People who didn't like her/were neutral about her loved her hardened version more, some people I know say she's now in their top 5 Bioware companions after Inquisition because of her character development.
This is me, kind of. I wouldn't say I was neutral about her in Origins, (I liked her, but she wasn't a favorite) but she's my favorite character in Inquisition. I "softened" her in my first Inquisition playthrough, but I'm not sure I will again. Both softening her in this game, and hardening her in Origins, feel wrong to me for different reasons.
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I just think it's really bizarre and kind of naive for the Inquisitor to insist that killing a traitor in wartime is wrong in the first conversation. And yes, Leliana ends up killing a bunch of people if she's unsoftened and Divine, but I'm trying not metagame as much as I used to, so I shouldn't take that into account. But if I do metagame, well, these people disagree with my player character, so they'd probably just become irredeemable demons in the next game like templars/mages did in this one if you didn't side with them. It's unfortunate, but there's no room for religious and political dissent in the world of Dragon Age, it seems. It's hazardous to disagree with the main character in a Dragon Age game.
And hardening her in Origins is something I can never bring myself to do. There's certainly evidence that she doesn't mind hunting and killing people, especially if she's doing it for someone she likes. But it's a little over-the-top for the Warden to be all, "You love slaughtering randos! LOVE IT. You got the bloodlust, girl!" (that may not be how you remember hardening her going, but it's how I do and I am extremely unlikely to change my memory even if presented with evidence that I'm dead wrong)
Cole said something super-cool about her at Halamshiral. Something like:
Spoiler
When she wears a mask, she changes all the way down.
Wish I got a screenshot of it.
Anyway, yeah, I was super-impressed with Leliana in this game, which I was not expecting. I actually thought DARK LELIANA would strike me as silly. (I got that impression from Redcliffe footage, so, yeah, that really wasn't what she was like for most of the game)
What I find interesting is that, reading the fan reception on Leliana post-Inquisition it seems to go two ways, like the path you choose for her.
People who loved her in Origins prefered the unhardened version and didn't like the hardened one because it differed way too much from her cheerful, sweet nature in Origins.
People who didn't like her/were neutral about her loved her hardened version more, some people I know say she's now in their top 5 Bioware companions after Inquisition because of her character development.
All in all, the reaction seems to be overly positive, what do you guys think about her character arc? Liked it, love it, hate it?
I understand the people who say she was a very depressing, dark character, but it was sort of expected, it makes her more realistic, more human.
I personally loved her, even though there were moments when I didn't want to start a conversation with her cause I knew I was gonna go I'm CRY after talking to her.
I find that interesting because most people I've talked to who disliked her in DAO still don't like her in DAI with the arguments of "she doesn't listen to me and she kills people" or that her solution to everything is simply to kill them and she's a writers pet (which I find crazy given how depressing her life is. Sometimes I think she exists just to give them a character they can torture).
Now this is just my opinion but when compared to the rest of the companions I felt her arc and development fell a bit flat. So many of the characters had an interesting story, background and motivations but with her it felt so basic with less depth like it was streamlined to cater to the people who kept complaining that her DAO character was too preachy and always talked about the Maker. It can basically be summed up with the years she spent with the Divine doing her dirty work made her darker and brutal and she has some conflict with that and the events at the beginning of the game. The other characters just seem so more involved and real. Now this may be because we've seen a lot of her in previous games but overall I found her arc to be 'meh' but as someone who really liked her DAO character I do admit I have bias. I kind of feel the same about Varric in terms of a returning character not impressing me a lot. Yeah he was a bro but I kind of felt him lacking. I don't really know how to fully explain what I mean. All that said she's still Leliana and she gets her good end . I just feel she was trumped by a lot of other characters.
I have no issue with not killing Butler immediately; it's far better to interrogate him.
I chose an option about using him when I stopped her from killing him, but (I believe) the Inquisitor still ends up implying that it would be morally wrong to kill this man. Which, I don't know, is it? Why did he betray Leliana? Who did he get killed for this betrayal? I/my Inquisitor have no idea. So that's why I think the moralizing was a little weird and out of place. Maybe there's a way around it.
I chose an option about using him when I stopped her from killing him, but (I believe) the Inquisitor still ends up implying that it would be morally wrong to kill this man. Which, I don't know, is it? Why did he betray Leliana? Who did he get killed for this betrayal? I/my Inquisitor have no idea. So that's why I think the moralizing was a little weird and out of place. Maybe there's a way around it.
There's not, but mildly awkward dialogue is a very small price to pay.
What I find interesting is that, reading the fan reception on Leliana post-Inquisition it seems to go two ways, like the path you choose for her.
People who loved her in Origins prefered the unhardened version and didn't like the hardened one because it differed way too much from her cheerful, sweet nature in Origins.
People who didn't like her/were neutral about her loved her hardened version more, some people I know say she's now in their top 5 Bioware companions after Inquisition because of her character development.
I loved her in DA:O and I vastly prefer the hardened version of her, in both 1 and 3.
Well, I liked her character development this game, all things considered. Actually thought it was one of the most profoundly sad things to watch that I've come across in a game so far given how much I loved her in Origins - it's a believable change too, given everything that's happened.
Still, redoing my canon. It was interesting to see, but...
Spoiler
unhardened+not Divine Leliana ending for life tbh.
She still smiles, which is nice.
Completely agree on the spoiler and the smiling part.
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I watched the 'hardened' version of her. She sounds so... psychotic. Something snapped inside that poor brain. Leliana has always struck as someone with a fragile psyche. She's too easily influenced by the people around her. Marjolaine, the Warden, Justinia and now the Inquisitor are all able to twist her to their preference. Incredibly disturbing to see someone so easily swayed. In all cases a few words are pretty much all it takes, provided she sees that person as above her. I don't think Josephine could influence Leliana that way in spite of their being friends. Oh, Leli, you sick, sick little kitty. What am I to do with you? That girl needs a vacation something fierce.
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I hope Leliana, the Warden, Barkspawn the Dog and Schmooples the Second have some sort of relaxing family getaway to Antiva or something, because I reckon they need it.
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I hope Leliana, the Warden, Barkspawn the Dog and Schmooples the Second have some sort of relaxing family getaway to Antiva or something, because I reckon they need it.
Indeed. A nice getaway to a sunny place with beaches, good food, good wine and a cozy bed.
Actually a picture of the group you mentionned all asleep in the same bed, cuddled together, would be adorable. The Dog and Schmooples are like their kids.
I hope Leliana, the Warden, Barkspawn the Dog and Schmooples the Second have some sort of relaxing family getaway to Antiva or something, because I reckon they need it.
IDK about Schmooples the Second... he seems to lead a pretty charmed life already lol.
Did anyone get the banter where Cassandra tries to pronounce 'Schmooples'? I think it happens in that Crestwood cave.
IDK about Schmooples the Second... he seems to lead a pretty charmed life already lol.
Did anyone get the banter where Cassandra tries to pronounce 'Schmooples'? I think it happens in that Crestwood cave.
Really? Oh man, that sounds hilarious. I wonder if Dana Duchy has recorded party barks yet... (comments on the environment basically. We got them for Origins and DA2.)
When you arrive in Orzammar in DA:O and talk to that nug wrangler(not that one in Dust Town, the one you find nugs for). if she is in your party, of course , she will say that or something similiar. Then if you talk to her like five minutes later she's all about them.
I haz a sad though cause this reminded me of how much different she is in DAI. =(
Completely agree on the spoiler and the smiling part.
Spoiler
I watched the 'hardened' version of her. She sounds so... psychotic. Something snapped inside that poor brain. Leliana has always struck as someone with a fragile psyche. She's too easily influenced by the people around her. Marjolaine, the Warden, Justinia and now the Inquisitor are all able to twist her to their preference. Incredibly disturbing to see someone so easily swayed. In all cases a few words are pretty much all it takes, provided she sees that person as above her. I don't think Josephine could influence Leliana that way in spite of their being friends. Oh, Leli, you sick, sick little kitty. What am I to do with you? That girl needs a vacation something fierce.
Yeah, I definitely agree on the weak psyche part.
I think her psychological breakdown started when Marjolaine betrayed her. And who knows what those guards did to her while in prison. I mean, it's not that hard to imagine what guards would do to a female prisoner..."We'll let you go, once we've had our fun" :/
And take in account she's lost her mother at a very young age, experiencing that when you're young will scar you one way or another. After her guardian died, Leli was thrown out in the streets, Marjolaine says this in her DLC.
I think her psychological breakdown started when Marjolaine betrayed her. And who knows what those guards did to her while in prison. I mean, it's not that hard to imagine what guards would do to a female prisoner..."We'll let you go, once we've had our fun" :/
And take in account she's lost her mother at a very young age, experiencing that when you're young will scar you one way or another. After her guardian died, Leli was thrown out in the streets, Marjolaine says this in her DLC.
Life's a b****. And Bioware loves to see us weep.
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All the more reason that the Hero of Ferelden has to be there for her even as Divine...
How I loathe Leliana. All the butter-wouldn't-melt saccharin attitude and prattling on about her holiness and the divine when at the end of the day she's just a cold blooded killer. She's so hypocritical she's practically schizophrenic. Obviously her dark side is hinted at and it shows great writing that I'd care enough to hate her so much
Also just something about her accent, her manner. There's a moment very early in the prologue where you meet her on the bridge before choosing a path to the big rift, she sort of snap turns to Cass and says "as you well know" - that moment just rustles my jimmies so hard for some reason. She's just so fake, and pretentious about it too.. ergh.
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. I just feel she was trumped by a lot of other characters. 
