GameBanshee Forums

OK... I know this isn't a terribly original thread idea, but every Dragon Age forum out there probably has one, so why make GB's DA:O forum feel left out?


Anyway, as the thread title says who are your favourite and least favourite NPCs, both recruitable and not.

For favourite party members, my vote would have to go to Morrigan with Ogren as a close second. I just like Morrigan's snarky attitude, and it's been scary the number of times I've been thinking something and Morrigan has voiced it... ( a certain matchmaking quest in the Dalish camp springs to mind ).

It's difficult for me to pick a "least favourite" joinable NPC because I actually like them all. I suppose, though, I'd choose Sten, just because he can be difficult to work with in some situations. However, I still like his character, once you get to know him he becomes quite interesting, and he has some entertaining banters with Morrigan.

In terms of irritating non joinable NPCs, for me it's a toss up between Anora, Isolde and Amalia (the little girl you have the option to save while acquiring Shale).
Cesar is probably my favourite non recruitable NPC, and I admit, I quite liked Duncan too.

I think Oghren could be if he didn't arrive so late in the game, maybe when i get stuck into Awakening he'll fulfil his potential. So apart from the dog, number one has to be Wynne, she's somewhat amusing, fairly down to earth and not at all irritating.

Morrigan makes the odd whitty remark, but mostly she's just a prize bitch.

Sten is the ultimate male chauvinist pig, and a complete idiot to boot.

Zevran is a bit boring, and gets his throat cut usually anyway. I did keep him alive once, and he didn't annoy me, most of the time I forgot he was there.

Least favourite is a toss up between Leliana and Alistair; one's a religious nut job who irritates me no end, the other a complete ... erm ... merchant banker as a cockney would say!

Least favourite non joinable NPCs is a toss up between Cullen, Isolde and Duncan.

Closest I can think of to favourite non-joinable would be Bann Teagan.

For party members, I liked Oghren, Alistair (fun at first, but whiny near the end, I admit), that Marbari dog and Wynne.

As for those I'm okay with, it's Sten, Leliana and Zevran.

Those that I dislike? Only one. Morrigan. Okay in some parts, but a jerk 90% of the time.

As for Oghren, I did play the Awakenings expansion and Bioware did expand more on his character. In short, he is quite a fun character to have in the party, despite the writing being not as expansive as the original game.

As for NPCs, I can't quite say I liked any of them. They're just okay to me. Liked Wade and Herren, though.

But those I loathe are Isolde and Loghain. Loghain, to me, comes across as some patriotic chauvinist (up till the point of making seditious remarks) and a jerk while Isolde comes across as an idiot and a whiner.

My favorite party member is most definitely Sten. He's this totally alien character with different ideals and expectations for how things should happen. It's interesting to me that he is this outsider who feels completely superior to everyone he encounters, if only because they're seen as kind of "barbarians" compared to his own people.

Also, Leliana, because she's such a mess of contradictions: she's a quasi-priestess, (a "house-guest to the Chantry" ) a singer and teller of tales, a spy and more, all wrapped up in this cute, innocent appearance... unless things get serious and she becomes all "business". Plus, I have a thing for french accents... anyways...

Least favorite? Definitely Wynne. I like some aspects of her character, (being a kind of rebel spirit and a tough as nails older woman) but she can be a real pain (to me anyways) with all that nagging and some of her preconceptions leave her seeming kind of ignorant and stuck in her ways so to speak.

Anora's okay, I hated Isolde, (if only because of the way she says "Teagan", and I'm thinking this is ironic remembering what I just said about Leliana..) and the game really did a good job of making me dislike (yet respect) Bhelen. The way his betrayal is inescapable in the origin makes my grudge even worse.

But on the other hand, I really liked Duncan, (and Loghain, but that could probably go under the other section), Riordan... basically all the elves in the city elf origin... I don't think I could pick just one Probably Bodahn the merchant, as I thought his way of life was kind of interesting. A looter who has convinced himself he's doing what he does for the right reasons.

And lastly, I didn't get into Awakening stuff in the post above but.. Loved Nathaniel and Sigrun, hated Velanna and Anders. Wish they had more on the party members in the expansion.

My favorite is Morrigan. Leliana was asking her about the rips in her clothes how they were fashion statements revealing her assets. Morrigan quips 'you do realize that I lived in a forest don't you?' She's a pain with her approval I mean I don't know how many people refuse to help redcliffe and manage to beat the game, maybe I'll have to see how a evil playthrough fairs, but I always seem to lose approval with her. She has great voice acting too. She's kind of psycho but I just think she is funny and cool.

My least favorite is Shale not really because of personality but just because Shale's powers are hard (for me) to figure out how to choose. I don't really know what to pick. Shale is an interesting character though and has a good voice.

Dog I also don't like in combat because I tried him and he could not tank though I hear overwhelm on mages/archers is really good.

Alistair is also very funny and he has a cool accent.

I don't care for Zevran because he kind of grosses me out being the sinister weasly assassin, but I haven't actually played with him in my party so I am not sure how he is like. I like Leliana because I like goody characters. And she is more interesting than just that. I liked to hear some of the alleged motivation for her dream.

Wynne is kind of boring but she's kind of funny with Alistair and she does have a humorous side but she is awfully serious seeming.

Sten is perplexing. He killed a family but yet he gave himself up to the authorities. Seems kind of nuts, I mean why did he kill a farm family in the first place if he is so honorable.

Haven't met Oghren yet. Or the mysterious companion though I know who it is.

I don't know how many people refuse to help redcliffe and manage to beat the game

You don't have to, simply don't have Morrigan,or Sten, in the party until the fighting is about to start. Accepting the Mage Tower quest you do have to take the approval hit though.

why did he kill a farm family in the first place if he is so honorable

I seem to recall that they surprised him whilst sleeping and he Mistakingly thought he was being attacked and went berserk. Or something like that.

galraen wrote: I seem to recall that they surprised him whilst sleeping and he Mistakingly thought he was being attacked and went berserk. Or something like that.

Basically, he woke up and his sword was gone. The Qunari warriors are apparently (from what I can gather anyway), more or less, spiritually bonded to their swords, their weapons are an intrinsic part of their identity. For him to return to his people without his sword would equal certain death because becoming separated from one's blade would be a mark of dishonour and an act of desertion. So, he woke up and something vital (literally) was missing... he panicked.

My usual party is Alistair, Leliana, Wynne (after Broken Circle) and (due to a mod) Mabarian the Dog.

Sten: Neutral. Love his banter with Leliana about the kitten. Lets just say that Anders isn't the only one that likes cats.....:mischief: However, I'm not a warrior, and have great difficulty keeping his approval. At least until the feastday gifts.....

Oghren. Neutral. Can be funny at times, but I don't drink...

Zevran. so-so. Unless I'm playing a female Elf, he dies. Doesn't get on my nerves.

Morrigan. not so good. I am a wizard-type, and typically get along with them, but Not with miss Prima donna. However, it IS possible to do Broken Circle without losing disposition points with her. Just reminder her where she'd be if her mother hadn't protected her. P.S. She's replaced by Wynne at this point, and that last sentence isn't quite in the game, but is accurate.

Non-joinable characters:

Most liked: Duncan. Least liked: Jowan the traitor. It also doesn't help that my first DA character was a Female Elf Mage that liked him....

Awakening Chars, Joinable. All are equal. No likes or dislikes.

Awakening Chars, not-joinable. Liked: Seneschal of the Vigil. Disliked: Bann Esmerelle of Amaranthine. I'm trying to save her butt, and she, well...

My viewpoint is a bit different.

IMO there are *2* completely different types of "Favorite" and "Least Favorite" reactions to each party member (..without respect to actually being *useful* for the party). The Dog is an exception because the Dog doesn't "talk".


1. Is how they react to your character, and particularly how you choose certain actions for your character.


2. Is how they react to other party members.


For instance I can't stand Wynn's hen-pecking/second-guessing of my character, but she is absolutely the "tops" when it comes to interaction with other party members. She predictably "fights" with apostate mage Morrigan, but she is best with Ogren and Lelianna for dialog. (..and it even changes depending on who else is in the party at that time, even if they aren't "in" on the discussion.)

As far as their overall personality - each is purposefully flawed to act irrationally, with "blind-spots". When they do it's uncharacteristic for that companion while being completely within "character". (..again, the Dog is the exception - his personality is consistent.)

Party member irrational behavior triggers:

Alister: Responsibility for/to others.
Morrigan: Love.
Lelianna: Cruelty.
Sten: Child-like pursuits.
Wynn: Apostate Mages and Abominations. Even though she is one.
Zeveran: Romance.
Oghren: Women (particularly Branka).
Shale: Reliance.. oh, and pigeons. (..note that she is the only character with an obvious and unavoidable irrational trigger.)

Conversely the party member's most basic motivation is:

Alister: Loyalty (..which is exactly the same as the dog. )
Morrigan: Self-Interest.
Lelianna: Selflessness. (polar opposite to Morrigan.. )
Sten: Duty.
Wynn: Wisdom.
Zeveran: A lack of Loyalty (..the *near* polar opposite of Alister.) His attitude is beyond purely self-interest because he still does things that aren't entirely within his interests (..even beyond his irrational trigger) , and yet it isn't specifically "disloyal" because of a reasonable amount of self-interest in most situations that would otherwise be deemed "disloyal" (..in other words he doesn't go "out of his way" to actually be disloyal).
Oghren: Bullishness.
Shale: Self-Reliance.


One of the things I find most interesting about an RPG with good character interaction is that at least a few of the characters can be "changed" because of their time with your character.

For Dragon Age, a few of the characters could actually alter their personality - specifically targeting their "blind-spots", getting them to see their inconsistencies and actually make a change in their behavior because of it. Alister and Lelianna *can* fit this description, and Shale (ultimately) does fit this description. (..what I didn't like about it was the implementation, or specifically the "hardening" mechanism which was a little *too* "pat" and abrupt. Shale on the other-hand changed over time, not too much ..but enough.)


Oghren: understands his "blind-spot" but doesn't really do anything to alter his behavior.
Wynn: (similar to Oghren), occasionally questions her blind-spots, but does nothing differently.

(Hmm, I wonder if there isn't something of "can't teach an old dog new tricks" for Oghren and Wynn?)


Morrigan: dismisses her blind-spot.
Sten: (like Morrigan) also dismisses his blind-spot.

(.."if a tree falls in the forest but no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?")


Zeveran: Not only understands his irrational behavior, but actually *revels* in it. In a circular way - it "feeds" his lack of loyalty.

(..strangely, he is the only "self-actualized" companion.)



From the above overall personality profiles for the companions, I *liked* Oghren the best. His "head-long" charges despite poor odds, his crass humor, and his *seemingly* simple nature that actually belied a "bedrock" of wisdom.

(.."everything is simple, except when it isn't.")


However, (perhaps oddly) I "identified" with both Alister and Morrigan. ..If you've ever looked at a Chinese "year of" animal cycle and looked at the descriptions for your year and the others, then perhaps it won't seem so odd that identified with both Alister and Morrigan ..for I was born in the year of the Dog.