"Corypheus sucks, and I'm completely over Dragon Age. Bye."
I've seen the other articles, but haven't bothered to fully read them as, for the most part, I don't really care about other people's opinion of the game I love. That said, I am surprised that this was the tone, considering that the previous ones had positive feelings; she also stated that, this time, she would romance someone other than Iron Bull... maybe . I wouldn't have expected that reaction from someone who has that sort of attachment to a character, regardless of who it is. Fenris kept me going back to DA2 and Dorian keeps me going back to DAI (as much as I adore my Inquisitor and feel strong attachment to him).
Mountains. Cold. "Let's bring Dorian!" It's good to be Champion!
Heeey - while the question is a bit 'eh', Weekes throws a hefty lore bit here that I don't see linked:
user hey @patrickweekes is period blood applicable for blood magic. can mages just reach down and use their tampon to summon a demon
Patrick Weekes Honestly I would have to do more research on menstruation to answer that question confidently, since blood magic is tied to sacrifice of life energy — a wound, specifically. Blood on its own may be an ingredient, but not a power source.
So since it’s the result of a natural biological process rather than an injury, instinct is to say no. But given that it’s tied to conception and still weakens person having cramps, that feels like enough of a sacrifice that it’d work.
So... maybe?
[HASH]DAT
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2018 3:11:08 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
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Heeey - while the question is a bit 'eh', Weekes throws a hefty lore bit here that I don't see linked:
user hey @patrickweekes is period blood applicable for blood magic. can mages just reach down and use their tampon to summon a demon
Patrick Weekes Honestly I would have to do more research on menstruation to answer that question confidently, since blood magic is tied to sacrifice of life energy — a wound, specifically. Blood on its own may be an ingredient, but not a power source.
So since it’s the result of a natural biological process rather than an injury, instinct is to say no. But given that it’s tied to conception and still weakens person having cramps, that feels like enough of a sacrifice that it’d work.
So... maybe?
[HASH]DAT
I think he treated that question with a lot more seriousness than Gaider or Laidlaw ever did. lol I still question why people want to know that, but then again, fans wonder a lot of weird details on a Tuesday night, so eh.
Heeey - while the question is a bit 'eh', Weekes throws a hefty lore bit here that I don't see linked:
Id be lying if i said I didn't have that same question.
I always took Blood Magic as a bit like "the Dark Side" in that its not just blood, or even pain, but all manner of hate and negative emotions. Puts a lot of Merrill's battle dialog into perspective if that's the case.
Heeey - while the question is a bit 'eh', Weekes throws a hefty lore bit here that I don't see linked:
Id be lying if i said I didn't have that same question.
I always took Blood Magic as a bit like "the Dark Side" in that its not just blood, or even pain, but all manner of hate and negative emotions. Puts a lot of Merrill's battle dialog into perspective if that's the case.
Well, it's certainly not something that goes against how that universe is built, with magic/Fade having strong ties with emotions/feelings/state of mind and where symbols or ideas are more than just abstract notions. It does make sense - though it suggests that the blood magic is still tied to the Fade in some way, instead of something that works outside of it... but somehow its reliance on sacrifice makes it strangely distinct. I wonder if there's a similar deal with lyrium, which is basically Titan's blood. By dwarves it's considered a gift from the Stone/Titans, or so says Valta - which suggests it's a willing sacrifice.
Not sure about negative emotions though. The concept of sacrifice or giving one's life energy isn't necessarily tied to negativity - it can also be an altruistic gesture.
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2018 4:01:07 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
I think he treated that question with a lot more seriousness than Gaider or Laidlaw ever did. lol I still question why people want to know that, but then again, fans wonder a lot of weird details on a Tuesday night, so eh.
I can't complain - we got an interesting nugget we can now digest for a moment
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
Games: Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Dragon Age The Veilguard Posts: 2,665 Likes: 6,553
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Dragon Age The Veilguard
Id be lying if i said I didn't have that same question.
I always took Blood Magic as a bit like "the Dark Side" in that its not just blood, or even pain, but all manner of hate and negative emotions. Puts a lot of Merrill's battle dialog into perspective if that's the case.
Well, it's certainly not something that goes against how that universe is built, with magic/Fade having strong ties with emotions/feelings/state of mind and where symbols or ideas are more than just abstract notions. It does make sense - though it suggests that the blood magic is still tied to the Fade somehow, instead of something that works outside of it... but somehow its reliance on sacrifice makes it strangely distinct. I wonder if there's a similar deal with lyrium, which is basically Titan's blood. By dwarves it's considered a gift of the Stone/Titans, or so says Valta - which suggests it's a willing sacrifice.
Not sure about negative emotions though. The concept of sacrifice or giving one's life energy isn't necessarily tied to negativity - it can also be an altruistic gesture.
This has me thinking. Its kinda weird (or maybe ironic) that blood magic apparently makes it harder to enter the fade and yet its also usually involved in thinning the veil due to its use weapon of violence.
Also, why does magic stemming from a sacrifice make it harder to enter the fade? According to Solas, anyway. And I don't think he meant only blood magic that is sacrificing the unwilling, cus he considers blood magic as amoral in and of itself. So when he mentions blood magic, without a qualifier about what type of sacrifices fuel it, I assume he means all blood magic lessens the fade connection regardless. The main characteristic and common factor to all blood magic, regardless of willingness of the sacrifice, is the act of sacrifice itself... so why's that lessen your connection to the Fade? o.O
Maybe its something as simple as a body/mind (or material/immaterial) dichotomy? Blood is of the physical, an integral part of the body. Whereas the Fade's energy is primarily created from willpower/thought, which is intrinsically insubstantial. So they're incompatible or... something?
Post by thats1evildude on Apr 11, 2018 4:05:14 GMT
More likely the elves invented blood magic, but when their civilization crumbled, the only ones to retain that knowledge were their spirit allies. Over the centuries, many of those spirits became demons - the Forbidden Ones being the most prominent example - and they realized they could tempt mortals with that knowledge.
Later on, Tevinter experimentation with blood magic revealed new spells that even the ancient elves weren’t aware of. But the demons learned those techniques as well.
More likely the elves invented blood magic, but when their civilization crumbled, the only ones to retain that knowledge were their spirit allies. Over the centuries, manyof those spirits became demons - the Forbidden Ones being the most prominent example - and they realized they could tempt mortals with that knowledge.
Was that to me?
Just a general statement on the connection between the Fade and blood magic that everyone is musing about.
Solas likely doesn’t have a problem with blood magic because it was developed by his people, but he never took it up himself for the reasons he mentioned. In fact, I suspect blood magic wasn’t all that well-developed by the elves since their world already had ample magic to spare.
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Just a general statement on the connection between the Fade and blood magic that everyone is musing about.
Solas likely doesn’t have a problem with blood magic because it was developed by his people, but he never took it up himself for the reasons he mentioned. In fact, I suspect blood magic wasn’t all that well-developed by the elves since their world already had ample magic to spare.
Ah. OK. Yeah, elves did likely develop it and that's at least part of why he just considers it a tool, not something with an intrinsic moral value one way or the other. I'm still most interested in what it is about blood magic that dampens one's connection to the Fade. Or at least their ability to dream. (And Titan's and lyrium/titan blood are a whole other ball of wax since lyrium seems to, counter-intuitively, strengthen the ability to call on the energies of the Fade and/or enter the Fade. Just... are there rules? Are they coherent? Tell me your secrets, Weekes!)
Not sure about negative emotions though. The concept of sacrifice or giving one's life energy isn't necessarily tied to negativity - it can also be an altruistic gesture.
Well, we know that the more pain blood magic causes, the more powerful the spell. That's in volume 1 of the lore book.
I just tend to assume that this includes emotional pain.
Honestly I would have to do more research on menstruation to answer that question confidently, since blood magic is tied to sacrifice of life energy — a wound, specifically. Blood on its own may be an ingredient, but not a power source.
So since it’s the result of a natural biological process rather than an injury, instinct is to say no. But given that it’s tied to conception and still weakens person having cramps, that feels like enough of a sacrifice that it’d work.
Interesting, especially the bit about the blood needing to have come from a wound/injury. Was that previously known?
At any rate, every woman's period experience is different. Some have minimal cramping that may only last the first day or so, but still bleed after that, so the blood wouldn't be tied to the pain in that case. Menstruation is the cause of all sorts of changes. However, one thing that can happen is an iron deficiency if you're one of those who has heavy bleeding -- perhaps that would count? -- but again, that's not everyone.
I still question why people want to know that, but then again, fans wonder a lot of weird details on a Tuesday night, so eh.
While I agree it seems weird, I can see how some would be like, "Hey, a free blood source!" and wonder about it. I'd bet teenage girl mages would definitely think about it.
Mountains. Cold. "Let's bring Dorian!" It's good to be Champion!
Post by thats1evildude on Apr 11, 2018 4:54:30 GMT
Well, as Theodoric said, World of Thedas Vol. 1 confirmed blood magic is fueled by pain. The greater the suffering, the more potent the magic.
And that jibes with the depictions of blood magic in-game; there would be little need for slashed wrists and human sacrifices if all you needed for blood magic was just blood. Hell, just go to a slaughterhouse with some empty jars.
Well, it's certainly not something that goes against how that universe is built, with magic/Fade having strong ties with emotions/feelings/state of mind and where symbols or ideas are more than just abstract notions. It does make sense - though it suggests that the blood magic is still tied to the Fade somehow, instead of something that works outside of it... but somehow its reliance on sacrifice makes it strangely distinct. I wonder if there's a similar deal with lyrium, which is basically Titan's blood. By dwarves it's considered a gift of the Stone/Titans, or so says Valta - which suggests it's a willing sacrifice.
Not sure about negative emotions though. The concept of sacrifice or giving one's life energy isn't necessarily tied to negativity - it can also be an altruistic gesture.
This has me thinking. Its kinda weird (or maybe ironic) that blood magic apparently makes it harder to enter the fade and yet its also usually involved in thinning the veil due to its use weapon of violence.
Also, why does magic stemming from a sacrifice make it harder to enter the fade? According to Solas, anyway. And I don't think he meant only blood magic that is sacrificing the unwilling, cus he considers blood magic as amoral in and of itself. So when he mentions blood magic, without a qualifier about what type of sacrifices fuel it, I assume he means all blood magic lessens the fade connection regardless. The main characteristic and common factor to all blood magic, regardless of willingness of the sacrifice, is the act of sacrifice itself... so why's that lessen your connection to the Fade? o.O
Maybe its something as simple as a body/mind (or material/immaterial) dichotomy? Blood is of the physical, an integral part of the body. Whereas the Fade's energy is primarily created from willpower/thought, which is intrinsically insubstantial. So they're incompatible or... something?
Well, the blood magic appears to be rooted in the concept of sacrifice, not necessarily anything physical... but then again, what gives it power may be the concept of physicality itself , the belief in which is so strong on its own that it can act as a fuel to other magical endeavors.
And I'm not sure I'd say that the blood magic 'lessens connection to the Fade', especially that it increases chances of demon summoning or possession, with demons being very Fade-y creatures. So there seems to be a strong connection to the Fade there - it's just that it seems to attract Fade/Fade-inhabitants to the other side, rather than the other way around.
It's also probably why it's harder to venture far into dreams, once one is 'rooted' to reality like that. It's probably why caffeine supposedly works in similar fashion and why Solas avoids tea - because it tricks the brain into being aware and awake, and thus too weighted down by reality to venture far into largely fluid and ephemeral world of dreams.
As for thinning the Veil... well, there's a possible, albeit counter-intuitive, answer to that: because - in Cole's words - the Veil is "fake, false, fabricated to forbid".
In other words, ironically, the blood thins the Veil, because the Veil's not really real.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
there would be little need for slashed wrists and human sacrifices if all you needed for blood magic was just blood. Hell, just go to a slaughterhouse with some empty jars.
Could be human blood, which most people don't give up willingly. Common lore in different fantasy universes has vampires prefer human blood over animal. Or, if that, drained from someone who is unconscious. There are ways to get blood that don't also cause pain.
But that's why I asked. I don't pay much attention to blood magic lore.
Mountains. Cold. "Let's bring Dorian!" It's good to be Champion!
Well, as Theodoric said, World of Thedas Vol. 1 confirmed blood magic is fueled by pain. The greater the suffering, the more potent the magic.
And that jibes with the depictions of blood magic in-game; there would be little need for slashed wrists and human sacrifices if all you needed for blood magic was just blood. Hell, just go to a slaughterhouse with some empty jars.
The lorebooks aren't 100% factual - they are written to reflect the world-views and biases of the in-universe people. And most Thedosians, even many blood magic practitioners, think of blood magic as something dark and rooted in pain/all the dark things (which IMO, is something reserved for Blight, not necessarily blood magic itself).
And 'the greater the suffering'... that seems to be a general thing, not just something related to blood magic. Emotions fueling magic in Thedas is sort of what this whole magic system is based on, so it's only natural for stronger emotions to produce stronger result. Thing is, those emotions don't have to be negative. It just so happens that negative sentiments are more prevalent now, thus producing darker results in a way they shape the Fade or its inhabitants (the general negative attitude towards Fade or magic probably doesn't help that as well).
Cassandra: Solas, I am sorry about your... friend. Solas: Thank you. Cassandra: I knew demons and spirits were similar, but I did not know one could become the other so easily. Solas: Not similar, Seeker. The same. The Chantry sees black and white, but nature is, and always has been, grey. A spirit is a purpose. A demon is that purpose perverted. Cassandra: That might be true with a spirit of compassion, but what is the purpose of a hunger demon? Solas: Survival. Satiation. The pleasure of taste, of feeding. True hunger, however, is much darker. Think of all those who starve in this world. Mankind has itself to blame for the existence of demons.
Last Edit: Apr 11, 2018 5:25:41 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
So what you are saying is, only the stuff in the games matters, and any secondary media should be taken with a grain of salt, because Bioware writers are about as good at managing their lore as the writers of Dragon Ball Z or Professional Wrestling Entertainment?
Well, as Theodoric said, World of Thedas Vol. 1 confirmed blood magic is fueled by pain. The greater the suffering, the more potent the magic.
And that jibes with the depictions of blood magic in-game; there would be little need for slashed wrists and human sacrifices if all you needed for blood magic was just blood. Hell, just go to a slaughterhouse with some empty jars.
The lorebooks aren't 100% factual - they are written to reflect the world-views and biases of the in-universe people. And most Thedosians, even many blood magic practitioners, think of blood magic as something dark and rooted in pain/all the dark things (which IMO, is something reserved for Blight, not necessarily blood magic itself)
That rule only applies to a codex written in-universe, which are of course subject to the writer’s beliefs and prejudices. This was a plain statement of fact right next to a picture of a blood mage holding up a guy’s severed head.
“The more violent the pain or death used in blood magic, the more potent a spell becomes.”
There was no “As written by Steve the Chantry scholar” or “Mary Sue the blood mage” next to it.
And on the previous page, it says, “Using pain or death to cast or strengthen spells is forbidden throughout Thedas.”
And if you maintain that the lorebooks aren’t 100 per cent truthful and could be wrong in this one case, why are you arguing with something that is 100 per cent supported by the things you see in-universe?
So what you are saying is, only the stuff in the games matters, and any secondary media should be taken with a grain of salt, because Bioware writers are about as good at managing their lore as the writers of Dragon Ball Z or Professional Wrestling Entertainment?
I hope you realize that it makes you seem like you are unable to differentiate between lorebooks/codices and actual story that happens in games or books?
I mean... can you? I assume that you know that there's a difference between subjective opinions/views expressed by characters (which codices and lorebooks written from in-universe perspective belong to) and events in the story that push the plot forward. And that this is a rather silly attempt at strawmaning me.
Last Edit: Apr 15, 2018 0:32:48 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
I hope you realize that it makes you seem like you are unable to differentiate between lorebooks/codices and actual story that happens in games or books?
I'm just saying I get a loooooooot of excuses. The Books matter or they dont. You cant have both.
Its the official lore book. It is an explanation of how blood magic works in that world.
I hope you realize that it makes you seem like you are unable to differentiate between lorebooks/codices and actual story that happens in games or books?
I'm just saying I get a loooooooot of excuses. The Books matter or they dont. You cant have both.
Its the official lore book. It is an explanation of how blood magic works in that world.
Admittedly, the lore is a bit janky at times, since they’ve been figuring a lot of this shit out as the series develops. Plus, they’re human and make mistakes.
But in this case, the lorebook is 100 per cent accurate.
The lorebooks aren't 100% factual - they are written to reflect the world-views and biases of the in-universe people. And most Thedosians, even many blood magic practitioners, think of blood magic as something dark and rooted in pain/all the dark things (which IMO, is something reserved for Blight, not necessarily blood magic itself)
That rule only applies to a codex written in-universe, which are of course subject to the writer’s beliefs and prejudices.
WoT1 and WoT2 are written from in-universe perspective. They're basically expanded codices (many of which don't have authors mentioned or have accompanying illustrations btw. and are no less in-universe)
WoT are are supposed to be taken as tomes written by historians or other collaborating authors investigating the matter, but not being privy to all the details and having their own biases, even if less pronounced than those pieces of articles with named authors. You can tell simply from the way they are written.
Last Edit: Nov 11, 2018 15:23:54 GMT by midnight tea
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.”
That rule only applies to a codex written in-universe, which are of course subject to the writer’s beliefs and prejudices.
WoT1 and WoT2 are written from in-universe perspective. They're basically expended codices (many of which don't have authors mentioned or have accompanying illustrations btw. and are no less in-universe)
WoT are are supposed to be taken as tomes written by historians or other collaborating authors investigating the matter, but not being privy to all the details and having their own biases, even if less pronounced than those pieces of articles with named authors. You can tell simply from the way they are written.
As I said, this wasn’t Steve the Chantry Scholar’s journal entry. It was just a statement of fact SUPPORTED BY THE FUCKING GAMES.
And now this subject is making me angry, so I’m not going to debate this further. Good night.
Post by TheodoricFriede on Apr 11, 2018 6:27:03 GMT
Whats going on here is that the books are being treated as cannon except when it doesn't fit someones argument, in which they dont count because opinions are fact.
. I wouldn't have expected that reaction from someone who has that sort of attachment to a character, regardless of who it is. Fenris kept me going back to DA2 and Dorian keeps me going back to DAI (as much as I adore my Inquisitor and feel strong attachment to him).
)
, the belief in which is so strong on its own that it can act as a fuel to other magical endeavors. 
