I have never been so angry at a game in my life!! (ok I'm not much of a gamer, haven't even played ME, so it's not saying much) Funny thing is, with the breakup, Alistair hardened my Warden, because up to that point in the game I always chose the "noblest" options in my decisions (or so I thought), I didn't harden him (honestly who would intuitively choose that line without knowing about this whole hardening thing? that was jsut so cold, I didn't even consider saying it) and just because I cared so much for his feelings I didn't want to put him on the throne even though I felt terrible about ending the Theirin bloodline. My fatal mistake was that when agreeing to support Anora's claim in the Landsmeet I wanted to make sure she understands that her father must pay for his sins against the nation and the king, so naturally she turned on us, I was in shock, but had no choice, Ali had to take the crown, and then... this was what I got for acting always nice! That was just so lame, after all the morally ambigous situations we witnessed and tough choices we made he just can't be so naive to think anybody would give a f... about him keeping my Warden at least as a mistress if we saved the world from the Blight. so I said, screw them, I'm not playing a heroic tale anymore, if our wonderful love storyline goes down the drain so pathetically, I'm not gonna die, even if we create another monster to threaten humanity in a few years, he will sleep with the swamp witch because I said so, and I will remain with him in the palace till I GET what I want and he takes me back and makes me the first elven mage queen of Ferelden xD
But the one thing I didn't regret is making him king, I hate Anora ever since, so I just don't want her to rule the kingdom we saved, and after multiple hardened Ali playthroughs I think his lines suggest this whole "I don't want to be king" act is just for show, he has known it's a possibility his entire life, was preparing for it and secretly even hoped for this to prove himself for the world.
It's just such horrible writing though for his character to dump the love of his life. But he's a wuss or a douche if you don't play it right. That's why I ****** about the writing so much. They turn him into a wuss or a douche or a man who shirks his duty which then makes him a hypocrite. That's why I say the landsmeet is where it goes to hell and the writing really sucks. It also becomes a sexist pig fest. I've never seen so much nonsense in all my life in the name of 'writing'. But whatever.... clearly there were flow charts involved... big massive flow charts as soon as you hit the landsmeet. I can see them in my mind... boxes with different labels. Lots of 'Alistair dumps PC' probably specially colored boxes all over the place....
When he dumped my PC for not being able to have a baby with him because of the taint we both had, I wanted to gut him right there, especially after what she went through with losing her father to Howe's false friendship and murderous ways. In that moment, I thought back to Howe and realized that letting him fight and kill Loghain just made him a horrible person and no matter what they put in the cards for the epilogue, I know I'm reading some BS. If I could handle another game with that outcome I would order him to do the US just out of spite. Let anora have the throne. He shouldn't have dumped me for supporting him in what he wanted (revenge) and doing what was in the best interest for the country. Yeah, he's never going to be king again in any of my games.
As for Anora, I did that on a run too - made the mistake of saying her father had to pay for his crimes, but I can see her side of things. She didn't want him to die so she protects him by screwing you. You are nobody to her. Actually you are a threat to her. I can't fault her for wanting to save her father's life and give him a chance to redeem himself. He's still her hero father. She feels he has reasons for his actions and she still gets her throne. She's no prize but none of them are. That is one thing the game is good at... the writing is very good on that... most of these nobles are idiots. They only back you when something was done to them or their family. They are monsters of the worst order. Eamon just uses alistair because of the dumb bloodline. So stupid really. If he cared that much he shouldn't have toss alistair at the chantry just so he could screw that shrew who was jealous of a little boy who never did a thing to her. The only nobility we see with a shred of decency are the couslands who get slaughtered.
If it weren't for the game where I played an ambitious Cousland who chose to marry anora, I would have never heard how Anora's always been a lot like Bhelen tactically speaking. But then again, she ruled well enough though I'm not fond of how the elves are treated but I don't really think of all that when I play my game anymore. I think of the reality that my PC made a lot of choices that are for the best and helped others, saved ferelden and thedas from the blight and now has this taint to live with along with fighting darkspawn for the rest of her life. Someone else will have to fight for the elves. I'm running off with Alistair. We deserve a shot at a decent life. That's how I see it. It's not my job to fix everything that is wrong with ferelden or care who rules the land. It's my job to stop the blight and I did that. They lied to me about the cost so they can deal with the demon baby morrigan has. Frankly, part of me feels like it's payment due for the lies they told. I'm not sure if it's from a mod but when I did the US Alistair became outspoken about the ritual and secrecy because it cost his love her life. Probably is a mod... I knocked him out so I could take the final blow.