89415 réponses à ce sujet

[R2s Muse]

CrazyRah wrote...

I has arrived as was foretold by LolaLei!

So the less than pleasant thread out there caught my attention but i quickly realised it was not a good kind of thread but it did however make me start thinking about Cullen. I've never really thought that much about him and my PoV is fairly limited so this is why i'm coming here to ask what is it that make him so interesting, what make each one of you like him and such?

I rather ask this question than go generalizing everyone into having the exact same opinion. I also prefer to see opinions and view points that i've not thought about and perhaps never would think if i didn't ask because i really do want to learn what make each character so popular. 

I think I could write a treatise on this question... and my fanfiction.net account is testament to that. LOL I'm only in and out sporadically right now... but might be able to chime in more completely later tonight.

In short, he fascinates me because he's at the cross-roads of the mage-templar issue. He's sort of seen both extremes of the situation. He used to think Greagoir et al. were too lenient, now he's experienced the other end of the spectrum with Meredith. I like his nobility and indecision and how he evolves over the game to truly decide for himself what he believes in. I  also like that he's not a black and white character, that there's quite a bit to wonder and speculate about... which we do quite a bit.  I'm also intrigued with the various notions of security that the templars represent and how he seems to struggle with his moral compass in a difficult situation.

Of course, I was originally interested in him because honestly his model is smokin' hot, but I stayed because I find him fascinating.

back later, y'all!

[R2s Muse]

LolaLei wrote...

R2s Muse wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...

LolaLei wrote...

Here's an interesting opinion on Cullen's behaviour/personality in DA2. I'm not gonna quote the thing directly, so I'll just give you the basic jist:

"I don't see Cullen's behaviour or wishy-washy attitude as being inconsistent with his character (or bad writing) at all. It simply highlighted exactly the kind of person he is, and that is someone who is good at surving at the cost of others. He knew how good of a fighter Hawke was and switched sides at the right moment. People like him make self-survival seem like they are doing a morally superior thing and not all because they want to live another day."

Discuss!

Yes, well, I believe I was one of the few who said that Cullen is incredibly wishy-washy by nature!! And a lot of people in this thread were not happy about how I put that  But I stand by that statement! I think he is indecisive and obsessed with doing "what's right" and "his duty" but he can never decide what exactly "what's right" truly is, and hence he's constantly switching from one side to the other, terrified of having made the wrong decision and inadvertently failing to serve the greater good.

I also see this in character... although I don't know that I'd call it switching back and forth between good and bad necessarily. I think we can only see that line  drawn in the sand because of our essentiallhy god's eye view of the game. I think, like others have said, he's trying his best to do what is "right." For a pro-mage player, "right" is protect mages, often no matter what. For someone like Cullen, who's trying to do the best by everyone, his version of "right" is more in the middle. So, I agree that he's probably conflicted and trying to figure his own head out throughout Act 2 and 3, only finally figuring out what to do toward the very end... when the odds become more dire and inaction has greater consequences. 

So, where one might see "wishy washy" or "flip flopping",  I see him really stewing about what he should do and how he can serve multiple masters. Sometimes he gets it 'right,' sometimes, not so much.

I guess it's to be expected given the fact that he's views and opinions have been pulled out from under him twice now. It must be hard coming to the realisation that you've essentially been screwed over by the very Order you've spent the best part of your life serving, especially given that he felt guilty enough for doubting when he was younger and ended up being set upon by the people he was trained to protect.

Indeed! I imagine him having trust issues galore, as we were discussing a few days ago. I may have to go write a story about his early relationship with Meredith. I smell a whiff of tragedy there...

[CuriousArtemis]

CrazyRah wrote...

I've never really thought that much about him and my PoV is fairly limited so this is why i'm coming here to ask what is it that make him so interesting, what make each one of you like him and such?

Well I liked Cullen right off in DA2; he certainly stood out as an attractive character when so many other male characters were not. (And this was my first time meeting the character, as I played DA2 before DA:O). I did not fully understand the mage/templar situation until I'd played the game several times. I initially saw Cullen as a traditional knight, an honorable man whose character was modeled after medieval chivalry and all that. 

I used to hang out in the Fenris thread because Fenris was and is my favorite character, period. But after I ran out of stuff to say about Fenris, I tried to find a new place to hang out, so decided to try the Cullen thread, since I do like Cullen, and why not? I could have just as easily gone to the Nathaniel thread (and I find Nathaniel to be much more attractive, hehe), but this thread was way, way more active. Even better, everyone in this thread was SUPER NICE... a rarity on BSN sadly!!

While being a part of this wonderful thread I've come to think more and more about Cullen's character. He has alwasy ranked high among my favorite DA NPCs. The reason I want to romance Cullen is absolutely not about his pretty face; I don't personally find him attractive, nor do I find Greg Ellis's voice sexy. Yes, he is a pretty man!!! I like him a lot; nay, love him. But he's not my type. Just want to get that out of the way lol

I want to romance him with my character (not myself lol) because I want to learn more about him. I find him a fascinating, really well-crafted character. I'm a writer (not a good writer, just a writer xD) who appreciates good characters. And I appreciate and love Cullen. He is a man who I read as being a great believer in things like Duty, Honor, and Compassion, and he is on the hunt for an institution that will allow him to assert these ideals. He chose the Templar Order, but he has had to face the fact multiple times that the Order does NOT always stand for the things he holds dear. And yet still he clings to it. He's not a child or even a young adult; by the end of the game, he's in his 30s. But yet he still is conflicted and maybe a little bit lost. By the very end of the game, he finally takes a stand against Meredith, and this is not an easy step for him, as Meredith represents the Order, which he cherishes. But he's had to come to terms with the fact that she does NOT represent HIS Order, or his "ideal" regarding the Order. And so he has to split hairs in his mind, basically, so that he can make it okay for him to defy Meredith while still remaining loyal to the Order (which he personally believes still upholds those ideals he feels so strongly dedicated to, i.e. Honor, Compassionate, etc.)

In short, Cullen is just a great character who has been forced by the writers to make some tough in game decisions. We do not know what path he will choose in DA3, or what circumstances will force his hand. I do firmly believe, however, that Cullen will NEVER give up on those ideals he so cherishes, even if he may ultimately give up on the Order itself.

[Newschmoo]

LolaLei wrote...

Newschmoo wrote...

I hope that is the case.

Re the scene with the three mages, does that scene only come up if Anders is killed?

Naw, it happens regardless but only if you take Meredith's side. What's weird is that you'd think Cullen would've had some sort of response to Anders blowing the Chantry up. He doesn't even make a comment about it on pro-templar whilst you run around in the Gallows pre-fight.

I guess Sebastian expressed it all really!

If Cullen should become a companion in DA3 (fingers tightly crossed), I hope we have the chance to talk to him about past events - to tie up loose ends/ambiguity.

Hello CrazyRah!

My first play through of DAO was a female Surana mage so my character encountered him quite early on and he piqued my interest! I also love Greg Ellis' voice acting for the character (I do gravitate towards characters with good voices).

I personally find Cullen quite a fascinating character. He has been on a bit of a journey, bearing in mind his role is quite minor.  He has witnessed both what terrible things mages and Templars are capable of and (possibly depending on your play through) two Rights of Annulment.  He is a character that has more to give, hence why I feel he would make an ideal companion.

On a shallow note, I have to admit that the makeover in DA2 was rather good !

[Newschmoo]

Twice a Lady wrote...

 The first time I went Pro-Templar I felt sick. It was a Seb romance complete with killing Anders (something I have never done since, I adore Anders), but that is beside the point. Playing Pro-Templar actually makes for a very interesting game, especially if you've played Pro-Mage first. Meredith doesn't seem crazy at all until the very end, just very hardlined. It is also revealed that Orsino knew all about the serial killer and withheld information about him on purpose, regardless of knowing what kind of magic he was doing. Since learning that I have had a hard time liking Orsino. He may not have turned blood mage until the end, but he still allowed a murderer to slice and dice a lot of innocent women in the meantime. Any who, if you never do manage to play through Pro-Templar I completely understand. I still can't play through Origins as an antagonist

I never knew that about Orsino.  That is terrible.  But I am going to make it my aim to complete a pro-Templar play through!  You've got to try these things at least once!

[meanieweenie]

CrazyRah wrote...

I has arrived as was foretold by LolaLei!

So the less than pleasant thread out there caught my attention but i quickly realised it was not a good kind of thread but it did however make me start thinking about Cullen. I've never really thought that much about him and my PoV is fairly limited so this is why i'm coming here to ask what is it that make him so interesting, what make each one of you like him and such?

I rather ask this question than go generalizing everyone into having the exact same opinion. I also prefer to see opinions and view points that i've not thought about and perhaps never would think if i didn't ask because i really do want to learn what make each character so popular. 

I can honestly say that Cullen didn't capture my attention until DA2... I was too mesmerized by Alistair. lol
But then there's Cullen in DA2 and he's come out of his 'little pink bubble of woe' (Lola! ) from Origins and I figured he'd automatically be Mr. Gung Ho Mage Killer. As you chat him up throughout the game he starts to seem more middle of the road or at least open to the idea that maybe not ALL mages are evil. What really caught my attention though was that he seems to be more about his duty to the Order and doing 'the right thing' which ends up being the ultimate question for him. What is the right thing? I guess it just strikes a cord in me - without getting too personal on it - my question to myself is often "What is the right thing?" and "When do you stand up and say 'that's wrong and I won't be a part of it any longer!" I am interested to see where they take his character.
My two cents.

[R2s Muse]

motomotogirl wrote...

He is a man who I read as being a great believer in things like Duty, Honor, and Compassion, and he is on the hunt for an institution that will allow him to assert these ideals. He chose the Templar Order, but he has had to face the fact multiple times that the Order does NOT always stand for the things he holds dear. And yet still he clings to it. He's not a child or even a young adult; by the end of the game, he's in his 30s. But yet he still is conflicted and maybe a little bit lost. By the very end of the game, he finally takes a stand against Meredith, and this is not an easy step for him, as Meredith represents the Order, which he cherishes. But he's had to come to terms with the fact that she does NOT represent HIS Order, or his "ideal" regarding the Order. And so he has to split hairs in his mind, basically, so that he can make it okay for him to defy Meredith while still remaining loyal to the Order (which he personally believes still upholds those ideals he feels so strongly dedicated to, i.e. Honor, Compassionate, etc.)

In short, Cullen is just a great character who has been forced by the writers to make some tough in game decisions. We do not know what path he will choose in DA3, or what circumstances will force his hand. I do firmly believe, however, that Cullen will NEVER give up on those ideals he so cherishes, even if he may ultimately give up on the Order itself.

...and I'm going to jump on MMG's coattails and say, Yup, this. Very well said. I sort of feel like he finds his little peace of mind by the end of DA2. He's chosen his path, cleaving to his ideal version of the Order, and knows very clearly that Meredith isn't following it. He has an all too brief moment of clarity. So, now I can't wait to see what he makes of his beloved Order now in a shambles post-Nevarran Accord. Heh. I imagine lots of angst as he might feel lost yet again.

[CrazyRah]

Many thanks for the responses!

I share the interest to where the writers make take him. He do have quite the unique experience and have seen horrible acts commited by both mages and templars. Will absolutely continue to think about him since he's a very interesting character and since i'm playing my way through my canon DA playthroughs i got the chance to take the responses into account and listen extra on what he actually say. His constant struggle to do the right thing is very interesting so will absolutely observe what he do and say in both games and in the future.

I suppose what make me interested in his character to start is was that i've studied some drama and writing and they make me appreciate complex character more than i did before. That Cullen is a character that after DA2 got so many potential paths to wander depending on what the writers want enhance the fact that no matter what he carry a lot with him and i'd love to hear his opinion on a lot of things.

Been an illuminating day. Many thanks once again and i'll ponder on the answers and implement them to see Cullen with a new light. Interesting character for sure!

[LolaLei]

CrazyRah wrote...

I has arrived as was foretold by LolaLei!

So the less than pleasant thread out there caught my attention but i quickly realised it was not a good kind of thread but it did however make me start thinking about Cullen. I've never really thought that much about him and my PoV is fairly limited so this is why i'm coming here to ask what is it that make him so interesting, what make each one of you like him and such?

I rather ask this question than go generalizing everyone into having the exact same opinion. I also prefer to see opinions and view points that i've not thought about and perhaps never would think if i didn't ask because i really do want to learn what make each character so popular. 

Alrighty, here's my reasons for liking Cullen and wanting him as a companion/LI:


I find Cullen to be a very interesting and complex character, and he has grabbed my curiosity. This man has experienced so much pain and hardship at the hands of not only mages, but the Templars too. I can only imagine what he must be going through to discover that the Order he's spent the best part of his life serving has become corrupt and, according to the Asunder novel, separated completely from the Divine and the Chantry.

He may not be the perfect gentleman and he's certainly said and done some harsh things in his time, but at his core he appears to be a good man who managed to retain his humanity in the face of extreme adversity. He may have lost his way for a little while, but that only serves to make him more human. In regards to his story, it's one that sparks my imagination because it could take so many different paths and lead him pretty much anywhere. The beauty of it is that he's got enough of a backstory to peak interest, but is a blank enough slate for the writers to do so much with him.

Do I find him attractive? Sure, I certainly wouldn't say no if he was a real life person. Do I want his pixelated babies? No, not personally. I'm not fangirling over him because he's pretty, I'm fangirling because his character intrigues me. I do, however, want to romance him with my new protagonist because I feel that it will give us an added layer to his story and an extra bit of perspective into his personality (which is why I always romance each companion at least once). The only reason why I want to romance him just that extra bit harder is because the poor boy has had an awful life so far and he just seems kinda... lonely.

... Maybe that's some sort of weird maternal instinct kicking in, but I'd like to see him happy, which I can do for him if only they give him to us as a companion/LI. If he's going to continue his personal growth and hardships in DA3 then I'd rather experience it right along side him, rather than witnessing it from the sidelines or reading about it in codex entries.

Modifié par LolaLei, 16 mai 2013 - 12:19 .

[CrazyRah]

It would indeed be great to actually be there when his character grow even further. After all he's been through i'd like to see things change, preferably to the better and not hear about it or as you say read it in a codex page

[LolaLei]

CrazyRah wrote...

It would indeed be great to actually be there when his character grow even further. After all he's been through i'd like to see things change, preferably to the better and not hear about it or as you say read it in a codex page

I mean, the guys been through so much and yet we've only ever seen tiny snippets of it via ambient dialogue, brief encounters during quests and a bunch of codex entries. There aren't many (if any other) NPCs out there that have created such a big reaction (both good and bad) with such little screentime and minor roles.

[brushyourteeth]

R2s Muse wrote...

motomotogirl wrote...

LolaLei wrote...

Here's an interesting opinion on Cullen's behaviour/personality in DA2. I'm not gonna quote the thing directly, so I'll just give you the basic jist:

"I don't see Cullen's behaviour or wishy-washy attitude as being inconsistent with his character (or bad writing) at all. It simply highlighted exactly the kind of person he is, and that is someone who is good at surving at the cost of others. He knew how good of a fighter Hawke was and switched sides at the right moment. People like him make self-survival seem like they are doing a morally superior thing and not all because they want to live another day."

Discuss!

Yes, well, I believe I was one of the few who said that Cullen is incredibly wishy-washy by nature!! And a lot of people in this thread were not happy about how I put that  But I stand by that statement! I think he is indecisive and obsessed with doing "what's right" and "his duty" but he can never decide what exactly "what's right" truly is, and hence he's constantly switching from one side to the other, terrified of having made the wrong decision and inadvertently failing to serve the greater good.

I also see this in character... although I don't know that I'd call it switching back and forth between good and bad necessarily. I think we can only see that line  drawn in the sand because of our essentiallhy god's eye view of the game. I think, like others have said, he's trying his best to do what is "right." For a pro-mage player, "right" is protect mages, often no matter what. For someone like Cullen, who's trying to do the best by everyone, his version of "right" is more in the middle. So, I agree that he's probably conflicted and trying to figure his own head out throughout Act 2 and 3, only finally figuring out what to do toward the very end... when the odds become more dire and inaction has greater consequences. 

So, where one might see "wishy washy" or "flip flopping",  I see him really stewing about what he should do and how he can serve multiple masters. Sometimes he gets it 'right,' sometimes, not so much.

This is genius. GENIUS!!!

*ahem* you both make very fine points.

Twice a Lady and CrazyRah, I sure hope we get to see more of you around here. You're always welcome with us.

[Jean]

Oh dear
I sleep and go shopping and the thread blew up. At least it didn't get too terribly horrible.

I like Cullen regardless, but a big reason I want him a companion is because he's in an interesting position in which we may finally get to see a medium position or compromise explored instead of either/or "RAWR MAGES" "RAWR TEMPLARS!" (a rhyme!!)

It's pretty much as simple as that for me, lol.

[brushyourteeth]

I agree with Batteries. The very simplest explanation for why Cullen is interesting is that he's the only Templar character we really have. Of course there have been others, but none with his depth or his dramatic insider circumstances, minor in the story though they've been.

The fact that he's so flawed and yet means so well definitely adds to the interest.

People say that the fans are only interested in him because of his crush on Amell/Surana, but that's not it for me, and probably not for most of us. Of course we love to be flattered and that scene was adorable, but by the time you return to Kinloch and he's locked in that bubble, you've been playing around in the world as a mage long enough to realize that people.don't.get.involved.with.mages. The dialogue you can have with Teagan makes that abundantly clear, Wynne lets you know what's expected (over and over again) and Anders reminds you that the most you could hope for is a momentary fling with another mage. The fact that Cullen could fall in love with a mage shows that he has empathy for them and does see them as equals.

Then the poor lad's world gets ripped apart. Ah, drama -- why you so heartbreaking?

[Twice a Lady]

R2s Muse wrote...

Ah, also, welcome Twice a Lady and CrazyRah! Welcome to the red-headed stepchild corner of the forums. Stay a while!

Thank you. I think I will stay vocal for awhile. I tend to lurk silently from the shadowy depths of forums or avoid them all together, but you are quality people in my books and I feel comfortable enough here to voice my opinions whether all agree with them or not. It's rather hard to find a respectable forum these days where all views are accepted even while being debated. The love of Cullen drew me to this thread, but your manners and class made me stick around.

[LolaLei]

brushyourteeth wrote...

I agree with Batteries. The very simplest explanation for why Cullen is interesting is that he's the only Templar character we really have. Of course there have been others, but none with his depth or his dramatic insider circumstances, minor in the story though they've been.

The fact that he's so flawed and yet means so well definitely adds to the interest.

People say that the fans are only interested in him because of his crush on Amell/Surana, but that's not it for me, and probably not for most of us. Of course we love to be flattered and that scene was adorable, but by the time you return to Kinloch and he's locked in that bubble, you've been playing around in the world as a mage long enough to realize that people.don't.get.involved.with.mages. The dialogue you can have with Teagan makes that abundantly clear, Wynne lets you know what's expected (over and over again) and Anders reminds you that the most you could hope for is a momentary fling with another mage. The fact that Cullen could fall in love with a mage shows that he has empathy for them and does see them as equals.

Then the poor lad's world gets ripped apart. Ah, drama -- why you so heartbreaking?

Exactly. For all the brainwashing he'd likely endured during his training and Chantry teachings etc he still finds himself initally sympathising with them and, in some cases, crushing on one of them. Hell, even after all the crap he goes through in DA:O and DA2 he still ends up sympathising with the innocent ones and trying to protect them, be it via the pro-templar route where he tries to spare those 3 mages who beg for mercy, or siding with a mage Hawke and allowing him/her to escape/bowing. AND, if you send Feynriel to the circle he expresses concern and worries for the lad when he goes into a coma-like state, not to mention that he'll remember a female MAGE Warden lovingly. He's definitely not this mage-hating/mage-torturing fiend that some people like to think he is.

He really is the best templar character we have in terms of his experience giving us a perspective that we haven't seen yet. Sure, Alistair was a Templar but not for long enough to give any real insight and he hated being forced into the Order anyway. All the other "good templars" either died or ended up being foolish enough to ruin things by siding with blood mages and getting turned into an abomination or doing something stupid. You could count Evangeline, but she's only ever been shown in the book and probably won't be a companion given that the situation.

Modifié par LolaLei, 16 mai 2013 - 02:15 .

[R2s Muse]

Twice a Lady wrote...

R2s Muse wrote...

Ah, also, welcome Twice a Lady and CrazyRah! Welcome to the red-headed stepchild corner of the forums. Stay a while!

Thank you. I think I will stay vocal for awhile. I tend to lurk silently from the shadowy depths of forums or avoid them all together, but you are quality people in my books and I feel comfortable enough here to voice my opinions whether all agree with them or not. It's rather hard to find a respectable forum these days where all views are accepted even while being debated. The love of Cullen drew me to this thread, but your manners and class made me stick around.

Aw, that's so sweet that you say that. We certainly try. Definitely stay delurked! Agree, most of us just stick around here... for obvious reasons. And we even still discuss Cullen sometimes. LOL

[LolaLei]

Y'know what's annoying? That thread is only gonna fuel the whole "I wish people would stop going on about Cullen, damn fan girls!" Bollocks, even though it wasn't us who started the bloody thing and a lot of us didn't even bother to get involved.

[Jean]

^^I thought it was interesting how he showed absolutely no shame or disdain in reminiscing about his Mage!Warden crush right in front of a group of people.

Disappoint it's only heard if you import an Amell.

[R2s Muse]

LolaLei wrote...

brushyourteeth wrote...

I agree with Batteries. The very simplest explanation for why Cullen is interesting is that he's the only Templar character we really have. Of course there have been others, but none with his depth or his dramatic insider circumstances, minor in the story though they've been.

The fact that he's so flawed and yet means so well definitely adds to the interest.

People say that the fans are only interested in him because of his crush on Amell/Surana, but that's not it for me, and probably not for most of us. Of course we love to be flattered and that scene was adorable, but by the time you return to Kinloch and he's locked in that bubble, you've been playing around in the world as a mage long enough to realize that people.don't.get.involved.with.mages. The dialogue you can have with Teagan makes that abundantly clear, Wynne lets you know what's expected (over and over again) and Anders reminds you that the most you could hope for is a momentary fling with another mage. The fact that Cullen could fall in love with a mage shows that he has empathy for them and does see them as equals.

Then the poor lad's world gets ripped apart. Ah, drama -- why you so heartbreaking?

Exactly. For all the brainwashing he'd likely endured during his training and Chantry teachings etc he still finds himself initally sympathising with them and, in some cases, crushing on one of them. Hell, even after all the crap he goes through in DA:O and DA2 he still ends up sympathising with the innocent ones and trying to protect them, be it via the pro-templar route where he tries to spare those 3 mages who beg for mercy, or siding with a mage Hawke and allowing him/her to escape/bowing. AND, if you send Feynriel to the circle he expresses concern and worries for the lad when he goes into a coma-like state, not to mention that he'll remember a female MAGE Warden lovingly. He's definitely not this mage-hating/mage-torturing fiend that some people like to think he is.

He really is the best templar character we have in terms of his experience giving us a perspective that we haven't seen yet. Sure, Alistair was a Templar but not for long enough to give any real insight and he hated being forced into the Order anyway. All the other "good templars" either died or ended up being foolish enough to ruin things by siding with blood mages and getting turned into an abomination or doing something stupid. You could count Evangeline, but she's only ever been shown in the book and probably won't be a companion given that the situation.

Agree. He also expressed regret that the Starkhaven mages die, if you go that path. I just don't see evidenced of him being a monster; he too often shows compassion toward the mages under his care. Of course, compassion doesn't mean he's about to let them all go free, so I can see why some people still have a problem with him personally since he reinforces the Circle paradigm.

Anyhoo, like you've all said, he just seems an obvious choice to give us insight into the mage-templar war going forward. Of course, they could introduce a completely new templar character to do something similar, but would be a waste of an opportunity, to my mind.

[LolaLei]

Batteries wrote...

^^I thought it was interesting how he showed absolutely no shame or disdain in reminiscing about his Mage!Warden crush right in front of a group of people.

Disappoint it's only heard if you import an Amell.

Especially considering in Act 1 he was supposed to be all shameful and upset/angry about it (according to his codex). Perhaps that was just another inconsistency with the writing, but it easily works as part of his personal growth throughout the game, accidental or not.

[brushyourteeth]

Twice a Lady wrote...

R2s Muse wrote...

Ah, also, welcome Twice a Lady and CrazyRah! Welcome to the red-headed stepchild corner of the forums. Stay a while!

Thank you. I think I will stay vocal for awhile. I tend to lurk silently from the shadowy depths of forums or avoid them all together, but you are quality people in my books and I feel comfortable enough here to voice my opinions whether all agree with them or not. It's rather hard to find a respectable forum these days where all views are accepted even while being debated. The love of Cullen drew me to this thread, but your manners and class made me stick around.

I'm so glad! And honestly, I'm not belligerent, I swear.   Today's outburst was a special occasion!!

LolaLei wrote...

He really is the best templar character we have in terms of his experience giving us a perspective that we haven't seen yet. Sure, Alistair was a Templar but not for long enough to give any real insight and he hated being forced into the Order anyway. All the other "good templars" either died or ended up being foolish enough to ruin things by siding with blood mages and getting turned into an abomination or doing something stupid. You could count Evangeline, but she's only ever been shown in the book and probably won't be a companion given that the situation.

Yeah, people have/will be saying the exact same things about Evangeline that they say about Cullen. "Helping people who lock up mages is EVIL! It makes you EVIL!!!"

... how on earth do you even reason with that? There's no way.


You know, this makes me think -- and I wonder what you guys have to say about it -- we never see Alistair actually being a Templar. I wonder what kind of Templar he would have been, had he stayed? We know he didn't like it, and we know he disapproved of the lyrium addiction thing, but he was also pretty disapproving of Morrigan for being an apostate.

Where do you think Alistair would have stood, were he in Cullen's place dealing with Meredith/Karras/Alrik/Elthina/Feynriel/etc.? What would have been different with him in the Knight-Captain's shoes?

[R2s Muse]

So, on a totally separate topic, I was thinking again about Jessica Merizan's potential cosplay. We were thinking it would be a character we know... like Evangeline or Cassandra. But I was thinking today... if you were going to the very first DA3 cosplay, would you do a supporting character, or be the main character?? Like how she was Hawke for DA2? I'm callin' it now... Inquisitor!

[Twice a Lady]

brushyourteeth wrote...

I agree with Batteries. The very simplest explanation for why Cullen is interesting is that he's the only Templar character we really have. Of course there have been others, but none with his depth or his dramatic insider circumstances, minor in the story though they've been.

The fact that he's so flawed and yet means so well definitely adds to the interest.

People say that the fans are only interested in him because of his crush on Amell/Surana, but that's not it for me, and probably not for most of us. Of course we love to be flattered and that scene was adorable, but by the time you return to Kinloch and he's locked in that bubble, you've been playing around in the world as a mage long enough to realize that people.don't.get.involved.with.mages. The dialogue you can have with Teagan makes that abundantly clear, Wynne lets you know what's expected (over and over again) and Anders reminds you that the most you could hope for is a momentary fling with another mage. The fact that Cullen could fall in love with a mage shows that he has empathy for them and does see them as equals.

Then the poor lad's world gets ripped apart. Ah, drama -- why you so heartbreaking?

I was initally drawn to him because of the Amell/Surana crush, not that that is my sole reason for liking him, (everyone else already summed up my reasons quite nicely), but it was my starting point. My very first Origins playthrough was as the female mage and I honestly thought he was supposed to be a companion. I actually spent a good half hour trying to find him after he runs off thinking that I was supposed to and that it was a quest...then I discovered how to access the quest journal.

[R2s Muse]

LolaLei wrote...

Batteries wrote...

^^I thought it was interesting how he showed absolutely no shame or disdain in reminiscing about his Mage!Warden crush right in front of a group of people.

Disappoint it's only heard if you import an Amell.

Especially considering in Act 1 he was supposed to be all shameful and upset/angry about it (according to his codex). Perhaps that was just another inconsistency with the writing, but it easily works as part of his personal growth throughout the game, accidental or not.

Yeah... I dunno. I've been thinking a lot about that codex... and it strikes me now as an inconsistency. It could be that by Act 2 he's more at peace with it, but I dunno.