Can You Romance Cassandra as a Female Inquisitor? A Deep Dive into Dragon Age: Inquisition’s Romance Options

The short answer is, unfortunately, no, you cannot romance Cassandra Pentaghast as a female Inquisitor in Dragon Age: Inquisition. While you can absolutely engage in flirtatious dialogue and build a strong, positive relationship with her, the romantic path is specifically locked to a male Inquisitor. This is a deliberate design choice by BioWare, and it’s a topic that continues to spark discussions among fans.

The Complexities of Cassandra’s Romance

Cassandra is a compelling character, a devout Seeker of the Chantry with a surprisingly romantic heart hidden beneath her stoic exterior. Her initial interactions with the Inquisitor are often marked by formality and duty, but as the game progresses, you’ll see her layers peel back. For a male Inquisitor, this unfolding relationship can lead to a deeply rewarding romance, characterized by gentle vulnerability and shared respect.

However, this romantic potential isn’t extended to female Inquisitors. Despite the ability to flirt and gain her approval, the relationship will remain a close friendship. This doesn’t mean the connection is less meaningful; the dialogue is well-crafted to convey a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual admiration. It’s important to note that flirting with Cassandra as a female Inquisitor will increase her approval just like it would with a male Inquisitor, and that even when she displays disapproval of flirty actions, it’s regardless of the Inquisitor’s gender.

Flirting and Friendship: Navigating the Relationship

The ability to flirt with Cassandra, even without the prospect of romance, contributes to the game’s richness and realism. You see her soften, become more comfortable, and even express her appreciation for your support. The game does a good job at letting the player build a strong friendship regardless of character gender. The conversations between a female Inquisitor and Cassandra are nuanced, reflecting their shared challenges and mutual respect. You will still discover a whole new side to her even without a romantic element, revealing her love of Varric’s novels and the more gentle aspects of her personality.

Understanding the Restrictions

The gender restriction on Cassandra’s romance is a deliberate game design choice. It’s not about a lack of writing potential for a same-sex relationship, but rather a specific artistic direction that BioWare took with this character. This doesn’t diminish the valid desire for players to have broader romantic options; it simply highlights the constraints within the game’s pre-established narrative.

While some players might feel disappointment in not being able to romance Cassandra as a female Inquisitor, the game does offer other same-sex romance options. The ability to develop deep and meaningful friendships, regardless of gender, is a core strength of Dragon Age: Inquisition. This offers an opportunity for players to form unique bonds with the diverse cast of characters, including Cassandra herself.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Cassandra’s romance and related topics, offering further clarity and detail:

1. Can a Female Inquisitor Flirt with Cassandra?

Yes, a female Inquisitor can flirt with Cassandra. Flirting will still increase her approval rating, just as it would for a male Inquisitor. While it doesn’t lead to romance, it’s part of the game’s conversational system and allows for a deeper connection, showing the player that Cassandra does reciprocate care and affection in a non romantic way.

2. Does Flirting with Cassandra as a Female Inquisitor Lead to a Relationship?

No, even with constant flirting and high approval, a female Inquisitor cannot pursue a romantic relationship with Cassandra. The game’s narrative is designed to restrict this path to male Inquisitors only.

3. Can Cassandra Be Romanced by Any Race?

Yes, a male Inquisitor can romance Cassandra regardless of their race. The only romances with race restrictions are those of Cullen, for whom you need to be a human or elven female Inquisitor, and Solas, for whom you need to be a female Elven Inquisitor.

4. What Happens If Cassandra Becomes Divine?

If Cassandra becomes Divine, the dialogue at the end of the game indicates that she does not believe she and the Inquisitor will be able to continue their relationship because of the nature of the position. This applies to a male Inquisitor who had a romantic relationship with her.

5. Can You Marry Cassandra in Dragon Age: Inquisition?

Cassandra does not have an on-screen marriage proposal in the Trespasser DLC. However, if you are in a relationship with Cassandra as a male Inquisitor, there is a dialogue indicating her openness to the idea of marriage in the future. She even has a specific dialogue where she jokingly believes the Inquisitor will propose.

6. Can You Flirt with Multiple Characters in Dragon Age: Inquisition?

Yes, you can flirt with multiple characters at once. However, at a certain point, you will need to choose an exclusive relationship, and other characters will refuse further romance if you’re already involved with someone else.

7. Who Can the Inquisitor Marry?

Only Cullen and Sera can marry the Inquisitor in an on-screen wedding ceremony during the Trespasser DLC. However, other characters like Josephine and Cassandra also express openness to the idea of marriage during their romance storyline.

8. Can Cassandra Date a Qunari?

Yes, Cassandra can be romanced by a male Qunari Inquisitor. There’s even unique banter with Iron Bull if they are both in a romantic relationship with the Inquisitor.

9. How Old is Cassandra in Dragon Age: Inquisition?

Cassandra is estimated to be in her late 30s to early 40s during the events of Dragon Age: Inquisition.

10. Is Cassandra or Leliana a Better Divine?

This depends on your personal preferences. Leliana is known for her social skills, and has a real desire to be Divine. Cassandra is better with action and dislikes politics, preferring to solve problems with a blade, therefore her actions are more pragmatic.

11. Can You Romance Josephine as a Female Inquisitor?

Yes, Josephine can be romanced by a male or female Inquisitor of any race. This is one of the available same-sex romance options in the game.

12. Does Cassandra Have a Crush on Hawke?

There’s a line of dialogue suggesting that Cassandra was impressed and romantically inclined by Hawke’s battle against the Arishok. However, this does not evolve into anything and is merely a detail that helps the players understand how she views romance.

13. What Does Iron Bull Call the Inquisitor During the Romance?

Iron Bull will often call the Inquisitor “kadan”, or “How you doing, Kadan?” during the romantic relationship.

14. Can You Romance Solas as a Human?

No, Solas can only be romanced by a female Elven Inquisitor.

15. What Are Some Same-Sex Romance Options for a Female Qunari Inquisitor?

A female Qunari Inquisitor can romance Josephine, Sera, Blackwall, and Iron Bull. They cannot romance Solas or Cullen.

Conclusion

While the lack of a romantic option for female Inquisitors with Cassandra is a disappointment for some, it’s important to appreciate the complexity of the characters and relationships offered by Dragon Age: Inquisition. You can still form a deep, supportive relationship with Cassandra as a female Inquisitor, and the game offers plenty of other opportunities to experience love and romance with other engaging characters. The depth and nuance of these relationships, be they platonic or romantic, are a significant part of what makes Dragon Age: Inquisition such a memorable and engaging experience.