Curse

dancing gnome · May 07, 2010, 04:05 PM // 16:05

Am I the only one sick of reading about the amazingly one sided story telly how evil the White Mantle and their Peacekeepers are?

It seems in every single story written by Murro on the website, the "perfect" scenario to present the White Mantle as obvious bad guys is presented in each blog (I mean "perfect" in a bad way, you know in the fake made up too suspiciously perfect to be true). Why does it have to be so bluntly over the top bashed into our heads that these guys are less than good? Having a bit of a grey area or even just less than stupidly obvious writing is a good thing.

It might just be because I'm a journalist, but the feel I get from the War in Kryta story is a very strong propaganda campaign against the White Mantle. Instead of creating characters with interesting moral dilemmas or actual motivation, these guys feel like bad guys from a children's television show from the 80s who do bad for the sake of doing bad.

Not every White Mantle member is faceless soldier number xxxx. They all have families somewhere, they all have reasons for doing what they do. They don't just beat, murder and steal from random farmers every chance they get. Even the most corrupt armies have a few good eggs and the bad eggs usually have a reason for being bad, good story telling shows us that.

I understand they want us to side with the Shining Blade in the end, but that doesn't mean they have to dumb down the story so much that it's one sidedness begins to push people towards the White Mantle out of spite.

Morphy · May 07, 2010, 04:08 PM // 16:08

They are possessed by the devil, duh.

Aleta · May 07, 2010, 04:25 PM // 16:25

Most journalism has a slant. There are overtones of coercion from the White Mantle themselves over and over again. Like the day they talked to the Ascalon settlers. I've finished Prophecies more then once and the White Mantle are not nice.

Also it's their peace keepers that are doing most of the dirty work. Now I suppose you can argue that they, White Mantle, are brain washed and deluded by the Mursaat that I could go along with to an extent. But only if some finally saw how wrong it is to kill the chosen. I'd love to see a White Mantle betray to the Shining Blade. Now that would be a story

Zodiac Meteor · May 07, 2010, 04:38 PM // 16:38

Do not trust the Shinning Blade, need we forget they released the Titans amongst Tyria? Lions Arch, Droknars Forge and Ascalon nearly fallen to the Titans wrath! The great cities of Tyria are shaken and weakened, human society will fall under the Shining Blade! We need to revive the Mursaat and unite Tyria into it's former awesome power.

With the Mursaats power, the Charr, Centaurs and other cruel beasts will bow to us.

Down with the Shining Blade! All hail the Mursaat, long live Janthir!

Absolute Destiny · May 07, 2010, 04:43 PM // 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by zodiac meteor

do not trust the shinning blade, need we forget they released the titans amongst tyria? Lions arch, droknars forge and ascalon nearly fallen to the titans wrath! The great cities of tyria are shaken and weakened, human society will fall under the shining blade! We need to revive the mursaat and unite tyria into it's former awesome power.

With the mursaats power, the charr, centaurs and other cruel beasts will bow to us.

Down with the shining blade! All hail the mursaat, long live janthir!

Dismantle!!!!!

Black Metal · May 07, 2010, 04:49 PM // 16:49

wow, a rant thread about the good vs evil paradigm.

news flash: as with virtually every rpg ever made, it's good vs evil and you are on the good side

Zodiac Meteor · May 07, 2010, 04:52 PM // 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Absolute Destiny

Dismantle!!!!!

Arrest him! He wishes to bring Chaos to the world! The Shining Blades world! People of Tyria, do not live the same fate of old Ascalon City.

The Ascalon Refuges suffered though the Shining Blades world, lost their beloved Prince Rurik. However, I have disturbing news about Prince Rurik. Upon speaking to a Seer, we have discovered that Prince Rurik was a puppet to Vizier Khilbron. The same Shining Blade leader that released the Titans, nearly destroyed civilizations and killed our beloved Mursaat.

In order to control Prince Rurik, he had to be dead. Which means, Vizier Khilbron killed Prince Rurik!

The Shining Blade are traitors, murderers and heartless. Join the White Mantle and paradise shall be at hand!

Mintha Syl · May 07, 2010, 05:15 PM // 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiac Meteor

Do not trust the Shinning Blade, need we forget they released the Titans amongst Tyria?

Naaah, we did it, shining blade was quietly eating popcorn on some tree in the meanwhile (and for this I feel like a not-knowing and unpaid peacekeeper like)! and, remember, it's always Glint's fault! Let the shining blade and white mantle join forces against her, I say!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancing gnome

Not every White Mantle member is faceless soldier number xxxx. They all have families somewhere, they all have reasons for doing what they do. They don't just beat, murder and steal from random farmers every chance they get. Even the most corrupt armies have a few good eggs and the bad eggs usually have a reason for being bad, good story telling shows us that.

I agree with this, behind them there's common people. But it's easier to just put a whole group under a mark, so we can slain them all happily. A bit of individual story would be nice, but maybe then it would be too much like Pyre etc.

FlyMoto · May 07, 2010, 05:19 PM // 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiac Meteor

Arrest him! He wishes to bring Chaos to the world! The Shining Blades world! People of Tyria, do not live the same fate of old Ascalon City.

The Ascalon Refuges suffered though the Shining Blades world, lost their beloved Prince Rurik. However, I have disturbing news about Prince Rurik. Upon speaking to a Seer, we have discovered that Prince Rurik was a puppet to Vizier Khilbron. The same Shining Blade leader that released the Titans, nearly destroyed civilizations and killed our beloved Mursaat.

In order to control Prince Rurik, he had to be dead. Which means, Vizier Khilbron killed Prince Rurik!

The Shining Blade are traitors, murderers and heartless. Join the White Mantle and paradise shall be at hand!

Except it was Dagnar Stoneplate of the Stone Summit who killed Prince Rurik. The Vizier just made use of his body to toy with the Shining Blade.

Nice try though.

coil · May 07, 2010, 05:23 PM // 17:23

it does kinda seem like they're beating a dead horse. maybe they're just buying time til the content is finalized for release.

Black Metal · May 07, 2010, 05:37 PM // 17:37

totally agree coil. Each Murro update brings tired, rehashed and completely inconsequential tripe to hold us until they get their act together, however many weeks late it will be. It's funny watching the furry roleplayers eat it up though.

tcratty · May 07, 2010, 05:53 PM // 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Metal

wow, a rant thread about the good vs evil paradigm.

news flash: as with virtually every rpg ever made, it's good vs evil and you are on the good side

but being evil is so much more fun

Spiritz · May 07, 2010, 06:03 PM // 18:03

To me its a matter of which side of the fence your on - white mantle are misguided ( which can be said about some faiths who have extreme followers ) and are doing what they deem to be right - the blades are the natural opposition to the acts which the mantle do.
Prophs we have to remember is different to say factions where luxons and kurzicks fight - both sides in gw do unite within storyline and fight a common cause.White mantle/shining blades dont unite as they have no common cause.
If its down to nitpicking - abbadon wasnt always an evil god within gw lore as i think he was the one who gave us the ability to use magic and he only went evil after.
There is no real good or evil - its just a perspective from which side of the fence your sitting on.

prey monkie · May 07, 2010, 06:05 PM // 18:05

sooo. ur pissed because anet gave u free extra content which makes vq'ing tyria a lil more fun? and u don't like that because the storyline only shows one side of the story in a virtual world?

WTB GW2!!

dusanyu · May 07, 2010, 06:22 PM // 18:22

Yes because were supposed to find the members of a group that lead innocents to slaughter under false pretenses likable.

Rikimaru · May 07, 2010, 07:02 PM // 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by dancing gnome

Am I the only one sick of reading about the amazingly one sided story telly how evil the White Mantle and their Peacekeepers are?

It seems in every single story written by Murro on the website, the "perfect" scenario to present the White Mantle as obvious bad guys is presented in each blog (I mean "perfect" in a bad way, you know in the fake made up too suspiciously perfect to be true). Why does it have to be so bluntly over the top bashed into our heads that these guys are less than good? Having a bit of a grey area or even just less than stupidly obvious writing is a good thing.

It might just be because I'm a journalist, but the feel I get from the War in Kryta story is a very strong propaganda campaign against the White Mantle. Instead of creating characters with interesting moral dilemmas or actual motivation, these guys feel like bad guys from a children's television show from the 80s who do bad for the sake of doing bad.

Not every White Mantle member is faceless soldier number xxxx. They all have families somewhere, they all have reasons for doing what they do. They don't just beat, murder and steal from random farmers every chance they get. Even the most corrupt armies have a few good eggs and the bad eggs usually have a reason for being bad, good story telling shows us that.

I understand they want us to side with the Shining Blade in the end, but that doesn't mean they have to dumb down the story so much that it's one sidedness begins to push people towards the White Mantle out of spite.

I agree. Whenever I read those I'm left wondering what the point is supposed to be. Why would they hire thugs to randomly rob and kill people?
What's the point in stopping commerce and mercilessly torturing their own citizens?
Like you said, it's like they've turned the White Mantle into bad cartoon villains, doing bad things just for the sake of doing bad things.

Quote:

Update - Monday, May 10, 2010

Tyrian Events

White Mantle patrols have been spotted playing a game of soccer outside Lion's Arch. After losing their ball in a group of skale (which was summarily ripped to pieces), according to witnesses, they went into town to "confiscate" various puppies and kittens to replace it. Much laughter was heard outside the gates soon after.

Grammar · May 07, 2010, 07:23 PM // 19:23

This event was a lot cooler back when it was a "pick your side" thing.
You know, Obey or Dismantle, remember?
What ever happened to that?

Turns out, the choice was made for us, and now we're being hit over the head with all the "Mantle is evil!!" stuff over and over again while we hold out hope that all this will eventually lead to some new quest content.

I was a lot more excited back when it was still about Obey or Dismantle. There was so much promise and potential with that.

StormDragonZ · May 07, 2010, 08:04 PM // 20:04

I was hoping for this:

- White Mantle are just pure evil. All of their intentions lead simply into "you suck and we rule" type situations and ultimately, would gladly kill you for the sake of unseen gods.
- Shining Blade are far from being great. They rather wait till the White Mantle do something, run when things get problematic and then blame each other for stupid reasons when they get defeated.

Therefore, both sides are not worth joining and working with "outsiders" who also choose not to pick a side to settle things once and for all.

Obey or Dismantle? I'd rather Fight!

Zodiac Meteor · May 07, 2010, 08:22 PM // 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyMoto

It was Dagnar Stoneplate of the Stone Summit who killed Prince Rurik. The Vizier just made use of his body to toy with the Shining Blade.

Oh really, you were there when the beloved Prince Rurik died? Did you not try to save him? Did you not care for the Prince?

Or did the Shining Blade kill him for Vizier to manipulate?

My argument stands tall, the Shining Blade killed Prince Rurik, released havoc with the Titans and trying to over throw the White Mantle protectors.

The Shining Blade is evil! Obey the White Mantle and these unruly murderers will not rule you!

Ariovist Lynxkind · May 07, 2010, 09:59 PM // 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleta

Also it's their peace keepers that are doing most of the dirty work. Now I suppose you can argue that they, White Mantle, are brain washed and deluded by the Mursaat that I could go along with to an extent. But only if some finally saw how wrong it is to kill the chosen. I'd love to see a White Mantle betray to the Shining Blade. Now that would be a story

That has actually happened. In the third lot of text, a mantle soldier is scrutinised as part of 4 new volunteers at the Blade Camp, and Saphir says that half the Blade recruits served the Mantle in some capacity. What we need though is a high-profile recruit to come along. That would make things interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zodiac Meteor

Do not trust the Shinning Blade, need we forget they released the Titans amongst Tyria? Lions Arch, Droknars Forge and Ascalon nearly fallen to the Titans wrath! The great cities of Tyria are shaken and weakened, human society will fall under the Shining Blade! We need to revive the Mursaat and unite Tyria into it's former awesome power.

With the Mursaats power, the Charr, Centaurs and other cruel beasts will bow to us.

Down with the Shining Blade! All hail the Mursaat, long live Janthir!

Actually... that was us, the heroes of the piece. at that point the Shining Blade were in disarray thanks to the Mursaat and the White Mantle.

And as for the 'cruel beasts' bowing to the Mursaat, I still question what the hell they did to stop the undead menace plaguing Kryta. If they had have dealt with it they might actually still be around.