DA:Origins - Anvil of the Void, what do?

[Sam17]

tried to keep the title un-spoilertastic

To anyone whose finished Dragon Age: Origins, I have a question about the Anvil of the Void for the Paragon of her Kind quest underneath Orzammar, spoilers ahead

Spoiler

I'm siding with Bhelen since he seems like the better option for the Dwarves in the long run, however I'm stuck on deciding whether to destroy the anvil or keep it. I hear if you keep the anvil Harrowmont goes a bit mad with power later in life and starts using the casteless as unwilling volunteers, and once they run out of castless they begin hunting humans on the surface, so I'm leaning towards destroying it

However I've not found out how Bhelen reacts to having it, I'm assuming that since he's already pretty ruthless it can't be good

Thanks guys, I made my decision

 

[hazabaza1]

If you destroy it Branka attacks you and he disapproves by 10, but that can all be solved by giving him some alcohol.

 

[Saelune]

You wont lose Oghren no matter what.

 

[white_salad]

Search your feelings young one.

I destroyed it, partly due to all the politics of orzamar would once again use it for evil purposes, and partly due to letting

Spoiler

Letting paragon Caridin die

 

[Zhukov]

This post will contain minor spoilers.

Just saying.

...

I supported Harrowmont and trashed the anvil. Things worked out... mostly okay.

Oghren doesn't get pissed if you kill Branka. Morrigan gets a bit annoyed if you destroy the anvil, but you can shut her up by suggesting that she volunteer for golemization.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

If you're looking for the most positive ending, destroy it and put Bhelen in charge. He'll basically fix everything wrong with dwarven society at the cost of being a dictator and a prick.

Oghren gets an approval drop but that can be fixed by apologising after and giving him all the special booze you've accrued.
If you have the DLC, bring Shale. It'll net you an approval raise and kick off the personal quest.

Of course, if you want to keep it, keep it. The long term effects shouldn't matter to you if you're roleplaying.

 

[Ladette]

The anvil is used to forceful turn people into golems, usually against their will. It's serious bad juju.

Spoiler

Bhelen is much better for the Dwarves, Harrowmont does nothing to improve things for them, especially not for the casteless. You'd think the power hungry dictator who killed his brothers would be a horrible king, but he actually fixes 95% of the problems in Orzamar.

 

[ultrachicken]

I supported Harrowmont and broke the anvil. No option is good, but that one works out best for Orzammar in the long run.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

The Anvil I always trash because I don't want to lose Shale and nothing good every comes of it. If I recall correctly, keeping it doesn't result in the dwarfs working together, but instead scrambling for control of it, causing civil wars and such. Plus Caradian is pleading with you to destroy it and Branka is, well, she's not a nice lady.
The problem I always have is choosing who should be king. Cold, pure statistics say to go with the Prince, but Harrowmont is a kind man who, if you play as the Dwarf Noble, is a very nice person to you.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I supported Harrowmont and broke the anvil. No option is good, but that one works out best for Orzammar in the long run.

Really?

Spoiler

On my canonical playthrough I did the opposite and it said that the dwarves experienced new found success against the darkspawn and that the Castes were practically abolished. Harrowmont's was the opposite. He was a conservative stuck in the old ways.

 

[Vanalosswen]

I destroy it every time (and I just finished my third playthrough). Honestly, I can't ignore the wishes of the guy who made it, and Branka's crazy. And while Bhelen's a bit of a douche personally, he's much better for the Dwarves, so I picked him this time through. I suppose I'll have to keep the Anvil intact in the next playthrough to get all the trophies, but it'll be with a character who doesn't have a conscience.

 

[Jaded Scribe]

By and large, it has little impact on your gameplay. Do what you (or your character) thinks is right. Any disapproval can either be headed off with the right conversation options

Spoiler

If you have Zevran, he'll object and disapprove unless you ask him if he's volunteering for the process

and with the exception of Ogrhen and Shale, most don't have strong feelings one way or the other. You won't lose Ogrhen, but you could lose Shale.

 

[Bobbity]

tried to keep the title un-spoilertastic

To anyone whose finished Dragon Age: Origins, I have a question about the Anvil of the Void for the Paragon of her Kind quest underneath Orzammar, spoilers ahead

Spoiler

I'm siding with Bhelen since he seems like the better option for the Dwarves in the long run, however I'm stuck on deciding whether to destroy the anvil or keep it. I hear if you keep the anvil Harrowmont goes a bit mad with power later in life and starts using the casteless as unwilling volunteers, and once they run out of castless they begin hunting humans on the surface, so I'm leaning towards destroying it

However I've not found out how Bhelen reacts to having it, I'm assuming that since he's already pretty ruthless it can't be good

Trust me, destroy the thing. Bhelen manages to reclaim a good portion of the Deep Roads even without it, and it screws the epilogue pretty completely.

 

[Avarith]

It is your choice, every one does something different... I hated Bhelen so I said to hell with that guy and went with Harrowmont... sadly he is a stubborn ass. So go figure as so many others I destroyed the anvil because I look at the idea of it as forced slavery and to hell with that