Ok, i finished it, mostly and i still have some questions which bothers me. Its not even "moral" thing, but more general.
For example, weapons. With money and resources you can upgrade it. But it seems that upgrades capped to level B. That the point call it level B if there will be NO more possible upgrades?

Town of Lavantine. There is some area of town which is restricted to visit. WHOLE game guard tell you to come later. Naturally you expect it unlock later, but its not unlocked for me ever. Another gate is bridge, which is "closed to repairs". And its closed to repairs even in Howl of Ravager which take places twenty years before main game.

OFC there is questions about plot. For example, for which reason Detour chapter exists at all? You have to walk to Mudtown, find nothing, and get back. Why?
Did Alain was killed? That with this ending? Hero of war gets pissed by losing right to throne and going berserk? Was he cheated? And, on contrary, Alain seems to be economically wise and liberal leader while Severin is stiff warlord, who is really better fitted to be duke?

Speaking of moral choices which was promised to be offered in game, why player cannot choose its side in coup? Yes, this will break some drama, probably, but that would be MUCH more interesting and questionable ending.

I have seen some develoeprs comment that the choices in this game effect the sequel more than anything but I agree that I didn't feel there were many choices at all. I had one my entire playthrough about whether to hang the bandits.

You had only one choice but it depends on the character you're playing. For example, Ylianne doesn't even give you a choice on the bandit's hanging because doing so would be way out of character. She is against inflicting suffering, no matter what. She always gives the bandits to Severin's son to trial. I think Isaac doesn't give you a choice either, because letting the bandits live would be a personal risk to him that I can't further explain without giving spoilers. Thus that scene is always a hanging in his route.

Camille, Isaac and Ylianne have a moral dilemma close to the end. Lucienne is given the opportunity to hold a servant's baby, which is something she never even considered for herself, but you can refuse; and your choice will later shape whether she will want children of her own in her future. Reynard also have a moment to decide something that will probably shape his future, by means of optional character development. The only storyline where I can't remember if there was more choice than the bandits hanging (and the option to tell an aristocrat harrassing a girl in Levant to leave her alone, and the fate of Severin) is Aria's. I was really confused about the parts of the city I wanted to visit but was not allowed to until I learned about the sequel in the works. But the fact that in HotR the same bridge is closed to repairs is just plain dumb. Other than that I'm willing to handwave the closed sections if they're adequately used in the sequels.

As for the plot... WARNING there be *spoilers* down here and you might want to play Camille's route before you read:

*spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers* *spoilers*
In Camille's ending you learnt hat the Ravager was right: that unborn child wasn't Alain's after all. But I think it was very smart the way they insinuated without being blatant the fact that it didn't happen by Alain's back. He didn't just know it, he orchestrated his wife's pregnancy by Daniel.

I also think it was an interesting way the developers have put an important character thru a moral dilemma. Alain went through a very humiliating situation to have an heir (even if no one else would know it he would still feel the shame). He probably did it because he knew that Severin, capable general that he was, wouldn't make a good sovereign. The fact that Severin was consumed by fury at the end shows Alain's analysis was right.

I guess if I had played just one of the characters I would have just shrugged it as a somewhat quirky game with a story full of holes. Playing more characters gives you a better view of the plot, of the important NPCs like Aria's father and by consequence of the politics driving the Realm. I enjoyed the game (about to finish HotR now) and am hoping for the sequel. Will definitely buy.

Oh well, i expected it to be like that. Its just matter of logic - pair which desperately tried to make a child with no success wil by miracle blessed? No way!

And its also very understandable - even if its other man's child its still "better" then to handover throne to someone else. Would not be surprised if it was not uncommon is real history.

But to tell truth i didnt know that different characters give that much of story difference, i definitely have to replay it.

To be fair, it would be far from the first time that that kind of miracle is pulled into a succession story. But it'd definitely be way too "fairy-tale-esque" for this game. You take part in an apocalyptic war in a crapsack world full of intrigue and politics... and then suddenly you have a Disney ending? It was going to be bizarre.

I recommend seeing Camille's ending, also Isaac's because I think he's the most interesting of the 6, Aria's for her family (which also involves her faith) and Ylliane's if you're going to play Howl of the Ravager too. Reynard and Lucienne's endings didn't have that much impact for me tho... Still, I liked watching not just the endings but also the mid-game cutscenes but for that you'd have to finish the game once with each character.

Having finished Howl of the Ravager just last night, I think that anyone who wants to know more about the setting of CT:ON should play it. The most important thing in my opinion is that it brings out more of the lore of the sacred swords. You also have a more complete view of the Lord Levant and his friendship to Severin. Also a few more things that I can't mention without dragging you much further into spoiler territory. If you wanna discuss it shoot me a PM.

Actually, I will at least confirm that

WARNING: SPOILERS in this part below. Read at your own risk.
when I played the base game I was thinking how Severin could be so sure that the child wasn't Alain's. I had my suspicions and they're confirmed in the DLC: Alain is gay, his marriage is nothing but a facade and he never hid this from his childhood friend Severin.

END OF SPOILERS

On the downside the DLC doesn't have any choices because of being a prequel, and the tone is somewhat more lighthearted than the base game, which is still far darker than most games. I can't tell more than that without spoiling the story a lot more. Play it yourself instead, then give me a poke if you wish.

Edit: I don't feel so surprised by the plot depth in a political RPG since playing Final Fantasy Tactics ten years ago.

I've just finished Old North for the first time, with Aria as main character, so have skipped most of the earlier posts here to avoid spoiling other characters' endings. I've yet to play Howl of the Ravager.

What happened at the end certainly lifted what had been routine story-telling into something special.

On my last choice, I chose the second option. Had I chosen the first, would another character have intervened to fustrate me? If not, then the choice has the potential to make a big difference to the sequel, with an important non-player character starting in quite a different situation.

What I'm wondering is, is my choice saved for the future, and how? Especially if I make the opposite choice when replaying with another of the six as lead. Firstly, that would make too big a difference to writing the sequel. Secondly, it would destroy some of the lead characters' stories (of how they grow up from their backgrounds into being their own people). Thirdly, it could take away the final boss fight, quite ruining the game.