I agree completely. I feel like the game tries too hard to make you hate Gamlen even when he makes some good points. Notice that the game lets you either rip into Gamlen, take Leandra's side, or play the general peace-keeper. You're never allowed to say, "Gamlen's got a point, Mom."
And I think Gamlen does make some solid points, even though I know he's a dishonest crook that took the inheritance meant for his sister. Leandra indeed ran away years ago and chose to forfeit her right to the fortune when she left. She didn't return for years on end, especially when her family needed her: not to help when their parents got sick, not when their parents died, not to help with the funeral, and never to help manage their affairs or run the estate after their passing. But then when SHE ran into trouble years later, she turns up with her hand outstretched just expecting gold to fall into it; just expecting everything to be as it was before she left.
Once she does turn up at the gates, she's not grateful for whatever help her brother can offer. She just expects him to use the Amell family name and fortune that she abandoned to help her the way she wants to be helped, then is appalled when he mentions indentured servitude. In fact, the game acts like you're supposed to be appalled by the suggestion, but I thought, "That's fair. We left Kirkwall years ago and only turned up when we needed it. Beggars can't be choosers. I'm grateful for whatever gets us into the city." Besides, I thought Gamlen made a good point when he said, "Think of it as a job waiting for you when you get into the city." With the huge influx of refugees, I figured there wouldn't exactly be job opportunities, so this would be a good way to build a reputation and gain connections for when things finally quiet down - which is exactly what happens by the start of Act 1.
Leandra then lives in his house rent-free for over a year and stil whines that: "My children should be among the nobility! Not in indentured servitude." Well, Leandra, you should have thought of that before you left the nobility and only came back when it could benefit you.
Then, after a year of squatting in his house, when Gamlen tentatively brings up the subject of rent, she says, "You sold my children into slavery! And now you want rent?" a) Not slavery, indentured servitude. A set amount of work for a set amount of time to get into the city. 
It was the only way to get into the city. I didn't see you come up with any alternatives. c) You and your family did just turn up out of the blue expecting help, and have been living in his home rent-free for over a year. It's his house. He doesn't technically have to help you. You can stand to show a little gratitude, or else move into your own place if you don't like it.
She struck me as being a tad entitled and ungrateful. And I thought Gamlen made some legitimate points.
Gamlen: "Aren't you the one always saying, 'Love is more important than money'?"
Leandra: "It is!"
And yet, every word out of her mouth from the moment she meets Gamlen is whine that he doesn't have as much money or influence as she expected, nag him for not treating her family to the luxurious lifestyle she felt they deserve, and to take shots at his lifestyle when she isn't doing chores or paying rent. She never rolls up her sleeve and takes care of things herself. She nags Gamlen to go to the Amell mansion to get the Will. When he says no, she just hunkers over and gives up, until Hawke retrieves it for. Apparently "love is more important than money" until Leandra wants money, and then the person should fork it over because it's what she wants.
Then, when it's finally revealed he took her inheritance (though the game expects us to already hate him long before we find out), I thought Gamlen again made a good point. "We all have our burdens to bear. Mine was taking care of the life you chose to abandon. I'm no longer looking for love... at least I got the money."
But the game always forces you to sneer or frown at Gamlen and take Leandra's side. Again, I don't like Gamlen, but I think he makes some good points, and I resent the game forcing you to hate him, mistrust him, and take Leandra's side when I sometimes think, "Gamlen has a point, Mom."
Retour en haut
