Dragon Age: A serious discussion on Mages.

[Gunjester]

Okay, so I'm a big lover of the Dragon Age series, especially as it always seems to approach its own world's social links in extremely realistic and entertaining ways. Particualrly with the Mages, in which I truly believe if they did exist, everyone would hate them, either due to jealousy or fear or what have you. I myself am fascinated by the powers and all that but feel like I'd like to get other opinions on the subject. Realistically, if you lived in Thedas, how do you think you'd feel about mages and their rights as opposed to human safety.
I'm giving very in depth opinions and scenarios below so if you want skip 'em and just post your ideas.

My opinion as a human: I wouldn't necessarily fear Mages as I'd most likely be a noble's son or a soldier, based on my real-life family bloodlines. That being said, I'd be a fighter and see mages as squishy cannons, so I'd at least be cocky about their level of strength until I felt it. Anyways, I wouldn't agree mages should be completely free, they could theoretically wipe out city blocks on their own and hear demons whispering in their ears at night; they would need to prove themselves before they could be set free. That being said, I'd suggest that the Circle not teach destructive magic and have a test beyond the Harrowing that allows the mage to leave the circle and merely be monitored.

My opinion if I was a mage: If I was a mage I have a feeling my style would be closer to Destiny-trailer Hawke, or a DnD Sorcerer, in that I'd try my best to mix physical combat with my magic, rather than master large-scale spells. I would have run from the Circle or been an Apostate from the beginning, but either way I feel I'd be alike to Morrigan more than Anders. If you let yourself be subjugated when you wield great power, that's your own fault and I won't help you. On the other hand, I'd probably straddle the fence as much as I could when the revolutions would begin. Finally, if I was going to ever resort to blood magic, I'd go with trying to bind and enslave demons to my will, rather than serve them or allow them to use me as a doorway to this world. If the demon wouldn't submit I'd never strike a deal with them.

 

[Karoshi]

If I was a mage, I'd probably stay in the Circle and try to live my life. If it was a Circle like in Kirkwall, I'd try to be mediator and if that fails, indirectly oppose the templars. If it was a Circle like in Thedas, I would have stayed quiet for my entire life.

As a common person though, I'd be scared of them and blood magic, since I have little contact with real mages. Avoiding them sounds like a good thing in that position.

 

[Rawne1980]

Personally i'd make friends with one.

Throughout my travels in those games I noticed a distinct lack of electric lighting and central heating (and toilets but thats another story).

Having someone around who can whisk up a ball of fire would be handy on those cold, dark nights.

 

[Orange12345]

So if i'm to understand OP

if I'm not one they should be regulated and kept under close watch
if I am one I would not allow myself to be subjugated

Not that there is anything wrong with that in fact it's probably how most people would actually feel about it.

for myself I would probably be content to stay in a tower or where ever since I'm not much of an adventure person, plus if I start messing with the fade and demons I could not only screw myself but a lot of other people as well

 

[Doom972]

As a non-mage, I might be a bit jealous of such a gift, but I'd avoid antagonizing them and definitely won't join an anti-mage mob. I don't see myself befriending a rogue mage, but it's not completely out of the question.

As a mage, I'd probably join the circle and try to make the best of that situation. Once I become a competent mage, I'd probably try to get sent on a task outside of the tower to see the outside world. If a situation such as the one in Kirkwall would happen, I will join the mages and won't hesitate to defend myself from those who seek to kill me "just to be sure".

 

[skywolfblue]

Realistically the government would launch a massive program to exterminate 90% of mages, and keep the remaining 10% for covert military purposes/experiments/black ops.

As for me, I'd be fine with mages, so long as they're not doing blood/demon magic. (Which, if Dragon Age: Origins and DA2 are any indication is like a good 90% of mages go crazy and start doing it sooner or later...)

I see it a bit like arguing that all people should be "controlled" because everyone could become a raging maniacal psychopath. Yes there are some people who do, but it's better to punish the guilty instead of the innocent.

 

[Beautiful End]

If I lived in Thedas, I'd be a human. If I was a human, I'd be a warrior. And honestly, as a player....I freakin' hate Mages. They get to attack AND kill you from afar. You can't even get a chance to get close to them unless you're super powerful. So I'd dislike them. Same with archers but that's another story.

However, I would probably feel bad for them. They gotta be monitored from an early age so they don't turn into monsters, they gotta be always on a leash.
And then there's people like Morrigan. Ah, Morrigan, one of a kind...

 

[Fat Hippo]

Realistically the government would launch a massive program to exterminate 90% of mages, and keep the remaining 10% for covert military purposes/experiments/black ops.

As for me, I'd be fine with mages, so long as they're not doing blood/demon magic. (Which, if Dragon Age: Origins and DA2 are any indication is like a good 90% of mages go crazy and start doing it sooner or later...)

I see it a bit like arguing that all people should be "controlled" because everyone could become a raging maniacal psychopath. Yes there are some people who do, but it's better to punish the guilty instead of the innocent.

Ah man, I hated the ending of DA2 so much for that reason. I pretty much thought the templars were a bunch of pricks throughout, but that ending totally proves them right! Every mage is just a tantrum away from turning to blood magic.

As a mage, I'd probably be content to stay in a circle. It's (more or less) safe and I could pursue my studies in peace. I'm not interested in power or influence and as such, I see no reason to turn to blood magic. And really, as long as I have a warm bed, good food and companionship, and a gigantic library of books, I see no reason to complain, if you look at how the peasants in the outside world are doing. When you think about it, mages can live a fucking pampered life, if they so choose. Yeah, you got a bunch of uppity knights with brains the size of peas looking over your shoulder, but still, you could do a lot worse in a medieval world.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I've always found the mages' plight a very sad one in those games. More so after reading Dragon Age: Asunder--which, if you're into mages, you should totally go read RIGHT NOW!

Honestly, I think the mages need to be watched. Even if I was a mage, I would submit to a certain level of surrendered freedom. One simply needs to look north at Tevintar for proof of what happens when mages are given free reign. True, not all mages would turn out like that, but we also know what happens to mages who would oppose the ruling mages: remember, the woman who invented the Litany of Andraste (is that what it was called?) was executed for treason. All because she came up with a way to fight Blood Magic. So no, mages can't run free as a group. All it would take would be a handful of them banding together for the wrong reasons, and Thedas would be in trouble.
However, I do not feel that mages need to be treated as five year old children who need to ask if they can go outside for a walk. Kirkwall showed that Templars can become just as cruel and corrupt as unchecked mages. The Templars need to ease up a bit, allow the mages to wander the city at will. Just make sure the mage checks in, and if it's their first time out, then sure, send a guard with them. But after a while, give them more freedom. Allow them to go one their own. Sit down and talk with them. Get to know them and see them as human beings, not possible monsters. If both sides would just sit down and admit that the other side has valid points, I'm certain a compromise could be reached. Sadly, that is not going to happen now based on the events of the book. War is coming, and it's going to be bloody.

As for Blood Magic, that in itself is really tragic. Mages harp on and on about not using it, never touching the stuff, but they all know how it works. Back them into a corner, where they are certain to die if they don't do anything, and they will use Blood Magic. But only when it's a last resort and they fear for their lives or are being treated unfairly and reason has gone out the window. It's very sad.

I'm just hoping that the Mage Templar War is the springboard for something even greater in Dragon Age III. Break the Veil or something, because if the whole came is just me trying to find peace for both sides, I'm going to be very disappointed.

 

[Windcaler]

I think that the world of Dragon age mostly has it right. Mages have the potential to be incredibly dangerous, not only to others but also to themselves. Perhaps the real tragedy is its a danger that they cant control. The part I dont like is how theyre expected to give up everything and basicly be locked away. I feel like society could take a more progressive stance and allow them to have actual lives with husbands/wives and children while still having their circles be a part of their lives.

Im also not sure that the templars need to be such a huge militant force that keeps the mages at arms length. It seems to me that both the mages and the templars would be far better off if they worked closer together

 

[gritch]

If I were a non-mage: I don't think I'd discriminate against mages but I'd probably be weary of them. I tend towards academia so I could see myself even as a non-mage working with mages in scientific endeavors. Granted Thedas (especially Ferelden) didn't quite seem to most academically inclined. It's far more likely that I would end up working as an apprentice and learn a trade instead. I don't come from a very wealthy family or lineage in real life so I suppose that would translate over to Thedas as well. All-in-all I would probably lead a boring life were I not a mage.

As a mage: Being locked inside the circle for all my life might make me depressed at first but I think I could manage in time. Again I tend towards academia so I'd likely begin research on the nature of magic itself. Might run me into trouble with the templars/authorities but I think I would be able to restrain myself for a good while. Though as I got older in years I could definitely see myself going a little nuts. Being stuck in a tower for the entirety of life with nothing to do but research would definitely wear me down. I could see myself snapping in the end and let loose some mad experiment just in time for some wandering protagonist to clear up for everyone.

So to recap: Were I a human I'd probably end up being Wade, if I were a mage I'd end up being Orsino.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Ah man, I hated the ending of DA2 so much for that reason. I pretty much thought the templars were a bunch of pricks throughout, but that ending totally proves them right! Every mage is just a tantrum away from turning to blood magic.

Yeah, that pissed me off. I was a mage. I had a blood mage in my party. I'd sided with Mages on everything for the entire game. I'd protected them, and I was still protecting them by holding off the Templars.

AND then all the people I was protecting turn into fricken monsters and attack me. Seriously guys? Not a single one of you can cast a single blood magic spell without becoming demon-infested? If you were gonna try, could you not have, I dunno, TALKED to the blood mage IN MY PARTY for a FAQ on how to do it properly? I just spent all day saving your worthless butts, so you repay my efforts by committing suicide on my staff?

**sigh**

For the record - DA2's ending pissed me off WAY more than ME3's ending. I'd rather have colored lights that make some small difference rather than having to personally murder the allies I'd just saved so that the game can end the same way no matter what.

 

[AsurasEyes]

Now I'm not a mageist, but I wouldn't leave one of them near my children.

I love Dragon Age...and I'd prefer not to have the demons of the Fade pecking at my mind constantly.

 

[Kiatta]

If I were a mage I'd probably try make the most of living in the tower, conducting research if I can. Certainly I'd take advantage of the education they provide there and hone my skills as best I can. Maybe even mentor younger mages and try and help them adjust. That's if I'm in a tower like the Circle in Ferelden.

In Kirkwall, I would have fought. Hard. And probably died. It's unlikely that I would have turned to blood magic, but I would have used my magic to escape and help others escape as best I could. The templars in Kirkwall were too abusive. I wouldn't have been able to stand it.

As a non-mage, I dunno. Really depends on who/what I am, I suppose.

 

[Pebkio]

I've always seen mages as just scholars who've studied long and thought deep... enough to understand how to cast magic. Which is why they are so squishy, dedicating your life to quantum mechanics doesn't leave a lot of time to lift some weights. But once you know how, then what? It's like carrying a rocket-launcher that you can't put down.

As a non-mage, I would believe that maginess is something anyone could achieve and it would, therefor, make as much sense to discriminate against them as discriminating against a doctor. However, unless someone comes up with a way to suppress magic ability in public areas, then extreme measures should be taken to prevent disaster.

Locking them up in a tower on pain of death and/or magical lobotomy is a bit too extreme though...

 

[anthony87]

I've always had the impression that mages in the Dragon Age universe need some sort of.....supervision? Guidance? I mean it's not just a case of "This mage has suddenly gone bad", there's the fact that in this universe the mages can be affected by The Fade.

That's not to say that the Templars are correct in their methods. Which is something that I like about the Dragon Age universe, it's not that clear cut.

 

[Pat8u]

Mages should be monitored but not locked up maybe every 3 years have them called up to the templars for an inspection and if they don't show up give than a bad strike and 1 year later and they still don't show up give them another and look for them if another year goes by and no word look for them and hunt them. Having them locked up just makes it so theres a bunch of potentially dangerous people locked up in the same place, walls arent going to hold back a mage

 

[vallorn]

Always thought it was interesting since Warhammer Fantasy has done this style of mages at a slightly more extreme level for years.

In said universe mages draw on the very essence of Chaos whenever they cast a spell. Even if they are inherently good they suffer from the daemons of chaos whispering in their dreams and god help them if they attract the attention of a truly powerful one which might drive them mad and manipulate them into giving it their body to wear as a nice suit.
Not to mention what happens if you fuck up your spellcasting since it can quite happily nuke a city block.

In light of THAT random tangent. I would probably be "Yeah go do whatever" but keep secret watch on all of em in case they screwed up.

 

[lechat]

Mages should be monitored but not locked up maybe every 3 years have them called up to the templars for an inspection and if they don't show up give than a bad strike and 1 year later and they still don't show up give them another and look for them if another year goes by and no word look for them and hunt them. Having them locked up just makes it so theirs a bunch of potentially dangerous people locked up in the same place, walls arent going to hold back a mage

problem with that is by the time you go through all those checks the average blood mage would have wiped out half the friggn population of the world
i actually agreed with alot of the stuff done to the mages in DA. you just can't let someone run around with the potential power of an A-bomb without keeping them in check