I do not understand the Tali fandom.

[AlternatePFG]

I suspect Tali sets off my mothering instincts that I must have somewhere. In Mass Effect 2 though she's clearly grown up alot and doesn't need Shep holding her hand anymore. She should go with that nice Kal Reegar boy he seems a decent sort! (my god I am getting old)

Heh. Can you imagine if they had a subplot in ME3 in which Tali leaves Shepard for Kal Reegar? The fanbase would implode. There would be blood. Closely followed by mods. Which is exactly why they should do it.

That would actually be a pretty good idea actually. I sort of liked Tali, but the romance option is just stupid and to be honest a little creepy considering Shepards relationship with Tali.

I get the fandom for Garrus because he is a badass but Tali? I dunno, she was likeable I guess?

 

[The Madman]

She reminded me very much of Aerie from Baldur's Gate 2; the strong yet insecure type constantly seeking approval from the main character between the occasional outburst of awkward flirting in that cute voice of theirs. It's one of the archetype Bioware love to use in their games!

Personally not a big fan myself. I'm more a sucker for the tougher sorts, Jaheira, Viconia, or in Mass Effects setting Ashley or Jack. At best I might get a twinge of big brotherly protectiveness over Aerie/Tali, but can't say I've ever been particularly intrigued by either in any other other sort of way beyond plot.

But then that's just me. I can sorta see the appeal, but truthfully this 'talimancer' thing has always seemed a bit obsessive and weird to me. Ah well!

 

[Easton Dark]

It gets creeier. Before there as a pic of a Tali doll around the BW forums...

A Tali doll?

I probably would get one if the price wasn't too outrageous.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

If my memory serves me correctly, you usually mention something about Joker being a...

argue against Joker being a love insterest because of his illness....

... never mind.

lol busted *adjusts SR2 cap*

I suspect Tali sets off my mothering instincts that I must have somewhere. In Mass Effect 2 though she's clearly grown up alot and doesn't need Shep holding her hand anymore. She should go with that nice Kal Reegar boy he seems a decent sort! (my god I am getting old)

Heh. Can you imagine if they had a subplot in ME3 in which Tali leaves Shepard for Kal Reegar? The fanbase would implode. There would be blood. Closely followed by mods.

Well considering he is like a ''Quarian Shepard'' it would make sense. I totally wanted to meddle after the collosus.
FemShep: 'Kal seems like a nice fellow. How many credits does he make? Is his family nice? Why don't you ask him for a date'
Tali: 'Sheeeepaaaard'

I get the mothering thing with Jack aswell.

Spoiler: Maybe slight spoiler

Some of the romance scene where she runs to Maleshep crying and gets a hug would have fit for a paragon Femshep too I think.

 

[GiantRaven]

Heh. Can you imagine if they had a subplot in ME3 in which Tali leaves Shepard for Kal Reegar? The fanbase would implode. There would be blood. Closely followed by mods.

I would play through the entirety of Mass Effect 2, solely to romance Tali, if that was written into Mass Effect 3. And I like the character of Tali.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Because some people like furrries, didn't know that about Tali now did you

 

[Pyro Paul]

Anyone care to explain?

because she is a virgin.
others might use words like 'pure' or 'innocent' but it just comes down to the simple fact that she is a virgin.

From a psychological stand point, her naive inexperienced nature reinforces our own manhood and placiates our own sexual insecurities. the simple concept that 'No one has touched her' means that she doesn't have any preconcieved notions on our preformance or basis to compare it against.

She isn't going to sneak out so that we wake up alone the next morning nor will she roll over and reply with 'I've had better'.

some may say that the Liara was the supposed 'virgin' of ME1, but the in all honosty, that isn't true. Although she was technically one in the confines of her species, she didn't very much act like one. She was reassuring and inviting in the romance options almost determained to obtain it unlike Tali in ME2 whom bumbled around the subject, trying to work up the nerve to take that first step.

 

[kabooz18]

[sub](Alternative thread title: Ye gods! Apparently some people like something a lot more than I do. This cannot be!)[/sub]

EDIT FOR CLARITY: I am not referring to the whole should-we-see-her-face-or-not thing. I'm fairly neutral on that and it's already been better covered elsewhere.

...

Wait! Calm down. This isn't a hate thread. I'm not out to hang shit on your favourite character. I'm just... bemused is all.

In Mass Effect 1 Tali received almost zero characterization. She had lots of interesting stuff to say about Quarians in general and I was happy to listen to it, but her individual personality didn't get any attention.

And no, I'm not just pulling that out of my arse. Standard characterization test: You should be able to easily describe the character's personality without referring to their appearance or job. With Tali... I got nothing. I guess she's kinda plucky? That's really all I can come up with. With the other characters I can rattle off traits without a problem (Liara: earnest, sincere, awkward, bookish, inexperienced. Wrex: dour, blunt, taciturn, bitter, wry sense of humour, easygoing, casually violent). But Tali? There's just nothing there.

The second game was a considerable improvement in this regard. The loyalty missions allowed for a higher degree of focus on the characters and, in Tali's case, let her express a lot more emotion and become more humanized (alienized...? Whatever, you know what I mean). We learnt more about her role in her society and her concern for her people.

Oh, and then there was the romance thing, present by popular demand. No. Sorry, but... just no. That played out like an exercise in ego-stroking. "Oh Shepard, you're so wonderful but I was always too cute and shy to say so... because you're so awesome!" Yeesh.

So, in a nutshell, a very interesting species and a comfortably-above-average character (by video game standards that is). But I still don't see where the adoration comes from.

Anyone care to explain?

[sub](Alternative end line: I demand that you justify your subjective preferences!)[/sub]

hmm personal opinion? I understand and agree with you on the ego stroking in ME2 but what you say about tali in the first game just isn't true for me as I could easily rattle down a few things about her that only apply to ME1 such as nerdy, insecure, rightous and childishly happy when it comes to certain parts of space ships XD

as to finally try to explain why like her more than miranda or jacob or wrex for example... she's fascinating and kind of mysterious also more nerdy towards stuff that I like or like in the game but I also like her whole race , second only to salarians ^^, so what I'm trying to say is Tali is probably just the type of the loudest group on the interwebs that plays ME ^^

 

[Reliq]

Completely unrelated and OffTopic. But the whole talimancer thing got me thinking of this for some reason. If you missed the movie or you are to young to have seen it: Its beetlejuice

OnTopic: I never reflected on Talis character. But then i did not do that with any of the characters Played the game, shot stuff and had sex with miranda.

 

[samaugsch]

I find it kind of wierd that Tali is a romance option and Joker, who arguably receives a lot more characteristion outside of his job, isn't. I have seen Talimancers argue against Joker being a love insterest because of his illness....

Do those people even realize that Tali has almost no immune system at all? In fact, I'm a little surprised that she doesn't die after sex.

 

[KingofallCosmos]

I only noticed how she had a vague arabian accent and covers her head all the time...

 

[Easton Dark]

It gets creeier. Before there as a pic of a Tali doll around the BW forums...

I probably would get one if the price wasn't too outrageous.

... You realise it was a lifesize Tali, that was likely a sex doll right ?

I can believe that is was life-size, but sex doll? Doubt it.

If there was a mini-Tali though, that'd be cool.

Edit: dang messed up quotes.

 

[silasbufu]

I never got what this love for Tali is about. I really never found her character interesting.
Also, chicken legs.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I find it kind of wierd that Tali is a romance option and Joker, who arguably receives a lot more characteristion outside of his job, isn't. I have seen Talimancers argue against Joker being a love insterest because of his illness....

Do those people even realize that Tali has almost no immune system at all? In fact, I'm a little surprised that she doesn't die after sex.

If you point it out to them they actually struggle to see the irony in their argument....Apparently since it's canon it makes perfect sense. :/

(I realise I'm generalising but its somthing that has shocked me a little)

 

[Brian Hendershot]

She's the awkward nerd girl who's good in a fight, but clumsy with social matters. Nerds eat that shit up.

Plus, she wears a helmet which adds another element of mystery and projection.

Yep, this guy nails it on the head. Plus she has low self esteem about herself but is kinda awesome. I am sure that appeals to some people as well.

What I don't understand is that stupid Tali verging on fetish love that people have for her. There is a difference in liking her in a video game and wanting to wank off to her in real life..

 

[K_Dub]

You bring up a really good point. I suppose that the reason most people adore Tali is because that along with having an interesting story and background, we have no fucking clue what she looks like. There's an air of mystery about Tali that just intrigues gamers.

And if there is something that gamers cannot see or immediately understand, then they become curious to delve into that mystery and attempt to solve it. That's just how we operate.

 

[Jake the Snake]

I never have actually been that fond of Tali myself, and I am perplexed by her fandom as well. Does anyone else find her awkward babblingness extremely annoying? I don't know...I think the problem is she reminds me of someone I know who I can't stand.