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[Jedimaster88]

I noticed some time ago in dragon age wiki some interesting topics about Ostagar and the blight. They were something about, what the player would do if they were the warden/Cailan.

There may have been similar discussions here already but I would still like to start this one out of curiosity.

What would YOU do if you were Cailan during Ostagar and the whole Blight actually? I will try to make this not too long and these are just my thoughts.

Ostagar.

I would demand Duncan to tell me and Loghain exactly why the wardens are needed with the condition of course that the information will stay between the three of us. This way there will be no doubts.

Wouldnt try to play hero and be on the front lines and would listen to Loghain and other people who know more about these things than I.

Get more mages to the battle but not all of them. Maybe ask some of the Orlesian wardens but not all them for now.

Leave some of the wardens in denerim just in case.

Give the men some great epic:D speech about defending their loved ones and all the things they personally value.

During the battle I would observe it somewhere near Loghain with my elite soldiers in case the worst happens and we have to retreat.


After Ostagar.

After the horrible battle I would rally the nobility with Anora to unite against the darkspawn. Maybe it would be good to recruit new volunteers as well to the army. I would even accept elves. Loghain would lead the army and Duncan/ the new warden commander would lead the wardens.

While Loghain is battling the darkspawn with the wardens, I would send the warden and Alistair along with some companions to get aid from the dwarves and the dalish using their treaties. The circle would be requested to send the rest of their capable mages and some templars.

In the meantime I would rule with Anora as best as I can to make sure Ferelden holds together. I would send messages to other nations about the blight. They could prepare for it and maybe they would send aid as well. I would propably even accept help from Orlais but would do so on MY terms. Like it or not, Orlais is and will be our neighbour so it might be wise to build better relations with them.

Hopefully we will eventually stand united and end the blight.



Thats about it. I base some of the decisions to the assumption that Ostagar ended the same and that the warden and Alistair survived. There are very likely details that I didnt thought of.

[Riverdaleswhiteflash]

You forgot the part about designating an heir in the event of a disaster.

[Lord of War]

It's always easy to do the best thing with foresight.

[Riverdaleswhiteflash]

Designating an heir in the event of a disaster is a good idea in any circumstances.

[TEWR]

I would demand Duncan to tell me and Loghain exactly why the wardens are needed with the condition of course that the information will stay between the three of us. This way there will be no doubts

I'd do this as well.

Wouldnt try to play hero and be on the front lines and would listen to Loghain and other people who know more about these things than I.

If I was Cailan I actually would've studied warfare, strategy, and all that other stuff so I could actually take part in these discussions while also listening to Loghain. And abandoned the whole "Glory for me!" nonsense.

Get more mages to the battle but not all of them

I'd do this as well, telling the Chantry that Blight or no the Mages and Templars should be used to end the threat as soon as possible.

I'd have the majority of the Circle's Harrowed Mages join the battle, but I'd leave the apprentices and a fair amount of teachers back there.

However, the presence of Mages and Templars would dictate a different battle plan then the Hammer&Anvil strategy Loghain proposed in-game, so as to maximize their potential ability.

Also, I'd fortify the valley more. And tell Eamon's forces to hurry the hell up.

Leave some of the wardens in denerim just in case.

Give the men some great epic speech about defending their loved ones and all the things they personally value.

During the battle I would observe it somewhere near Loghain with my elite soldiers in case the worst happens and we have to retreat.

I'd do all of this as well.

After Ostagar.

I'd do all of that as well, assuming Ostagar would've failed regardless of whatever strategy was proposed.

Riverdaleswhiteflash wrote...

You forgot the part about designating an heir in the event of a disaster.

Definitely do that. I'd name Alistair the one to take the throne should I die, since he's the only other known Theirin -- though how known Alistair is only applies to Duncan, Eamon, Goldanna, Loghain, Teagan, Maric, Cailan, and Anora. And people Alistair confides in.

But all of those people have enough influence to sway the other nobles -- save for Maric, since he's missing.

EDIT: Realizing I threw in Goldanna at the last moment, I should make note of the obvious that she doesn't have influence to sway people. But she can corroborate the story if there's still anyone that doubts it. How well a commoner's testimony would work is a bit unknown.

Modifié par The Ethereal Writer Redux, 28 décembre 2012 - 11:12 .

[gneisenau556]

I'd probably tell Loghain I'd ask the Orlesians for help, but than trust him when he angrily responds that it won't be necessary.

Sensing that Loghain doesn't like the Wardens I'd try to ask Duncan if he can reconcile with Loghain.

Though since I would probably stay at Denerim, and assuming Loghain still pulls out, I'd probably end up believing what he said about the Wardens being traitors.

Then Alistar and the Warden manage to call a landsmeet, expose whatever Loghain does, win the Landsmeet and off Loghain and my head.

[Jedimaster88]

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...


Definitely do that. I'd name Alistair the one to take the throne should I die, since he's the only other known Theirin -- though how known Alistair is only applies to Duncan, Eamon, Goldanna, Loghain, Teagan, Maric, Cailan, and Anora. And people Alistair confides in.

But all of those people have enough influence to sway the other nobles -- save for Maric, since he's missing.

I would propably do the same with the heir issue. Really what other choice there is?

[TEWR]

Riverdaleswhiteflash wrote...

You forgot the part about designating an heir in the event of a disaster.

Jedimaster88 wrote...

I would propably do the same with the heir issue. Really what other choice there is?

I'm replaying DAO, and I think Cailan was considering this during Ostagar. We know through Anora that Cailan told her about Alistair -- indicating he was aware of his lineage and wanted to keep tabs on Alistair -- and he'll suggest that Alistair go to the tower.

If the Warden says "I can do it myself if it's not dangerous", Cailan will say "No, it's best that you both go".

I think he didn't want Alistair to risk his life in case he (Cailan) fell in battle. And in RtO, we find out from Cailan's honorguard that for all of his bravado he knew Ostagar would be a flop.

So there's some measure of wisdom in that idiotic brain of his, but not enough. His going through with a battle he knew would be a flop is still idiotic, but at least he had enough foresight to keep Alistair out of the battle.

Now that said, the Darkspawn probably still would've charged had Cailan decided to wait. But then this would lead to a Helm's Deep scenario. It might've even resulted in the bulk of the army and the Wardens -- along with the King -- realizing that they can't win and abandoning the fortress.

Who can say?

Modifié par The Ethereal Writer Redux, 03 janvier 2013 - 08:52 .

[Jedimaster88]

The Ethereal Writer Redux wrote...

I'm replaying DAO, and I think Cailan was considering this during Ostagar. We know through Anora that Cailan told her about Alistair -- indicating he was aware of his lineage and wanted to keep tabs on Alistair -- and he'll suggest that Alistair go to the tower.

If the Warden says "I can do it myself if it's not dangerous", Cailan will say "No, it's best that you both go".

I think he didn't want Alistair to risk his life in case he (Cailan) fell in battle. And in RtO, we find out from Cailan's honorguard that for all of his bravado he knew Ostagar would be a flop.

So there's some measure of wisdom in that idiotic brain of his, but not enough. His going through with a battle he knew would be a flop is still idiotic, but at least he had enough foresight to keep Alistair out of the battle.

I remember some other people speculating about this also. They wondered that perhaps Cailan DID prepare for the worst and was smarter than everyone thought.

As for his desire to fight. I´ve been wondering this sometimes like many other things. He wanted glory, sure, but is it possible he had other reasons also.

Think about it. His father is Maric, the man who is considered to be larger than life, a great king who drove the orlesians away, who fought together with Loghain etc. I personally think those are quite big boots to fill. I dont know how many thought about Cailan as Howe did, but maybe part of his reasons to fight was to try to fill those massive boots and prove himself through battle. Maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I kind of respect him for fighting.  At least he wasnt a coward who only sits on his comfortable throne.

Modifié par Jedimaster88, 03 janvier 2013 - 11:05 .

[TEWR]

Maybe not the smartest thing to do, but I kind of respect him for fighting

I've always given him props for smirking at the Ogre that's about to crush him. He's just smiling at the thing when he knows he's ****ed.

That takes some massive balls, to just smile at it when it's about ready to crush your spine into your spleen. He wasn't a good king administratively or even a proper warrior because he found strategy boring -- and would ruin strategies proposed to him -- but damn at least he went out like a champ. And he was certainly a good king in the sense of getting popular support, so there's that.

Just couldn't get the particular support.

As for wanting to prove himself? It's possible. And I'd say that goes along with his glory-hounding. They're not mutually exclusive ideas. They actually are ideas that go together. By getting glory for himself, he's proving himself.

Modifié par The Ethereal Writer Redux, 03 janvier 2013 - 01:29 .

[Wulfram]

Come up with a plan that doesn't leave my forces seperated and only able to communicate via the lighting of a beacon. And which allows those forces to support each other in the event of a withdrawal.

As for Cailan's desire for glory, I think it needs to be seen in terms of his desire to free himself from Loghain's tutelage and pursue his own policies. A reputation as the heroic savior of the nation would be in more of a position to stand up against the Hero of River Dane in the clash, which both men knew was coming.

Leading from the front is, in any case, fairly normal for Ancient and Medieval commanders. Command and control from a greater distance is not really possible, the morale advantage can be considerable, and the respect you win will enhance your ability to command troops in the future.

I don't think Anora's status as heir was in doubt. Naming Alistair as heir might in fact have caused more trouble than the alternative, in ordinary circumstances.