Guild Wars 2

Great Charr Warband member or Greatest Charr Warband member? Share with us your favorite quotes and Dinky moments.

I miss him in my story, good thing I have 2 more Charr with him as their sparring partner to go!

Dinky is a little marvel. He’s definitely one of the most memorable characters in the game, and deserves to return. I don’t know what it is, but between Tybalt and Dinky, I think we charr have been spoiled a bit with (what is hands-down) the horse’s share of the best character writing in the game.

I’ve tried out the other races and I almost feel sorry for them by comparison. Even if solely because they don’t get Dinky (or Maverick, or Reeva). They don’t know what they’re missing out on.

Agreed, Dinky is by far one of my favorite Npc’s.

I enjoy him in much the same ways I enjoyed Minsc (for those who played the Baldur’s Gate series).

I like how Dinky gave our story some foreshadowing (talking about how Howl was going to give him the amulet) from the get go. It gives a nice sense of connection that I’ve yet to find in the other races.

Wish I could’ve kept Dinky AND Maverick.

“This warband is different, outsiders are okay, as long as they’re one of us”

- Dinky

AuldWolf.7598:

Dinky is a little marvel. He’s definitely one of the most memorable characters in the game, and deserves to return. I don’t know what it is, but between Tybalt and Dinky, I think we charr have been spoiled a bit with (what is hands-down) the horse’s share of the best character writing in the game.

I’ve tried out the other races and I almost feel sorry for them by comparison. Even if solely because they don’t get Dinky (or Maverick, or Reeva). They don’t know what they’re missing out on.

Not to mention Braugit. That’s another brilliant, memorable character. I mixed up what I took on my main character this time so I haven’t done the loyal soldier father yet, so this is from beta but it’s solid gold.

“Awww, now I want a ghost torch too! I’ll hang him over my fireplace and call him Ol’ blue.”
“This is my kind of fortress! Needs more cannons though. And spike traps, I love those!”

I was colossally disappointed that the Warband Support Elite Skill just summoned two Iron Legion nobodies.
I’d like to petition they change it to summon your sparringpartner instead.

Zanjarah.9731:

“Awww, now I want a ghost torch too! I’ll hang him over my fireplace and call him Ol’ blue.”
“This is my kind of fortress! Needs more cannons though. And spike traps, I love those!”

I was colossally disappointed that the Warband Support Elite Skill just summoned two Iron Legion nobodies.
I’d like to petition they change it to summon your sparringpartner instead.

Oh yeah, I forgot all about that. I was so stoked to use that elite thinking it’d summon Dinky and the Iron Legion Engineer that I ended up recruiting to my warband (after she got in trouble.. never got to see her again after that though)

instead it’s just an inferior version of thieve’s guild.

I picked Dinky in the beta fully expecting to hate him like i ussually do when characters are written to be funny, but really aren’t and just end up beeing obnoxious(i’m looking at you Lord Faren or what’s his face).

Man was i suprised, i love that guy!
He’s such a lovable oaf i wish he’d follow you around through the entire story, really bums me out that he just stands at the bar.

I like Maverick the best so far.

until now i chose Reeva and Euryale.

Reeva was okay and Euryale seems to be ok too.

So Dinky would be a better choice than Clawspur for my third charr?
(cant stand mavericks stupid face so he isnt an option)

I love Dinky I chose him as my partner, and Im thinking of Maverick for the next charr I make.

‘’Here, ghostie-ghostie-ghostie! Dinky’s got a little surprise for you!’’

“Flame legion hates females. I used to too – when i was five.”

RashanDale.3609:

until now i chose Reeva and Euryale.

Reeva was okay and Euryale seems to be ok too.

So Dinky would be a better choice than Clawspur for my third charr?
(cant stand mavericks stupid face so he isnt an option)

Dinky is both comic relief and he’s an excellent support character at the same time, in fact I think he’s the only one of those characters that is a support character. The rest just do damage. Dinky will heal you if you’re standing next to him and he will also use shield of absorption.

Maverick and Clawspur just didn’t appeal to me, Maverick just boasting and Clawspur too serious. Euryale tries to tell jokes but they’re not funny and she has poor delivery and I heard Reeva was like that as well. The delivery comes across as “IM A STRONG BEAUTIFUL CHARR WOMAN WHO DON’T NEED NO MAN”. Dinky is written to be funny yes, but as a character he is UNINTENTIONALLY funny which goes a long way.

When Dinky says “So this Soure guy tried to join the flame legion? Can we trust him? They say the friend of my enemy is my enemy’s friend. And the friend of my enemy’s friend is my enemy’s friend’s friend.” He’s trying to be 100% serious.

Or “I’ll remember the code. Well, I’ll remember we have a code. Someone else will have to remember the numbers.”

or “Breakfast is confusing, I mean, what do you call it if you have it at night, startfast?”

Sigh.

See, that post above sounds almost like it’s saying that it’s wrong for a woman to sound strong and independent. Only men are allowed that, it appears. Yeesh, that line of thinking is right at home with the Flame Legion. :p And the delivery of both is very different. Euryale is more mothering in her own way, making joke-ish threats about what she’d do to anyone who’d dare think of harming her cubs. Whereas Reeva is the sassy youf, cracking wise in a big way (likely as a coping mechanism).

Also, Maverick boasts in an ironic way. It’s hard to explain unless you actually have a full grasp of ironic humour, but it becomes more and more apparent as time goes on. He’s very, very silly with his boasts. If you want a serious boast, talk to an asura. Maverick is just talking big to be a dorky goof. He’s almost a hipster charr, and a total nerd because of it.

But yes, if you just judge Maverick on face value based upon the first mission with him, you’re not going to get the big picture. But suffice it to say, the charr are in a relatively stressful situation where the next day could be their last, where this mission could be the one where they die. They have different ways of coping. Maverick’s is to be an ironically boast-ful hipster-charr.

Really. I swear. Maverick is like… I’m going to be Duke Nukem! …ironically!

(Edit: Huh, the censor trips over part of boast-ful. …that’s odd.)

I was so tickled when I chose Dinky as my sparring partner. I thoroughly enjoyed the comic relief — it has never been “over the top” or cheesy. He was also so helpful as a companion. During BWE, I made the mistake of picking Reeva as my sparring partner for my thief character and it was TOUGH. So, I started over again and chose Dinky, and wow, it was a lot easier and more amusing.

Nothing against the other warband characters —- he just seems the most enjoyable, in my opinion.

AuldWolf.7598:

Sigh.

See, that post above sounds almost like it’s saying that it’s wrong for a woman to sound strong and independent. Only men are allowed that, it appears. Yeesh, that line of thinking is right at home with the Flame Legion. :p And the delivery of both is very different. Euryale is more mothering in her own way, making joke-ish threats about what she’d do to anyone who’d dare think of harming her cubs. Whereas Reeva is the sassy youf, cracking wise in a big way (likely as a coping mechanism).

Also, Maverick boasts in an ironic way. It’s hard to explain unless you actually have a full grasp of ironic humour, but it becomes more and more apparent as time goes on. He’s very, very silly with his boasts. If you want a serious boast, talk to an asura. Maverick is just talking big to be a dorky goof. He’s almost a hipster charr, and a total nerd because of it.

But yes, if you just judge Maverick on face value based upon the first mission with him, you’re not going to get the big picture. But suffice it to say, the charr are in a relatively stressful situation where the next day could be their last, where this mission could be the one where they die. They have different ways of coping. Maverick’s is to be an ironically boast-ful hipster-charr.

Really. I swear. Maverick is like… I’m going to be Duke Nukem! …ironically!

(Edit: Huh, the censor trips over part of boast-ful. …that’s odd.)

Well like I said, I didn’t want a serious boasting partner either, regardless of gender.

Dinky just comes across as … someone special.

You know if you’ve ever had a “special” friend that while they might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, they’re loyal and you know if anyone ever messed with them you’d tear them a new one to defend your friend.

Last time I chose Dinky was during Beta and I played Blood Legion.
Strange thing is for someone as…“Special” as he, there were a couple of good ideas from him.
Rename the warband because he wants to forget the old leader even existed. I had one of those moments where you are just about to correct someone then realise “Wow no wait that’s right.”

Atlas.9704:

Last time I chose Dinky was during Beta and I played Blood Legion.
Strange thing is for someone as…“Special” as he, there were a couple of good ideas from him.
Rename the warband because he wants to forget the old leader even existed. I had one of those moments where you are just about to correct someone then realise “Wow no wait that’s right.”

He does have moments of unintentional brilliance where you’re just stunned by how right he is. It’s that mix of “unintentionally funny” comic relief with the occasional deep insight that just make him feel like a very well written, genuine, and enjoyable character all around.

So far I have Maverick and Reeva in my non beta games. Once I level 80 a couple of alts I might buy another character slot to make a Charr for Dinky.

Devildoc.6721:

Well like I said, I didn’t want a serious boasting partner either, regardless of gender.

That wasn’t the point of the post. Reading comprehension helps. The point I was making was that Maverick isn’t serious, regardless. He’s not actually boasting. You have to listen to what he’s saying it and how he’s saying it.

My point was that you automatically assumed that his boasts were serious.

As for Dinky? I’m a massive fan. I believe in the ‘Why did you roll a charr?’ thread I said that there needs to be a Dinky fan club. What I am saying is that it’s kind of silly to smack-talk the other warband members, because they’re all good, and the writing and handling thereof is beautiful.

Dinky is one of a good bunch, not a coal in the rough.

As for Dinky being ‘special?’ I don’t buy it.

I love Dinky, but I don’t buy it. He’s often wise, and clever, and cracks a good joke. I think that he ‘pretends’ to be special so that his fellow warband members won’t take offence at him protecting them on the field of battle, because that’s just ‘Dinky being Dinky.’ It’s the sacrifice he’s made.

There are often hints in the writing that Dinky is way smarter than he pretends to be. That the whole goofy thing is just a finely crafted act, and one that he only ever rarely slips up on. It’s part of the charr personality, and something I’ve been trying to explain within this thread.

The charr are in a very precarious situation, and everyone does what they need to to fit in, or to cope, or to just excel at whatever situation they find themselves in. Maverick is a front-liner, a warrior, so he talks big to keep his confidence up. He knows it’s ironic, but he also knows that if he falters and doesn’t make that strike when he needs to, then one of his warband might die for that mistake.

You really have to get inside their heads to understand them. But that I’ve been thinking about this so much just shows how great the charr writing is across the board. They really get the feel of a war-time scenario down pat. Way better than games like Call of Duty do. You can actually feel the conflict, and you can see what people are doing to deal with it.

The charr aren’t perfect, emotionless robots. They’re people. And people deal with things in their own way.

Anyone else here suspect Tybalt Leftpaw may infact be Dinky’s dad?

Dinky is the best. I agree that Charr have some of the best characters in the game.

Dinky has a fear of magic its all invisible and such… yes Dinky a guardian who uses magic in his attacks is afraid of magic… Oh Dinky.

Dinky is awesome. He’s so tough that he swallowed a thumbtack.

AuldWolf.7598:

As for Dinky being ‘special?’ I don’t buy it.

I love Dinky, but I don’t buy it. He’s often wise, and clever, and cracks a good joke. I think that he ‘pretends’ to be special so that his fellow warband members won’t take offence at him protecting them on the field of battle, because that’s just ‘Dinky being Dinky.’ It’s the sacrifice he’s made.

There are often hints in the writing that Dinky is way smarter than he pretends to be. That the whole goofy thing is just a finely crafted act, and one that he only ever rarely slips up on. It’s part of the charr personality, and something I’ve been trying to explain within this thread.

The charr are in a very precarious situation, and everyone does what they need to to fit in, or to cope, or to just excel at whatever situation they find themselves in. Maverick is a front-liner, a warrior, so he talks big to keep his confidence up. He knows it’s ironic, but he also knows that if he falters and doesn’t make that strike when he needs to, then one of his warband might die for that mistake.

You really have to get inside their heads to understand them. But that I’ve been thinking about this so much just shows how great the charr writing is across the board. They really get the feel of a war-time scenario down pat. Way better than games like Call of Duty do. You can actually feel the conflict, and you can see what people are doing to deal with it.

The charr aren’t perfect, emotionless robots. They’re people. And people deal with things in their own way.

I think Dinky is about as “special” as Goofy is among Disney characters. He’s not so much “slow” or “dumb” or “special” as he’s just different, and the other Charr have no other way of understanding it.

I fully agree with you about Charr writing, though. It’s the one race that seems well-written, to me. With the others, they barely tried.

My guild is somewhat concerned by the fact that I have so much fondness for Dinky. The phrase, “Oh, Dinky!” has been coined amongst us for whenever someone says something that’s just plan silly-brilliant. But I wasn’t always a Dinky fan; oh, no. No, in the first BWE, I chose Reeva.

Then in BWE3, I tried Dinky. Instantly fell in love with him. Drew a giggle in the tutorial against Barradin, but it wasn’t until afterwards that I was completely hooked. His reactions to the fact that only you and he survive was, for me, heartwrenching in a way the other ‘bandmates weren’t. Contrary to what others may think in the thread, I think that Dinky really IS a little slow. Or rather, was. As the story progresses and he spends more time around your character, I think a little of that natural leadership and intelligence is imbued in him. He does grow smarter and more capable as the storyline progresses, and I like to think that (at least in MY personal story) it was because of my actions and relationship with him.

Forget a generic charr plushie. Give me my plush-Dinky, Arenanet! Make it happen!

Dinky was the real hero in the end. And Forgal.

I definatly love all the Charr NPC’s and how well written they are though as for Dinky, I think they were going for the sort of idiot-savant type of character that are generaly smarter than others or even themselves realise and it generaly only shows through in certain situations where its needed.

AuldWolf.7598:

As for Dinky being ‘special?’ I don’t buy it.

I love Dinky, but I don’t buy it. He’s often wise, and clever, and cracks a good joke. I think that he ‘pretends’ to be special so that his fellow warband members won’t take offence at him protecting them on the field of battle, because that’s just ‘Dinky being Dinky.’ It’s the sacrifice he’s made.

There are often hints in the writing that Dinky is way smarter than he pretends to be. That the whole goofy thing is just a finely crafted act, and one that he only ever rarely slips up on. It’s part of the charr personality, and something I’ve been trying to explain within this thread.

The charr are in a very precarious situation, and everyone does what they need to to fit in, or to cope, or to just excel at whatever situation they find themselves in. Maverick is a front-liner, a warrior, so he talks big to keep his confidence up. He knows it’s ironic, but he also knows that if he falters and doesn’t make that strike when he needs to, then one of his warband might die for that mistake.

You really have to get inside their heads to understand them. But that I’ve been thinking about this so much just shows how great the charr writing is across the board. They really get the feel of a war-time scenario down pat. Way better than games like Call of Duty do. You can actually feel the conflict, and you can see what people are doing to deal with it.

The charr aren’t perfect, emotionless robots. They’re people. And people deal with things in their own way.

Well let’s say this another way.

Hipsters make me want to vomit.

I don’t like Hipsters at all.

So if Maverick is being “Ironic” about his act then I’ll still unironically never choose him on any character I make.

Dinky all day erry day.

Not to mention, trying to analyze it and claim that Dinky’s doing an act and is really 2deep4u is pretty lame. The enjoyable part about Dinky is that he comes across as someone genuine and honest. Yeah, he’s sometimes a bit slow, but he’s a good friend. It’s said right there in the description that he’s not too smart.

It would sort of ruin the character if Arenanet came out and said he’s really a genius pretending all along. It’s kinda like watching one of those “America’s funniest home videos” shows.. the clips where someone did something unintentional that was funny and just happened to be caught on tape was always far more entertaining and enjoyable than something that was staged and done intentionally.

You know someone “slow” doesn’t have to be faking it to have moments where they say something really deep and meaningful, especially not in fiction. Are you going to tell me Forest Gump was faking it all along and he was really brilliant? That’s actually a good comparison to how Dinky is as a character… Forest Gump.

Devildoc.6721:

Hipsters make me want to vomit.

Then you may have issues with misanthropy. Which isn’t really my problem, is it?

Devildoc.6721:

Not to mention, trying to analyze it and claim that Dinky’s doing an act and is really 2deep4u is pretty lame.

Annnd you may also have some personal insecurities, because nowhere did I try to pull a ‘2deep4u’ at you. In fact, the post you’re talking about wasn’t even aimed at you, I was just talking generally.

That you took it personally is telling.

Devildoc.6721:

It would sort of ruin the character if Arenanet came out and said he’s really a genius pretending all along.

No, it wouldn’t. It’s like I said, it plays up to the reality of war. See, when you place people in a situation that is truly traumatising, they develop ways of dealing with it. They adapt to the environment they’re in. Seeing soldiers adapt to their environment on the field of battle, and understanding that their militaristic lifestyle actually leaves mental scars, is both poignant and accurate.

How that would ‘ruin the character’ is beyond me.

To me it sounds like you just want to grossly oversimplify Dinky just so that you can have your goofy character. But in my opinion, that’s selling him short, because that’s not how I see him. I have a different interpretation of the character.

Devildoc.6721:

You know someone “slow” doesn’t have to be faking it to have moments where they say something really deep and meaningful, especially not in fiction.

I didn’t say that they did, anywhere. That’s a straw-man of your own creation. What I said is that Dinky often appears to be very intelligent in conversations throughout your time with him, but he’s masking it. And over time, as he heals, that mask begins to fade.

That has no relation to or argument with what you’re saying. We just have a different understanding of the character. However, you’re pushing your understanding as the only one anyone can have.

That’s where your failing is. You’re being really bratty and not realising that your opinion is, in fact, just an opinion.

(Edit: Censor got weird about a certain mix of words. Changed the words so that I don’t have ‘kitten’ popping up randomly.)

@Devildoc

Anyway, that this conversation has started to get ugly (with bizarre misanthropic tones, and the desire to be insensitive in turning people with mental disabilities into charicatures) already, I’ll cut it short there. We’ll have to agree to disagree. I just see Dinky as being a different character than you do. That’s all there is to it.

It’s not about it being ‘too deep for you’ or whatever other nonsense, so toss that idea out right away. It’s just that I perceive him in a different way. As a character in the theatre of war, I personally believe that it would be good storytelling if Dinky’s way of coping was to act a bit goofy. I like understanding the effects that war can have on the mind, and how it can change a person.

I personally find that a more fulfilling storyline. You find having a goofy character who has occasional moments of serendipity fulfilling. That’s fine. We’ll leave it at that.

But again, I just don’t want this to go further, because… like I said, it’s already been a bit questionable, and I’m not going to add any more to it.

We’ll agree to disagree.

I grew to love (as a friend, I swear!) Dinky in the PTR. We are now best pals in-game.

Auldwulf I’ll just solve it by blocking you

At first when I was creating my Charr I saw the Dinky choice and I thought he would be annoying to have so I chose Clawspur. When creating my second Charr, I decided to go with Dinky. Oh my, do I love my Dinky. He makes me laugh every time I do a story mission. You can tell he’s trying to be serious too, but he’s just so special!

Adding my two cents to the Dinky thread. I gotta admit hes a great addition to the game. I only got to see Dinky on my second charr, after I played through OoW storyline with Tybalt. I also really love Tybalt’s persona as well. Also, for the sheer shadiness and giggles.. I like Korukhan the Blacksmith as well. He reminds me somewhat of Scar from the Lion King. =)

As a side note, Norn storyline characters are quite one sided by comparison. they all seem to talk and act too similarly for me to really get into them. I re-rolled all my norns (sans one), to Charr for that reason.

Auldwolf, this game is not that deep though I would have no objections if they ever did decide to take that route. Ambiguity and nuance is possible without an M rating right?

But in any case, I have no complaints about the charr NPC’s. I love them to death! I knew Dinky was gonna be a winner from the moment I spotted him on the biography choice page!

Dinky is the greatest character in this game.

Dinky is the bestest, but Reeva is a close second.
Her voice can get annoying though :|

As a Warrior, I’m already more or less unkillable in most scenarios, so I wanted somebody who could support me at range. That left either Euryale or Reeva, and since Euryale’s personality description didn’t really strike my fancy, I picked Reeva instead. I admit she’s a little lacklustre at points, but the way she’s just so excited for you when you become Legionnaire or her fear when it’s down to just the two of you after the prologue makes me want to pick her up and cuddle her.

I’m curious about Dinky now after all the comments here though. I might have to pay more attention to his Wiki page.

I find Dinky to have the most mileage with, considering his basic toughness, he heals and even sets up wonderful combo fields, as well as deflection/block ones. The other sparring partners don’t scale up as well as they lack as much utility. But it’s just a few other reasons to pick Dinky as best mate.

I choose Clawspur as my partner and have been amused from some of his dialogue but reading everyone’s love for Dinky makes me wish I picked him :/

Dinky is just great.

I wish Traherne had been kicked in favor of Dinky.

This game seriously needs more Dinky

I miss Tybalt. We were bros. Why does ArenaNet make you love a certain character and take them away soon after? I guess it really shows how well Anet did on their personal story characterization.

I’ve never rolled with Dinky… just Euryale and Mavvy. But I did ADORE him in the tutorial, it was so hard to chose against him.

Glad to see I’m not the only one annoyed with how they took the story. They split the game into three mostly disconnected parts, I wish there was more coherence. I hope the expansions have less in the way of separate stories and more of a unified tale so that the end feels like the completion of a novel.

As the story stands now, it’s great, I love it, but I miss my homies from lvls 1-20. (and Sieran ;_;)

I’ll remember this one boss…er i’ll remember where it is… some one else can remember the numbers. Plus he seems to be the only npc that is worth more than a wet tea bag in a fight.

Silly, that’s not how you spell Reeva…

Heeeere ghosty ghosty Dinky’s got a surprise for you!

Dinky makes a great Iron Legion progressive.

“Why don’t Blood and Ash legion share like us in Iron Legion?” (just came at a time I wasn’t expecting)

“Why don’t we make a Blood Legion cannon that fires Ash Legion turrets?”

I kept hearing about how popular Dinky was in map chat, and I wasn’t honestly sure if people were exaggerating or not.

My next charr is definitely going to have Dinky as a sparring partner. I’ve so far chosen Reeva and Euryale. I <3 Reeva, but as others have stated… Euryale’s just not anywhere near as funny as she tries to be. I liked her personality description, but I hardly feel it matches up to how she really acts, anyway. She’s also incredibly squishy in combat, having a penchant for getting up close and personal as a dagger ele.

As for Reeva, I very much agree with Zaxares – She gets quite excited for your character, and is a very strong supporting personality. She’s kind of the kitten funny, but not quite to the extent of Dinky, from what I hear.