Half-Elves (companion spoilers)

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:31 pm

OK, this isn't a thread whining about the exclusion of various races.. it's a question of curiosity and logic.

My elven mage has Alistair quite smitten with her.. and equally, I doubt Zevran would refuse sharing my human rogue's bedroll.

Now, one would assume that such pairings aren't completely unheard of in Ferelden.. so why aren't there any half-elves?

Do such unions not produce children because of some biological incompatibility? Or.. what?

Mister Bean · Post by **Mister Bean** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:03 pm

Yes, I noticed the complete absence of half-elves and half-dwarves, too. Since romance options within your party and at the brothel are available without regard to race, it's reasonable to presume humans, elves, and dwarves have tried to reproduce, and they have evidently failed. I presume bioincompatibility is the answer to your question.

However, I created the world's first human-elf hybrid SPOILER!:

Spoiler

by completing the Dark Ritual with Morrigan.

Epic spoiler there, Bean. Please use spoiler formatting to avoid ruining endgame events for other players. -AC

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:23 pm

According to the Dragon Age lore, a union between a human and an elf produces a human, as such, elves that marry humans are viewed as "betrayers".

Half-Dwarves however do exist, though I can't remember if there was anything that could be used to tell them apart from a normal dwarf, though I assume they are taller.

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:53 pm

Crenshinibon wrote: Half-Dwarves however do exist, though I can't remember if there was anything that could be used to tell them apart from a normal dwarf, though I assume they are taller.

I recall reading somewhere on the official forums that half-dwarves generally are indistinguishable from pure dwarven folk, aside from the fact that they have no stone sense. I presume to a human unfamiliar with their kind, it would be impossible to tell one from another.

Makes me wonder though about a union between an elf and a dwarf?

I would guess the child would be a dwarf in that case also, since it seems dwarves possess the "dominant" traits, where elves would be the "recessive"? Assuming they can produce children at all.

So what are you thinking about those romances, DW?

Da_venom · Post by **Da_venom** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:28 pm

just too bad
that there aren't any duerger, dark elves, snifverblings, half orcs and gnomes

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:48 pm

No, it's not too bad because this is a completely different setting than the Forgotten Realms. This isn't even D&D. The creators of this world decided on four "sentient" races and that's what this world will have. Had they gone with the races you mentioned, they would have needed to make this game using the newest D&D ruleset, not to mention ask for the rights.

Aqua-chan: I don't recall seeing anything about that. Perhaps we might see more on the "half" races in Awakening?

SPOILER:

Spoiler

I recall reading on the forums that one of our companions is actually born of a union between a human and an elf.

Slightly bigger Dragon Age: The Calling Spoiler:

Spoiler

From what I heard about the book, contrary to what the game itself says, Alistair's mother was an elven Grey Warden, not a servant. In any case seeing as she was elven and King Maric human, we've seen how such a union turns out.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 6:57 pm

dragon wench wrote:OK, this isn't a thread whining about the exclusion of various races.. it's a question of curiosity and logic.

My elven mage has Alistair quite smitten with her.. and equally, I doubt Zevran would refuse sharing my human rogue's bedroll.

I'm not 100% sure that Zev would refuse the dog, but that's neither here nor there.

Maybe the races do that whole Spartan thing where they kill their babies if they aren't pure and perfect or something.

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 7:08 pm

Bloodstalker wrote:I'm not 100% sure that Zev would refuse the dog, but that's neither here nor there.

Maybe the races do that whole Spartan thing where they kill their babies if they aren't pure and perfect or something.

In Zev's defense, I believe he would refuse the dog.

At least, I would hope so. I have to tell myself this as his has become my favorite romance of the lot, and I am not willing to have this idea that my character may be sharing with the mabari.

Makes me wonder how Alistair got through that exam process.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:20 pm

Bloodstalker wrote:I'm not 100% sure that Zev would refuse the dog, but that's neither here nor there.

Maybe the races do that whole Spartan thing where they kill their babies if they aren't pure and perfect or something.

I am 100% certain that the Dog would refuse Zevran. They are 100% loyal to their masters, tho.....:mischief::devil:

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:00 am

Spoiler about Crenshinibon's spoiler concerning The Calling:

Spoiler

It's not really "contrary", as Maric clearly plans in The Calling to give Allistair an alternative background. He is never supposed to know who his real mother was.

Da_venom · Post by **Da_venom** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:39 pm

on a side note though

would it be possible to make

elf/human/dwarf half demon babies(since u can have fun with the desire demon in conner) xD

that would be epic your own half demon/(insert race) son xD

demon powerS(specialized blood magic and alot fo hp) xD

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:23 pm

lol at the replies! Sorry about the late reply to my own thread, between work and actually playing the game I got side-tracked

[QUOTE=BS]I'm not 100% sure that Zev would refuse the dog, but that's neither here nor there.[/QUOTE]
Indeed... I can just see Zev gazing wistfully at a Marbari he'd like to buy.. "How much is that doggy in the window..."

[QUOTE=AC]So what are you thinking about those romances, DW?[/QUOTE]
Actually... I think what I've seen so far is very well done, the personalities are, despite fulfilling certain tropes, well-developed, complex and subtle. Even though they represent certain stereotypes, they still seem quite realistic. Also, I find Alistair a far more attractive "knight in shining armour" than a certain other Bioware NPC...

I haven't seen much of Zev's romance, I only saved and had my character invite Zev to her tent, because I wasn't sure about repercussions with Alistair. But, I've since heard that your actual love interest doesn't become too bothered at your extracurricular explorations, so long as it doesn't develop into a full-fledged romance. I have to admit, this take to relationships sits quite well with me..

On a related note, I also really like the way they've incorporated bisexuality, it's done in a very natural and mature manner; I'm impressed.

[QUOTE=Crenshinibon]According to the Dragon Age lore, a union between a human and an elf produces a human, as such, elves that marry humans are viewed as "betrayers".[/QUOTE]
Ah.. OK. Hmm.. not sure how I feel about that, it's not a particularly accurate reflection of genetics. OK, OK.. I know it's just a game.. but still..

Aqua-chan · Post by **Aqua-chan** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 1:05 pm

dragon wench wrote:

Actually... I think what I've seen so far is very well done, the personalities are, despite fulfilling certain tropes, well-developed, complex and subtle. Even though they represent certain stereotypes, they still seem quite realistic. Also, I find Alistair a far more attractive "knight in shining armour" than a certain other Bioware NPC...
I haven't seen much of Zev's romance, I only saved and had my character invite Zev to her tent, because I wasn't sure about repercussions with Alistair. But, I've since heard that your actual love interest doesn't become too bothered at your extracurricular explorations, so long as it doesn't develop into a full-fledged romance. I have to admit, this take to relationships sits quite well with me..

On a related note, I also really like the way they've incorporated bisexuality, it's done in a very natural and mature manner; I'm impressed.

I admit, Alistair does have a few ups on a certain Helmite of old, although the angsting over Duncan does get tiresome around the fourth time or so he brings it up.

Well, it's my experience that your primary romance won't be too detrimentally impacted if you stray with Zev, since he'll take a Warden's company if they're vaguely good friends. The others will have to be in a pretty committed relationship before doing the deed, and that's where trouble ( or fun, if you're like me) starts.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:14 pm

dragon wench wrote: Ah.. OK. Hmm.. not sure how I feel about that, it's not a particularly accurate reflection of genetics. OK, OK.. I know it's just a game.. but still..

When the Elves were first enslaved, something was done to them. Something that was (I think) meant to wipe them out enitrely.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 6:28 pm

You're thinking of the Krogans. xD

Nothing was really done to the elves that would affect their reproduction. The only thing that happened was the "Quickening", which essentially sped up their life-spans, making them as short lived as humans.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:21 pm

Precisely.