Alistair is a playful and compassionate Grey Warden and one of the companions in Dragon Age: Origins. He is a potential romance option for a female Warden.
Background
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Approval
The hero can increase Alistair's approval rating through gifts (covered below), dialogue, and plot decisions. Alistair responds well when you ask him to speak about himself. Typically, Alistair will try to deflect your question with a joke, which you can move past either by joking (often leading to humorous conversation) or calling Alistair's bluff. Neither approach will affect his approval. Alistair is, in a sense, shy and speaks often of Duncan and the Grey Wardens. In many ways, Alistair views Duncan as a surrogate father. Always affirm his emotional responses, and his approval rating will increase.
When speaking of one's post-Joining experiences, Alistair approves of responses that reflect his own. Admit to nightmares, increased appetite, etc. to slightly bump his approval. When the hero speaks to Alistair about other personal things (such as sex), Alistair admires answers which suggest both strength and experience. Do not mock him for his own softness and relative inexperience, however, as these will negate any approval benefits the hero receives through insisting on his own prowess.
Romance
Alistair is romantically interested in women. He doesn't like to take a relationship too lightly. There are various ways to begin a romance with him during his dialog. Compliment him; tell him you like him, essentially anything but openly mocking him will put you in his good graces. If propositioned before an appropriate approval rating he may turn you down due to his own inexperience. If continued approval built, he will eventually join you in your tent. He likes to feel wanted and needed, and will even respond to a little bit of bossiness. However, he doesn't like being mocked about intimacy.
Alistair will take the lead and invite you to bed if your approval rating is high enough after completing his personal quest (and you haven't already gotten him to go back to your tent). The conversation will be initiated the next time you go to camp.
- Note: Even if you have a high enough approval rating, and even if he's hardened, you have to have one of the main quests completed before he'll ask to spend the night with you.
When Alistair becomes interested in the female Warden, he will offer a gift of a rose. You may choose to accept it or not. If you have high approval with Alistair and high approval with Zevran or Leliana (adore or love levels), when you next speak to Alistair, he will force you to make a choice between the two of them.
If Alistair becomes king, unless the Warden is a human noble or Alistair has been hardened, the relationship will end. Even if he has been hardened the relationship can still end if the correct dialogue options are not chosen when he speaks to the Warden after the Landsmeet. Although there is some flexibility, be sure to choose "Nobody can force the king to do anything he doesn't want to" in order to convince Alistair to continue the relationship.
If you have already slept with Alistair, "hardened" him during his personal quest, and his approval is high enough, you can have a threesome with him and Isabela on her ship.
During the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC, if one looks at Leliana's Codex Page, they would find that it is rumored that she is Alistair's lover. This is never brought up during Origins however, even if the player doesn't romance either of them.
Quests Given
Gifts
Alistair has, despite being raised by the Chantry to be a templar, a deep interest in the arcane and occult, particularly for statues and rune stones. His plot items, however, are his mother's (repaired) amulet, found on the desk of the Arl of Redcliffe in Castle Redcliffe and Duncan's Shield, found inside Market Warehouse, in Denerim Market District.
Name Notes Description
Alistair's Mother's Amulet
Located: Redcliffe Castle
Plot ItemThis silver emblem of Andraste's Flame is riddled with cracks. Someone with a lot of patience has carefully glued it back together.Black Runestone
Located: Aeducan ThaigA flat black stone with a glowing silver rune carved into it.Duncan's Shield
The symbol of the Grey Wardens is emblazoned on this shield, which once belonged to Duncan. It was found in the Grey Wardens cache in Denerim.Joining ChaliceDarkspawn blood still encrusts this silver chalice. With a shudder, you remember the day you brought it to your lips and drank deeply of all the mysteries that lay within.Onyx Demon StatuetteLocated: East Brecilian ForestA small statue of a demon, carved out of onyx.Small Carved StatuetteLocated: LotheringA small carving of a robed woman.Stone Dragon StatuetteLocated: Redcliffe CastleA small stone carving of a dragon.Stone Warrior StatuetteLocated: Mountainside CavernsA small stone carving of a humanoid warrior.White RunestoneLocated: Circle TowerA small, flat white stone with a gold rune carved into it.
Initial Statistics
Alistair in battle
Relative Attribute Weightings on Auto-Level: Strength 1.5, Dexterity 0.8, Willpower 0.4, Magic 0, Cunning 0, Constitution 0.9.
Class: Warrior
Specialization: Templar
Skills: Expert Combat Training
Starting Talents:
Templar: Righteous Strike
Warrior: Powerful
Weapon and Shield: Shield Bash, Shield Pummel, Shield Block, Shield Cover
- See Companion Strategies for suggestions on how to develop Alistair.
Gear
Initial Gear
Warden's Longsword may refer to:
- Warden's Longsword (Origins), for Dragon Age: Origins.
- Warden's Longsword (Darkspawn Chronicles), for The Darkspawn Chronicles.
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Alistair Specific Items
Plot Skills
As you befriend Alistair and gain his approval he will gain the following additional abilities:
| Skill Name | Benefit | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Inspired: Minor Constitution | +1 to Constitution | 25% approval |
| Inspired: Moderate Constitution | +2 to Constitution | 50% approval |
| Inspired: Major Constitution | +4 to Constitution | 75% approval |
| Inspired: Massive Constitution | +6 to Constitution | 90% approval |
Quotes
Alistair's Concept Art
- "You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people together."
- "Yeeeeeep. The waiting around part is...awesome!"
- "Well! He's not half as dead as he looks, is he?"
- (meeting Morrigan) "Swooping is bad."
- "Here I thought we were getting along so well! I was even going to name one of my children after you - the grumpy one!"
- (When gossiping about Morrigan) "Well aside from the fact that she's a complete and utter bitch, no...I dont like her at all. Why? Do you?"
- "You smell great; is that death you're wearing? It really suits you."
- (in battle) "No, you first! I try to be polite to grandmothers!"
- (About the statue of Andraste in Lothering) "You ever wonder if that's an accurate likeness of Andraste? Maybe she was ugly. Maybe she had buck teeth. How do you know?"
- "You ever wonder why the mages built their tower out in the middle of Lake Calenhad? They have an aversion to practicality or something?"
- (upon arrival at the Tower) "As I recall from my time as a templar, locking the door and throwing away the key was 'plan B'."
- "We won? We did? Yay!" (after being knocked unconscious)
- "Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I'm drawing the line. Darkspawn or no."
- "Ah there it is, Werewolf City, kinda like flea heaven, isn't it?"
- "I tried dwarven ale once. I thought it was just something they tricked surfacers into drinking, as a joke."
- (After Redcliffe) "Now that the warm fuzzy part is over we can get back to the ritual dismemberments. Oh wait, it's not Tuesday is it?"
- "There's nothing like a brush with death to make you... not like death much."
- "Yes, fun. Tricking Morrigan... oh, who am I kidding? That does sound fun. I'm a bad man."
- (After battle, heavily injured) "Injured! As in me, as in Ow!"
- "Last thing you want when you're about to take down some maleficar out in the woods is to have him point and laugh at your taste in clothing. Am I right?"
- "Have you ever licked a lamp post in winter?"
- (falling in battle) "New strategy... bite... ankles..."
- "Who's the cute and adorable puppy?"
- (at The Joining) "Join us brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that can not be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And that one day we shall join you."
- (First time at Camp) "That's what I'm here for. To deliver unpleasant news and witty one-liners."
- (After Oghren joins in awakening) Oh the dwarf is a bit of an arse but i wouldn't go that...
- (After the joining, but before the meeting with the king) "If the king wants to see you and Duncan, you probably shouldn't keep him waiting. He might get mad, start crying, you'll feel bad, and... well, it won't be pretty.
Dialogue
- See Alistair's Dialogue for a list of the dialogue that Alistair shares with other companions.
(If you initially refuse to allow Leliana to join your group when you meet her in the Dane and instead she stops you leaving Lothering)
- Warden: "Alistair, she's one Archdemon short of a blight."
- Alistair: "Yes, but she seems more... "Ooh, pretty colors!" than "Muahaha! I am Princess Stabbity! Stab, kill, kill!"
(when Alistair presents the rose to The Warden)
- Alistair: "Here, look at this. Do you know what it is?"
- Warden: "Your new weapon of choice?"
- Alistair: "Yes, that's right! Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements! Feel my thorns, darkspawn! I will overpower you with my rosy scent!"
(when talking about eating birds)
- Shale: "I think I'm going to be sick."
- Alistair: "Oh! Golem vomit! This I have to see..."
- Shale: "Then you will be waiting a long time"
(after confronting The Warden about the other group members and selecting the option about gossip)
- Alistair: "I've got this nefarious plan to go around to each of them, and secretly tell them all the nasty things you said. That way they'll mutiny, and I shall become the group leader!" (evil laugh)
- Warden: "If you want to lead, all you have to do is ask."
- Alistair: "What? Lead? Me? No, no, no. No leading. Bad things happen when I lead. We get lost, people die, and the next thing you know I'm stranded somewhere without any pants."
(entering Redcliffe)
- Alistair: "Look, can we talk for a moment? I need to tell you something I, ah, should probably have told you earlier."
- Warden: "Let me guess: You're an idiot."
- Alistair: "Yes, that's right. I stopped you to tell you I'm an idiot. Whew! Thank the Maker you know already! Now I can stop worrying I'll be found out."
Trivia
- When asked to compare a set list of NPC companions to food, BioWare employee Cori May said that Alistair was most comparable to "strawberries and cream, sweet and wholesome and delicious, and a little goofy."[1] While writer Sheryl Chee says "Alistair is an apricot. Cute, sweet and just a little fuzzy."[2]
- Writer Sheryl Chee has said that when going out for a drink Alistair would "have half a pint and giggle uncontrollably for the rest of the night." [3]
- In writing Alistair, David Gaider was inspired by Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Malcom Reynolds from Firefly.[4]
- Alistair is David Gaider's favorite NPC. [5]
- The name Alistair can mean "Defender of the People", or "One who holds off the enemies".
- Alistair shares his name with Alistair McNally, the Director of Arts and Animations.
- Even if The Warden is male, he will still sometimes say "yes my love"(or something to that affect), when taking control of him.
External Links
Fanclubs and Fan-Run Sites
Please note that some sites have sensitive content.
- Alistair Fan Club - Facebook group with over 1,300 members
- Swooping Is Bad - another unofficial fan community for Alistair
- Alistair's Secrets: Unofficial Fan Shrine - media-based fan community
- We <3 Alistair - BioWare social network group
References
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