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[thats1evildude]

I wrote a sad story about Cole. Or maybe it's just my writing that's depressingly bad.

 

http://zombiehunter5...spair-565746133

[Korva]

Agh, definitely. I'd always 'headcanoned' Cole as aromantic and asexual (whether spirit or human-like). So it's to see him suddenly in a relationship with Maryden. I wouldn't be as bothered if Cole's story was built around the concept of wanting to experience mortal romance or something.

 

That would still bother me because of the same false human=sex equivalence, but at least it would be upfront and not come out of the blue as if they cobbled it together five minutes before the deadline.

It's especially odd, because it seems designed to annoy both people who liked Cole aro/ace, and people who were interested in him romantically. Is there any group of people who actually wanted him paired with a random npc? Weird.

 

There's that. I'm generally of the opinion that writers should believe in their "vision" for a character, but I don't believe that this was the whole point of his more-human version from the start. It's just so lazy on every level, especially in the light of the complete lack of actual friendship content with the Inquisitor, which should have been the priority for the DLC.

 

He makes an offhand comment that it's still "awkward" around Cassandra. I'll take that as a tentatively good sign. Perhaps she's no longer angry, but isn't sure how to go about rebuilding their friendship. Cole shouldn't leave yet, he's still got his work cut out for him with this bunch of oddballs. 

 

That is true. I kind of see Varric as the social glue and the "morale officer" of the bunch on a mundane level, but also imagine Cole doing much the same in his own unique ways ... especially when it comes to people being upset with each other. He likes seeing people happy, he plays romantic matchmaker, so I could see him encouraging meaningul platonic bonds too. And trying his best to "heal" those bonds when they get "hurt".

 

Same here!   It makes me wonder if Cole inspired him, especially with the post-reveal banters in the main game.

 

Most likely. I think Cole deserves a lot more credit for "making it better" than my Inquisitor does, when it comes to Blackwall's healing and return to his old name, but he's a humble fellow.

 

Hmm, if I remember rightly, after Rainier's story about the explosion, Cole says something like "I'm glad you survived, Thom." It's pretty simple, but he says it in such a genuine way that I find it very touching.

 

Ahh. That's Cole for you. It's one reason why I love him so much -- he's nothing but sincere and can put a lot of emotion and meaning into very few words.

 

DAI can be so all-over-the-place sometimes with character relationships. I'll be so certain that characters have formed a strong bond, only for the game to throw me later. Like Cass and Rainier's Skyhold comments regarding Cole, when we've just seem them becoming friends in banter. It's a bizarre step back from DA2, but perhaps the timeskips helped them pace those.

 

Oh yes. NPCs have such great banters, but more often than not they seem to exist in a vacuum and don't affect the characters outside of those banters. I haven't played DA2  -- doesn't have that some kind of "act structure" that would make it a lot easier for the writers to say, okay, this has happened between these people by now and their relationship has changed as a result?

 

That piece of dialogue was a fine example. Even if they had him say it (which feels out of character tbh), they could have had a reaction wheel from the Inquisitor. Along the lines of: "That's not true Cole, we care about you too. Help us to understand."

 

Definitely OOC, yes. Not the fact that Solas understands, but the heavily implied "only Solas". As I said, it clashes so hard with the dinner cutscene and his explicit affection and gratitude for the Inquisitor's faith in him. That moment made me felt like the writer "got it" and really connected the two characters, while this rather insulting line completely disconnected Cole from his friends.

 

It's one thing that makes me hope Cole doesn't appear again, because I certainly wouldn't want to see him associating with Solas. Except to stop him. He should be true to his character. Not a tool to make Solas seem more 'human' and understandable.

 

We might be in the minority there, sadly. It would be weird to not see him again when both the world and his friends are at stake, but it would be much worse if he was used in that way at the expense of his integrity, his established character and his other friendships. If they want me to have any faith or interest in redemption arc, it will have to be built on Solas own actions.

 

 

@thats1evildude: Wow, you're living up to your username. That's really disturbing but at the same time I could absolutely see it happening in this way. Poor Cole ... and the whole of Skyhold.

[BloodKaiden]

I forgot how talkative Cole was when taking him to Emprise Du Lion. XD

Cole: Don't Listen!
James: Huh, what's wrong Cole?
Cole: The music, its sickening.
James: ...it's ok buddy. I won't listen.

[Korva]

... then proceeeds to build several camps right on the biggest concentrations of the stuff.

 

I like Emprise du Lion, but they went totally overboard with the amount of red lyrium. Less would have been more in this case.

[thats1evildude]

Well, to be fair, they do seem to remove some of it when setting up a camp.

[BraveVesperia]

There's that. I'm generally of the opinion that writers should believe in their "vision" for a character, but I don't believe that this was the whole point of his more-human version from the start. It's just so lazy on every level, especially in the light of the complete lack of actual friendship content with the Inquisitor, which should have been the priority for the DLC.

It's particularly sad because this may have been our last opportunity for that friendship content. Even if the Inquisitor is the protag for the next game, it might be with a reduced selection of companions, or new ones. I guess what's done is done though.

 

Ahh. That's Cole for you.   It's one reason why I love him so much -- he's nothing but sincere and can put a lot of emotion and meaning into very few words.

Definitely a testament to his voice actor too! He did a wonderful job of breathing life into Cole. 

 

Oh yes. NPCs have such great banters, but more often than not they seem to exist in a vacuum and don't affect the characters outside of those banters. I haven't played DA2  -- doesn't have that some kind of "act structure" that would make it a lot easier for the writers to say, okay, this has happened between these people by now and their relationship has changed as a result?

Yeah, DA2 featured time-skips for each Act, so we say companions' relationships grow after each one. Something like that would be useful to bring back, but without time-skips (perhaps to reflect the number of main quests completed).

 

Definitely OOC, yes. Not the fact that Solas understands, but the heavily implied "only Solas". As I said, it clashes so hard with the dinner cutscene and his explicit affection and gratitude for the Inquisitor's faith in him. That moment made me felt like the writer "got it" and really connected the two characters, while this rather insulting line completely disconnected Cole from his friends.

Especially when it's combined with not being able to interact with him much. It feels like there's suddenly this distance between our Inquisitor and Cole. Two years should be strengthening the bond between Cole and party, even if there are still misunderstandings. It seems rather odd when Patrick Weekes wrote both Solas and Cole.

 

We might be in the minority there, sadly.   It would be weird to not see him again when both the world and his friends are at stake, but it would be much worse if he was used in that way at the expense of his integrity, his established character and his other friendships. If they want me to have any faith or interest in redemption arc, it will have to be built on Solas own actions.

I guess we can just hope that they stay true to Cole. It'd really suck to develop just a fascinating character just to make him a tool for Solas' character and story instead. 

[Korva]

It's particularly sad because this may have been our last opportunity for that friendship content. Even if the Inquisitor is the protag for the next game, it might be with a reduced selection of companions, or new ones. I guess what's done is done though.

 

Yeah. Honestly, I've pretty much written off the series at this point. Inquisition had just given me my enthusiasm back, despite its flaws, but Trespasser twisted that inside out on every level. I just can't see how I'll muster any interest in further games after that. Not even if the Inquisitor returns as the protagonist

 

Definitely a testament to his voice actor too! He did a wonderful job of breathing life into Cole. 

 

It might honestly be the best voice acting I've ever heard and I hope he got a lot of positive feedback for it. I wonder how he got the role, and whether getting into Cole's head to voice him was emotionally exhausting similar to how Weekes described the process of writing him.

 

Especially when it's combined with not being able to interact with him much. It feels like there's suddenly this distance between our Inquisitor and Cole. Two years should be strengthening the bond between Cole and party, even if there are still misunderstandings. It seems rather odd when Patrick Weekes wrote both Solas and Cole.

 

It's painfully obvious who got all the attention this time around and who was merely an afterthought.

[Xilizhra]

 

Yeah. Honestly, I've pretty much written off the series at this point. Inquisition had just given me my enthusiasm back, despite its flaws, but Trespasser twisted that inside out on every level. I just can't see how I'll muster any interest in further games after that. Not even if the Inquisitor returns as the protagonist

Wait, how is it bad enough to crash the series?

[Korva]

On a less gloomy note, is there any character from other games, Bioware's or otherwise, that people here would like Cole to meet? Be it for humor or for deep insight or any other reason. I have a few candidates:

 

1) Iolo from the old Ultima series. He's one of the companions who accompanied the protagonist on her journey of spiritual enlightenment, and became one of her closest friends. The virtue he has achieved enlightenment in (there are eight, with each of the original companions embodying one and the protagonist encompassing them all) is Compassion. So the point of connection with Cole is obvious. Iolo is friendly, caring, deeply loyal and has a great sense of humor. He's also both a famous bard and a bowyer, and a wickedly good shot with a crossbow.

 

2) Kang the Mad from Jade Empire. Granted, this is partly because he wears a hat that is about as big and ridiculous as Cole's is. No doubt Cole would love it. Their personalities would not be very compatible since Kang is an eccentric inventor who does not concern himself with "normal" human matters and enjoys inventing things that go boom, and that would probably be too loud and destructive for our shy and gentle spirit. However, there's a vague parallel since Kang is actually very minor god who made himself mortal to escape the wrath of greater powers, though he forgot his true nature in the process and the divine part of him is locked away by said greater powers until the player helps him regain it. I think Cole would sympathize with the "you forgot who you are and had to make a new you" bit.

 

3) Wild Flower/Chai Ka from the same game. A benevolent demon (not a contradiction in this setting) is sent into the world to help save it, and reanimates the body of a child who died horribly as his physical anchor? For karmic balance a truly malign monstrosity is also bound to the same child and constantly struggles with him for supremacy? Wild Flower is a willing host for Chai Kai, but fears the other one, and even Chai Kai can't shield her from all the horrors she's seen (though at least he made her forget how she died)? I think that would really speak to Cole on almost every level ... and the conversations he'd have with Chai Ka would surely be fascinating.

 

Cole would fit right into Jade Empire in general, and have no end of work on his hands given how the death of the Water Dragon and the perversion of her power by mortal hands is slowly dooming the world.

 

4) Revan from Knights of the Old Republic. Just KotOR, not the semi-sequel or any other material. Would playing Revan as someone who genuinely tries to do good, both before and after she regains knowledge of her true identity, be enough in Cole's mind despite the atrocities she committed as the Lord of the Sith? Would he immediately empathize with Bastila, who showed compassion for a dying enemy and as a result got slapped with a bond with said enemy by the Force for the purpose of redeeming Revan, a bond that might doom her too if redemption fails?

[FernRain]

Hey Cole thread, in the spirit of Halloween I thought I'd post a picture I'd been working on the last week for the occasion:
 

 
Based on when he is "listening":
 

 
Happy Halloween everyone! And here's a bonus sketch I did a couple of months ago when I started to draw:

Spoiler

[magic713]

I absolutely love Cole. Ever since reading Asunder, he has been a close second to my favorite character in Dragon Age (my favorite being Shale). I sympathized with the character in the book and I appreciate how he wants to help people by the point of Inquisition. He gains no glory or praise for helping people because initially they won't remember him.

 

Plus, he had an innocence in him that just made me want to hug him like a little brother. I was very glad that his personal quest had no "win-or-lose" format, and I liked both outcomes for Spirit and Human, especially during the follow-up where we take him to lunch.

[Korva]

@FernRain: Looking good. The inspiration for the drawing was immediately obvious, yes.

 

@magic713: Indeed, he's selfless in his aid for others and that is a huge part of why I love him so much as well. Still, I think it must do him some good to feel gratitude and eventually friendship from those whom he does allow to remember him. He's got some hurts of his own that need healing, and the realization that "even" people who know what he is won't automatically turn away from or against him likely helps with that.

[LukaCrosszeria]

I adore Cole too, both in Asunder and DAI.
 
I've decided to make him more human on my new playthrough, since I found it too heart-breaking that he had go back into the Fade completely alone. Also couldn't stand seeing him going from person to person to help them, but nobody helps him! Poor cinnamon roll *hugs Cole*.
 
I can't stomach his relationship in Trespasser though if he's made more human, so much so that I came to this thread vent share 

 

It's bad enough Trespasser suffers from pair the spares and red string puppetry, but subjecting Cole to that? A hitherto aromantic, asexual spirit learning to become human, so much potential there. But no, let's sledgehammer that possibility by lumping him together post-time skip with someone who the Inquisitor can't even get to know and isn't invested in - as opposed to Cole himself. Portraying them as a couple of neo-hippie flower children who take to the road to spread happiness makes me gag to boot. There is still the threat of Solas who wants to destroy the entire world but because he's more human now Cole doesn't want to save one of his best friends anymore ("he's not that kind of wolf"). Unlike the others he was much closer to Solas, but rather than help he goes off spreading joy and happiness? Right. It comes completely out of left field too. Every companion goes off to do things for which the basis was laid in the main game and which the Inquisitor in most cases could influence, except Cole.

 
Can add this to the other romance debacle   (no Varric romance because he's pining for a married (conceited self-loving insufferable) Relationship Sue, which is bad enough, but the Inquisitor has no opportunity to help someone they care about break off an unhealthy relationship (or kick Bianca's ass, no way my Inquisitor would have let that threat slide but she was protected by plot armor)).
 
Ahem. As for a romance between Cole and the Inquisitor, I get that they couldn't turn Cole into a romance option in the Trespasser dlc, as I mentioned before, one dlc of that length is too short to develop a proper romance. It could have worked if they'd spread it across the 3 dlc's, but then there is the problem that JoH and Descent don't have a fixed time so it wouldn't gel with the main story where Cole was not intended to be a romance option. If there had been more content in Trespasser prior to the invasion, there could have been more conversations, maybe some (very) subtle flirting with Cole. Or some platonic physical affection like a hug or a pat on the shoulder. Anything to lay the groundwork for eventually growing closer than friends. A (potential) romance need not even be referenced to in slides. Just ending with the hint of a possibility would have been fine.

 

They had to give him an ending but there were plenty of other options. Cole was the one character they could have gone any route with. He had no affiliations, no specific commitments. He had nowhere to go either, Skyhold was his home. He could have just stayed with the Inquisition if it wasn't disbanded or with the team setting out to save/stop Solas? Or gone to Kirkwall with quizzy & Varric and lived there.

 

I refuse to let it end like that. I'll write a story where Cole eventually ends up living in Kirkwall with the Inquisitor, Varric and Hawke. I will have my post-Trespasser Cole romance, my apologies in advance to any bards or self-important smiths who will be harmed during the production of this story.

[GameBoyish]

Cole is my baby. 

[paramitch]

I love Cole, and really adored him by the end of my first playthrough. I love the way he brings to life the inner thoughts of everyone around him. I thought at first he was just this kind of weird emo kid, but if you play through with him in your party enough, the banters are adorable. Bull ends up basically adopting him. Solas helps him find his place and sense of self. Varric helps him to become a bona fide human being. Etc. It's lovely.

 

I wrote a chapter about Cole in my latest Fan-fiction, in which my Lavellan tries to help him find sleep after a particularly trying day. No pressure, but it's pretty stand-alone, so thought I'd share:

 

A Lullaby for Cole

archiveofourown.org/works/5439371/chapters/12648236

 

Thanks for checking it out! and either way, I love this character. I was so moved by his journey. And I have to say -- I did not at all like choosing "spirit" the second time through. It broke my heart. It was interesting to experience, but far more painful. What do others think?

[LorenzEffect]

Cole is my favourite character in the entire series