Alternately, you still haven't given any reasons for Alistair's rule to make any sense other than bloodlines (which you reject), and combat (which you claim is important, but not the only important criteria).
1) He's not "tainted by association" by a relationship with Loghain. Not an insurmountable factor, but a significant one 2) He has one other voice who is respected in the Landsmeet on his side 3) He's a Grey Warden and a good portion of the Landsmeet is spent convincing people that the Blight is the pertinent threat.
Fereldans follow those capable of leading them in wartime.
Frankly, Anora hasn't demonstrated that, for all that she has been a capable administrator during peacetime. But the moment the fighting started, she took a back seat to her father and let him start a reign of terror that trampled over the rights of the banns and weakened their defenses against the darkspawn until half the country was overrun. She's not the one who has been out there actually fighting the darkspawn and gathering an army.
if the sole qualification to being monarch of Ferelden is being a) a good warrior and b) a human who is not a mage, why not Cauthrien?
Um, because no one is putting Cauthrien forth as an option? We're limited by the menu of choices given us in-game, which are support Anora or support Alistair.
Assuming that Alistair's royal blood is a major factor seems pretty logical to me
A factor, because of tradition, but not a major one. Otherwise, why would the Landsmeet be willing to accept Anora, who is common-born, with equal alacrity.
Why? Because the Warden says so, and the Warden has proven him/herself as a fighter and leader.
Fereldans follow those capable of leading them in wartime. It's that simple.
no subject
1) He's not "tainted by association" by a relationship with Loghain. Not an insurmountable factor, but a significant one
2) He has one other voice who is respected in the Landsmeet on his side
3) He's a Grey Warden and a good portion of the Landsmeet is spent convincing people that the Blight is the pertinent threat.
Fereldans follow those capable of leading them in wartime.
Frankly, Anora hasn't demonstrated that, for all that she has been a capable administrator during peacetime. But the moment the fighting started, she took a back seat to her father and let him start a reign of terror that trampled over the rights of the banns and weakened their defenses against the darkspawn until half the country was overrun. She's not the one who has been out there actually fighting the darkspawn and gathering an army.
if the sole qualification to being monarch of Ferelden is being a) a good warrior and b) a human who is not a mage, why not Cauthrien?
Um, because no one is putting Cauthrien forth as an option? We're limited by the menu of choices given us in-game, which are support Anora or support Alistair.
Assuming that Alistair's royal blood is a major factor seems pretty logical to me
A factor, because of tradition, but not a major one. Otherwise, why would the Landsmeet be willing to accept Anora, who is common-born, with equal alacrity.
Why? Because the Warden says so, and the Warden has proven him/herself as a fighter and leader.
Fereldans follow those capable of leading them in wartime. It's that simple.