already about knowing what Anders would do. I don't think I could bear to hear Sebastian's anguish, and his grief when I wouldn't kill Anders. I had decided early on that I would be as pro-mage as I could get away with this time around, but strangely, still had no trouble capping Fenris at 100% friendship and for the first time, I also kept Isabela. Which, the writers did it to me again. Took a character I hated (Isabela in this case) and made me feel like she was a sister by the end, just like Morrigan when I did a playthrough where I actually bothered to get to know her and become friends with her through talking and having her along. Merrill grew on me a little bit, but I still agree with Fenris and Anders that she is being ridiculously naive and foolish and that the outcome of it all was something she should have expected. I have to agree with criticisms about not really feeling like you're -helping- the mages in the mage ending. I was happy in the Templar ending when I could have some mages spared. This time, we even saw Emile and Alain amongst the group but they seemed to disappear. It was never clear to me if they died or what. I never SAW them go down, but they definitely weren't in the room when Orsino went insane. I also disliked how in the mage ending you couldn't confront Orsino about his Quentin comment like you could in the Templar ending. Maybe it was felt that was rubbing salt in the wound of uselessness? I never felt it before because I supposedly went on to become the viscount, but the lack of 'ending' really cut deep in the Mage ending.
What did Carver do? I assume he stayed with the templars, but after he refused to help Meredith kill me, he sorta just fought in the battle and that was it...Cullen was the only distinctive Templar who backed away so we could all leave. Also, Aveline mentions having Donnic keep the populace safe, but did she send a note to him to flee with her - did she even flee with me? Or did the templars let her return to her duties as guard captain? Isabela never had a real reason to stay there and she did get her ship, Daisy could move on as well, Varric clearly either moved on or came back to the city after some time had passed. I think Varric, personally, was wrong about everyone leaving me besides Anders. Fenris stated, AS A FRIEND, that he hoped his future would be next to me. I think Fenris would tag along just to drive Anders mad (...more mad?) and to protect Hawke. Also, he didn't have a reason to remain in Kirkwall, and had no reason to go anywhere else. Hawke had become 'his only friend' in his words. If he ever left Hawke's side, he no doubt returned to it quickly in my mind. Not as a romantic attachment, but because Fenris wanted purpose and Hawke supplied that. Plus, can't you imagine Fenris always complaining about being surrounded by mages if you're on the run with Anders? And Anders telling him to leave already? Fenris would probably go, "What, so you can blow up another building and pull Hawke into more trouble? I don't think so, mage."
Okay, sorry for the random rambling, but one last thing. The song that played at the end in the credits? -Gorgeous-. I managed to find out it was a version of Florence + The Machine's "I'm not calling you a Liar". I'd love a high quality version, but I haven't been able to find an official one. It was SO apt to the Anders Romance and choosing the Mage ending. And the intertwining of the Dragon Age music with her voice is AMAZING. I listened to the normal version after, and I just couldn't become attached to it after hearing the credit version. Wonderful music choice. I would never have expected it and it worked SO well.
So I guess, third time is really the charm. All the initial reservations I had about the game, some still linger (I REALLY to talk to my romantic interest when -I- wanted to, and to ask for a kiss when -I- wanted to, not when it was just scripted. That remains feeling unnatural to me. Also still feel like the romantic interests weren't fleshed out enough. It felt, "Hi, I'm here, I'm sexy, hit the heart choice!" rather than a natural progression of attraction and verbal rapport with the person.) I've been officially sold on DAII. Bring on the DLC, because I'm hooked beyond hope.
Retour en haut
going to be taking the mage ending, so I needed Fenris as a friend if I didn't want him to run off on me. Other things are deceptive, like taking the slave girl in Fenris's first companion quest as a servant. It SEEMS like you get points if you say you're going to pay her.. but in reality, you're given rivalry points for telling her to go to your house to begin with, it's just you only see the friendship points that you recoup a little back of for informing Fenris you'll pay her. If you want to be certain early on to have Fenris as a friend, simply giving the girl gold and telling her to go is best. Even if Fenris makes the snarky comment that she'll be robbed before the end of the day. It's still what will net you the most friendship points. Things like that. 
