*SPOILERS* Ancient Magic

[Sethmeister]

I can't be the only who thought it was pointless. The main plot revolves around you being a super rare individual that can use/see ancient magic. What do you do with this ability? You use it to complete over the top trials made by some secret group to see their memories. Just to keep some orb of ?emotions/souls? safe?? Oh, and to throw barrels in combat.

It seems like overkill to have this secret order the "Keepers" make these intense trials for an ability so rare and no more dangerous than any other spell. I at least thought you would be able to save Anne with it but it can't even do that.

That's the best the writers could come up with for the main plot?

[Essence of Zem]

Should really go without saying since it's already in the topic title, but *SPOILERS ABOUND* here, too!

At any rate, I definitely found the main storyline kind of lackluster, too; the companion quests (especially Seb's) were much more interesting to me - and I absolutely hated that you didn't get a chance to follow through on questioning the Keepers about trying to help Anne with your "ancient magic" as you more or less told Sebastian you'd do upon completing the triptych. I guess that's probably because you kind of learn along the way why Isadora's method of handling things wasn't the greatest, but I still wish it would have been fleshed out some more.

Along those lines, I really, really wish we'd gotten the chance to actually speak with Isadora, too, just like the Keepers. She basically left this whole trail for someone like her to find and possibly continue her work, and it would have been amazing to have her actually telling you her side of the story in one ear while you've got the Keepers telling you theirs in the other. Would have made the final choice with the big blob of emotion magic (??) hit a little harder, I think - especially if following in Isadora's footsteps meant you felt like you could improve on her methods and actually heal Anne properly without any of the detrimental side effects.

[Delta_BOSS]

Originally posted by Essence of Zem:

Should really go without saying since it's already in the topic title, but *SPOILERS ABOUND* here, too!

At any rate, I definitely found the main storyline kind of lackluster, too; the companion quests (especially Seb's) were much more interesting to me - and I absolutely hated that you didn't get a chance to follow through on questioning the Keepers about trying to help Anne with your "ancient magic" as you more or less told Sebastian you'd do upon completing the triptych. I guess that's probably because you kind of learn along the way why Isadora's method of handling things wasn't the greatest, but I still wish it would have been fleshed out some more.

Along those lines, I really, really wish we'd gotten the chance to actually speak with Isadora, too, just like the Keepers. She basically left this whole trail for someone like her to find and possibly continue her work, and it would have been amazing to have her actually telling you her side of the story in one ear while you've got the Keepers telling you theirs in the other. Would have made the final choice with the big blob of emotion magic (??) hit a little harder, I think - especially if following in Isadora's footsteps meant you felt like you could improve on her methods and actually heal Anne properly without any of the detrimental side effects.

Isadora's ghost doesn't exist because the Keepers destroyed her painting, on top of probably burning her body (final memory flash). I thought too, that somewhere I'd meet her, until I had found the pieces of the painting that suggested something went wrong with her and no one should have had access to her.

I'm little disappointed with the lack of choices you can make, like Seb's quest and his sister. She's not dead yet, so maybe in a DLC, after main quest, another story quest about curing her.

[LexCondran]

you can literally blow up a troll. disintegrate it
Summon a lightning ball, smack barrels into things with telekinesis
Or also slam enemies around

Seems very similar to some other spells, just a little bit blue-er, and stronger

[StingingVelvet]

I haven't quite finished the game yet but the core main story is the worst writing in it, which is weird. The side stories are much better (Sebastian's, Poppy's, etc.). The general world writing and such is fine. It's just the main quest that's below par.

[Sethmeister]

Isadora would have been a perfect alternative to the Keepers in hopes of curing Anne with ancient magic. Even if you could not, it would have gave Sebastian a different ending option as well for better or worse. Plus making the search for the triptych/undercroft more meaningful.

[Harris]

Isidora - her painting was burned and was killed with Avada Kedavra by someone who claims to be one of the good guys, what does that tell you. My take on the plot is that keepers are the bad guys, or there's no good guys there at the very least.

Ancient magic - it sits in a very weird spot somewhere in between conventional spells and unforgivable curses, which defeats the point of the whole unique ability thing. Moreover we can wield it since Hogsmeade, so what's the point of those trials? They don't make the character stronger but are merely there to advance the plot.

My theory is Unforgivables were not originally intended to be in the game and were shoehorned in later - that's because they feel as out of place as dark clothing or dark arena. You can pretend to be a dark wizard as much as you want, still doesn't change the fact you're a 5th year student that can't be evil since the game does not support it.

This explains Sebastian story which feels:
a) different from everything else writing-wise (so likely a later addition by a different writer)
b) created specifically to justify giving player the Unforgivables, even though it's still comical at times (you've just killed your uncle - teach me your ways!); also explains why Anne is no more than a vehicle for the plot and nobody cares about her otherwise.

[Zephon]

The ancient magic seemed to me to be a form of Transfiguration/manipulation magic,it can be used to create something from nothing and manipulate life itself.The reason you can only do basic things like telekinesis,create lightning,throw things around or outright erase something from existence is you haven't been trained in it yet.That's part of what the trials were for to see if you could be trusted to be taught since when Isadora was taught she used it to manipulate human emotion.

[Darth Wadewilson]

Ya. I wish we could alter Sebastian's quest ending if we completed main story first and chose to unlock the power or something.

[지미세요]

Originally posted by Harris:

Isidora - her painting was burned and was killed with Avada Kedavra by someone who claims to be one of the good guys, what does that tell you. My take on the plot is that keepers are the bad guys, or there's no good guys there at the very least.

Exactly that!

The so-called Keepers, they don't tell the whole truth. They're hiding something, but it's a known fact that whether in the game or in the Harry Potter Universe itself, the truth has always been hidden somewhere in the name of "something." They want, for some reason, to protect what they think is right, but they have NEVER tried to understand Isidora's actions. I get the impression that at some point they were afraid (rightly or wrongly) that her power was going beyond their field of understanding, and especially their control. And because in the final scene, she was very powerful (she practically brought 4 keepers to their knees, one of whom lost consciousness) proves how strong she was and how such magic - can do good or evil in the wrong hands and with lack of knowledge.

I understand perfectly well that playing with "emotions" and magic, is not a great combination, BUT together the five of them could have created something that would make these "wounds" heal somehow. And if not even heal - then make that magic could do something and then pass its legacy on.

The fact that her image was destroyed only proves that there is more hidden here than just "we had to use the ultimate avada kedavra spell to protect the people." I personally think that Isidora's story (told through her eyes) would have completely changed the entirety of the story and what the keepers are really hiding, because it is certain that they are hiding something. - Especially since the last Keeper took a long time to think about whether to allow us access to the last "trial" or not. aka - visions of his thoughts.

[Zephon]

What i would love to see as DLC is a quest to restore Isadora's potrait.You could get Arn the goblin artist sidequest to help restore it then decide whether or not to refine her technique.Since i was wondering instead of targeting something nebulous like pain if the magic could be used to target the source of the pain such as a dark magic curse that's affecting Anne.

[지미세요]

I think that leaving the game in such a state - Sebastian's unfinished story, lack of interaction with Isidora (even our character says that something is wrong with the picture, as no one appears, but our dialogue is interrupted by Sebastian's dialogue) and many other aspects - would be a sin on the part of the developers.

I know that they did not expect (or expected) that the game will be successful, but dlc or even further continuation of the story is a "must be". Especially since we have 2 more years of study at Hogwarts, and it would be a shame to leave the game in such a state, where the developers have a really huge scope to continue the whole story by making it into a "trilogy". Aka - year 5, year 6 and the final year.

And most importantly - more information about the ancient magic and that ( depending on our completion of the game ) we can do with it. Something like - choose your path.

EDIT : And although I'm delighted with the game and I don't really have anything to complain about (I'm not talking about technical problems, although fortunately I didn't have such), I would like many threads in the story to be brought to an end, to make more or less sense. I don't like it when in games of this type, you have a story told and then have to speculate on your own what happened and how it happened. That's why I really hope that the developers will really prepare for us a solid DLC or expansion (continuation) of the game.

[Nightfade]

I don't think its all that strange. I mean, the magic we just don't really know how to use it yet. In theory anyway. I mean, I assume the keepers weren't going to tell us, or teach us, anything until the trails where complete. Its like trying to see if the player was ready to learn the magic, but not only that letting the player see memories the keepers are able to see the player's reaction. Trying to determine if the player can be trusted. After all they had been horrible betrayed by someone they trusted, that is bound to leave some trust issues. I mean they trusted Isidora and look what happen? And well, the game ends before the player can be taught any of this magic.

And the ball of emotions? Well, I think we can agree that it is more than that. With the powerful magic upgrade that it gave the goblin. (I did not take it, so I have no idea the effect on the player.) And it goes in to a theory that no one should have that much power. Because with that power there will always be temptations to do the wrong thing.

I also kinda disagree we don't see Isidora's side. Granted we don't see lot, but what we do see I think she crossed a line, and she does not care to fix it. However, there is something more. We can also see her path by looking at Sebastian. They both take the same path. So desperate to save someone from their pain/death, they went down a horrible path and refused to listen to anyone. Isidora the Keeper and Sebastian with Gaunt (and the player if you try). It both leads them down a dark path. Neither of them are much different then dark wizards. And honestly, as much as I loved Sebastian in the game, I don't think he is going to change. In my game I turned him in. Gaunt got to see him one last time and told him about Rickwood. What I heard back from Gaunt is that it only drove him with more hate at dark wizards and goblins. I don't see him fixing himself on a path that doesn't follow Isidora's.

[GeoG85]

Anne looks like she can be cured. She got cursed by ♥♥♥♥♥♥' Rookwood for ♥♥♥♥'s sake, a nobody.

The Keepers should have a cure for a plebian curse in my opinion*

And who woulda reported your bro Sebastian to the authorities for his family drama? The authorities were beyond incompetant when it came to Natsai's side quest.

[지미세요]

Originally posted by Nightfade:

I don't think its all that strange. I mean, the magic we just don't really know how to use it yet. In theory anyway. I mean, I assume the keepers weren't going to tell us, or teach us, anything until the trails where complete. Its like trying to see if the player was ready to learn the magic, but not only that letting the player see memories the keepers are able to see the player's reaction. Trying to determine if the player can be trusted. After all they had been horrible betrayed by someone they trusted, that is bound to leave some trust issues. I mean they trusted Isidora and look what happen? And well, the game ends before the player can be taught any of this magic.

And the ball of emotions? Well, I think we can agree that it is more than that. With the powerful magic upgrade that it gave the goblin. (I did not take it, so I have no idea the effect on the player.) And it goes in to a theory that no one should have that much power. Because with that power there will always be temptations to do the wrong thing.

I also kinda disagree we don't see Isidora's side. Granted we don't see lot, but what we do see I think she crossed a line, and she does not care to fix it. However, there is something more. We can also see her path by looking at Sebastian. They both take the same path. So desperate to save someone from their pain/death, they went down a horrible path and refused to listen to anyone. Isidora the Keeper and Sebastian with Gaunt (and the player if you try). It both leads them down a dark path. Neither of them are much different then dark wizards. And honestly, as much as I loved Sebastian in the game, I don't think he is going to change. In my game I turned him in. Gaunt got to see him one last time and told him about Rickwood. What I heard back from Gaunt is that it only drove him with more hate at dark wizards and goblins. I don't see him fixing himself on a path that doesn't follow Isidora's.

Yes and no.

I agree with what you wrote, but it seems to me that there is a difference between - What Isidora would say and her feelings, what drove her, etc. than what Keepers shows us. Remember that a medal always has two sides.

And I'm not justifying what Sebastian or Isidora did - because as I wrote above - Emotion and Magic is not a good combination. It's just that the difference between Isidora and Sebastian is that we are witnesses to what Sebastian does, and even though we don't have any incredible influence on the story, we see it with our own eyes, and in this way I have a "clear" picture of what is going on and how much he loses himself in what he wants to do for his sister. And in this way I can have some opinion about him and his actions.

The problem with Isidora is that we listen and see the story told through Keepers eyes. That is - her brother died, her Father is in mourning and she wanted to help others by taking away their "pain", which later began to accumulate into "magical energy". And there are many wads here that are simply unsaid (intentionally or not). The general problem with this thread is also that it ends with (either you seal this negative power anew - as Keepers did before, or you absorb part of it - something Keepers and Fig didn't want you to do). And that's the end of it - you don't know what happens next.

You don't even know how this energy affects you, etc. I would really like to get to know this story from Isidora's side, as we got to know it from Keepers' side. Because the Keepers' story puts a one-way light on Isidora's story, and I think the other side of the coin may be a little different than what we saw and experienced through their thoughts - not to excuse Isidora's actions of course

[Zephon]

Well we kinda know how the energy affected Isadora from her journals you collect during the triptyc quest.First note she passed out from the fumes and wanted to find a way to stop the fumes.Then she started to get addicted to the power boost was like a really addictive drug that made her stronger.