But the problem with Alistair is - just like Anomen, he has all these other options. He can be nice and he can be nasty. Very nasty. So, my human mage(who romances Leliana) looks at Alistair and remembers other lines he says - him being hysterical at Landsmeet if I try to show mercy, him trying to dump PC, and all other terrible things. When Alistair tells PC about her life expectancy and other Warden perks and she says "I feel betrayed", he reprimands her *very* harshly, for one. Basically, say the wrong thing and you see myself in the mirror - selfish, egocentric, world-revolves-around-me-spoiled. And I hate that in other people.
A character without flaws would be boring, wouldn't it?
Alistair might look like Anomen at first sight, being a "knight" (and a virgin
), having lost a loved one and wanting revenge, but I think overall, he's different. Alistair seems friendlier than Anomen to me, he bonds with and cares a lot about people (Wynne, Leliana, Duncan, and I think he was even nice to Zevran in some banters), whereas Anomen... Well, I mainly remember him snapping at others (Jaheira and Keldorn come to mind). The romance is far too short, I agree, but Alistair has a lot of other things to say, too, and in those lines he seemed far more in depth to me than vanilla Anomen. He shows a variety of different traits and moods, the whole range of dorky - funny - playful - happy - serious - angry - sad. Anomen doesn't show such a large range of emotions. Alistair knows where his limits are, he says repeatedly that he isn't meant to lead etc., whereas Anomen often seems a bit too cocky for my taste. (For the record, I do like Anomen!)
I don't think Alistair is overly selfish. He takes his duty as a Warden incredibly seriously, and does what he thinks needs to be done to fulfill his duty, even if it means that he will get hurt and that he will have to sacrifice himself or what he loves. Giving something up is selfless, not selfish.
The whole Loghain business at the Landsmeet is a special case. It would probably have served the "greater good" to have another Warden. I guess this is one of the very few moments where you could argue Alistair is being totally selfish and putting his own feelings above the greater good. Then again Alistair does what he does out of love for Duncan and sacrifices his happiness, his relationship or even his life (depending on how far you want to take it) for what he thinks he owes Duncan. That isn't selfish in my book, rather a well-meant, but rash decision made in the heat of the moment.
As much as I'm disappointed about Alistair dumping the PC, and although I think there should have been room for a different outcome if you had high enough cunning/coercion and tried hard enough to get him back etc., I nevertheless think it's a believable outcome.
I think I'll get him executed on this playthrough. I'm a bit tired of this "make your fellow Warden king" quest every single time. For some reason, a Warden on the throne doesn't sit well with me.
I'd like to have Loghain in my party, too, he's supercool.
I just don't know if I can really go through with the execution (did it once just to see how far you can go, but had to reload).
Edit: Just had the talk about life expectancy and said "I feel betrayed", but Alistair didn't reprimand me at all.
Edited by EvaineDian, 20 November 2009 - 11:58 AM.
