Well, there is the lyrium issue. That's a fairly significant complication.
But even that is a simplification of his character. They took all his layers from the previous games and resolved them (off screen, of course), and then turned his issue into the standard-issue templar one.
/ends soapbox before it gets out of hand
I understand. Trust me, there have been characters where I've felt the same... (glares in the vague direction of DC comics).
On a completely different note, I've never been able to find a conversation dealing with Cullen's belief or lack thereof in the Herald. Does he believe the IQ was sent by the Maker or not. I mean his original reaction of "Quite the title..." makes me wonder how much he actually buys and how much he sees that the Herald is useful from a propaganda standpoint.
Yeah, sadly, they never did. We speculated so much about this once upon a time, but this will just remain headcanon in how you interpret his "quite the title..." almost-flirting.
Yeah, sadly, they never did. We speculated so much about this once upon a time, but this will just remain headcanon in how you interpret his "quite the title..." almost-flirting.
On a completely different note, I've never been able to find a conversation dealing with Cullen's belief or lack thereof in the Herald. Does he believe the IQ was sent by the Maker or not. I mean his original reaction of "Quite the title..." makes me wonder how much he actually buys and how much he sees that the Herald is useful from a propaganda standpoint.
I... am pretty sure there is a conversation where you can sort of ask Cullen what he thinks of the Herald business, and he says something very similar to Cassandra, along the lines of, he doesn't believe you're actually sent by Andraste or anything, but you're what the Inquisition needs right now. I have no idea which conversation is that, though, I'd have to go through either all my screencaps or all of his dialogue wheel again when I get the chance. But I do remember asking the same thing with Ari (who didn't acknowlege the title) and Rhia (who did believe in the Herald stuff), and getting slightly different answers from Cullen (Ari's was more candid since she didn't believe either, and Rhia's was softer, honest but sort of dancing around it to not offend her own beliefs). I can't have... hallucinated this same conversation twice, can I? 
I... am pretty sure there is a conversation where you can sort of ask Cullen what he thinks of the Herald business, and he says something very similar to Cassandra, along the lines of, he doesn't believe you're actually sent by Andraste or anything, but you're what the Inquisition needs right now. I have no idea which conversation is that, though, I'd have to go through either all my screencaps or all of his dialogue wheel again when I get the chance. But I do remember asking the same thing with Ari (who didn't acknowlege the title) and Rhia (who did believe in the Herald stuff), and getting slightly different answers from Cullen (Ari's was more candid since she didn't believe either, and Rhia's was softer, honest but sort of dancing around it to not offend her own beliefs). I can't have... hallucinated this same conversation twice, can I?
I thought one of the first conversations you have with him at his office - is Cullen asking the Inquisitor what she thinks. Asking whether or not she believes if she is in fact the Herald. And then doesn't he respond that he'll go along with whichever? And then with what you said riverbanks- that regardless, the Inquisition needs [her] you. I don't remember it that well though, but I'm pretty sure it was left vague on purpose, no? Because his wrong answer could conflict with the player's romance headcanon?
I know I kind of disappeared for a while, but I still more or less follow the thread still. Just haven't had much to say lately lol.
I thought one of the first conversations you have with him at his office - is Cullen asking the Inquisitor what she thinks. Asking whether or not she believes if she is in fact the Herald.
Yes, that's probably it! I really don't remember the exact context, but I know I talked to him about that stuff at... some point. 
But you're right, that's probably the conversation I'm thinking of, which also explains the slightly different responses he gives. I do remember Cullen answering differently depending on whether you believe yourself to be the Herald or not, but it's one of those places when Greg just emphasizes different words or registers a more placid or candid tone, the words themselves weren't that different. The gist of both answers anyway was that the Cullen himself doesn't believe you're Maker-blessed, he just knows that you're the wheel that's keeping the Inquisition turning, and that's good enough for him.
I've played so many playthroughs and only once, in Haven, has he mentioned the Herald thing and that was the "That's quite the title isn't it, how do you feel about that" conversation in the war room. Depending on answer he never mentions himself or his thoughts, just "I'm certain the Chantry will agree" if you say it's unnerving or that you're not. I can't remember the other two, I know one option he doesn't have a reply for at all, I think another option Josephine replies instead? Nowhere do I remember in his dialogue that he actually says what he thinks, I'm quite sure that's the only time it's brought up with him directly. Though he does say to Roderick the line (depending on dialogue chosen) "yet you're more then happy to sweep the Herald of Andraste under a carpet", well first few words there are a guess, I remember the sweep under a carpet part because I keep saying out loud "rug, it's sweep me under a rug!" at that line.
I don't think he believes it, but that's up to assumption since there isn't a fact there yet. But I do agree with some others here, he knows it's something that's keeping the Inquisition going, so he's not about to argue the case.
Yes I don't understand why you can say "let's be just friends" just AFTER giving him hopes by saying you have feelings for him. Poor Cullen. It would be better for everyone to never admit the feelings... Instead of "you know what? We could but.... We won't!!!"I know they have to leave that option in there for the sake of player agency, but YOU SURE ARE SENDING SOME MIXED MESSAGES, INQUISITOR!
https://www.youtube....h?v=tjSQ6A_2rOI
I've played so many playthroughs and only once, in Haven, has he mentioned the Herald thing and that was the "That's quite the title isn't it, how do you feel about that" conversation in the war room. Depending on answer he never mentions himself or his thoughts, just "I'm certain the Chantry will agree" if you say it's unnerving or that you're not. I can't remember the other two, I know one option he doesn't have a reply for at all, I think another option Josephine replies instead? Nowhere do I remember in his dialogue that he actually says what he thinks, I'm quite sure that's the only time it's brought up with him directly. Though he does say to Roderick the line (depending on dialogue chosen) "yet you're more then happy to sweep the Herald of Andraste under a carpet", well first few words there are a guess, I remember the sweep under a carpet part because I keep saying out loud "rug, it's sweep me under a rug!" at that line.
I don't think he believes it, but that's up to assumption since there isn't a fact there yet. But I do agree with some others here, he knows it's something that's keeping the Inquisition going, so he's not about to argue the case.
Sweep under the carpet is acceptable too 
or at least, here in the UK it's in both thesaurus' and common speech. I assume it's from the days before carpets were fitted, since in a modern context it'd be rather difficult to do!
Sweep under the carpet is acceptable too
I never said it wasn't acceptable! just I grew up with the phrase being swept under a rug, that's all so I like to.. what's the word, headcanon? that my Inquisitor "corrects" him with the phrase I grew up with,
Yes I don't understand why you can say "let's be just friends" just AFTER giving him hopes by saying you have feelings for him. Poor Cullen. It would be better for everyone to never admit the feelings... Instead of "you know what? We could but.... We won't!!!"
Maybe that Inquisitor found him to be a sloppy kisser. Sometimes that's all it takes to 86 a budding relationship.
Maybe that Inquisitor found him to be a sloppy kisser. Sometimes that's all it takes to 86 a budding relationship.
Maybe that Inquisitor found him to be a sloppy kisser. Sometimes that's all it takes to 86 a budding relationship.
Sadly irrelevant to that scene as they don't kiss at all if that particular dialogue option to not start a romance is chosen. It's not even a break up, just a "I like you" then zap frog time.. i mean "but nothing's going to happen and we'll stay friends"
Ninja'd 
that'll teach me to type slowly.
I've played so many playthroughs and only once, in Haven, has he mentioned the Herald thing and that was the "That's quite the title isn't it, how do you feel about that" conversation in the war room.
Same here - in all the many times I've played through the Cullen friendship/romance path, that's the only time I've seen it brought up between them, which disappointed me a little. Unless there's an additional conversation about it as a templar Inquisitor or if you put him back on lyrium, I think that's all we get. Head canon can do wonders, though.
Sorry to change the subject, but I was just wondering if anyone knows what the joke is that Cole tells to Sera, I think? The one where Cole says after that Cullen tells it better. I tried looking at Cole's conversations on the wiki but couldn't see it, though maybe I skimmed over it.
Oh my goodness guys. Today is my birthday and my friend drew me this. It's kind of NSFW.
Her URL is frankbower. They haven't posted it on their tumblr but please don't steal it lol.
Oh my goodness guys. Today is my birthday and my friend drew me this. It's kind of NSFW.
SpoilerHer URL is frankbower. They haven't posted it on their tumblr but please don't steal it lol.
D'aww, you have an awesome friend! Happy Birthday and thanks for sharing!
D'aww, you have an awesome friend! Happy Birthday and thanks for sharing!
Thank you and you're welcome lol. I'll tell her you said so!
Sorry to change the subject, but I was just wondering if anyone knows what the joke is that Cole tells to Sera, I think? The one where Cole says after that Cullen tells it better. I tried looking at Cole's conversations on the wiki but couldn't see it, though maybe I skimmed over it.
I thought one of the first conversations you have with him at his office - is Cullen asking the Inquisitor what she thinks. Asking whether or not she believes if she is in fact the Herald. And then doesn't he respond that he'll go along with whichever? And then with what you said riverbanks- that regardless, the Inquisition needs [her] you. I don't remember it that well though, but I'm pretty sure it was left vague on purpose, no? Because his wrong answer could conflict with the player's romance headcanon?
I know I kind of disappeared for a while, but I still more or less follow the thread still. Just haven't had much to say lately lol.
I've yet to run into this conversation, it's going to be interesting in my current playthrough. For some reason, the game seems to treat my Trevelyan as if she's a believer, when I have repeatedly had her give the non-commital answers to the question of whether she's the Herald?
The only things that might have tipped the scales was that I had Trevelyan quote an appropriate verse from the Chant during the initial Herald convo, as well as stating a belief in a Maker when talking to Cass in Haven... which honestly, seems like it would be the sort of things that any Andrastian would say in that situation, not someone who believed themselves to be sent by the big kahuna himself?
The only things that might have tipped the scales was that I had Trevelyan quote an appropriate verse from the Chant during the initial Herald convo, as well as stating a belief in a Maker when talking to Cass in Haven...
Yeah, this is the one. The early Chant quote is one of the lines that flags your IQ as a believer, and then you can only break that by explicitly saying you're not the Herald at some point. If you only give non-commital answers (I don't know), then the game will keep considering that first flag to be your intended choice.
If you're out of chances to deny being the Herald (if I'm not mistaken I think once you get to Skyhold you don't get questioned anymore and just go with what you chose in Act 1), you can at least use your believer status to your advantage - there are unique dialogue choices with some characters for a believing Inquisitor (Cullen, Cassandra, Leliana), and even some unique judgement choices. From the top of my head, the only way to get Ser Ruth's judgement to have a good ending is with the unique sentence you get as believer, for instance.
Yeah, agreed. I'd really appreciate it if someone could call up a video or copy and paste the dialogue from the talk tables for this conversation (i.e. one other than the War Table introduction in Haven that we saw before the game came out), because I have no memory of it whatsoever. I tend to strongly remember things that make me feel bad, and personally I'd be very disappointed if Cullen explicitly says that he doesn't believe she has a mission from Andraste / is Her Herald (which would indicate that when he calls her that in public, he's going along with the title publicly to keep the Inquisition rolling smoothly). So I'd be really surprised if it happened and I've just forgotten it.I've played so many playthroughs and only once, in Haven, has he mentioned the Herald thing and that was the "That's quite the title isn't it, how do you feel about that" conversation in the war room. Depending on answer he never mentions himself or his thoughts, just "I'm certain the Chantry will agree" if you say it's unnerving or that you're not. I can't remember the other two, I know one option he doesn't have a reply for at all, I think another option Josephine replies instead? Nowhere do I remember in his dialogue that he actually says what he thinks, I'm quite sure that's the only time it's brought up with him directly.
Yeah, I'd really appreciate it if someone could call up a video or copy and paste the dialogue from the talk tables for this conversation, because I have no memory of it whatsoever. I tend to strongly remember things that make me feel bad, and personally I'd be very disappointed if Cullen explicitly says that he doesn't believe she has a mission from Andraste / is Her Herald but is going along with the title publicly to keep the Inquisition rolling smoothly. So I'd be really surprised if it happened and I've just forgotten it.
(and by "it happened" I mean "for me", anyway--I know there's one fantastic romance line I missed on my first playthrough because of the order in which I did some things; there could be other conversations I've missed for similar reasons.)
He doesn't say his own belief or lack of, for the Herald thing, is what I was trying to say in that post, that I've personally found in the game anyway and it bothers me for some reason that he has no option to talk about that.
He asks the Herald what his/her thoughts of it are. it's a main mission in Haven, directly after the whole starting the Inquisition declaration by Cassandra (the threat remains, report to haven's Chantry). It's the very first time you go to the War Room in Haven, before you can even go to the Hinterlands. He says only one line in response to any of the Herald's choice. If herald chooses "it's a little unnerving" or "they're wrong" (paraphrasing here) he'll respond with "I'm sure the Chantry would agree" (I had a screenshot of that one), I think there's one choice where he doesn't say anything in reply and one Josephine replies instead (from memory, could be wrong about Josephine).
Note, you have to choose the investigate option after Josephine says that the Grand clerics have named them heretics for harbouring you, "the Herald of Andastre?" investigate option, then Josephine, Cassandra and Leliana will say a few things and Cullen asks how you feel about it. That's pretty much it, it's just a counter towards if your character believes it or not, no npc says whether they do or not. I can't get a video but hopefully that helps jog your memory a bit? I've done 14 playthroughs so had to go check my screenshots of around that time to jog my own memory.
He doesn't say his own belief or lack of, for the Herald thing, is what I was trying to say in that post, that I've personally found in the game anyway and it bothers me for some reason that he has no option to talk about that.
He asks the Herald what his/her thoughts of it are. it's a main mission in Haven, directly after the whole starting the Inquisition declaration by Cassandra (the threat remains, report to haven's Chantry). It's the very first time you go to the War Room in Haven, before you can even go to the Hinterlands. He says only one line in response to any of the Herald's choice. If herald chooses "it's a little unnerving" or "they're wrong" (paraphrasing here) he'll respond with "I'm sure the Chantry would agree" (I had a screenshot of that one), I think there's one choice where he doesn't say anything in reply and one Josephine replies instead (from memory, could be wrong about Josephine).
Note, you have to choose the investigate option after Josephine says that the Grand clerics have named them heretics for harbouring you, "the Herald of Andastre?" investigate option, then Josephine, Cassandra and Leliana will say a few things and Cullen asks how you feel about it. That's pretty much it, it's just a counter towards if your character believes it or not, no npc says whether they do or not. I can't get a video but hopefully that helps jog your memory a bit? I've done 14 playthroughs so had to go check my screenshots of around that time to jog my own memory.
I know all that well. I'm agreeing with you that, unlike other posters in this thread, I don't remember a conversation other than that one.
(edited because leaving out contractions makes me sound really aggressive, which was not the intention...)
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