The Character Romance thread (Official)

I finished it literally yesterday, but I don't think it was too hard to get the Orlesian political situation.  Gaspard is the military minded man who disdains the frivolity of the Game, Celene is a master player, Briala is working for the under-trodden

The book offers some counter points, Gaspard outmaneuvers Celene at court in grand style, Celene gets to get her hands dirty, and Briala does that and ferments her rebellion.  I didn't come away with from it with any radical new perspective.

I like to role play those decisions, so I go with what my Inquisitor could reasonably expected to know about Orlesian politics (for most of them, nothing. I give a few points to Trevelyans who might be expected to be somewhat knowledgeable about Orlesian politics, even if they don't know all the details and machinations) and what benefit they could reasonably expect to get from whoever is on the throne. Some of my Inquisitors want a strong military ally for the Inquisition, some just want to fuck human society up however they can, some see stability as the best way to get this shit behind them so they can get back to important business. I've done all the possible outcomes, and what I like about these DA choices is there is no really super good or bad choice. They all have major faults of some kind, and none will be the great unifying leader who uplifts the poor and brings justice and peace for all.

Reading the book made me really dislike Celene, and came to love and understand Gaspard, which is why he's my canon ruler. Just like Loghain in The Stolen Throne.

See, something about that has always felt like a narrative frame-up. The elves' spy network was in a position where their security seemed compromised, but, more importantly, that servant is ambushed by a Harlequin, an elite Orlesian assassin. Why would Briala waste the contacts she'd need to pull that off on a simple palace servant? Surely she could have, if she was really responsible, used something more mundane and common. We literally only have the servant's word that the Harlequin was sent by Briala, because she got an indirect message supposedly from her.

It just feels like the only way the game could justify this idea of 'they're all bad options, but you have to pick one!' I just don't see that as Briala's handiwork, based on the evidence.

The fact that Jill's barely even a character is her biggest weakness. She's a plot device to guilt trip Gil into having kids and has almost nothing in terms of personality, distinctiveness, or interesting backstory. She's even worst than Sid who only exists to give Vetra a big sister complex and a lame loyalty mission

Personally, I'm willing to forget that she and the baby plot even exists if ME is willing to forget about it as well.

tbh, after both Masked Empire and just in the game itself, I find myself liking Gaspard in charge, he's got the right temperament for the times Corypheus brings, he and my Inquisitor seemed to get along pretty well, and he's perfectly fine with making peace with Ferelden and instead focusing on his other borders

Yeah, it's pretty much the least bad option in my book, just because it at least changes the dynamic a little. But 'least bad' doesn't mean 'good.' I don't like the pressuring at all - no matter the circumstances, no one has the right to force you to have a child. Tali points out that the quarians, if faced with a population crisis would offer incentives for multiple children, but never says there's mandated reproduction, and that's the closest to precedent the Initiative would have.

Jill is ultimately a narrative tumor on Gil's plot, because she overwhelms everything about him - SHE'S the one who wants to have a baby, she's where the genesis of this idea stems from, it's her idea and ultimately, it is portrayed as first and foremost HER child, just with her inviting Gil (and a romanced Ryder) along for the ride. Like, we see that in the fact that she will already have gotten knocked up by the endgame if told no, she HAS other options. The best thing is to cut her entirely so that, if the 'have a baby' plot has to remain Gil's character focus (which has a bunch of baggage as well, if we're already rewriting things, might as well refocus his arc on him as a person than him becoming a father), it's ultimately HIS idea and HIS desire.

As a straight chick, I can confirm this.

It's not like making her gay would improve anything with her comments. I don't imagine a bunch of gay friends sitting around, berating each other about not contributing to the survival of the species. Unless they're like, being sarcastic or referencing this game or some similar thing.

Happy 2000! 

Congrats on the 2000 mark.