Dragon Age III

Firstly, OMG Dragon Age III is expected to be released some time in 2014, gutted! Was really looking forward to it and with no Dragon Age II DLC to be released again, how am I going to get my Dragon Age fix? Damn you, BioWare! Damn you, EA!

But, on the other hand, at least it won't be rushed like Dragon Age II, and won't reuse the same building for every other building in the area.... Hopefully :P

Introduction to the Dragon Age franchise

The first game of the series, Dragon Age: Origins, was released on November 3rd 2009, and was followed by the expansion pack Dragon Age: Awakening on March 16 2010. The story of the game followed The Warden, a player-created character defined from six possible origin stories (Human Noble, Mage, City Elf, Dalish Elf, Dwarf Commoner or Dwarf Noble), and followed them as they travel the Kingdom of Ferelden fighting against the Blight- and eventually pitting you in a political battle with Teyrn Loghain, a great war hero from the Fereldan War of Independence.

Then on March 8 2011, Dragon Age II was released. In this game, you take the role of Hawke, a pre-set character (which upset some fans, although I prefer it to be honest), a refugee from the small town of Lothering, who flees north to Kirkwall, in the Free Marches, to escape the Blight. The game is set from the point of view of Varric Tethras, who is retelling the stories of Hawke's ventures to Cassandra Pentaghast, a Seeker of the Chantry. We learn from their dialogue that the world's political structure is falling apart due to the Mage-Templar War, which originated in Kirkwall, and that Hawke was at the centre of it all. Following the Qunari Invasion of Kirkwall (repelled by Hawke, who was named Champion of Kirkwall), Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard of the Templars went crazy and started killing innocent mages. A radical mage, Anders (possessed by a Spirit of Justice) destroyed the Kirkwall Chantry, killing the peaceful Grand Cleric Elthina in the process and igniting the war. We find out that Hawke is missing and Cassandra thinks he is the "key" to solving the war.

At the end of the game, Cassandra leaves Varric, and speaks to Leliana, a mysterious bard who players of Dragon Age: Origins will remember as a party member, who says it is "in the hands of the Maker now".

The story has also been expanded through various DLCs (Warden's Keep, Legacy, Mark of the Assassin etc.), books (Stolen Throne, Calling, Asunder), a web-series produced by Felicia Day (Redemption), an anime film based on the early life of Cassandra (Dawn of the Seeker) and a comic book series (The Silent Grove).

Confirmed features of Dragon Age III

• Dragon Age III is said to fuse the best elements of Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II
• Combat is to focus more on a player's ability to prepare, position and form a cohesive team with their party members, requiring fewer repetitive finger strikes and more thinking.
• The armour customisation will allow each party member to wear interchangeable pieces of armour that will customise the look according to its specification and class.
• Recycling of environments (DRAGON AGE II >_<) has been confirmed to be scrapped
• The game will be influenced by more open-world RPGs such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• BioWare expects to use a refined version of its Lycium Engine (from Dragon Age II) for this game.
• We will be visiting somewhere a little more "French", most likely Orlais.

Plotlines that could be explained in Dragon Age III

• The whereabouts of King Maric. The former King of Ferelden disappeared at sea five years before the events of Origins, and we know from The Silent Grove that he was rescued from an Antivan Crow prison by Yavana, the Witch of the Tellari Swamps, but beyond that his location is unknown. This storyline will be followed up in the comic series, Dragon Age: Those Who Speak, set to be released in August 2012.
• The truth behind Andraste and the Maker. Just who was Andraste? Is the Maker real?
• The truth behind Flemeth. Who is the mysterious Witch of the Wilds? In Witch Hunt it is stated by Morrigan that she isn't human, demon or abomination.. so just what is she? And what does she truly want?

Current theories for the identity of Flemeth include Andraste, The Maker, and Fen'Harel (A Dalish trickster God)

• The truth behind the Darkspawn & the Black City. In Legacy, it is stated by Corypheus that the Black City was already corrupt when the Tevinter Magisters reached it, and this corruption turned them into the first darkspawn. Is this true? Or are Corypheus' memories battered by the years he spent in the prison in the Vimmark Mountains?
• The fate of Morrigan and her child. At the end of Origins, Morrigan leaves, and depending on your choices this is with a child housing the soul of the Archdemon. In Witch Hunt, it is revealed she has been raising this child, and that it is beyond the Eluvian, in a place "beyond the Fade". Now, my Warden went with her, but you can either let her go, go with her or kill her. Where is this "beyond the Fade" and what are her plans? Do they clash with Flemeth's, as she suggests, or has Flemeth being playing her?
• The Orlesian Civil War. It is stated in Asunder that Orlais is undergoing a civil war, and that Empress Celene is missing. As Orlais is the most likely setting for Dragon Age III, this plot line will be a pretty large one.
• Relations between Ferelden and Orlais. It is mentioned by Alistair in Dragon Age II that relations between the two neighbouring nations are becoming strained, as many Orlesian nobles want to reclaim their lost province. As above, if Orlais is the setting of Dragon Age III, then this storyline is likely to pop up.
• The nature of the Architect. In Awakening and The Calling, it isn't understated that The Architect is a pretty special darkspawn. Is he one of the original magisters? Or is he an evolution of the darkspawn? Either way, he's too important a character to miss.

Sentient darkspawn... or Lady Gaga cosplayer? You decide!

• Alistair's true parentage. It is known that Alistair is the illegitimate son of King Maric, the question is... is Alistair the son of the maid from Redcliffe as he believes, or is he the son of Fiona, an elven mage Grey Warden from The Calling who we come across later in Asunder as Grand Enchanter of the Circle of Magi? It is known, due to the ending of The Calling that she had Maric's child, but whether this child is Alistair or another, yet unknown Prince, is yet to be known.
• The Dalish Elves. Will they retake The Dales in Dragon Age III? Will more light be shed on the mysteries of Arlathan? Or the Dalish's relationship with Asha'bellanar (Flemeth)? Hopefully so, I've always found the Dalish culture to be fascinating.
• Orzammar. Dragon Age II was very light on dwarves. Did you know there wasn't one female dwarf in the ENTIRE game? Granted, not much is happening with the dwarves at the moment, but it would be nice to see more of them!
• Reversing the taint. Grey Wardens die because they have darkspawn taint coursing through their veins. Only one Warden is immune to this, and that is Fiona. It is unknown how she became immune, but this plotline should definitely be expanded upon more!
• The nature of Sandal. This dwarven savant is gifted in the art of... "ENCHANTMENT!" (sorry, had to be done), but is also known to be able to slaughter droves of darkspawn alone, defeat an ogre, survive in the Deep Roads AND have prophetic visions. Quite good for a special-needed dwarf.

ENCHANTMENT!

• Dragons. In nearly all instalments of the franchise, it is accepted that dragons are dragons. They nearly died out, but then reappeared. That is all. But then, The Silent Grove is released, which explains that the Dragons existed even before the Fade, and are the most ancient things in the world. They are attracted to power, which is why Yavana needed Theirin blood to free the "Queen Dragon". But what is the true nature of the dragons? Why did Flemeth task Yavana with sustaining them? Why does Flemeth turn into a dragon? All these questions need answering!!
• The Qunari Invasion of Thedas. In the epilogue of Dragon Age: Origins, a party member, Sten, suggests that the next time he should see you will be on the field of battle as the Qunari invade Thedas. This militant race has already tried once, and were defeated by an Exalted March led by the Chantry, but with the Chantry in disarray as it is, now would be the opportune time for them to strike! Although the Arishok was defeated by Hawke during Dragon Age II, I would not be surprised seeing a new Arishok (maybe Sten!) leading a crusade against Thedosian culture.

And last but not least... the Mage-Templar War. For such a major plot point there isn't a lot to say about this one. The Chantry/Seekers vs Templars vs Mages. Who wins? Who loses? What are the consequences? Will mages ever be free of Chantry oppression? Will the Chantry ever get back to normal?

Hopefully all of these questions will be answered, either in Dragon Age III or future instalments of the franchise, all of which I look forward to.

Oh, and BioWare? Considering I'm a big fanboy of this woman, and Mark of the Assassin and Redemption were both fantastic, can we have more Tallis in Dragon Age III please? PLEASE?

Felicia Day as Tallis in Dragon Age II's final DLC: Mark of the Assassin