@Shenachie
<<Honestly, I didn't care what Cassandra did with the Seekers, but they are probably safer under her guidance, and she rebuilt them. Given that there are likely still evil maleficarum scheming out there, it's probably best to have a group able to thwart them.>>
For me, dealing with "evil mages" (who-ever might qualify as such is pretty open to interpretation) should not be done by a band of mind-raped zealots who were taught to hate and fear magic stuff. Same reason I vehemently oppose all arguments in favour of circles under influence of chantric dogma. But this another rant to be thrown out in another topic.
<<When Leli later opened the priesthood to all, my response was, "Oh well, no plan is perfect ....">>
Well, that comes across as an unusual view. Do you think that this measure is likely to attract people who then end up converting en masse, but were turned off beforehand due to the "humans only" part? Most people (myself included at first) go quite warm and fuzzy about her plans of more equality for -believers-. After a while I was like ...wait, did she turn down the "everyone bow to the Maker" part? No? Well, so much about that. Now she's just the least shitty alternative in lieu of abolishing that bossy organisation.
<<Tone-of-voice is impossible to determine in text unless we employ Elcor-speak, wryly. I shit you not.>>
*Relieved* Well, sometimes I would really like if people would employ more of a sort of elcor/HK-47 speak, especially in real life. :P Would make quite some situations easier for me. I resort to asking for clarification quite a lot.
<<Sounds like a "Maker" or "Creators" to me. :) I had a much better response in my previous message, but basically, there has been a lot of weird crap that isn't attributed directly to coincidence, accident, or magic. Some might think that a discreet deity could act through such methods, but everybody's mileage varies.>>
Well, I usually refuse to acknowledge this as proof for *something* if it is merely used by faiths to push their god(s) on others. Quite a lot of people in RL constructing arguments meant to "prove God" seem to have this goal, not very surprising given the faiths they come from and their arguments usually only hold together because "no infinite regress". Otherwise they would never finish their list of conditions that need to apply in order to prove their interpretation of (some) god. *lol*
<<I allied with the Wardens - not to make Sera happy, but because there are still two archdemons and darkspawn out there, and it's clear a land cannot be left without guardians against such threats.>>
You remind me of something. Since I played the German translation of the game, I need to ask; does the Inquisitor's decision-making answer mention "banished forever" in the original? I was quite shocked at the spoken response, as my reasoning was sending them away until we need them again, so Coryf cannot taint-mind-fuck them. Besides, being taint-resistant, their main use would be fighting the Red Templars. Or did I just got it wrong that "banish" always means "forever"?
<<the Circles are supposed to be a haven for abused mages where they can get room, board, and an education.>>
That sounds like delicious Chantry propaganda. I was under the impression that most abuse of mages (outside of Chantry institutions) is due to Chantry teachings (see Anders' father and Jowan's parents), as you also said after that.
<<Viv's focus is the Circle since that's her power-base. She managed to turn the Circle restrictions to her advantage and has no respect for others who cannot 'think inside the box' as she did.>>
True. She supports it because she knows how to use it. Good for her. Not so much for some others, but doubt she cares.
<<Her arrogant ignorance of Dalish customs (and to be fair, those are generally personal head-canon regarding our particular clans) is what keeps my Lavellan cool dealing with her>>
Even if one would not want to dismiss it as headcanon, given her background as a circle-taught mage, she is hardly an unbiased source. Every southern circle mage we had as party member had a certain degree of superority thinking regarding circle education going on, with Wynne being the least annoying, Anders lecturing Merrill about the andrastian view on spirits to Viv, who's easily the worst we have seen.
<<she's not as smart as she thinks she is.>>
Generally, most of the statements of hers which are getting quoted often for their supposed wisdom are pretty generic, her magic-and-fire analogy for example. Besides coming across as if she's the only one who got these "obvious truths" and anyone else being a child in need of (her) education. *barf* Either that, or sufficiently ambigous as to be used to justify other points, like "For those who value survival, sentimentality is not an option." Well, Viv, tell that to the archivist whose death you tried to use in support of your stance.
<<I would have appreciated being able to refute either of them as well, but Vivienne, at least, is written well enough that the character would be too smart to leave such openings.>>
I would never know if she's really that smart, due to lack of options to debate. That isn't quite good writing to me. Of course, she's somewhat better than... say, the Illusive Man, but that isn't hard. Can't argue with zealots, I guess. *lol* In both cases.
<<Let Sera have her arrogance, and let Vivienne have her ignorance>>
And possible a stonefist to the face. :P I plan on replaying my "canon" Lavellan rather soon (tm), but I cannot decide if I'll recruit either again. I guess I'll probably get Sera, but if she does not want to stay... well, her loss. Though Viv very possibly stays in VR. She does not come across as that useful neither lore nor gameplay-wise (the AI cannot handle Knight Enchanters very well).
The "Truth or Dare" WT operations chain (including Viv's amulet!) is available regardless, if I recall right.