Because Dragon Age

If Rook is Antivan Crow Fletcher: Hello, Rook. Glad to see you in the Diamond. You keep Viago on his toes.

Fletcher: Feels good to see a friend of the Crows fighting back. I'll sell whatever you need. Fletcher: I keep the Crows well-stocked. You're welcome to it.

Fletcher: And anyone fighting the Antaam is a welcome customer here. Fletcher: I'm not rehanging my house banner until we really start driving them out of Treviso.

Rook: What was that you said about hanging your house banner?

If Rook is Antivan Crow Fletcher: You know how we Crows are about heraldry and a proper woven history.

Fletcher: Crow houses take pride in heraldry. We like a good woven history.

Fletcher: Unfortunately, the first step in the occupation was tearing down symbols. The Antaam burned our banners. Fletcher: I'm not putting my house banner back up until we really start taking our city back. Fletcher: They're not curtains. Hanging one means something.

Rook: You sure you have extra to sell? I don't want to use up limited supplies. Fletcher: Don't worry, I get the basics delivered straight to the people. We have runners in the alleys. Fletcher: The stuff I sell here isn't for the general public. You could say it's meant for the Antaam, in a round bout way.

Rook: How are you getting weapons past the Antaam? Fletcher: The same way you get a river past a mountain: I find cracks, and I keep moving. Fletcher: It could be harder, I'll give them that. The Butcher could burn the walls to the ground. Fletcher: I'd hardly call him "gentle," but he wants the city intact for some reason.

Rook: How's business? Fletcher: As good as can be expected with the Antaam choking my shipments. They want us locked down and hungry. Fletcher: There's a few of us out there keeping people fed... but it's rough.

If A Slow Poison quest is completed

Rook: Keeping busy, Fletcher? Fletcher: Word is you killed the Butcher's poisoner right under his nose. You're a legend. Fletcher: I put my house banner back up because of you. We're open for business and ready to fight back.

Rook: You hear what happened to the Antaam poisoner? Ever seen that before? Fletcher: Antaam becoming monsters? New to me. Physically, anyway. Fletcher: I'll keep an eye on what they ship in, but if that happened because of the gods, I don't know what to tell you. Fletcher: Besides "Thanks for killing it."

Rook: Hey, Fletcher. Any idea where the poisoner was getting his supplies? Fletcher: Antaam mixtures are so secret, and their regular supplies are so weird… Who knows what part of their shipments was the poison? Fletcher: I wish I could cut them off from everything, but there's always some asshole willing to make a profit in wartime.

Rook: Keeping your supplies up, Fletcher? Fletcher: Doing my best. Focusing on keeping Heir stocked so she can train the fledglings. Fletcher: It's not easy. Jacobus keeps breaking things. Kid's angry to the core. Fletcher: Can't say I blame him.

Rook: How long have you been supplying Heir and her trainees? Fletcher: I've sold to three Heirs. Never asked where they come from, or why they have the same name. Fletcher: I prefer to keep my customers, and let them keep their secrets.

If Rook saved Treviso

Rook: Heard about the dragon fight? Fletcher: Heard about it, and heard it directly. It echoed across the city when it dropped. Fletcher: Honestly, I don't know how you still have enemies to fight. Who hears you chased off a dragon and says, "I bet I can take 'em"?

If For the Love of Treviso quest is completed

Rook: Heard the news, I take it? Fletcher: That you put down the Butcher, and in his shadow was a traitor? That's all anyone is talking about. Fletcher: Stock up, Rook. No way I'm letting Ivenci take up where the Butcher left off.

Rook: I see Neri and Noa hung the de Acutis banner next to yours.

If Rook is Antivan Crow Fletcher: You know our houses have history. Blood both good and bad.

Fletcher: I wouldn't have always welcomed it. Crow houses don't always get along.

Fletcher: Nothing like a common enemy to bring the families together.

Fletcher: Keep an eye on Jacobus, Rook. Fletcher: Ivenci's betrayal has him angrier than ever. I can't blame him, but he's got to learn to control it. Fletcher: Be a shame to see that kid lose himself.

Rook: Any news, Fletcher? Fletcher: Ivenci is doing their best to kiss up to the Antaam. Shipping in all kinds of strange goods. Fletcher: Brings a lot of traffic to the docks, though. It actually makes it easier for me to smuggle goods in. Fletcher: The only good thing Ivenci's responsible for, far as I'm concerned.

Fletcher: Be a proud day if one of my toys helps bring down the governor. Rook: Working on it. Fletcher: I'm patient. And you're a safe bet.

If A Time to Kill quest is completed

Rook: Good days ahead, Fletcher? Fletcher: You're always welcome here, Rook. You've cleared the way for Treviso to be free. Fletcher: Of course, with the Antaam still in the streets like rats of unusual size, I'll keep up a booming business. Fletcher: But one day, I'll close up shop for the right reasons.

Rook: Any news, Fletcher? Fletcher: I'm going over Antaam manifests. I want to make sure we spot any of those poison ingredients if they show up again. Fletcher: We're not taking any risks. The Antaam that are left have to fight on our terms.

Rook: Is the Egrativi banner your work, Fletcher? Fletcher: I have talented people. Fast work, wasn't it? Fletcher: In truth? A new house was inevitable, what with all the loss of the occupation. Fletcher: My weavers started it a while ago. Keeping themselves busy with hope.

Fletcher: Stocking up before clearing out more Antaam? Rook: You'd be my first stop. Fletcher: Glad to hear it. You're very good for business. Fletcher: Everyone wants to visit Rook's favorite store in the Diamond. Side note: Reference to Shepard's favorite store on the Citadel in Mass Effect

Fletcher: Keep an eye on Jacobus, Rook. Rook: Still have concerns? Fletcher: No, no, I'm telling that to everyone. His house is destined to rival the best of us.

Fletcher: Have you seen Teia and Viago now? Haven't seen that look in years.

If Rook is Antivan Crow Rook: They're "on-again" again. Who knows how long it lasts this time? Fletcher: I think it's a portent of good tidings. Like hints of a good harvest. Or a Tuesday.

“The story is amazing and the choice mechanic is so thorough, but nearly every female NPC and player character backgrounds are centered around themes of sexual assault and abuse, something that I feel people are far too forgiving of.” - 23-27F

“The misogyny in this game is STAGGERING despite pretending that it's not and really shows a lack of imagination on the writers. The church is literally run by women; this brand of sexism just doesn't even make sense.” - 36-45F

 “theres this text post thats like '*plays dragon age origins* god i hate this part. god i hate this part. god i hate this part. *finishes* game of the year' or smth. feel it in my soul” - 28-35NB

“I can definitely tell it's objectively the best written dragon age game, and it was my first DA game alongside being the first game I played on my own as an adult. I didn't notice it on my first playthrough, but the more I replay the more it bothers me that the Warden isn't voiced and barely has facial expressions, although I've probably just been spoiled by modern games since then. I love playing through the warden's origin, and having it affect so much of the story compared to the later games. My first warden was Aeducan who did the ultimate sacrifice, and it was such an epic way to experience RPGs for the first time. I loved that there are many choices that affect the story in major ways, while I enjoy flavour text choices too, it was really gratifying to watch the reactivity. Denerim was one of my favourite places, and I wish they had the resources to make the map even bigger back then. My biggest gripe is having to walk all the way back to the entrance of most maps to leave, I think some "waypoints" would've made all the difference. Other than the animations being dated I really have no complaints, the writing is almost 10/10 for me. I do wish npcs of different races had some varying body types, but I understand the limitations of the time.” - 23-27NB

“I started with DA2 and loved its intimate setting and the unavoidable tragedy. Going backwards to DAO, the fairly generic "you're the only one who can save the world" main quest and a main character who never has to come to terms with failure was a letdown, and the worldbuilding was already familiar to me, so didn't wow me either. I didn't really connect with the companions, either, and didn't like the combat system. Adding to all that, the extremely 2006 energy the game has hasn't aged well for me, so my opinion isn't getting any better as time goes on.” - 36-45F

 “I love Origins except for when I’m playing it” - 28-35NB

“I've played Origins more than any other Dragon Age game, upwards of 12 times. Most of these were as the same origin and the same character. It's what made me fall in love with the series. The characters are incredibly well done, and Loghain especially is part of what makes it stand out to me. I love a character whose convictions and genuinely largely good intentions are what make them a villain.” - 28-35F

“the way the different origins interact with different quests/enemies is just so juicy. orzammar to a brosca is different than to a tabris. a mahariel doesnt hold a grudge against arl howe, while cousland goes ballistic. the replay value is HIGH.” - 28-35NB

“Honestly I'd probably rank it higher but I'm really tired/burned out over everyone acting like it's the best game when in my opinion it's actually the worst one! Mind, it's still good, but the choices do NOT affect the story as much as people seem to remember they do. There's very little difference in outcomes aside from the final title cards, half of which became jossed with future games anyway (ex, cullen the serial killer!) it's fine as a game but overrated and I DO NOT FUCKING CARE ABOUT THE WARDEN.” - 36-45NB

“I do think it is overrated, and the story isn’t anything particularly special - the whole vague sketch of it is definitely the kind of thing I came up with when I was a kid writing stories, complete with the whole “go to this location and recruit a character, then go to this other location and recruit a character, then go to this other location-” rhythm (though I could never have achieved this kind of worldbuilding and detail back then). The romances are clunky and easily bugged, the combat is frustrating enough that I usually elect to cheat past it on replays, and it’s dated in terms of its themes and graphics. That said, the roleplay potential is something I took for granted at first - the amount of dialogue and the playable origins and the way they can influence your choices is fantastic and not something I appreciated until I played the later games where you don’t have any of that. I love that I can play The Kindest Warden Ever or The Evilest Bastard Ever and have them both make sense and be consistently allowed.” - 23-27M

“I think it's the best game objectively out of them all which is funny because the entire time I play it, I just go "God I hate the Brecilian Forest. God I hate The Circle and the Fade. God I HATE the Deep Roads." And then, without fail, at the end I go "Wow I really loved that :3"” - 23-27F

“I think Origins is the most complete package; nuanced, lovable characters, interesting and memorable story beats, lots of freedom of choice, a good balance between map size and filling and everything, gameplay that stays fun and has a nice learning curve, graphics that are pretty decent for its age. I love her. I love her! It's so hard to get new players involved in Origins though.” - 23-27F

Alistair Theirin

I love him (60.7%), I like him (27.9%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (5.1%), I'm indifferent (3.5%), I dislike him (2.5%), I hate him (0.4%)

Baseline: Alistair is loved for being funny, kind, and emotionally vulnerable, but many respondents think the fandom flattens a much more intelligent, selfish, grieving, and complicated character into an innocent golden retriever prince

Recurring points of praise:

He's funny, goofy, and endearing

He was formative as a romance or fictional crush

He's kinder and more principled than his cynicism suggests

He's more intelligent and competent than his presentation suggests

His flaws and contradictions make him compelling

His youth and grief make his behaviour understandable

Recurring criticisms:

He avoids responsibility and places too much on the Warden

His moral convictions can become rigid or punitive

The fandom flattens or overexposes him

He's generic, boring, or overhyped

His romance restrictions are frustrating

Later appearances are disappointing (his model becoming paler or blonder; his resemblance shifting toward Cullen; his Inquisition appearance lacking the personality he had in Origins; Warden Alistair appearing bitter regardless of choices respondents thought should have left him content; his later appearances relying on familiar jokes rather than developing him; missed opportunities involving Fiona or his comics storyline)

Recurring division points:

His humour is considered both endearing and increasingly dated

His reluctance to accept responsibility makes him either sympathetic or exhausting

Making him king is viewed as either necessary growth or a violation of what he wants

Text response selection:

“This fucker is the reason I thought I was bisexual for way longer than I should have bc I loved him so much I thought that meant I was attracted to him and therefore men.” - 28-35NB

 “Milk toast boy, he's fine. Very stereotypical guy to romance in video game” - 28-35F

 “Alistair was exactly what I was into when I first played DAO in 2009 at 19 years old - now that I'm older, I find his very of-the-time self-deprecating humor and Whedon-esque quips a little grating. But overall, I think he holds up really well, he has a good depth to him.” - 36-45F

“Where Leliana and Morrigan have grown as characters as the games have gone on, Alistair is mostly doing the Mass Effect 3 Mordin thing of trying to remind you of why you liked him in Origins. Problem being I didn't like him that much in Origins.” - 36-45F

“He is literally 20 and has been a Grey Warden for 6 months. Like. No shit he immediately abdicates responsibility to the PC when the PC steps up to the plate! His mentor and all his colleagues and also his half-brother just DIED, he really holds together quite well under the circumstances! He is a sweet young man who deserves better than having to be a king, but unfortunately that won't stop me from shoving him and Anora together for political reasons.” - 28-35NB

“He is the coolest subversion of so many expected fantasy tropes. I love how strongly he rejects the demand that he be the protagonist. I love that he is young and petty and naive and lonely and love starved. I love that he is goofy and sweet but also very competent (and excellent at hiding that and dumbing himself down).” - 36-45F

 “Class clown who became important at work.” - 28-35F

“I think Alistair is an especially great character because he hits that sweet spot of being really loveable to the player but with the simultaneous possibility of having Warden think differently. He really throws Warden under the bus after the Ostagar massacre, refusing the role of the leader despite having seniority, and can later turn around and even abandon the party if he doesn't like what Warden as the leader decides. Asshole moves, but with extremely understandable reasons, that the game takes time to explore.” - 28-35NB

“my first romance for every other background I did, until i played a tabris and could think a lot more critically about his role as someone both part of and separate from the nobility and how his wardenhood and birth are opposite circumstances that can make for a character with an interesting role on the world.” - 23-27NB

“See, I say I dislike him, but I do like him when I’m actually playing. He’s inoffensive. Frustrating and flawed and sometimes selfish (namely the fact that he refuses to take responsibility and makes you do it, doesn’t matter whether you want to or not, I guess your desires aren't as important as his, but then gets mad when you don’t make the decisions he would), but friendly and easy-going and moral. It’s just that when I close the game and am hit by an absolute neverending tsunami of constant praise and love for this completely Fine guy, I get so fed up that I start hating any mention of him. I really don’t understand why he’s so beloved. I see why he’s popular, sure - he’s a very generic Romance For Straight Girls, which is a thing for a reason - but to this degree? He’s not a unique character at all. I could find a thousand characters just like Alistair in media, he’s literally just a blend of the most cliche stereotypes in the book - the adorkable Funny Guy who isn’t that funny, the secret prince (because of course he is), the bumbling kid who grows into A True Leader. At this point I’m starting to think people praising how Different and Special he is have just not interacted with much fiction. Like… sure, whatever. I like him, his romance was cute, I’m moving on.” - 23-27M

“The Alistair that fandom loves is one they made up. He's not this golden retriever boyfriend that is pro-mage that everyone flattens him to be. He can be spiteful (abandons you to deal with the blight if you recruit loghain, yells at you if he disagrees with how you save connor from possession), ignores responsibilities that even if the warden is a circle mage who has never been outside they have to take the lead, makes sexist comments, agrees that the Circle should be annulled, calls Morrigan a bitch, etc. It frustrates that the fandom woobifies him and made him into a different character than he is in the game. For the sake sometimes of finding an alternative to Cullen because it's seen as "wrong" to romance him.” - 28-35F

 “he's a templar and a bastard and a sad, sad man. love that he's an intelligent person who acts dumb so no one thinks he's important. love that he's incredibly critical of the institution he was raised in but still holds those beliefs. he's grieving for a good chunk of the game and rightfully so, and I'm glad that affects the way he acts. he's a complicated character beyond "comic relief tank" and I enjoy his writing and hearing him say snarky things when hitting people in the face” - 23-27NB

Leliana

I love her (49%), I like her (40.1%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (5%), I'm indifferent (4.4%), I dislike her (1.2%), I hate her (0.4%)

Baseline: Players are often drawn to the contrast between her softness, faith, and whimsy, and her history of violence, manipulation, and espionage.

Recurring points of praise:

Her apparent sweetness conceals a much more dangerous and complicated person

Her development across games is widely complimented

Her faith is compelling (her faith encourages kindness and hope rather than simple obedience; she remains religious after betrayal, imprisonment, and violence; her beliefs are deeply personal rather than merely institutional; she questions the Chantry while retaining belief in the Maker; she can try to reform the institution from within; faith gives her a framework through which to rebuild herself; her certainty, doubt, and loss of faith all affect her development; she changed how some respondents thought about God, religion, or religious people; many respondents valued seeing a bisexual woman of faith)

She was an important bisexual/sapphic character

Her romance and friendship inspire strong attachment

The Warden can challenge her prejudice and see her reconsider it

Recurring criticisms:

Her religiosity alienates a significant group of respondents (finding fantasy Christianity irritating; being uncomfortable because of personal religious trauma; finding her preachy, zealous, or overly invested in the Chantry; disliking the amount of religious dialogue; having difficulty connecting with a devout character; finding her naive religious certainty grating in Origins)

Many prefer her in Inquisition to Origins

Some respondents simply don't connect with her

Her romance can trigger too easily

She's overfavoured by the series

Recurring division points:

Her faith is experienced as both compassionate spirituality and intrusive Chantry framing

Her transformation across the games is considered either compelling growth or a loss of her original warmth

Her relationship with Marjolaine provides rich character context while reproducing troubling queer tropes

Text response selection:

“Too French” - 36-45F

“bisexual, female, bard, religious trauma, evil ex gf. she's just like me” - 23-27NB

“I love her so much, she uses religion to spread kindness, which I wish is what all religious people would do. Her romance was so sweet. Always choose her as Divine, love that she can just be with her lover if she romanced the warden and no one can say anything about it.” - 18-22F

“Found her a little weird when I played for the first time (the religion stuff grated against my edgy atheist sensibilities xD), but with age, I've come to appreciate her nuance. Also LOVE her voice actress and the accent she does. Also, it was really cool seeing her come back in DAI and getting even more insight into her character. She fits DAI's narrative of "personhood versus duty/title" really well.” - 36-45F

“She's so fun. I love playing an elf and getting to actually change her opinions and realize her bigotry, and I ADORE the theory that she's elf-blooded herself - there's so many little pieces of evidence that just all add up. She's got a fascinating perspective and her devotion to the Maker after being a bard for so long is soooo interesting.” - 23-27NB

 “I want to like her but she accidentally shadowmanced me when I was just trying to be nice?” - 38-45M

“My favorite character overall, but DAI is doing a lot of work here. I think her backstory with Marjolaine is genuinely interesting, but in the context of the whole game and knowing her romance was written with a male warden in mind, it's also kind of gross (woman is taken advantage of by older lesbian and then rescued by the church and a romance with a man). But also I only romance her as a woman, so I'm able to sort of overlook that.” - 28-35F

“i didn’t click with her at first, but her backstory is genuinely fascinating and informs the way she is. play her quest. play her dlc. stop writing her off as boring. people love chantry boys but draw the line at a religious woman” - 23-27M

 “Genuinely guided my views on God” - 23-27F

“The only reason I give the Maker's existence the benefit of the doubt.” - 28-35F

 “I love Leliana bc I started by seeing the end of her story, which just made me like seeing her origin more. She tells you stories, which my lorehound brain was all over, and has one of the only instances throughout the whole franchise where you can push back on a well-intentioned but racist remark, and then have the companion later come back and apologize, which feels very human.” - 23-27M

Loghain Mac Tir

I like him (25.7%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (20.9%), I love him (16.2%), I'm indifferent (15.4%), I dislike him (12.3%), I hate him (9.4%)

Baseline: Great character, terrible man.

Recurring points of praise:

He's considered one of Dragon Age's strongest antagonists

His motivations are understandable without excusing his actions

He represents what happens to a revolution after victory

Recruiting him reveals a more compelling side of him

His possible Warden arc is seen as a fitting conclusion

His relationship with Anora adds depth

Recurring criticisms:

Selling the alienage elves into slavery is the central dealbreaker

His actions after Ostagar are harder to defend than the retreat itself

Too much of his depth exists outside the game

The game undermines its own attempt at moral complexity by giving him such extreme actions

Most respondents have never recruited him (loyalty to Alistair; making Alistair king; playing a city elf; refusing to forgive the slavery; considering the Joining too uncertain to justify replacing an established Warden; feeling that sparing him is out of character for their Warden)

Recurring division points:

Recruiting him is considered either the fullest version of his story or an impossible betrayal of the Warden's loyalties

Text response selection:

“I feel like a lot of his really interesting stuff comes from supplemental material but that's certainly not a him-exclusive phenomenon. I think he's an excellent villain and Alistair demanding he be killed instead of recruited to the Wardens is one of the things that makes me lose respect for him” - 28-35NB

“I am SO insane about Loghain Mac Tir it's not even funny. he's my favorite character in DAO. everything is wrong with him. he's insane about Maric even though Maric's been presumed dead for years. he doesn't try to excuse his horrible actions. you get approval for debating how to kill him after you recruit him, and he gives you suggestions. who is doing it like him. also reading The Stolen Throne unfortunately fundamentally altered my view of him forever, which for a book that kind of sucks is really unfortunate because now i have to recommend everyone read TST and it's just not very good. except when it's really good. i don't understand people who don't like him because picking a favorite war criminal is the whole point of dragon age, i think.” - 23-27NB

“grandpa warcrimes” - 28-35NB

“Much like the character of Robert Baratheon from A Song of Ice and Fire, Loghain was a fascinating look at what happens to a character after the fairy tale ends? When the war against an evil oppressive regime is over and freedom for you people achieved, how do the survivors deal with peacetime?” - 28-35F

“That guy is FULL of CRUNCHY.” - 36-45NB

“He's an interesting character, but he interests me primarily through his relationship to Anora, which says more about my love for her than for him.” - 28-35F

“I like him as an antagonist, but I've never recruited him because of the whole selling elves into slavery bit and it doesn't make sense to me to trade a guaranteed ally for someone who might potentially survive the Joining.” - 28-35NB

“One of the best written characters of the series. He’s a villain, I don’t agree with him, but man is he compelling. One of the best part of origins is recruiting him just to chat and have your warden finally ask him all those “Why”s. He’s a human being, full of flaws.” - 23-27M

“I almost always include him in my Inquisition world state because I feel making him the Warden sacrifice in Here Lies the Abyss to be the most compelling choice. It really wraps up his arc, it lets him sit in his failures for a decade and come to terms with where he went wrong, and then make the most selfless choice he can.” - 28-35M

“I read the stolen throne. I still don’t like him. What he went through obviously sucks but he did betray Maric like Flemeth said he would. He was a very flawed man but wasn’t a bad person. He let fear and his need to control get to him and did things that I could never condone. I don’t like him but I’ve considered the nuances” - 23-27F

“He was so set on not letting Orlais gain a foothold in Fereldan again that he lost everything else.” - 36-45F

“as a villain? fantastic. love that he's doing awful things in the name of protecting his country and doing it completely wrong. was pulling out of ostagar the right choice? maybe! was taking the throne away from his daughter the competent queen, declaring the wardens traitors, selling his own people into slavery, collaborating with a blood mage, trusting rendon howe, poisoning arl eamon, and fighting a civil war the right choice? probably not! as a companion I don't have a lot of experience with him. I know he's aware he fucked up and that he seems actually fond of the warden in awakening and that seems very fun to me, but i have yet to play that route myself.” - 23-27NB

“Here's the thing about Loghain: he is the veteran of an anticolonialist revolutionary struggle, and he's willing to do literally anything to maintain the independence he earned, including assassination, murder, and slavery. His dialogue is so well-written-- I think he's some of Mary Kirby's best work. I do not love him as a person, but I love his character writing, particularly his descriptions of Orlesian occupation.” - 23-27NB

Morrigan

I love her (68.4%), I like her (20.3%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (7.2%), I dislike her (1.7%), I'm indifferent (1.4%), I hate her (1%)

Baseline: People love the gap between the person Morrigan tries to present (cold, worldly, self-sufficient, and moral) and the frightened, isolated young woman underneath

Recurring points of praise:

She's one of the series' most iconic and beloved characters

Her cruel/abrasive exterior conceals intense vulnerability

Her friendship with the Warden is deeply valued

Her relationship with Flemeth resonates strongly

Many respondents love seeing her relationship with Kieran and breaking the cycle of abuse

Recurring criticisms:

Many wish she were romanceable by women

Veilguard's treatment of her is overwhelmingly disliked

Her role as an authority on elven culture in Inquisition is widely criticised

Her hostility can become exhausting

Her visual design is frequently criticised as sexualised

Recurring division points:

Her later emotional growth is admired while her softening remains divisive

Her recurring importance is either rewarding continuity or excessive narrative favouritism

Her cruelty is both part of her appeal and a serious obstacle to affection

Text response selection:

“Befriending Morrigan, and the final conversation with her before fighting the archdemon, is one of the most satisfying things I've done in a game.” - 28-35F

“I like her later when she figures out who she is. The insecure teenager who tries to put others down to feel good about herself is not necessarily a bad archetype, but it doesn't work for me.” - 36-45F

“morrigan is awesome 90% of the time until they made her act like an expert on elven culture in front of my dalish mage inquisitor. thats not your culture girl…” - 23-27NB

“I dont really care about her and I have my criticisms re why a human was made the face of the elves but more importantly I hate how much she was always pushed by bioware” - 28-35

“Girl why are you leaving the party because I couldn't convince Alistar to fuck you? You knew you needed to fuck him this whole time and decided to antagonize him! Don't blame me for your choices.” - 28-35F

Oghren

I have mixed/conflicted feelings (25.4%), I dislike him (18.9%), I like him (18.7%), I'm indifferent (15.1%), I hate him (12.7%), I love him (9.2%)

Baseline: There's an interesting man buried underneath a comic relief character that many respondents can't tolerate long enough to uncover

Recurring points of praise:

Respondents repeatedly see substantial potential (alcoholism and addiction; depression; trauma and possible PTSD; toxic masculinity; domestic abuse; Orzammar's rigid caste expectations; being trained for violence and then punished for displaying it; social ostracism; the collapse of status and identity; being abandoned by one's spouse and community; fear of becoming a harmful husband or father; trying to rebuild oneself through the Grey Wardens)

His sincere moments affect people much more than his comedy (his gratitude when the Warden treats him respectfully; his speech before the final battle; thanking the Warden for reminding him what honour means; his loyalty once he considers the Warden a friend; crying if the Warden sacrifices themselves; naming his child after the Warden; his belief that becoming a Grey Warden might fix him or give him somewhere safe to belong; his insecurity about being a father; his continued complicated attachment to Branka; his astonishment when the Warden listens to him or gives him something meaningful)

His history illustrates the damage caused by Orzammar

Some respondents appreciate having an unpleasant/non-admirable companion

His humour genuinely works for a minority

Recurring criticisms:

The sexual harassment and misogyny are the overwhelming problem

His alcoholism is treated as a punchline

The game doesn't appear to know when it wants him taken seriously

His comedy feels badly dated

His behaviour overwhelms whatever depth he has

Awakening regresses his development

Late recruitment works against him

Recurring division points:

His humour occasionally works while frequently destroying the more serious character underneath it

His trauma and addiction create compelling material that the games treat as a punchline

His return in Awakening offers possible growth while also repeating his worst traits

Text response selection:

“Literally awful. Like actually genuinely objectively one of the worst characters. He's so gross and sexist and racist and all around bad. Unfortunately I like him. I like what he could have been. Like a pathetic kind of shit washed up warrior who was (canonically!) abused and mistreated by his entire family and wife, whom EVERYONE put on a pedestal and used as more of a reason to punch down on him. And yet he never ever gave up on her. Even if he agrees with you in Branka's confrontation, he still disapproves of you yelling at Branka and killing her! And I love his arc in Awakening. He's so scared of fucking up again (rightfully so) that he runs away to the one place he feels is safe or can fix him because he believed in the HoF and their order that much. Also he names his baby after the Hof 🥺” - 23-27NB

“I like him more as in universe societal commentary than a character in his own right.” - 28-35F

“Awful guy, but when he's being sincere, oh man does he get to me. I keep thinking "aw man, he's just a bit abrasive, he's really a great character" and then the fucker opens his mouth Once Again.” - 23-27M

“Quoting my own post from 3 years ago: He’s my best friend, he’s my pal, he’s my homeboy, he’s my rotten soldier, he’s my sweet cheese, he’s my good time boy. He’s my comrade-in-arms who thanks me for reminding him what honor is and vows to be the warrior I taught him to be (I am a rogue). He’s my sad-sack uncle who drinks to cope with being socially pressured into becoming a Berserker, reliant upon blinding rage in battle, and then being ostracized and practically stripped of his caste for accidentally killing an opponent in a Proving when he has literally no way to put the brakes on the killing rage he was made to cultivate. He makes misogynistic comments because that’s how he was taught to treat women but he still speaks fondly of Branka—who despised him, cheated on him, and then left him in Orzammar while stealing the rest of their House and killing them in the Deep Roads—and respects her lover Hespith, his own lover Felsi, Wynne, Morrigan, Sigrun, Velanna, and a female Warden. He makes homophobic comments but holds nothing against queer people and is open to non-traditional sex acts if his partner is interested in them. He’s bisexual and has no fucking idea. He thanks the Warden for being his friend and treating him with respect even though he feels he doesn’t deserve it and is used to being casually degraded and disrespected by his own people. He dropped his baby twice (I dropped both my nieces more than that lol) and fled his family to become a Grey Warden because he was terrified of genuinely hurting his child with his inexperience and ineptitude and is deeply insecure about it. He drunkenly asks the Warden for a pony because Branka used to collect figurines and he still loves her in some way. He considers insulting banter a form of bonding, both with friends and lovers, and also blushes and stutters and is pleased when the Warden is openly friendly and complimentary. He’s doing his best with the shitty tools he’s been given, and knows that he needs to improve, but he doesn’t know how to do that himself. He genuinely loves drinking and booze of all kinds as a hobby and is so fucking pleased when Wynne takes his offer of taste-testing his brew seriously and professionally breaks down its composition and flavors. He respects Tranquil mages when even other mages don’t because he may not understand what Tranquility means but he damn well knows that they’re people. When boisterous and over-the-top when you first give him specialized gifts and then when you’re actual friends he switches to being genuinely touched and grateful. He wants to drive a war-chariot pulled by mabari and tries multiple times to convince Dog that it’s a good idea. He hates the Fade, and dreaming, and the first time he’s in the Fade he politely asks you if it’s okay if he throws up, and the second time he panickedly asks you why you keep bringing him there and is best calmed down when you promise that he’s allowed to kill stuff as a grounding technique. He’s ride-or-die, genuinely and without hesitation. He loves you. And I’m like the only person who genuinely loves him back.” - 28-35NB

“Oghren's humor and personality bring a fun vibe to the party, complementing the more serious tones of the narrative.” - 28-35M

“They played up the grosser aspects of his character for comedic effect but the person he is under that is so sad. Married to a crazy successful woman who lost her mind and drove her whole family into the deep roads, trying to get ANYONE to help him find them, still has some bitter attachment to her even after all this time, only to find its so much worse than he thought. Id drink too, the fuck.” - 36-45F

“Oghren is gross and pathetic and upsetting, but that is wholly on purpose. He is also tragic and sad and a stark mirror of what the Warden (or honestly Hawke or the Inquisitor or Rook) could be in the future if public opinion shifts the wrong way. He had everything and lost it because he made stupid choices and it feels like he makes himself gross and pathetic to justify it so people feel disgust or maybe anger instead of pity.” - 36-45F

“This is the only companion I will not engage with. I don't care how good his character arc is (though I'm not sure I believe it's that good), I am not sitting through hours of casual misogyny and homophobia to get to it.” - 28-35F

“You'd think I'd hate him but actually i love Oghren bc he's exactly who he says he is. No subterfuge or fuckery, not even trying to social climb or leverage relationships. He's just a drunk who is really willing to help out.” - 36-45NB

“does he suck? objectively yes. he says a lot of very insensitive things. but he suffers from dragon age’s extremely insensitive handling of alcoholism. bioware’s attempt at making the most unsavory guy possible required that they make him an alcoholic, which is used as a punchline, and everything about that decision deserves to be scrutinized. also, his story is very interesting, especially his relationship with branka and how he moves forward in awakening. i understand why people don’t want to give him the time of day, but when all’s said and done i do really enjoy him as a character” - 23-27M

“he sucks but i like that in a dude. people hated oghren too loud and then by the time we got veilguard no one sucked anymore and that was worse. we love an awful little freak who sucks” - 28-35M

“Sometimes he's funny, but my god, at what cost?” - 28-35NB

“listen. what can I say about oghren. he's a gross misogynist who will hit on women who tell him to stop, then burp and pass out so he can do it all over again in the morning. he's also a fascinating look at dwarven culture, and a very, very sad man who was abandoned by his wife and his community. his conversation about being taught to be a berserker and then being outcast for actually doing what he's been expected since birth to do hits me some kind of way. I wish we didn't need so much sexual harassment along the way but it is admittedly a trait of his that says something about him as a character. it's an upsetting character trait but if I can step away from it enough to look at it as part of the whole, he's just a very sad man who blames everyone else for his problems. sometimes he's right.” - 23-27NB

“omg. i wasnt joking when i said i wish he had a romance route. i have a warden planned for it and everything. i think hes just so interesting as someone shunned from his society and yes he sucks and it took me playing the game 7 times but im endeared.. the cutscene where he sees the sun for the first time 18-22NB

“I know lots of people who hate him. I don't have strong feelings, he feels real, even if he's not always agreeable or even likeable. I don't particularly need every companion to be likeable and I can appreciate those that aren't for what they bring.” - 28-35M

Shale

I love her (51.6%), I like her (32.9%), I'm indifferent (12.7%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (1.7%), I dislike her (0.8%), I hate her (0.3%)

Baseline: Shale stands out because the violent, misanthropic comedy works alongside a genuinely horrific story about bodily autonomy, lost identity, and dwarven history

Recurring points of praise:

Respondents repeatedly compliment her humour and personality

Her concept and backstory make her one of the game's most unique companions

Her exploration of gender and identity resonate with trans and nonbinary respondents

Recurring criticisms:

People wish the series had done more with her

Making her DLC limited her reach

Some respondents find her underdeveloped or one-note

Her attitude can be off-putting

Recurring division points:

Her violent, abrasive humour is considered either perfect for her or too dependent upon edgy repetition

Her relationship with gender is fascinating while the writing around it can feel incomplete or play into non-human stereotypes

Text response selection:

“A lot of the Origins characters have edgy dialogue for the sake of having edgy dialogue. This is true of Shale but Shale makes it work. I have 100% faith that Shale would happily stomp everyone in that party flat and keep on trucking.” - 28-35M

“SHALE IS EVERYTHING TO ME. her backstory!!! her determination!!! the lore of golems is deeply horrific and her story is so fascinating. i forgot to recruit her the first time around and i’m so happy i went to get her on every further replay, she’s become a staple of my party. i adore everything she has to say. she’s so funny and witty and not afraid to say what she means and i find her so endlessly charming” - 23-27M

“Very important gender moments. I played this game before realising I was a man, so it really was wonderful to meet a female character who was just a lump of rocks and didn’t care about being feminine. Having her strip your warden of gender was relieving. I love her very dearly.” - 23-27M

“I do think Shale would be non binary if they were written now and I always read them as non binary then and loved them. I know, as well, that it's like an overdone trope to make non-binary/aro-ace/autistic characters other but as someone who is all of those things and has been othered my whole life I loved Shale.” - 28-35NB

“After her high approval dialogue where she talks about how she’s interested in reclaiming her old dwarven identity and body as Shayle, I really wonder what she’s up to nowadays! Since it’s unlikely we’ll ever see her again, I like to think she’s achieved it and is out there living her best life. Hopefully no longer killing pigeons as often.” - 23-27M

Sten

I love him (41.6%), I like him (39.1%), I'm indifferent (12%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (5.4%), I dislike him (1.6%), I hate him (0.3%)

Baseline: Respondents value Sten because friendship with him doesn't require ideological agreement - he questions the Warden, expects them to defend their choices, and can respect them without changing his own convictions

Recurring points of praise:

Earning his respect feels unusually satisfying

He provides a compelling view of the Qun

His friendship remains meaningful despite its limits

His dry humour and unexpected softness are endearing

Many wanted to romance him

Recurring criticisms:

Respondents wanted more of him after Origins

His sexism is a persistent barrier

Some find him flat or insufficiently developed

Recruiting him can be difficult to justify in character

His loyalty to the Qun never disappears

Recurring division points:

His rigid worldview makes friendship feel earned while also making his beliefs difficult to tolerate

He's considered both the series' strongest Qunari portrayal and part of its troubling foundations

His sparse characterisation rewards attention but leaves some players with almost nothing

Text response selection:

“I find his love for his culture despite all its flaws engaging and his begrudging appreciation for non-qunari culture is funny” - 23-27NB

“My favourite origins companion. Made me fall in love with the Qunari. Sten really made qunari culture sound like a place of belonging, and while he was probably biased in the same ways as Iron Bull, the way he spoke about it all with so much conviction made me really want to see Par Vollen. Sad that veilguard totally seemed to vilify the qunari.” - 23-27NB

“He has a hilarious dry sense of humor and yet. The FUCKING QUN. Fuuuuccckkk the Qun. Oh sure a mage Warden can be called kadan just like anybody else, but does this man ever actually reconsider his general view of mages? Not really!” - 28-35NB

“Look this man was out here picking fights about my every choice while actively respecting all of them if I respected/didn't back down from his challenges and questions and the whole time calling me his soulmate. They don’t write characters like this anymore and I do not understand why.” - 36-45F

“Sten as a character confused me until I realized he was also a bewildered and traumatized teenager, or at the very least extremely young adult, furiously clinging to the few things he can be certain of. And despite that! He likes it when you meet him on an intellectual level. He's more self-aware than almost anyone else in the party. He has by far the most rewarding friendship arc of the game.” - 28-35M

“I free him but never recruit him. I bring a sort of “I think a man murdering children and other innocents over his own macho bullshit is bad” vibe to dragon age that dragon age fans really don’t like” - 28-35F

“I think this is my favourite dragon age character. I talk about how I love all the origins guys, but Sten is the one I want to get a tattoo about (specifically Asala). I couldn’t figure out how to talk to him in my first playthrough, I kept getting disapproval and couldn’t figure out WHY. So I remember starting a run with the sole goal of understanding him. It was my first time trying to get a character from different angles and taught my teenage self how to analyse speech. My wardens have never fully agreed with him, but debating the disagreement lets them understand each other. I think that’s a part of RPGs I find missing in other places. Finding friendship through not seeing eye to eye. Other games you’re often friends or not friends. Sten’s a weird nuanced grey. You love each other very much, but if you ever meet again, he’ll have to kill you. You know he cares because he’ll fire a warning shot.” - 23-27M

“i like him now but one time i got the challenge scene and i didn't have a previous save and he beat my tiny elf girl to death repeatedly before i could beat him and I've never quite been able to unsee it” - 36-45

“That's my best friend. That's my best friend!!!!!!!!! When my Warden got taken to jail Sten was one of the ones to come bust me out and I'll never forget his unimpressed deadpan, "The irony of this moment is not lost on me" as he opens the door to your cell.” - 28-35F

Wynne

I like her (39.6%), I love her (24.5%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (17.4%), I'm indifferent (11.4%), I dislike her (6.3%), I hate her (0.8%)

Baseline: Respondents often find Wynne more interesting than likeable - they value the complexity created by her Circle conditioning, maternal instincts, and contradictions, while frequently finding her preachy, politically frustrating, strangely underdeveloped, or simply less engaging than the ideas behind her

Recurring points of praise:

Respondents find her Circle-shaped psychology complex and compelling

Her maternal presence can be comforting and emotionally valuable

Having an older woman in the party is appreciated

Her relationship with a mage Warden creates strong roleplaying opportunities

Her spirit possession adds fascinating lore and thematic depth

Her judgmental and stubborn qualities make her more interesting than her fanon image

Recurring criticisms:

Her advice often feels preachy and intrusive

Her support for the Circle frustrates many respondents

Her age is portrayed absurdly inconsistently

She can feel boring, generic, or underdeveloped

Too much of her important character material exists outside Origins

Her grandmotherly portrayal flattens her complexity

Recurring division points:

Her mentorship is considered both comforting and intrusive

Her support for the Circle is either valuable ideological context or infuriating accommodation

Her attempt to embody an elderly mentor feels realistic to some and absurdly caricatured to others

Text response selection:

“I think she gets “grandma’d” by the fandom too much. She’s a pretty complex character outside of her just being an older lady.” - 18-22M

“She gets a little too preachy about the Warden's romance choices, but otherwise, she acts true to character in game. Where I really object to her is in the novels, when she has all this freedom to travel and do what she wants because of her past with the Hero of Ferelden, yet keeps voting to keep things as they are with the Mage Towers for everyone else. It feels slimy.” - 36-45F

“i really like her kind of twisted views of things shaped by a lifetime in the circle that you can predominantly see surfacing when she tries giving you advice, i like how kind of horrifying it all is. i hate her fandom perception of just being a nice mellow old lady who does the chores for her found family <3 because shes anything but that.” - 18-22NB

“I'm glad we were exposed to her perspective as players.  I also love having an older woman as a companion option, although her actual stated age iirc was merely in her 50's, and she was depicted in appearance and behavior as being in perhaps her 70's.  They ought to just have made her canonically older so the rest would make sense.” - 36-45NB

“wynne is a character of all time to me. yes yes she spouts chantry propaganda but there is a REASON for that!!! they took her child! she stepped out of line once and got punished for it forever! everything she says to the warden is because of her regrets, for the child she couldn’t raise and the apprentice she failed. she always wants to do better, be the perfect caretaker, the perfect mentor, and not be punished. she operates out of love and out of fear. faith saved her because it believed in her—she has faith in those she cares for and in the world to improve. but all she has ever known is the circle and chantry teachings. duty is what’s most important to her, because that’s what she’s been told to believe. she warns the warden against love, because love led to the greatest tragedy in her life. wynne is a mage who is afraid to think beyond the status quo because she knows what happens to those who act out, and she wants to protect herself and others. more than anything she CARES. and she isn’t always doing it in the most perfect way, because she’s imperfect! she is traumatized! a lot of the reason she tries to be so polite and motherly is because she is a woman as well as a mage and has been forced into being demure by the system she is trapped in. i’m not saying she’s never been wrong, but i AM saying she is a FANTASTIC character and i will defend her to the ends of the earth” - 23-27M

“I like the different perspective she brings to a circle mage, especially when playing a mage origin! It's an interesting mixture of power dynamics, with Warden being the group's de facto leader but also Wynne still treating them as if they were still part of the circle hierarchy, aka someone she has authority over.” - 28-35NB

“Wynne would be AMAZING if she was written how she is on purpose. Wanting to be a wise elder (despite not being that old!), she’s still showing the same flaws she claims to have grown past, still being preachy, judgemental and unable to see where others need patience instead of a lecture. That’s great!- except from all I’ve heard it was AN ACCIDENT.” - 36-45NB

“She's 48 going on 70 going on one foot in the grave. She does add a perspective to the circle of magi that's good to know, especially when considering SOME acts of revolution carried out by SOME mages in SOME game. She is essentially dead and it's just taking a while to set in, and it gives an interesting view of mortality if you think about it.” - 18-22NB

“Wynne to me is a tragedy and she's so well written but I get sad every time I think about how she's resigned herself to this constant unceasing oppression and encourages mage wardens to resign themselves to the same system because she views it as inevitable. I like how she perpetuates the system because it's broken her and the way she keeps going, the way she literally comes back from the dead, is her faith that if she complies with the system she will be spared from further suffering.” - 23-27NB

Zevran Arainai

I love him (72.1%), I like him (22%), I'm indifferent (3%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (1.9%), I dislike him (0.8%), I hate him (0.3%)

Baseline: Respondents overwhelmingly love him for the tenderness and pain beneath his flirtatious persona, while a smaller group struggles to see beyond (or enjoy) the constant sexual presentation

Recurring points of praise:

His humour and flirtation make him highly entertaining

His romance is one of the most beloved in Origins

His friendship is meaningful even without romance

His bisexuality was meaningful representation for many respondents

His Crow background gives him compelling themes of exploitation and escape

The pain beneath his flirtatious persona gives him emotional depth

Earning his loyalty makes the relationship feel consequential

Recurring criticisms:

His late recruitment and limited content leave many respondents wanting more

His sexual presentation alienates a smaller group

Some respondents find him overhyped or fail to connect with him

His later appearances in sequels feel poorly handled

Some respondents perceive a double standard between Zevran and Oghren

His approval and betrayal mechanics can be frustrating

His accent and sexualised archetype feel dated to some respondents

Recurring division points:

His sexual confidence is interpreted as either liberating performance or relentless harassment

His limited content makes his hidden depth rewarding but easy to miss

Text response selection:

“Assassin that you adopt and ends up being your bestie or your lover, love that trope so much. His interactions are some of the funniest and his loyalty is so meaningful. I didn't recover from his romance route. I also didn't recover from learning that his automatic tactic is  attacking those who attack the warden.” - 18-22F

“he’s been trapped and traumatized and it’s hard to break out of the mindset he’s developed. self-preservation, cutting himself off from love and friendship because when he finally chased that it was ripped away from him in the worst way. he blames himself for it, but it’s the crows’ fault. he wants to keep himself alive, but he also takes the job to kill the warden because it seems like a job that’s doomed to fail and he thinks death is a worthy punishment for what he did. and yet he still bargains for his life. he Wants, he wants freedom and love and connection and the ability to become his own person and not the property of the crows, but the idea of Wanting scares him. so he bottles it up and uses jokes and sex to pretend he’s perfectly content and none of his Wanting comes up until the very end. he’s flippant about others’ lives because he’s never been able to care, and when he did care, it fucked him over. but zevran is younger than wynne, and while she still thinks the circles work, zevran knows the crows don’t. he wants out. and he’s so afraid. and i would do anythjng for him” - 23-27M

“MY GUY!!! He's touch starved, he's not used to kindness, he has a natural light and joy to him that the Crows couldn't stamp out. He's suicidal, he's given a second chance by the warden .... he sees that he can be more than what the Crows expect of him, made him to be” - 28-35NB

Anders (Awakening)

I love him (46.5%), I like him (35.4%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (7.4%), I'm indifferent (6.9%), I dislike him (3.1%), I hate him (0.7%)

Baseline: Respondents enjoy his humour and yearning for freedom, while sharply disagreeing over whether his lighter personality is more appealing or less compelling than his DA2 self

Recurring points of praise:

His humour and irreverence make him an entertaining companion

His desire for freedom makes his conflict with the Circle sympathetic

His love of cats is endearing

His lighter personality makes his later fate feel tragic

Many respondents wish that he had been romanceable

His relationship with Justice provides valuable context for both characters

Recurring criticisms:

His personality feels like an imitation of Alistair's

His flirtation can feel sexist, intrusive, or unpleasant

His voice performance is highly distracting

Some respondents find him shallow or underdeveloped

The transition into DA2 feels inadequately shown

His humour can become annoying or overly performed

Recurring division points:

His lighter personality is considered either delightful or comparatively shallow

His flirtation is experienced as either charming bisexual chaos or unwanted persistence

His contrast with DA2 inspires disagreement over whether he was improved or ruined

Text response selection:

“For me, getting to know what anders was like before da2 adds a lot of interest to his character and makes me go insane thinking about how he's changed and why. Awakening anders is fun and is interesting in his own right but i think hes elevated  knowing the context of da2” - 18-22M

“honey, you've got a big storm coming” - 23-27NB

“He is so funny I hope nothing bad happens to him” - 23-27NB

“just told greg ellis to be his smarmy self” - 18-22NB

“I remember playing the dlc and thinking wow, i wish I could kiss this guy hehe hes so funny. Truly a monkeys paw moment” - 28-35

“he means well bless his heart” - 28-35F

Justice

I like him (37.1%), I love him (36.2%), I'm indifferent (13.8%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (10.6%), I dislike him (1.7%), I hate him (0.7%)

Baseline: Respondents value him as a unique window into spirits and morality, while often wishing the games had developed him more fully and treated him better after Awakening

Recurring points of praise:

His nonhuman perspective makes him a distinctive companion

He enriches the lore surrounding spirits and possession

Watching an ideal confront an imperfect world is compelling

His fascination with mortal beauty and love makes him endearing

His relationship with Anders gains significance through DA2

His body and identity create intriguing questions (whether Justice remains entirely himself; how Kristoff's memories and emotions affect him; his responsibility toward Aura; the boundary between possession and identity; the contrast between an immortal concept and a decaying physical body; the horror and absurdity of casually travelling with a walking corpse)

Recurring criticisms:

Awakening doesn't develop him enough

His conceptual appeal doesn't always translate into personal attachment

His rigid understanding of justice can be frustrating

DA2 is widely seen as reducing or mistreating him (reduces him from a person to a source of Anders' anger; treats him as an evil or corrupting force; gives him little independent voice; fails to provide closure for what happens to him; loses the curiosity, nuance, and love of mortal life established in Awakening)

A smaller group blames him for what happens to Anders

Recurring division points:

His uncompromising morality is considered both fascinatingly alien and frustratingly rigid

His merge with Anders is either the culmination of his story or the destruction of both characters

Text response selection:

“Justice is my best fucking friend and I will hear no bad words against him. Go talk to him about the unexpected beauty of the mortal world and how the idea of love is something beautiful and worth experiencing and protecting and maybe you'll calm down.” - 28-35NB

“He didn't do much for me when I first played Awakening but on a recent playthrough I noticed that he gives SO MUCH information on the Fade and spirits, and looking back from Veilguard and DAI, that's all extremely interesting. I also wonder how Solas would interact with him.” - 36-45F

“really good character. in the fade he was just a concept, a pure ideal, and now he suddenly has to deal with the real world. its great watching him grapple with justice as an action instead of as an idea. his distaste for anders makes what eventually happens between them incredibly funny.” - 18-22M

“The pure personification of Justice was fascinating to have along, as he was puzzled by things, thereby pointing out what was nonsensical in society.” - 36-45F

“Ehhnnn leave Anders alone about Ser Pounce, come on. It's not slavery or imprisonment, it's a mutually beneficial companionship agreement. But it is super cool to have a spirit as a party member.” - 28-35NB

“JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he’s so in love with how much the mortal world has to offer, and it’s so beautiful and inspiring. there’s so much to learn in every corner of life. kirkwall makes it hard to cling to his outlook but he still pushes through, he still always believes that things can be better. i refuse to believe that he ever fully becomes vengeance (i have thoughts on spirits/demons but that’s its own thing). i know this is the awakening section but i adore him when you meet him in the fade in night terrors. a lot of the way he’s written in da2 is because hepler saw him as an expression of anders’s Evil Bad Anger And Bipolar Disorder and not as a character in his own right. he deserved better. he’s written with so much nuance and care in awakening and it just makes me smile every time i talk to him” - 23-27M

“This isn't meant to be its circus but it supposes since it's stuck here, these may as well be its monkeys, provided they act justly and valiantly, else it must start culling them.” - 18-22NB

Nathaniel Howe

I love him (39.2%), I like him (39.2%), I'm indifferent (16.1%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (3.5%), I dislike him (1.7%), I hate him (0.3%)

Baseline: Respondents like his growth and family drama, particularly with Cousland, but often feel he deserved far more content

Recurring points of praise:

His relationship with Cousland creates an especially compelling dynamic (both lose their homes and families through the actions of the other's father; Nathaniel initially sees the Warden as the person who destroyed his family; Cousland knows firsthand how monstrous Rendon Howe was; their inherited hostility can gradually become trust and friendship; Nathaniel provides a continuing consequence of the Cousland origin rather than leaving the Howe conflict entirely in the base game)

His struggle to accept his father's crimes gives him a satisfying arc

His changing relationship with the Warden is rewarding

Many respondents wish that he'd been romanceable

His honour and capacity for change make him sympathetic

His interactions with other companions are enjoyable (especially Oghren and Velanna)

Recurring criticisms:

Awakening doesn't give him enough development

He can feel dull, forgettable, or insubstantial

Too much of his appeal depends upon playing Cousland

His later appearances are far too limited

Recurring division points:

His hostility toward the Warden is considered either understandable family loyalty or misplaced resentment

His understated growth is satisfying while his limited presence keeps it from reaching its full potential

Tone response selection:

“My first warden was a cousland and the way their stories parallel each other is my favorite thing so I still have a very big soft spot for him” - 28-35NB

“unforchy he died protecting the keep 💔 rip nathy. his friendship with oghren is really sweet and i love their interactions. watching him come to terms with his father being terrible is great. i wonder what would happen if i told him that oghren dealt the killing blow” - 18-22M

“You just kind of watch him work through 30 years of daddy issues. In the sense that he matures from a bitter son idolising his father to a principled leader that acknowledges and accepts the atrocities committed by his father, and attempts to make good for it and rebuild his family's legacy. He finds a new home and purpose within the Grey Wardens that he never really had within his family. And also, his bard song scream will never cease to be the funniest thing on this earth.” - 18-22NB

Sigrun

I love her (53.8%), I like her (31.4%), I'm indifferent (13.8%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (0.9%), I dislike her (0.1%), I hate her (0%)

Baseline: Respondents find her delightful and distinctive, but overwhelmingly wish Awakening and the wider series had given her more content

Recurring points of praise:

Her cheerful personality makes her immediately loveable

Her brightness contrasts compellingly with her status as one of the dead

Her perspective expands the Legion of the Dead and dwarven culture

Her combination of cuteness and violence is entertaining

Many respondents consider her one of Awakening's strongest companions

Many respondents wish that she'd been romanceable

Recurring criticisms:

Awakening doesn't give her enough time or development

Her limited material can leave her feeling forgettable or bland

The wider series wastes her by never bringing her back

Recurring division points:

Her concise appearance makes her refreshing while leaving major parts of her unexplored

Text response selection:

“Perky, curious Legion of the Dead. She's a delight. It's also another view on how one could take on the banner of "already dead" rather than just serious and morose.” - 36-45F

“She's so cheerful in a whimsical, suicidal way. The type of girl to say "whoops better go die!" when she stubs her toe. She's so ready for it the Warden-Commander has to actively keep her from running to her death. You can't say she's not dedicated to the cause.” - 18-22NB

“Our only Duster companion!! She's scrappy and funny and gives an insight into dwarven culture that non-dwarf origins never see. I wish she had more interactivity with Brosca!” - 23-27NB

Velanna

I love her (39%), I like her (33.3%), I'm indifferent (16.7%), I have mixed/conflicted feelings (7.5%), I dislike her (3%), I hate her (0.4%)

Baseline: Respondents largely sympathise with her anger and wish the series had given her more room to develop

Recurring points of praise:

Her anger toward humans is considered understandable and justified

Her prickly and uncompromising personality appeals to many respondents

Her devotion to her sister gives her emotional weight

Her development across Awakening feels meaningful

Her Dalish perspective enriches the expansion

The original concept of her merging with Justice fascinates respondents

Recurring criticisms:

Her abrasiveness makes her difficult to befriend or enjoy

Awakening doesn't develop her enough

Her treatment of innocent deaths is morally alienating

Her writing can feel like a familiar fantasy-elf archetype

The series wastes her by never bringing her back

Recurring division points:

Her anger is considered both justified and difficult to live with

Her lack of content makes her feel either full of possibility or too unfinished to love

Text response selection:

“I thought her anger was totally justified, and I think people judge her too harshly for being "mean". One of those characters where if she were a guy, she would be a fan favourite like fenris.” - 23-27NB

“I like that she and Mahariel know and recognise each other.” - 28-35F

“Sometimes I think of how differently the series would have had to unfold had the devs had HER bond with Justice instead of Anders. The conflict of the abuses of the elves might have been more coherent than the abuses of mages.” - 36-45F

“Her development throughout the DLC feels very earned. She's genuinely learning from her previous mistakes, and admits them, and then she works on them. She embodies the consequence of what she went through and witnessed, and she has to unlearn the deep-seated hatred it left her with. She goes from being a vengeful murderer in the woods to protecting any and all who need it.” - 18-22NB