User blog comment:The Milkman/The Shepard Fan Club/@comment-4950455-20120720041623/@comment-4237253-20120720043955

More than anything, I want a character that fits in with the rest of the cast. Naturally, your character is the most important from a plot-perspective, but I also want my character to be a person. That's one thing (possibly the only thing) I think they nailed with Dragon Age II. Hawke's life wasn't entirely in my control, but he never did anything out of character. I chose to be a silly sarcastic hero, so when he started cracking jokes, I enjoyed seeing my choices play out in such a way. I got the impression the Hawke had a life-a life I gave him. It didn't ever feel as though he needed me to hold his hand through life.

I didn't share that same connection with Shepard. With Hawke, I could roleplay and project myself onto him (we share certain qualities) but I could also take a step back and appreciate a standalone character.