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King Alistair


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#176
Frocharocha

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Ria wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

Fair enough. Opinions are precious butterflies, to be certain. My opinion is that, from Alistair's perspective, it's his "beloved" who betrays him at the Landsmeet. The woman he loved, who he thought understood him and knew that Loghain's murder of all his comrades (as well as his mentor) deserved justice, has decided that Loghain should instead be given a place in an order which, to him, represents all good things. That Loghain will be given a chance at redemption rather than the ignoble execution he deserves.

There is a point where players expect to be able to influence their companions, but I argue there should also be a point at which those companions should not bend to your every whim no matter how much they like you. They expect that you like them too, and that this means you should be as willing to do what they want as much as they're willing to do what you want. To not do so turns the character into a sock-puppet for your will, which while very gratifying to the ego wouldn't make for a very human characterization of Alistair.

Is it maddening that he disagrees with you, after having been willing to follow your lead up until that point? Absolutely. I seldom see people actually analyze the situation, however, to determine the level of their betrayal of Alistair as much as his betrayal of them. In my mind, the only thing Alistair does which is unequivocably wrong is when he up and leaves the Wardens once the decision is made. Surely the fate of the world is more important than that? Being human, however, he simply doesn't want to be in the same order that accepts Loghain... and, far more importantly, doesn't want to be near you.

Does finding Alistair drunk in Kirkwall mean he pines for power he never even wanted? Not at all. If that's what you think, I'd venture you're not reading the dialogue. He despairs at what happened, and regrets his decision to leave. He despairs the man he has become compared to what he was, or could have been. Which is pathetic, since he walked away from it, but such is the way of drunks (and forum posters) that self-awareness isn't high on their list of concerns when they're complaining about something.

That is, however, simply my opinion. Regardless of what I intended when I wrote him, people will add their own interpretations to it, and more power to them. I just simply will never respect the person who doesn't own up to the fact that there was an element of selfishness on their own part in betraying Alistair as well.


The bolded part is why that particular Landsmeet scene is one of my favorite gaming moments. To me Alistair's reaction made perfect sense. Though Zevran is my preferred romance in DA:O, I usually romance Alistair simply for the political and emotional complexity of the whole situation.

The way I roleplay the scene, my PC isn't angry at Alistair. Logically she thinks sparing Loghain makes sense but she knows she has betrayed Alistair and feels guilty about it. In addition to sparing Loghain, my character also tried to pressure Alistair into becoming a king and agreeing to a political marriage with Anora. All this from the woman you love is probably a lot to take. 

I love when NPCs rebel against the almighty opinion of the PC. I don't want to dictate the way other people think. I like that the protagonist has some influence over the NPCs worldviews but a game feels much more engaging when it involves misunderstandings, quarrels and even betrayals.


Yep, i tried to do the same, until i realized he wasn't homosexual. So Loghain had to meet my blade.

#177
Teddie Sage

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With all due respect, Mr Gaider, I think some people simply don't want to kill off Loghain because they think it is evil or cruel to decide the fate of another man. I don't find it selfish to bring a man to justice by jailing or exiling him. Avenging death with another death isn't always the best of decisions for many people. Plus I believe Loghain could redeem himself by sacrificing his life at the last battle. Sure, it wouldn't erase his past actions but at least it would allow him to make up for his mistakes.

Modifié par Teddie Sage, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:05 .

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#178
Riverdaleswhiteflash

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David Gaider wrote...


Selfish in that you believe your opinion is more important than Alistair's. You may believe what you're doing is for the greater good, but from Alistair's perspective you're allowing Loghain a chance at redemption which Alistair doesn't think he deserves. Alistair believes that sacrificing your life to save Ferelden is a noble deed, and that the Wardens don't need Loghain-- the very man who killed all the other Wardens and put you in this position--to do that.

So, you disagree. Alistair refuses to let it end with that, and you override him-- it's going to be what you think and his feelings are irrelevant. Is his response selfish? Even childish? That can be argued, sure, but if you believe your own actions aren't also selfish then I think you're deluding yourself. You made that determination all on your own-- you. Ignoring the wishes of the only other Grey Warden in the room, a man who is supposedly not only your friend and equal but also a man who loves you and trusts you... and assumed you trusted him. Who assumed you felt as he did, and that you agreed with him back when he said "Loghain has to die for what he's done". You may still believe you were right-- the story is written to allow you to think that, and has no clear-cut way out where everybody is made happy-- but believing you were the only arbiter to decide that is indeed selfish of you.

Don't like the word 'selfish'? How about 'arrogant'? How about 'self-righteous'? These are not mutually exclusive of people who are heroes or who might also have noble goals. If anything, Loghain is a prime example of someone who can go to their grave thinking they did the right thing even though others readily disagree. Someone can respond to that and go "nope, nope, my Warden was in the right and Alistair was a jerk to disagree with me!" ...and okay! Good for you. I'll still write in my journal about how Alistair clearly wasn't the only jerk in the room. ;)


Alistair's not the only other Warden in the room. There's also Riordan, and he argues that Loghain can be of use. He's also the most experienced Warden in the room: in fact a Warden who was inclined to side with Alistair might decide that he trumps both of them.

Modifié par Riverdaleswhiteflash, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:04 .


#179
DarkKnightHolmes

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Riordan is the senior, Alistair is the rookie. I think I know who I'm listening to in that situation.

Modifié par DarkKnightHolmes, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:06 .

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#180
Massakkolia

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Nashimura wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

TheButterflyEffect wrote...Sorry. Then I'll just say... it was "dumb". That's all.

That is, however, simply my opinion. Regardless of what I intended when I wrote him, people will add their own interpretations to it, and more power to them. I just simply will never respect the person who doesn't own up to the fact that there was an element of selfishness on their own part in betraying Alistair as well.


I'm not sure if it is selfishness, willing to accept someone like Loghain who has greatly harmed you and your friends up to this point with the reason that you will end the blight no matter the cost - Loghain is sold as very capable, Ferelden and the Wardens need capable men. The Wardens have a long history of bringing in people with imperfect morality, including the Warden himself.

I think its fair to say Alistair's view of the order is not really inline with the actual truth of it. I offered Loghain a place without the knowledge that Alistair would go so strongly against it (I like that he did though, i respected him more for it) I had not decided who i would put on the throne prior to the landsmeet (couldn't decide, Anora seemed better but i liked Alistair) and when someone says either do this or i leave it tends to make up my mind easier. 

Alistair had to go, which was sad because up to that point i felt like my warden was the Loghain to Alistair's Maric in a way. I spared him though, it wasn't personal really...drunk Alistair in DA2 was funny and sad at the same time for me. 

That's my take on that situation, i played through the game a few times and did it differently after but that was my first and true play through taking the choices as they come and thinking them through. So my take on this differs from the guy who wrote it....great, ill be quiet now :P


At first I overlooked that part of David's post but yeah, I also disagree that the warden who sides with Loghain is automatically selfish. My warden was absolutely crushed over the decision to let Loghain live because she knew it would break her relationship with Alistair for good. She knew it was a betrayal to Alistair but in her view it was the best for Ferelden.

Executing Loghain might cause political unrest and make the relationship of the wardens and the royalty difficult (I was definitely going to put Anora on the throne, with or without Alistair). Loghain was capable and the wardens needed new members desperately. For me it was a cold political decision.

My Dalish warden didn't even covet power (in fact she loathed the position she was in). She simply wanted to steer events towards the best possible outcome and that required sacrifices, including her own relationship with Alistair. So in my opinion and in my canon playthrough, the decision to spare Loghain was indeed a betrayal to Alistair but it was not a selfish act, far from it.

Edit: After reading David's answer. Yeah, self-righteous might be a fitting description to an extent, especially from Alistair's point of view. Although as I said, my warden didn't want to be in a position of picking kings and queens. She didn't want to be the only hope for Ferelden. Yet, there she was and she wanted to act in a responsible way.

Modifié par Ria, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:20 .


#181
Masha Potato

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David Gaider wrote...
You made that determination all on your own-- you. Ignoring the wishes of the only other Grey Warden in the room... 


Wasn't it Riordan's idea to allow Loghain to join? And given the guy had much more experience with the Wardens his opinion is a bit more valuable than either the PC's or Alistair's. 

Also by your definition of "selfish" everything anyone ever does is selfish - which is maybe true, but if we take that as a universal truth then being selfish loses any negative connotation. Which kind of makes this whole argument pointless

#182
Monica21

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David Gaider wrote...

Monica21 wrote...
Well, your first paragraph was about Alistair's perspective of Loghain (which is fine and one that I and nearly every character I RP disagree with) and your last presumes selfishness on the part of the Warden and player. Selfish how?


Selfish in that you believe your opinion is more important than Alistair's. You may believe what you're doing is for the greater good, but from Alistair's perspective you're allowing Loghain a chance at redemption which Alistair doesn't think he deserves. Alistair believes that sacrificing your life to save Ferelden is a noble deed, and that the Wardens don't need Loghain-- the very man who killed all the other Wardens and put you in this position--to do that.

I never disputed that Alistair had a right to an opinion. His opinion is that Loghain killed all the other Wardens, and that's been argued against not only by you but by Mary Kirby.

So, you disagree. Alistair refuses to let it end with that, and you override him-- it's going to be what you think and his feelings are irrelevant. Is his response selfish? Even childish? That can be argued, sure, but if you believe your own actions aren't also selfish then I think you're deluding yourself. You made that determination all on your own-- you. Ignoring the wishes of the only other Grey Warden in the room, a man who is supposedly not only your friend and equal but also a man who loves you and trusts you...

Except I didn't make that determination all on my own and Alistair is not the only other Grey Warden in the room. The very man who suggests you recruit Loghain is a Grey Warden and very obviously has his reasons for doing so, though he doesn't state them at the time. Why should Riordan's tactical advice be disregarded? 

...and assumed you trusted him. Who assumed you felt as he did, and that you agreed with him back when he said "Loghain has to die for what he's done". You may still believe you were right-- the story is written to allow you to think that, and has no clear-cut way out where everybody is made happy-- but believing you were the only arbiter to decide that is indeed selfish of you.

And I assume that when Alistair tells me he understands what it means to be a Grey Warden that he does understand it. He doesn't though, and nor should he assume that I feel the same way about Loghain. My character never expresses that same feeling. And yes, my character is the arbiter. She's the arbiter in the same way she decided which treaty to go after first. Whether to side with the Templars or mages, Caridin or Branka, Dalish or werewolves, Kolgrim or the Guardian, and Connor and the demon. Why would my Warden be any less the arbiter in the recruitment of Loghain?

Don't like the word 'selfish'? How about 'arrogant'? How about 'self-righteous'? These are not mutually exclusive of people who are heroes or who might also have noble goals. If anything, Loghain is a prime example of someone who can go to their grave thinking they did the right thing even though others readily disagree. Someone can respond to that and go "nope, nope, my Warden was in the right and Alistair was a jerk to disagree with me!" ...and okay! Good for you. I'll still write in my journal about how Alistair clearly wasn't the only jerk in the room. ;)

Actually, Loghain does go to his grave knowing that you were right and he was wrong. It's been awhile since you've read through the Landsmeet options, isn't it? ;)

#183
Teddie Sage

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I completely agree with Ria. Well put.

#184
mesmerizedish

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Masha Potato wrote...

David Gaider wrote...
You made that determination all on your own-- you. Ignoring the wishes of the only other Grey Warden in the room... 


Wasn't it Riordan's idea to allow Loghain to join? And given the guy had much more experience with the Wardens his opinion is a bit more valuable than either the PC's or Alistair's. 

Also by your definition of "selfish" everything anyone ever does is selfish - which is maybe true, but if we take that as a universal truth then being selfish loses any negative connotation. Which kind of makes this whole argument pointless


my sexy waifu tbh

#185
upsettingshorts

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Threads like these remind me I need to finally get around to a "**** you and your Wardens, Alistair" playthrough instead of just thinking about it.

Not much case for betrayal if he has no expectation of your agreeing with him, ever.

Modifié par Upsettingshorts, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:21 .


#186
Wulfram

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Dear Alistair,

Please tell me that you want someone dead before I accept thier surrender. It looks kind of bad if we do things the other way around

sincerely,
The Warden

#187
David Gaider

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Riverdaleswhiteflash wrote...
Alistair's not the only other Warden in the room. There's also Riordan, and he argues that Loghain can be of use. He's also the most experienced Warden in the room: in fact a Warden who was inclined to side with Alistair might decide that he trumps both of them.


Ah, yes. I forgot about Riordan. So ignore that part, then-- it doesn't change my point.

I imagine there are few people who like to think that their hero is ever selfish... or, indeed, consider that they as a player might have selfish desires to just want the story to go their way (cue the people who translate Anora not being pliable into her also being a heinous cow). That's not "bad" per se, but it is indeed selfish.

But whatever. There's certainly no shortage of selfish players who try to place blame for hardships everywhere but themselves. I'm okay with that, personally speaking. More delicious angst that way.

#188
Scott Sion

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David Gaider wrote...

That is, however, simply my opinion. Regardless of what I intended when I wrote him, people will add their own interpretations to it, and more power to them. I just simply will never respect the person who doesn't own up to the fact that there was an element of selfishness on their own part in betraying Alistair as well.


Wait a minute... You actully partake in the making of the games? I assumed you were Bioware's janitor or something...

#189
Masha Potato

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Well okay, i guess we all can selfishly agree on whatever

Modifié par Masha Potato, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:24 .


#190
upsettingshorts

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plnero wrote...

Wait a minute... You actully partake in the making of the games? I assumed you were Bioware's janitor or something...


Joke's on you buddy, judging by your icons under your avatar you've bought three of his stories.

#191
Yalision

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David Gaider wrote...

Monica21 wrote...
Well, your first paragraph was about Alistair's perspective of Loghain (which is fine and one that I and nearly every character I RP disagree with) and your last presumes selfishness on the part of the Warden and player. Selfish how?


Selfish in that you believe your opinion is more important than Alistair's. You may believe what you're doing is for the greater good, but from Alistair's perspective you're allowing Loghain a chance at redemption which Alistair doesn't think he deserves. Alistair believes that sacrificing your life to save Ferelden is a noble deed, and that the Wardens don't need Loghain-- the very man who killed all the other Wardens and put you in this position--to do that.

So, you disagree. Alistair refuses to let it end with that, and you override him-- it's going to be what you think and his feelings are irrelevant. Is his response selfish? Even childish? That can be argued, sure, but if you believe your own actions aren't also selfish then I think you're deluding yourself. You made that determination all on your own-- you. Ignoring the wishes of the only other Grey Warden in the room, a man who is supposedly not only your friend and equal but also a man who loves you and trusts you... and assumed you trusted him. Who assumed you felt as he did, and that you agreed with him back when he said "Loghain has to die for what he's done". You may still believe you were right-- the story is written to allow you to think that, and has no clear-cut way out where everybody is made happy-- but believing you were the only arbiter to decide that is indeed selfish of you.

Don't like the word 'selfish'? How about 'arrogant'? How about 'self-righteous'? These are not mutually exclusive of people who are heroes or who might also have noble goals. If anything, Loghain is a prime example of someone who can go to their grave thinking they did the right thing even though others readily disagree. Someone can respond to that and go "nope, nope, my Warden was in the right and Alistair was a jerk to disagree with me!" ...and okay! Good for you. I'll still write in my journal about how Alistair clearly wasn't the only jerk in the room. ;)


It tore my Warden apart inside to betray Alistair's trust like that, but it had to be done. Loghain was too valuable an asset to the Wardens in his opinion, and knowing Alistair would be king with Anora by his side, my Warden knew he was putting Ferelden in the best hands possible.

Yep, it was definitely selfish of my Warden, but not without its consequences. Just like when my Warden decided to put the Anvil of the Void in the hands of a mad woman, it was a dangerous choice but a choice that could help preserve the dwarves against the Darkspawn when the Blight ended. It's all about the hard choices and that's why I like Dragon Age. I'm STILL having trouble deciding who I want to support in Dragon Age 2 because I can see why both sides are right and wrong.

#192
Scott Sion

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Upsettingshorts wrote...

plnero wrote...

Wait a minute... You actully partake in the making of the games? I assumed you were Bioware's janitor or something...


Joke's on you buddy, judging by your icons under your avatar you've bought three of his stories.


Well, for a janitor he certainly writes a good story.

On a serious note I can't bring myself to let Logain live. I did the Human Noble origin first so the way I look at it, it would be like having Alistar trying to convince me not to kill Arl Howe. Arl Howe killed my mother and father and there's no way I'm letting him live after that, good reason or not. Duncan was Alistars father figure; how am I supposed to tell him to let it go when I couldn't let what Howe did go?

#193
Nashimura

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Ria wrote...

Nashimura wrote...

David Gaider wrote...

TheButterflyEffect wrote...Sorry. Then I'll just say... it was "dumb". That's all.

That is, however, simply my opinion. Regardless of what I intended when I wrote him, people will add their own interpretations to it, and more power to them. I just simply will never respect the person who doesn't own up to the fact that there was an element of selfishness on their own part in betraying Alistair as well.


I'm not sure if it is selfishness, willing to accept someone like Loghain who has greatly harmed you and your friends up to this point with the reason that you will end the blight no matter the cost - Loghain is sold as very capable, Ferelden and the Wardens need capable men. The Wardens have a long history of bringing in people with imperfect morality, including the Warden himself.

I think its fair to say Alistair's view of the order is not really inline with the actual truth of it. I offered Loghain a place without the knowledge that Alistair would go so strongly against it (I like that he did though, i respected him more for it) I had not decided who i would put on the throne prior to the landsmeet (couldn't decide, Anora seemed better but i liked Alistair) and when someone says either do this or i leave it tends to make up my mind easier. 

Alistair had to go, which was sad because up to that point i felt like my warden was the Loghain to Alistair's Maric in a way. I spared him though, it wasn't personal really...drunk Alistair in DA2 was funny and sad at the same time for me. 

That's my take on that situation, i played through the game a few times and did it differently after but that was my first and true play through taking the choices as they come and thinking them through. So my take on this differs from the guy who wrote it....great, ill be quiet now :P


At first I overlooked that part of David's post but yeah, I also disagree that the warden who sides with Loghain is automatically selfish. My warden was absolutely crushed over the decision to let Loghain live because she knew it would break her relationship with Alistair for good. She knew it was a betrayal to Alistair but in her view it was the best for Ferelden.

Executing Loghain might cause political unrest and make the relationship of the wardens and the royalty difficult (I was definitely going to put Anora on the throne, with or without Alistair). Loghain was capable and the wardens needed new members desperately. For me it was a cold political decision.

My Dalish warden didn't even covet power (in fact she loathed the position she was in). She simply wanted to steer events towards the best possible outcome and that required sacrifices, including her own relationship with Alistair. So in my opinion and in my canon playthrough, the decision to spare Loghain was indeed a betrayal to Alistair but it was not a selfish act, far from it.


To me it was the separation of the right thing to do and the nice thing to do, the classic hero image spares Alistair, kills Loghain and dies fighting the Archdemon - but my Dalish Warden wasn't that (Yea, also Dalish...maybe you get put in a certain mindset when you go Dalish :D)

My Warden throughout the game and expansion did somethings that were pretty evil but felt like the right thing to do - like keeping the Golems, killing a child or working with the architect, I justified it all in my mind, but part of me thinks if my warden had failed in his fight with Loghain...he would be known as the same sort evil villain Loghain went down as. 

Modifié par Nashimura, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:31 .


#194
Riverdaleswhiteflash

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David Gaider wrote...

Riverdaleswhiteflash wrote...
Alistair's not the only other Warden in the room. There's also Riordan, and he argues that Loghain can be of use. He's also the most experienced Warden in the room: in fact a Warden who was inclined to side with Alistair might decide that he trumps both of them.


Ah, yes. I forgot about Riordan. So ignore that part, then-- it doesn't change my point.

I imagine there are few people who like to think that their hero is ever selfish... or, indeed, consider that they as a player might have selfish desires to just want the story to go their way (cue the people who translate Anora not being pliable into her also being a heinous cow). That's not "bad" per se, but it is indeed selfish.

But whatever. There's certainly no shortage of selfish players who try to place blame for hardships everywhere but themselves. I'm okay with that, personally speaking. More delicious angst that way.


Oh no, I fully admit that I play as a selfish character with alarming frequency. My favorite Neverwinter Nights character is a blackguard, and if at any point you let us take over Thedas I'll do at least one playthrough like that. I'm just saying that a selfless character could decide to keep Loghain alive.

I'm not saying that selfless character has to save him or anything like that, since an equally selfless character could decide Loghain's too much of a risk to have near the Warden while he/she sleeps, considering just what the Warden has accomplished. (Just because nobody yet knows that Wardens are neccesary doesn't mean the Warden isn't objectively valuable.) I'm just saying that a selfless character could spare Loghain.

Modifié par Riverdaleswhiteflash, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:37 .


#195
Monica21

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David Gaider wrote...

Riverdaleswhiteflash wrote...
Alistair's not the only other Warden in the room. There's also Riordan, and he argues that Loghain can be of use. He's also the most experienced Warden in the room: in fact a Warden who was inclined to side with Alistair might decide that he trumps both of them.


Ah, yes. I forgot about Riordan. So ignore that part, then-- it doesn't change my point.

I imagine there are few people who like to think that their hero is ever selfish... or, indeed, consider that they as a player might have selfish desires to just want the story to go their way (cue the people who translate Anora not being pliable into her also being a heinous cow). That's not "bad" per se, but it is indeed selfish.

But whatever. There's certainly no shortage of selfish players who try to place blame for hardships everywhere but themselves. I'm okay with that, personally speaking. More delicious angst that way.

That completely changes your point. If your original assumption is that you are making all these decisions with no input from anyone with any knowledge, then you can't disregard that Riordan is that knowledge. Therefore, your decision is not selfish, regardless of how you feel about Alistair. Your decision is based on what a senior Warden is telling you is the best course of action.

#196
Masha Potato

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plnero wrote...

On a serious note I can't bring myself to let Logain live. I did the Human Noble origin first so the way I look at it, it would be like having Alistar trying to convince me not to kill Arl Howe. Arl Howe killed my mother and father and there's no way I'm letting him live after that, good reason or not. Duncan was Alistars father figure; how am I supposed to tell him to let it go when I couldn't let what Howe did go? 


There's nothing to gain by letting Howe live though. If Riordan popped up with a bottle of darkspawn blood and offered to make him a wardie it would be absolutely different

Modifié par Masha Potato, 27 octobre 2012 - 08:33 .


#197
Teddie Sage

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On that, we can agree, Masha.

#198
David Gaider

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Monica21 wrote...
That completely changes your point. If your original assumption is that you are making all these decisions with no input from anyone with any knowledge, then you can't disregard that Riordan is that knowledge. Therefore, your decision is not selfish, regardless of how you feel about Alistair. Your decision is based on what a senior Warden is telling you is the best course of action.


And you picked him over the man you said you loved, and who trusted you. And that doesn't constitute a betrayal on your part whatsoever. Yes, got it.

#199
Masha Potato

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BUT WHAT IF WE DON'T LOVE HIM

#200
Persephone

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David Gaider wrote...

Monica21 wrote...
Well, your first paragraph was about Alistair's perspective of Loghain (which is fine and one that I and nearly every character I RP disagree with) and your last presumes selfishness on the part of the Warden and player. Selfish how?


Selfish in that you believe your opinion is more important than Alistair's. You may believe what you're doing is for the greater good, but from Alistair's perspective you're allowing Loghain a chance at redemption which Alistair doesn't think he deserves. Alistair believes that sacrificing your life to save Ferelden is a noble deed, and that the Wardens don't need Loghain-- the very man who killed all the other Wardens and put you in this position--to do that.

So, you disagree. Alistair refuses to let it end with that, and you override him-- it's going to be what you think and his feelings are irrelevant. Is his response selfish? Even childish? That can be argued, sure, but if you believe your own actions aren't also selfish then I think you're deluding yourself. You made that determination all on your own-- you. Ignoring the wishes of the only other Grey Warden in the room, a man who is supposedly not only your friend and equal but also a man who loves you and trusts you... and assumed you trusted him. Who assumed you felt as he did, and that you agreed with him back when he said "Loghain has to die for what he's done". You may still believe you were right-- the story is written to allow you to think that, and has no clear-cut way out where everybody is made happy-- but believing you were the only arbiter to decide that is indeed selfish of you.

Don't like the word 'selfish'? How about 'arrogant'? How about 'self-righteous'? These are not mutually exclusive of people who are heroes or who might also have noble goals. If anything, Loghain is a prime example of someone who can go to their grave thinking they did the right thing even though others readily disagree. Someone can respond to that and go "nope, nope, my Warden was in the right and Alistair was a jerk to disagree with me!" ...and okay! Good for you. I'll still write in my journal about how Alistair clearly wasn't the only jerk in the room. ;)


*Takes a deep breath*

Alright....

1) My Warden believed that Ferelden's welfare, not her opinion, was more important than her own OR Alistair's.

2) He doesn't know of the sacrifice required at that point.

3) Loghain did not kill the Wardens. The Wardens were casualities of war. Who died due to poor warfare applied by Cailan when he not only ordered a full frontal assault but also gave up the very advantageous bottleneck position his army had. (One need only remember the 300 Spartans to know how much advantage such a position holds) They also died because they were on the front lines and the horde was MUCH larger than expected. Your very own DLC, Return To Ostagar, confirms that Cailan himself knew Ostagar to be a lost cause.

4) Alistair's feelings were not irrelevant to my Warden. She loved him entirely. Yet she will not kill someone to spare his feelings. To kill a man in front of his daughter? As a Cousland, she knows what it's like to watch her father die. She would not inflict that agony on anyone. Frankly, the scene of the execution sickens me to the core.

5)  Back when? He only says "Kill him already!" if you refuse to do so. Never before.

6) No matter how and when he dies in DAO (IF he does), he strikes me as deeply regretful. "Please, I have done...so much wrong. Allow me to do one last thing right."

7) Why must it be either that or such an arrogant reaction? My Warden felt highly conflicted and saddened over it. I wouldn't call her a jerk. It's always harder to save a life rather than take one for vengeance's sake.

8) Call her a jerk all you like but isn't there room for compassion and understanding on both sides?
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