The Valen Shadowbreath thread :)

[Legacy_Seraphim24]

               

I think I ended up using Nathyrra the most in HotU, I always managed to upgrade his flail though, just seemed like something that should get done.

 

Er well until Aribeth showed up, naturally.

 

But yeah I remember this guy... kind of unusual to have a tiefling companion in a game.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Seraphim24]

               

I must confess, it's sort of interesting to see a fan base popped around this character! I honestly wasn't really that into it he wasn't my favorite character.

 

Hordes had some interesting ideas and such I think, the large scale and epic nature of it at times. Plus, the ability to reunite with Aribeth and all that, I think overall though I found it less interesting than NWN: OC.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_AndrueD]

               

Valen with Deekin lotsa fun so much to keep Valen on party even when Aribeth show up.  Valen really donna like the way Deekin sing

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Exile Isan]

               

In Valen's defense Deekin can't sing. And as one who has a lovely singing voice himself I imagine Deekin's off key singing gets on Valen's nerves.

 

Although a lot of things get on Valen's nerves.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bondari the Reloader]

               

Valen and Deekin are my favorite party combo in Hordes (sorry, Varric, but Deekin is the king of nicknames), but Nathyrra gets some great conversations with Valen, as well (my favorite being the one where he asks her what the drow women are saying about him), and her character arc in general is pretty compelling. I really wish you could take all three at the same time, that would be so much fun.

 

I agree, Caprea, that one of the greatest strengths of both the Valen and Alistair romances are the way they develop over time. Especially given how little content the HotU romances have compared with Bioware's more recent games, it's pretty impressive how well done Valen's change of heart is.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_JudithAmell]

               

Hello there everyone, I'm really glad to see that there is a somewhat active thread for this guy - I've never joined a fandom so late, oh my.

 

I'm kinda going back in time because my first experiences with video games happened a mere one and a half year ago and after the cinematic presentation of the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series (and never dying love for Fenris, Nathaniel Howe and Thane), it is a bit surprising to explore such a different interface and gameplay. I really wish there were more opportunities to talk to our henchmen in general, I talked a lot to Nathyrra and Valen; their dialogues are very well built.

 

Valen captured me at once by not trusting me '> I like how he can be both realistic and teasable at the same time. I got to the point where my character asked him about how he escaped from Grimash't and then I could not access more dialogue options until the closing battle of Act 2 came. Should I have received the confession ( ) by now?

 

Anyways I'm quite stuck with the game because as the battle progressed, suddenly the game started to handle me as a betrayer, although I had told the Valsharess before to go peel potatoes and leave me alone. I don't know what could have went wrong; before that, in the undead settlement, the cult monks kept spawning although I destroyed all of their coffins and Lavoera never appeared so I guess my game is a glitch store '> I try to load an earlier save and see if that works. Can't miss out the tiefling, he is really one of the best written LIs.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Exile Isan]

               

Hello there everyone, I'm really glad to see that there is a somewhat active thread for this guy - I've never joined a fandom so late, oh my.

 

I'm kinda going back in time because my first experiences with video games happened a mere one and a half year ago and after the cinematic presentation of the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series (and never dying love for Fenris, Nathaniel Howe and Thane), it is a bit surprising to explore such a different interface and gameplay. I really wish there were more opportunities to talk to our henchmen in general, I talked a lot to Nathyrra and Valen; their dialogues are very well built.

 

Valen captured me at once by not trusting me '> I like how he can be both realistic and teasable at the same time. I got to the point where my character asked him about how he escaped from Grimash't and then I could not access more dialogue options until the closing battle of Act 2 came. Should I have received the confession ( ) by now?

 

Anyways I'm quite stuck with the game because as the battle progressed, suddenly the game started to handle me as a betrayer, although I had told the Valsharess before to go peel potatoes and leave me alone. I don't know what could have went wrong; before that, in the undead settlement, the cult monks kept spawning although I destroyed all of their coffins and Lavoera never appeared so I guess my game is a glitch store '> I try to load an earlier save and see if that works. Can't miss out the tiefling, he is really one of the best written LIs.

 

No you don't get a confession from Valen until the first part of Act 3. 

 

I've had summons attack Imloth's wisp during the battle for Lith My'athar which made the game think that I betrayed them. So annoying. This may be what happened in your game.

 

Double check the coffins and make sure you staked them all. There are several coffins with just he regular monks, one with a monk cleric lady, and then one with the shadowdancer/assassin guy, which is on the same section as Lavoera. Finally you should have to kill Sodalis again and then Vix'thra (though Vix'thra is optional).

 

I agree Valen is awesome. He remains my favorite LI of all Bioware's games.  

 

And now I want to play HotU again. Thanks a lot!  '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_JudithAmell]

               

No you don't get a confession from Valen until the first part of Act 3. 

 

I've had summons attack Imloth's wisp during the battle for Lith My'athar which made the game think that I betrayed them. So annoying. This may be what happened in your game.

 

Double check the coffins and make sure you staked them all. There are several coffins with just he regular monks, one with a monk cleric lady, and then one with the shadowdancer/assassin guy, which is on the same section as Lavoera. Finally you should have to kill Sodalis again and then Vix'thra (though Vix'thra is optional).

 

I agree Valen is awesome. He remains my favorite LI of all Bioware's games.  

 

And now I want to play HotU again. Thanks a lot!  '>

 

I see, thanks a lot! I thought the great moment comes in Act 2 based on Youtube-demonstrations, but now I can calm down, for the moment '>

 

The reload helped, now Lavoera was there when she should be, I managed to save her. Sodalis also showed up again, he didn't manage to do it last time as a rogue vampire monk slided into the cutscene and ruined his great return. The battle now went on with me as the goodie - it's another issue that I was beaten into the ground, but at least I was defeated without the game glitching '> I try it again today (thank god the cheat engine exists).

 

The dialogue at the illithids where Valen recommends using the special helmet was sweet as hell. Dark and broody manservant, lulz.

 

Thanks a lot for your help and it's so nice to see I'm not alone with the fangirling '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Exile Isan]

               

@JudithAmell no problem.  '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_JudithAmell]

               

Got it!

I'd like to share my little drawing of my PC's and Valen's first meeting. 

 

As I was listening to him, it occured to me that despite the fact his past resembles the background of Fenris, Valen's manners recall Nathaniel Howe - the same kind of modesty and courtesy, even their voice actors sound alike a bit. However, Nathaniel may not be so shy like Valen in a romance, but I guess we'll never get to know that now (at least canonically). Tiefling knight in a shining demon armour '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bondari the Reloader]

               

Love your drawing, Judith Amell! Feel free to share more as you progress through the game, and welcome to the fandom! We're small, and not as many of us are around as there used to be, but some of us still pop up from time to time. Goodness knows more original Valen artwork wouldn't hurt! '>

 

I've never really thought of comparing Valen to Nathaniel before, but there are a lot of similarities, particularly with having to convince him of your good intentions. Valen most often gets compared to Fenris because David Gaider (who wrote both characters) said at one point that Fenris was based on some of his ideas for Valen (not sure if anyone can find the exact quote for that). I personally feel that Valen's romance develops more naturally than Fenris's, but that has more to do with my feelings toward DAII in general than Fenris specifically.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_JudithAmell]

               

Love your drawing, Judith Amell! Feel free to share more as you progress through the game, and welcome to the fandom! We're small, and not as many of us are around as there used to be, but some of us still pop up from time to time. Goodness knows more original Valen artwork wouldn't hurt! '>

 

I've never really thought of comparing Valen to Nathaniel before, but there are a lot of similarities, particularly with having to convince him of your good intentions. Valen most often gets compared to Fenris because David Gaider (who wrote both characters) said at one point that Fenris was based on some of his ideas for Valen (not sure if anyone can find the exact quote for that). I personally feel that Valen's romance develops more naturally than Fenris's, but that has more to do with my feelings toward DAII in general than Fenris specifically.

Thanks a lot! '> This guy has really boosted my drawing instincts, too bad I have little time for it, but I try to show future creations as well.

 

This is just a little sketch:

 

I loved Fenris, but to tell the truth, aside from the similarities in their backstories, Valen hardly ever reminded me of him. Fenris is the dictionary definition of grumpy and he often behaves rudely on purpose, even after being befriended or romanced (especially in a rivalry romance). However I think the grumpiness of Valen is more contained, and it is mainly based on the fact that he does not trust the PC in the beginning. When he is more friendly/romanced, he leaves that attitude behind and becomes very respectful. This is why I had Nathaniel more in mind, he also becomes really courteous when you gain his trust.

 

And I agree with your opinion on their romance development, even as being a great Fenris-fangirl. Valen's romance seems more sincere, more nuanced and overall, more thorough. At least that was my impression after one playthrough '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bondari the Reloader]

               

Wow, I wish my "little sketches" looked like that! Incredible! '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Shalaan]

               

Hey guys!

So I decided the other day to play HotU and ofc romance the heck out of Valen... Though I tend to be a dum dum and forget to talk to him myself, and then I realized, right when I was talking with the Knower of Names that I haven't talked with him enough to actually start the romance ... Is there a way to use any commands to "trigger" some new conversations with him? The recent one I had was him talking about how he was struggling keeping himself calm due to the war going on. I know there is tons more conversation but I am afraid that I have screwed up and I can't get to start the initial romance before I talk with the KoN. '>

Anyone got some suggestions? I sadly don't have any old saves to go back to, to maybe spam-talk with him some more.. :c

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Bondari the Reloader]

               

Hi, Shalaan!

 

I'm certainly no expert when it comes to console commands, but you might have missed the boat on this playthrough. Nearly all of the romance building conversations happen in Ch. 2, so I'm not sure if the resources are even there in Ch. 3 for you to trigger. If you've already gotten to the Blood Wars convo, I don't know if any of the earlier conversations will be available for you. What options are available when you say "Let's stop and talk for a moment."?

 

If the "What was it you wanted to say earlier?" option is available, you might be able to trigger more conversations that way, but I think those are usually for the ones Valen initiates.