#or the clear 'well if i dont go tamlen is gonna die cause hes an idiot'

[girlbob-boypants]

*stumbles in* OK now that I'm awake and not trying to keep my heart healthy

Part of this is entirely personal preference as whether or not someone likes a fictional character is just that.

However I think its fair to say that how well a character is used/established for their role is more objective/less subjective compared to if you like them?

In my opinion, Jowan is just. Not that well introduced or interesting? There isn't a great establishment of him as your long term friend, he's not really that agreeable as much as he is kind of pathetic, and his relationship with you is entirely him wanting things from you.

Combine that with there being no personal reason to help him. You've finished your harrowing. You're fine. You're safe. It's aggressively established that your phylactery isn't at the Circle anymore so you can't escape. And you aren't being framed of anything. Breaking the rules is pretty obviously shown to be the worst thing you could do because it's throwing away the only "normal" life a mage can have with absolutely no personal benefit.

And cap it off with the fact that Jowan isn't even doing all this for good reasons. He's studying a form of illegal magic and fucking some wannabe nun (who is herself a throwaway character (what IS it with Origins and being so eager to make women the throwaway characters??)).

It creates a not that likeable character with mediocre and kind of unsympathetic motivations that you're supposed to be unbelievably good willed and self sacrificing for (in a game that let's you be pretty selfish???).

But all of the pieces are there. A magical prodigy who's childhood friend is genuinely bad at magic. An oppressive police force. A leader of the circle who's willing to sacrifice one or two mages if it means keeping the peace. Framing someone as a blood mage in order to Tranquilize them. A Grey Warden watching like a hawk for any opportunity he can take advantage of.

Theres sooooo many good movable pieces in this story that just aren't used in a way to create a truly compelling narrative, in my opinion.

You can definitely argue that the other Origins feature similar pushes towards a certain characterization but I never felt quite so "literally why am I even doing this" as I did with mage??

Was gonna rant more but I was responsible and did cardio so I'm tired so I'll just give the short version

I wish the mage origin had used any of its pieces properly but in my opinion it didn't so I feel no concern for Jowan nor any actual motivation to get involved