Talk:Norn Totem

I know it sucks but there was no page so I just got it started. Divo 06:27, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

Do we even need this article? Shouldn't it be a section in the Character creation article? Since there's so little knowledge for it. -- Konig/talk 07:01, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

As far as we know, it'll affect characters' personal storyline, and it's a choice at character creation, so i'd expect more interesting stuff about this to show up eventually. Little information yet seems like no reason not to set up the page already. -- NilePenguin 17:38, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

The links to individual totems

This page has seen them linked to "Forms" and "Spirits" and red-linked to "Totem" now. I do think they're best off just linked to Totem, even if there are no pages for them yet; the Asuran Colleges and the Charr High Legions have their own pages and will probably accumulate their own share of lore; why wouldn't the norn totems do the same? Plus, the second link provided in each of the options already links to "Bear Spirit" etc. -- NilePenguin 11:42, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Well "Form" is inaccurate because the forms are not restricted to the totem used. The totem, as it seems to me, is at most a shrine and at least another name for the spirit. -- Konig/talk 20:56, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

It wasn't I who linked to "Form" :D And I'd say that "at most", the totem is a branch of norn society in the same way that the asuran colleges are. Either way, it'll affect characters personal storylines, so the Totems will warrant their own pages eventually: Bear Totem can contain the information regarding selecting it as your totem and what it'll do to your character, where as the Bear Spirit is mostly a lore thing. -- NilePenguin 23:48, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

Unless we need to document the changes in the story line in multiple articles instead of doing it like in GW1 with the Factions, NF, and EN storylines (covering them all in different sections), I don't think the totems will "warrent their own pages eventually" - they might, but not will. Personally, I don't find the purpose for this and the other four pages (except High Legion since that has a double use, just as the individual season pages). How I see it, the choices can all be documented on the character creation page, and the changes in the storyline can be documented on a [[Storyline of GW2]] or some such page when the game is released. -- Konig/talk

I highly doubt the asuran colleges etc. will remain loreless. The only reason that the "High Legions" are an exception now is because've had an "The Ecology of the Charr" article, but not similar articles for the asura, norn, and sylvari. -- NilePenguin 13:32, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

What Totems do

It is stated in this article that, in regards to pets, they serve different purposes. As quoted: "So I can have maybe a bear who is good at tanking, or a snow leopard who’s a good damage pet", and I wonder if this too is indicative of what each totem's strength is. Of course, this is speculation, but I wonder if forms will have similarities to their "animal origin" as seen in the GW2 world. --Amannelle 01:48, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

If that is true, I'm rather glad that Snow Leopard is the damage based one, as that was the one I was planning on using the most, and I would prefer damage over tanking. And nice find btw Amannelle, I read the same article and didn't make the same connection. Eive 01:51, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Aww thanks. Yeah, I too am hoping to use the Snow Leopard form a lot. ^_^ Although I had thought the Snow Leopard would be damage, later on in the article it says this: "The Snow Leopard can gain stealth, and the ability to stun guys when it attacks from the rear, and things like that." I don't know if this is indicative of all-around offensive tactics, or maybe I'm just reading into it too much. Either way, I really would like to learn more about the races (Such as seasons or totems). :D --Amannelle 02:14, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

"The totem choice will affect the player's story but not the players power" (from the article). So I doubt they'll grant you advantages such as the ones you describe, Amannelle. Chriskang 13:20, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Yeah, I believe that the forms will give you those, not the character creation option. -~=Ϛρѧякγ (τѧιк) 17:00, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Oh, I am referring to their FORMS, not the stats during other times. I'm talking about when the Norn physically turns into a Totem Form, what stats or abilities they might get. Sorry I wasn't being very clear. --Amannelle 17:55, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Snow Leopard would probably be like the stereo-typical backstabbing Rogu-- *cough* Assassin/Thief archetype. Bear would most probably be full-on assault, with lower DPS but perhaps some AoE damage and tanking skills. I'd imagine Raven would be mainly condition-based,... Wolf? No idea. Like a Paragon - stronger when more allies around, because of its nature (wolves are animals that live in packs)? No idea, tbh D: --Naoroji 17:57, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

The totems do nothing in gameplay except choose one's destiny. The forms, which are able to be used by any norn no matter their totem, have different abilities. I believe that it was said in an interview that a Snow Leopard has the ability of stealth. However, with the chapter 2&3 excepts of the book Ghosts of Ascalon, Oddsdottir apparently takes on the snow leopard form and breaks a door down. But then again, the book doesn't focus on gameplay but rather lore, and in lore all animal forms grant more strength. -- Konig/talk 23:19, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

Unlike

[[Heritage]], which is blatantly wrong, this one could possibly be considered semi-accurate. However, characters don't really choose totems per se, a Spirit sends them a vision. Aqua (T|C) 00:04, 13 March 2011 (UTC)