Curse

Angel Netherborn · Dec 04, 2006, 11:20 AM // 11:20

I didn't see any threads discussing this so I thought I'd bring it up. It's been gnawing at me.

Anyone else noticed the glaring inconsistencies between the characterization of Devona, Aidan, Mhenlo, Cynn, and Eve? Some of their background stories are wrong, some of their quotes conflict each other, and some of their personalities got totally messed up. Looks like the two development teams had some communication problems.

Or... is it just me? It's kinda disappointing to have nicely defined and well thought out characters to suddenly get inconsistencies and conflicts.

Sophitia Leafblade · Dec 04, 2006, 11:24 AM // 11:24

you could be correct but i cant say ive noticed can u give an example or two?

Giga Strike · Dec 04, 2006, 05:43 PM // 17:43

ya, I havent noticed anything but i dont pay "that" much attention anyway.

some guy · Dec 05, 2006, 12:15 AM // 00:15

One thing though, might be off-topic.
According to the Factions game manual, Aidan was born in Borlis Pass.
According to the Prophecies game manual, Aidan was born in Kree Foothills.

Angel Netherborn · Dec 05, 2006, 01:04 AM // 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophitia Leafblade

you could be correct but i cant say ive noticed can u give an example or two?

In Proph and Factions, Aidan's family came from Kryta and his mother died (giving birth to him?) while crossing over the Shiverpeaks. And he grew up in Ascalon with his father and became a hunter. In the official lore, he's the supposed cool, calm, and wise member of Devona's group.

Yet, if you look at his dialogue now, he mentions that his parents were murdered by Charr and that he went on a vengeful crusade. His character feels much darker, dangerous and more tragic now.

Then there's Mhenlo and Cynn. There's absolutely not a single hint of their relationship any more. For Mhenlo, it's even worse, one of his quotes suggests that he came to Elona crossing the Shiverpeaks and wonders what's across the sea (i.e. Cantha), yet another mentioned Master Togo and suggested that he completed the Factions storyline before Nightfall.

Then, if you pay attention to Devona's and Cynn's quotes, their characters feel wilder and more unrestrained. Devona's no longer the duty-bound paladin sort and Cynn lost her arrogant confidence.

Eve was the only one I felt that can still be considered as having retained some of her previous character.

Trivial nitpicking? I dunno, just didn't like how these guys are turning out.

Taala · Dec 05, 2006, 01:33 AM // 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel Netherborn

For Mhenlo, it's even worse, one of his quotes suggests that he came to Elona crossing the Shiverpeaks and wonders what's across the sea (i.e. Cantha), yet another mentioned Master Togo and suggested that he completed the Factions storyline before Nightfall.

That quote was about when Mhenlo first left Ascalon. Ascalon being his whole world until he travelled to Kryta, and from there to Elona. This obviously being when Mhenlo was younger and before he went to Shing Jea Monastery to study.

I seriously doubt he is referring to Cantha's direction when he wonders what is across the sea.

FireFox · Dec 05, 2006, 01:36 AM // 01:36

You must also concider the situations / locations the charicters are in when saying these quotes

Angel Netherborn · Dec 07, 2006, 08:16 AM // 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taala

That quote was about when Mhenlo first left Ascalon. Ascalon being his whole world until he travelled to Kryta, and from there to Elona. This obviously being when Mhenlo was younger and before he went to Shing Jea Monastery to study.

I seriously doubt he is referring to Cantha's direction when he wonders what is across the sea.

Why do you doubt? Cantha is across the sea. Unless you think this is a chapter 4 hook? While it is possible that he went to Elona before Cantha, from the Factions storyline, Mhenlo seems to have spent many years in Cantha, and from Prophecies, it was mentioned that he spent his childhood in Serenity Temple. But if his "across the sea" mention was really not Cantha, I suppose that would resolve the inconsistency.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFox

You must also concider the situations / locations the charicters are in when saying these quotes

For example? Henchmen idle quotes are usually more tied to the region than to the storyline, unlike the heroes. Henchmen quotes during battle are always the same set. Henchmen dialogue usually remain the same.

Maleki · Dec 07, 2006, 11:02 AM // 11:02

I agree with this, the gang seems to have lost its feeling, they dont feel like the same henchies anymore, more like emtpy shells with words. I think since prophecies, they have lost a lot of cohesion as a group to. They were your lifeline in prophecies and now they are your throwbacks waiting for a friggin bone.

RTSFirebat · Dec 07, 2006, 12:43 PM // 12:43

Have to agree, Devona battle quote "Idiot meet hammer, hammer idiot" just seemed completely random and out-of-character.

Taala · Dec 07, 2006, 03:44 PM // 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel Netherborn

Why do you doubt? Cantha is across the sea. Unless you think this is a chapter 4 hook? While it is possible that he went to Elona before Cantha, from the Factions storyline, Mhenlo seems to have spent many years in Cantha, and from Prophecies, it was mentioned that he spent his childhood in Serenity Temple. But if his "across the sea" mention was really not Cantha, I suppose that would resolve the inconsistency.

Why do I doubt? Because it makes no sense for Mhenlo to wonder what is across the sea in Cantha's direction because he is well aware what is there.

Yes, Mhenlo does seem to have spent plenty of time in Cantha, but I don't remember seeing reference to Mhenlo having spent his entire life in the Serenity Temple until the searing. Prophecies manual just says "Mhenlo has spent most of his life inside Serenity Temple".

So he stayed there until some certain age, not knowing much about the outside world, and then left to travel for unknown reason. If it was Cantha and Shing Jea as his destination or if he just eventually happen to get there on his travels, he visited Elona on his way there regardless. After all, Elona is closer to Tyria than Cantha.

Maleki · Dec 07, 2006, 04:31 PM // 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taala

Why do I doubt? Because it makes no sense for Mhenlo to wonder what is across the sea in Cantha's direction because he is well aware what is there.

Yes, Mhenlo does seem to have spent plenty of time in Cantha, but I don't remember seeing reference to Mhenlo having spent his entire life in the Serenity Temple until the searing. Prophecies manual just says "Mhenlo has spent most of his life inside Serenity Temple".

So he stayed there until some certain age, not knowing much about the outside world, and then left to travel for unknown reason. If it was Cantha and Shing Jea as his destination or if he just eventually happen to get there on his travels, he visited Elona on his way there regardless. After all, Elona is closer to Tyria than Cantha.

I dont think I quite agree with you there. But as I dont quite understand your argument, I wont directly combat it. I will pose my own. I believe in the quote I wonder what is across the Sea, is referring to what else is out there. Nowhere does he say, I wonder what is in the sea in Canthas direction. I could still wonder what is out in the world even though i know a couple places out there. Im not sure if you are suggesting that Mhenlo came to Elona first but this is impossible to say with the quote. Regardless of whether he had ever been here before or if he had originally been to elona or cantha first. The storyline goes Prophecies-Factions THEN Nightfall...so he cant be wondering about cantha.

This might be a plot hook but i dont think for chapter four. On account of me wanting to kick some charr butt and take some charr names.

Taala · Dec 07, 2006, 07:46 PM // 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maleki

I dont think I quite agree with you there. But as I dont quite understand your argument, I wont directly combat it. I will pose my own. I believe in the quote I wonder what is across the Sea, is referring to what else is out there.

Exactly. My point was an argument against Angel Netherborn's post "wonders what's across the sea (i.e. Cantha)".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maleki

Im not sure if you are suggesting that Mhenlo came to Elona first but this is impossible to say with the quote.

It was my guess, no way of knowing for sure of course. As he does say in the quote how Ascalon was the whole world to him until he travelled to Kryta and later on to Elona. One can assume that he travelled from Kryta to Elona back then, or that he thinks Cantha isn't that impressive place and not worth mentioning.

Angel Netherborn · Dec 08, 2006, 12:43 AM // 00:43

Ok, I guess I could accept that he wasn't referring to Cantha at all, but seeing that quote about Master Togo just threw the whole thing upside down. I think that Master Togo quote was a really bad idea. It's kinda like a spoiler to those who started GW from NF. But seeing how the quotes don't really go naturally with each other without our own interpretations and guesses, this looks like a fine example of inconsistency and conflict.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTSFirebat

Have to agree, Devona battle quote "Idiot meet hammer, hammer idiot" just seemed completely random and out-of-character.

Yea, that and several other battle cries totally changed the whole concept of Devona's character.

DreamRunner · Dec 12, 2006, 02:16 AM // 02:16

While Devona is my favorite character out of the lot. And playing through nightfall, it does seem a little bit odd. I will have to agree that they have lost their touch in nightfall, It seems there characters are in the dark in nightfall, which is a huge shame. but in factions? I will disagree. I think they most definetly had it, if not more so.

As for Aiden. Its unclear and he could have gone into that state of revenge but thats why he is so cool, clam now? He is the oldest. I'm just saying he could have. While where he was born, yeah thats a blunder

LordDeArnise · Dec 13, 2006, 07:03 AM // 07:03

The way I see it, you have to consider a few things:

1) Devona and the group from Tyria will be battle-hardened going to Cantha, then Elona. As someone who has played Baldur's Gate, I know this really well.

2) They do give different quotes in certain regions or situations. I find Nika is a great example of this when you're in Echovald Forest. "The air and the water is so clean here."

3) I haven't read much about their backgrounds since I haven't reviewed both the Proph and Factions manuals, but I really do like the background profile for Eve, as I think it suits her well. I still think Anet could do their godly work and really make her look like what she looks like on the cover box of Proph with whiter skin and black-ish lips.

Guildmaster Cain · Dec 13, 2006, 10:00 AM // 10:00

At first I thought Devona would be the leader of the party, but in factions it appeared to be that over-annoyin healer.

I wonder where the Kree Foothills are.... (CHAPTER 4?)

Taala · Dec 13, 2006, 10:20 AM // 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guildmaster Cain

I wonder where the Kree Foothills are.... (CHAPTER 4?)

Wiki had this to say when I searched for Kree Foothills:

"Kree Foothills" has in the past been the name of two in-game locations, which have since been renamed, one to Borlis Pass (during beta) and one to Yak's Bend. In addition, the most recent official Guild Wars website now lists Aidan's birthplace as "Borlis Pass" rather than "Kree Foothills", which indicates that Arena.net are continuing with phasing out all the old location names.