I honestly went into this book thinking I'd hate Gaspard. But he is an extremely well written character and I was pleasantly surprised.
And yet remains surplus to requirements. Unless he's the only one who can properly raise the status of the elves, which I very strongly doubt.
And yet remains surplus to requirements.
...you lost me there.
I honestly went into this book thinking I'd hate Gaspard. But he is an extremely well written character and I was pleasantly surprised.
Agreed. I am finding it difficult deciding who I should side with in Inquisition should it be an option. I suppose it depends on what Gaspard's true feelings about elves are revealed. The book doesn't seem to present him as seeing them as anything other than a tool to be used against Celene. Without that, I would be interested in finding out how he truly feels about them. The only hints to it are him referring to the Bria and Felassen as "your elves" as though they are objects Celene possesses... but we shall see. The rest of it was just Gaspard couching things in a negative light to highlight Celene's supposed failings.
Yet he was never overtly rude or disrespectful to any of the elves he met. He is a mystery.
The drive for Empire in Thedas is what has created civilization, perhaps that's why i don't equate "imperialism" with inverted negativity.
._. after all Monarchism is the only presented Thedosian System of governance, Crud its the only governance presented in DA period.
Just comes in different aspects depending upon the culture, the Qunari do not have "Kings" but they do have an Triumvirate Autocracy, The Magisters have a Magi driven Autocracy. The Kings and Viscounts and what have you subscribe to Absolute Monarchy for the most part, Fereldan being the only notable exception, but its still a Nobility driven system.
he is well written, celene was well written until the last two pages... i liked gaspard's thoughts about honor and all that, but i think hes not the one orlais needs, keep him to the military not in a political role..... celene needs to disappear, she tried to make things right, but failed in the end. She got too emotional and wound up making the empire's situation worse, she knows what needs to be done to lead, but she never followed through and followed her heart to appease one person instead of her empire... not a good choice
...you lost me there.
He's a liability, I mean.
He's an unabashed imperialist and dedicated to Orlesian supremacy. He may be willing to be charitable to lessers on his own terms, but would never allow them to be equal, or give any hope of autonomy to the Dales. In any case, reuniting Celene and Briala is the only way for the book to not suck, or at least to have one of its worst aspects removed.
I don't see it happening. Celene's sins are great and numerous. She murdered Briala's parents to get the throne and then lied about it for years. While she obviously does care about improving the lot of elves, seeing them as Orlesians first and elves second, she still sees them as elves and demonstrates a willingness and intent to sacrifice them to the altar of politics and Orlesian security. She repeatedly tells Briala that she will do everything she can for the Elves, then plans to keep them under her thumb for use as Eluvian assassins. Then, possibly as hurtful as anything on a personal level, Celene instantly and unthinkingly risks her life to save Michel, and later in the same fight lets Briala (almost) die when she could have intervened.
Is there some love there? Sure. Also a lot of unhealthy dependence. Celene obviously cares about Briala as an individual, but admits her commitment to Elven equality is flexible, and entirely dependent on a cost/benefit analysis.
The entire reason Briala steals the Eluvian network from Celene and directly prevents the Empress from stopping the Civil War before it goes any further by dumping her as far from Val Royeaux as possible (and in Gaspard held territory,mot boot) is because she knows without ambiguity or doubt that Celene can not be trusted.
I don't see how distrust, betrayal and completely incompatible goals make for a good foundation to repair a failed relationship.
Well, I wouldn't be too unhappy to kill both Celene and Gaspard and let the book stay terrible if there's no other option, but we might need one of them alive and the only way Gaspard could be trustworthy on this matter is if I got him to give his word on this, and a word specific enough that he can't Literal Genie his way out of it.
Well, I wouldn't be too unhappy to kill both Celene and Gaspard and let the book stay terrible if there's no other option, but we might need one of them alive and the only way Gaspard could be trustworthy on this matter is if I got him to give his word on this, and a word specific enough that he can't Literal Genie his way out of it.
Or you know, You could convince him of the impact and benefit it would give to the Empire, He acts with that as his focus the entire novel, he plays the game to improve the lot of Orlais, He rebels for the same reason, he voices his misgivings about Celene for that reasoning.
He's about as close to Orlesian Loghain as we have been presented, he just dresses better and is a bit of a bad ass.
I honestly went into this book thinking I'd hate Gaspard. But he is an extremely well written character and I was pleasantly surprised.
I feel the same. I haven't read the book yet so I can't make a full judgement, but from what I have read so far, Gaspard sounds like a great character. I honestly expected him to be like Duke Prosper.
Its gonna be fun to meet (hopefully) both him and Celene in DA:I
Or you know, You could convince him of the impact and benefit it would give to the Empire, He acts with that as his focus the entire novel, he plays the game to improve the lot of Orlais, He rebels for the same reason, he voices his misgivings about Celene for that reasoning.
He's about as close to Orlesian Loghain as we have been presented, he just dresses better and is a bit of a bad ass.
If he's Orlesian Loghain, there's literally no better reason to ensure that he stays far, far away from politics.
I feel the same. I haven't read the book yet so I can't make a full judgement, but from what I have read so far, Gaspard sounds like a great character. I honestly expected him to be like Duke Prosper.
Its gonna be fun to meet (hopefully) both him and Celene in DA:I
._. Duke Prosper was the best dressed and most cultured Antagonist in the entirety of DA so far.
Don't diss him.
If he's Orlesian Loghain, there's literally no better reason to ensure that he stays far, far away from politics.
But he is actually good at it!
He would be a good Emperor.
But he is actually good at it!
Then why are you endorsing him by comparing him to a guy who practically destroyed his own country out of paranoia?
In any case, I don't give a damn about Orlais unless it can dial back on the imperialism and quit screwing with its elves.
Hmm. Come to think of it, maybe I can just ship Briala with Velanna or something and handle all this mentally.
A tad snide at the end, Tarkin?
But yes, I completely agree with your depiction of Gaspard. I found it interesting that he does respect and recognize Briala's abilities as a spymaster, as well as his desire to keep Michel's secret.
He's an unabashed imperialist and dedicated to Orlesian supremacy. He may be willing to be charitable to lessers on his own terms, but would never allow them to be equal, or give any hope of autonomy to the Dales. In any case, reuniting Celene and Briala is the only way for the book to not suck, or at least to have one of its worst aspects removed.
He seems to fall under the Noble Demon trope. He's pretty much "the villain" as far as The Masked Empire goes. But he does follow a strict code of conduct. There are some things he simply will not do, even if it's to his advantage. He honors truces. He's pretty honest, especially for an Orlesian noble. And those times he has to be dishonest really seem to grate on him. He treats his prisoners with respect. In some ways, he's more honorable than Celene or Briala. It's a pity he's an antagonist, and would be bad for Orlais on many levels.
He's an unabashed imperialist and dedicated to Orlesian supremacy. He may be willing to be charitable to lessers on his own terms, but would never allow them to be equal, or give any hope of autonomy to the Dales. In any case, reuniting Celene and Briala is the only way for the book to not suck, or at least to have one of its worst aspects removed.
Double post
Then why are you endorsing him by comparing him to a guy who practically destroyed his own country out of paranoia?
In any case, I don't give a damn about Orlais unless it can dial back on the imperialism and quit screwing with its elves.
Indirectly at best, and only for the most part due to the actions of a third party, Eamon's revival and the Warden's efforts threw off any organization of the Royal Army under his banner after the civil war was all but ended, Add in a few messes at the circle and you have a pretty decent case, Fereldan experienced a perfect storm syndrome for the sake of gameplay. And i compared him to Gaspard because they both are ardent Nationalists above damn near everything else, at least in so far as Gaspard has thus far been revealed. Although as previously stated, Gaspard will even forgo that...to some extent if his honor is invoked.
We differ in that regard i suppose, You figure a stable and peaceful Thedas would be a good thing, The Empire more or less ensures that for its territory. If only its Neighbor could do the same, we really would have a decently stable portion of the continent.
Again, haven't read, but would Orlesian Petrovsky be a fair comparison?He seems to fall under the Noble Demon trope. He's pretty much "the villain" as far as The Masked Empire goes. But he does follow a strict code of conduct. There are some things he simply will not do, even if it's to his advantage. He honors truces. He's pretty honest, especially for an Orlesian noble. And those times he has to be dishonest really seem to grate on him. He treats his prisoners with respect. In some ways, he's more honorable than Celene or Briala. It's a pity he's an antagonist, and would be bad for Orlais on many levels.
Well, I wouldn't be too unhappy to kill both Celene and Gaspard and let the book stay terrible if there's no other option, but we might need one of them alive and the only way Gaspard could be trustworthy on this matter is if I got him to give his word on this, and a word specific enough that he can't Literal Genie his way out of it.
It's a pity he's an antagonist, and would be bad for Orlais on many levels.
There is nothing to indicate he would be a default antagonist for DAI and he doesn't overly serve in that role in so far as TME, he just has an opposing agenda from Celene.
And How so? Because he is an competent leader? And an even better War Leader if all the hype is to be believed? Oh no! We may put a fella on the throne that could invade some random country next door! ...At some point! For some reason! This is an issue?
Again, haven't read, but would Orlesian Petrovsky be a fair comparison?
Eh...More or less i guess ._.
Actually, when given the opportunity to adher to the letter of honor and betray the spirit, he berates a valuable ally for suggesting he do so. What's more, he acts this way when no one else will know, so it's not just a play to a watching public. So I don't think there's much to worry about there.
And you think he would just let the Dales go?
Indirectly at best, and only for the most part due to the actions of a third party, Eamon's revival and the Warden's efforts threw off any organization of the Royal Army under his banner after the civil war was all but ended, Add in a few messes at the circle and you have a pretty decent case, Fereldan experienced a perfect storm syndrome for the sake of gameplay. And i compared him to Gaspard because they both are ardent Nationalists above damn near everything else, at least in so far as Gaspard has thus far been revealed. Although as previously stated, Gaspard will even forgo that...to some extent if his honor is invoked.
We differ in that regard i suppose, You figure a stable and peaceful Thedas would be a good thing, The Empire more or less ensures that for its territory. If only its Neighbor could do the same, we really would have a decently stable portion of the continent.
Gaspard for Emperor of Thedas. 
Retour en haut