I have noticed that the new materials in awakening: white steel and volcanic have the same appearance as steel and grey iron. Is there any explanation for this or were Bioware just lazy?
Bioware needed higher tier weapons to go with the higher level cap. I mean an average player can gather all the best weapons and armour in Origins by the end, so either they strip the players of all their loot and make them start afresh, or they come up with new high level materials. They did the latter.
IMO, it wasn't a good idea. It really does not make sense that suddenly there are two new types of materials for weapons. It kind of reduces the 'epicness' of the older weapons. Take the sword Yusaris for instance. It has its own codex entry and is supposed to be a mythical sword. Then comes along Awakening with its fancy Volcanic Aurum, and Yusaris made of Sllverlite is trivialised......Same is the case with ancient heartwood and such. What they should have done is that they ought to have added more weapons insted of adding more materials. They should have added dragonbone weapons and armour with stronger enchantments. That would've made sense. I mean at present, that custom sword Vigilance, the quest says it's been made out of the bones of the eldest dragon in Fereldan (or something along these lines) and it's actually volcanic aurum.....how does that make sense? Did the dragon bone just transform into volcanic aurum!