Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

"For centuries, the Grey Wardens—the ancient order of guardians, sworn to unite and defend the lands—have been battling the darkspawn forces. Legend spoke that slaying the Archdemon would have put an end to the darkspawn threat for centuries to come, but somehow they remain."

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening is the first expansion for Dragon Age: Origins. It is scheduled for release PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 16, 2010 at a cost of US$39.99 and will have both retail and download editions.

The writing team on Awakening consists of David Gaider, Sheryl Chee, and Ferret A. Baudoin .

Plot

Box art featuring "The Children", a new enemy

The game begins several months after events of Origins have concluded, and the player will take on the role of a Grey Warden commander (who is either an imported character from DA:O or an Orlesian Warden). The player will help rebuild the Grey Wardens and to establish Vigil's Keep as a new base of operations, though the Orlesian Warden will be treated differently because of Orlais' history with Ferelden. Despite the defeat of the Archdemon, the darkspawn have not returned underground and there are rumours that there are darkspawn with the ability to speak.. The Architect may be behind this and The Warden may have to deal with this creature. Once this mission is complete the World will have changed dramatically.

Origins Characters Appearing in Awakening

• Herren and Wade will return to sell new goods.
• Alistair, Wynne, Loghain, and Anora can make an appearance depending on player choices in Origins.
• Oghren has a large role in Awakening.

New Companions

• Anders is a Human Mage who has escaped the Circle of Magi countless times, but always seemed to be caught. The woman Templar in the trailer claims he is a murderer and is not to be trusted. The nature of how he is a "murderer" is currently unknown.
• Velanna is an Elven Mage of rather unknown and questionable origin from her very short trailer. She is rather agressive and has the ability to animate the trees (Similarly to Sylvans). According to the trailer she is hunting the merchants who took her sister, and attacks the warden for killing her "Friends" (Likely meaning the Sylvans). Who her sister is and why they did so is unknown.
• Sigrun is a Dwarf Rogue who is a member of the Legion of the Dead. She fought the darkspawn with her group in the Deep Roads, and she is the last survivor. Also, she thinks that something odd is happening in the fortress of Kal'Hirol.

New Locations

• Amaranthine
• Blackmarsh: Former bustling village abandoned into a gloomy, desolate marsh.
• Kal'Hirol: The dwarven fortress long known as a center of learning for the smith caste.
• Vigil's Keep: An ancient fortress in Amaranthine.
• Wending Woods: Forest area divided by Pilgrim's Path, leading to Amaranthine.

Features

• A total of 6 new specializations, two for each class.
  • New Warrior specializations: Spirit Warrior and Guardian.
  • New Rogue specializations: Legionnaire Scout and Shadow.
  • New Mage specializations: Battlemage
• 24 new spells and 32 new talents. For a total of 56.
• The ability to import an old character (either dead or alive), or start as a new Warden from Orlais (If you start a new character, you will instantly get a level 20ish character)
• New types of enemies, including a spectral dragon , an inferno golem , and "The Children".
• A higher level cap, allowing players to reach levels in the mid to high thirties.

Differences between Origins & Awakening

• Promotional or DLC items will not be transferred over into Awakening.
• There will be no romance options in Awakening
• Items now go up to tier 9.
• You will be able to craft your own runes and use them on armor.
• The ability to re-spec your character without losing plot decisions made in Origins through an unlimited amount of Mannual of Focus being sold for 6 each. (payment must be paid upfront)

Benefits from Importing an Origins Warden vs New Orlesian Warden

• If you completed Warden's Keep, and gained the 2 additional Power of Blood spells they will carry over.

• People of Amarantine will treat you with respect, as opposed to suspicion towards the Warden from Orlais.

External Links

• Gamestop product page
• Amazon product page
• IGN announcement
• Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Q&A
• Official BioWare page
• Team Xbox Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening Hands-On Preview
• Gamespot Dragon Age: Awakening Hands-On - First Details, Combat, and Dragons
• Destructoid "Darkness continue to terrorize in Dragon Age: Awakening"