Guys! I missed you all! I've been away on my own job hunt and know I'm making a whirlwind move, and just...*sigh* I can't wait until Tuesday.
Good luck with the job hunt (and the moving, ugh)! I know how that goes-- I finally found one about 3 weeks ago. Even tho it's only part time, the good news is that randomly, the week after DAI comes out, I only work 3 days. 
Oh man, I totally see Fenris as the first category. He's a warrior who's nothing if not fully committed to his own moral compass, and virtuous to the extent that he wants to see evil punished (that guy in the cave killing elf girls) and chaos controlled (mages presided over by the templars) and the vulnerable protected (he bristles at Orana being a servant). He's never had a prior love interest so we can't even call his *potential* fling with Isabella promiscuous, and is a more than capable warrior, and bi. He gets a lot of flack for the haircut, being an elf, and not having a sunny disposition ala Alistair, but he fits your description to a T in my eyes.
Fenris is more a Knight in Sour Armor than he is a Knight in Shining Armor. I agree that he fits the description very well, but he's been jaded by the world, is dry/sarcastic/bitter, and has had that rosy optimism all but smothered. He's far more ends justify the means and willing to work outside the law to bring justice, even deliver justice by his own hands. You can compare him to Aveline, who will pass Fenris information about slavers so he can disappear them but won't break the law to do it herself. (They share a banter about it late in the Third Act if they're both in the party.) Fenris has a justifiable mistrust of authority and while he is very noble, he is also very brutal.
I'll just add another voice for really like to see an optimist Alistair type gay knight, particularly one a little like George R.R. Martin's Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers except without the Martin twists. A powerful noble and expert warrior, possibly well-renowned struggling between a desire to pursue the romance he wants but also his responsibility to his house. I know that sort of Dorian's plotline, but I personally think it plays out better in the context of a nobility structure we already know and relate to (Fereldan, Kirkwall, Orlais). Tevinter fits into the "obviously evil"/enemy nation category and Dorian's story seems to be "I would be forced into" as opposed to "I am torn between my heart and duty". It's a story built around love, compassion, and filial duty with the Knight's family being similar to say the Couslands. Alistairesque with Dorian's basic skeletal plot outline. Run the plot like any standard heterosexual star crossed lovers plot, Knight and Lover, Alistair and Warden, whichever and just go with it.
It'd give us a chance to get a good look at (Orlais, Fereldan) politics between the nobility which we haven't really had before. Alistair was a prince, but he wasn't raised in the court or have a noble's understanding of Fereldan politics. He was essentially a commoner. Sebastian was a prince and the closest we've had to a noble party member, but that role was really usurped by his religious beliefs and while those were important perspective in DA2, didn't really help us to understand the higher workings of Kirkwall. Cassandra is formerly a noble, I think, but again she's in a similar position to Sebastian and Alistair as their position is mainly as representatives of Group X (Warden, Chantry) and not as a spokesperson for the noble class or greater world politics. So far, Dragon Age has treated it's noble class as foppish, silly, evil, largely forgettable rich people and it'd be nice to see that change. (Or at least explain why they're still largely in charge.)
^I'd like to see an Orlesian noble who isn't meant to be taken as a joke.
I will also be keeping my eyes peeled while playing Inquisition for a possible NPC that fits what this thread is asking for. Fingers crossed.
*Poofs back into sealth.*
Fenris is more a Knight in Sour Armor than he is a Knight in Shining Armor. I agree that he fits the description very well, but he's been jaded by the world, is dry/sarcastic/bitter, and has had that rosy optimism all but smothered. He's far more ends justify the means and willing to work outside the law to bring justice, even deliver justice by his own hands. You can compare him to Aveline, who will pass Fenris information about slavers so he can disappear them but won't break the law to do it herself. (They share a banter about it late in the Third Act if they're both in the party.) Fenris has a justifiable mistrust of authority and while he is very noble, he is also very brutal.
I'll just add another voice for really like to see an optimist Alistair type gay knight, particularly one a little like George R.R. Martin's Loras Tyrell, the Knight of Flowers except without the Martin twists. A powerful noble and expert warrior, possibly well-renowned struggling between a desire to pursue the romance he wants but also his responsibility to his house. I know that sort of Dorian's plotline, but I personally think it plays out better in the context of a nobility structure we already know and relate to (Fereldan, Kirkwall, Orlais). Tevinter fits into the "obviously evil"/enemy nation category and Dorian's story seems to be "I would be forced into" as opposed to "I am torn between my heart and duty". It's a story built around love, compassion, and filial duty with the Knight's family being similar to say the Couslands. Alistairesque with Dorian's basic skeletal plot outline. Run the plot like any standard heterosexual star crossed lovers plot, Knight and Lover, Alistair and Warden, whichever and just go with it.
It'd give us a chance to get a good look at (Orlais, Fereldan) politics between the nobility which we haven't really had before. Alistair was a prince, but he wasn't raised in the court or have a noble's understanding of Fereldan politics. He was essentially a commoner. Sebastian was a prince and the closest we've had to a noble party member, but that role was really usurped by his religious beliefs and while those were important perspective in DA2, didn't really help us to understand the higher workings of Kirkwall. Cassandra is formerly a noble, I think, but again she's in a similar position to Sebastian and Alistair as their position is mainly as representatives of Group X (Warden, Chantry) and not as a spokesperson for the noble class or greater world politics. So far, Dragon Age has treated it's noble class as foppish, silly, evil, largely forgettable rich people and it'd be nice to see that change. (Or at least explain why they're still largely in charge.)
I wouldn't call Fenris noble. As for why DA's nobles are still in charge, a combination of social stagnation and them having all the weapons, as per usual.
I don't disagree with the wider premise, though. For those who like knights.
I don't understand why Loras is used as an example. He's vain and naive. In Marin's world the Knight in Shining Armor is a fool who is playing by archaic rules no one else follows and at best is a pawn and at worst is beheaded. Loras just wants to play at battle and have flowers thrown at him.
I think what you're looking for is a male Cassandra, romantic, serious, powerful, dedicated to an ideal, uncompromising. Before I thought Sebastian, but he was pretty wishy-washy. I think the closest actually is Varric, charismatic, loyal, and manly. I'd be for a dwarven knight. I'd love a qunari one. Sten was pretty knight-ish. I'm also sure he had a crush on my male warden.
I'm quite happy with the romances provided for us in DA:I, but I agree with OP. While I love that BioWare includes characters of more sexual orientations than pretty much any other major game company I'm aware of, there is an underlying stereotype to DA characters' sexualities... I like the more rogueish characters in romances because they tend to be more interesting to me, but it strikes me as odd that every noble warrior love interest is straight. And there could be an unfortunate implication that sexual orientation goes along with a more unconventional or deviant lifestyle in general. (With the caveat that Leliana and Dorian in particular have a noble and idealistic side to them).
I absolutely adore all the gay and bi love interests so this isn't a complaint. I'm just glad that OP brought this up.
I don't understand why Loras is used as an example. He's vain and naive. In Marin's world the Knight in Shining Armor is a fool who is playing by archaic rules no one else follows and at best is a pawn and at worst is beheaded. Loras just wants to play at battle and have flowers thrown at him.
I think what you're looking for is a male Cassandra, romantic, serious, powerful, dedicated to an ideal, uncompromising. Before I thought Sebastian, but he was pretty wishy-washy. I think the closest actually is Varric, charismatic, loyal, and manly. I'd be for a dwarven knight. I'd love a qunari one. Sten was pretty knight-ish. I'm also sure he had a crush on my male warden.
Jumping in just cause I was actually looking for a bi Cassandra as my example of a KISA... for all the reasons you said which would have been fun and interesting in a f/f romance as well as something new... sigh. 
Alas it was not to be.
I could live with a female qunari KISA too, that would be interesting.
I'm apparently a little melodramatic tonight 
Jumping in just cause I was actually looking for a bi Cassandra as my example of a KISA... for all the reasons you said which would have been fun and interesting in a f/f romance as well as something new... sigh.
I could live with a female qunari KISA too, that would be interesting.
I'm apparently a little melodramatic tonight
I'm a little disappointed that Cass isn't a bi option as well. She would have been perfect for the Lady Cadash that I'm building.
I'd like a m/m option like Cass as well. Perhaps a little less [disgusted noise], but otherwise, the adjectives that DaySeeker listed are exactly what I'm hoping for in a male KISA.
IMO a male KISA has a certain level of "manliness" to go along with his noble ideals. So, sorry Fenris, you're far too adorable to be a KISA. All KISAs must be able to grow stubble 
The "knight" is pretty implicit in the acronym, so class should be warrior. (Though somehow I'm willing to let Sebastian or Nathaniel slip by. Maybe it's the manliness thing.)
A serious, noble mien and some scruff. Those are pretty much my standards
I am being somewhat silly, but in all seriousness, this conversation has gone on for 55 pages and I think we all know in our heart of hearts what we're looking for, and it just hasn't been delivered. It keeps getting stamped "STRAIGHT."
But let's keep the conversation going so they know we still want this 
Spoiler
could be possible but remember Stens dialog about Women and men only haveing certan roles Krem'D could be a guy working as a Flower arranger for all we know or be a cross dresser.
could be possible but remember Stens dialog about Women and men only haveing certan roles Krem'D could be a guy working as a Flower arranger for all we know or be a cross dresser.
There's a link to an article in the IB thread that discusses that
That being said, I doubt he fits into the KISA archetype, what with being a ruthless mercenary and all.
Clicked reply instead of edit. Urgh.
Oh i know he is trans i did a bit of reserch just after posting. nice to see another one of us.
im kind of trans myself.
You forgot to add that she's a badass. A complete and total badass mutha****er.
But she's from Tevinter... she has slaves... 
*Fenris fan* *NEVER FORGET*
Haven't read the comics tbh, but am eager to meet her. They are on my xmas wish list ^^
There's a link to an article in the IB thread that discusses that
Spoiler
That being said, I doubt he fits into the KISA archetype, what with being a ruthless mercenary and all.
Krem is an absolute badass. I've seen him several times during some streams.
Krem is an absolute badass. I've seen him several times during some streams.
That's 2/2 with transgender characters being absolute badasses. Nice record!
That's 2/2 with transgender characters being absolute badasses. Nice record!
Serendipity was once claimed to be trans (though they might've retconned that to drag later on). After 2, they clearly picked their game up. Mae is awesome. Not only because she is a badass, but because she is a fully fledged character. Her life is not all 'I'm trans' every second, in fact, it isn't obvious. She's a smart, powerful Tevinter magister, elected and everything who just happens to be trans.
And I love her so much .
A gay man version of Cassandra would basically be my ideal character, even down to her grumpiness and especially her spirituality.
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