164 réponses à ce sujet

[kinderschlager]

cullens only purpose is to die in the darkspawn DLC IMO.

varric was just there to move the plot along

[nightscrawl]

Allan Schumacher wrote...

I like Varric because he makes me laugh and people that do that tend to be people I like

This probably applies to many people who like Varric, myself included. However, there is a darker side to Varric, which we shared briefly in DA2 concerning Bartrand, and also saw a bit of in the comics.

Heh, in a way he almost reminds me of Tyrion (A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones), if a bit less vulgar, who also uses his wit as a cloak, albeit for different reasons.


As for Cullen, I wouldn't be surprised if many of his fans, mainly female, had mage Wardens and really liked the Cullen crush thing. I personally found it really cute. My views about mages and templars are more in-line with Wynne's, whereas Anders seems to look at them like many people do at police: just a uniform to be hated and/or feared.

Another aspect that I find interesting about him is that, since they carried him from DAO to DA2, we get to see his character grow and have a bit more depth than he did originally, culminating in his final act in the DA2 Gallows. I agree that there are various arguments to be made about things he says and does in both games, but I do find the inclusion of the character to be fun.

Finally, I like the voice actor. He does numerous NPCs throughout DAO and DAA, including DAA Anders, and I think he "fits" with Cullen the best.

[JCAP]

I agree with OP when it comes to Cullen. I really can't understand why or how he got a fanbase.

But Varric... C'mon, he is awesome!

Modifié par JCAP, 24 novembre 2013 - 11:20 .

[Gear2nd]

I think one of the reasons so many fans like Varric is because, out of all the party members, Varric was more 'normal'. He never blasted his personal problems or thoughts in Hawke's ear 24/7, in a way he was kinda' like the Jacob of the group, abnormal enough to be tolerated and fun to boot.

I never got the deal with the Cullen fanbase either...to me he just comes off as a second Alistair/ reverse-Anders.

[Wulfram]

Varric is likable, but he takes the easy path to likability. He's upbeat, makes jokes and never really challenges the PC. The party would be pretty boring if it wasn't for the other characters doing things that might hurt their likeability.

Though of course he might have a different, more dramatic and challenging, role in DAI, and if so it'll be interesting to see how that'll turn out.

Cullen is a decent character, but I can't say I like him after his actions at the end of the game. He'll need to do some pretty heavy duty atonement to get past that in my eyes.

[Black Jimmy]

Allan Schumacher wrote...

I like Varric because he makes me laugh and people that do that tend to be people I like

This. Plus, unless you went out of your way to not get along with him, Varric was the only one who most definately had your back.

Cullen? I don't know. He'd make a fine companion I think as I can see him being a character we can push towards reevaluating his views or pushing him to the extreme in his mistrust of mages, but I don't think he's a "must have" companion and LI.

[Lord Raijin]

kinderschlager wrote...

cullens only purpose is to die in the darkspawn DLC IMO.

varric was just there to move the plot along

Got that right! Cullen is food for the Darkspawn.

[Hellion Rex]

Lord Raijin wrote...

kinderschlager wrote...

cullens only purpose is to die in the darkspawn DLC IMO.

varric was just there to move the plot along

Got that right! Cullen is food for the Darkspawn.

Heretic. Leave my poor Cullen alone!

[In Exile]

Wulfram wrote...

Varric is likable, but he takes the easy path to likability. He's upbeat, makes jokes and never really challenges the PC. The party would be pretty boring if it wasn't for the other characters doing things that might hurt their likeability.  

I don't really understand where you're going with this. I mean, I get that characters who are entirely likeable are boring in the sense that there's no drama around then, but I don't understand how the idea that there's a lot of drama around a character could make them likeable. 

Could you give me an example? 

[sandalisthemaker]

Why are you so bent out of shape OP?

[Wulfram]

In Exile wrote...

I don't really understand where you're going with this. I mean, I get that characters who are entirely likeable are boring in the sense that there's no drama around then, but I don't understand how the idea that there's a lot of drama around a character could make them likeable.

Could you give me an example? 

That wasn't what I was trying to say.  Not sure I can come up with a usefully illustrative example, though I think Garrus is somewhat similar.

What I mean is that Varric is so universally popular in part because he doesn't do much of all those things that might alienate people - like taking dramatic action out of the players control, or criticising the player's choices, or showing much in the way of personal weakness.  But it's people doing things like that that results in an interesting story.  So he's effectively leaving the other characters to do the heavy lifting.

If, say, Fenris wasn't a character and Varric had to take some more of the duties as being a mage freedom sceptic (which he is, just slightly), or maybe if Isabela wasn't there and he was the guy who'd "acquired" the relic and led to the Qunari being in Kirkwall, then I think he'd lose a chunk of his popularity.  But I think it was valuable to the story that there were characters who played those roles.

Or maybe I'm just talking rubbish because I'm jealous of the popularity of his chest hair.

[MissCurlsbel]

I like Varric, he's a funny guy to have around. Having a light hearted character when you are surrounded by people suffering from depression can be a great life line.
His humor relief was indispensable to DA2 imo!

As for Cullen... ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯

He seems to be a good guy with strong beliefs who appears reasonable enough and open to change in spite of all he's been through. Can't say much beyond that, his character hasn't been THAT developed in the games to fully formulate an opinion about him.

[Magehand2278]

Oh cullen is kinda cute i guess as far as a game character goes but, I don't get it I honestly barely remember him I read all seven pages of comments and probably around page 4 or five i remembered who he was, didn't he have like 5 lines of dialogue maybe less wow... I don't get that one either

As for varric, I think his popularity comes mainly the fact he was the only character people could and would like. Everyone else was one dimensional and not in a good way I can't say any character from DA 2 that I really liked to want them back if one character has to come back maybe justice but he and andres are a package deal... so I don't know

[Magehand2278]

Oh as for the OP, I feel sorry for him or her, all that unnecessary hate was uncalled for but at the same time he should not have continued it for so long but dude... keep posting i love your post you got a new fan

[In Exile]

Wulfram wrote...
That wasn't what I was trying to say.  Not sure I can come up with a usefully illustrative example, though I think Garrus is somewhat similar.

I think I get what you mean now - though Garrus also had that extra layer of actual hero worship for Shepard which Varric does have - quite as much, anyway- for Hawke.

What I mean is that Varric is so universally popular in part because he doesn't do much of all those things that might alienate people - like taking dramatic action out of the players control, or criticising the player's choices, or showing much in the way of personal weakness.  But it's people doing things like that that results in an interesting story.  So he's effectively leaving the other characters to do the heavy lifting.

Right. I agree with you in general - that we need characters like that - I'm just not sure games ever really manage to do a good job having those characters in your party. Because it gets to the point - quite quickly - where actual collaboration doesn't make very much sense. Unless you have a plot like DA:O where it's existential anihilation or working toghether, but then I think that just makes the whole main plot somewhat dull. 

If, say, Fenris wasn't a character and Varric had to take some more of the duties as being a mage freedom sceptic (which he is, just slightly), or maybe if Isabela wasn't there and he was the guy who'd "acquired" the relic and led to the Qunari being in Kirkwall, then I think he'd lose a chunk of his popularity.  But I think it was valuable to the story that there were characters who played those roles.

I think comparing Varric and Hawke on paper is actually really interest - especially if we look at (mostly) sarcastic Hawke. Their actual stories are not very different (for the duration of DA2). Get rich quick scheme with the Deep Roads expedition, running around and getting into all sorts of adventures, completely and totally ignoring all serious political and social problems that plague Kirkwall... but Hawke in that case gets the hate because Hawke can't - and doesn't have the option - to try and fix anything. 

I very much think Varric could be criticized for not caring about Kirkwall's troubles, despite the fact that he clearly could make a difference with all of his power, connections and wealth, but no player actually expects an NPC to do that and he gets a pass.