Hiya my name is Michelle! Nice to meet you! *

First, my avatar was made by a good friend of mine during my RolePlaying days on GaiaOnline. Her work can be seen on Deviantart. http:///

You should check out her works! They are amazing!

I have my own DA account, at http:///

If anyone is interested, I do photography works and upload them when I can onto DeviantArt.

Quote of the Moment:

“We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger.” -Tad Williams

Free Thinking and Ranting Section

Oftentimes I read fanfics that make me go 'twick' and I have to write my opinion. If anyone has suggestions about what other characters I may write about, feel free to write to me.

Disney - Jafar was a great villain- but someone else pointed out that Claude Frollo from Hunchback of Notre Dome as the most wicked villain. I personally think that Mulan's villain Shan Yu was very cool he survived an avalanche and marched to the city where he proceeded to beat the crap out of the palace guard! You can't be more kick ass than that! I found a list of major disney villains and their crimes here.

http:///list/disney-villians

Ghosthunter (2003, PS2 video game) - Ok, I finished watching that video game and I'm really disappointed in the ending. First, your main character (a rookie Detroit police officer) and his partner enter an abandoned high school set to be demolished. Both were sent to investigate strange disturbances reported by the demolition crew of people screaming or out-of-place noises. They split up. The main character, Lazarus, goes to the basement and finds a strange lab that is the focus point of distant screams and crying. He pushes a red button and then all the ghosts escape from the machine in the lab. As a result, his female partner, Steele, gets kidnapped by the main antagonist, and it is up to Lazarus to get back all the ghosts, find the missing professor that created the lab, and rescue Steele.

I'm not going to ruin the game, so I will be brief. The game is only like 5-7 hours long, which would have been ok if it would have had a more complete ending. You see after the climax of the game (which means really bad things for Lazarus), the antagonist, Hawksmoor, was defeated and everyone escapes, and by everyone I mean Lazarus and Steele. What happened to the professor, whom was found in the previous section of the game? He stayed behind with his AI computer that rescued Lazarus and was heavily damaged in the process, we never see him leave. Lazarus and Steele talk about what happened and he complains about what he should say on his report. Steele just says to ignore it, no one would believe it anyway and so they agree to forget that the whole event ever happened.

... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! What happened to the Professor Brook? His AI computer? Astral? Kate Heller? Hawksmoors' masters? The story just ended with no closure of the events! And to make it worse, there are no sequels or prequels to the events of the game. This is a gold mine of potential! I realize that the story was centered around Lazarus and his own mission to get Anna Steele back, but just to end with them driving off to leave everything alone?

The story was pretty sketchy, Lazarus didn't really input much into the events of the story or showed much depth- and the story didn't really build. Everything was a mystery until you find Prof. Brook, whom tells you everything- which is fine! It really got interesting and the climax was excellent. I was really looking forward to a good finisher ending. Then Lazarus and Anna make it through the gate, leaving the building to be destroyed. But really, nothing else was put to rest. Did Kate ever get back into her body? Is the Prof. still alive now? What about Hawksmoors' masters, did they manage to exist again? Really disappointing ending.

Dragon Age II: Before I talk, I have not played the game so I will not critic about gameplay--it will be story and character oriented. Now that everyone knows how I feel about Origins, does the sequel hold up to the first game?

There is something that I must say before I start talking about my opinion on the game.

I understand.

I really, really do.

The second installment of this series (aside from Awakenings) is really trying to introduce a central character that I believe will become a very important figure for the next game. When players of the game really think about it, it makes a lot of sense how the game was put together and how very different it was from Origins. In Origins you play as one of the last Grey Wardens that is one a mission to unite Ferelden against the Blight and you meet your companions along the way as you forge your future that will determine the fate of all Thedas.

In DA:II, you play a refugee from Lothering that enters into Kirkwall, in the Free Marches, and struggle up into good standing in Kirkwall to support your family.

... ... You guys can see the difference now, right?

I have no problem with that, if it were executed rightly and had the right amount of varying elements (combat, drama, action, and story) then it could be pulled off very well. However, I don't believe that DA:II does that.

First, I will start with the main character Hawke. As Hawke, you have no choice but to be a human mage, rogue, or warrior (depended on which you choose also determines what other character will be with you the rest of the first act of the game. While playing Hawke, you can be a hard person (jaded and a little cold), a gentle person (the olive branch that promotes peace), or the witty person (mischievous and never serious). Other characters you collect later on respond differently to what dialogue choice that you make (Varric gains friendship with you when you choose witty and gentle options while witty would likely lose friendship points with Anders).

In the first game you could talk with other characters and have lengthy discussions with each other them to build your relationship status with them by entering camp or randomly talking with them as you travel. However, in DA:II you can only talk with different characters a set amount of times in different acts (like three times an act) and you can give them presents to boost or lower your relationship points with another character.

There have been some changes to the relationship angle that also hints to what I said before that this game is meant to revolve around Hawke as an important character in another game. In Origins you gain friendship points with approval and loose points when people don't approve, gaining complete 100 percent can be difficult to hold as one wrong move can make you lose friendship points. In DA:II once you hit 100 percent you are done, you can do anything to them (insult them in their face, sleep with them and dump them, anything) and you will never lose any points. It feels cheap to me, the characters hardly seem like real people once you hit that 100 percent mark--it makes it seem like a chore to get 100 just so they won't bitch at you later or lose points that may change their loyalties at the end. (In fact, it seems a lot like brain control to me--Hawke can control people not to turn against him/her when he/she has complete ownership of their minds.)

Anyway, the command system that bugged me a lot in Origins seems to have been fixed somewhat in II (instead of increasing strategy to get a max of 8 conditions, you get like a bagillion conditions to build the AI). It is a lot more flashy when using special moves or generally attacking enemies. It looks so much better, but it does suffer in the maps. I have watched two LPs of DA:II, the maps are recycled several times and there is no new areas after the second act. You get the sense that the game isn't about how fun it is trying to be for the player as it tells its story, it seems to just want to tell its story in the quickest and cheapest way possible without considering the fact it is breaking the flow and obviously cutting corners that would annoy people that actually give a damn.

You know what? Something that really bothers me is the lack of variety. Sure your game mechanic changes when you choose your class and determine who your more lasting sibling character is, but what about consequences for choices? One of the bigger accomplishments of DA:O was the choice system that does have an impact (for certain aspects), for instance you can have werewolves instead of the Dalish in the final battle. You can have Templars or mages (or both). Your gaming helps determine a little by the end of the game.

What does DA:II decide? You always get the same ending, either side with mages or Templars.

Nothing about your decisions in the game really affects anything. Your relationship status with your friends is important (they can betray you in the end), but while this is a historic battle it doesn't feel epic.

What was the point in choosing mercenary or smuggler if you don't PLAY as either? You receive the same missions (after the year skip in Kirkwall, which I will address in a moment). You have the same damned missions despite choosing to be a mercenary or a smuggler, virtually no changes for your choice. At least give different missions and change it up! Your choice has absolutely NO baring on the story. That is a real waste and also shows that the team didn't put too much effort into the mission system (or maps for that matter).

Once thing bothers me. One of my grips is when you first enter into Kirkwall after accepting into servitude for a year. So what does DA:II do?

A year passes and the Blight is over.

... What? Excuse me?

I'm sorry, but what would have been a much cleverer idea would have been to follow Hawke and his/her sibling during the year. It would have been a nice touch to do that as more refugees come from Ferelden to escape the Blight and whisper about the Grey Warden. It would have been a neat idea since it could have been a good chance to make references to your Warden character during the Blight from your save file from Origins (kinda like the drunk Alistair thing, only with mentioning your character and actions that would take place). When you skip a year into when the Blight is over--why the hell should we even care about making sure Hawke and his/her family will be ok? A year in gameplay could have easily been a three hour introduction into Kirkwall, introducing your contacts, learning the structure of the city, and becoming familiar with the maps of the areas. It also would have been an ideal time to develop characters between Hawke and his/her sibling after their escape into Kirkwall, how relationships have changed, how the characters handle being poor, and how Aveline adjusts to her husbands death. This would have been a great time to really flesh out the characters.

They can up and leave back to Ferelden! Why do they want to stay in Kirkwall? Damnit, it would have also been a good chance to see more action between Aveline and the siblings--a chance to develop character and connections and care about them. You don't even gain or lose any points in a year of living together, what sense is that?

In fact, it feels as if Bioware was still in production of the game when it was released. Yes, it feels INCOMPLETE!

I think the developers really had big plans for this game, but the due date was too close. They might have had to cut corners and cut out some parts of the game to make the deadline.

Now lets talk characters. In Origins your characters can get so pissed off at you for being a colossal prick that they can attack you and leave. They don't do that in DA:II, even if you are at 100 percent rivalry--they may betray you later at the end of the game but it doesn't have much of the same impact. In DA:II the only characters that I can like are Isabella, Varric, and Fenris. Anders is a whiny bitch that reminds me of Edward Cullen and is just as manipulative that I think he should have been revealed as an evil genius. Merrill isn't a bad character, in fact she is really cute, but she is mostly uninteresting as a character and companion and her quest is (while quite sad) very predictable and would really show how naive a person she is that it will annoy the shit out of you.

Finally the siblings. Carver=prick with inferiority complex. Bethany=adorable sister. Yeah, be a rogue or warrior. I was determined to like Carver since he seemed like he would have been a complex character underneath the prickness, but the game doesn't bother to flesh out his flaws to show his good points and he is kicked out too early to make a strong impact--same with Bethany.

In fact, this also supports my theory of the game being released before it becoming a finished product.

I always had the sense that we were supposed to feel more sorry for Carver than we really do and that you should love Bethany more than you really do. I think that missing year that was cut out of the game was supposed to flesh out these characters and show the family dynamic (that was also missing from a large portion of the game) between the siblings in the aftermath of their siblings death and how they are handling being in servitude for a year.

One good thing that I like about the story is the presence of the Qunari and how the second act handled racial prejudice and how conflicting religion can really have a large impact in society. It also goes into fleshing out one of my more favorite characters Isabella, who I really like for her spunk and fighting style (not so much her dress sense though). Now, the other quests:

Anders: Quest? What quest?! When you try to save his "friend", he dies. In the third act you collect shit for him in which he will make these little remarks that will make total sense later, then will want you to wring his neck with what happens next.

Isabella: The first act was ok, sure she lied to you but she is a rogue and pirate--shame on you for expecting better. The second act is also very good and will genuinely bring you to the brink of losing her as a character for the rest of the game (I believe).

Fenris: Oh Fenris, his quests as simply to kill people he has issues with. Not too hard if you have more people, but if you want a challenge then complete them with just Hawke and Fenris.

Merrill: Quests are simple, time consuming and lead to big consequences later. Go for it, it does have a big boss battle that takes a good while though.

Varric: Not so much of quests, he does want to get even with his brother later though.

Siblings: Not too interesting, very easy in fact.

Sebastian: Sure he is an add-on, but his quests are pretty cool--follows the same style of kill people he doesn't like.

Overall? This game feels like it should not have been an independent game, if feels really incomplete.

Characters: 5 (Not fleshed out enough, limited dialogue and too much angst)

Plot: 5 (Could have been executed better, still fairly interesting)

Backstory: 5 (Only a few references to the previous game, some interesting reads but nothing very special)

Map: 3 (Reused too many times, it shows the laziness of the designers)

Graphics: 7.5 (Much better graphics, but nothing spectacular as it could have been)

Enemies: 7 (Some recycled enemies and not much variation, but the Tal-Vashoth and Qunari characters are unique)

Gamplay: N/A

Romances: 2-9 (Refer to romance guide)

DA:Origins and DA:II Romances: This is my romance rating and critic. This will go by how I rate the differing romances and how I feel is the best and worst of both games. 1=Avoid and 10=Must experience.

Origins:

1) Alistair - When I first got introduced to DA:O I was in love with Alistair. Awkward, funny, and the gentle man that is a bastard son of a king, he seemed to be the little light in a dark time and offers you companionship that you really depend on. He is your sword and shield, your brother in arms, the only other person you can truly depend upon to help complete your mission against the Archdemon. It is you two against all of Ferelden and its political mess (this is debatable as you can gain another better fighter before the end, but you lose Alister in the process which brings me to my grips with him).

What I find wrong with a relationship with Alistair is his immaturity.. As a man that grew up in the Chantry, he has rare experience with women and is painfully naive about the darker things in life such as greed, persecution, and the rather painful mistreatment of mages by many Templars (his accidental derogatory remarks of mages, his ignorance of the hardship of the working class like his sister, and killing Conner [which I didn't do but it would have been a better option to just kill Isolde anyway-that bitch]).

He is too idealistic. He is idealistic to the point that he WILL sulk and whine and just resent you if you do something that doesn't fit his image of the Gray Wardens that he will damn the bigger picture. If you recruit your possible Warden that is generally better in combat than him, he WILL LEAVE and leave you to the final battle without him. It is nice that he is so resolute in his beliefs, but when the fate OF THE WORLD is at stake, it is nothing but childish.

He is sweet and does grow up by the end, but in the journey he seems to be more the immature and adorable little brother. Romance with him sometimes makes the player feel like they are constantly coddling him.

He can be satisfying to have a relationship with (he is a romantic that believes in "true love"). In essence, he is the default character that is very easy to romance as long as you follow the 'noble' path that he attributes as what the Grey Wardens stand for. But the ending can be incredibly depressing or very happy depended on what story you are playing. If you are a noble, then you can rule beside him if you get rid of Anora. If you aren't playing a noble, then you run the risk of the relationship ending right before the end--an unsatisfying conclusion. However, you can harden him to keep you on the side should you both survive, but in essence you would be his mistress.

I rate Alistair as 4/10. He can be satisfying and rather deep, but it is still mixing business with pleasure. A big no-no for me and a rather unfulfilling ending in prospect.

2) Leliana - Oh, sweet lay sister Leliana. This deceptive little minx is a rather cool character with a colorful past, only her religious mindset is kinda a turnoff. She is kinda freaky that she approaches you with a story about how "The Maker" contacted her to help you save the world with a dream; and she is rather spacey. Rogue and former Bard, Leliana has since renounced her past to faithfully serve The Maker and has a soft spot for wayward love and tragic endings (perhaps from her own past with her former lover Marjolaine). Leliana is intelligent, resourceful, a great storyteller, and a rather good rogue that knows how to pickpocket (very useful if you're not a rogue).

I like Leliana, but what do I find wrong in a relationship with her?

Surprisingly, nothing much.

She is very easy to talk to, her dialogue does not leave much to losing a lot of points, and she acts rather coy and indirect if you are a female, but that kinda enhances her appeal if you want a lesbian relationship with her (or heterosexual). She is trying hard to change her past, but once you confront her to her past and harden her up she is much more loose and believable a character. I don't have any grips with Leliana that I can recall. She is a much better companion for a female and male lead because she is an ideal companion, while with a heavy baggage from her past Leliana has accepted it and is actively trying to let it go and move on.

I rate Leliana with a 8/10. Fun and sweet, this girl can also be sexy and mischievously delightful to love and charish. She also makes a rather good teammate that I wouldn't mind mixing business with pleasure any day.

3) Morrigan - Since I played as a woman I really can't have a relationship with Morrigan, but I can still rate her how I see her. First!

I love Morrigan. She is one of my favorite characters out of the whole game because of her wit and boldness. She may have a terrible attitude (and if you disagree with her you lose a lot of points), but her in a relationship can be hot and {surprisingly enough} rather adorable.

Growing up with Flemeth as a mother, Morrigan has grown up to view people--more specifically men--as sources of meat (and it is debatable whether she views them as food as well since she transforms into a giant spider) and for sexual relief. Since she has had limited contact with people outside Flemeth, occasional wonderers, and Chasind; she is not very good at socializing and keeps to herself most of the time. Any other time she usually has a witty remark or scathing criticism for all characters. Some of the best dialogue in the game involves Morrigan (especially with Alistair) and the dialogue you share with her (if you are careful enough) can be very revealing but also act as a double-edge sword. Most of the time to stay in Morrigan's goodside you have to present her with gifts and trinkets, like jewelry and a special mirror. Any conversation, no matter how short, you can run the risk of losing a lot of points with her.

There are times, however, that when you do manage to successfully get in a relationship with Morrigan she can act as a great seductress, but become incredibly shy and sulky when you show genuine affection and care for her. It is amazing to see and very rewarding when you get it.

My main grips with a relationship with Morrigan is her agenda in the end and her worldview. Since she views everything with mistrust and that everyone is out for themselves, she views your relationship together as something fleeting and just for mutual benefit. It doesn't have a happy conclusion in the end (no matter what ending you go for) and you can still gain her disapproval for the slightest thing. She is incredibly frustrating to keep happy.

I rate Morrigan with a 7/10. No matter how difficult the relationship, she can show a softer side. Still, she is (as I quote from Alistair) "a bitch". If you want an interesting relationship to keep you on your toes, this is it. Otherwise, STAY AWAY!

4) Zevran - What is it about a tattooed elf that is so sexy? I may not fully appreciate his voice (you know instantly that this character is for the homosexual male love interest--I don't know where they got this guy, but he pulls off the voice a little too well), but the actor is fairly good and pulls off emotion rather nicely that you can ignore that his voice can be grating on a bad day.

I love Zevran as a character and as a companion. He really comes off as a shallow, happy-go-lucky asshole that you really have to resist the urge to strangle him sometimes (if that were possible). This Antivan city elf is the son of a Dalish woman that ran away from her clan to be with a working city elf, but had to become a whore once he died to pay his debts. All Zevran really knows about his mother is that she died due to birthing complications and that she was Dalish. Zevran grew up in the brothel until (fortunately or unfortunately however way you look at it) he caught the attention of a Crow operative and was purchased to become an assassin.

Zevran is a rather complicated puzzle. On one hand he is a rather bright and cheerful individual that loves to mess with everyone in the group. On the other hand, he is a rather suicidal depressed and disillusioned man that has never had a semblance of happiness in his life. He has real depth to him that you do not fully appreciate until he opens up to you about his final mission, and he has a rather twisted fear of caring for others or knowing what love really is. His story surrounding his coming to Ferelden and accepting the hit on you by Loghain is depressing and rather endearing.

Anyway, Zevran is rather easy to get into a relationship with--in fact maybe a little too easy. In about three dialogues I believe that you can have him at 100 percent approval (talk about being easy).

As a fighter Zevran isn't too special, if you go for poisons and espionage then he is your man--but he does have low stamina you have to build and rather poor strength. He is still fun to talk to and a real joy to listen to. If you can deal with issues and be light and happy with him, then your relationship with Zevran will be good. I just wish he wasn't so easy, literally charming the pants off an assassin in three talks really is confusing or it really reflects how severely damaged Zevran really is.

You are already aware that Zevran is trying to remain professional, light and treating your whole relationship as a fleeting good time before the inevitable split. When you are far enough in approval with him and do his quest against the Crows, he offers you a sentimental earring he got from his first job. In the process, he denies it being a token of affection and is visibly uncomfortable with the implications of a committed relationship. He gives you the choice to take it or leave it. If you don't take it and tell him you want it to "mean something", you can accept it later and get a rather touching cutscene.

Like Leliana, I don't have much grips with Zevran. Other than I wish it were harder to gain approval from him, I say that he is easy, fun, and very amusing and his stories are all very fun. He can show his inner thoughts on rare occasions, letting you know that he isn't at all happy-go-lucky as he shows and isn't as pompous as he makes himself out to be (a low opinion of himself, but proclaims himself a master assassin and famed lover). Having a relationship with Zevran is contradictoy, but that is what makes him the best person to have a relationship with in the game.

I rate Zevran a 8.5-9/10. He is the closest thing you can get to a real emotional relationship in which your spouse does grow and (if you choose) you can grow right along with him. He does decide that living is a good thing and does change to allow himself to love and be loved. That is growth, and it is satisfying to behold.

II:

1) Anders: I hate Anders. I hate him and he is one of the worst game characters ever thought up and scripted ever. Not only does he annoy the shit out of you every five minutes with his dialogue that ALWAYS comes back to injustice against mages, but he is also a rather annoying lover too. Nevermind the fact that he can be cuter than a puppy or even a kitten on a good day (however he does that is beyond me). He manages to be a colossal prick and disgruntled ass when he does or says stuff to you or other characters. Hell, he tries to make himself look better over others by misrepresenting their argument, or he is that single-minded he will twist whatever they say to do with prejudice against him for being a mage.

When you first meet Anders you approach him in his clinic to ask him for maps for your expedition into the Deep Roads. He agrees to give you the maps, but only if you help him rescue Karl, his "friend" that is being held captive in the Circle in the Gallows. You agree and meet with him outside the Chantry to find Karl, but when you get there it is already too late to save Karl. In rage, Anders attacks the Templars that ambushed you and reveals that he is an Abomination, that he holds a spirit from The Fade within him. After the mission, Anders goes back to his clinic where he gives you the maps and says that he will help you, thanking you for what you have done for him.

After that, you can flirt with him or do whatever. By the end he will want to get in your pants and screw you anyway, even if you are in a relationship with someone else (in fact just about everyone will do that anyway), even if you don't activate a flirt dialogue.

When you do flirt with him, he will turn around and tell you that (for your own good) not to get involved with him and that he will only hurt you (sound familiar to Twilight fans?). Then he will turn around and flirt with you and show interest, then if you respond he will be all "I will only hurt you" or "Don't do this unless this is really what you want". We really do GET THE POINT! Once was enough! You're dangerous! Being with an apostate is dangerous! Being with a person possessed by a spirit is dangerous! We get it! ENOUGH!

I admit, when I first started to watch DA:II being played and we were introduced to Anders, I really kinda dug him. I thought he was funny, charming, and kinda cool--and hot when Justice turns his eyes blue and he glows. No matter how much of a prick he is, he is still hot. He was an activist that fought against oppression, something I could respect and still do. I thought he was cool, but he becomes VERY annoying with constant remarks to the oppression of mages and how horrible the Circles and Templars are. There is only so much a person can take before it literally will want them to blow their own brains out or really murder the mage. Anyway, I lost any remote interest left in him at the end (again, he is a massive prick and imbecile. I hate him).

I rate Anders a 2/10. Go at your own risk. You can be fooled by his puppy eyes and sad demure if you want to, but some of us don't want to be with such a prick and ingrate that is also a major jerk. Check out Act 3, see if you still want a successful relationship with him.

2) Merrill: Merrill is a sweet girl, but I haven't paid as much attention as to her romance as I could have. I will try to be fair.

I like Merrill.

I like her very much. But she is hopelessly naive. In a relationship, people can only take so much cuteness until it should be classified for a legalized weapon.

She is a a good romance; cute, funny, and very honest. She is a conflicted character that is trying to become independent and do what she feels that she needs to do, but just a little misguided. She seems more of sister material than lover material (especially with the aftermath of what happens later with the Keeper and mirror that really changes your opinion of someone).

I rate Merrill a 5.5/10. If you want quirky, cute, and a fulfilling romance, then I do suggest Merrill. I really don't have much to say about her.

3) Isabella: Now here is a kicker. In Origins you do have the option of sleeping with Isabella, perhaps even having a threesome (or foursome if you get that far), so this is a bit of a blast from the past and also a telling point. Isabella is a slut.

But a slut with a good heart.

... No, I ain't joking either.

I really do like her. On the surface Isabella is rather shallow, not very concerned with the issues and affairs of others, and loves to drink and flirt with just about anyone that is visibly appealing. She lives the high-life with no worries and with her one and only companion, her ship. What really sets her apart from the group is how openly she embraces her sexuality. She wears her shirt with no pants, constantly flirting and making passes at everyone, and occasionally sleeping with men to pass the time at the Blooming Rose. However, she does have her standards and much like Zevran, she selfishly keeps her heart closed and locked up tight only for fondness, never willing to open her heart up for love or true companionship. She kinda fancies herself as a lone pirate, unabashed of taking what she wants and damning the consequences when things go to shit. Most of all, she is smart, cunning, and surprisingly deep.

Her softer side comes out and shines brighter than anyone when Hawke's mother dies when you are in a romance with Isabella. Her comfort scene is the very best of everyones; she doesn't apologize or give empty words of comfort. Instead, she says that you had time to love your mother and her murderer can't harm anyone else ever again. You also have people, your friends, that do care for you. Her messages, ALL of them, are the best of everyones. She understands more than anyone thinks, which makes her a great best friend and love interest. But what about a lover?

All things considered, I think she is the best romance out of the whole game--male or female protagonist. She changed the most out of everyone (Fenris second, but it does not overshadow his issues that he had to overcome). She is the closest to normal of everyone and once you do enter into a real relationship with her, then nothing short of death will keep both of you apart. It is rather touching and you know she wouldn't betray the relationship. The relationship also ends on a rather fulfilling conclusion if she stays at the end.

I rate Isabella a 8.5-9/10. Short of the the fear of catching STD's, nothing should keep you away from this woman.

4) Sebastian - Chantry boy, prince of Starkhaven, and devout man of the cloth--this man is both a dream come true and your worst nightmare. This man is wonderful. He is polite, kind, funny, and now a man of the cloth. He had a very shady past in which he was a 'wild' man with many women, so bad was he that his father sent him away to a monastery to settle down.

You got this amazing prince, do you want to be in a romance with him?

In short, unless you want to undergo a vow of chastity along with him-no.

He took a vow of chastity... ...

This hunk, this literal manifestation of gentleman and perfection--and you can't sleep with him.

Ever. ... *goes to cry in a corner*

It is more fulfilling to be in a relationship with him in rivalry. If you are in a relationship with him at 100 percent, then he will return to Starkhaven to become king then marry you. If you are in friendship (the easiest route), then he will ask to to join the Chantry and take the vow of chastity.

I rate Sebastion 3/10. Dream-boat on legs, but should only be admired from afar.

5) Fenris - I love Fenris.

Fenris is one of my personal favorites for several reasons (not because he is angsty either).

Although I said Isabella is on principle the best person to romance of the game, but I take a personal favorite route with Fenris for; a) being a sexy elf, b) being a sexy elf with glowy tattoos, c) handling such a big sword, and d) being a witty asshole with the sexy smile and charm that can un-pants even the most poise of people.

Fenris is a former slave to Danarius, a Magister for the Tevinter Imperium. Fenris managed to escape from Danarius three years before he meets Hawke and has been on the run from Danarius ever since. Once he meets Hawke, Fenris decides that it is a good time to settle in one place and let his enemies come to him on his terms--with help from his allies.

I suppose you can compare him with Anders that he has a deep well of anger and hatred against his mages, much like Anders against Templars. The difference is that Fenris has more reason to hate mages than anyone since he escaped from Tevinter, a state made up of a corrupt magistrate council that is (according to Fenris) especially fond of the use of blood magic and dealing with demons. Anders might have grown up into adulthood under the thumb of the Ferelden Circle of Magi (and a prejudice Chantry), but it is nothing compared to being a slave to a corrupt magister that does experiments on people. Fenris, after getting his lyrium tattoos (that really, understanding what lyrium is, should have killed him), lost his past. His memories of his life, his name, his family, his whole identity was gone.

When Fenris did escape the first time in Seheron, he stayed for around a month with a group called The Fog Warriors. Living with them, he grew to admire their strength and resolve to be their own masters and live their lives. When Danarius shows up he orders Fenris to kill the warriors, Fenris does the deed but is horrified by what he had done. While Danarius is injured, Fenris ran away and so starts his three years of running and evading Danarius.

Anyway, establishing a friendly romance is fairly simple (getting the more satisfying rival romance is much harder). He is drunk in his free time when you visit him, so he is more open and talkative, not as shy to speak his mind to a potential love interest. His dialogues with the others is pretty good, if a little depressing and rather scathing against Anders (No shit, they are total opposites and hate each others guts, especially if you are romancing Fenris or Anders). You also experience small moments that are deep and meaningful (Hell, you can even teach him to read!). He is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and possesses a deep passion that when he looks at you with those gorgeous green eyes and sexy smirk *shiver*. ... *Crickets* ... Ummm. *Ahem* ANYWAY!

One of my grips with him (despite him being my automatic love choice) is his depression. When he isn't drunk he can be a downer and really depress everyone if he mentions his markings. He can also be a condescending prick without trying, but I guess he has the right to be bitter with the things done to him. He has a very deep mistrust for mages (with good reason). He will also acknowledge that some mages don't fall into temptation of demons or blood magic, but he also points out that if things are dire enough then the mage will succumb to be Abominations. After living a few years in Kirkwall I think Hawke would be inclined to agree, no matter what Anders says.

I would say that Fenris is the best partner, but if you want a healthy relationship the first year then you might want to avoid it at all costs. With his past, Fenris has a lot of issues and intimacy is very problematic. One of the more noteworthy things to consider in a relationship with Fenris is his need for independence, unlike other relationships Fenris will not move in with you and sacrifice the bit of freedom he has at the mansion he's squatting in. It shows that he wants to take responsibilty for himself without having to be dependent on others, it is a very good quality. Being with him is a roller coaster, but the pay off in the end makes the uncertainty and hurt worth it because he grows.

He grows past his issues, he will go against his mistrust of mages to be with you in the end if you side with mages (if your relationship is strong enough), and he shows his own subtle hints of letting himself be owned by Hawke (with his heart, he wears Hawke's scarf on his arm after the second Act). As long as you remain faithful and continue to support his efforts, Fenris is as good as yours.

I rate Fenris 9/10. So I am biased, sue me!

Favorite Scenes and Quotes:

Games:

"Had you considered wearing something that didn't say 'I'm an escaped slave, I hate you all'?" (Varric, Dragon Age 2)

Francis: It figures the only thing in the damn city NOT on fire is the one thing we need to burn down (Left 4 Dead)

Nasrudin: "Good Virgil. If there is one thing in life that one must learn, it is to question everything." Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.

"Of course not. I made my choice a long time ago, and I choose to stand with you. Yes, there is pain in life, pain and loss and sorrow. But there is also joy and pleasures of growing and learning. You can't have one without the other, and I wouldn't want to sacrifice either. But in the end...I stand with you, whatever your choice..." Virgil, Arcanum of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

TV shows:

Blanche: No, no, no please. I cannot bear that again. She was listening to her car radio, Big Band, not all talk. There was a contest. Something about a little voice, a lucky number and a dime in a door handle, then Bing Bang Boom, won the tickets.
Dorothy: Take a lesson Rose. That's how you tell a story. (Golden Girls)

Dorothy: Rose, I am not in denial.
Rose: Yes, you are. You're just denying you're in denial.
Dorothy: Rose, honey, I am not denying I'm in denial.
Rose: If you're not denying you're in denial, then you're in denial.
Dorothy: Look, fluffhead. Why should I deny being in denial? I never said I was in denial, YOU are the one who said I was in denial, and don't you deny it. (Golden Girls)

Rose: Dorothy, you owe me an apology. Your ad's right here!
Dorothy: Oh, Rose, this is the personals ad!
Rose: So?
Dorothy: So? You put an ad in the personals that says I will do anything for eight dollars an hour!
Blanche: Girls? There's a busload of Greek sailors outside. They want to know how many drachma there are in eight dollars. (Golden Girls)

"I never lie. I willfully participate in the campaign of misinformation." -Fox Mulder, X-Files, Shadows.

Mulder: Yeah, but imagine if it were true, Scully. Imagine if you could come back and take out five people who had caused you to suffer. Who would they be?

Scully: I only get five?

Mulder: I remembered your birthday this year, didn't I, Scully? - X-Files, The List.

"Now Mr. Spock, there's really something about all this that I don't understand, so maybe you could explain it to me, logically of course... Now, when you jettisoned the fuel, and ignited it, you knew that there was virtually no chance of it being seen and yet you did it anyway. Now that seems to me like an act of desperation." -- Kirk

"Quite correct, Captain." -- Spock

"Now we all know, and I'm sure the doctor would agree with me, that desperation is a highly emotional state of mind. So how does your well known logic explain that?" -- Kirk

"Quite simply captain, I examined the problem from all angles, and it was plainly hopeless. Logic informed me that under the circumstances, the only logical action would have to be one of desperation. Logical decision, logically arrived at." -- Spock

"Ah-huh, I see... So you reasoned that it was time for an emotional outburst." -- Kirk

"Well I... Wouldn't exactly put it in those terms captain, but those are essentially the facts." -- Spock

[sighs] "You aren't going to admit that for the first time in your life, you committed a purely human, emotional act?" -- Kirk

[crosses arms and slowly shakes head] "No, sir." -- Spock

[laughing] "Mr. Spock, you are a stubborn man." -- Kirk

[raises eyebrows] "Yes, sir." -- Spock (Star Trek: The Original Series, The Galileo Seven)

(Castiel appears in the motel room)
Castiel: I got your message. It was long, your message. I find the sound of your voice grating.
(Castiel stands wobbly)
Sam: What's wrong with you? Are you... drunk?
Castiel: Nooo! Yes.
Sam: What the hell happened to you?
Castiel: I found a liquor store.
Sam: And?
Castiel: I drank it. (Supernatural, season 5, episode 16; "99 Problems")

Sam: I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I hope you're watching cartoon smut, because reading Dick Roman crap over and over again is just self punishment.
Dean: It's called anime. And it's an artform. (Supernatural, season 7, episode 12; "Time After Time"))

Sydney: I just assumed, you're over 30, never been married and there's no man in your life.
Fran: Oh honey, I'm not gay - I'm just pathetic! (The Nanny, Oh Vey, Your Gay!)

Mr. Sheffield: I knew it. I knew it. Andrew Lloyd Webber is god. - The Nanny, The Cantor Show.

Movies:

Satan: I'm sorry. After careful consideration, I regretfully have to decline.
Dan Marino: C'mon, man, I'm just asking, let me win one Superbowl.
Satan: In exchange for eternal damnation of your soul? You're too nice of a guy for me to want to do that to you, Mr. Marino.
Dan Marino: You did it for Namath.
Satan: Yeah, but Joe was coming here anyways. (Little Nicky, 2000)

"If you listen hard enough, you can hear houses breathe. Sometimes, in the night, you can hear them groan. Like their having bad dreams." Pam from Steven King's Rose Red

Nate: Ohh, the anger sharks are swimming in my head! (Anger Management, 2003)

Dr. Rydell: Now then we need to go over some ground rules. You are to refrain from any any acts of violence including verbal assault and vulgar hand gestures. You may not use rage enhancing substances, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, crack cocaine, slippy-flippy's, jelly stingers, trick sticks, bing bangs or flying willards.
Dave Buznik: How 'bout fiddle-faddels?
Dr. Rydell: Under my supervision. Also, if you are unable to stop masterbating please, do so without the use of any pornographic images depicting quote, unquote 'angry sex.' That having been said, I'm a pretty good guy and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how much fun we can have together.
Dave Buznik: Geez, without slippy-flippy's or angry masterbating I don't see how that's possible.
Dr. Rydell: Sarcasm is anger's ugly cousin... from now on, unacceptable. (Anger Management, 2003)

Dr. Rydell: Can you please give me your name Mr. Head, and please don't tell me it's Dick. (Anger Management, 2003)

Chuck: Here's my phone number.
(Dave reads it)
Dave Buznik: "You're gonna die, bitch"?
Chuck: Oh, sorry. That's a letter I'm writing to Geraldo Rivera. (Anger Management, 2003)

Chuck: You come down here before the black wolf swallows my brain! AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! (Anger Management, 2003)

Stacy: Uh, we're in the adult film industry, and, we're lovers.
Gina: Yeah.
Stacy: So Gina was having sex with this guy Meelo which was totally cool cause it was in the script.
Gina: So we invited him back to the house because we like a little variety...
Stacy: I look up and see Gina kissing Meelo on the MOUTH which is not cool, because it violates our threesome code of ethics!
Gina: So Stacy bit my toe off.
Stacy: Then Meelo starts yelling, calling me a crazy skank...
Gina: And nobody talks to my bitch that way.
Stacy: That's right.
Gina: So I stapled his lip SHUT.
Dave Buznik: Well, we've all... been there. (Anger Management, 2003)

Dr. Rydell: Goosefraba (Anger Management, 2003)

Dr. Rydell: Dave, there are two kinds of angry people - explosive and implosive. Explosive is the type of individual you see screaming at the cashier for not taking his coupon. Implosive is the cashier who remains quiet day after day and then finally shoots everyone in the store. You're the cashier.

Dave Buznik: No, no, no. I'm the guy in the frozen food section diallin' 911. I swear. (Anger Management, 2003)

Artemis: We should not have let her go.

Hippolyta: I do not see how we could have stopped her.

Artemis: I could have shot her in the leg. (pause) Not near an artery of course.

Hippolyta: You are the soul of thoughtfulness Artemis. (Wonder Woman the Animated Movie, 2009)

"I vote we follow the oldest and most noble of pirate traditions--we fight to run away." Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)

"There will come a time when you have a chance to do the right thing." Elizabeth Swann.

"I love moments like those. I like to wave at them as they pass by." Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)

Captain Jocard: Who is this traitor?
Barbossa: Not likely one among us.
Elizabeth: Where's Will?
Jack Sparrow: Not among us. (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)

Elizabeth Swann: You will listen to me! LISTEN! The other ships will still be looking to us, to the Black Pearl, to lead, and what will they see? Frightened bilgerats aboard a derelict ship? No, no they will see free men and freedom! And what the enemy will see, they will see the flash of our cannons, and they will hear the ringing of our swords, and they will know what we can do! By the sweat of our brow and the strength of our backs and the courage in our hearts! Gentlemen, hoist the colors! (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)

Books:

"Ahhh, love. Love is the root of every conflict. To say that I am incapable of love is a compliment." Saint Dane, The Quillan Games, p.g. 466.

"Weakness will not be tolerated. On any level. The advancement of our societies will be the singular goal. It is all about the greater good. There will be no room for pity or second-guessing." (Saint Dane)

"And no room for humanity," (Pendragon)

"Humanity is nothing more than an acceptance of failure. We do not accept failure. The goal is too great." (Saint Dane)

"And what exactly is that goal?" (Pendragon)

"Utopia." (Saint Dane) - Pendragon, Raven Rise, p.g. 451.

One who does not sacrifice anything cannot achieve anything
-Fullmetal Alchemist Manga, Chapter 1, Volume 1

Other:

A painless lesson is one without meaning

“I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center.” -Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Player Piano

“Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."
- Amy Carmichael

“Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water.” -Antoine Rivarol

“Invisible tears are the hardest to wipe away. Just let it out, my friend.” -Adabella Radici

“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep. Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you’re just as pretty without makeup on. The one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have you. The one who turns to his friends and says, “That’s her.” -Anonymous

"Don’t let your victories go to your head, or your failures go to your heart." (http:///wise_quotes/)

"I don’t know what the key to success is, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone." (http:///wise_quotes/)

The Greek playwright Aeschylus had once said, “There is no pain as great as the memory of joy in the present grief."

Without great struggle, there is no great reward.

One should expect that the expected can be prevented, but the unexpected should have been expected. - Norman R. Augustine

Do not always expect good to happen, but do not let evil take you by surprise. - Czech Proverb

If we are bound to forgive an enemy, we are not bound to trust him. - Thomas Fuller

Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and expect the unexpected. - Smoking Gun's Worlds Dumbest Drivers 6, Gary Busey

Neither sleet or snow or gloom of night, shall stop this courier from his appointed route. Even this crazy ass bitch that set the guy next to me on fire. - Smoking Gun's Worlds Dumbest Drivers 6, Danny Bonaduce((Or closest thing to the quote I could type up.))

“’The roots of education are bitter, but the fruits are sweet’,” -Aristotle.

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. Michael Leunig

Even an one inch worm has a half inch soul.

(Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.)
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

You learn to like someone when you find out what makes them laugh, but you can never truly love someone until you find out what makes them cry. Author Unknown

“To me, the Sherlock Holmes stories are about a great friendship. Without Watson, Holmes might well have burnt out on drugs long ago. I hope the series shows how important friendship is.” our dear Jeremy Brett

"Christianity : The belief that some cosmic Jewish Zombie can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him that you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree. Makes perfect sense." - Christopher Hitchens

“On the nothing question as it touches on ourselves, as it happens it is rather more marvelous than any holy book. All the elements in which we and our surrounds are made are from exploding stars, from the stars that blow up and die at the rate of one every second and been doing that since the Big Bang. Isn’t it rather magical to think that we’re all made out of star dust, never mind, as professor Krauss said. Never mind the martyrs. Stars had to die so we could live. This is a very essential reflection, to be having and it dwarfs, it dwarfs, the religious explanations. ” – Christopher Hitchens, The God Debate, Notre Dome University.

“The screw ups from the Old Testament. I mean, he creates a Garden of Eden and it goes wrong and he kicks them out. So that goes wrong so he floods the Earth, then that goes wrong. So he splits them up by languages, then that goes wrong. So he picks one tribe out of all the screw ups and says go around and murder all these other ones. Then THAT still doesn’t work. So then he has to make an incarnation of himself to come down to Earth to sacrifice to himself to serve as a loophole for a rule that he made.” - Matt Dillahunty, Atheist Experience #524.

Other Things of Interest:

http:///

http:///cmar/Boycott.shtml

http:///study/yaoi_eng.pdf

http:///eFiction1.1/index.php

http:///

http://