spoiler Who do you like to side with?

[spinspider]

So, you're forced to choose sides with various peoples during the story... what sides do you prefer to choose?

 

I'm pretty much a large ham here and I pick all the sides that result in the most positive ending.

 

In the quest to get the mages to help you, I always side with the mages, because, well.. Cullen is a d*ckhead (as are most of the templars) and I don't want to do what he wants, and besides I like the mages a lot so I do not want to kill them (and I also like Wynne a lot, and siding with the templars will force me to kill her and I do not want to do that!)

 

In the quest to get Orzammar's help, I always side with Bhelen and destroy the Anvil of the Void. It kind of hurts me to do it, I really like Harrowmont a lot and he's genuinely a very sensitive and kind man, but he's a weakling and pretty much all of the possible endings from making him king are very bad for poor Orzammar. I don't like Bhelen at all, he's a lying, cheating, two faced little a**wipe, and I hate how making him king immediately results in a lot of very unhappy dwarves, but he is the stronger ruler and making him king does deliver far better ending than any of the Harrowmont ones. And I really care about Orzammar a lot (largely because I love to play as a dwarf myself), and want the best possible future for it, so I go with him. And of course, keeping the Anvil will result in a very, very bad ending regardless of who you make king, so I destroy it. I hate having to kill Branka, but my pity for poor Caridin compels me (watching his suicide always tugs at my heartstrings).

 

In the quest to get the elves' help, of course I always side with the elves because I like the elves a lot better than those ugly, crazy fleabag werewolves. Plus, of course, siding with the elves gives me a more positive ending than siding with those disgusting monsters. I heard there was an ending where you can save the elves and lift the curse off the werewolves so they can return to human society, but honestly I don't know how to do that.

 

As for the Landsmeet, I prefer to make Anora queen, simply because I like her, and she's far more monarch-material than Alistair (IMO, he's a bit of an immature loser and I just don't think he makes a very good king at all).

 

The quest to save Eamon is pretty much ditto. I put in all the work to save both Connor and Isolde, and kill the desire demon. Urn of Sacred Ashes quest, on all of my playthroughs so far I've killed Kolgrim and killed the High Dragon (because I want that grandmaster flame rune), I haven't tried siding with Kolgrim and defiling the Urn yet, but I definitely must do so on one of my playthroughs.

 

In fact one of these playthroughs I have to try making all the worst possible choices, just to explore the different endings. Lol...

[RustyBlade]

I choose the outcomes that best suit the personality of the character I am playing at the time. I will confess that said personalities are usually pretty close (in other words, don't look to see me urinating in Andraste's ashes - ever.)

 

I agree 100% on the circle quest since I usually play an elf of one variety or another and those characters haven't had much mothering (city elf = mother dead, dalish elf = both parents dead, elf mage = parents?) and in enriching their personality profile Wynne fills a void in their lives.

 

At Orzammar I have always sided with Harrowmont as he is one of the noblest dwarves in the game (and one of the few I can tolerate.) One time I kept the anvil intact but I discovered such an act was in direct conflict with what the character stood for (I actually wound up trashing that character and starting over as I considered it a failure in personality creation.) I have no qualms at all about killing Branka as she is an ugly self-centered, conniving, psycho-sociopathic waste of femininity. (Can you tell I really don't like the dwarves much?)

 

I always side with the elves and free the werewolves from their curse. At that point Zathrian has shown his true colors and forcing him to end it is best for him, the elves and the lycanthropes.

 

At Redcliffe, Connor and Isolde both live, the demon dies and I don't use blood magic to achieve that end, additionally I try to always pursuade Eamon to give Jowan to the circle for punishment (tranquilization.) I have tricked Kolgrim once but that just seemed to be a waste of a good dragon hoard so every other time both he and the dragon die. After all, that dragon could become an archdemon someday and as I stated above, urinating in/on a sacred relic just doesn't fit in with the personalities of the characters I play.

 

The landsmeet is a little tougher to nail down. As human noble I have been king-consort to Anora and made Alistair king with and without Anora. As an elf I have kicked poor Al to the curb and let Logain live with Anora to be sole ruler (I screwed up and forgot to harden Al that time) but usually I make Al king on his own as his taste in women seems to be a bit different than his deceased brother.

 

I always bed Morrigan before the final battle, one more notch on the bedpost right? Al guards the city gate and doesn't get to face the archdemon (I leave him to face his own demons as king.) And in the game I just finished today Flemeth survived (by deceit) - left me a little dissapointed as I was expecting a bit more said about it at the end.

[Kamajii]

More often than not, I tend to play a generally good character that sometimes does [expletive deleted] things from time to time. I've done my business in Andraste's ashes... once and quickly rolled back the save state. What can I say? I wanted the achievement. :sweat:

 

I sided with the circle because I couldn't see the point in amputating an arm when it can be saved with a bit of debridement allowing it to heal properly. Besides, the Templars in general seem to have a chip on their shoulders that really turns me off.

 

When I head to Orzammar I always side with Harrowmont, his honor speaks to me. He's plagued with trouble after trouble in the end, but its a growing pain that Orzammar must go through. Honestly, if I could have I would have either taken the throne myself or Lord Helmi for the throne. If Orzammar is to have a future then it will have to rethink the caste system. And Bhelen was a perfect example of Lord Acton's quote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." Bhelen has some fine ideas, but he's too easily swayed by the potential of that power and what it can do for him.

 

When it came to keepinig the anvil or destroying it, it was a really tough choice. I mean, you get an "army" of awesome golems. But when you know the truth, the golems come at an extremely high price. I have no qualms with killing Branka... but an army of golems. :unsure: In the end I destroy the anvil. Still.. An army of golems!

 

Even when I'm not playing an elf, I always side with the elves and free the werewolves from their curse. Although Zathrian brought a lot of it upon himself. I didn't feel too sorry for the Dalish caravan. I always forced Zathrian's hand so that he ended the curse himself without me having to attack the caravan nor kill witherfang. Which sadly didn't net me help from both the werewolves and the dalish. >:(

 

Redcliffe was a no brainer for me. Honestly, after so many runs I get a little bored of the Fade so I go and knock the circle out first that way when I go to Redcliffe I just have to run over and bring Irving over to send one of us into the fade. I don't play mages so sadly I miss out on the bit of conversation with the demon, but the end is the same nonetheless. Connor and Isolde live, the smith's daughter is rescued, I find Kaitlyn's brother and get my kisses from Kaitlyn and Bella. I let Jowan go, but he came back so I attempt to persuade leniency on Jowan's behalf. Although it seems like such a waste for him to become a Tranquil. I always kill Kolgrim and and "Andraste" for the dragon scales. I don't like killing all dragons with the idea that they could become an archdemon, but let's face it... this one was pretty evil already and I really want that dragon scale.

 

When I get to the landsmeet I usually rule the land with an iron fist beside my quirky companion. I usually bed Morrigan in the end and romance everyone thanks to a certain mod. I've never let Flemeth live, I find her just as dangerous as an archdemon and would rather have fewer things come back and bite me in the patootie later on.

[roninsoul7]

@Kamajii there is another mod to skip the fade, in fact it is called just that, works fine too.

 

On to topic, I always save the tower, not because I don't want some extra warriors, but because awesome and powerful magic beats out having yet another swordswinger around.

 

I then cure Eamon with a pinch of ashes (I defile them once to get the acheivement and class, but never save that) and kill Kolgrim for being a self-important loudmouthed jerk, the dragon too, just because hey, double swords through a dragons head and riding the corpse down, always lightens my day. Then I save Isolde and even connor, not because I am particularily fond of either of them, but it does make Eamon happy, and I do need SOME swordswingers to throw at the darkspawn.

 

I side with neither really, the elves and werewolves are both actually innocent, so I make the elven leader undo what he did and move on. Sure it means I don't get some cool lycanthrope troops to toss at my enemies to see which taint is stronger, but a platoon of arrow slingers breaks the tedium of battles.

 

I side with Bhelen in the dwarven cities, mostly because as evil as humans see him, he actually does more good then harm, all the while following his own people's traditions of back-handed dealings, which I will need on my side anyways should things get problematic later. You always need someone who puts what needs to be done ahead of what everyone else is comfortable with doing. The anvil, I am always tempted to keep it around, for the previously said reason ARMY of GOLEMS, but in the end destroy it so that the poor man who designed it can get some rest, I like resting and I cannot deny it to someone else.

 

I always stick Alistair on the throne, of course I always harden him too, then make Anora rule beside him. He becomes a great leader that way, and I get my own satisfaction of punishing the whiny runt for making sensitive men look like pansies. Loghain always dies, I always do it too with great satisfaction, anyone that stupid does not deserve life.

 

At the very end, the night before the battle, I take Morrigan up on her kind offer to save my arse, after all it's the only kind thing she does really even if it is for other reasons, and I just dislike dying before the taint has a chance to make me into a deranged serial darkspawn killer. By the same token, I bed and kiss every lady who offers, since hey, I just signed my life away to protect everyone else, I should get something out of the deal.

 

I haven't tried awakenings yet for their particular choices.

[ell46]

I always start a game thinking I'll do this one differently, but can't help doing what seems right, at least to me.

 

Redcliffe - save everyone, even that b*ch Isolde, but I always take Shale as he puts her in her place.

Circle - side with mages can't stand the attitude of that templar bloke, who obviously isn't very good at his job if he can't get a grip on these abominations, he's not going to be much help against an Archedemon.

Orzammar - who cares they are both as bad as each other in different ways

Anvil - do it for Shale, plus Branka gets my back up as soon as she speaks.

Anora - ugh :sick: she can have the throne as long as I get Alistair. Besides I prefer the happy ever after ending with Alistair as a GW than the King.

Dark Ritual - not much of a choice really is it for a woman player, it's that or die. Yea I know about Alistairs sacrifice but if it's the first play through you don't know that YET and after you have been to hell and back for these people and you are only good enough to be queen if you are a noble, :yucky: sod Eamon and his blood line he gets Anora every time, strange how he's never in the last scene to thank me :woot:

 

One thing I've noticed is if you play with a different race and class, it does effect how you treat certain people the next playthough. Like the City Elf, up until I did that I always released that Kemp bloke in Howe's prison, ever since then I just take a knife to him, end of.

 

I am also guilty of loading a save and doing something over in a different way, just to see what happens but not saving. It's not for trophies as they don't interest me, besides if you don't save do you even get to keep a trophy do you?

 

DH did play as a nasty once and half the party walked out of the camp, the Elves wouldn't sell him anything he got to the end of the game with no health potions, it was a struggle but he did manage to finish it :laugh: :laugh:

[Kamajii]

I side with neither really, the elves and werewolves are both actually innocent, so I make the elven leader undo what he did and move on. Sure it means I don't get some cool lycanthrope troops to toss at my enemies to see which taint is stronger, but a platoon of arrow slingers breaks the tedium of battles.

 

If you save them both then you really should get both, am I right? :thumbsup:

[tinylewtgriffon]

Hmmm....Well,

 

Elves: I always sided with the ending that ends the curse, but wanted the achievement and sided with the Werewolves and it went well actually (it was funny because I was an elf)

 

Orzammar: It pretty much varies. I'm more prone to Bhelin even though I want to kill him.

 

Tower: I really should side with the templars at some point and get that achievment...Always good as a mage to betray the tower

 

Redcliff: Save everyone, but as a mage, make deal with Demon

 

Ashes: Always save them, sided with cult once for achievment then re-loaded

 

Morrigan's Plan: Who can say no? LOL!

[Moonwing]

Soo…my choices are always the same:

 

WARNING: those may not be pleasant for some one.

 

1.- Redcliff –save all while asking Wynn to go through fade even being a mage myself. I sympathize Isolde since she is mother and was afraid of a possibility of being separated with her child so much that it led her to some not so clever decisions. But I am not the one who would blame a mother for a fear for her child future.

 

2.- Flemeth – always kept alive. I like her character, her mystery her personality. I think that such an ancient creature should not be killed out of tool (I despise Morrigan) desires.

 

3.- Circle Tower- Always mages side. Since I hate church and all my characters too since they are elves and humans and humans religion have caused such a disaster for their people.

 

4.-Ashes- always destroyed- it’s a human religious figure, no matter that she freed elves, It were she, in whose name were Dales destroyed. Newer kill a dragoness. I like those beasts as last bits of magic that is eluding from that world.

 

5.- Elves- not so hard choice at all. Kill werewolves, kill witherfang. Zathrian have all rights to hate humans as much as he does.

 

6.- Orzammar- Bhelin one and only. Politics is a hobby that is not intended for a “good, honorable and moral” ones. Its destined for the strong and pitiless, for ones that are able to kill a 100 infants in order to let 1.000.000 survive.

 

7. –Anora always queen as I like her very much. Se is sharp as blade and nice politician. Alister is decapitated and Loghain is alive in order to die as a hero and save my characters life.

 

8. –Morrigan always turned down on her proposal. It’s a pity that I can’t kill her.

[Alehazar]

- Circle Tower; I side with the mages -except one time to get the other Achievement, but I didn't save. Even though Wynne can be a bit of a moralistic pain, she is a Healer and I rely on her healing arts to keep me and my party alive long enough to slay the bad guys. Unless my character has zero tolerance for threats and intimidation and has a patience threshold of nil.

- Dalish Elves/Werewolves: I dislike Zathrian lying to me, so I make him break the curse most of the time. Occasionally I always try to convince Swiftrunner -the two times I meet him, first in the East Forest and second when I made it through the mist- to try and resolve the matter peacefully. Since he won't hear of it, by the time I get to the Gatekeeper who want's to parley, I always have the notion in my mind that I offered them enough opportunities to talk things over and they refused. Now they wish to talk and I must simply agree to it? Die Gatekeeper -and die Witherfang! Besides, the Dalish bowmen are very useful during the final onslaught when the Archdemon perches in that one spot where melee fighter cannot reach it. And as a Warrior or a mage I cannot repair the balista's that can be used to pepper the dragon into submission

(That's what I dislike mostly about DAO; it's always my character that has to bend knee to the wishes of others.)

I also resent the Lady of the Forest for making the remark that if Zathrian does not come, she will make sure that Witherfang is never found; don't p*ss me off, you natural b*tch.

- Redcliffe; it varies, whenever I play a character that has little patience for negotiations I talk to Owen and since he is unwilling to do the much needed repairs and is willing to let the entire village die, why should I care what happens to Redcliffe? So I simply walk away and leave.

When I play a Paladin type of character -usually a mage- I'm always humble and polite, willing to lend a hand where- and whenever possible. So I try to save Redcliffe.

Depending on my class, Rogue or Warrior, I either save Valena -Owen's daughter- or I don't bother to locate her once inside the castle. If she lives I can buy the Boots of Diligence for my Warrior. If she dies, Owen commits suicide and the longbow Far Song becomes available for my Rogue. There is a mod that enables me to save Valena and buy Far Song from Owen, but my character import to Awakenings crashes the game.

Usually I'm more prone to use Persuasion or Cunning dialogue options -only in some situations is Intimidation a satisfying alternative.

Whenever I'm a mage I try to get a max the first row of Creation and together with Wynne I'm usually able to keep everyone alive. Mindblast, a couple of Primary spells and Forcefield are also helpful. As are some Entropy spells. So saving the Circle before saving Redcliffe is usually how I go about it.

Only once -as a mage- did I save before the final confrontation with Connor's demon, to try the different options and to unlock the Blood Mage Specialisation, but I usually save the poor lad.

Strangely enough, even though Lady Isolde lives, my Codex always updates that Isolde died to save her son.

- Only once did I agree to help Kolgrim -for the Achievement and Reaver Specialisation only. Other than that I think Kolgrim is zealot and a self-righteous pr^ck, so I enjoy sending him to the other side.

- I never liked Bhelen, so I always side with Harrowmont -even as a Dwarf Commoner, which costs me my relationship with Rica.

As a Dwarf Noble I simply want to see Bhelen die for getting me Exiled; if my Dwarf Noble survives the Blight, and I am to be named Paragon, I tell them to kiss my *ss; after what they put me through, I'm never going back to Orzammar -and I always hated the political backstabbing that is more of a rule than an exception.

- Even as a Dwarf Commoner I try to do what's right, regardless of being casteless and downtrodden. But after having spent such a long time on the surface my return to Orzammar to have them fulfill their treaty, is like a vicious slap across my face. The derision and loathing I receive is numbing and I'd sooner see Orzammar razed to its foundations by the darkspawn, than break the stalemate. But that's not a game option.

 

(Most people that have signed a treaty apparently don't know the meaning of the word "obligation"; oh no, I first have to sort out their sh*t before they would even consider honoring their side of the agreement. If the Dwarves truly believe that their political squabbles supersede quelling a Blight, I'd rather let them have their civil war and walk away. If Zathrian is not willing to leave his diseased clansmen to their fate and sacrifice them whilst committing the remainder of his clan to fight the Blight, then his response that the Blight must be defeated, but that he is in no position to do so, really is pretty hypocrite. Why does my character have to make all the sacrifices while no one else is willing to do so? Just because I'm a Grey Warden? As a goody two-shoes I don't mind having to bend knee all the time, but as an impatient or even evil character I just don't have any satisfactory options to choose from. Besides, playing an evil character usually means I'm fighting the Blight on my own as most party members walk away, or very much dislike my character and do not apply for their Bonus skills that could keep them alive a lot longer during fights. I mean Oghren with Massive Constitution is a whole lot better, than with none; he then just seems to kick the bucket as a habit.)

- Even though I think Morrigan is a hot chick, her personality is usually a big turn-off. Besides, she only likes men; there are mods that make her like women just as much, but it's strange to see Morrigan with another woman during the Dark Ritual. And I really hate it that regardless whether Morrigan loves you or not, she always walks away.

- Leliana in the Urn of Sacred Ashes trailer is a foxy girl and I'm glad there are mods that make her look more like the girl in that trailer than the way the game designers made her look in-game. Her religious babble is exhausting, but as a patient and good and humble character, I usually agree with her.

- I very much dislike Alistair being such a whiny guy, who lacks the backbone to make tough decisions, leaving it all up to me and then having the gall to lecture me when I make a choice that does not coincide with his own personal moral compass. But I make him king anyway, since I have an even greater dislike of Anora.

- Only once did I decide to let Loghain live -I was a mage who believed in forgiveness and second chances- and I was surprised to see Alistair leave. For all his bluster of righteousness he's an unforgiving pr*ck. Basically Riordan's plan for more Wardens is undone. Loghain becomes a Warden and Alistair takes a hike, leaving the tally unaltered. If Alistair is made king and has to marry Anora, he always dumps my character, if she was romantically involved with him. So when he decides to sacrifice himself and kill the Archdemon, my response is usually, less talking more doing -and dying.

 

What I really like doing is roleplaying, so far all my attempts to create a Dalish elf that tries to do what is right have failed. The reactions of other people, plus the history between the Dalish and the Humans of Ferelden have always turned my elf into one that cannot be bothered by human strife and conflicts. The unscrupulouse merchant in Lothering? I either take his money, I tell them to solve their own petty problems, or I kill him.

Acquiring Sten? I simply threaten the Revered Mother -too bad that spineless Alistair has to intercede, I'd have loved to chop up that self-righteous robed twit. The kid who lost his mommy? Beat it, kid. Redcliffe? Not my problem. Werewolves? Annihilation. Dwarves? Side with Bhelen, so the future of the Dwarven folkl is one of oppression and tyranny. Start of the Dalish Elf Origin? Kill the humans. Joining the Wardens? I'd rather die -but that's not an option. Alistair? I enjoy tormenting him.

However, if I do roleplay this game to the hilt, I don't get much party approval. Leliana's is a misguided zealot, Alistair a spineless whimp, Sten a weird twit, Morrigan a selfish b*tch, Wynne a preachy peach... you get the picture.

[spinspider]

I downloaded a mod to make Morrigan look like less of a ho (mainly, no makeup and different hair) so I don't hate having to do her "ritual" so much... or having to make Alistair do it, if I've been romancing him.

 

But I like making the ultimate sacrifice, so... :smile: