jtr7 on 7/7/2009 at 21:10
The only reason we won't see these factions in T4 is if EM is starting from scratch, but I can't see that happening. The Hammer's balance has been restored, so they are back and as stable as Hammerites can be.
SneakyJack on 8/7/2009 at 03:03
Gotta go with the Hammerites - Not only are they very entertaining to listen to I also enjoy their aesthetic touches with the hammer symbols and whatnot - and its fascinating to me that their primary method of creation is also their primary method of destruction. (Their hammers, of course)
Maddermadcat on 8/7/2009 at 08:27
I like the mechanists a lot. They're delightfully creepy and evil, but they're unaware of this. The builder's children are also easily the coolest and most original enemies I've ever seen in any game.
After that, the pre-TDS keepers.
TDP was interesting in the amount of mystery that surrounded each faction. For the majority of TDP, my beliefs were that:
The hammers are hammer-wielding fanatics that believe in a nonexistent God
"Pagan" refers to anything to do with the (now dead) religion that was followed before the rise of the Hammerites
The keepers are a secret society in pursuit (or posession of much) knowledge.
My understanding of the hammers was best of these, clearly. I always thought of them as Thief's idea of Christianity. Anyway, what I liked about all this is that each faction seemed realistic in its own way; there was always the question of how mundane each of them is. Is the Builder a true God or do the Hammers believe in something that's not there? Are the keepers truly as powerful as they make themselves seem, or are they just a bunch of men that like running around in the darkness and keeping secrets, deluded into thinking that they can introduce order to a city that prefers to be chaotic? Were the City's inhabitants wrong to abandon the Trickster, a very obviously real (in a sense) God? What made them abandon the Trickster in favour of the Builder, though there is no evidence of his existence? Or was there? Is the Trickster even a real God, if his plans were so easily undone and (though TDP never really states this) he himself killed?
Anyway. I'm rambling. To restate my answer, Mechanists, and Keepers get second place. :P
Stath MIA on 8/7/2009 at 16:00
Your ramblings are good. :thumb:
Random_Taffer on 8/7/2009 at 16:12
Quote Posted by Maddermadcat
The hammers are hammer-wielding fanatics that believe in a nonexistent God
Did you think those ancient phrases were mere words, manfool?
Seriously though, I think that the most evidence of the Builder's influence/essence (though not necessarily presence) lies in the fact that holy water, which is water that has been blessed by a prayer to the Builder, can destroy undead and that some holy water fountains have healing properties.
jtr7 on 8/7/2009 at 20:50
There's something about that world that grants many magical properties in the Hammers' favor, and we never hear of any magic cropping up among them that is just detrimental to themselves. The Lunar Pool, the Builder's Chisel, holy symbols, holy water, healing fonts, and things that surprise and delight them, so they are bound to think something divine is happening and smiling down on them.
DarkMax on 8/7/2009 at 21:23
Or perhaps the Builder is not showed in any game because Looking Glass don't know how to represent it. :D:p
Platinumoxicity on 8/7/2009 at 23:34
I think the lamest thing EM could possibly do is make the Master Builder appear in physical/visible form. The Hammerites are the only ones who have true faith. They haven't witnessed their god first hand, they only thank Him for the blessings and the miracle of iron and architecture.
Karras thought that the Builder had blessed man with the power to build, therefore he thought that the Builder wanted the living world to go away to make way for His built creations. Karras thought that this way he could make the Builder appear to him.
jtr7 on 8/7/2009 at 23:37
Agreed. The mystery of The Master Builder should remain intact.
