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[draken-heart]

Yes, I know: another Mage-Templar thread. Just listen, please. I know there are other threads about this, but I felt I need to make this thread for myself, and other who are still dealing with a Dalish mage RP with the mage-templar choice. Just wondering what others who did dalish magi chose, and why. Trying to get a sense of which one I should focus on:

 

Mage: Well, I usually go to Redcliff before making the choice, so I can see their side, in terms of RP. On the one hand, the Mages are like her (always do female), and figure that going for them is a good choice. On the other hand, the situation there just makes my head hurt, and I hate it when my head hurts.

 

Templar: On the one hand, siding with the Templars would be good for the inquisition in the long run, as people respect them more. On the other, she is a mage, so why would they accept a mage as the "herald," especially a Dalish Elf. Not to mention that the Templars did not really ask for you in the first place.

 

So, forumites, feel free to add you Dalish mage's reasoning for their choice.

[BlueSmoke99]

I always go mage with any of my Dalish characters on the ground that she can't stand seeing elves like Fiona as slaves of Tevinter, even if Fiona is clearly a moron.

 

Having said that, if it really makes your head heart, you could always play it as someone who wants to rule over the Templars or at least bring the them to heel (the ability to disband them is kind of awesome for a mage).

[Patchwork]

I prefer the templar quest and Calpernia to Samson but going to the templars with a dalish elf takes some serious headcanon and logic leaps which boil down to this- her hatred for slavers outweighs her distrust of templars.

 

The key to it is take the meeting but don't go to the Chantry, don't get too involved in the mage plot. The Inquisition doesn't have the manpower to fight both the breach and a Tevinter incursion and as low as her opinion is on the Order she's hoping they'll at least agree to investigate what's going on at Redcliffe independently or together with the Inquisition. She's still hoping that once free from Tevinter clutches the majority of rebel mages will choose to help her close the breach.   

[draken-heart]

These are all very good reasons for mages, and templars. When I do the Templars on any character, it makes more sense to me to ally with them. Being allies with the Templars is a good deal for the Inquisition, but that does not have anything to do with a Dalish mage. Mages I can not really see doing more than conscripting them, due to the Tranquil/Ocularum thing.

 

Man, head hurts even more now. *sigh* guess I just have to flip a coin and see.

[WildSky214]

I usually disband the Templars with my Dalish mage. Mostly because I like the storyline better. Of course the Herald doesn't know that's an option when they go, but I headcanon that my Lavellan is planning on getting the Templars' aid to drive out Tevinter, then after everything goes down at Therinfall, she disbands the Templars so she can have them under her thumb and not out hunting mages.

[Patchwork]

I usually disband the Templars with my Dalish mage. Mostly because I like the storyline better. Of course the Herald doesn't know that's an option when they go, but I headcanon that my Lavellan is planning on getting the Templars' aid to drive out Tevinter, then after everything goes down at Therinfall, she disbands the Templars so she can have them under her thumb and not out hunting mages.

 

This pretty much. My Lavellan isn't wasting Inquisition resources to prop up the templars, Cullen has proven he's not some foaming at the mouth mage-hater he can look after them.

[draken-heart]

This pretty much. My Lavellan isn't wasting Inquisition resources to prop up the templars, Cullen has proven he's not some foaming at the mouth mage-hater he can look after them.

 

For some reason I can never even bother with the disband option. Do not know why, maybe because of the inquisition-templar alliance sounds better than "inquisition takes more templars from the now dead order" to people outside the groups.

[thesuperdarkone2]

Just pick mages. Honestly, it doesn't make that much sense for a dalish mage to try and get the support of people who are fighting a war against mages and whose leader outright said the Inquisition templars are traitors simply for working with a mage. I wouldn't exactly feel safe going to the templars if I was a mage. Plus, you have a hostile foreign power you know is gunning for you with the mages and time magic. Dorian says time magic will spread and cause more chaos plus your advisors outright tell you that the Venatori are mobilizing for war. If you knew there was a hostile foreign power that you know is going after you and is preparing for war, why would you even ignore this issue and get the templars?

[loyallyroyal]

If you are a Dalish mage running a human founded organization with heavy ties to the chantry and want to build credibility wouldn't it make more sense to ally with the Templars? An already established and highly respected order.

 

I imagine people are already looking at you cross eyed for being Dalish and a mage, I would think you would want to go for the option that builds more public support and trust.

 

That is how I figure it.

[Sah291]

Well, the way Fiona approaches you after the Templars initially refuse to help makes it fairly easy to side with the mages as a Dalish mage, I think. The Templars have just refused and then she (a fellow elven mage) comes up and gives you her little spiel about giving your own kind a chance. It makes sense Lavellan would at least go hear them out, and might sympathize as both a mage and and elf. Then when you go and find out they basically sold themselves back into slavery with Tevinter...I can imagine that really touching a nerve, and motivating Lavellan to want to help them. As others have said, the dalish have issues with the chantry beyond just disagreements on magic, so it makes sense to lean towards mages. But, others have offered some good headcanon for Templars.

[congokong]

Funny that this topic comes up because I very recently went through this choice for the first time with a Dalish elf. Every playthrough I did I chose the templars because:

 

1. Tactically it's a no-brainer risk-wise. I feel like such an idiot if I choose the mages.

2. I learned I could disband the templars; nice because I always play a mage.

 

3. This is the big one. The templar path is so much better (IMO of course). It's longer and far more original.

 

Going into the future and then back to prevent something terrible from ever happening is horribly cliche. And how convenient that your companions are still in that castle a year later and Alexius is still there with the only thing that can bring you back. Not to mention even more fade rifts. And Leilana's "you'll learn soon enough" response to questions about the Elder One is stupid.

 

I also love Cole's introduction when he helps against the envy demon. He comes across as a hero as he gives advice to free yourself and keeps undermining the envy demon's confidence. The templar path also makes recruiting him seem far less crazy. In conclusion, the templar quest is my favorite in the game.

 

 

 

 

That being said, when I got to this two days ago with my dalish I really wanted to do something different and choose the mages. I even started it but... just.... couldn't go through with it. It's just too stupid and not near as fun. I may have to watch the alternate path of choosing the mages' effects later in the game. Note: I've obviously done the mage path quest but never saved it.

 

A headcanon is easy. You need to put your personal biases aside and do what's best for the inquisition. A dalish may not like the templars, but they're still people and needed. Without meta-gaming recruiting an order used to following orders without any apparent risk to the herald could sway even a dalish.

[Icy Magebane]

My Dalish mage went with the Templars primarily because this conflict is a human problem and he was more interested in recruiting strong soldiers than liberating a bunch of shemlen wizards.

[draken-heart]

Just pick mages. Honestly, it doesn't make that much sense for a dalish mage to try and get the support of people who are fighting a war against mages and whose leader outright said the Inquisition templars are traitors simply for working with a mage. I wouldn't exactly feel safe going to the templars if I was a mage. Plus, you have a hostile foreign power you know is gunning for you with the mages and time magic. Dorian says time magic will spread and cause more chaos plus your advisors outright tell you that the Venatori are mobilizing for war. If you knew there was a hostile foreign power that you know is going after you and is preparing for war, why would you even ignore this issue and get the templars?

 

I would not really feel safe going to redcliff knowing that the foreign power there wants me dead either,

[Archdemon_Urthemiel]

I would not really feel safe going to redcliff knowing that the foreign power there wants me dead either,

I think getting rid if them immediately is way more pressing than waiting around for hem to attack you while you are busy getting he Templars. I've also heard your advisors tell you the Venatori see going to attack by the time you get he Templars. From what you've sad, there isn't that much of a non-meta gaming reason fir your character to get the Templars.

[Barquiel]

Dalish mage is my canon and given my characters distrust of the chantry, she clearly sympathizes with the mages and their wish for freedom (not to mention that there are no elves in the Chantry ranks, but a reasonable number of elves among the mages). The Templars also harass the dalish from time to time, so she would be happy to see them gone.

[Archdemon_Urthemiel]

Wasn't here a Templar who was sainted for killing a lot of elves? And don't the Templars try and hunt down the dalish ?

[Eliastion]

Funny that this topic comes up because I very recently went through this choice for the first time with a Dalish elf. Every playthrough I did I chose the templars because:
 
1. Tactically it's a no-brainer risk-wise. I feel like such an idiot if I choose the mages.(...)

The rest is pretty much up to your personal tastes and involves some metagaming, but with this one part perhaps I can help since (in my opinion) going to look for Templars would seem like a really stupid move unless you metagame. I've seen some pro-templar path arguments that make sense (so my feelings became less radicla than they were) but the general opinion still is in favor of mages:

1. First of all, at that point of game you wish to close the Breach. The Templars supposedly have some power that can help you, but they're one-trick ponies. With mages you can improvise or try changing approach, or try another approach if the initial attempt fails. That's a point for the mages.

2. Mages actually came to you with alliance proposition while Templars are at best indifferent, at worst hostile. So considering them to be potential allies is really iffy. So the only natural thing to do is try and go to Redcliffe where Fiona doesn't remember you... and you learn about Venatori agent messing with some time-travel rift-related magic AND apparently trying to make the mages his pawns... Suddenly he becomes as big of a threat as the Rift itself since he obviously has something to do with it. You just can't leave him be if you want to stop the danger the Breach poses - this guy must be taken care of and quick, before he completely solidifies his position. He invites you - it's a trap, obviously, but also an opportunity you can take now or never have again.

 

Basically, you have a potentially more willing, generally more versatile ally OR an organization that doesn't want to have anything to do with you and while it supposedly could help you with Templar powers, they really provide you with that one option only. If they powers prove ineffective, they just can't help you, period - while with mages you can still work on some alternate solution. That would be enough for me to choose Mages with any Inquisitor that cares for his job first - even without the fact that turning your back on Redcliffe you pretty much leave behind an enemy that seems to have something to do with the very source of the problem AND takes residence in nigh-unconquerable castle with force of his own and recently "acquired" rebel mages. It seems that he'll only get stronger and you are given a chance to use his arrogance against him and take him out of the picture. How irresponsible is it to not take this chance?

 

For me at the very least siding with Templars, while defensible (after reading some pro-templar arguments here, at least) requires some mental gymnastics to justify, since we only really get to know about the corruption Templars are undergoing once we commit to their path.

[TK514]

You don't need to know that the Templars need saving to choose their path.  All you need to know is that there is a large contingent of Tevinter and slave Mages occupying Redcliffe, and that the Inquisition does not have the troops to deal with them at that time.  Going to request assistance from the Templars in taking back Redcliffe from the mage occupation force is a no-brainer at that point, because it meets the goals of both organizations.  The Venatori are stopped and the Mages are dealt with.  You can take what magical expertise you need from the recaptured mages at your leisure from then on.

 

Walking into Alexius' trap is actually a bad plan, according to the in-game events.  Any plan that requires pure chance that the one person you need happens to be there and gets a lucky guess at the right time is not a good one.  Had Dorian guessed wrong with his final spell, the Inquisitor would have died in the future and Corypheus would have won.

[Boost32]

Wasn't here a Templar who was sainted for killing a lot of elves? And don't the Templars try and hunt down the dalish ?

It was a Exalted March, the elves were enemy of the mankind, they werent innocents ( and the mages had their part in the downfall of the Dales too, just ask arianne in the Witch Hunt).
The Templars dont hunt down the Dalish, there are reports of templars hunting Dalish mages, but they were in human lands, só the Chantry laws are applicable on them.
The only time we see templars vs Dalish in in DA2, if you sent Feynriel to the Dalish. The templars want Feynriel to be sent to the Circle and the Dalish didnt want to hand him over, depending on hawke choice one of the sides are killed. But the Dalish were harboring a apostate in Kirkwall's lands.

[Void Master]

Every time I have to make that choice I use this process... What would my soon to be lover want. Simple yet effective. Also really cheesy. Though sometimes I do the opposite choice just for the delicious irony.

[Eliastion]

You don't need to know that the Templars need saving to choose their path.  All you need to know is that there is a large contingent of Tevinter and slave Mages occupying Redcliffe, and that the Inquisition does not have the troops to deal with them at that time.  Going to request assistance from the Templars in taking back Redcliffe from the mage occupation force is a no-brainer at that point, because it meets the goals of both organizations.  The Venatori are stopped and the Mages are dealt with.  You can take what magical expertise you need from the recaptured mages at your leisure from then on.

 

Walking into Alexius' trap is actually a bad plan, according to the in-game events.  Any plan that requires pure chance that the one person you need happens to be there and gets a lucky guess at the right time is not a good one.  Had Dorian guessed wrong with his final spell, the Inquisitor would have died in the future and Corypheus would have won.

Templars wouldn't be worth much in an assault on a castle though and if not for cutscene incompetence, Alexius wouldn't get to activate his instant-time-travel-spell you couldn't possibly know about. And that wasn't really all that instant, it could be stopped if not for Cutscene Logic. Not to mention that you really should've had Cullen with you there or some other templar among your "entourage". And/or Cassandra who you actually can have there, but who has yet to "unlock" those antimagical powers she in fact has all along, but Gameplay and stuff.

Really, saying "it was a bad plan because they included a cutscene where every single participant on each side proved to be incompetent" isn't the best argument...

[Ashagar]

It was a Exalted March, the elves were enemy of the mankind, they werent innocents ( and the mages had their part in the downfall of the Dales too, just ask arianne in the Witch Hunt).
The Templars dont hunt down the Dalish, there are reports of templars hunting Dalish mages, but they were in human lands, só the Chantry laws are applicable on them.
The only time we see templars vs Dalish in in DA2, if you sent Feynriel to the Dalish. The templars want Feynriel to be sent to the Circle and the Dalish didnt want to hand him over, depending on hawke choice one of the sides are killed. But the Dalish were harboring a apostate in Kirkwall's lands.

 

Really I seem to recall being able to end the standoff with no bloodshed with my highly diplomatic Hawke but it has been few years since I played.

[draken-heart]

I think getting rid if them immediately is way more pressing than waiting around for hem to attack you while you are busy getting he Templars. I've also heard your advisors tell you the Venatori see going to attack by the time you get he Templars. From what you've sad, there isn't that much of a non-meta gaming reason fir your character to get the Templars.

 

But I cannot see much reason to go mage either, as the character is a DALISH mage, so dealing with the Venatori because mage=character is not something I can subscribe to. The only reason to go either side in the end is if you look at it from an inquisition first, the templars make more sense than risking an assassination on a place that is not assailable.

 

The only way I can see making a choice based on RP is by taking Dalish mage out of the equation and look at it from what best benefits the Inquisition.

[Boost32]

But I cannot see much reason to go mage either, as the character is a DALISH mage, so dealing with the Venatori because mage=character is not something I can subscribe to. The only reason to go either side in the end is if you look at it from an inquisition first, the templars make more sense than risking an assassination on a place that is not assailable.
 
The only way I can see making a choice based on RP is by taking Dalish mage out of the equation and look at it from what best benefits the Inquisition.

You could try this way, who your Dalish thinks is the better option to close the Breach? Since he is a mage he could know if its better to empower the mark, making it strong enough to close the breach, or is it to much dangerous and its better to supress the Breach and close it with the power that you already have within your mark?