Calpernia is so much better than Samson
Very much so, and getting Barris on top of that makes it rather easy picking what route I prefer
Calpernia is so much better than Samson
Very much so, and getting Barris on top of that makes it rather easy picking what route I prefer
Very much so, and getting Barris on top of that makes it rather easy picking what route I prefer
Calpernia has far more depth to be sure. Samson was just a generic evil villain. They could of at least played up the fact that he maybe took it because he was dying due to his addiction. Not knowing what it would do to him, and it changed him. I don't know, I feel like they didn't even try to make him interesting. Which sucks since I went with the mages on my first playthrough.
So, I have I confession.
I... finally played through the Templar mission, and I too am a fan of Ser Barris the Badass.
What's not to love? The honesty of his doubts? The conviction of wanting what is better for more than just himself and his faction? The humility in accepting his failures? The contrition in wanting to make up for them? The maturity of accepting responsibility of the successes and failings of his faction? The desire to make amends for those failings, without denying them as failings?
The fact that he's an awesome black character in a medium with too few admirable and respectable examples?
Calpernia has far more depth to be sure. Samson was just a generic evil villain. They could of at least played up the fact that he maybe took it because he was dying due to his addiction. Not knowing what it would do to him, and it changed him. I don't know, I feel like they didn't even try to make him interesting. Which sucks since I went with the mages on my first playthrough.
I helped the mages on my first playthrough and was so disappointed by the overall plot of DA:I because I just saw it as generic villain after generic villain. Cory is a hamfisted joke, Samson was dull and one note. They could have done more with him, I agree. The whole plot just seemed so meh.
Replaying the game and choosing the Templar route was much more rewarding. I thought Calpernia was just another one note mini villain until the side mission digging into her past and finding her old owner/mentor binded. I even regretting leaving the old man binded because of what I went through with the envy demon. We even got a taste of possible future communication devices in Thedas. I know it's a crazy thing to be excited about, but I loved the idea of those recording crystals Dagna worked on. Cory was still a hot mess but Calpernia, Barris, and the redemption of the Templars made it worthwhile.
So, I have I confession.
I... finally played through the Templar mission, and I too am a fan of Ser Barris the Badass.
What's not to love? The honesty of his doubts? The conviction of wanting what is better for more than just himself and his faction? The humility in accepting his failures? The contrition in wanting to make up for them? The maturity of accepting responsibility of the successes and failings of his faction? The desire to make amends for those failings, without denying them as failings?
The fact that he's an awesome black character in a medium with too few admirable and respectable examples?
I never really thought about it. But I feel he does a much better job of giving representation to black gamers. VIv, while interesting, is kind of a bad person. And Barris is probably one of the nicest guys in the series. Loyal, courageous, modest. Everything you could want from a templar.
And he's damn good looking, too. That helps.
Barris is definitely a great example of a black character a marked improvement over He Who's Name Starts With J.

Barris is definitely a great example of a black character a marked improvement over He Who's Name Starts With J.
who?
The priiiize
who?

Heavy risk...
It makes me cringe to even think about it. Sooo bad.
I do love how this is turning into the f-u Jacob thread. We need more of that.
I do love how this is turning into the f-u Jacob thread. We need more of that.
It's hard not to make fun of the guy. ![]()
Wrong thread, nothing to see here. ![]()
So, bit of a post-game question. Do we think Barris and co. would head back to Therinfall as their re-established HQ (assuming, of course, you let the Order remain intact and didn't conscript it), or would they remain at Skyhold as an arm of the Inquisition? After the events of the game, I imagine it'd be hard for them to shake off that strong of an association anyway (and I don't know if they'd want to).
Although it might be better for Barris and the Order in the long term if they go back to standing on their own two feet, while maintaining close ties with the Inquisition.
Thoughts?
Well, if you conscripted them, presumably they stay at Skyhold. If they are still sworn to the Chantry, I would expect Ser Barris to return to Val Royeaux to speak to the new Divine. Keep in mind, he was only promoted by the Inquisitor, and probably has to have that upheld by the Sunburst Throne. Not to mention all of the Templars in northern Thedas that need to meet their new Commander and catch up on all the crazy stuff that happened. I get the feeling he'll be on administrative leave for a while.
So, bit of a post-game question. Do we think Barris and co. would head back to Therinfall as their re-established HQ (assuming, of course, you let the Order remain intact and didn't conscript it), or would they remain at Skyhold as an arm of the Inquisition? After the events of the game, I imagine it'd be hard for them to shake off that strong of an association anyway (and I don't know if they'd want to).
Although it might be better for Barris and the Order in the long term if they go back to standing on their own two feet, while maintaining close ties with the Inquisition.
Thoughts?
It depends IMO on the nature of the Inquistor how he/she shapped it.
For instance, my inquistor, Navilia Trevelyan, was a devote woman of faith(if the game never happened she would have been a chantry priestess). She choose the templars as allies because she knew them before the war, her brother was a member of Ostwick's templars and one of the templars there taught her helped teach her archery. Due to that she kind of had a romantic/idealistic image of the templars.
anyways all of this is why she supported the reformed templar order of Barris and if Therinfall wasn't the order's HQ then she would use her resources as Inquistor to build a new fortress of the Order. I like to head-cannon that some of the knights she saved when she sided with the templars were from the Ostwick templars, such as her brother.
Guest_TheDarkKnightReturns_*
When he drinks the lyrium. Dude is a ****** badass. I wanted that tower shield he was rocking.
I accidentally let him die the first time through Therinfal. When I learned he could live, I went back and saved him.
What are the requirements to get him promoted to Knight Commander?
I got the promotion, but I'm not sure what triggered it
Every wartable mission that says Ser Barris in it.
I never really thought about it. But I feel he does a much better job of giving representation to black gamers. VIv, while interesting, is kind of a bad person. And Barris is probably one of the nicest guys in the series. Loyal, courageous, modest. Everything you could want from a templar.
This isn't the thread for Vivienne, so I'll simply register my disagreement at calling her a bad person and leave it at that.
Barris, however, is certainly a good person- it takes significant radicalism and political bias to ignore that.
And he's damn good looking, too. That helps.
Between him and Vivienne, I sorely felt a lack of a dark-skinned LI.
Josephine is close, but between scenes (and lighting) she often strikes me as more... can't remember the word. A separate ethnicity/appearance from African.
I'm not sure what to classify her as, her accent is clearly Italian, but her skin is too dark for southern European, but not exactly black or Indian. Maybe some kind of middle eastern
When he drinks the lyrium. Dude is a ****** badass. I wanted that tower shield he was rocking.
We need to make a GIF of the cutscene of the templars in the hall cheering Barris on as he drinks the Lyrium. It'll represent this thread perfectly! ^^
Barris, however, is certainly a good person- it takes significant radicalism and political bias to ignore that.
Not that it stopped certain individuals from believing so. ![]()