Dragon Age isn't the only series that's guilty (Look up Game of Thrones regarding the Starks), but I've noticed something of a rising backlash against characters who'd be described as "good guys".
Most notably Wynne and Alistair as far as Dragon Age is concerned and I find this curious. Is it because "good guys" aren't as interesting as grey or ambiguous characters? Is it because they're predictable? Or are fantasy fanbases just becoming more cynical?
I haven't noticed much dislike for Alistair, honestly. It seems like he's more well received than not. Characters with strong opinions tend to get a decent blacklash from people that are supporting the opposite faction, though. What is "good" is really subjective. I don't think Bioware writes companions that are firmly good or bad in a way that most people can agree on.
Guest_Morrigan_*
I don't know if I would go so far as to say that there is a backlash against "good guys." I've come across lots of other players, both on this forum and others, that simply refuse to role-play an evil character, and I totally respect that.
I can only speak for myself, but I generally find that most individuals are varying shades of grey as far as morality is concerned. I enjoy trying to empathize with the antagonist, to see what events have informed their character and beliefs. I think Dragon Age really encourages this kind of moral introspection.
I definitely like the 'good guys' best. Leliana and Bethany are two of the most purely 'good' characters and also two of my favorites. Of course I like Morrigan and Isabella as well, but then again they're both characters who you can make good (or at least considerably 'more' good) through your good example. Not a fan of Allistair, but not because he's good, just because he's boring. Varric is good, and fun. And I always play as a good character (I've tried to play a 'bad' character before, but just can't do it) in both DA and DA2, plan to do the same in DAI. So count be as a major supporter of good 
.
I have some issues with both Alistair and Wynne(I like them both over-all, but I have issues with them).
I think the issue is that Bioware, being Bioware, is going to want to write well rounded characters no matter what, so even the "good" characters are going to have some serious character flaws. However, because they need to stay "good", those character flaws often make them come off as obnoxious instead.
Alistair shirks his responsibility and puts the weight of the world on your shoulders, regardless of what personal tragedy you just went through. Wynne is naively idealistic for someone of her age, and is hypocritically judgmental.
When you stack that up against Sten murdering a whole family or Zevran's job or Oghren's alcoholism, they aren't very serious flaws, but they are the kind of things that can rub people the wrong way.
I really don't like to think of companions as good or evil. I like to of the characters morals. Alistair was a very moral character in terms of his action, but subjective in terms of his thinking. Alistair down fall was the fact that he only thought of what is "good" for him. Wynne is just as moral as Alistair, But she more of an objective thinker. Wynne knows how the world works and looks for the white in the grey.
Honestly? I think its mostly that as the scope of our lives expand and our everyday begins to encompass a more global set of cultural norms, we are more open to questioning what it is, exactly, that defines a person's "goodness". As our global society grows, we find more and more that a traditionally Western set of morals is not only not the be-all-end-all of what a "good guy" can be, it is often actually a rather narrow and undesirable state of being. I think that many people see a characters like Wynne and Alistair as being fundamentally incompatible with a broader mindset because they have very traditional, clear-cut values in some senses, and this makes them feel put off by the characters. (Just speculation, btw; I know diddly about anthropology and probably even less about psychology.) Those thinhs are not necessarily true about the characters, but its really not too difficult to understand why some people find (for example) Alistair to be a bit of a whiny man-child, or Wynne to be the preachy school marm that Morrigan accuses her of being.
Personally- I love both characters precisely because they seem so, well, human to me. They're set in their ways and ideas about some things, open to change on others, and can also let their emotions take over and become childish, bitchy and irrational about some things. Its no secret though, that I love the "bad" or at least, morally ambiguous, characters like Zev a little more than the "good guys" however. For me, a "bad" character seems, not necessarily more realistic, but more in tune with the way that I perceive myself. Whether it be sexual misadventure, social awkwardness, trouble in school, or a tendency to be overemotional, most of have issues (or have had issues) in real life, so maybe its just easier to relate with characters who are also so obviously dealing with their own **** and making fulfilling lives for themselves regardless.
Goody two shoes characters are simply boring and or annoying most of the time.
Like superheroes refusing to kill criminals who commit homicide and genocide over and over instead just handing them over to the authorities so they can escape the very next day. (They apparently have no concern for henchmen though)
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Wynne and Alistair are "good guys", but that isn't the reason for backlash. Leliana is also a "good guy", but she isn't imposing herself on you like they do. More people like her because she keeps to herself for the most part.
Wynne and Alistair are myopic and selfish in their views on who you are and what your duty is. Wynne would have you eat from her palm little children's stories about self-sacrifice, giving up love and life, and being OK with death. While Alistair thinks your life begins and ends as a Warden. He doesn't care much about what you had before, what you lost (or what people like Jory lose), how you were conscripted, or how you should feel about Duncan. He thinks you should automatically be grateful, that being a Warden is always like his own personal story... that we were all rescued from something like he was. Plus, he's got the bad habit of withholding information and keeping secrets (like forgetting to tell you about Warden lifespan until much later.. And then getting in a huff if you don't like it).
Wynne and Alistair are "good guys", but that isn't the reason for backlash. Leliana is also a "good guy", but she isn't imposing herself on you like they do. More people like her because she keeps to herself for the most part.
Wynne and Alistair are myopic and selfish in their views on who you are and what your duty is. Wynne would have you eat from her palm little children's stories about self-sacrifice, giving up love and life, and being OK with death. While Alistair thinks your life begins and ends as a Warden. He doesn't care much about what you had before, what you lost (or what people like Jory lose), how you were conscripted, or how you should feel about Duncan. He thinks you should automatically be grateful, that being a Warden is always like his own personal story...
Reading this, Blackwall is so going to be the most unpopular companion...
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Reading this, Blackwall is so going to be the most unpopular companion...
I don't know about that. Blackwall may be upfront and honest about the grim duty of being a Warden. That would be OK with me. I like honesty. I don't like how Wynne and Alistair try to make it better than it is.
Blackwall may be more like Bethany or Carver. A bit more stoic about the whole deal.
How is Alistair a 'good guy'? He betrays you and the cause and is wiling to abandon Fereldan and possibly the entire world to the Blight if you don't kill someone he doesn't like.
He's a man child.
The reason the Starks are bashed by GoT fans is because many of them are naive idiots who cling to their honor even if it gets them killed, not because they are "good"(There is really no good or evil in GOT)
Alistair is disliked because he is naive who thinks the wardens are honorable heroes, when it's shown this is not the case, Alistair whines like a baby because his self induced image oft he wardens is broken. Again, not because he's "good" which he is not.
I don't know about that. Blackwall may be upfront and honest about the grim duty of being a Warden. That would be OK with me. I like honesty. I don't like how Wynne and Alistair try to make it better than it is.
Blackwall may be more like Bethany or Carver. A bit more stoic about the whole deal.
You might want to (re-)read his character profile. Blackwall is about following the Wardens like they are described in the legends: 100% self-sacrificing heroes beating evil down. He's probably honest about it though...
Guest_StreetMagic_*
Alistair and Wynne have always been two of my favourite characters... and I also like the Starks from ASOIAF, so I guess I'm a ****** piece of human trash.
For the record, I don't even hate them myself. They're good people at least. It's not like I want to kill them. Or consider you a piece of trash for liking them. lol. That's a bit dramatic.
That has nothing to do with backlash though. Good people can still cause problems, depending on how you view the story.
Guest_StreetMagic_*
You might want to (re-)read his character profile. Blackwall is about following the Wardens like they are described in the legends: 100% self-sacrificing heroes beating evil down. He's probably honest about it though...
He doesn't say anything about being a hero, does he? I think you're reading too much into it. Who the hell would call themselves a "hero" anyways? 
I could easily just say he's just doing a job that needs to be done. He seems mature and realistic.
Anyways. Backlash is purposeful. It's intended from time to time. Not everyone is supposed to fall in line. If we were, we'd be playing other single player games. Not Dragon Age. Even Alistair's own writer admits his bad traits. The only fear the writers have is if a character is ignored. If they're loved or hated though, then it's a success.
The truth, however, is that a good character will have both bad and good qualities. You can love Alistair for being earnest, idealistic, and awkward. You can hate Alistair for being a stubborn, dense man-child. These qualities exist at the same time together, just as with real people. I enjoy writing Alistair and appreciate him as a character even though sometimes he is an assh*le incapable of self-reflection. It doesn’t bother me if someone picks out the negative more than the positive—it means I was successful in putting it there, and people are going to respond to such things differently.
Alistair and Wynne have always been two of my favourite characters... and I also like the Starks from ASOIAF, so I guess I'm a ****** piece of human trash.
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