I've only read the first page or so of this thread because I felt that, inevitably, bits and bobs of spoilers started to creep in as people described their relationships with the companions.
I've unlocked them all, and have had a good chat with them all - literally all that I can at the stage I'm at - but I haven't played far enough to give my list yet... might come back here later and do so.
One thing that struck me really strongly while reading through everyone's lists was that, even from only a page of posts, the variety of people's preferences was amazing, and pretty much covered the whole cast of characters in all kinds of spots from love to hate; the whole spectrum. I think that's a pretty impressive achievement in itself for this game, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know all the companions better.
But I did want to mention one very specific moment for me in the game so far (not remotely a spoiler).
It was almost a throw away moment really, quite banal in a way, but it really struck me at the time, and made me think "Wow, I hardly know any of these people yet, and already, in just a throw away comment, this game has got me emotionally involved with these guys; empathising with them and caring about them." ...
It happened the first time I discovered a remnant of the Grey Wardens in the Hinterlands. I was like, "Yay, found one."
And then there was a moment of silence, the wind was blowing, and then Varric (I'm pretty sure it was Varric) said quietly something like, "I bet Blackwall would have liked to have been here for this."
It was a nothing really, just a bit of coded 'banter', probably designed to remind me that this quest-line was linked to Blackwall, that he wasn't here, and that it might be more beneficial to have him along for this quest-line. But I only thought about that gamey, mechanic side of things later.
At the time I caught my breath and just stopped everything, and my heart actually sank. I thought about Blackwall stood alone on the edge of our encampment at Haven, wondering about the fate of his brethren, and that he wasn't here with us at the moment we discovered something really important to him. And I felt really bad for him.
'Out-of-game' I looked at my monitor, down the list of companions I had with me, at their little icons and such, but really my head was in-game and felt like I was meeting their eyes, one by one, and noone said anything but really they were all saying, "Yep. He ain't here. That was your decision (boss)." And it felt like any one of them would have given up their spot for him at that moment... if I'd said so.
Weird, eh? Like I say, just a nothing moment, that suddenly became a something moment. I decided right then and there to abandon my expedition in the Hinterlands, return directly to Haven, and 'make my report' to Blackwall; to bring him the good news. Of course, we did have a little dialogue moment when I found him, but it didn't resemble that in any way, except in my own head; no way the game could have predicted my feelings at the time and offered anything scripted that matched my mood. But it was a genuine mood I felt. I was subdued. I felt kinda guilty.
And the search for the Black Wardens will continue at a later date, when I can dedicate the time to conducting a proper search; just myself and Blackwall; that was the promise I made to myself out of regard for him.
Strange role-play moment, completely unforced and uncontrived by either myself or the game, and coming directly out of in-game character interaction and random dialogue. Felt kinda odd, in a good way.
And my interaction with certain other characters is already taking on greater significance and meaning, at least in my own mind, and that speaks quite highly for this game in my view.
Good job.
~TG
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