this thread is essentially being created to try and explain how Vitiate's perception within the lore has changed drastically from SWTOR: Revan and SWTOR 1.0 to SWTOR 3.0.
How:
This may seem hard to quantify since, well, Vitiate himself doesn't have any new feats in 3.0. Despite this, Bioware is (obviously) pulling all the stops on Vitiate and trying to make him all that he should have been in the first place based on his backstory. Whilst sources prior to 3.0 already deem Vitiate "Godlike," and, "all-powerful," this never really seemed to be heeded in the actual lore by beings such as Revan and the Hero of Tython. Lord Scourge actually found comparison between Revan and Vitiate based on their knowledge of the force. Revan was able to stand up to the Emperor for a short time by himself, and the trio of Revan, Lord Scourge, and Meetra Surik gave The Emperor legitimate pause. Meanwhile, the Hero of Tython fights through Kaas City and the Dark Temple and defeats Vitiate at its heart. While you can say that The Emperor was weakened, there are other factors to consider, (such as the nexus,) and how the fight itself went down based on codexes:
"Realizing you are too powerful to be dominated by his twisted will, The Emperor has resorted to more conventional means to destroy you."
Quite frankly, based on the game itself, the Hero of Tython laughed off Vitiate's attempts of mental domination. I understand that the protagonist shouldn't be faced with an insurmountable obstacle, but does this really help establish Vitiate as a Godlike or all-powerful being?
"For all (The Emperor's) power, he was no match for you."
To me, this quote shows that Vitiate was just another foe to fall by your blade. He was really powerful, sure, but he hardly seems Godlike or all-powerful, does he?
[SPOILER - highlight to read]: Just to clarify, Godlike and all powerful are hyperbolic, but the way it's tossed around so often to describe Vitiate, and the fact that few entities are named Godlike and all powerful, shows that there's some truth to them.
So, what changed? Well, firstly, Dark Revan Reborn is quite a ways more powerful than first realized, capable of legitimately battling the Emperor's Wrath, Satele Shan, Darth Marr, Lana Beniko, Theron Shan, Shae Vizla, and Jakarro solo, even putting them all on their asses. Revan is essentially established as the 2nd most powerful force user of the era, and for most this was probably already the case. The difference is how second he really is.
"The Dread Masters changed Oricon. Even their combined power is insignificant compared to the Emperor." -The Emperor's Wrath
"The Emperor is the dark side incarnate. You wouldn't stand a chance.....you are nothing to him." - the Emperor's Wrath, to Dark Revan
"You're too weak. you won't last." -Revan, to Dark Revan
"...The Emperor will prove far too powerful for Revan, or anyone else." -Darth Marr
Before the relevance of these quotes is questioned, do mind that Marr is the least credible of the sources. The Wrath is easily in a position to compare to power of Vitiate and the Dread Masters/Revan, as he's contended with all of them. Obviously Revan is credible when comparing his own power to that of Vitiate. Marr may not be 100% credible, but he's essentially echoing the beliefs of the Wrath and Revan.
so anyways, it's established in 3.0 that Vitiate is far and away the most powerful being of his era. No single being can contest his power. Not even Revan, and certainly not the Hero of Tython. hell, Dark Revan cowers in fear when the Emperor returns on Yavin IV. These are the implications of a "Godlike" and "all-powerful" being. Bioware has changed the perception of Vitiate in the lore, and is infinitely the more powerful because of it.
__________________ ”You presume limits to my power. There are none.”
I read that. That's where your otherwise sound and engaging analysis loses me. You honestly and objectively conclude that Vitiate didn't live up to his initial hype, identifying that the character was replete with hyperbole, and predict that BioWare's writers are moving to correct that. Then you conclude by indulging in the same hyperbole you exposed earlier?
The implication alone Revan's Spirit gives that the hero of Tython couldnt defeat Dark Revan by himself, and that credible in-universe sources such as the Wrath and Revan's spirit find Dark Revan to be massively outmatched by Vitiate, do show that Bioware is obviously trying to make Vitiate's hype more well-founded, and are already signs of change.
__________________ ”You presume limits to my power. There are none.”
BioWare needs to explore Emperor much more then it have so far. This character have lot of history so their is ample room for exploration of his abilities.
Emperor is also stated to have explored the most sinister and uncharted depths of the dark side. This accolade alone leaves ample room for creative liberties for the character.
Last edited by S_W_LeGenD on Jan 9th, 2015 at 05:44 PM
It indicates that BioWare is taking steps to make Vitiate more formidable. That's still a far cry from all powerful. Implications, 3 quotes, and a fancy light show do not a god make. That's where your analysis stumbles. You're making the same mistake the rest of the SWTOR crew did 4 years ago.
Vitiate isn't a god. He never will be. Those are hyperbolic statements meant to hype up the character in question. But when these statements are tossed so frequently with Vitiate, its meant to say that the dude is frighteningly powerful to the extreme. Actually, based on Vitiate's backstory, he probably should be godlike. But he isn't, and he won't. But Bioware is evidently taking steps towards that in-universe.
__________________ ”You presume limits to my power. There are none.”
A more efficient and scholarly summation would be to say "its meant to say that the dude is frighteningly powerful to the extreme" and "Bioware is evidently taking steps towards that in-universe."
That's all I'm saying. You undermine your own analysis indulging in the same fluff you diligently critiqued. So don't do it.
Indulging in said fluff is a device meant to remind the reader how Bioware hyped up Vitate in the first place, and now they're actually trying to deliver on it to an extent. But fair enough.
[SPOILER - highlight to read]: I'll be the better man here tbh
__________________ ”You presume limits to my power. There are none.”
Jan 9th, 2015 05:05 PM
