Is Corvo meant to be played in High Chaos? (story-wise)

[Motor]

Before I move on with Death of The Outsider, I wanna do my 4th and final new game+ playthrough with Corvo, but I'm conflicted whether I should go low chaos or high? I'm trying to look for canonical/logical/story-driven reasons of how Corvo would take down Delilah's coup based on his personality.

The "Corvo trailer" in particular seems to hint that Corvo is meant to be played as a high chaos character in DS2 . In the trailer, his and the Outsider's dialog seems to be picked from the high chaos playthrough and the trailer just shows him killing most of the targets lethally.

And yet it seems to conflict with Corvo from the 1st game, who canonically was low chaos with just slight murderous rampage.

Maybe being dethroned a second time finally made Corvo snap and go down a darker path? Can anyone tell me what's he like in the comics?

[ThePugHybrid]

If your going 100% canonical Emily, low chaos, with powers is the franchises actual canon. Also seeming Dishonored 1's canon is low chaos I would assume if Corvo was canon it would still be low. The trailer isn't the best representation because they want to show action to appeal to people whereas a boring stealth crawl trailer wouldn't create the anticipation as well as the high chaos combat. Not saying stealth is bad, I love both, it's just more exciting to see a fast paced trailer if you get me. As for the novel and comics Corvo only really kills when neccesary and still tries to avoid as much as blood as possible.

Hope this helps :D

[Motor]

Yeah, my 1st save slot is of Emily, low chaos, undetected, non-lethal, which I'm happy with. But with my 2nd save slot, I want to play as an "alternative-canon" Corvo so to speak (non-canonically going to Karnaca, but making decisions true to his canon character).

For example, I thought about Siding with Paolo in Dust District because Corvo has a history of co-operating with gangs before (Slackjaw and The Bottlestreet gang), plus going into the Abbey while wearing the Outsider's Mark is risky (he would definetly accept it again, especially if he wants to save Emily and defeat Delilah).

You have a solid point about the trailer though - they emphasize high chaos because it's just more fun to watch. And I value your input on the novels and comics :)

[ThePugHybrid]

I would definatley go for the low chaos Corvo then as I would believe that to the "alternative-canon" as you've said. Personally I believe that Corvo would not go to the Overseers like you said, and would also not make deals with the Howlers because they seem a lot more cutthroat like than the bottlestreet gang, and he most likely met them blackmailing the black market owners in previous missions, thus I think Corvo would have sided with neither and found the solution to the Jindosh lock without eithers help.

Personally, if i was going with an "alternative-canon" ending from the game, it would be the one where Corvo becomes the Duke of Serkonas and Emily ruling from Dunwall.

[Zekiran]

Yup MY headcanon is absolutely Duke Corvo, but low-chaos overall anyway.

Franchise is low chaos with some few exceptions in the first game for killing specific targets. Daud is also low-chaos, sparing Billie, obviously.

[Bones]

Corvo would probably sneak most of the time and kill little as possible.

Also, remember that trailers are meant to be cool looking, probably why they're showing the lethal options! ;)

[jasper.mills]

If playing for story/roleplay reasons rather than trying to achieve low/high chaos goals. I would just play it situationally. For most situations I would play Corvo stealthy, killing only when necessary. Gaurds and civilians would be stealthily avoided or knocked out. The witches who are a part of Delilahs coven are the enemy and would be killed outright. The Howler's and any other criminal's fate will be purely decided depending on the situation I find them in.

[Bloodyryss]

Emily and low chaos non-lethal wtf are you guys talking about?

Emily always talks about killing people to revenge her mother and corvos stoning ... she is full or rage and hatred against all of the traitors below her ... I play her low chaos lethal because she is an good assassin but I dont think she is any kind of non-lethal

[loganjamesalex]

Originally posted by NB Bl00dY-BuDDy:

Emily and low chaos non-lethal wtf are you guys talking about?

Emily always talks about killing people to revenge her mother and corvos stoning ... she is full or rage and hatred against all of the traitors below her ... I play her low chaos lethal because she is an good assassin but I dont think she is any kind of non-lethal

wat

[Bloodyryss]

Originally posted by loganjamesalex:

Originally posted by NB Bl00dY-BuDDy:

Emily and low chaos non-lethal wtf are you guys talking about?

Emily always talks about killing people to revenge her mother and corvos stoning ... she is full or rage and hatred against all of the traitors below her ... I play her low chaos lethal because she is an good assassin but I dont think she is any kind of non-lethal

wat

I mean with low chaos factor I dont fight i kill stealthly ...

[Motor]

Originally posted by ThePugHybrid:

I would definatley go for the low chaos Corvo then as I would believe that to the "alternative-canon" as you've said. Personally I believe that Corvo would not go to the Overseers like you said, and would also not make deals with the Howlers because they seem a lot more cutthroat like than the bottlestreet gang, and he most likely met them blackmailing the black market owners in previous missions, thus I think Corvo would have sided with neither and found the solution to the Jindosh lock without eithers help.

Personally, if i was going with an "alternative-canon" ending from the game, it would be the one where Corvo becomes the Duke of Serkonas and Emily ruling from Dunwall.

Speaking of becoming Duke...don't I have to kill both the Duke and the Double? Doesn't seem like killing the Double is something he would do - he seems innocent enough to be spared.

[serker31]

By "canon" - maybe not, but it is fun nonetheless. I was amazed by difference between nonlethal Emily and all-out Corvo in my first and second playthrough - story itself feel much darker, with cynical and ruthless protagonist and even Outsider add even more dark in his monologues at shrines. Say, in chapter 4 he gives entirely different story of Jindosh.

[Zekiran]

Yeah the dialog from many characters, and some specific scripted events play out WAY differently between low and high.

@ Bloody- the kill count towards your chaos level. If Emily is talking about revenge, you're running a high-chaos game.

[ThePugHybrid]

Originally posted by NB Bl00dY-BuDDy:

Emily and low chaos non-lethal wtf are you guys talking about?

Emily always talks about killing people to revenge her mother and corvos stoning ... she is full or rage and hatred against all of the traitors below her ... I play her low chaos lethal because she is an good assassin but I dont think she is any kind of non-lethal

If Emily talks about killing, your playing High Chaos.

[loganjamesalex]

Originally posted by ThePugHybrid:

Originally posted by NB Bl00dY-BuDDy:

Emily and low chaos non-lethal wtf are you guys talking about?

Emily always talks about killing people to revenge her mother and corvos stoning ... she is full or rage and hatred against all of the traitors below her ... I play her low chaos lethal because she is an good assassin but I dont think she is any kind of non-lethal

If Emily talks about killing, your playing High Chaos.

This is what I was talking about lol emily is sweet and gentle in a low chaos playthrough she never talks about hate or killing

[Zekiran]

They have both full sets of dialog, so yeah you can instantly tell whether you're high or low chaos.

Particularly Corvo's ... distaste, at the Abbey. Wow.

Just wow. And the end of Jessamine when in high chaos as corvo is about the most heart wrenching thing I've ever done in a game ever.