And as for Blackwall, I truly appreciate where you're coming from. And for the record, I've only let him rot in jail once.
I give him a chance to redeem himself, but I can't forgive him for taking so long to come clean with me.
A part of this is simply due to the fact that the other guy wasn't captured and sentenced to hang (from the neck until dead) for Thom's crime.
Ha!
It's interesting with me and Iron Bull... back in DAO, I was definitely in the HATE Loghain camp. All that BS about just trying to save his soldiers was just that to me... BS.
But... while I'll never do it again in another playthrough, I had legitimate reasons for asking Bull to make such a huge sacrifice. My Inquisitor really thought she needed to do this to help save the world. She also let some Chantry folks die because she couldn't risk losing a lead on the Red Lyrium by diverting her soldiers and she chastised Leliana after Haven for pulling her scouts back, just like she went with the soldiers to the Temple instead of going up to look for missing scouts... and well, you get the idea.
And as for Blackwall, I truly appreciate where you're coming from. And for the record, I've only let him rot in jail once.
I think part of what made it impossible for me to ever sacrifice the Chargers was the time I'd put into getting to know them. I talked with Krem whenever I was in Skyhold, and ran all the Chargers missions I could, by the time it came to that choice. So for me it never even felt like a choice -- I'd as soon ask any of my actual companions to die for the Inquisition as let the Chargers die. Well, except Vivienne. She could totally die for the cause
But I can see the reasoning behind forcing him to honor the Qun above his loyalty to his soldiers. I just don't think it's fair to then hate him for choosing the same loyalty down the line. He has been with the Chargers for a lot longer, and through a lot more, than he was with the Inquisitor. And you essentially taught him that even his closest friends were not more important than the, well, demands of the Qun. (I will say, on the side, that I got a kick out of watching someone's jerk inquisitor encounter his betrayal, since she had actually romanced him earlier in the game)
I agree with most of what you said, but I think making a romance for Solas was an idea that worked extremely well. You know, it's not that you suddenly agree with him just because you romanced him. The scene at the end, for a Solas-romancing Inquisitor, lives from the tension between your romantic ties and the necessity to stop him. Also, you can have sympathy for him without romancing him, given that, from some viewpoint, he's just repairing the world to its natural state. I do not feel emotionally manipulated, at least not more than by any story, because at least this time - as opposed to a few other instances in Bioware games I could name - the story doesn't attempt to make me ignore reason because of the emotions triggered by some idea.Would just like to point out that Dorian's primary aim is to get rid of corruption, such as use of blood magic behind the scenes, in Tevinter not freeing the slaves. His actions could have the additional benefit of Magisters getting a conscience about slavery (though I doubt it). More likely it will just make life better for slaves, particularly elven ones, because they will not be seen as useful tools for magical experiments.
I find that it is not just characters that get me involved but the situations as well. The whole story arc in Origins once we had been told that a Grey Warden needed to sacrifice themselves really had me emotionally hooked because I turned Morrigan down, knowing it would likely end in my death, so I was fighting my way closer and closer to it. When Riorden fell (though I had been expecting it) I really felt the reaction of the Warden mirrored my own feelings on the matter. Then despite all my resolve, genuinely to get talked out of it at the last minute, really blew me away. What surprised me even more was that I later played as a human noble and was able to find reasons why they might spare Loghain and even end up on good terms with him, despite having loathed him as an elf. Which is why I feel Loghain was one of the best villains thus far because he could bring out such different reactions in my PC, without it feeling contrived.
My problem with Solas is that I feel they went too far in making him the anti-hero. He has all these great speeches in the main game, which while making him appear arrogant (as befits his name), at least I could identify with and he is constantly approving when you help all the little people but then to turn it around so completely in Trespasser so that he comes off as a complete and utter hypocrite is really annoying. Apparently I was helping all these people so they could have a few years relative peace before he pulls the plug on them so he doesn't have to think of himself as a monster. Then I am asked to choose whether or not I wish to redeem him. I am not generally given to swearing in real life but the expletives were coming thick and fast over that one. The guy has just admitted to me he always wanted to destroy the world to restore a minority group of people that have been slumbering for the last several thousand years while their descendants have been suffering for his actions (I am an elf) and I am meant to be worrying about his soul? Talk about getting your priorities wrong. To make matters even worse, the writer admitted that they put in the Solas romance (who are the majority of those who want to redeem Solas) in order to gain more sympathy for his character. If he has redeeming qualities that make you want to do so, these should stand on their own without trying to emotionally manipulate me.
The disappointing part for me is that he could still have been a freedom fighter for modern slaves, doing questionable acts (like Anders) and so bringing him into conflict with the PC, whilst still retaining my sympathy for his cause. As it is my feelings towards him are the same as they were towards Sovereign in ME1. Yet because they have put the choice to redeem him in there, it makes me feel that my desire to stop him no matter what it takes, makes me seem like the bad guy. That is truly ironic since my Inquisitors are generally a forgiving lot but currently it feels like I destroyed Corypheus mark 1, only to be confronted with Corypheus mark 2. I obliterated the first one and am struggling to know why I shouldn't do the same to the second.
I agree with Shiara Lavellan, please can we have one genuine freedom fighter and champion for the elves that we don't have to feel ashamed of. (Shartan is my hero but I have a nasty feeling they are going to destroy that one for me at some point). I'd also like the opportunity for my PC to do something for their situation that lasts. Regardless of choices made, the rebel mages have their freedom at the end of DAI, which means the world is different to how it began. So in the future I'd like to be able to free all the slaves or at least improve the lot of the city elves throughout Thedas (or even in just one country), without having my achievements wiped out in the following game (or DLC).
The monster under the bed is annoying. The monster under the bed that slowly slips his wet and slimy hand under the covers and caresses your calf becomes
more than annoyingerotic because he's now becoming more than 2 dimensional.
Fixed that! If I had a wet and slimy hand caressing me under the covers I'd becoming too! 
For me, Blackwall committed the greatest crime of all: being dead boring. He's a fairly bland character made more interesting by his reveal, but then after that, there's nothing else. And subsequent playthroughs then eliminate this surprise. He's just so...meh.
Interesting to see how different people react to different characters. Vivienne, and Blackwall for example never generated much emotions for me, neither positive nor negative. Manipulative politicians and grim brooding warriors are a bit too cliche for my taste
Cassandra! The scene where she tells the Inquisitor he could speak to Varric about finishing the book - "command him to!" I LoL-ed and kept on grinning fondly for a while after that. She definitely is the best character in DAI, ex-aequo with Allistair in DAO when it comes to my personal preferences; to the point where I'm considering romancing her. And the voice acting is superlative in her case.
Dorian doesn't do much for me. I mean he's sharp and witty, and there's no questioning his dedication to the Inquisition, or to you, whther as friend or lover, but somehow he manages to remain bland. In fact, he came across as rather shallow. But perhaps I just dislike the way he's been portrayed, as the stereotypical homosexual - complete with comments about fashion and all his fabulous glibness. To think some have bemoaned the fact BW 'tried to cram the LGBT agenda down their throat'... Now Cullen, a veteran officer, admired/beloved from previous games, tortured by his ordeals, shown as someone who finds solace - and healing - in the arms of another man, that would have been bold! Oh well, one mustn't expect too much from commercial products I suppose.
Contrary to many I rather enjoyed Dark Leliana - much more here than in DAO. There's a damaged woman if I ever saw one, and still she finds the strength to stay focused and dedicated - to the point of becoming blindsided at times I admit. I for one hope we see more of her in the future, even though I doubt that will be the case.
As for the others, well I'm mostly indifferent to them. Iron bull was good for a ride and that's it; my young male elf put an end to that soon afterwards - privately afraid by the discovery of how much he had enjoyed being used like an object. Otherwise I learned here about the potential betrayal so I remained unaffected by it. I always found Bull rather squishy in combat, when compared to Cass or Blackwall, so I tend to leave him in his chair at the Inn. As a matter of fact I found Krem much more interesting with his dry cynicism. Perhaps they'll write him in once we're in Tevinter?
Sera was just an annoyance so I never recruited her past the first time. Vivienne was meant to be one dimensional - a political animal with staunch convictions; in that regard she was well done. It was only when I listened to a youtube clip with all the banter between all companions that I discovered more about her. During a conversation between her and Cole he 'reads' her and we finally get to see something beneath the polished surface and learn more of what motivates her.
I wasn't really bothered by Blackwall' secret identity, especially when you compare his 'treachery' to Solas' deceit. He had cause IMO, considering what we discover later on. A man tortured by his conscience wanting to forget who he was but ultimately owning up to his crimes... which is why I always save him and give him the chance to redeem himself.
And that is something I will definitely not offer Solas, no matter what character I deal the death blow with. There's something in his blatant disregard for anything existing beyond his obsession that I find grating. And since I'm convinced he's but a pawn in Mythal's great gambit, and thus an object of pity, I should be more understanding but... I don't know his constant condescension makes me want to bitchslap him.
As for Varric... *sigh* I know he's meant to be the epitome of the best buddy but I must admit I find him boring, perhaps they tried to hard there. And don't get me started on Bianca and his relationship with her...
Now Cullen, a veteran officer, admired/beloved from previous games, tortured by his ordeals, shown as someone who finds solace - and healing - in the arms of another man, that would have been bold!
I read and enjoyed ALL of your post but I absolutely have to comment on this. Leave Cullen's preferences alone! It took us women 3 games to finally get that boy where we wanted him. ROFL
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