About Anora

Can't say that she's a go-to choice for me. That was usually hardened Alistair either alone or pushed into marriage, the latter for similar reason fylimar mentioned.

I don't know if I'm missing something, but if Anora is as competent as she claims - I got the impression that she plays herself up a bit too much, to be honest - I always wondered why she allowed Loghain to mess with the politics, given his lack of experience compared to her. Why not continue that herself and have dad deal with the Spawn (and possible Orlesian incursions)?

I have no idea if fereldan customs would allow for her to appoint and groom a successor without any blood relation, but I too find it rather weird that neither she nor Celene (especially Celene, given how fast those orlesian nobles fall victim to the game) even attempt to name and prepare someone.

I've done all options and don't have a favorite. However, the more I play, the less I like her. Then again, the more I play the less I like almost everyone in DAO.  All the companions are annoying in some way, except Dog, who's adorable, and most NPCs are annoying dickwads as well. Hmm, maybe my next Warden will let the Archdemon win.

If I am not mistaken in all cases in DAI there are is nothing about "having a child", and that bothered me. Turns out they all are irresponsible no matter who is sitting on the Throne.
Though the dialgoue with Alistair shows that "the heir -matter" is still important: if you choose him as a king he dumps you if you are not noble because the heir is needed.
At the same time a noble GW with tainted blood can still marry him and in this case "heir-matter" all of a sudden is not important.
There were some talks about Anora" can't have children" as well.
So is it important or no? From DAO dialogues it is unclear.


If put aside this "hier matter", I usully prefer hardened Alistair alone, or Alistair + Anora, depending on my GWs views.

Alistair + Anora is for the reason fylimar mentioned (mostly).
Alistair alone - hardened. Already after hardenning him you can see the difference in some dialogues (though that trait "funny" is still present).

About Anora.
Yes, tbh, I did not like her and still do not like her if involve personal feelings about someone and as I played differet outcomes (e.g. you talked to Anora, got her word "I'll support you", but if you say "I will kill Loghain" she still stabs you).
Plus disturbing marrers Buckeldemon mentions about her to be competent politician.
Better not leave her alone on the throne.

But it is politics. Backstabbing is more suitable for Orlais ( + other "charming" features"), but Ferelden is not even close to Orlais.

Politics is politics. Personal feelings matter nothing in Dark Ages DAO - you do what is best for the country.

I can't say that any of the past or potential rulers of Ferelden strike me as being particularly good at the job.

The thing that endears her to me is that unlike the rest of them she actually seems to be passionate about making the country itself function rather than just defending it from outside threats, keeping another guy from having it, staying true to tradition or being venerated by the people. Even if it's mostly a pretense it's still at least acknowledging the nation's health as a priority, which is more than we get from either "I'll try to think about this ruling business later?" Alistair or "Stop whining and reinforce the borders!" Loghain.

That, and she effectively ruled the nation for five years while was Cailan fooling around, having been raised as a Teyrn's daughter just like the female Cousland. Aside from her lack of noble blood and the fact that she hasn't borne any children yet - which could just as well be Cailan's fault - I have a hard time seeing what better recommendation a Fereldan queen could possibly have.

As for designated heirs, I don't think she ever even had the opportunity. She barely has the clout to keep the throne on her own merit, and Loghain installs himself as King immediately after Cailan's death, before which he would be the one to have that authority, not her. But neither Cailan nor Celene having designated heirs is definitely irresponsible. That said, I don't find it uncharacteristic of either of them. Cailan was clearly a manchild who thought he was immortal, and Celene likely couldn't care less about the welfare of Orlais if she wasn't there to rule it.


I've mostly done it as Dalish elves and dwarves who didn't have vested interests in Ferelden's government. Who basically just needed someone to wear a crown and say "let's help the Grey Wardens against the Blight!"

In that instance, breaking Warden convention to try to push Alistair on the throne or arranging a marriage between him and Anora might seem unnecessary and overly complicated. And either could easily blow up in your face.


Ferelden had a civil war in the middle of the Blight because a misinformed half-insane general decided to take over the moment there wasn't a king anymore. Having a strong line of succession is important to the nation's stability. Sure they can elect a king in a few weeks if there's an obvious no-brainer candidate without any serious opposition, but the Landsmeet is just as likely to devolve into a mess of rival factions with each arldom having their own dog in the race, quickly resulting in a chaotic and wartorn country.

Keeping that from ever becoming a possibility should be pretty high on any nation's list of priorities.

Is he? 

Sure he shows up at the end of Origins, but I don't remember hearing a word about him after that. Even Awakening doesn't bring him up, despite technically taking place within his demesne. If he's in a position to be king then why hasn't he married Anora?

And even if he's alive and well and biding his time then that leaves the Landsmeet caught between Fergus Cousland and Alistar "Therin" groomed by Arl Teagan, or even just Arl Teagan himself since he was Cailan's uncle. Either of which could easily split the country. Which just isn't the sort of thing you risk if you're a responsible ruler.

"I'm sure they'll see that they have alternatives if something happens to me" is fundamentally not good enough, given how catastrophically things could go wrong and escalate. What if Vaughan Kendells saw his opportunity and decided to try to claim the throne and went right back to selling his elves to Tevinter to pay for the campaign? The entire reason why crowns are passed down through families is that medieval countries just couldn't sustain the risk of violent regime changes every generation.

And again, Ferelden is a poor and sparsely populated country surrounded by way richer and more advanced neighbors. One wrong move and they're an Orlesian province again. They can't afford wars of succession.

Yes, Fergus Cousland is always alive at the beginning of DAI as he is part of one of the first war table ops available at Haven.

And Alistair? He can have a bastard heir, from Morrigan...

That's Morrigan and Alistair... but Kieran? The son isn't his parents...
Also: the circumstances oftenc change... Look at Alistair. And Marric, Fiona and Duncan...

Nobody knew who is Alistair's mother, but Marric blood matters.
Why would Fergus not remarry? 

Also: how many generations we have to anticipate when we put Anora/Alistair to the throne?

Always depends on the situation. Again: things changes. And we not always know how...

I disagree about strongly. Because in this position not only the heir what matters. But the king/queen can grounded a better future. Even if doesn't have heir. And there are many other possibility to have heir... AND: there a chance that the blood heir is also rejected.