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Why is Cullen considered "fan service?"


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#576
daveliam

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Considering if one doesn't play Amell/Surana, and that Cullen can be easily forgotten, I don't believe in is "importance"

Yeah, in the end of DA2 he realised Meredith went crazy. But so could any other templar character. There is nothing truly unique about Cullen, really. Nether in looks or peronality

 

Your arguments make little logical sense.

 

Because you think Cullen "can be easily forgotten", you think this also means that he's unimportant.  Obviously, he's not that easily forgotten because people who like him and people who don't like him both can't forget him, including you.

 

Also, "so could any other templar character" is a terrible argument.  "Any other templar character" didn't play his role in DA 2.  He did.  By your logic, no character is "important".  Morrigan?  Any other witch could have played her role.  Alistair?  Any other Grey Warden could have played his role.  Isabela?  Any other pirate could have played her role.  That's a terrible argument.

 

Your "nothing about his looks or personality is unique" is also bogus.  Merrill?  Not unique.  There are other dark haired elves and other blood mages.  Leliana?  Not unique.  Other female characters have her hair style. 

 

It's silly the lengths that people go to in order to convince themselves that a character that they don't like "isn't important".  Just say you don't like him and move on.  Don't try to justify it, because that doesn't matter anyway.  It's subjective.  Own it.  I really dislike Sebastian.  I find him irritating and pompous and preachy.  I don't think that this makes him less "important" than other characters though.  It's just my opinion and I own that.


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#577
Andraste_Reborn

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As someone who is completely indifferent to Cullen ... why not bring him back? If BioWare want someone who was at both the Circle Tower in DAO and in Kirkwall, why not him? What makes people think that Fred The Imaginary Random Templar We Never Met would somehow be a better character?

 

Some fans are clearly interested in having Cullen back, he provides a Templar (or ex-Templar) perspective on events, and he saw DA2 from a very different angle to Varric. Those seems like three good reasons to put him in the game.


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#578
Panda

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How he changes he is same in both games.

 

"Mages cannot be treated like people. They are not like you and me. They are weapons. They have the power to light a city on fire in a fit of pique." (To Hawke, Enemies Among Us, Act I)

 

He only go against Meredith last moment then she having mental outbreak. Well who wouldn't, no mater how loyal you are I doubt any temlar would help.

 

If you want to know, in DAO he starts as person who thinks mages are treated too harsly and wants to protect them. He's naive but goodwilled. After Broken Circle he starts seeing mages as dangerous, they can't be his friends. That is view he has in the beginning of DA2 as well. There is some change during the game, if you side with templars you see that he doesn't want to annul the circle (he says it couple times) and if Hawke asks his opinion in saving couple surrending mages he says they should be allowed to surrender and when Meredith asks what if they are blood mages Cullen says they have to take that risks and watch them carefully, they might be innocent so they shouldn't be killed. in DAO's Broken Circle he says that every mage who might be blood mage in the circle has to be killed cause they can't take risk. So this is character deveploment. Also he starts question Meredith during the game and seems to be struggling with his duty, morals and possible PSTD.

 

I think he has lot of potential of character deveploment for the DAI as well ^^ Personally I loved him to see faults of templars and choosing his own morals over his duty, maybe similar what Evangeline did in the Asunder :)


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#579
LilyasAvalon

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MIKE DROP.



#580
robertthebard

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With an attempt to remain unflamey, in Origins, he wasn't all that important, other than being a Templar that needed rescuing if you didn't play mage.  They could have just as easily slapped any Templar, or any mage for that matter, in the force field and it would have had the same outcome.

 

In DA2, he's second in command of the Templars in Kirkwall, and yet, he wants to condemn another Templar for going through something very similar to what he went through?  Does that mean that they waited 10 years to promote him?  Based on the timing, no.  Since he's already there in Act 1.  It wouldn't have been possible.  He has something like relevance in DA 2, but now he's going to be our military advisor?  Based on what, exactly?  The fact that he's evidently deserted his post in Kirkwall?  Note:  A lot of that is going to depend on how he's introduced in this installment, so conjecture only for the desertion statement.  However, he was far from a shining example of military leadership in ][ all things considered.

 

So yeah, I see him as fanservice, but, then again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, it is what it is.  I'm going to wait and see how he's introduced before I say "good" or "bad", because frankly, I have no idea how long after the events of Kirkwall, or the animated movie, this installment is set.



#581
Parkimus

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I don't really like Cullen, but I can see why he has the role he does in the series. And if many people have expressed a liking for the character, all the more reason to include him. Personally, I think a hallmark of a good character (in addition to being complex /or relatable) is that they make you feel something, happiness (you like him) and hate (you don't like him) included. Just my opinion.



#582
CavalierToast

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Not this again :pinched:
 
If it is tagged #Cullen it is on-topic <period>

Otherwise most of the posts here would be off-topic.

#583
archav3n

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Including a character just for fan service is bad. I don't hate Cullen but i don't think it's fair that he is wasting one potential character slot that i may not play or forced to play (depending on my party composition). By fan service theory, should ME4 bring back Shepard as the main PC if millions of players approve? I don't buy that theory.



#584
AkiKishi

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Including a character just for fan service is bad. I don't hate Cullen but i don't think it's fair that he is wasting one potential character slot that i may not play or forced to play (depending on my party composition). By fan service theory, should ME4 bring back Shepard as the main PC if millions of players approve? I don't buy that theory.

 

He's not a party member but he is an advisor. 



#585
Caja

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Personally... while I had hardly even noticed Cullen in the first two games... I really don't mind this, if it's true. So what if he's popular and has hence secured a spot in the game. Pffft. Bring it on. 

 

I don't see any threads complaining about Morrigan's involvement in DAI, though she is clearly a "fan favorite" as well. 

 

Exactly. Honestly, I don't get it why people have such a polarized view of this character. Morrigan and Leliana will be in DA:I, too, but people are not complaining about them. For some reason Cullen really seems to hit a nerve.

 

And I am probably the only one who has a different definition of "fan service". For me fan service is something that is added to please the fans but that isn't in any way story related. For instance, if you play a mage in DA2 Hawke's mother mentions the warden and the Amell family at one point. I would consider this to be fan service since only an "insider" (i.e. someone who played the previous game) understands this reference. Otherwise it serves no deeper purpose.   

 

While I am personally very happy about the fact that Cullen will be in DA:I, I don't understand why people won't stop complaining about him. If he is part of the story it is justified that he is there. The same is true for Morrigan and Leliana. If you don't like him, avoid him. I was never a fan of the Qunari but I know that the race is very popular with a lot of people. So what? Despite my dislike for the race I will see how Iron Bull turns out. If I don't like him, I'll avoid him. Period.

 

That being said, I find it amazing that this tthread pops up again and again since January. Cullen must do something right ;).


Modifié par Caja, 07 juin 2014 - 07:28 .

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#586
Zerc

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He's not a party member but he is an advisor. 

Advisor? Great, I'd just love to hear advice from a man who's judgment is always based on fear.



#587
AkiKishi

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Advisor? Great, I'd just love to hear advice from a man who's judgment is always based on fear.

 

I can't figure out what makes him qualified for that role either. But that's why he's a fan service character after all. 



#588
Zerc

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I can't figure out what makes him qualified for that role either. But that's why he's a fan service character after all. 

I'm starting to suspect that Stephenie Meyer might be the character writer behind Cullen.



#589
Mirrman70

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well as far as a military adviser is concerned, he does have experience leading as a Knight-Captain of the Templars. Cassandra and Blackwall might have military experience as well but both the Seekers and Wardens are more special forces whereas the Templars might behave like a  more standard army. but I don't think he's a cut and paste Military advisor either. mayhaps also a representative of the more sane templars as well?



#590
daveliam

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I can't figure out what makes him qualified for that role either. But that's why he's a fan service character after all. 

Yes, it clearly must be fanservice.  Especially based on your first hand knowledge of his role in the story.  That's clearly the only possible explanation...... :rolleyes:


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#591
Zerc

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Yes, it clearly must be fanservice.  Especially based on your first hand knowledge of his role in the story.  That's clearly the only possible explanation...... :rolleyes:

Well, they sure as hell need to pull some good character development out their ass for DA:I. Going by his past "accomplishments" there isn't anything to justify giving him a spot as a military advisor. Being in the army myself I know we prefer to have ppl who are mentally stable, just saying.



#592
daveliam

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Well, they sure as hell need to pull some good character development out their ass for DA:I. Going by his past "accomplishments" there isn't anything to justify giving him a spot as a military advisor. Being in the army myself I know we prefer to have ppl who are mentally stable, just saying.

 

We don't even know that he's the military advisor (that's speculation) let alone the reasons why he might or might not have that role. 



#593
Zerc

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We don't even know that he's the military advisor (that's speculation) let alone the reasons why he might or might not have that role. 

Speculation, yeah no ****. I thought speculations were the whole premise of this discussion.



#594
daveliam

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Speculation, yeah no ****. I thought speculations were the whole premise of this discussion.

 

So you are getting all worked over speculation?  Just checking.....



#595
dutch_gamer

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Exactly. Honestly, I don't get it why people have such a polarized view of this character. Morrigan and Leliana will be in DA:I, too, but people are not complaining about them. For some reason Cullen really seems to hit a nerve.

Maybe I can answer it from my own point of view. Until I joined this forum I had no clue who Cullen was. I have never played the mage origin story and I usually don't remember the names of NPCs, outside of actual companions. However, on this forum there is a very vocal following for Cullen to the point that particular character has a thread which is close to, or already has even overtaken the amount of posts of the Twitter thread. I just don't quite understand why he is so loved for what in my impression of playing both games was a character I didn't even remember. I can honestly say I have never seen any character get this much attention from fans, not even old companions. Again, that is just an impression I got by joining this forum and it is an impression I still have.

 

Another problem, which is really my own fault, is that as soon as what I see as an unmemorable character gets so much following it somewhat turns me off from a character. It seems to me there are more who end up feeling this way, hence the anti-Cullen posts. I do believe that if you don't like a particular character you should at least stay respectful. I hope I haven't hurt anyone with this post because that is not my intent. I am trying to do my best to at least give my view on the why.

 

I also have to note that with Morrigan and Leleina it is different. Both characters were companions and thus more memorable, at least to me. I would likely feel the same way about any other non-companion making a return in a hugely important role, be it as a companion or adviser.



#596
Zerc

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So you are getting all worked over speculation?  Just checking.....

That goes both ways. Just saying.....



#597
Guest_Fandango_*

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I don't know what's more ridiculous: that some people loooooove an incidental NPC so very much or that some people hate that other people loooooove an incidental NPC so very much!
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#598
daveliam

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That goes both ways. Just saying.....

 

Except that I'm getting worked up at the outright demands of people in this thread that Bioware "sure as hell need to pull some good character development out their ass for DA:I" because a character who was already involved in essential plot lines as a military based NPC in both of the other games is rumored to be a military advisor for the third game. 

 

I'm not even a Cullen fan, per se.  He's fine.  I don't love him or hate him.  Would he be my pick for the rumored military advisor role?  Probably not.  However, the Cullen hatred is ridiculous to me because:  1.)  it's a game with fictional characters so they can write in whatever justification they want; and 2.) if he's such an unimportant character, then just ignore him. 

 

What is the point of another anti-Cullen post in another anti-Cullen thread?  Is it going to change DA: I?  No.  So let's wait to see what his role actually is and how it's implemented before we get all worked up about his speculated involvement.  That's my point. 


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#599
robertthebard

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Except that I'm getting worked up at the outright demands of people in this thread that Bioware "sure as hell need to pull some good character development out their ass for DA:I" because a character who was already involved in essential plot lines as a military based NPC in both of the other games is rumored to be a military advisor for the third game. 
 
I'm not even a Cullen fan, per se.  He's fine.  I don't love him or hate him.  Would he be my pick for the rumored military advisor role?  Probably not.  However, the Cullen hatred is ridiculous to me because:  1.)  it's a game with fictional characters so they can write in whatever justification they want; and 2.) if he's such an unimportant character, then just ignore him. 
 
What is the point of another anti-Cullen post in another anti-Cullen thread?  Is it going to change DA: I?  No.  So let's wait to see what his role actually is and how it's implemented before we get all worked up about his speculated involvement.  That's my point.


Cullen's "involvement" in the Broken Circle could have been filled by any generic Templar, or even any generic mage. Unless, of course, you played a female Mage, then, he had a crush on you, but his role in the Broken Circle could have still been filled by any generic Templar or Mage. He was there, but inconsequential. He was slightly better in the second installment, but really, as you point out, my experience with him wouldn't really rate him as qualified to be a military advisor. As I said earlier though, and as you point out, I'm going to wait and see. Who knows, it could play out nicely. Stranger things have happened.

#600
The Elder King

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Well, they sure as hell need to pull some good character development out their ass for DA:I. Going by his past "accomplishments" there isn't anything to justify giving him a spot as a military advisor. Being in the army myself I know we prefer to have ppl who are mentally stable, just saying.


He shown signs of mental instability only in TBC quest (which I understand. We caught him in the middle of a long torture session). In DA2 he's stable, more or less. The slides show signs of insanity, Indeed, but they got retconnetted.