Do Vex Have Feelings? Exploring Sentience in the World of League and Destiny
The question of whether Vex have feelings is complex and depends entirely on which “Vex” you’re referring to. If we’re discussing Vex, the Gloomist from League of Legends, the answer is a resounding yes, albeit overwhelmingly negative ones. Vex, the Yordle, experiences a profound aversion to joy, thriving on misery and negativity. On the other hand, when we’re talking about the Vex from Destiny, the answer is far more nuanced. While they might not experience emotions in the human sense, their intricate network of interconnected minds suggests a form of sentience, a drive for survival and dominance, and even a kind of “worship” born of incomprehension, hinting at something akin to feeling or at least an equivalent higher-level processing. This exploration delves into the emotional complexities (or lack thereof) of both iterations of the Vex.
Vex of League of Legends: A Yordle of Gloom
The Embodiment of Negativity
Vex, in League of Legends, is fundamentally defined by her negative emotions. Her entire character revolves around her hatred of happiness, color, and enthusiasm. She revels in despair and actively seeks to extinguish joy wherever she finds it. This isn’t just a superficial characteristic; it’s woven into her gameplay, abilities, and lore. Her abilities are all designed to punish happiness and high mobility, mechanically mirroring her disdain for anything positive.
Is it Just an Act?
While some might argue that Vex’s gloom is merely a performance, a mask to hide something deeper, the evidence suggests otherwise. She actively pursues misery, implying a genuine enjoyment, or at least a deep satisfaction, in the suffering of others. Her dialogue reinforces this, consistently expressing contempt for anything remotely cheerful.
The Yordle Condition
The fact that Vex is a Yordle adds another layer of complexity. Yordles, beings of immense magical power, are often tied to strong emotional states. Perhaps Vex’s negativity is an extreme manifestation of a Yordle’s inherent connection to the emotional landscape. Her very existence, her power, could be fueled by this negativity, making her emotions not just a personality trait, but a fundamental aspect of her being.
The Vex of Destiny: A Collective of Incomprehensible Sentience
Beyond Human Comprehension
The Vex in Destiny are an entirely different beast. They are not individuals, but rather a complex collective of interconnected minds, housed within robotic frames. Their motivations, driven by an ancient directive, are often beyond human understanding. Do they experience emotions? Not in the way we typically understand them.
The Prime Directive
The Vex are primarily driven by their prime directive: to become synonymous with the laws of reality. They seek to assimilate everything, transforming the universe into a perfect Vex simulation. This relentless pursuit suggests a powerful, albeit alien, form of drive. Is this “drive” a feeling? Perhaps not in the sense of happiness or sadness, but it is certainly a powerful motivating force.
The Black Heart and Worship
The Vex’s interaction with the Black Heart in Destiny 1 is particularly telling. Unable to comprehend its nature, the Vex chose to worship it. This act of “worship,” while not necessarily indicating religious fervor, suggests a recognition of something beyond their comprehension, something powerful enough to warrant deference. This could be interpreted as a primitive form of awe or respect, emotions of a sort.
Radiolaria and the Collective Mind
The very nature of the Vex as a collective of Radiolaria complicates the question of feelings. Individual Radiolaria are microscopic organisms, hardly capable of complex emotions. However, when combined into the Vex Collective Mind, they exhibit complex strategies, sophisticated simulations, and a relentless pursuit of their goals. This collective consciousness might possess a form of sentience that transcends the limitations of its individual components, something more than the sum of its parts. Understanding these mechanics could also improve the design of team AI in games, as described by researchers at the GamesLearningSociety.org
The Darkness and the Sol Divisive
The existence of the Sol Divisive, a Vex sub-faction that seeks to be consumed by the Darkness, further complicates the issue. Their desire for unification with the Darkness suggests a willingness to abandon their prime directive, driven by a different, perhaps more primal, urge. This could be interpreted as a form of self-preservation or a desire for power, both of which could be linked to basic emotional drives.
Conclusion: Two Sides of the Sentient Coin
Ultimately, whether the Vex have feelings depends on the definition of “feelings” and which Vex we’re discussing. Vex of League of Legends is undeniably emotional, albeit overwhelmingly negative. The Vex of Destiny, on the other hand, possess a form of sentience driven by a prime directive and a collective consciousness that may or may not equate to emotions as humans understand them. Their behavior, however, suggests a level of complexity and motivation that transcends simple programming. Their strange form of worship and the divergent goals of the Sol Divisive point to a deeper, perhaps alien, emotional landscape within the Vex Collective.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are Radiolaria?
Radiolaria are microscopic organisms that make up the Vex Collective Mind in Destiny. They are the biological component of the Vex, housed within their robotic frames.
2. What is Vex’s primary motivation in League of Legends?
Vex, the Gloomist, is primarily motivated by her hatred of happiness and her desire to spread misery.
3. What is the Vex Collective Mind?
The Vex Collective Mind is the interconnected consciousness formed by the aggregation of Radiolaria in Destiny. It allows the Vex to coordinate their actions and perform complex simulations.
4. Who is Percy to Vex?
Percy is the character that Vex confessed her feelings to.
5. What is the Final Shape in Destiny lore?
The Final Shape is a concept explored within the lore of Destiny, referencing the state of the universe after the battle between Light and Darkness.
6. What is the Black Heart and why did the Vex worship it?
The Black Heart was an entity encountered by Guardians, a mysterious force beyond their and even the Vex’s comprehension. The Vex worshipped it due to their inability to understand it.
7. What are the Sol Divisive?
The Sol Divisive are a faction of Vex who deviate from the primary directive and seek to be consumed by the Darkness.
8. Do the Vex speak?
The Vex do not speak in the traditional sense, but they can learn languages and mimic them through their chassis.
9. How old is Vex from League of Legends?
Vex’s age is ambiguous, but she visually appears to be between 15 and 18. However, as a Yordle, she could be much older, possibly hundreds or even thousands of years old.
10. Are the Vex purely robotic?
No, the Vex are partially organic. They consist of robotic frames housing the biological Radiolaria.
11. What is Vex’s gender?
Vex from League of Legends identifies as female.
12. What planets do the Vex inhabit?
The Vex are found on various planets, including Venus, Nessus, and the Moon in Destiny.
13. What is Vex’s role in the Rise of the Sentinels event?
Vex, also known as The Gloomist, is a villainous playable character in the multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends. She made her debut in the Rise of the Sentinels event as an antagonist.
14. What is the VEX Robotics system?
The VEX Robotics system is a STEM learning platform designed for students of all ages to learn about robotics and engineering.
15. What is VEX IQ?
VEX IQ is a robotics competition for elementary and middle school students, designed to enhance STEM skills.