Poll: Dragon Age Inquisition - Calpernia or Samson?

[thejboy88]

In DAI, the player gets to decide which of the two major factions, the mages or Templars, are supported. Choosing one will make the opposing group into your major enemies for the rest of the game, and as such will result in not only two separate questlines, but also decides who gets to be the secondary main villain of the game.

If you side with the mages, you face the Red Templars, led by former Templar Samson. If it's the Templars you side with, you face the mages, now under the name "Venatori", who are led by a mage named Calpernia.

I would like to know which of these two enemies, and by extension their respective questlines, you hold as your favourite.

 

[Auberon]

If you check both sides before deciding, I can't understand why you would face Calpernia. Alexius is tearing reality apart with time magic, while Templars are just going rogue - not as if that matters in comparison.

 

[Diablo2000]

Since I went it without spoilers, I went with the Templars. Fiona just came out as suspect as fuck while I didn't know what to make of the Lord Seeker Douche.

 

[Nixou]

If you check both sides before deciding, I can't understand why you would face Calpernia. Alexius is tearing reality apart with time magic, while Templars are just going rogue - not as if that matters in comparison.

Indeed, this fake dilemma is one of Inquisition's low points. T'would have been much better to make Alexius' segment mandatory and make allying with/conscripting the mages the momentous choice: offer an alliance to the Mages, and the Templars become definitely alienated, joining Samson en masse; conscript them, and the Templars become amenable while the most radical Mages break rank with Fiona and you get Calpernia as Cory's lieutenant.

 

[Asita]

I've only personally done the Mage storyline to date, but the general consensus I've seen has very strongly indicated that it is far superior to the Templar story.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I've only personally done the Mage storyline to date, but the general consensus I've seen has very strongly indicated that it is far superior to the Templar story.

It is, and it's because siding with the Templars changes nothing! I sided with the mages on my first run, so naturally, I sided with the Templars on my second one. I thought things would be different. I thought I'd get different enemies, different quests, something. But no. You still get the quests involving Red Templars, despite the fact that these guys are on your side now. You still fight Red Templars nearly everywhere, you still get that mission in the quarry how they're taking people, and you still find freaking reports written by them. Where are all these Templars coming from if they're supposed to be on my side?
Meanwhile, the mages that you supposedly pissed off attack you at Haven, and then that's it. Seriously, they have no more impact on the story. Even Calpernia's quest is a joke. Cullen spends a good deal stressing over Samson, fretting about what he's become and despising what he's done to the order, but also wishing he could still be saved. Meanwhile, Calpernia has no one, just Leliana placing a spy tool in her room. I kept checking the war table and talking to people because I felt like I had missed something involving her because her quest is just so lackluster compared to Samson.

So yeah, the Mages' storyline is much better because the game was written with that idea in mind. In their storyline, everything that is happening makes sense--red lyrium, Red Templars, etc.--whereas in the Templar storyline, you spend a good deal going, "Wait...aren't you guys supposed to be with me?"

 

[Maxtro]

The red Templars story is much weaker than the Mage story. Though the Templar story at least explains why the Templars went rouge. (Yes it's a pun)

One thing I did think was interesting about Calpernia's story was that if you did the quests and talk to her correctly you can convince her to leave without a fight. I thought that was cool.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I always felt bad for the mages. Yes blood magic is bad and the Circles are very useful, but the Templars are just dicks. I've never seen Templars act reasonable, for any reasons.

 

[PlayerDos]

I went with the Templars, because in every dragon age I have given mages a chance despite my better judgement and here we are again with the last sizeable group of free mages being led by an idiot selling us out to tevinter cults that will rip apart time.

That said, what I THOUGH would happen, after learning about both issues. Is that we'd go rescue the templars, merge them into the inquisition, then go crush the Tevinter at Redcliffe, but that didn't happen so it left me feeling a bit annoyed but regardless.

Your question asks us which is our favourite enemy, and I preferred Calpernia for one reason, I thought Samson was a shitty villain.

Also, a lot of people feel the mage storyline was stronger, and I disagree. It was stronger only in stakes, it was the more important quest, but I thought it was weak as fuck story wise and the time travel was absurd. It's like they deliberately tried to make Fiona, leader of the mage rebellion, as stupid as possible. I couldn't side with them for a full playthrough, the mages in this game were far too fucking stupid to have on my side.

I vastly preferred the envy demon trying to become us.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

I've only personally done the Mage storyline to date, but the general consensus I've seen has very strongly indicated that it is far superior to the Templar story.

It is, and it's because siding with the Templars changes nothing! I sided with the mages on my first run, so naturally, I sided with the Templars on my second one. I thought things would be different. I thought I'd get different enemies, different quests, something. But no. You still get the quests involving Red Templars, despite the fact that these guys are on your side now. You still fight Red Templars nearly everywhere, you still get that mission in the quarry how they're taking people, and you still find freaking reports written by them. Where are all these Templars coming from if they're supposed to be on my side?
Meanwhile, the mages that you supposedly pissed off attack you at Haven, and then that's it. Seriously, they have no more impact on the story. Even Calpernia's quest is a joke. Cullen spends a good deal stressing over Samson, fretting about what he's become and despising what he's done to the order, but also wishing he could still be saved. Meanwhile, Calpernia has no one, just Leliana placing a spy tool in her room. I kept checking the war table and talking to people because I felt like I had missed something involving her because her quest is just so lackluster compared to Samson.

So yeah, the Mages' storyline is much better because the game was written with that idea in mind. In their storyline, everything that is happening makes sense--red lyrium, Red Templars, etc.--whereas in the Templar storyline, you spend a good deal going, "Wait...aren't you guys supposed to be with me?"

wow, I hadn't replayed the game yet to that point, but thank you for mentioning this...now I can stop and not worry about what happens in the templar storyline.

That's such bullshit..."Oh, you guys think the hinterlands have enough fetch quests?" "---guys, we didn't finish the templar sto-" "MOAR HINTERLANDS FETCH QUESTS. WE NEED AT LEAST 40 HOURS WORTH, THAT'S WHAT THE PLAYERS WANT!"

 

[G00N3R7883]

I've only played the game once, and I sided with the mages, making Sansom and the Templars my enemy. I was pleased with how that played out. Sansom was a strong-ish character and there was a nice side quest with Cullen.

I sided with the mages because I feel they're treated unfairly in the whole series. Everyone always assumes that a mage will turn evil and burn everyone to death ... but let's be honest, there are plenty of evil non-mages. You don't see normal Humans getting rounded up an put into Circles just because Loghain was kind of a dick. Last time I checked, the Arishok was not a mage.

Yeah, some mages will turn evil, and when they do my Warden/Hawke/Inquisitor will put them down. But everyone else is innocent until proven guilty. You can't lock someone up because they *might* be dangerous in a few years. And its also fair to say that each game's hero has had lots of help from companion mages, plus many players' main characters will be mages themselves.

 

[Gizmo1990]

I always felt bad for the mages. Yes blood magic is bad and the Circles are very useful, but the Templars are just dicks. I've never seen Templars act reasonable, for any reasons.

Same. Granted I am bised as I always play a Mage but I always see Mage's as being forced to make bad choices in regards to Blood Magic/rebellions because they have no other choice. The majority of Mages just want a little freedom and to not be treated like prisoners with a small minority who abuse there powere. Templars on the other hand are made up of 99% douche bags with 1% actually having the required brain cells needed to work out that yes people who have the power to control time and space do need to be watched but imprisoning and abusing them to the point where there only option is to kill you and everyone you know might not be the best idea.

 

[balladbird]

hmm... as adversaries I regard them as more or less the same... The quests leading up to Calpernia's boss fight were more interesting to me, but the mage path as a whole was more interesting than the templar path to me, so the two cancel one another out.

I guess I'll give the slight nod to Samson, since he had some first-hand drama with my inner circle, which was fun.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Same. Granted I am bised as I always play a Mage but I always see Mage's as being forced to make bad choices in regards to Blood Magic/rebellions because they have no other choice. The majority of Mages just want a little freedom and to not be treated like prisoners with a small minority who abuse there power. Templars on the other hand are made up of 99% douche bags with 1% actually having the required brain cells needed to work out that yes people who have the power to control time and space do need to be watched but imprisoning and abusing them to the point where there only option is to kill you and everyone you know might not be the best idea.

I know, right? I understand the need of a little heavy handed-ness on mages. Make sure they're taught how to control their powers, and about daemons and the Fade and all that nonsense. But they come off more as bullies, rather than necessary guardians. Like in the first game I always go the impression the Templars were there to protect mages from daemons just as much as they were there to watch over the mages themselves. There would be a huge boost in morale and emotional strength if young mages knew the Templars would put themselves between mages and legions of daemons.

But no! The Templar act like jackbooted thugs, just as likely to kill a mage for not lacing their boots as for being possessed. And beyond being dangerous, its plain stupid. You join a group of white/silver wearing knights to protect and watch over people at risk of daemons and what do you do? Bully them, steal from them, burn their stuff and grab their sister's boob! That'll make sure those mages don't look to daemons for vengeance!

What poor writing on hindsight. Never a real moral choice.

 

[Nixou]

I always felt bad for the mages. Yes blood magic is bad and the Circles are very useful, but the Templars are just dicks. I've never seen Templars act reasonable, for any reasons.

Take law enforcement, give them enormous political and military power, very little oversight, and spend the next 800 years telling people that they are only thing protecting the world from the scions of decadent, perverse warlocks with a thing for human sacrifice. While honorable and sensible individual templars still exist, collectively the order never act reasonably because its long-standing stupendous privileges made it decadent: it's kinda an important theme of the verse.

 

[Dragonlayer]

Sure are a lot of filthy Mage sympathisers in here.....

I sided with the Templars because I always do, and while I seriously enjoyed the Red Wedding-lite quest at their fortress, as well as delving into my own mind to fight the Envy Demon, I could not take Calpernia seriously as a threat after seeing her stupid smirk and freckles (freckles!). At least her Venatori are cool enough to compensate for her personal naffness.

Unrelated but did anyone else think the Hurlock Bruiser were insanely uber? I was a Human Warrior with good gear and skills yet almost every time I fought one they would routinely kick my ass, forcing me to expend all of my healing potions and usually killing me and the entire party several times over!

 

[Dragonlayer]

I've only personally done the Mage storyline to date, but the general consensus I've seen has very strongly indicated that it is far superior to the Templar story.

It is, and it's because siding with the Templars changes nothing! I sided with the mages on my first run, so naturally, I sided with the Templars on my second one. I thought things would be different. I thought I'd get different enemies, different quests, something. But no. You still get the quests involving Red Templars, despite the fact that these guys are on your side now. You still fight Red Templars nearly everywhere, you still get that mission in the quarry how they're taking people, and you still find freaking reports written by them. Where are all these Templars coming from if they're supposed to be on my side?
Meanwhile, the mages that you supposedly pissed off attack you at Haven, and then that's it. Seriously, they have no more impact on the story. Even Calpernia's quest is a joke. Cullen spends a good deal stressing over Samson, fretting about what he's become and despising what he's done to the order, but also wishing he could still be saved. Meanwhile, Calpernia has no one, just Leliana placing a spy tool in her room. I kept checking the war table and talking to people because I felt like I had missed something involving her because her quest is just so lackluster compared to Samson.

So yeah, the Mages' storyline is much better because the game was written with that idea in mind. In their storyline, everything that is happening makes sense--red lyrium, Red Templars, etc.--whereas in the Templar storyline, you spend a good deal going, "Wait...aren't you guys supposed to be with me?"

Isn't Calpernia supposed to be redeemable though? I felt as though the side-business with Leliana spying on her and informing the Inquisitor of her sympathy for slaves was building up to a "Don't serve Corypheus, he's a slaving bastard!" moment at the ancient Elven temple but I lost my temper at the end and opted to slaughter her and her compatriots. I do recall a lot of information telling us that she was just a hardcore Tevinter nationalist and didn't necessarily believe in storming heaven....

 

[norashepard]

Templar story is kind of boring with the first quest (they apparently had a lot of big plans for it, but much was cut), but I prefer it for three reasons.

One: Ser Barris, if you keep him alive, becomes a sort of mini-mission which can lead to useful stuff, and helps make the Inquisitor actually feel powerful with him under your command. Fiona, on the other hand, just gives you some dialogue that is mostly boring unless you've read all the Dragon Age books.

Two: I really like Calpurnia for some reason. I think she is a compelling character and would have loved for her to have a bigger role than what she does. Also, the way you "solve" the problem that is her is a lot more interesting than Samson's. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say it actually has more to do with understanding her as a person instead of finding yet another magical trinket to fight her. Functionally it's still the same, but it feels better because you get a bigger insight into her character. Plus she's cute idk.

Three: All of my Inquisitors are either afraid of mages/magic, or are the loyal circle types. I find that makes the game that much more thrilling, because all of the sky-opening horror magic stuff is super duper impactful to a person scared of magic in general. If you're a mage/support magic, the Inquisitor looks like kind of an idiot and a lot of the big threats become the usual ho-hum of fantasy stories in general instead of anything personal. Plus I feel like Bioware is always pushing people to side with mages so to be able to say fuck you to that is nice.

Bonus: I also like the Templar path because Cole's joining the Inquisition makes a LOT more sense than in the mage path where he just shows up.

 

[Dandark]

So far I haven't progressed beyond Skyhold but I've tried both quests and I vastly prefer joining the Templars. I like their characters better and I like the whole theme of reforming the now corrupt order and taking it back to it's inquisition roots.

The mages are so stupid in this game that I can barely stand them, especially Fiona. I also dislike how Bioware seems to have been making the mages far more sympathetic because it lessens what was one of my favourite moral choices in a game. I liked the mages vs Templars theme much more in Origins because it had more to it.

I liked it better when they stressed the danger demon possession posed to mages and those around them in the first game instead of just "Oh well they could be evil". The threat of demonic possession really made the issue more grey because while their are going to be plenty of strong willed mages who can resist demonic possession, what about those who can't? One of my favourite characters is Vivienne because I really like the idea of reforming the circles, I liked the circles and think they could still work well if changes were made.

Also I tend to prefer the characters who are more sympathetic to the Templars with the exception of Dorian. Haven't gotten further in so I don't know about other quests or the secondary villains but so far I prefer the Templars.