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[ThreeF]

So, there is "soften/harden" option with Bull, there are three (if not four ways) to deal with Blackwall and with those two characters I have picked my mind which choice to make, I'm still not so sure about Cole.

 

I sort of lean to "spirit" Cole, because his whole "I want to be human" reaction seems to be because he is afraid, plus the first-spirit-to-mingle-with-people without possession thing, on the other hand when having those two cut-scenes conversations with him where he tries to help people I always pick up "human" options, because I think these would benefit him the  most.

 

Aaa... he confuses me!

 

What did you do with him and why? What do you think would benefit Cole more? Become human in order to understand humans, or become spirit and maybe understand humans?

[katerinafm]

I thought the good option was for him to become more spirit like, but apparently he becomes very detached and it's sort of odd. It's a pretty grey choice. Human makes him more...human, but on the other hand he's talking about feeling more violent and stuff when you pick it. I don't know...:/

[DancingDruid]

All I kept thinking in the back of my mind was what happened to Justice after he partnered with Anders. Justice was warped, twisted, changed.

 

I know it's not the same situation, however, I couldn't ignore the resemblance of changing Cole "the Spirit" by adding "human" emotions into the mix. The real Cole's death affected who this spirit was, warped and twisted it from its purpose.

 

In the end I chose to remove the reason for the warp. Cole is a spirit, no matter how "mortal" he seems. The last time spirit/mortal merged...Anders...things didn't turn out so well. I didn't want to see his purpose twisted by including a mortal essence he will probably never understand. Empathy seen objectively from outside a situation is definitely not the same as being the one inside the situation. I assume Cole's death was most likely the spirit's first failure. This was hurting Cole. My Inquisitor removed it.

 

The only problem I see is the next time failure happens to Cole there might not be anyone around to help it. Humans eventually get used to failure, mistakes. It seems one of the biggest problems with creatures from the Fade is that they are easily twisted when they merge with the "grey" world that is mortal, all muddled with a myriad of emotions that must be dealt with all at once, Fade creatures, it seems, are used to emotions one at a time.

[RobRam10]

Human because trusting on Solas's advice is heresy.

[Korva]

There's no one "win condition" to this, and that is part of what makes this character so great. All three "versions" of him -- the state we first meet him in, the more-spirit and the more-human route are recognizably, credibly the same person, and both solutions to his personal mission help him get better. It's really down to preference and to which aspect of him you're more drawn to.

 

That said, I prefer the spirit path. As I said before on other threads about our compassionate little friend, I am quite allergic to the human superiority complex, to stories that elevate humanity as the highest attainable prize, to our tendency to value the most what is most like us and disparage what is different as inferior. Going the spirit path is partly my attempt to deliberately defy that harmful "more like me = better" reflex. I also like the challenge involved in having to think harder and deeper to understand him, bond with him and make room for him so he can flourish in his own unique way. It can be difficult, sad even, but it feels more "fair" than to expect him to go the whole way for us while we return only a minimum of effort -- he already has changed, learned and and given so much, let me do my best to extend the same to him. Besides, it's an incredible opportunity to explore what relationships between mortals and spirits could be like without fear and prejudice. That is very well reflected in what he says in the "dinner" cutscene, in his joy and gratitude for believing in him and accepting him as he is.

 

Also, when Solas first talked about befriending spirits, early on in Haven, I thought it'd be awesome if I could experience something like that. Along comes Cole and grants my wish.

 

Both Solas and Varric are undeniably biased. Both prefer to focus very strongly on one aspect of Cole while handwaving the other away. Still, Solas is the one with the greatest knowledge, the only one who truly knows both sides of the Veil, which is a definite point in his favor. Varric's approach makes me uncomfortable -- it works in its own way, and as I said I enjoy Cole's more-human development too, but at the same time it feels almost cruel to force "lessons in humanity" on a very dear, very kind friend in a moment of extreme personal trauma and distress. Pain is a terrible teacher, and one that compassion incarnate probably deserves the least of all people in the game. I'd feel different about changes born from Cole drifting more towards his human side on his own accord.

 

Finally, I'm simply ... awestruck and blown away and very deeply touched by both his spirit-path resolution scene and some of his spirit-path banters. Solas and Cole are pure poetry together, and the way you can see Cole's rage and hate crumble, fall away and transform into mercy is an absolute masterpiece of writing, voice acting and modelling/animation. In such a bleak, war-torn world with so much riding on my Inquisitor, it was just beautiful to see that such unfettered compassion was possible. In a way, my Inquisitor needed that as much as the people need the Maker-blessed hope she represents to them.

[AtreiyaN7]

I made him a real boy - a realer boy. Becoming more human is the only way to truly address his own pain while keeping his individuality and his personality intact. Forgiving/forgetting via the spirit path doesn't allow for personal growth, and I don't particularly like what it does to him.

 

If he seems to have more violent feelings, etc., at first when he becomes more human, it's because he's still learning how to process stuff and deal with his own feelings (which Varric is pretty clearly helping him with).

[Arlee]

Basically with Cole it doesn't matter which one you do, because he's happy either way as long as you try to help him.

 

As a spirit he's just more like what he was before, and because of that he sometimes seems more obviously happy. If you make him more human, he's still human but things change for him. More people remember him and he can interact with more people. He also has to find new ways to help people. It's certainly a harder adjustment but I don't think he is any less happy in the long run.

[Mikka-chan]

I found the spirit path too sad- when he forgets Cole and goes monotone voice.  I freaked out and was like "Noo, I take it back!".

 

Bad things could definitely happen on the human path, yes.  Anders/Justice is a pretty good example.  But I don't think Cole is headed that way, and honestly, I always encouraged him the human ways anyway- wait and see rather then mercy kill, simply talk to the woman rather then make her forget him and try again... so human path made more sense to me.

 

Either way, though, Cole is satisfied.  This is a white and white decision, really; either choice is good.

[Rekkampum]

Made him more human.

[Korva]

Either way, though, Cole is satisfied.  This is a white and white decision, really; either choice is good.

 

I think it's more a bittersweet decision either way. He does get better, and he does find happiness, but either path strengthens one side of the character at the expense of the other ... and as someone who grew to love him the way he originally is, I felt a certain melancholy in seeing either side diminished, even though it was necessary because he needed to heal from the pain he was in so long without even knowing it.

[LadyJaneGrey]

As others have pointed out, Varric and Solas bring so much of their own baggage into that quest that I feel guilty whatever my Inquisitor prompts him to do.  If Cole weren't vulnerable to possession, I'd have "noped" my way straight out of that quest and never finished it.

 

So, since I have to choose: spirit every time.  Science fiction and fantasy have the opportunity to create and explore interesting, sentient creatures without making them all want to be human.

 

Props to the writers.  I loved being made uncomfortable without feeling cheaply manipulated.

[leaguer of one]

Human because he learns and understand humans more. With spirits emotion is not the issue is like of self control. He'll learn that as a human.

[leaguer of one]

I found the spirit path too sad- when he forgets Cole and goes monotone voice.  I freaked out and was like "Noo, I take it back!".

 

Bad things could definitely happen on the human path, yes.  Anders/Justice is a pretty good example.  But I don't think Cole is headed that way, and honestly, I always encouraged him the human ways anyway- wait and see rather then mercy kill, simply talk to the woman rather then make her forget him and try again... so human path made more sense to me.

 

Either way, though, Cole is satisfied.  This is a white and white decision, really; either choice is good.

Anders/Justice is an example of the bad this that would happen if he's a spirit. The issue with Anders/Justice is that Justice has no self control. He does not learn and adapt. A more human Cole at least has that.

[Elisaveta]

I went the human route I personally didn't care for how things turned out for him going the spirit way. Seems like a regression making him a spirit

[Korva]

From what I can tell (and admittedly I haven't played either Awakenings or DA2 because neither appealed to me), the Anders and Justice/Vengeance mess is not an issue of only one side being responsible. Justice goaded Anders on, and in turn Anders' hatred twisted Justice into Vengeance. Cole doesn't share his mind or body with anyone, he's entirely himself. I see his reaction to his "killer" more as all-too-human: an eye for an eye. But it's not hard for him to let all that go when encouraged to reach out, beyond his own pain.

[Nefla]

I think the human-like option is much better. He seems happy and content instead of seeming to devolve in a manic spiral.

[N7KnightSabre]

Definitely made him more Human.  I think it's something that Cole really wants.  Yes, he's scared but that's because he is going through a change and that is scary.  He needs support and reassurance that everything will be alright.  I agreed 100% with Varric, and he's best at dealing with people things.  Solas is best at spirits and the fade but, that;s just it, Cole isn't just a spirit anymore.  

 

One of Solas' faults is that he has prejudices and groups people together under a big blanket .  Example: When he was so confused that my Human Inq was actually a good and open-minded person instead of short-sighted and barbaric.  Not to mention he says in Cole's quest when debating with Varric that beings cannot change who they are.  To him, Cole is a spirit and he fails to realize that Cole's become more than that.  One of the few times Solas was totally wrong, not to mention hypocritical of him.  He doesn't like it when people assume him to be one way, like a servant or Dalish or whatever, simply because he has pointed ears.

[errantknight]

Human. Cole has done something no spirit has ever done--created a flesh and blood body on his own rather than gained one by posession. He's become something other than a spirit as he embodies a host of emotions, not just the one of which he's an avatar and he's done that without becoming a demon. In my opinion he's already chosen. I'm just helping him reinforce that choice. 

[LadyJaneGrey]

Definitely made him more Human.  I think it's something that Cole really wants.  Yes, he's scared but that's because he is going through a change and that is scary.  He needs support and reassurance that everything will be alright.  I agreed 100% with Varric, and he's best at dealing with people things.  Solas is best at spirits and the fade but, that;s just it, Cole isn't just a spirit anymore.  

 

One of Solas' faults is that he has prejudices and groups people together under a big blanket .  Example: When he was so confused that my Human Inq was actually a good and open-minded person instead of short-sighted and barbaric.  Not to mention he says in Cole's quest when debating with Varric that beings cannot change who they are.  To him, Cole is a spirit and he fails to realize that Cole's become more than that.  One of the few times Solas was totally wrong, not to mention hypocritical of him.  He doesn't like it when people assume him to be one way, like a servant or Dalish or whatever, simply because he has pointed ears.

 

Sera and Solas mirror each other so perfectly in this regard.  They grouse about being categorized by their race yet do it the most of all the companions.  Guys, I love y'all, but give it a rest, yeah?

 

My Dalish would take them out together so they could b**** at each other rather than at her. 

[N7KnightSabre]

Sera and Solas mirror each other so perfectly in this regard.  They grouse about being categorized by their race yet do it the most of all the companions.  Guys, I love y'all, but give it a rest, yeah?

 

My Dalish would take them out together so they could b**** at each other rather than at her. 

 

Yes, you're right.  They're exchanges are some of the best to hear.

 

I really like this about Solas, though.  It adds a good, ironic angle to his character.

[Korva]

As I said, Varric is just as biased as Solas, while lacking Solas' knowledge about "the other side". And to be fair, while Solas can absolutely be a dismissive arse about people, he shows some willingness to open his mind as well -- not just with the Inquisitor, but also in his increasingly mutually respectful conversations with Cassandra, his repeated admissions that Varric has a point, his apology to Blackwall after first tearing into him post-Revelations.

[taranoire]

My first character let him become more human, my character based on Fenris told him to get out and never recruited him, and my Qunari mage that I've just now started but haven't played much of is going to make him more spirit-like for practicality's sake. She would find his powers intriguing and wouldn't want to stifle them in any way. 

[N7KnightSabre]

As I said, Varric is just as biased as Solas, while lacking Solas' knowledge about "the other side". And to be fair, while Solas can absolutely be a dismissive arse about people, he shows some willingness to open his mind as well -- not just with the Inquisitor, but also in his increasingly mutually respectful conversations with Cassandra, his repeated admissions that Varric has a point, his apology to Blackwall after first tearing into him post-Revelations.

 

Everyone has biases.  Varric doesn't understand the fade like Solas does.  His experiences with it weren't good ones so his stance is understandable.  However, Varric knows Cole is/was a spirit but doesn't judge him on it like a lot of the other characters do.  He judges Cole based on who he is and how he presents himself. 

 

Solas does concede when he realizes he was wrong (a wonderful quality to be sure).  Except he only concedes in this issue with that one person, yet still maintains his position on his overall view of the group they come from.  As plenty of people do in real life.  It shows that he doesn't have the answers to everything and as wise as he is, he still has a way to go.

[Kinsz]

Human because he becomes much wiser that way and i would say happier.

[Northern Sun]

I've done both and I prefer the human route. If he wasn't so insistent on sticking around in the mortal world I'd have him embrace his spirit side, but since he's staying in the mortal world (where mistakes can't just be undone like in the Fade), he needs to be able to learn from past mistakes, else I fear he'll fall into the same pattern he did in Asunder.