[SPOIELRS] A question about the main quest in Orzammar

[Farel]

After taking a rather long break from Dragon Age Origins, I'm now back to finish it. So starting from where I left of a few months ago, I pretty much just entered Orzammar and am now trying to do the main quest there, but I ran into a little problem.

The dwarves already told me, that they can't help me until they have a new king and the main story will apparently be about helping one of the two candidates to get the throne. I talked to the representatives of Bhelen and Harrowmont and they both want me to help them, offering me their respective quests.
And that's where I ran into the problem: I have to side with one of the candidates, but I basically know nothing about any of them. The representatives of course told me that the other one is evil (which isn't really suprising), but they won't let me meet the candidates until I made my decision and they don't tell me anything about their plans for Orzammar. So it feels like I have to randomly choose the new political leader of a whole nation, which is rather weird.

So my questions are:
a) Is there a way to get more information on both candidates, before starting their respective quests?
b) Do you have to randomly pick one side in the beginning, but get more information on the candidates throughout the quest and are able to switch sides accordingly?

I would appretiate, if you could answer the questions without spoiling the story or consequences of choises. I just want to know IF these things are possible and not what they result in ;)

[You takin notes]

Originally posted by Farel:

After taking a rather long break from Dragon Age Origins, I'm now back to finish it. So starting from where I left of a few months ago, I pretty much just entered Orzammar and am now trying to do the main quest there, but I ran into a little problem.

The dwarves already told me, that they can't help me until they have a new king and the main story will apparently be about helping one of the two candidates to get the throne. I talked to the representatives of Bhelen and Harrowmont and they both want me to help them, offering me their respective quests.
And that's where I ran into the problem: I have to side with one of the candidates, but I basically know nothing about any of them. The representatives of course told me that the other one is evil (which isn't really suprising), but they won't let me meet the candidates until I made my decision and they don't tell me anything about their plans for Orzammar. So it feels like I have to randomly choose the new political leader of a whole nation, which is rather weird.

So my questions are:
a) Is there a way to get more information on both candidates, before starting their respective quests?
b) Do you have to randomly pick one side in the beginning, but get more information on the candidates throughout the quest and are able to switch sides accordingly?

I would appretiate, if you could answer the questions without spoiling the story or consequences of choises. I just want to know IF these things are possible and not what they result in ;)

Just keep exploring Orzammar, you'll find out more about them eventually.

[SwobyJ]

I think you might be given more than one chance to find out more about the candidates even after your first 'decision' about them. Like I think there's some political twists and turns.

Slight spoilers:

Bhelen is the more rightful heir, but is a terrible person who did terrible things, but can set Orzammar on the better track, if you can stomach it.
Harrowmont is the less rightful heir, but is a generally kinder person who does nicer things, but is a traditionalist at a bad time for that and can set Orzammar on the worse track.
I think.

And yeah, the Warden, while they have their own journey to stop the Darkspawn Blight, gets sucked into shaping part of the politics of much of Ferelden (even though some elements of it unify over the years into the basic 'canon' for DA2/DAI): Mage Circle, Dwarves, Redcliffe, Elves, Chantry, Wardens, King/Queen, etc. It is more incidental than the later protagonist, the Inquisitor, but it happens nonetheless.

I think it is B (pick one that sounds nicer for you, then find out more, and make final decisions/betrayals after). Not sure though.

[Smoke Eater]

Originally posted by SwobyJ:

I think you might be given more than one chance to find out more about the candidates even after your first 'decision' about them. Like I think there's some political twists and turns.

Slight spoilers:

Bhelen is the more rightful heir, but is a terrible person who did terrible things, but can set Orzammar on the better track, if you can stomach it.
Harrowmont is the less rightful heir, but is a generally kinder person who does nicer things, but is a traditionalist at a bad time for that and can set Orzammar on the worse track.
I think.

And yeah, the Warden, while they have their own journey to stop the Darkspawn Blight, gets sucked into shaping part of the politics of much of Ferelden (even though some elements of it unify over the years into the basic 'canon' for DA2/DAI): Mage Circle, Dwarves, Redcliffe, Elves, Chantry, Wardens, King/Queen, etc. It is more incidental than the later protagonist, the Inquisitor, but it happens nonetheless.

I think it is B (pick one that sounds nicer for you, then find out more, and make final decisions/betrayals after). Not sure though.

harrowmont is a better man bhelen is a better king.

[SwobyJ]

Originally posted by Illusiveman:

Originally posted by SwobyJ:

I think you might be given more than one chance to find out more about the candidates even after your first 'decision' about them. Like I think there's some political twists and turns.

Slight spoilers:

Bhelen is the more rightful heir, but is a terrible person who did terrible things, but can set Orzammar on the better track, if you can stomach it.
Harrowmont is the less rightful heir, but is a generally kinder person who does nicer things, but is a traditionalist at a bad time for that and can set Orzammar on the worse track.
I think.

And yeah, the Warden, while they have their own journey to stop the Darkspawn Blight, gets sucked into shaping part of the politics of much of Ferelden (even though some elements of it unify over the years into the basic 'canon' for DA2/DAI): Mage Circle, Dwarves, Redcliffe, Elves, Chantry, Wardens, King/Queen, etc. It is more incidental than the later protagonist, the Inquisitor, but it happens nonetheless.

I think it is B (pick one that sounds nicer for you, then find out more, and make final decisions/betrayals after). Not sure though.

harrowmont is a better man bhelen is a better king.

Basically, yeah.

Dwarf politics suck.

[New Moon On Monday]

Initiate conversations in Orzammar. Everyone has an opinion about the candidates, and they will share their opinions. Those opinions will give you an idea of the candidates' plans for rule. It really is not the case that one candidate is clearly better or more "good" than the other.

You can also get each representative tell you what they want you to do for the first quest before actually agreeing to do it. Ask what one wants, say you'll think about it, then ask what the other wants. The first tasks they have of you give you an idea of what each candidate is like.

[ange]

Once you get the first tasks from Bhelen's right hand man , he will give you letters. Take those to the shapester or w/e he is called and he will then tell you something about the letters. The information he gives you about the letters can give you a reason to side or not side with Bhelen.

[New Moon On Monday]

I'm playing through right now with the Dwarf Commoner origin. From the beginning, everyone treated me like garbage because I was casteless. I became a Grey Warden, saved Redcliffe, salvaged the Circle Tower, brought peace to the Brecilian Forest, killed a High Dragon. So did Orzammar welcome me back with anything near the reverence they gave Duncan, when I arrived to solve their problems? No, they are all stil treating me like garbage. Useful garbage, but still garbage. So all I really needed to know when making the choice was how each candidate felt about that caste system.

[Smoke Eater]

Originally posted by New Moon On Monday:

I'm playing through right now with the Dwarf Commoner origin. From the beginning, everyone treated me like garbage because I was casteless. I became a Grey Warden, saved Redcliffe, salvaged the Circle Tower, brought peace to the Brecilian Forest, killed a High Dragon. So did Orzammar welcome me back with anything near the reverence they gave Duncan, when I arrived to solve their problems? No, they are all stil treating me like garbage. Useful garbage, but still garbage. So all I really needed to know when making the choice was how each candidate felt about that caste system.

bhelen tries to do away with it.

[biogoo]

If I am not mistaken, no matter who you side with all along, the final decision can be made independently.

[New Moon On Monday]

To be precise, Bhelen does not propose to completely eliminate the caste system. His proposal is to allow the Casteless who are able to fight the opportunity to join Orzammar's army (and I assume that means the Casteless who prove themselves in combat get promoted to the Warrior Caste). So Bhelen is not necessarily the hugest champion of civil rights for Dwarves- but it is progress (and I think definitely appealing to a Dwarven Commoner).

Since Bhelen will allow able Casteless to join the military, then theoretically that would mean that helping Bhelen become king will result in a stronger Dwarven army to help fight the Darkspawn than helping Harrowmont become king. However, I do not know if that actually makes an in-game difference during the final battle.

It is possible for the Warden to choose one side initially, then switch sides at the last second after completing the quest series for that side. That may, however, affect the rewards that the new king will give the Warden.

[SwobyJ]

It doesn't make a difference in the battle. All that changes things is the later golem stuff + getting the Legion of the Dead to bolster forces.

[Beastmaster]

ORIGIN STORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you start the dwarf noble origin story Bhelen is your brother and kills your other brother and accuses you for it causing you to be banished

[Willow Rivers]

Play the Dwarf Noble till you get to Ostagar and you will know all abou the 2 candidates that you need to know.

Bhelen is a no good traiter and murderer and leads the dwarves as a tyrant.

It doesn't matter who you start out helping, you can change your mind and give the crown to the other person at the last minute if you choose.

[SlackerBoe]

You'll get the option to present the crown after it is presented at the end of quest. You can give it to whomever you choose, no matter once. DA:O in general is very open when it comes to main quest choice and doesn't force you into choosing a side until the very end.