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[andy6915]

I made this post in another topic, but it was the last post in that topic and is was days ago. Since I really took some time and thought making it, I've decided it might be worth posting on its own to hear some opinions about this subject.

 

Which origins do you think were the best recruits for Duncan?

 

Dalish- They're the least impressive and worthy of being a warden. All they did is fight through a couple skeletons and kill a tainted bear, then get tainted like an idiot. They survive, but only because the keeper's magic helped you. Then you go and kill a small number of darkspawn while Duncan handled the majority off screen. It felt like you get recruited more out of pity than you being actually worthy. I don't see a single impressive feat in the entire origin. worthy score- 4

 

casteless- no formal training, yet you won the proving that was in the grey warden's honor. The proving that was partly to show Duncan who the most promising fighter in the city was, to show him their most promising potential recruits. And yet your completely untrained ass goes and wins the proving against master fighters with decades of fighting experience and training. "Raw potential" doesn't even begin to describe that. Combine someone like that with actual training? Damn. Oh, and you go and cut through an entire Carta base and kill the leader on your way out simply for being in the way. God damn! Still, the casteless is extremely uneducated to the point of it being surprising that they can even read. However they can improve on their knowledge as they go through the game, so that is mitigated. worthy score- 9

 

Cousland- Extremely well trained and educated, raised in a house of warriors and expected to lead soldiers if needed. No actual battle experience in war, though background dialogue indicates you having gone to local tournaments before and doing excellently. Lack of experience is really the only thing they're weak in. That and even with their amazing training they're arguable a worse fighter than the casteless based on starting talents and stats. However they do fight through a hostile takeover and kill quite a lot of trained soldiers with ease, so they're definitely damn good even still. worthy score-7

 

mage- Apparently your harrowing was the quickest one in the circle's history, and the supposed STAR pupil of all the apprentices to the point that Irving practically bragged about you to Duncan. You then helped escort a non-combatant chantry sister through a hostile area, with many immortal guardians inside. Still, they're only about in the middle since they're still just a mere apprentice when they're recruited and their combat experience is almost nonexistent. A few spirits in the fade, a few spiders, and a few guardians, all in the same day. Still, you are a  mage which takes their worthy score from the planned 6 to a worthy score of 7.

 

city elf- No formal training, but lots of informal training. Very very skilled despite the informal nature of the training and their trainer being dead, with a fair bit of raw potential. No fighting experience at all from the sounds of it. Yet when push comes to shove, they leave the Arl's son "dead with a river of blood that runs through the palace" or something like that. Their only help was their COMPLETELY untrained cousin, who they manage to keep alive through the entire escape/siege. Like the casteless, not much training yet still have a lot of raw potential and talent. worthy score-8

 

noble dwarf- Now for the final, which is the best for last. They're perfection. They have so much fighting experience (AGAINST DARKSPAWN EVEN) that they're being made a general of the actual freaking army. And that's not just fighting experience, that means experience leading entire companies of soldiers with them. So both massive fighting experience, darkspawn experience, and commanding experience all at once. At Ostagar, they're probably the most experienced dealing with Darkspawn out of the entire military camp except maybe the senior grey wardens. They also have the absolute best training and education money can buy, matching or even exceeding the Cousland's own. And special mention to the female ones, that they're being made general. Societies with a declining population tend to be kinda sexist in a way, because every baby born is needed and so women are kept as far away from fighting roles as possible and considered better off just pumping out children. Dwarven noble women should be expected to just sit behind front lines and act as a baby makers for the good of their people, since they're more useful keeping dwarf numbers up than keeping darkspawn numbers down. But they're so damn skilled that even the dwarves see that it would be a severe waste of talent to not let her fight. And she fights and leads so well that she's being promoted. The other origins, sex isn't really a factor, but it is here. How skilled a dwarven women would have to be to become a general for the dwarves can't NOT be understated, so it gets her extra points for being female that they other origins don't. And when it's all said and done, they have to fight through the deeproads practically naked and completely alone... And they kick ass, leaving a few dozen corpses on their way out. There isn't a single area they're weak in or that I could talk badly about them. worthy score- 10

 

 

 

Agree, disagree?

[Xetykins]

The Dalish is the only one other than perhaps Dwarf Noble who has seen and fought darkspawn. That in itself is a hugh bump towards higher ranking than 4 :-/

[andy6915]

The Dalish is the only one other than perhaps Dwarf Noble who has seen and fought darkspawn. That in itself is a hugh bump towards higher ranking than 4 :-/

 

It's not like darkspawn fight particularly much better than other enemy types, especially since every soldier in Ostagar has killed at least a couple themselves. And you had a mage with you. And it wasn't exactly many you fought, merely stragglers.

 

Honestly, what you noted is the only reason I didn't give them something like a 2. So I did factor it.

[Xetykins]

Yes, but the topic is about the least and more worthy to be recruited into the grey wardens. And wardens are all about darkspawn. The dalish had actual experience with them and survived-ish. And they do have training, just probably rogue-ish ones mostly with bows and daggers since they are mostly tree huggers.

[Jaison1986]

Dwarf Commoner easily defeats many nobles who are veteran deep roads survivors. I think that gives qualification.

 

Honestly, I think almost all origins are suited.

 

Human and dwarf noble recieved the best possible combat training that money can buy.

 

Dwarf commoner shows immense skill at the provings.

 

Mage warden even if not partically skilled is extremely useful due to their rarity. Duncan had no mages in the wardens, and only a handful of them at Ostagar.

 

City elf slaughters a heavily guarded castle almost single handledly.

 

Persanilly, I didn't found Dalish all that impressive, especially with them having a mage helping them.

[sylvanaerie]

All the origins are in a 'rock or a hard place' situation being they will die if not recruited, but some have more experience fighting darkspawn than others.  And Wardens are all about fighting darkspawn.  They aren't human/dwarves, they don't think like humans/dwarves so they can't be lumped into a category with humans/dwarves--what most of the origins have encountered as enemies up to that point.  One reason I think Loghain's strategy was ultimately doomed to fail at Ostagar if the battles had protracted for any length is he can't really think like his opponents (Hive-mind being directed by an alien--dragon--thought process).  Think Borg only fleshy.

Numbers are deceptive, but I will assign numbers to my post at a rating of 0 being useless barmaid vs 10 being darkspawn killing machine.  I'd rather debate the reasons I feel each is better equipped to deal with the darkspawn as an enemy.

 

Even though it was my least favorite origin storywise, the most equipped to battle darkspawn is the Dwarf noble.  He/she is a seasoned veteran and a newly appointed commander of darkspawn skirmishes in the past.  10 without a doubt, and the only origin I feel comfortable assigning a 'number' to.

 

Second I'd rate the Dalish worthier than OP because that's the only other origin to have experience with actual darkspawn.  But only because of the darkspawn.  Even the few stragglers the PC encounters is more experience than any of the recruits and probably as much (or even more than) the GW's newest recruit, Alistair, has had since he's been kept from most of the battles by Duncan. In a dialogue with Alistair he speaks of how 'monstrous' he found them when first encountered, so I think there is a bit more to fighting darkspawn then just 'poke it with a sharp, pointy object'.  If they were that easy to kill, any mook would do as a recruit.  They doubtless use a lot of 'fear tactics' in battle--many of the seasoned warriors in Ostagar broke ranks and ran, while the grey wardens stood their ground, Sten says as much later.  Plus, the PC is a skilled hunter/warrior, not some green recruit, so they have some skill with scouting and maybe skirmishing with humans.  Wavering on a 6, maybe a 7, mostly because the Dalish origin doesn't come off as particularly an impressive fighter to me.  And because they have already been tainted, and survived (even with assistance) they have a much better chance of undergoing a successful joining than the other origins--from Duncan's perspective--although all have 'plot armor' and survive because it's in the script.

 

Of the rest I'd rank Human Noble/Mage next.  The one is a trained fighter, and while it's not against darkspawn, it is formal training vs just picking up a sword and swinging it.  The other has the ability to heal and damage large numbers at once, and is as trained in their own fighting ability (magic) as the human noble. Probably a 7 or so, because of the formal training, and the mage's potential restorative/AOE abilities.  Points deducted for having no practical experience with darkspawn.

 

And then Dwarven commoner/City Elf, with an edge to the commoner having actually fought for his/her life with 'dirty street fighting' styles for years vs what the City elf does on the wedding day.  Killing a bunch of complacent rapists who are used to terrorizing defenseless women hardly places Vaughan and his cronies/guards in a 'warrior capacity' or makes the PC particularly impressive as a warrior to me.  At least the commoner in the Provings is fighting warriors who fight on a daily basis.  Both have some  training, but it's hardly formal training, and the City Elf hasn't even killed anyone prior to the origin.  Yet both leave a path of destruction in their wake with relative ease.  Like the Dalish I'd have to go with a 6, but that probably has more than a bit of the 'underdog fights for his place' feel to the origin--which I enjoyed--than any 'worthiness' I feel they would have vs darkspawn since neither has any experience with darkspawn per se and both have 'dirty street fighting' styles vs formal training with their weapons.  

 

If more of the darkspawn were encountered in the origins, I'd adjust my scores accordingly, but only two have the creatures featured in their beginnings.

[andy6915]

All the origins are in a 'rock or a hard place' situation being they will die if not recruited, but some have more experience fighting darkspawn than others.  And Wardens are all about fighting darkspawn.  They aren't human/dwarves, they don't think like humans/dwarves so they can't be lumped into a category with humans/dwarves--what most of the origins have encountered as enemies up to that point.  One reason I think Loghain's strategy was ultimately doomed to fail at Ostagar if the battles had protracted for any length is he can't really think like his opponents (Hive-mind being directed by an alien--dragon--thought process).  Think Borg only fleshy.

Numbers are deceptive, but I will assign numbers to my post at a rating of 0 being useless barmaid vs 10 being darkspawn killing machine.  I'd rather debate the reasons I feel each is better equipped to deal with the darkspawn as an enemy.

 

Even though it was my least favorite origin storywise, the most equipped to battle darkspawn is the Dwarf noble.  He/she is a seasoned veteran and a newly appointed commander of darkspawn skirmishes in the past.  10 without a doubt.

 

Second I'd rate the Dalish worthier than OP because that's the only other origin to have experience with actual darkspawn.  But only because of the darkspawn.  Even the few stragglers the PC encounters is more experience than any of the recruits and probably as much (or even more than) the GW's newest recruit, Alistair, has had since he's been kept from most of the battles by Duncan. In a dialogue with Alistair he speaks of how 'monstrous' he found them when first encountered, so I think there is a bit more to fighting darkspawn then just 'poke it with a sharp, pointy object'.  If they were that easy to kill, any mook would do as a recruit.  They doubtless use a lot of 'fear tactics' in battle--many of the seasoned warriors in Ostagar broke ranks and ran, while the grey wardens stood their ground, Sten says as much later.  Plus, the PC is a skilled hunter/warrior, not some green recruit, so they have some skill with scouting and maybe skirmishing with humans.  Wavering on a 6, maybe a 7, mostly because the Dalish origin doesn't come off as particularly an impressive fighter to me.

 

Of the rest I'd rank Human Noble/Mage next.  The one is a trained fighter, and while it's not against darkspawn, it is formal training vs just picking up a sword and swinging it.  The other has the ability to heal and damage large numbers at once, and is as trained in their own fighting ability (magic) as the human noble. Probably a 7 or so, because of the formal training, and the mage's potential restorative/AOE abilities.  Points deducted for having no practical experience with darkspawn.

 

And then Dwarven commoner/City Elf, with an edge to the commoner having actually fought for his/her life with 'dirty street fighting' styles.  They have some  training, but it's hardly formal training, and the City Elf hasn't even killed anyone prior to the origin.  Yet both leave a path of destruction in their wake with relative ease.  Like the Dalish I'd have to go with a 6, but that probably has more than a bit of the 'underdog fights for his place' feel to the origin--which I enjoyed--than any 'worthiness' I feel they would have vs darkspawn since neither has any experience with darkspawn per se and both have 'dirty street fighting' styles vs formal training with their weapons.  

 

If more of the darkspawn were encountered in the origins, I'd adjust my scores accordingly, but only two have the creatures featured in their beginnings.

 

I guess I don't consider darkspawn experience as in just killing a few to count much. Fighting them en mass in the deep roads and having to adapt to their tactics is a lot different from just fighting a small number with Merrill backing you up, one is far more important than the other.

 

Interestingly, I strike issue far more with your assessment of the 2 underdogs more than I do the Dalish. They absolutely deserve far more than a mere 6, they're likely the 2 most naturally gifted out of any other them (baring maybe dwarven noble who is just perfect at freaking everything). Their natural combat ability is ridiculous for how not-trained they are, and someone as experienced with Duncan can see that their potential is enormous. I can't agree with anything less than a 7, and even that is too low if you ask me. But I could at least accept the opinion of a 7 for them, like I did your Dalish score. But a 6, the same score as the Dalish? Too low. There is a clear gap in recruit worthiness there, not a minor-to-nonexistent gap like that. To say they're on the same level as the Dalish because the Dalish fought against 6 darkspawn grunts with a mage's help is just... Well, it's wrong. The 2 commoners fight through dozens of people with an ally who probably doesn't know the pommel from the pointy end and completely show up more experienced fighters, and the Dalish is their equal because they did the killing blow of maybe 3 hurlocks out of Merrill and the other guy who tags along and themselves? I can't change your mind, but we're going to have significant differences of opinion on that one.

[sylvanaerie]

I guess I don't consider darkspawn experience as in just killing a few to count much. Fighting them en mass in the deep roads and having to adapt to their tactics is a lot different from just fighting a small number with Merrill backing you up, one is far more important than the other.

 

Interestingly, I strike issue far more with your assessment of the 2 underdogs more than I do the Dalish. They absolutely deserve far more than a mere 6, they're likely the 2 most naturally gifted out of any other them (baring maybe dwarven noble who is just perfect at freaking everything). Their natural combat ability is ridiculous for how not-trained they are, and someone as experienced with Duncan can see that their potential is enormous. I can't agree with anything less than a 7, and even that is too low if you ask me. But I could at least accept the opinion of a 7 for them, like I did your Dalish score. But a 6, the same score as the Dalish? Too low. There is a clear gap in recruit worthiness there, not a minor-to-nonexistent gap like that. To say they're on the same level as the Dalish because the Dalish fought against 6 darkspawn grunts with a mage's help is just... Well, it's wrong. The 2 commoners fight through dozens of people with an ally who probably doesn't know the pommel from the pointy end and completely show up more experienced fighters, and the Dalish is their equal because they did the killing blow of maybe 3 hurlocks out of Merrill and the other guy who tags along and themselves? I can't change your mind, but we're going to have significant differences of opinion on that one.

 

This is why I didn't want to assign a number value to any of them (except the Dwarf Noble).  Numbers are subjective, and I'd rather debate the reasons I chose to rank them as I did.

 

You make it sound like there is a huge disparity of experience between origins, yet each arrives at Ostagar (if you do everything) just shy of level 3--I always dinged on arrival right after speaking to Cailan and Duncan.  This means the number of creatures fought and codex entries found is relatively similar (with the mages edging out on codex entries), with no origin 'outfighting' any other.  If anything the mage has less practical experience with combat than the others because of the disparity of codex xp being so much higher in the mage origin.  And all the origins have some helper with them during most of the fighting, Merrill is no more or less helpful than Jowan or Mother Cousland or Leske.

 

The Dalish (while not striking me as particularly impressive as a warrior) has actual practical experience with Darkspawn.  Whether with Merrill or Fenarel (and you don't have to bring Fenarel) or not, he/she has some experience with them, unlike the other origins who haven't.  They are a seasoned warrior/scout.  They already have undergone their rite of passage to adulthood (the Vellaslin).  And they have already survived a level of taint that would kill a lesser willed person--Duncan will even make note of that in his recruitment speech.  For all these reasons, I feel they are more worthy than you give them credit for, but none of the origins even touches the Dwarf Noble with training, or practical experience.

 

Perhaps I could score the Dwarf commoner a little higher, but not more than a 7 at best.  He/she at least is a dirty street fighter with more experience than the city elf, who's claim to fame is 'being trained by his/her mother'.  City elf hasn't been in any fights prior to entering Vaughan's estate and killing a half dozen complacent guards and three spoiled nobles, who are more used to terrorizing defenseless women than actual combat hardly makes them on a par with the skill of even the Dalish, the least impressive of the origins to me.  The dwarf fights in the provings against some drugged opponents but at least he/she does so solo.  So perhaps I should have rated them separately than the City elf, but I felt as they were coming from a position of similar circumstance, I rated them together.  As i said, I'd rather argue reasons than numbers.

[Jaison1986]

Actually, dwarf commoner can choose to fight enemies at the proving without drugging them. Making their victory even more impressive.

[mousestalker]

If we are ranking the origins, then I think what needs to be looked at is motivation to become a Gray Warden.

The Dalish is clearly the best motivated, not only does he or she already have the taint, the Darkspawn killed Tamlen. There are two excellent motives right there, one to join and the other to fight.

The human noble has no such motivation. His or her only casus belli is against Howe. While agreeing to become a Gray Warden secures Duncan's aid in fleeing the castle, it potentially could prove a hindrance in defeating Howe. That it actually does not work out that way would not be immediately apparent to a Cousland recruit.

Likewise, for the two dwarven origins, becoming a Gray Warden is a step up for the dwarf commoner and the way to survive for the noble, but outside of the traditional dwarven antipathy to darkspawn, there really isn't much more motivation present.

The city elf and the mage origins are rescue, pure and simple, with no underlying motive to fight darkspawn.

[andy6915]

The Dalish (while not striking me as particularly impressive as a warrior) has actual practical experience with Darkspawn. Whether with Merrill or Fenarel (and you don't have to bring Fenarel) or not, he/she has some experience with them, unlike the other origins who haven't. They are a seasoned warrior/scout. They already have undergone their rite of passage to adulthood (the Vellaslin). And they have already survived a level of taint that would kill a lesser willed person--Duncan will even make note of that in his recruitment speech.  For all these reasons, I feel they are more worthy than you give them credit for, but none of the origins even touches the Dwarf Noble with training, or practical experience.

So they're adults, have typical Dalish training, and they survive a lethal level of blight thanks to a very powerful Keeper mage... Yeah, not seeing anything that stands out.

 

Perhaps I could score the Dwarf commoner a little higher, but not more than a 7 at best.  He/she at least is a dirty street fighter with more experience than the city elf, who's claim to fame is 'being trained by his/her mother'.  City elf hasn't been in any fights prior to entering Vaughan's estate and killing a half dozen complacent guards and three spoiled nobles, who are more used to terrorizing defenseless women than actual combat hardly makes them on a par with the skill of even the Dalish, the least impressive of the origins to me.  The dwarf fights in the provings against some drugged opponents but at least he/she does so solo.  So perhaps I should have rated them separately than the City elf, but I felt as they were coming from a position of similar circumstance, I rated them together.  As i said, I'd rather argue reasons than numbers.

Half dozen complacent guards? City elf kills 30 people in the origin if you don't let Solas get any kills , I did a count of the number of enemies. That's a hell of a lot more than 6 guards.

Okay, 30 ENEMIES. 3 of the enemies are mabari, not "people".
 

Actually, dwarf commoner can choose to fight enemies at the proving without drugging them. Making their victory even more impressive.

I've never poisoned them. My casteless wants to beat them for real.

[sylvanaerie]

So they're adults, have typical Dalish training, and they survive a lethal level of blight thanks to a very powerful Keeper mage... Yeah, not seeing anything that stands out.

 

Half dozen complacent guards? City elf kills 30 people in the origin if you don't let Solas get any kills , I did a count of the number of enemies. That's a hell of a lot more than 6 guards.

Okay, 30 ENEMIES. 3 of the enemies are mabari, not "people".
 

I've never poisoned them. My casteless wants to beat them for real.

 

And yet your city elf arrives at Ostagar with the same level of experience to the Dalish, not a huge disparity over it. You make it sound like the Dalish encounters one or two, stands around while Merrill does the grunt work and then takes credit. 

 

But my point is, none of the origins has an edge over the others as far as leveling experience, and at least the Dalish has actually encountered the enemy Grey Wardens combat.  Aside from the dwarven noble, none of the others have.

 

If looking for 'worthiness' which was the original topic, this puts the Dalish at least a step up from all other origins but the dwarven noble.

[andy6915]

And yet your city elf arrives at Ostagar with the same level of experience to the Dalish, not a huge disparity over it. You make it sound like the Dalish encounters one or two, stands around while Merrill does the grunt work and then takes credit. 

 

But my point is, none of the origins has an edge over the others as far as leveling experience, and at least the Dalish has actually encountered the enemy Grey Wardens combat.  Aside from the dwarven noble, none of the others have.

 

If looking for 'worthiness' which was the original topic, this puts the Dalish at least a step up from all other origins but the dwarven noble.

 

Fighting a couple darkspawn isn't that big of a deal, is my point. I don't see a handful of hurlocks being a bigger threat than 30 soldiers+mabari.

 

And the "arrive at Ostagar with same level of experience as other origins" thing is story-game play-segregation. Or do you really think the dwarven noble who has led several campaigns against darkspawn on their home turf has the same level of experience as, say, the human noble?

[sylvanaerie]

Fighting a couple darkspawn isn't that big of a deal, is my point. I don't see a handful of hurlocks being a bigger threat than 30 soldiers+mabari.

 

And the "arrive at Ostagar with same level of experience as other origins" thing is story-game play-segregation. Or do you really think the dwarven noble who has led several campaigns against darkspawn on their home turf has the same level of experience as, say, the human noble?

 

Have you even read my posts?  The dwarven noble origin is the ONLY one hands above all the others for worthy grey warden recruitment.  I have repeatedly stated this. 

 

There are more than just 'a couple of darkspawn' in the Dalish origin, you downplay the darkspawn risk/taint in your assessments.  You ask "who is more worthy of grey warden recruitment'? in your topic title.  I feel actually having been exposed to the taint, and survived it (for whatever reasons) and having actual practical experience with the enemy of more value than killing a bunch of complacent guards.  

The reason I bring up gameplay experience is the disparity of enemies you're trying to boost the City elf with.  My point is, you don't fight a significant number of enemies more than any other origin as all origins arrive at Ostagar with a similar level of experience.  The city elf doesn't fight 30 enemies vs 'a handful' of enemies for the Dalish.

[mousestalker]

I may be reading too much into these posts, but I think y'all may be confusing worthiest vs most fun or rewarding.

My favourite origins are city elf and dwarf commoner. My least favourite, due to its brevity, is the Dalish.

That doesn't mean I don't like the Dalish. I do. It's just too short.

As for worthiest to be a Gray Warden, the dwarf noble is way up there, as is the Dalish. The city elf is not. But it is still my favourite origin.

[andy6915]

Have you even read my posts?  The dwarven noble origin is the ONLY one hands above all the others for worthy grey warden recruitment.  I have repeatedly stated this. 

 

There are more than just 'a couple of darkspawn' in the Dalish origin, you downplay the darkspawn risk/taint in your assessments.  You ask "who is more worthy of grey warden recruitment'? in your topic title.  I feel actually having been exposed to the taint, and survived it (for whatever reasons) and having actual practical experience with the enemy of more value than killing a bunch of complacent guards.  

The reason I bring up gameplay experience is the disparity of enemies you're trying to boost the City elf with.  My point is, you don't fight a significant number of enemies more than any other origin as all origins arrive at Ostagar with a similar level of experience.  The city elf doesn't fight 30 enemies vs 'a handful' of enemies for the Dalish.

 

I will give credit to the Dalish on one note you did just bring up. They're tainted, yet surviving. That does mean that they're almost ASSURED to survive the joining. Actually a good recruit choice or not, a grey warden will jump at the chance to recruit somebody that they don't even have to remotely worry that the joining will kill them. Something like that might make it worth it to pick a potentially sub-par recruit, an assured decent grey warden over a possible awesome grey warden.

 

And actually, different origins do have a big discrepancy in enemy numbers. Human noble origin has a whopping 48 human enemies in it (specifically Howe soldiers). City elf has 27 human and 3 dogs, human noble gets 48 actual humans. And that's not counting all the enemies, the number is even higher if those stupid giant rats in the larder are counted. That's a significant different.

[andy6915]

I may be reading too much into these posts, but I think y'all may be confusing worthiest vs most fun or rewarding.

My favourite origins are city elf and dwarf commoner. My least favourite, due to its brevity, is the Dalish.

That doesn't mean I don't like the Dalish. I do. It's just too short.

As for worthiest to be a Gray Warden, the dwarf noble is way up there, as is the Dalish. The city elf is not. But it is still my favourite origin.

 

No, I don't think so. I completely detest playing a mage in DAO and find it to be a VERY boring origin story, but I still give the mage warden recruit of that origin their dues.

[Beregond5]

Well, it depends what someone means by worthy. If we're going with who has the most experience in fighting darkspawn, I'd say the Dwarven Noble. They venture to the Deep Roads a lot (iirc, they went on more than just that one expedition in the prologue), so, they're the best when it comes to knowing the threat the Darkspawn pose and how to deal with them. If we're going with resisting the Taint and thus surviving first the Joining and then whatever the Blight throws at them, then I'd go with the Dalish. Fighting prowess, regardless who the enemy is? The City-elf (the bodycount is impressive in their origin story). The political status to unite people under one banner? The Couslands. The one who's ready to do even the dirtiest job if it means stopping the Blight? The Dwarf-commoner. And the Mage Warden is one of the best mages of the Circle, with lots of power, which, in a way, makes them more than just a little worthy; what better Warden than someone calling a good old Storm of the Century and killing Darkspawn by the hundreds?

If we go with their personal situation, however... I don't know. All of them are either facing death or life incarceration - I'm not sure if one can say 'Let me take out this balance and see who's going to get screwed over the worst or the least and then decide who to take.' (Unless the Mage cooperates with Irving and sets Jowan and Lily up - then, technically, they don't warrant any punishment from the Templars... which makes Duncan wanting to recruit the Mage Warden - and making it sound as if they're rescuing them - kind of weird...)

[sylvanaerie]

I may be reading too much into these posts, but I think y'all may be confusing worthiest vs most fun or rewarding.

My favourite origins are city elf and dwarf commoner. My least favourite, due to its brevity, is the Dalish.

That doesn't mean I don't like the Dalish. I do. It's just too short.

As for worthiest to be a Gray Warden, the dwarf noble is way up there, as is the Dalish. The city elf is not. But it is still my favourite origin.

 

Actually, the two I rated the highest are my two least favorite origins.  My favorite is the human noble, for the connection they have to the overall story and the ability to be king/queen at the end.  Followed by the city elf and dwarf commoner for that 'underdog does good' vibe.  Mage is next because of the additional mention/dialogues they get throughout the game (the best flirt line with Bann Teagan is for mage females).

[mousestalker]

Actually, the two I rated the highest are my two least favorite origins.  My favorite is the human noble, for the connection they have to the overall story and the ability to be king/queen at the end.  Followed by the city elf and dwarf commoner for that 'underdog does good' vibe.  Mage is next because of the additional mention/dialogues they get throughout the game (the best flirt line with Bann Teagan is for mage females).

When I heard Bann Sexy's line with my mage I just about died.

 

 

Also, back on the main point, if the metric we wish to use is foes slain, shouldn't quality factor in as well as quantity? In the human noble origin, I can only remember one non-mook, whereas in the city elf origin there is the bodyguard as well as Vaughan. The mage faces a pretty nasty demon plus a non-mook statue. The dwarf commoner fights the provers as well as Beraht. I don't remember the dwarf noble.

[sylvanaerie]

When I heard Bann Sexy's line with my mage I just about died.

 

IKR?  OMG that man is smoother than silk!

[Snook]

I don't see any of the origins as being particularly 'unworthy.' 

 

Even if the Dalish Warden doesn't show much off to Duncan directly, s/he still fought through darkspawn and undead to reach him, and Marethari likely recommended them to him, and not just in a bid to save their life. Chatter among the camp implies Mahariel and Tamlen were two of the most promising hunters in the clan. If Duncan wants to leave with a recruit, why not them? 

 

It should also be noted Duncan himself was recruited as a gutter rat who killed someone after pickpocketing them...probably has an eye for talent even when it's not entirely clear. And, it pays off no matter who he recruits. 

[MisterJB]

I'm biased, but I believe that after Ostagar, Cousland becomes the most worthy.

 

All Origins have something tragic happen that force them to leave all they have known their whole lives behind. But with the Dalish, for instance, you know that your clan is still out there and fighting the Darkspawn will protect them . But everyone Cousland ever loved is dead due to a betrayal by someone he knew their whole lives.

And then, a mere couple days later, it happens AGAIN! Someone Cousland likely looked up to, with Loghain being a national hero, betrayed the group that would be Cousland's new home and everyone is dead and s/he is left with the only other Warden being his/her senior by only weeks and could not lead them to their lunches.

At this point, who could blame them if Cousland became wandering drunks?

But not, they pick themselves up, dust themselves off and save the world.

[andy6915]

I'm biased, but I believe that after Ostagar, Cousland becomes the most worthy.

 

All Origins have something tragic happen that force them to leave all they have known their whole lives behind. But with the Dalish, for instance, you know that your clan is still out there and fighting the Darkspawn will protect them . But everyone Cousland ever loved is dead due to a betrayal by someone he knew their whole lives.

And then, a mere couple days later, it happens AGAIN! Someone Cousland likely looked up to, with Loghain being a national hero, betrayed the group that would be Cousland's new home and everyone is dead and s/he is left with the only other Warden being his/her senior by only weeks and could not lead them to their lunches.

At this point, who could blame them if Cousland became wandering drunks?

But not, they pick themselves up, dust themselves off and save the world.

 

That... Has nothing to do with anything. I'm judging who the best recruit is before they're a warden. Like if Duncan somehow saw visions of the future of all 6 origins recruit possibilities, which would he consider the one he wants to make the trip for to get? Which recruit is the most promising as a potential.

 

 

I don't see any of the origins as being particularly 'unworthy.' 

 

Even if the Dalish Warden doesn't show much off to Duncan directly, s/he still fought through darkspawn and undead to reach him, and Marethari likely recommended them to him, and not just in a bid to save their life. Chatter among the camp implies Mahariel and Tamlen were two of the most promising hunters in the clan. If Duncan wants to leave with a recruit, why not them? 

 

It should also be noted Duncan himself was recruited as a gutter rat who killed someone after pickpocketing them...probably has an eye for talent even when it's not entirely clear. And, it pays off no matter who he recruits. 

 

True to the last part. I think Duncan even flat out tells the city elf that, that talent can be found in the most unlikely of places.

 

 

I agree with this so much. There are so many ways to judge a character as "worthy" that any of them can measure up depending on which standard you measure with. (Experience fighting darkspawn, experience surviving exposure to the taint, experience making tough decisions, experience rolling with whatever new punches life throws at you, etc).

 

Like you said though, every single character from every single origin is shown to get stuck with a life-or-death scenario, where they had to roll with the punches and/or think outside the box in order to survive said life-or-death situation. (CE has to fight through a castle of armed and armored guards starting with nothing but a few borrowed weapons and then has to make things up as they go, DC faces a Proving with heavily experienced darkspawn veterans despite being an unformally trained sellsword themself and then has to break out of a heavily locked and guarded criminal headquarters, etc.) 

 

Even though I personally like some origins better than others, I think they're all "worthy" in different ways.

 

You're not going to list your opinion of the order though? Even if you don't want to put a grade score, you could still do a best-to-worst or worst-to-best list.

 

 

Well, it depends what someone means by worthy. If we're going with who has the most experience in fighting darkspawn, I'd say the Dwarven Noble. They venture to the Deep Roads a lot (iirc, they went on more than just that one expedition in the prologue), so, they're the best when it comes to knowing the threat the Darkspawn pose and how to deal with them. If we're going with resisting the Taint and thus surviving first the Joining and then whatever the Blight throws at them, then I'd go with the Dalish. Fighting prowess, regardless who the enemy is? The City-elf (the bodycount is impressive in their origin story). The political status to unite people under one banner? The Couslands. The one who's ready to do even the dirtiest job if it means stopping the Blight? The Dwarf-commoner. And the Mage Warden is one of the best mages of the Circle, with lots of power, which, in a way, makes them more than just a little worthy; what better Warden than someone calling a good old Storm of the Century and killing Darkspawn by the hundreds?

If we go with their personal situation, however... I don't know. All of them are either facing death or life incarceration - I'm not sure if one can say 'Let me take out this balance and see who's going to get screwed over the worst or the least and then decide who to take.' (Unless the Mage cooperates with Irving and sets Jowan and Lily up - then, technically, they don't warrant any punishment from the Templars... which makes Duncan wanting to recruit the Mage Warden - and making it sound as if they're rescuing them - kind of weird...)

 

You just listed things that can't be counted. Like the Cousland is the one with the "political status to unite the land"... No. Duncan was a very strict wardens-are-neutral person, and as far as Duncan knew there wasn't going to be any land uniting because he didn't know Loghain was going to cause civil war. That CANNOT be listed as a pro for them as a recruit, because them getting involved in politics as a warden wasn't supposed to happen or even remotely considered during recruitment.

 

 

 

Oh, and I have increased the Dalish score in my mind to a 5. Snook's post and the point made that they're just about fully assured to survive the joining thanks to already showing off strong taint resistance has made me bumped them up a bit. No matter how bad or good they are, someone having a 100% chance of surviving the joining is significant.