What does everyone have against Duncan?

[Windcaler]

Thats news to me. I dont know anyone that hated Duncan. I thought he was a really good character myself. The joining thing with Jory I think could have been handled better though. I really felt like your character should have had the chance to intervene and talk some sense into both of them. Thats DA:O though, a great game and yet it has a ton of missed opportunities (Like invoking the rite of conscription on Jowan to get him into the grey wardens and avoid whatever unamed fate waits for him)

Just tell them straight up: "If you want to become a Grey Warden, know that there is no way out, and you'll either die fighting or become a broodmother."

Actually before the ceremony in front of the fire as the main character you have the chance to ask about having second thoughts. Duncans quite clear that theres no going back.

Then again maybe there is going back. The main character has the option of casting the blood mage of Soldiers peak out of the grey warden order. Make of that what you will

 

[Willinium]

I have never hated Duncan, however(underline) I must admit that he could be a bit of an jackass at times.The most explicit examples would have to involve; keeping important military information from Loghain and the Cousland Origin. In the first one he should have taken into consideration that he might die in the coming battle and thus someone in power should know about the Archdemon/Warden connection. In the second unless you decide o become a Warden he will not allow you to escape from the ,castle?, then if you decide to attempt to save what is left of your family bam! conscripted.

Duncan did have his rather redeeming moments in the other Origins. In the Dalish elf origin he allows you to stay for Tamlen's funeral and say goodbye to your clan. Dwarven Noble, after fighting your way through miles of the deep roads he recognizes who you are and formally invites you into the order. Dwarven commoner, saves you from being executed. City elf, gives you weapons to save your lovely bride and saves you from the guards. Magi is rather neutral.

 

[Lieju]

I've seen many people saying he's not a good guy, but that's not hate. He isn't meant to be.

I didn't hate him, didn't love him, thought he worked well within the story.

 

[klaynexas3]

The ritual basically entailed that Grey Wardens were essentially Dark Spawn that looked more human. If anything, that would have simply turned everyone against you. That's the kind of secret you have to take to the grave, and the best way to ensure that is either A: force them to be one of you, so they'd never tell unless they want to get lynched, or B: send them to their grave on the spot rather than giving them a chance to tell anyone. It isn't a good scenario, and it's not exactly heroic, but it's necessary. Duncan was closer to an anti-hero type character, doing what needed to be done rather than what was right.

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

When he killed Jory, then told me the drink or die part I thought to myself "if I get through this, I'm gonna find a way to kill that asshole".

That was my reaction too, when Duncan died I was pretty much "lol, couldn't have happened to a nicer person". I think maybe his death scene was meant to inspire me but it just left me feeling the Darkspawn had saved me a job.

He could have at least said "Ok, guess you get to fight without it" and kept him on as a footsoldier, it's not as if you didn't have any other non grey warden characters fighting the Darkspawn with you.

Eh, it's not as if I liked any of Dragon Age anyway, I gave up on it really quickly, the desire to stab Duncan in the back the first chance I got was probably the most motivation I felt to do anything in that game.

 

[arsenalabu]

I didn't like Duncan simply because I thought his voice acting was terrible. I realised early on that I'd probably fall asleep if he had a monologue, his voice as so flat and lifeless.
Then again, I pretty much hated DA:O, so my reasons should be taken with that caveat.

 

[Mikeybb]

When he killed Jory, then told me the drink or die part I thought to myself "if I get through this, I'm gonna find a way to kill that asshole".

That was my reaction too, when Duncan died I was pretty much "lol, couldn't have happened to a nicer person". I think maybe his death scene was meant to inspire me but it just left me feeling the Darkspawn had saved me a job.

He could have at least said "Ok, guess you get to fight without it" and kept him on as a footsoldier, it's not as if you didn't have any other non grey warden characters fighting the Darkspawn with you.

Eh, it's not as if I liked any of Dragon Age anyway, I gave up on it really quickly, the desire to stab Duncan in the back the first chance I got was probably the most motivation I felt to do anything in that game.

Yeah.
Like I said though, by the end I came to sympathize with him a lot more.
I realized the burden he was carrying and, while I think it could have been lightened by taking different actions, I also think a lot of the burden was dumped on Duncan by the people who came before him.

When he died, I didn't feel the loss I was meant to either.

I only felt it later, when his job was mine and I'd learned all he knew.

That's one of the reasons the game stayed with me for so much longer than dragon age 2.
It felt like my characters journey.
The story that shaped him.
DA2 felt more like stepping in to pilot certain scenes from another characters life.
I still had fun with it, but it was not as captivating as the first.

 

[Alpha Maeko]

Jory pulled a sword out because he preferred taking on something he could see, instead of the unknown in the chalice. Duncan killed him because he asked for it. If he really thought he could just walk away, he wouldn't have pulled the sword. Either way, he was warned there was no going back.

Duncan is awesome.

 

[King Aragorn]

I have never hated Duncan, however(underline) I must admit that he could be a bit of an jackass at times.The most explicit examples would have to involve; keeping important military information from Loghain and the Cousland Origin. In the first one he should have taken into consideration that he might die in the coming battle and thus someone in power should know about the Archdemon/Warden connection. In the second unless you decide o become a Warden he will not allow you to escape from the ,castle?, then if you decide to attempt to save what is left of your family bam! conscripted.

Duncan did have his rather redeeming moments in the other Origins. In the Dalish elf origin he allows you to stay for Tamlen's funeral and say goodbye to your clan. Dwarven Noble, after fighting your way through miles of the deep roads he recognizes who you are and formally invites you into the order. Dwarven commoner, saves you from being executed. City elf, gives you weapons to save your lovely bride and saves you from the guards. Magi is rather neutral.

There were other Grey Wardens at the battle, not just Alistair, Duncan and you, The Warden. He said that they had something in mind incase the Archdemon popped up and that he wanted no heroics from the PC or Alistair.
Again, I talked about this above. In the end, he's a Grey Warden and its what needs to be done. Your PC would have died if they had remained anyways.

Also damn y'all Ice Queens, Duncan's death was the most moving part of Ostagar.
Plus even when rushed by a Hurlock Alpha he still gives the death stare of badass.

I've seen many people saying he's not a good guy, but that's not hate. He isn't meant to be.

I didn't hate him, didn't love him, thought he worked well within the story.

I know, but I meant hate in terms of being a character

 

[Zykon TheLich_v1legacy]

Yeah.
Like I said though, by the end I came to sympathize with him a lot more.
I realized the burden he was carrying and, while I think it could have been lightened by taking different actions, I also think a lot of the burden was dumped on Duncan by the people who came before him.

When he died, I didn't feel the loss I was meant to either.

I only felt it later, when his job was mine and I'd learned all he knew.

That's one of the reasons the game stayed with me for so much longer than dragon age 2.
It felt like my characters journey.
The story that shaped him.
DA2 felt more like stepping in to pilot certain scenes from another characters life.
I still had fun with it, but it was not as captivating as the first.

Fair enough, I might have changed my tune a bit if I had played to the end of the game, but I just didn't give enough of a shit about the characters, world or story to carry on playing. Combine that with gameplay that felt functional at best and that results in "fuck that guy...oh, he's dead, heheheh" being the most memorable thing about it for me.