I wound up playing with Solas and Cole in the party for the majority of the game. They have such a neat dynamic & are really interesting characters. I feel like I knew a lot more of what was really going on through their insights and the way they worked through things together. Excellent writing.

I felt sad after pushing Cole towards being a spirit, because it made him less accessible to me and I really missed the old him. But I trusted Solas' judgment that altering his nature for my own comfort wasn't exactly right either. Too much like binding him. I might replay that part and see what happens if he's allowed to go "person" though. Maybe he'll be happier.

I had a total crush on Cassandra. I LOVED her Varrick book quest. xD If she weren't so thoroughly hetero I would've pursued a romance with her. Wound up supporting her to become the next divine. I think she'll do a bangup job. ;D

Hooked up with Cullen even though I swore I wouldn't and was honestly *not interested* at first. Damn, they did a good job making him subtly awkward but not "fumbly virgin." Frustrated table sex? Hell yeah. [lol]

Was best buds with Dorian (he eventually took Cole's spot in the party because I found two mages + Cassandra to be ideal for DPS & survivability) and we continued to flirt even after he let me know he wasn't into ladies. xD We were both cool with it. Though he seemed like a caricature at first he really felt like a person due to the excellent voice acting/writing. Enjoyed him a lot. He decided to stick around at the ending, not sure if that's always the case or not.

Varrick is a stud, still. I let Hawke to sacrifice himself, because it's what I would have done (and I *was* Hawke in another life, so it seemed like an easy choice). Maybe we'll see Hawke again, though? He was pretty darn hot. Those eyes! [lol] Don't think Varrick ever quite forgave me, though. I didn't get around to finishing his personal quests in time and wound up not bringing him along much.

The other companions, I decided to "save for next time" because there were just too many to be able to do them all justice in a single playthrough. So much of getting to know them happens when you're out adventuring together. But someday, Bull and I are gonna tangle. ;D

I chortled when Morrigan's mother answered the summons. Of course it was her! xD

What an ending! D: Glad we'll (probably) see more of Solas, though. He was so compelling. I was planning on rerolling an elf and romancing him, but now I'm not so sure I have the heart for it.

Maybe later. I need the Cullen tingles to go away first. I wonder if there's a support group somewhere?

I've kind of had misgivings about Solas and Cole since in my first playthrough, they both hated me. With a passion. Mostly because I supported templars all the way, and didn't hesitate to take their side in the conflicts. I was a dwarf, so I kind of wanted to play the role of someone who has no attatchment to magic, or the Fade, or spirits, etc. So on my second playthrough, I was kind of wary of them, tried to tiptoe my way around them. Worked out well in the end. Solas loves my Jude. Cole's a bit iffy, but he no longer hates me with a raging passion. lol

I pushed Cole towards a human with my dwarf character, and in the end I felt like he was happier, but also a lot more angry. lol I dunno how to describe it. But generally I tried to stay away from him anyway, so I might have missed a lot of what was going on with him.

I love Cassandra too! I pretty much do whatever she says a lot of the time. lol Gives really good advice. Put her up for Divine as well, though mostly because she seemed to be a lot more dedicated to actual Andrastian religion than just remaking the Chantry, like Leliana. I feel like she would have militarized it more than Cassandra, strangely enough.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. 'Frustrated table sex'?! Do tell.

Dorian was my total BFF my first go round, and the love of my life in my current. He's so fan-freaking-tastic, I just... ugh. And he has one hellova gorgeous rear end. [;)]

When I sacrificed my Hawke, I was in tears. Honestly. My beautiful, perfect, hilarious, gingerlicious Oliver Hawke, or Alistair?! No one woman should ever have to make that decision. Though I ended up giving Hawke up, I felt fairly okay with it (albeit guilty) until I talked to Varric, and there was the option to hug him, and he was talking about how they were BFFs and how he would have to write letters, and that Fenris would need to know, and I was just like... drowning in my own tears. Lord, that was a rough night.

I get you on the saving other characters. As far as first impressions go, I'm not too keen on Vivienne, or Sera, or Cole... but I know I'm going to have to drag them along at some point to get them better before judging too harshly. And Bull may have slipped through my fingers on my first playthrough, but he will not be so lucky next time. [ninja]

And I know! The ending bit on Solas was incredible. Though I'm even more heartened to romance him now, to see if it changes anything. Besides, even though I'm a dwarf at heart, I've always had a fascination with Dragon Age's elven gods. Especially Fen'Harel. Such a sneaky character. lol I'd love to learn how that comes into play in his romance, if it even does.