I agree with several of your points and with everything you say about the merits of the spirit path and the way it can be seen to make sense for him- it's why it's such a tough choice. He has definitely changed, but to what purpose? He wants to stay in the mortal world and help, something he states again and again. That's all well and good, but the mortal world is incredibly dangerous for a spirit, especially one as rare and as good as compassion.
That it is. I think and hope that most Inquisitors who really care for this special friend, and some of the companions who do the same, will try to make it at least a little safer and less prejudiced and fearful. That is definitely part of my headcanon.
You know what I'd like to see, regardless of the outcome of Cole's personal quest? A chance for him to help other spirits. He expresses a desire to do that after Solas loses Wisdom. I hear Jaws of Hakkon features quite a few spirits but no real involvement of Cole in any of the dealings with them, which is a shame. I want to see him soothe a confused and angry spirit, guide someone back home, save them from being bound and broken. That sort of thing. Not just saying a few cryptic word as the Inquisitor's tagalong, but as the main actor in that encounter.
(even the Qunari know of his existence, thanks Bull)
Wow. I don't really like Bull so I pretty much rushed through his quest, but ... that is a huge no-go and breach of confidence. I wonder if the writers didn't quiet think the implications through. Generally speaking, I don't think Cole's presence or even existence is meant to be known at all, unless he becomes more human-like and loses the ability to protect himself by remaining unseen. And even then, it's probably a good idea to keep a tight lid on the truth of what he is, because a lot of mages would view such a unique creature as a thing to dissect and abuse for their own ends.
If he truly wanted to be a spirit then on the spirit path he would take off to the Fade, where it's (somewhat) safe for him, but he chooses to stay because he wants to help.
The helping is definitely the primary goal and motivation. No contest. Compared to that, the "I am/want to be a spirit" is a distant second, but it is a second, while I never had the impression that "I want to be more human" was even in the race. Still, one thing I like so much about the character is that the core of him stays the same no matter what. He always cares and wants to help, he always says "I'm me". There's a strong sense of self there, even though it's somewhat malleable. In the end, it's not about better or worse, about one neatly labelled box versus another, but ... about trying to guide him as best we can without presuming that we can define him or that our understanding is perfect, being there for him to help him deal with the consequences, and otherwise trusting in his own strength and good heart to see him through?
To me, that says that he must develop some more human qualities. It's the only way he can be grounded enough to exist safely in the place he wants to be and do what he wants to do. It protects him from outside forces but also allows him to help people in more nuanced ways, something he seems grateful for - for example, his realisation about how what he says can hurt people further and that he can learn not to do this.
His ability to help and understand improves either way. In his own words he is "more" than he was before. I'm glad that -- in keeping with the overall hopeful theme of the character -- the "more" is what the game focuses on, instead of being "less" of whatever side was weakened in making the other stronger. It remains bittersweet but positive (that one botched cutscene aside).
At any rate, either side of him has both drawbacks and strengths. I get passionately pro-spirit not only because it's my canon, but also because so many people dismiss it or flat-out treat it as abominable (often mischaracterizing both Cole and others, mainly Solas, in the process), but I do see the potential issues with it. The other side has issues too, though, and I think some folks are a bit quick to brush that off because, again, we are human.
One advantage of the more-spirit path, IMO, is that he appears to have more options. He could go back to the Fade or he can stay. He can remain hidden or show himself to the people he chooses. Retaining the ability to stay unseen and unremembered is a definite plus when it comes to protecting himself.
I think both of them are projecting and allowing some of their personal baggage to influence their opinion.
Absolutely. I think Solas is much closer to the mark, but it is also a fact that he holds a lot of prejudice/resentment for the various cultures and people on this side of the Veil. Both he and Varric have moments that made me curse at the screen in frustration for not being able to challenge their BS.
On a sidenote, his wandering up to people (as a spirit) and vanishing their fears without letting them work through it is perhaps not the most helpful thing he can do. In the Fade the Divine talks about the problems with the Nightmare and how important it is for people to experience fear, pain and sadness as it is what allows them to grow as people and I agree with her.
I agree with nightscrawl's comment on this. Cole's help has more nuance than people give him credit for, and making people forget their pain is not what he does at all. Out of all the interactions he has with others, we only see him use the forgetting for the purpose of healing with the templar, who is already trying to forget. Granted, we might debate whether that man has any "right" to forget, but if Cole sees him as a changed person who has suffered enough, I think it's his call to grant that wish.
Conversely, "Justinia" and Varric acting like an absolute authority on what people are like and how they (should) deal with pain displays the very same lack of depth and nuance that folks accuse Cole of showing. We are no monolith or hivemind. What breaks one person, another can recover from -- and that should not be held against either of them. What helps one person in one situation may set them off badly in another. And so on.
Comparing Cole to the Nightmare was a deliberate cruelty playing on his worst fear. It certainly is a point worth examining (which he does) because he could become that way if he becomes twisted again like he was in Asunder, or worse ... but in then end it's about as true as comparing a surgeon to a torturer. They both take a knife to people, so clearly they're the same thing.
On a tangent, am I the only one who thought the Nightmare was completely pathetic and that the whole story arc suffered for it? This is supposed to be the number one Fear demon, bloated on a milennium of terror and suffering in the wake of the Blights, able to drive hundreds of Grey Wardens around the bend and into Corypheus' clutches. The ultimate horror. Yet the only one who is even remotely affected by its influence is Cole, everyone else shrugs off its flimsy taunts without missing a step. I wanted the trip through its lair to be uttery brutal for everyone on a mental and emotional level, a horrendous ordeal that they just about crawl through by the skin of their teeth and that leaves them licking their wounds for months on end, examining and second-guessing and doubting themselves (and each other?) over and over.
Varric has only ever socially interacted with people, with one notable exception - the Anders mess. He doesn't even dream. I can understand why he might feel somewhat alienated from spirit Cole and I don't really blame him for it.
Yes, it makes sense that he has a hard time of it ... at least initially. It's just that they're supposed to be such good friends, and I'd expect that after months or even years, Varric would have tried to understand that side of Cole at least a little instead of comparing it to the "nonsensical" rantings of his red-lyrium-crazed brother. Andraste's arse, Varric, that is really low. And it's entirely on him, not on Cole or proof how how wrong and horrible the spirit-path is (which is how I've seen people treat his reaction).
What I can't wait for is to find out exactly what Solas is all about and I wonder if it will change my opinion on his opinion on Cole
I liked Solas more before the big reveal. 
Now I'm just "meh" about him or future appearances of him. I valued the friendship I thought he and my Inquisitor had, in part because it was a slow and hard-won thing, tested each step of the way, but I didn't make any of my choices (about Cole or otherwise) with his approval in mind, so I doubt future developments will make me look back at Inquisition and change my mind much.
Retour en haut
) There's also two side quests that deal with different kinds of demon/spirit possession, and Cole gives his usual commentary on what the spirit/demon is feeling. ('It loves you, it'll stay if you want it.') He also tells you a bit about what's going on in the head of the biggest spirit in the story...generally, Cole has a lot to say throughout. Which is kinda typical for Cole, he's so fun to have along. But his commentary is really the most relevant for JoH. He can also speak to a certain spirit you meet in the main quest in a soothing way. That was really sad and touching, and I can only imagine what he was feeling since there was some parallels with his own background there.
At first I tried to solve that problem by making him an archer, but that felt too OOC for him so I looked for help with dagger rogues and gave him priority for the defensive masterworks even over my sword & board Inquisitor. She is quite sturdy on her own, he is not, and no one should go down on her watch damn it. Especially not Cole.
It turns so many things on its head, and to think that if things had gone differently there, history could have been so very different. Ameridan saved Orlais, and then a generation later it destroyed his homeland and the organizations he helped found within the Seekers ends up oppressing people like himself, elves and mages alike. So much tragic.
