Why do some people consider Alistair from Dragon Age Origins to be whiny or "emo"? (spoilers)

[lucky_sharm]

Preface: I <3 Alistair

... but he is a whiner.

This is cemented for me by his reaction to the very reasonable alternative to beheading the former hero-gone-stupid in front of the assembled nobility of Ferelden and y'know, maybe getting another warden in the process, which might come in handy given there's only 3 in the whole Blight stricken country and the odds of all of us dying to the Archdemon are astronomically high.

Sparing Loghain is obviously the most practical decision, which is why I always take that option. It's understandable why Alistair reacts the way he does, however. You probably wouldn't make the most rational decisions when you've been as wronged as Alistair has. Letting Loghain live AND making him a Grey Warden is beyond the pale in Alistair's point of view.

Think of it from a Human Noble Warden's perspective. What gives you the right deny Alistair's vengeance when you got to do the same to Arl Howe? What if Riordan came in at the last minute and suggested making Arl Howe a Grey Warden? Even after he just killed your entire family in cold blood, with a smile on his face?

His reaction to the death of Isolde and/or Connor should you not have the happy-time option of going to the Circle for help if they have been cleansed already is pretty over the top as well, given the obvious impossibility of the situation. Granted, he apologies, but it's still pretty high drama

When you take an option besides going to the Circle of Magi, he's not actually angry at you in particular. He's frustrated and feels like he let Arl Eamon down so he's venting on you, hence the line "I owe the Arl more than this."

The mourning for Duncan in the first few segments of the game is understandable, but he doesn't seem to ever let it go - and lest we forget, he knew the guy for all of 6 months. He's much less upset about his 10+ year father figure in Eamon lying on his death bed than he is about a war-buddy who "rescued" him from... being a Templar, which is apparently a fate worse than death (?) No idea why he's got that juxtaposition of emotional priorities, maybe transference, but even that's a bit of a stretch to me.

He only talks about Duncan if you bring him up in idle conversation or gifts. Those are really the only time where he mourns over Duncan. He knew him for only 6 months, yes. But there's a reason why he remembers him so fondly, and it's not because Isolde and the grand cleric were particularly kind in his upbringing. Alistair has respect for Arl Eamon, but he felt like he was cast aside, unwanted, when he was packed into the nearest monastery at the age of 10.

Again - I love Alistair, big time. Most of my Wardens romanced him (except the non-human ones, after I go my heart smashed to pieces the first time with my Elf Mage... who he promised to love forever and ever...

and then dropped like a bad habit the minute the crown was hovering over his head, in front of all of our friends... because I was an Elf and a Mage, which he knew already. Ass

He was probably unhardened. He'll dump you more out of a sense of duty than anything, since as a king he'll need to have an heir, and unless you're a Human Noble then it can't be you. However, if you do harden his personality and pick the right options, he'll pretty much say "Yeah, sod everyone else, no one can take you away from me."

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

I think the reason people think that, is because he really is such a whiny *****. My god I hated having him around, listening to him, whatever. At least I got to see him die in the end, so that's a plus.

 

[lucky_sharm]

I think the reason people think that, is because he really is such a whiny *****. My god I hated having him around, listening to him, whatever. At least I got to see him die in the end, so that's a plus.

But what in particular did he whine about that irritated you so?

 

[The Harkinator]

Only time I really took umbridge with his behaviour was when he threw his toys out of the pram over the possibility of a certain someone joining the party. There he puts his personal feelings ahead of the lives of everyone in the country which was pretty annoying and immature. Apart from that incident I have a lot of affection for Alistair. Apart from his hair. I hate hair styles which look like they require products in fantasy games. Giving him the quiff of a 10yr old boy from the 90s was a bad decision.

I would say that Alistair is attempting to stick up for his principles at the Landsmeet. To Alistair, the Grey Wardens were prestigious warriors and joining them was an honour bestowed on the best and most honourable in Thedas.

To have Loghain, a traitor who abandoned the Fereldan wardens on the field of battle to strengthen his power base in the Royal Court and clear his path to the throne (or so he thought) included in their ranks tears to pieces Alistair's idea of what a Grey Warden is. It doesn't matter what they are, what matters is how Alistair sees them and how including someone like Loghain can ruin that.

Alistair stuck to his principles, I respect him for that.

 

[BENZOOKA]

I got half a dozen annoyed/censorious responses when I lifted Alistair as one of the most annoying game characters, in another thread. Anywho, I'll point out a couple of things I about the character.

- I don't like his hair. That was in fashion around 2000. Doesn't really go with the medieval/fantasy setting of DA:O. He doesn't fit the setting in my eyes otherwise either.
- I don't like the tone of his voice.
- He is almost camp-like feminine at times
- He is not that funny
- He is whiny

 

[jklinders]

Alistair is hands down my favorite DA:O character. As mentioned above, he plays dumb out of some fear that people might expect something great of him. He doesn't feel he is one for great things. He hides his true feelings behind humor and he is just damn funny and good at trolling folks. Oghren is a second closest favorite of mine, but by a fair stretch.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I loved Alistair. Perhaps he whined sometimes but given the situation it's understandable.

He was one of the funniest characters in the game though and I ALWAYS had him in my party just to hear what he would say at various moments

Such a great character, he's like the Garrus of Dragon Age.

Spoiler

I've been a Grey Warden for a day and Alistair dumps the responsibility of leading us and gathering an army onto me because he doesn't like to lead. This doesn't mean that he won't second guess every decision I make. And the bit with Loghain is the final straw. My Warden had nothing against Loghain personally, and getting another Warden and sparing a national war hero seemed like a pretty good move. But little Alistair wanted his revenge. Oh, and he changed his mind, he wanted to be king now too. It is his fault that he is hanging from a noose. Though, if you spare him, he becomes a drunk who wallows in self-pity for the rest of his life. I guess I did him a favor. And he dumps you if you are an elf and mage? Wow, add that to the list. At least Morrigan had a reason other than "politically inconvenient".

Oh come on if Alistair was going to lead the party to gather the armies to fight the blight, it would've been "Dragon Age: Alistair" instead of "Dragon Age: Origins".

This complain could be levelled at so many RPG characters eg. Carth or Bastila who could've easily led in KoToR. Some sacrifices have to be made so we have an open RPG instead of just following an NPC around.

But what was his reason? He was afraid of the responsibility. Much better to pass it on to the new guy.

 

[lucky_sharm]

I got half a dozen annoyed/censorious responses when I lifted Alistair as one of the most annoying game characters, in another thread. Anywho, I'll point out a couple of things I about the character.

- I don't like his hair. That was in fashion around 2000. Doesn't really go with the medieval/fantasy setting of DA:O. He doesn't fit the setting in my eyes otherwise either.
- I don't like the tone of his voice.
- He is almost camp-like feminine at times
- He is not that funny
- He is whiny

Why do you consider him whiny, though? I mean, everything else besides that is fair enough, but still.

 

[Saviordd1]

"Alistair: Wynne?
Wynne: Yes, Alistair?
Alistair: My shirt has a hole in it.
Wynne: I see. And?
Alistair: Can you mend it? When we get back to camp?
Wynne: Can't you mend your own clothes? Why do I have to do it?
Alistair: Sometimes I pick up too much fabric and it ends up all puckered and the entire garment hangs wrong afterward. And you're... you know, grandmotherly. Grandmothers do that sort of thing, don't they? Darning socks and whatnot. You don't want me to have to fight darkspawn in a shirt with a hole, do you? It might get bigger. I might catch cold.
Wynne: Oh, all right. I'll mend your shirt the next time we set up camp.
Alistair: Ooh! And while you're at it, the elbows kind of need patching too...
Wynne: Careful, young man, or puckered garments may be the least of your problems. "

No, he's not a whiny prat at all...

I never could tolerate Alistair. He's an idiot, and whiny as well.

Someone can't detect jokes....

OT: I never minded Alistair, pretty cool guy.

 

[BENZOOKA]

I got half a dozen annoyed/censorious responses when I lifted Alistair as one of the most annoying game characters, in another thread. Anywho, I'll point out a couple of things I about the character.

- I don't like his hair. That was in fashion around 2000. Doesn't really go with the medieval/fantasy setting of DA:O. He doesn't fit the setting in my eyes otherwise either.
- I don't like the tone of his voice.
- He is almost camp-like feminine at times
- He is not that funny
- He is whiny

Why do you consider him whiny, though? I mean, everything else besides that is fair enough, but still.

He's an experienced templar, fighting against monsters of all kinds being kind of his bread and butter, so even one or two complaints about things that are not worth complaining for makes him whiny. I'm not saying all fighting characters should be testosterone-driven strong, silent types, but there's a certain limit. And there's plenty of other characters that make it work in numerous other ways. It's all subjective after all; if something annoys you in a character, then it just does and the reasons behind it might not even be that easy to pinpoint. He just is whiny in my eyes.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

He had a couple of moments, but other than that he really wasn't whiny...
Now, Anders in DA2...

 

[Malyc]

My biggest regret in DA:O is when I sided with Logain over Alistair. I REALLY wish I could take it back without beating the game from the beginning...

 

[coffeechica]

Only time I really took umbridge with his behaviour was when he threw his toys out of the pram over the possibility of a certain someone joining the party.

Only a certain someone who's (indirectly) responsible for Duncan's death. Alistair's complaint is entirely justified.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Preface: I <3 Alistair

... but he is a whiner.

This is cemented for me by his reaction to the very reasonable alternative to beheading the former hero-gone-stupid in front of the assembled nobility of Ferelden and y'know, maybe getting another warden in the process, which might come in handy given there's only 3 in the whole Blight stricken country and the odds of all of us dying to the Archdemon are astronomically high.

Sparing Loghain is obviously the most practical decision, which is why I always take that option. It's understandable why Alistair reacts the way he does, however. You probably wouldn't make the most rational decisions when you've been as wronged as Alistair has. Letting Loghain live AND making him a Grey Warden is beyond the pale in Alistair's point of view.

Think of it from a Human Noble Warden's perspective. What gives you the right deny Alistair's vengeance when you got to do the same to Arl Howe? What if Riordan came in at the last minute and suggested making Arl Howe a Grey Warden? Even after he just killed your entire family in cold blood, with a smile on his face?

His reaction to the death of Isolde and/or Connor should you not have the happy-time option of going to the Circle for help if they have been cleansed already is pretty over the top as well, given the obvious impossibility of the situation. Granted, he apologies, but it's still pretty high drama

When you take an option besides going to the Circle of Magi, he's not actually angry at you in particular. He's frustrated and feels like he let Arl Eamon down so he's venting on you, hence the line "I owe the Arl more than this."

The mourning for Duncan in the first few segments of the game is understandable, but he doesn't seem to ever let it go - and lest we forget, he knew the guy for all of 6 months. He's much less upset about his 10+ year father figure in Eamon lying on his death bed than he is about a war-buddy who "rescued" him from... being a Templar, which is apparently a fate worse than death (?) No idea why he's got that juxtaposition of emotional priorities, maybe transference, but even that's a bit of a stretch to me.

He only talks about Duncan if you bring him up in idle conversation or gifts. Those are really the only time where he mourns over Duncan. He knew him for only 6 months, yes. But there's a reason why he remembers him so fondly, and it's not because Isolde and the grand cleric were particularly kind in his upbringing. Alistair has respect for Arl Eamon, but he felt like he was cast aside, unwanted, when he was packed into the nearest monastery at the age of 10.

Again - I love Alistair, big time. Most of my Wardens romanced him (except the non-human ones, after I go my heart smashed to pieces the first time with my Elf Mage... who he promised to love forever and ever...

and then dropped like a bad habit the minute the crown was hovering over his head, in front of all of our friends... because I was an Elf and a Mage, which he knew already. Ass

He was probably unhardened. He'll dump you more out of a sense of duty than anything, since as a king he'll need to have an heir, and unless you're a Human Noble then it can't be you. However, if you do harden his personality and pick the right options, he'll pretty much say "Yeah, sod everyone else, no one can take you away from me."

My Human Noble characters are all for cutting the man's head off. As you say, denial of one vengeance when another has already been taken is an unreasonable double-standard. That doesn't change the fact that one person slyly betrayed actual family members and friends of life-long knowing in one brutal night - and if you do the dialog tree a certain way basically says he raped your mother before she dies - and Alistair had a group of warriors betrayed in a military situation, people he had known for - again - 6 month. Yes, still deserves some retribution, but hardly even close to the same thing at all.

Regarding the non-circle options for Connor - yes, as I said, he apologies, but he's still pretty damned pissed off for someone who - in the moment, actually says "I wouldn't normally advocating killing a child, but in this case..." So... yeah. He does owe the Arl more than that, but sometimes life isn't fair. This is a concept that Alistair struggles with understanding still.

He was unhardened, I realize there's a mistress option, but that doesn't change what he does when he isn't hardened and it still isn't okay for him to behave that way towards someone.

The fact that he needs to be "hardened" by telling him that everyone is only out for themselves says a lot about his worldview - that everything should be fair and right and that's just now how the world actually is. He's a great character in that regard, in that his naivety is part of his nobility of spirit, but it does make him somewhat reactionary when things don't work out the way he believes they should.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Only time I really took umbridge with his behaviour was when he threw his toys out of the pram over the possibility of a certain someone joining the party. There he puts his personal feelings ahead of the lives of everyone in the country which was pretty annoying and immature. Apart from that incident I have a lot of affection for Alistair. Apart from his hair. I hate hair styles which look like they require products in fantasy games. Giving him the quiff of a 10yr old boy from the 90s was a bad decision.

I would say that Alistair is attempting to stick up for his principles at the Landsmeet. To Alistair, the Grey Wardens were prestigious warriors and joining them was an honour bestowed on the best and most honourable in Thedas.

To have Loghain, a traitor who abandoned the Fereldan wardens on the field of battle to strengthen his power base in the Royal Court and clear his path to the throne (or so he thought) included in their ranks tears to pieces Alistair's idea of what a Grey Warden is. It doesn't matter what they are, what matters is how Alistair sees them and how including someone like Loghain can ruin that.

Alistair stuck to his principles, I respect him for that.

The key phrase here, though, is that they were his principles not the principles of the Wardens. Alistair is a great guy and has many excellent qualities - even kingly qualities - but he's a rather weak Warden when all's said and sifted. He doesn't have it in him to be hard like Duncan had to be, he doesn't know how to put his own feelings aside and do what must be done when it must be done - he works on his principles and that can be a great thing, but it puts all the burden then on your Warden to be the one who is really putting themselves aside to do the job that's assigned to the order as a whole. The end of the Blight above and before all things isn't something Alistair quite manages to absorb, for all the additional time he gets to spend with Duncan over the player.

 

[endtherapture]

I loved Alistair. Perhaps he whined sometimes but given the situation it's understandable.

He was one of the funniest characters in the game though and I ALWAYS had him in my party just to hear what he would say at various moments

Such a great character, he's like the Garrus of Dragon Age.

Spoiler

I've been a Grey Warden for a day and Alistair dumps the responsibility of leading us and gathering an army onto me because he doesn't like to lead. This doesn't mean that he won't second guess every decision I make. And the bit with Loghain is the final straw. My Warden had nothing against Loghain personally, and getting another Warden and sparing a national war hero seemed like a pretty good move. But little Alistair wanted his revenge. Oh, and he changed his mind, he wanted to be king now too. It is his fault that he is hanging from a noose. Though, if you spare him, he becomes a drunk who wallows in self-pity for the rest of his life. I guess I did him a favor. And he dumps you if you are an elf and mage? Wow, add that to the list. At least Morrigan had a reason other than "politically inconvenient".

Oh come on if Alistair was going to lead the party to gather the armies to fight the blight, it would've been "Dragon Age: Alistair" instead of "Dragon Age: Origins".

This complain could be levelled at so many RPG characters eg. Carth or Bastila who could've easily led in KoToR. Some sacrifices have to be made so we have an open RPG instead of just following an NPC around.

But what was his reason? He was afraid of the responsibility. Much better to pass it on to the new guy.

Oh c'mon though he'd probably heard about the new guy from the other Wardens.

The new dude either:
1. Fought his way out of a burning mansion whilst under attack
2. Fought shades and ancient abominations in the Circle tower
3. Fought his way through the mansion of a senior nobleman
4. Fought abominations and darkspawn in Elven ruins - entire life based around combat.
(havent done Dwarven origins yet so I can't comment)

In each of these cases the player character led a group. He also killed an Ogre.

Alistair has to shirk away from responsibility to there's actually a game to play otherwise you'd just be following his orders the entire game - it's the characters flaw and you see him grow throughout the game (on a non-Loghain path) and rise to glory and possibly kingship - if he was a born leader from the start we wouldn't get this.

 

[The Harkinator]

Only time I really took umbridge with his behaviour was when he threw his toys out of the pram over the possibility of a certain someone joining the party. There he puts his personal feelings ahead of the lives of everyone in the country which was pretty annoying and immature. Apart from that incident I have a lot of affection for Alistair. Apart from his hair. I hate hair styles which look like they require products in fantasy games. Giving him the quiff of a 10yr old boy from the 90s was a bad decision.

I would say that Alistair is attempting to stick up for his principles at the Landsmeet. To Alistair, the Grey Wardens were prestigious warriors and joining them was an honour bestowed on the best and most honourable in Thedas.

To have Loghain, a traitor who abandoned the Fereldan wardens on the field of battle to strengthen his power base in the Royal Court and clear his path to the throne (or so he thought) included in their ranks tears to pieces Alistair's idea of what a Grey Warden is. It doesn't matter what they are, what matters is how Alistair sees them and how including someone like Loghain can ruin that.

Alistair stuck to his principles, I respect him for that.

The key phrase here, though, is that they were his principles not the principles of the Wardens. Alistair is a great guy and has many excellent qualities - even kingly qualities - but he's a rather weak Warden when all's said and sifted. He doesn't have it in him to be hard like Duncan had to be, he doesn't know how to put his own feelings aside and do what must be done when it must be done - he works on his principles and that can be a great thing, but it puts all the burden then on your Warden to be the one who is really putting themselves aside to do the job that's assigned to the order as a whole. The end of the Blight above and before all things isn't something Alistair quite manages to absorb, for all the additional time he gets to spend with Duncan over the player.

We're in agreement about some things: What Alistair sees the wardens as and what the wardens actually are don't quite line up. While Alistair thinks they can stop the Blight without Loghain, he ignores a valuable resource because of his own personal feelings. Though this was sticking to his principles, I think he was ready to kill Loghain at the Landsmeet, revenge for Duncan was taken away.

Alistair sees Duncan as a father figure more than as a mentor. When his previous father figure, Arl Eamon, sent him away Alistair needed a new one. When he was conscripted by Duncan, more to save him from unhappiness than due to his skills, Alistair made Duncan his father figure.

On the subject of Duncan, he personifies the Grey Wardens "Do anything, sacrifice anything." way of operating. Although he seems like a kind and well intentioned mentor to the warden recruits (Alistair and Daveth especially) the moment when he kills Ser Jory shows how hard he can be. He allows nobody to back out despite Jorys attempt at an emotional plea.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

Only time I really took umbridge with his behaviour was when he threw his toys out of the pram over the possibility of a certain someone joining the party. There he puts his personal feelings ahead of the lives of everyone in the country which was pretty annoying and immature. Apart from that incident I have a lot of affection for Alistair. Apart from his hair. I hate hair styles which look like they require products in fantasy games. Giving him the quiff of a 10yr old boy from the 90s was a bad decision.

I would say that Alistair is attempting to stick up for his principles at the Landsmeet. To Alistair, the Grey Wardens were prestigious warriors and joining them was an honour bestowed on the best and most honourable in Thedas.

To have Loghain, a traitor who abandoned the Fereldan wardens on the field of battle to strengthen his power base in the Royal Court and clear his path to the throne (or so he thought) included in their ranks tears to pieces Alistair's idea of what a Grey Warden is. It doesn't matter what they are, what matters is how Alistair sees them and how including someone like Loghain can ruin that.

Alistair stuck to his principles, I respect him for that.

The key phrase here, though, is that they were his principles not the principles of the Wardens. Alistair is a great guy and has many excellent qualities - even kingly qualities - but he's a rather weak Warden when all's said and sifted. He doesn't have it in him to be hard like Duncan had to be, he doesn't know how to put his own feelings aside and do what must be done when it must be done - he works on his principles and that can be a great thing, but it puts all the burden then on your Warden to be the one who is really putting themselves aside to do the job that's assigned to the order as a whole. The end of the Blight above and before all things isn't something Alistair quite manages to absorb, for all the additional time he gets to spend with Duncan over the player.

We're in agreement about some things: What Alistair sees the wardens as and what the wardens actually are don't quite line up. While Alistair thinks they can stop the Blight without Loghain, he ignores a valuable resource because of his own personal feelings. Though this was sticking to his principles, I think he was ready to kill Loghain at the Landsmeet, revenge for Duncan was taken away.

Alistair sees Duncan as a father figure more than as a mentor. When his previous father figure, Arl Eamon, sent him away Alistair needed a new one. When he was conscripted by Duncan, more to save him from unhappiness than due to his skills, Alistair made Duncan his father figure.

On the subject of Duncan, he personifies the Grey Wardens "Do anything, sacrifice anything." way of operating. Although he seems like a kind and well intentioned mentor to the warden recruits (Alistair and Daveth especially) the moment when he kills Ser Jory shows how hard he can be. He allows nobody to back out despite Jorys attempt at an emotional plea.

Not to side track the conversation, but I've always been somewhat suspicious of Duncan's motives for recruiting Alistair. Did the Templars have a tournament for the Wardens like Jory was recruited in? I think not with how Alistair tells it of how the Grand Cleric was spitting fire about his leaving. Although now I think of it, I do remember a conversation with Alistair where he talks about hoping Duncan would "pick" him at some sort of line-up. Was Alistair, like some of the player Wardens, in deep trouble at the right place and time? No. So why does Duncan go out of his way to recruit Alistair, a templar in the making? I seriously doubt it was simply because the boy was unhappy in his life. Granted, Duncan had a soft spot for recruits... but given the tenuous nature of the Warden's stay in Ferelden he may have thought that having the bastard son of Maric in arms reach was a smart card to put in his hand. However he may have doted upon Alistair - the fact remains that he did not prepare him fully for the task of being a leader among Wardens.

And yes, what Alistair imagines the Wardens to be is different from what they are. This is probably an extension of his child-like obsession with all things related to mythology figurines and soldier toys. An ideal verses a reality.

Remember, I do love me some Alistair, but he's a complex character with flaws as well as strengths and I think that all the more reason to appreciate the way the character was written, but I can see where some people who see more of his flaws than his strengths in their play throughs perceive him as weak and whiny rather than noble spirited and idealistic.

 

[Savryc]

I never had a problem with Alistair. Even with the Loghain thing, he signed his own death warrant when he left me to die at Ostaghar, I've only ever chose Loghian over Alistair once and that was for an achievement, then I proceeded to reload the save game and have him killed. He might be a war hero but I tend to hold a grudge when it comes to my life and the people trying to take it.

Zevran being an exception, yeah he tried to kill me but he's an assassin, far be it from me to knock a guy just for trying to earn a pay check and it was Arl Howe that hired him anyway.

 

[The Harkinator]

Not to side track the conversation, but I've always been somewhat suspicious of Duncan's motives for recruiting Alistair. Did the Templars have a tournament for the Wardens like Jory was recruited in? I think not with how Alistair tells it of how the Grand Cleric was spitting fire about his leaving. Although now I think of it, I do remember a conversation with Alistair where he talks about hoping Duncan would "pick" him at some sort of line-up. Was Alistair, like some of the player Wardens, in deep trouble at the right place and time? No. So why does Duncan go out of his way to recruit Alistair, a templar in the making? I seriously doubt it was simply because the boy was unhappy in his life. Granted, Duncan had a soft spot for recruits... but given the tenuous nature of the Warden's stay in Ferelden he may have thought that having the bastard son of Maric in arms reach was a smart card to put in his hand. However he may have doted upon Alistair - the fact remains that he did not prepare him fully for the task of being a leader among Wardens.

And yes, what Alistair imagines the Wardens to be is different from what they are. This is probably an extension of his child-like obsession with all things related to mythology figurines and soldier toys. An ideal verses a reality.

Remember, I do love me some Alistair, but he's a complex character with flaws as well as strengths and I think that all the more reason to appreciate the way the character was written, but I can see where some people who see more of his flaws than his strengths in their play throughs perceive him as weak and whiny rather than noble spirited and idealistic.

You're not sidetracking the conversation, you're developing it (I'm quite enjoying this discussion) but anyways, the way Alistair tells it, Duncan could have picked anyone he wanted. He didn't choose the most skilled, he chose the one who wanted it most.

I'm not sure about whether he had the ulterior motive for selecting Alistair, just my opinion but Duncan doesn't strike me as the type of leader who would attempt to manipulate political power. Since the Fereldan wardens were exiled for interfering in politics, I'd think he would stay away. In the Human Noble Origin, he says he is most interested in the player as a recruit, but leaves you alone as to not upset the third most powerful family in the country.

I think Alistair's recruitment into the Wardens may have been influenced by others. Maybe Cailan. Since Al has been a Warden for only six months, and was recruited quickly after meeting Duncan, it may be possible Alistair was put into the Wardens to eliminate any political power he might have. As a templar, he could gain respect, authority and the backing of the chantry if Cailan didn't seem to be living up to his duties. As a Grey Warden, his lifespan is shortened, he becomes part of a mistrusted organisation and he may die in the joining. Cailan apparently knew about Alistair and his claim to the throne but didn't act on it. Having Alistair as a warden would have solved his problems and reduced Alistairs political power to zero. Even though Duncan is respected, he cannot do anything to upset the upper classes.