Would you be ok with it if I turned "cool" - which is admittedly slightly flippant - into "socially more acceptable" ?
Honestly, no! It's not the term used, but the supposition on *why* a player may or may not like a certain character in such a monolithic fashion. I think that sort of over simplifies how complex people (and the topic) are. Also preference vs analysis! We could discuss all day the finer tunings of a character, and *why* they act a certain way, but, it's not going to suddenly make me enjoy the behavior, or want to engage with it. (Sorry Shadowheart lol. Though I did actually find her a bit more sympathetic as the game progressed, for a whole digression of reasons).
With Karlach it is less her view on life (and what I think is deliberate self-deception in some points) that bothers me, but that it cannot be questioned. I think the only time you can call her out for something is when she complains about having to save Mizora's asset in order to save Wyll from eternal damnation. Otherwise she is allowed to the luxury not having to deal with a lot of things. In addition with how even the more cynical party members are only ever full of admiration or at least respect for her, I am left with the impression that this was mostly done to make her end more tragic but it unfortunately takes away a lot of the potential of the character too.
Yeah, I would find it much more interesting if we had the inability to ever call her on it. Otherwise it comes across as...not a self-insert, but like a self inserted ideal. Which, inevitably not everyone will agree she is. But it's going to break the fourth wall for me when I sense it. I think it's interesting you see her self-deception as intentional. I'd ask you why, but not sure if we're being told to stop the conversation here? (Sorry mods for the digression)
