158 réponses à ce sujet

[Laurelinde]

I don't think being Queen is inherently a selfish act. Having seen what both Loghain and Anora were capable of both on an individual scale (betraying me and Cailan) and a larger one (betraying the Grey Wardens, bringing back slavery, etc.) there was really no way my HN would have been comfortable with either of them on the throne. And with Alistair unhardened, particularly, and not feeling all that ready to be King, I felt it would be better both for him and for the country to have her there to support him.



Ideally, I/she would have preferred to have a third party on the throne: Eamon, or Teagan, or Fergus, or her poor dead father, or Zombie Cailan, or somebody! But as the only options presenting themselves were Anora and Alistair, she had to go with the person she felt had a good and noble heart. Ferelden needed Alistair, and Alistair needed her.

[Wissenschaft]

Anora is a typical human. They hate Elves, very racist towards them. Anora is a great queen for Humans. Elves won't get much sympathy from her.

[Riona45]

Laurelinde wrote...

I don't think being Queen is inherently a selfish act. Having seen what both Loghain and Anora were capable of both on an individual scale (betraying me and Cailan) and a larger one (betraying the Grey Wardens, bringing back slavery, etc.) there was really no way my HN would have been comfortable with either of them on the throne.

What evidence is there that Anora was to blame for those things along with Loghain?  I understand that she'll betray you if you don't agree to her plans (and I'm aware a lot of people hate her for that reason--that's fine), but at the same time it seems some players believe that NPCs should trust the PC and go along with what he/she says even if there is scant reason--from that NPC's perspective--to do so (the PC hasn't saved the kingdom yet at the time of the Landsmeet, after all).  I think we're all biased towards our PCs, and that's fine, but it's also good to be aware of that when discussing the NPCs.

Modifié par Riona45, 27 janvier 2010 - 07:06 .

[Raphael diSanto]

Raiynsong wrote...

So this is my second playthrough and this time as a HNF I've decided I'm going to try romancing Zev, Leili and Alistair. Zev is interested and Leli a little more so. but of course Alistair gets interested much faster. I'm trying to be careful this time to lead him on but not kiss him or anything so I can get the others's approvals higher. We are in camp, he asks me about my relationship with Leliana, which totally cracked me up! I mean I had the rose dialog and the one after that, but no bed or anything, so I was suprised he was getting possessive all of a sudden. I basically beat around the bush about it, until he asks for a verbal commitment and there seems to be no graceful way out of it so I figure ok, i'll say yes but then do what I want anyway. The very next thing is Leliana breaking up with me (!! we haven't even kissed yet, basically just talked about shoes!!!) I was a bit disappointed cause I was hoping to continue trying to string her along, just to see what Alistair would do, but I guess she won't share either.  And she doesn't even let me try to argue her into staying, or let me say, ok  I'll break up with Alistair. The very next thing after THAT is Alistair asking me to bed.Of course I say yes --- he's a hard man to deny. So after that I ask where this is going and of course got horrid endings.---oh yeah, he want ME to commit but he won't promise me ANYthing, that idiot.  Luckily I saved and went back and gave him the answer he wanted to hear, for no point reduction. so I'm SOL with the bard but at least Zevran is still interested.  Z is definitely getting a bit sweeter now, which is cute. I'm doing a city elf next time and he'll be my target.

If you answer the shoes conversation correctly, that puts you on the romance track with Leliana. That's what prompted Alistair to talk to you about your budding romance with her, regardless of whether or not you've kissed. My HMN got asked the same thing by Alistair about Morrigan, of all people, who I'd been mostly ignoring. After Alistair asked me, I thought to myself, "Hmm, if Alistair's asking me that, I wonder if I should go over and talk to Morrigan. I did, and she did the whole "ooh, it's so cold in my tent all alone" thing. Apparently my male character in DA:O is as clueless about when women find him attractive as I am in RL

My HNF got L, A and Z's approval up to around 85-ish, then romance all of 'em in one night at camp. Started with L, romanced, bedded, dumped. Moved onto Z, rinse, repeat, ended with Alistair, because she wants to be queen, so he's obviously the "last" on the list.

Modifié par Raphael diSanto, 27 janvier 2010 - 07:09 .

[ejoslin]

Raphael diSanto wrote...

My HNF got L, A and Z's approval up to around 85-ish, then romance all of 'em in one night at camp. Started with L, romanced, bedded, dumped. Moved onto Z, rinse, repeat, ended with Alistair, because she wants to be queen, so he's obviously the "last" on the list.

Heh, that's pretty funny, but it couldn't have happened with Alistair the way you say because either he propositions you when you get into camp, or you have to open a dialog which, if you have someone else above 70, will have him force you to choose first.  I don't remember with Leliana, but Zevran it can happen as clicking on him opens the massage dialog.

BUT you don't need to romance Alistair to marry him.  Marriage to a king is political first.  He'll marry a Cousland whose friendly anyway.  And you get a better epilogue card if he's never touched you.  But he'll marry a Cousland who dumped him as well, but then you get the 'beloved bride" card instead of the "savior and ruler" one.

Edit: NVM, it could happen with Alistair that way as long as you dumped Zevran before talking to him.  *sigh* more coffee needed!

Modifié par ejoslin, 27 janvier 2010 - 08:09 .

[Laurelinde]

Riona45 wrote...

Laurelinde wrote...

I don't think being Queen is inherently a selfish act. Having seen what both Loghain and Anora were capable of both on an individual scale (betraying me and Cailan) and a larger one (betraying the Grey Wardens, bringing back slavery, etc.) there was really no way my HN would have been comfortable with either of them on the throne.

What evidence is there that Anora was to blame for those things along with Loghain?  I understand that she'll betray you if you don't agree to her plans (and I'm aware a lot of people hate her for that reason--that's fine), but at the same time it seems some players believe that NPCs should trust the PC and go along with what he/she says even if there is scant reason--from that NPC's perspective--to do so (the PC hasn't saved the kingdom yet at the time of the Landsmeet, after all).  I think we're all biased towards our PCs, and that's fine, but it's also good to be aware of that when discussing the NPCs.

Well, there's the fact that she basically admits she's been running the kingdom for years, even whilst Cailan was alive.  It's understandable that she wouldn't implicitly trust the PCs in the way that she does her father, but I think it would be naive - and underestimates her - to think that she isn't aware of and involved in what's going on in Denerim under her father's regency.  She's certainly aware that her father effectively killed her husband and all the Grey Wardens, which would seem to be a bigger political scandal for her/them.

[Riona45]

Laurelinde wrote...

Well, there's the fact that she basically admits she's been running the kingdom for years, even whilst Cailan was alive.  It's understandable that she wouldn't implicitly trust the PCs in the way that she does her father, but I think it would be naive - and underestimates her - to think that she isn't aware of and involved in what's going on in Denerim under her father's regency.  She's certainly aware that her father effectively killed her husband and all the Grey Wardens, which would seem to be a bigger political scandal for her/them.

That's hardly the same thing as being a co-conspirator, though, which you seemed to be implying was the case.

[odiedragon]

ejoslin wrote...
BUT you don't need to romance Alistair to marry him.  Marriage to a king is political first.  He'll marry a Cousland whose friendly anyway.  And you get a better epilogue card if he's never touched you.  But he'll marry a Cousland who dumped him as well, but then you get the 'beloved bride" card instead of the "savior and ruler" one.

Better how?  Now you've got me curious.

[Thiefy]

Jaulen wrote...

I don't think a twice-blighted Alistair WOULD be able to have kids with a fellow grey warden....just too much *hmm let's ignore one of the major the premises of the storyline* (recall, Alistair's mother was an elf Grey Warden, and Alistair was able to sense darkspawn/be sensed by them pretty dang fast compared to other GW recruits) (and DG has mentioned in other threads that two GWs cannot have kids.....so I'm going with what the writer says here)

Er, I believe you mean tainted - which is incorrect. Children who are born from GW do no carry the taint. That and it hasn't been proven that Fiona is Alistair's mother.  There is dialouge in game that mentions Alistair was hidden from Rowan's knowledge in order to preserve her dignity. At the time of Fiona's child's appearance, Rowan is dead. They could be doing a cover up after her death for the sake of her dignity but considering that Loghaine says something along the lines of Rowan being reduced to a concubine in the eyes of other nations because of Alistair's birth, I highly doubt it. There's a lot of things that don't add up, like Goldana's story and I think things were left ambigeous for a reason.

And it's natural for a HNF to marry (after all, what is a HNF for except to tie together houses and build relationships between Banns and other countries?), they aren't there just to become Queen. heck, it would be politically expedient and better for Ferelden, if Alistair was married off to a forgein princess. 
/

Ah, no. Actually it would not. Considering they just over threw a nation that took over them, it would not. That and Fereldans are very proud people. They pride themselves on their loyalty and ability to fight. I'm sure that after a revolution, a civil war, and a blight, they would feel most secute with one of their own - a strong Fereldan woman, to steward them and keep their interest at heart.

And you can support/aid Alisatir as King just as much, maybe even more, by being Chancellor as you could Queen, or by NOT being involved with the court at all, or only superficially. After all, not being mired so deeply into the politics, you'd be able to move more freely, and possibly hear more information that may be of use to the throne.

 
That is a lot of assuming. Sure Alistair would listen to you as a chancellor just as he would you being a Queen, but let's face it, without him you are just another voice trying to grab at the crown. There is a certain amount of absolute power that comes with being a Queen that you do not have as a Chancellor. Saying that you are more limited because you are Queen is foolish to me. You can be just as shady and use questionable means as a Chancellor...and have more oppertunities - not that you will always need to anyway. Especially because she is at the heart of politics she would be more aware of and more capable than a Chancellor. Look at Bhelen from dwarves - you really think his second did all the planning and decision making? No, he may have been the go to man but Bhelen was the power.

And the whole point of the Landsmeet, was not only to checkmate Loghain, but it was to ensure that *can't recall name, Ferelden uniter, first King*'s bloodline remained on the throne.

Therien.

That's how you personally played, but many people didn't. It's a little insulting when you go around and tell other players that they played 'the wrong way'. Some people felt Anora was a fine enough ruler to leave on the thrown. Personally, I would have loved another choice between Anora and Alistair and I would have jumped at the chance - failing that I put Alistair on the thrown because he was the better pick of the two. His bloodline had nothing to do with it, and none of my PCs would ever look at it that way especially since they know how much he hated the thought of people looking at him based on blood.

So I still stand by my assertion, that making yourself Queen, is a very selfish act. And, really, if you're playing a PC who has understood WHAT the grey wardens ARE, it's also a very unhonorable thing to do.

Well maybe being a Grey Warden is different for everyone. But seriously? That was just crap and you know it. You're trying to justify why your play through is more correct and cannon than everyone elses. if you were truely playing as the HONORABLE warden who upheld the very basic codes of what it really meant to be a warden, this whole situation wouldn't even arise because either you or Alistair is dead, he is off in a foreign land somewhere drunk, instead of being a king, or he is insanely pissed off with you and married to Anora, who wouldn't take your advice to begin with. Grey Wardens don't even belong on the throne. It's been repeated over and over again that they should remain neutral. No doubt there will be a huge consequence for ignoring this little detail later on.

Taking Morrigan's ritual - everyone is at least a little selfish. You are either a sinner or a saint, and in Fereldan, just like the real world, NO ONE is a saint. My personal belief that choosing to be Queen and helping the people of Fereldan, along with Alistair who is unsure about governing is the best way to handle the situation. Marriage between himself - the last of the Therein line, with a Cousland, a family who has always done what was best for the people of Fereldan, before there was even a 'Fereldan' would hopefully unite the people and let them rest easy that they were in good hands. Espeically given that they are also the two heros of the blight. It would also give usurpers a pause knowing that they aren't just going to be able to take the crown considering there was a powerful family behind the new king.

What *I* find extremely selfish is that knowing Alistair has to let you go for the sake of propiety, you force and push him to keep the relationship going - knowing he has to get married somewhere down the line. It's not just that you are ok with being his concubine, shadow queen, or personal ****, but you do realize you are breaking someone's marriage, and possibly their family just for your own self satisfaction? What exactly is honorable about that?

And no matter, even if you DO have an heir appointed, there will still be a War of Succession, maybe not right away, but SOMEONE will be ticked off that they/their line wasn't picked to be the King's heir and will start to immediately undermine that new line's rule. (Hello English history, heck, Hello Dwarfs!)

That's still a lot of assuming and you don't know that for sure. But let's use meta game knowledge - no heir is appointed so therefor regardless of what you do, the country goes to hell.

But if we are going by assumptions, I'll make my own. It's only fair since you've made so many. I think that there won't be a war of succession. Because everyone is tired of war and approve of whatever means I use to get an heir. After all I have maxed out coercion and well over 50 cunning. That and my PC is good at non trival tasks. Getting knocked up should be easier than say...slaying an archdemon, even if she has to turn to Avernus or other questionable means to get knocked up. A miracle has happened before anyway - finding the Sacred Ashes and curing Eamon; that being said perhaps the Maker can grant a good PC one more favor and remove the taint either from herself or Alistair in order for conception to be possible. Maybe there can be intercession from Andraste to the Maker on our behalf. How likely it is to happen considering the PC made a god baby is another story though.

Or we can await for the expansion - where we see a big SNAFU - the dark spawn come once again.

Everyone is a different warden and everyone will react/think/play different. There isn't one way that is more right or wrong or cannon than the others. Bioware and their reps have made it clear that this is the *player's* story. Generalizing on what should and shouldn't be in the story based on your assumptions, of all things, is a very ignorant thing to do.

Modifié par Thief-of-Hearts, 27 janvier 2010 - 08:51 .

[SurelyForth]

What *I* find extremely selfish is that knowing Alistair has to let you go for the sake of propiety, you force and push him to keep the relationship going - knowing he has to get married somewhere down the line. It's not just that you are ok with being his concubine, shadow queen, or personal ****, but you do realize you are breaking someone's marriage, and possibly their family just for your own self satisfaction? What exactly is honorable about that?

You don't even need a persuade check to get Alistair to maintain his relationship with you if he's hardened. Also, there is no family or marriage at that point. If you marry him to Anora, you can make you staying in the picture a condition of the arrangement and she accepts. Beyond that, you can either assume that your relationship will end once he does get married OR he marries someone as purely a political arrangement where relationship boundaries can be set outside of the norm. It would be selfish to disallow him from ever marrying, but three adults entering into a mutually beneficial arrangement (especially under these circumstances) is not evil or selfish.

[ejoslin]

odiedragon wrote...

ejoslin wrote...
BUT you don't need to romance Alistair to marry him.  Marriage to a king is political first.  He'll marry a Cousland whose friendly anyway.  And you get a better epilogue card if he's never touched you.  But he'll marry a Cousland who dumped him as well, but then you get the 'beloved bride" card instead of the "savior and ruler" one.

Better how?  Now you've got me curious.

I have posted the epilogue cards before.  I will again.  So warning, EPILOGUE CARD SPOILER!

Never-romanced Alistair:

Elissa married King Alistair in a lavish ceremony six months after his coronation, becoming the princess-consort of Ferelden.  As both their savior and new ruler, she proved incredibly popular among the poeple, and Alstair allowed his bride a great deal of leeway to act as she wished.

The romanced Alistair one is close, but the last sentence reads something like Alistair and Elissa traveled and people delighted at how much the king loved his new bride.  

Edit: I'm sure someone can post that card.  I don't have a screen shot of it, however.

Modifié par ejoslin, 27 janvier 2010 - 09:09 .

[Riona45]

Thief-of-Hearts wrote...
Everyone is a different warden and everyone will react/think/play different. There isn't one way that is more right or wrong or cannon than the others. Bioware and their reps have made it clear that this is the *player's* story. Generalizing on what should and shouldn't be in the story based on your assumptions, of all things, is a very ignorant thing to do.

I wholeheartedly agree with that.

[Thiefy]

SurelyForth wrote...

What *I* find extremely selfish is that knowing Alistair has to let you go for the sake of propiety, you force and push him to keep the relationship going - knowing he has to get married somewhere down the line. It's not just that you are ok with being his concubine, shadow queen, or personal ****, but you do realize you are breaking someone's marriage, and possibly their family just for your own self satisfaction? What exactly is honorable about that?

You don't even need a persuade check to get Alistair to maintain his relationship with you if he's hardened. Also, there is no family or marriage at that point. If you marry him to Anora, you can make you staying in the picture a condition of the arrangement and she accepts. Beyond that, you can either assume that your relationship will end once he does get married OR he marries someone as purely a political arrangement where relationship boundaries can be set outside of the norm. It would be selfish to disallow him from ever marrying, but three adults entering into a mutually beneficial arrangement (especially under these circumstances) is not evil or selfish.

You have to badger Alistair into staying with you. He was originally going to break it off but you have to talk him into it. At the point directly after the landsmeet there isn't a marriage or family yet, but you know there is going to be and you choose to keep the relationship regardless, which I personally find selfish.

When you do convince Alistiar, the dialouge itself is very selfish: "No one can force a King to do what he doesn't want to..." etc. It's been agreed between you two that you would be his lover on the side in addition to his queen, instead of actually breaking it off. At the very least, you are breaking someone else's marriage. He may not have and heir, but he is going to try to get one and if he succeeds, you are breaking their family too.

I would never disallow Alistair to marry, I don't even know where you got that idea from. But assuming whoever he chooses to be his Queen would be ok with just more or less being a baby making machine is a mistake. She could very easily not be aware of the circumstances until it's too late - like how Anora was arranged to be married to Calian yet he still ran off with plenty of other women. Even Anora does not like the idea of Alistair fooling around but she will accept it and possibily find ways to deal with in the future given a heads up. Just because Anora accepts it doesn't mean she approves of the arrangement - you are still playing her for a fool, but she will go with it for now so long as she keeps her crown.

[Sandtigress]

There are no rules against kings being Grey Wardens. In the prologue of the game, it says very clearly that the Wardens numbered kings among them from the beginning. Anyone who has the mettle to take up the sword against the darkspawn are welcome.



I see Alistair as the rightful king, and I haven't had a character yet that liked Anora, though maybe my blood mage will. He hasn't had a chance to form an opinion on her yet. So after a Blight, I don't see there being a necessary conflict of interests over being king and being a Warden. And if he is both King and Warden, he will try to choose being a Warden over being king by slaying the Archdemon if you'll let him (long as you're not at 100 love/adore with a female PC, anyways) which says that even after becoming king, his priorities are in the right place.

[ejoslin]

Hmmm, but an ending I've done several times is marrying Alistair for political reasons and staying with Zevran -- and Alistair has no problem with that whatsoever. Zevran is not crazy about you getting married but is accepting of it, and Alistair makes no mention of it at all. And sure, there's no actual dialog option telling Alistair, hey, this is what's going on, but telling Alistair that you're going to try and make the heir with someone else also doesn't upset him much (as long as you're friendly -- at love he gets really mad).  And Alistair is obviously aware of that relationship.

A political match is not the same as a love match. I'm sure anyone entering into one understands that.

Modifié par ejoslin, 27 janvier 2010 - 09:24 .

[AnniLau]

ejoslin wrote...

(as long as you're friendly -- at love he gets really mad).

I told him that initially while romancing him with my HNF, thinking he'd take it as teasing. I had to reload the whole Landsmeet.

[ejoslin]

AnniLau wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

(as long as you're friendly -- at love he gets really mad).

I told him that initially while romancing him with my HNF, thinking he'd take it as teasing. I had to reload the whole Landsmeet.

Heh, it really does upset him if at love -- you need some serious presents to make that one up to him.  At friendly, he just says, "Should I be glad about that?  I guess I should be."  -5, which is no big deal.

[Sandtigress]

AnniLau wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

(as long as you're friendly -- at love he gets really mad).

I told him that initially while romancing him with my HNF, thinking he'd take it as teasing. I had to reload the whole Landsmeet.

I have had to do many things like that. 

[odiedragon]

ejoslin wrote...

I have posted the epilogue cards before.  I will again.  So warning, EPILOGUE CARD SPOILER!

Never-romanced Alistair:

Elissa married King Alistair in a lavish ceremony six months after his coronation, becoming the princess-consort of Ferelden.  As both their savior and new ruler, she proved incredibly popular among the poeple, and Alstair allowed his bride a great deal of leeway to act as she wished.

The romanced Alistair one is close, but the last sentence reads something like Alistair and Elissa traveled and people delighted at how much the king loved his new bride.  

Edit: I'm sure someone can post that card.  I don't have a screen shot of it, however.

Um, okay.  Sorry I missed it in whatever thread you may have brought it up in before.

I wouldn't call the first one better, but that's just my opinion.  They're just different.  One she has power in her own right, the other they're a true couple on the throne.  I guess you could call the other better, but I don't personally.

[Thiefy]

Sandtigress wrote...

There are no rules against kings being Grey Wardens. In the prologue of the game, it says very clearly that the Wardens numbered kings among them from the beginning. Anyone who has the mettle to take up the sword against the darkspawn are welcome.

I see Alistair as the rightful king, and I haven't had a character yet that liked Anora, though maybe my blood mage will. He hasn't had a chance to form an opinion on her yet. So after a Blight, I don't see there being a necessary conflict of interests over being king and being a Warden. And if he is both King and Warden, he will try to choose being a Warden over being king by slaying the Archdemon if you'll let him (long as you're not at 100 love/adore with a female PC, anyways) which says that even after becoming king, his priorities are in the right place.

It's been stated both in game, out of it and by David Gaider that Wardens need to remain politically neutral. In this case, you can always look out for the best interest of all peoples and all nations. You also don't get embroiled in wars. It makes for easier time dealing with countries and conscripting canindates if you remain neutral instead of favoring one over the other. Things are less sticky when you dont accidently pick the wrong side, and it makes for dealing with th threat of darkspawn less about loyalty and politics and more about just getting the job done.

That being said, it's hard to be politically neutral when you are a king....

[Addai]

Thief-of-Hearts wrote...

What *I* find extremely selfish is that knowing Alistair has to let you go for the sake of propiety, you force and push him to keep the relationship going - knowing he has to get married somewhere down the line. It's not just that you are ok with being his concubine, shadow queen, or personal ****, but you do realize you are breaking someone's marriage, and possibly their family just for your own self satisfaction? What exactly is honorable about that?

Not sure what scenario you're reacting to here, however in feudal/monarchical societies people understood political marriages and also accepted concubinage much more than modern notions of romantic love would allow for.  Even if it's not Lady Cousland, there would certainly be noblewomen willing to marry the king simply for the position it would afford them.  As long as Alistair is taking on the role of king because it's required of him rather than because he aspired to it, it's a small concession to his humanity to say that he should be able to keep his love so long as that doesn't threaten the country.

[AnniLau]

odiedragon wrote...

I wouldn't call the first one better,
but that's just my opinion.  They're just different.  One she has power
in her own right, the other they're a true couple on the throne.  I
guess you could call the other better, but I don't personally.

Traveling about showing the Ferelden people how much he adores his bride sounds like no one is taking care of business to me. Who's ruling while the royal couple is off frolicking? Eamon? Why didn't we just make him king in the first place then?

Modifié par AnniLau, 27 janvier 2010 - 09:32 .

[SurelyForth]

You don't have to badger Alistair, though, is my point. You can pretty much listen to him talk about why you aren't really suitable for the role of Queen, on account of the taint, and then be like "Well, maybe you should do what makes you happy for once" and he'll be all "Ok, I think I will!" and fortunately, the PC is what makes him happy (hypothetically speaking).



Ultimately, the end game would come down to an agreement between the PC, Alistair and whoever Alistair marries (if he does, since he's ok with marrying PC Cousland even though they more than likely can't conceive, he could come around to not marrying at all). The two most likely paths are: he marries and the relationship ends or he finds someone who is willing to enter into an arrangement to be Queen/produce an heir and that's all that is between them. Alistair doesn't seem the sort to blindside someone, or trick them into a relationship on false premises.



I can't feel any sympathy for Anora because she chooses ambition over happiness. She won't marry Alistair if he lops off Loghain's head, but she will otherwise even though he's the one demanding his execution. She just wants to be Queen at all costs.

[Sandtigress]

Thief-of-Hearts wrote...

Sandtigress wrote...

There are no rules against kings being Grey Wardens. In the prologue of the game, it says very clearly that the Wardens numbered kings among them from the beginning. Anyone who has the mettle to take up the sword against the darkspawn are welcome.

I see Alistair as the rightful king, and I haven't had a character yet that liked Anora, though maybe my blood mage will. He hasn't had a chance to form an opinion on her yet. So after a Blight, I don't see there being a necessary conflict of interests over being king and being a Warden. And if he is both King and Warden, he will try to choose being a Warden over being king by slaying the Archdemon if you'll let him (long as you're not at 100 love/adore with a female PC, anyways) which says that even after becoming king, his priorities are in the right place.

It's been stated both in game, out of it and by David Gaider that Wardens need to remain politically neutral. In this case, you can always look out for the best interest of all peoples and all nations. You also don't get embroiled in wars. It makes for easier time dealing with countries and conscripting canindates if you remain neutral instead of favoring one over the other. Things are less sticky when you dont accidently pick the wrong side, and it makes for dealing with th threat of darkspawn less about loyalty and politics and more about just getting the job done.

That being said, it's hard to be politically neutral when you are a king....

Still doesn't negate the fact that Wardens have in fact, in the past, been kings.  I would agree its not the ideal situation, but if one sees that maintaining the political stability of one's nation is in the best interest of the Wardens in your country, then one could be King/Queen and still be upholding one's duties as a Warden.  Plus it would give you the ability to ensure the future of the order in the kingdom, of which Fereldan's Wardens are in sore need of as there are two of you in the whole country.

[ejoslin]

odiedragon wrote...

ejoslin wrote...

I have posted the epilogue cards before.  I will again.  So warning, EPILOGUE CARD SPOILER!

Never-romanced Alistair:

Elissa married King Alistair in a lavish ceremony six months after his coronation, becoming the princess-consort of Ferelden.  As both their savior and new ruler, she proved incredibly popular among the poeple, and Alstair allowed his bride a great deal of leeway to act as she wished.

The romanced Alistair one is close, but the last sentence reads something like Alistair and Elissa traveled and people delighted at how much the king loved his new bride.  

Edit: I'm sure someone can post that card.  I don't have a screen shot of it, however.

Um, okay.  Sorry I missed it in whatever thread you may have brought it up in before.

I wouldn't call the first one better, but that's just my opinion.  They're just different.  One she has power in her own right, the other they're a true couple on the throne.  I guess you could call the other better, but I don't personally.

Heh, it wasn't a snipe at you; I was just saying I've posted a major spoiler before so I'll do it again -- sometimes that ticks people off.

And yes, I prefer the PC having power in her own right.  She was leader the entire time, gathered the armies, lead the charge . . . she is definitely a strong leader.