But it's not a blight. Because no darkspawn, no matter how charimastic he is, can turn his entire species to mindless hordes of slaves that do his every bidding like the Archdemon does. Because only the Archdemon sings the song. The blight is not a military operation. It's the fact that all the darkspawn are untied by the ARchdemon, whom they follow blindly, as they have no choice in the matter and cannot think for themselves. The will of the Archdemon is their own. That's the blight. If the darkspawn can no longer feel the song, then no darkspawn can control them that way. Hordes can always be organised, but never a blight.

There was no human in hsitory who was able to unite the whole species under his will, with no a single human defying his will or even possessing free thinking.

[KnightofPhoenix]

LadyDamodred wrote...
And if I may be honest, I would have been completely shocked if you chose to kill the Architect, KoP. Not that I claim to know you, but from our Loghain discussions and what else I've seen on the forums, allying with the Architect seems like a very 'you' decision, and I mean that with absolutely no disrespect.

Haha, well there is a big difference.
I didn't even think about the Loghain issue much, I did it almost immediately.

The Architect thing, it took me a very long while. I actually killed him first, but then felt I something was wrong, so I loaded from the last autosave and sided with him.

But I think it finally came to this. I usually don't kill potential assets. And if someone earns my respect and are not an immediate threat, I usually spare them.
Now mind you, I wouldn't be surprised if the architect turns out to be a nuissance in the future. I would deal with him then, because I would have been 100% sure that he is a threat. But from a position of ignorance, I find it hard to judge someone who has proven to be resonable. 

Maybe naive on my part. Even if I think I am a hardcore realist at heart lol  

[tmelange]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...

@tmelange. I already said, hordes can still be organised with a freed darkspawn. But it's not a blight. Because no darkspawn, no matter how charimastic he is, can turn his entire species to mindless hordes of slaves that do his every bidding like the Archdemon does. Because only the Archdemon sings the song. The blight is not a military operation. It's the fact that all the darkspawn are untied by the ARchdemon, whom they follow blindly, as they have no choice in the matter and cannot think for themselves. The will of the Archdemon is their own. That's the blight. If the darkspawn can no longer feel the song, then no darkspawn can control them that way. Hordes can always be organised, but never a blight.
There was no human in hsitory who was able to unite the whole species under his will, with no a single human defying his will or even possessing free thinking.

Okay, let's assume your definition: a blight is every single darkspawn, and can only happen via compulsion.

What would be the effect on humanity of half a blight? A quarter blight? Enabling scores of mini-blights? The darkspawn corrupt by their very proximity. How many have to be moving topside to poison the earth and darken the skies? I suspect much less than the entire species.

Even if you assume that disconnecting darkspawn from the song precludes a "blight" it certainly enables a much bigger problem: a whole intelligent species, replete with the same factions and disparate interests as the human species. And all of them are anathema to the world. Where's the benefit in spreading out the threat rather than leaving it concentrated and in a format that you have defined and can work to control?

There a finite number of waves -- 2 apparently. If you unleash the darkspawn, your problem is neverending. 

[LadyDamodred]

Yeah, I don't see the Architect/Loghain as comparable. It was more your thinking and reasoning process. Just like I came close to letting the Architect live, but couldn't do it. It wasn't nearly as cut and dry as it was for Loghain, but letting him live seemed...wrong somehow. I have the feeling that the Architect's journey is not supposed to end here, however (which displeases me a little bit). Hence the two saves.

[tmelange]

In case I fall asleep, I wanted to thank everyone for the discussion. Definitely, it will bring new insight and interest to my next playthrough. I *really* do appreciate it, and love the ability to have an intellectual discussion around choices in a game. You guys rock socks.

[KnightofPhoenix]

tmelange wrote...
Okay, let's assume your definition: a blight is every single darkspawn, and can only happen via compulsion.

What would be the effect on humanity of half a blight? A quarter blight? Enabling scores of mini-blights? The darkspawn corrupt by their very proximity. How many have to be moving topside to poison the earth and darken the skies? I suspect much less than the entire species.

Even if you assume that disconnecting darkspawn from the song precludes a "blight" it certainly enables a much bigger problem: a whole intelligent species, replete with the same factions and disparate interests as the human species. And all of them are anathema to the world. Where's the benefit in spreading out the threat rather than leaving it concentrated and in a format that you have defined and can work to control?

There a finite number of waves -- 2 apparently. If you unleash the darkspawn, your problem is neverending. 

There is little difference between an intelligent species of darkspawn and a blight in terms of effectiveness. The Archdemon in Origins proved to be intelligent and was able to coordinate his minions in intelligent ways. The darkspawns ambushed the tower at Ostagar. They also made a feint attack against redcliff, while in reality they marched to Denerim. In fact, the darkspawn used more stategy than the "good guys".

The darkspawn are idiots without an Archdemon. With an Archdemon controlling them, they can act intelligently, because the Archdemon is intelligent.
So there is very little difference in terms of that.

Plus, A blight has the entire species under its banner, plus an old God leading it. Can you guarantee that you can defeat them? I cant.

The difference is this:
- During the blight, the darkspawn have no free will, no ability to think, no ability to reason, no ability to feel fear and object. They have no principles and only desire to annihilate all life. You cannot negotiate with any of them.

- If the darkspawn are freed, they have shown capable of having principles. The Withered at Vigil said he won't be killing more than necessary, that would never happen in a real blight. The darkspawn can think on their own. They can know fear. They can object. They can show benevolance. They become like humans, Qunari, dwarves. They show violance yes, but they are capable of showing compassion and reason. They can be negotiated with.
Plus, remember the Qunari in the mine. He was not infected, and yet he delt with the Architect.

What would you rather have?
An enemy that you cannot negotiate with? An enemy that cannot show compassion? An enemy that cannot show reason? An enemy that has to destroy all life?

Or an enemy that you can negotiate with? An enemy that can show compassion?  An enemy that can show reason? An enemy that doesn't have to destroy all life?

 For me, the former enemy is more terrifying than the latter.

EDIT" Oh and goonight tmelange!
I really enjoyed this too. And to be honest, I am starting to have doubts again, which doesn't happen often lol

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 20 mars 2010 - 03:22 .

[LadyDamodred]

Yes, he says that right after he kicks the dude off the tower and right before he says to kill all the others in your party.

[tmelange]

KnightofPhoenix wrote...
EDIT" Oh and goonight tmelange!
I really enjoyed this too. And to be honest, I am starting to have doubts again, which doesn't happen often lol

I'm having doubts too! I'm setting up my next playthorugh and I'm thinking I should maybe have a save where the architect lives -- and a couple of hours ago I was so sure of what needed to be done! LOL Who knows what could happen, and I have a tendency to *want* to keep options open.

Great to have something really tangled to think about. And they say it's just a kid's game.

[KnightofPhoenix]

LadyDamodred wrote...

Yes, he says that right after he kicks the dude off the tower and right before he says to kill all the others in your party.

Armed opponents. Humans aren't that better are they? lol
We do tend to slaughter alot of people, sometimes needlessly. But sometimes we show some form of principles.

He did say not to kill the Senechal and the Senechal isn't a Warden. Why spare him? The Architect doesn't need him for anything. So why not kill him?

And the Messenger. Why did he want to help humans? A species that he knows will hate him no matter what he does. Why decide to help them?

What about the Qunari merchant? The Architect actually pays him for his services and doesn't extort or steal from him. Why?

They are capable of showing compassion and principles.

[Ser Jon]

I spared him for the same reason Bilbo spared Gollum: pity and mercy. And as Gandalf said to Frodo "Even the very wise cannot see all ends. Do not be to hasty to deal out death and judgement."

[KnightofPhoenix]

tmelange wrote...

KnightofPhoenix wrote...
EDIT" Oh and goonight tmelange!
I really enjoyed this too. And to be honest, I am starting to have doubts again, which doesn't happen often lol

I'm having doubts too! I'm setting up my next playthorugh and I'm thinking I should maybe have a save where the architect lives -- and a couple of hours ago I was so sure of what needed to be done! LOL Who knows what could happen, and I have a tendency to *want* to keep options open.

Great to have something really tangled to think about. And they say it's just a kid's game.

I really love it when discussions end that way
And I love Bioware very much. Thought I had to say it lol

My Orlesian hardcore WArden character will obviously kill the Architect on sight. Would be interesting to see the consequences.

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 20 mars 2010 - 03:45 .

[durasteel]

The Architect was trying to advance the cause of the darkspawn.  That was really the problem, for me - he obviously wanted a happy community of darkspawn to live in a happy darkspawn commune somewhere, and that means broodmothers.  As long as his plans for the future involve the continued capture of women to transform into brood mothers, my plans for the future involve wiping his lifeblood off of my bright shiny sword.

The messenger was completely different - that was individual.  He helped me, so he got to live.  I ever see him trying to capture a woman to drag off to the deep roads, then he will meet the Architect again in whatever passes for hell in the world of Dragon Age.

[tmelange]

durasteel wrote...

The Architect was trying to advance the cause of the darkspawn.  That was really the problem, for me - he obviously wanted a happy community of darkspawn to live in a happy darkspawn commune somewhere, and that means broodmothers.  As long as his plans for the future involve the continued capture of women to transform into brood mothers, my plans for the future involve wiping his lifeblood off of my bright shiny sword.

The messenger was completely different - that was individual.  He helped me, so he got to live.  I ever see him trying to capture a woman to drag off to the deep roads, then he will meet the Architect again in whatever passes for hell in the world of Dragon Age.

That's a real sticking point for me. LOL Unless I can see some way that the darkspawn wouldn't have to use humans for food and breeding, I can't see a way for us not to be diametrically opposed. It seems to me to really be a case of them or us.

[Destined2Rock]

I spared him.
He wanted to end the Blight. If to do that he needed to make sentient beings out of the darkspawn, so be it. I'd rather have smart darkspawn than another blight to deal with.
nd he didn't murder Grey Wardens, he said they were dead when he got them... I have no reason NOT to believe him. Sure, he kidnapped Velanna's sister... but I never read the Calling, so I don't know why.
If he can end the blight by making the darkspawn another intelligent race and thus curbing their desire to revive an old god why not? That's easier than trying to destroy every single darkspawn out there.
*edit*
I know that Broodmothers require females but if he can change their current broodmothers, what's the problem? Can darkspawn die of old age?

Modifié par Destined2Rock, 20 mars 2010 - 04:36 .

[tmelange]

Destined2Rock wrote...

I spared him.
He wanted to end the Blight. If to do that he needed to make sentient beings out of the darkspawn, so be it. I'd rather have smart darkspawn than another blight to deal with.
nd he didn't murder Grey Wardens, he said they were dead when he got them... I have no reason NOT to believe him. Sure, he kidnapped Velanna's sister... but I never read the Calling, so I don't know why.
If he can end the blight by making the darkspawn another intelligent race and thus curbing their desire to revive an old god why not? That's easier than trying to destroy every single darkspawn out there.
*edit*
I know that Broodmothers require females but if he can change their current broodmothers, what's the problem? Can darkspawn die of old age?

You believe him that he didn't murder gray wardens? The very first battle against darkspawn in Vigil's Keep when you first start the game is against the intelligent darkspawn. The last darkspawn you run into, Withering?, kicks a soldier off the parapet, slaughtered practically the whole keep (remember the humans handing from the rafters?) and ordered that your whole party be killed and you captured. This is the Architect's minion. He's killing people left and right, but, oh, he's NOT the one who killed 13 gray wardens (and a whole lot of other people besides). Who did? LOL

[Robalicious_13]

I dunno, I'm kinda stuck on this choice too...

I just beat the game today for the 1st time and I spared him, but I began to think more and more about it.

Even if it ends blights and AD's controling hordes of mindless creatures, it puts in its place intelligent creatures instead. 

A mindless beast that follows commands from a Archdemon/God through song is bad enough, but a creature that is able to think for himself and is able to plan is scarier.

Whose to say that even if they do break free and there is no more blights, what will stop these new darkspawn from wanting revenge on those who killed their brothers and sisters by the thousands while they were unable to do nothing due to being mind controlled? I think many would be looking for revenge.

And these smart darkspawn will soon figure out ( cause their smart) that they will need this warden blood to keep the smart darkspawn race around, and that people ( females= Broomothers) will be needed to ensure this new smart race of darkspawn never die out. So while you think that a whole nation won't suffer at the hands of a blight, intime the whole world may face a threat that is allowed to grow, that is not just a mindless scary horde, but a horde of intelligent thinking monsters.

I think either way if we kill him or not he will be in the expansion ( he might of done the "Ultimate Sacrifice" achievment, but bioware will say that he was able to be imported into the Xpac, because somthing totally different happend.

Anyway, I guess we just have to wait and see.

BTW, I haven't read any of these books, but they sound pretty interesting, can anyone tell me how many there are, or where I can get them. I was pulled into the DA craze via DA:O, but the books sound like they'ed be cool!

Thanks

-Rob

[SDNcN]

tmelange wrote...

Destined2Rock wrote...

I spared him.
He wanted to end the Blight. If to do that he needed to make sentient beings out of the darkspawn, so be it. I'd rather have smart darkspawn than another blight to deal with.
nd he didn't murder Grey Wardens, he said they were dead when he got them... I have no reason NOT to believe him. Sure, he kidnapped Velanna's sister... but I never read the Calling, so I don't know why.
If he can end the blight by making the darkspawn another intelligent race and thus curbing their desire to revive an old god why not? That's easier than trying to destroy every single darkspawn out there.
*edit*
I know that Broodmothers require females but if he can change their current broodmothers, what's the problem? Can darkspawn die of old age?

You believe him that he didn't murder gray wardens? The very first battle against darkspawn in Vigil's Keep when you first start the game is against the intelligent darkspawn. The last darkspawn you run into, Withering?, kicks a soldier off the parapet, slaughtered practically the whole keep (remember the humans handing from the rafters?) and ordered that your whole party be killed and you captured. This is the Architect's minion. He's killing people left and right, but, oh, he's NOT the one who killed 13 gray wardens (and a whole lot of other people besides). Who did? LOL

The Architect said he sent the Withering to seek aid against the Mother.
I believe him as he had no reason for attempting to wipe out the Wardens and every reason to use them to his advantage in his conflict with the Mother.

The Withering may well have tried to speak to the Wardens there, ending of course with them attacking him and his men, which lead to the Withering choosing to destroy the Keep so he doesn't risk his men fighting a war against the Mother and a bunch of confused Grey Wardens.

That would explain why the Architect feels the need to lay a trap for you in the mines. Preventing you from freaking out and killing him while he has enough time to see if he can get you to sympathize with his position like he did with Velanna's sister.

[Mavkiel]

I spared him on my first run through. For the greater good. Let me explain..

If the darkspawn have a mind of their own, they are not able to be compelled by an arch demon. They will not feel an overwhelming need to come to the surface and kill everything. Also, with their newfound indepence we would likely see fragmentation of their leadership. This would in the end make them easier to slaughter.

So yes, I spared the architect, to aid me in my plans for committing genocide. After all, why would I want a species that needs brood mothers to live anyways? The new darkspawn could be friendly as kittens and I still would want to kill them all.

Modifié par Mavkiel, 20 mars 2010 - 05:16 .

[Sarah1281]

Wouldn't it be easier to kill them when they're mindless and without leadership at all? That's how they are most of the time and there are only two old gods left to corrupt, which typically take the darkspawns forever to find so if you're looking into genoicde, I don't think intelligent darkspawn are not the way to go. Sure the may have their disagreements, but if they realize someone is trying to destroy their entire species, they'll table them.

[tmelange]

Robalicious_13 wrote...

I dunno, I'm kinda stuck on this choice too...

I just beat the game today for the 1st time and I spared him, but I began to think more and more about it.

Even if it ends blights and AD's controling hordes of mindless creatures, it puts in its place intelligent creatures instead. 

A mindless beast that follows commands from a Archdemon/God through song is bad enough, but a creature that is able to think for himself and is able to plan is scarier.

Whose to say that even if they do break free and there is no more blights, what will stop these new darkspawn from wanting revenge on those who killed their brothers and sisters by the thousands while they were unable to do nothing due to being mind controlled? I think many would be looking for revenge.

And these smart darkspawn will soon figure out ( cause their smart) that they will need this warden blood to keep the smart darkspawn race around, and that people ( females= Broomothers) will be needed to ensure this new smart race of darkspawn never die out. So while you think that a whole nation won't suffer at the hands of a blight, intime the whole world may face a threat that is allowed to grow, that is not just a mindless scary horde, but a horde of intelligent thinking monsters.

I think either way if we kill him or not he will be in the expansion ( he might of done the "Ultimate Sacrifice" achievment, but bioware will say that he was able to be imported into the Xpac, because somthing totally different happend.

Anyway, I guess we just have to wait and see.

BTW, I haven't read any of these books, but they sound pretty interesting, can anyone tell me how many there are, or where I can get them. I was pulled into the DA craze via DA:O, but the books sound like they'ed be cool!

Thanks

-Rob

Your reasoning is exactly the way I considered the issue. On the one hand is the blight, a danger that is defined, that we've dealt with successfully five times, that we managed to defeat last time with only 2 gray wardens. On the other hand you have intelligent darkspawn, who are parasitical to humans, carry corruption and taint with them wherever they go, and that not only eat humans, but also use them to breed. How is empowering them a sustainable option? LOL

There are two Dragon Age books: The Calling and ...the other one. LOL I forget the name. They are available at any bookstore, including amazon.com. Everyone seems to think they're great, or at least they add a lot to a person's understanding of the big picture.