It’s proven hard to predict whether fans of Dragon Age: Origins will have any desire to be won back by BioWare – after the disappointing reception of Dragon Age 2. In the time since, the developers have maintained that complaints and criticisms were heard, and would be helping to shape the future of the series.
Now those most loyal fans can decide for themselves if their words have been taken to heart, as the first details on possible plot, concept artwork, character information and companions for Dragon Age 3 have been leaked thanks to an online survey. Will rifts – metaphorical and literal – be just what the doctor ordered to make all players happy?
The details that have surfaced on the BioWare forums are still of the unconfirmed variety, having originated from a survey administered by Electronic Arts, as is usually the case when a major franchise is beginning to ramp up production. These details could all be just one possibility of many, but surveys like these tend to strike nearer the truth than fiction.
First off are not one, but two potential plot outlines giving the basic state of both the game world and neighboring states, as well as a brief introduction to the player-controlled character, the Inquisitor. BioWare had made a point of systematically getting input from their fan base in order to hone the direction of Dragon Age 3 for months now, but it’s unlikely that anyone expected the Inquisition:
“The great nation of Orlais, the most powerful empire in Dragon Age, tears itself apart in civil war. The stout men and women of Ferelden struggle to recover and reclaim their nation from the horde of evil Darkspawn that lay waste to its lands a decade ago. The Chantry, the once-unified faith of the Dragon Age world stands divided. the Templar order has broken away, claiming the church has become too lax in policing the dangerous power of mages. The Mage circles have rebelled, believing the Templars have become too strict, zealous in their duties, and too quick to slaughter those who step out of line.
“The world of Dragon Age is one on the brink of collapse, and when desperate gathering in the name of peace becomes the epicenter of a magical blast that decimates the Chantry’s leadership, it becomes clear that someone or something is manipulating events to drive the world into chaos.
“From the ashes of that explosion, something new rises: The Inquisition. As the Inquisitor, it falls to you to build up your power and martial your forces, uncover secrets and build connection across the world. You must explore forgotten spaces, uncover ancient mysteries and uproot those who would destroy the fabric of the world.”
Those brief paragraphs are more than enough to fuel both fan excitement and outrage, but a few more details on exactly what operating as ‘The Inquisitor’ will consist of:
“A portal between the worlds unleashes hordes of demons in the land, civil wars rip apart nations and the corruption is limitless. Someone is behind the shadows, pulling the strings which destroy the world. Time has come for the Inquisition.
“Take the Inquisitor’s cloak and lead the only force able of bringing light into the darkness. Choose the direct method and gather your armies, send spies into the shadows or engage in a political war, make friends and use your connections indirectly: it is up to you how you lead the inquisition. But you’ll have to take lead of it from the beginning. Make your player a rogue, warrior or mage and set up your crew from up to ten complex companions to lead them against those who attack you by systematically spying on, revealing and destroying them.”
Obviously the lands of Orlais, and the constantly-brewing conflict between mages and Templars are extremely familiar to players at this point. While the Inquisition is an interesting political and ethically ambiguous event to make the focus of Dragon Age 3, simply hearing the word ‘Chantry’ is one guaranteed way to divide any group of fans. The drama between gifted individuals and those in place to limit their power isn’t inherently boring or one-dimensional, but two games have already explored both sides rather fully.
If compelling voice actors were called in to make Templars more than just stereotypical knights, or sympathetic performances made the mages and their captors more nuanced and conflicted – as opposed to ideological opposites – then the politics of The Chantry could prove far more interesting. That would entail quite a hefty dose of story, though, and considering the player’s quest to “build up power” and “uncover secrets” BioWare might have their hands full.
Even if that plot synopsis sounds a lot like Mass Effect 3‘s, the companions on hand to aid the player in their mission are as promising as ever. The leaked information paints the roster of supporting characters at a robust ten, the early concept artwork on possible squadmates is as polished as would be expected. Armor and bears still abound, but given the genre, the art team can only do so much:
In keeping with earlier promises, the leaked survey also sought feedback on various existing and possible additions and features. The chances of a multiplayer component being added as well were rumored months ago, and the mention of such once again could be a sign of things to come. The additional questions noted by the poster surround the inclusion of online/cooperative modes, special finishing moves, crucial decisions, player-controlled day/night cycles, four companions at a time and improved party management.
The idea of four party members at once seems a risky move, but the fact that the developers are even seeking feedback on the implementation of Dragon Age 2‘s day/night cycle could be telling. In a best case scenario, BioWare is considering doing away with the artificiality in favor of a more simulated, open world. That might be wishful thinking, but DA2‘s lead designer has already made it clear that no feature of the last game is beyond inspection or reevaluation.
Along with these story and mechanics hints, a few possible names for Dragon Age 3 were provided. A number, it seems, just doesn’t do the trick these days. ‘Dragon Age 3: The Breach,’ ‘Dragon Age 3: Exarch,’ ‘Dragon Age 3: Inquisition,’ ‘Dragon Age 3: Inquisitor,’ and ‘Dragon Age 3: Apocrypha’ were all provided for fan feedback, leaving the door open for potential DLC or expansion titles as well.
What do you Dragon Age fans (and former fans) think of this possible plot? Would you like to see the developers explore both a portal spewing demonic creatures and religious division, or just one or the other?
Dragon Age 3 is expected to release some time in 2014. For the entire gallery of grainy concept artwork, head over to NeoGAF. We’ll keep you updated as more details or a response from BioWare are released.
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Follow me on twitter @andrew_dyce.
Source: BioWare Forums (via NeoGAF)
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I’m on board. I wasn’t completely won over until I read “made it clear that no feature of the last game is beyond inspection or reevaluation”
That tells me that they really did listen. My only complaint that I don’t see addressed is the copy and pasting of dungeons and caves. That completely killed the replay value of the game for me.
Same here. That is one of the most often issues that the devs usually cite as one fans were irritated by. Of course, they could just expand the number of rubber-stamp dungeons and call it a day, but I’d be happier with a smaller or more straightforward hub worlds and more complex dungeons.
They have stated already that they won’t use the same places over and over like in DA2.
If it doesnt allow me to be an elf like in DA:O … i will be severely upset …
Thats all I ask for. Include dwarves too i guess lol.
I need cameo appearances from the previous characters again, which I’m sure will happen.
And lastly, an origin story thats playable explaining why I’m the Inquisitor. Dont just throw me into that role.
If they do that i’ll be pretty happy
Not really, the second one was boring enough. I don’t think I could sit through a third.
I’m glad they are asking for opinions/suggestions from the fans. I didnt think DA2 was the train wreck people made it out to be, did it have flaws? More than a couple…but so did DA:O.
If they can marry the best parts of both games as well as new innovations I will be on board day 1.
Most people remember the high points of DA:O. There may have been small, obscure flaws in DA:O, but they didn’t stand out as much as they did in DA2… That game was painful to play. They did away with what I thought was a good combat system, storytelling, and graphic design and made it into a button-mashing mess that was just thrown together and shoved out the door. I hated the environment. The city felt too small. REPETITIVE MAPS. Oh my God that was unbearable. I didn’t think it was possible to get so frustrated at that. And just abandon DA2′s plot…it sucked.
dont compare that piece of trash D2 with the EXCELLENT DA:O plz just stop..its like comparing a ferrari against a lada.
DA2 was a cheap pile of s*** rushed game,copy paste locations for EVERY SINGLE DAM QUEST-SIDE QUESTS
DA:O————>DA2 with eaze and style
I agree with most of the comments here. I loved the first dragon age, and DA2 wasn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Yeah, the story was not as epic, and it was a heck of a lot shorter. But the gameplay was better, I loved the chat interface system better, and the graphics were also amazing. They developed the characters and their backgrounds better too, DA2 was all about the companions. But if DA3 can make an epical story like DAO, and bring in the gameplay and mechanics from DA2, and allow you to make other races, then I will be 100% happy with DA3 and might even get the special edition from Game Stop.
So we’ll get Inquisitor Shepard this time? Great I am so super excited for this game now…no really I am. Looks like we’re getting Dragon Age 2.5 the pretty version this time. The names provided suck too. Dragon Age 3: The Breach? Seriously? This is looking like one happening button smasher just like DA2.
Man, I can’t wait for this one. I just hope they return to the roots and incorporate at least some of the stuff that made Dragon Age: Origins so great. Dragon age 2 was an insult to the fans to say the least. Loved Isabela, Varric, Hawke and Merrill though ^^
I wanted for the third game to take place in Nevarra, oh well. Every thing else sounds good. Now I just wish the player could meet the warden and the champion of Kirkwall in the story.
the warden is done for bioware already said that.
BUT the champion might have a role sometime,somewhere.
I think Bioware meant that in the context as playing as the Warden, not in the context of disenfranchisement. If they had absolutely no intentions to ever use the warden again…. why have Leliana searching for him? or her?
Well, in every DA game you could take previous saves to it, and they said to keep them close, so i’m betting that whatever you played in DA:O and DA2, it will affect the third and the protagonists of those will surely make an appearance.
I still have both my first saves in my PC and a pendrive, just in case. :3
I liked DAO, ME1+2
But recently. Bioware just gives me reasons to want to punch them in the face.
I doubt its Biowares fault. I’d like to think that EA is breathing down their necks forcing them to cookie cut these games, and I really hope that Bioware will get its s*** straight. They had a great thing going. Now I’m not so sure.
To save myself the heartache of spending money on a game that I couldn’t even finish because it was so full of BS. I’m watching release day youtube videos.
and let me guess your one of those who hate ME3 cause of a 5min crappy ending ? ok.
No one expected the Inquisition? THE SPANISH INQUISITION?
The Poo Dragon returns!
I am going to do what I did the first time I played Mass effect 1. Rent it. If it blows my mind goozeing mind goo all over my liveing room then I will buy it. If it dissapoints again then it will just fade away in my memory.
DA3 will be animated EVEN FASTER and the dialogue will be EVEN DUMBER than DA2 and EA will pay websites and dead tree games publications to say “DA3 SETS THE STANDARD FOR AWESOME WITH AWESOME ON TOP”.
And a depressing number of fools will actually believe it and pull out their credit cards.
Hopefully they’ll go back to their roots and bring back the combat and well-written story like there was in DA:O.
agreed except the combat.
DA:O did everything right exept the crappy combat and animation….the only thing that pile of crap DA2 did right was the combat nothing else.
I enjoyed the second one, for all its blemishes. I’ll play the third one. That being said, how many games about the Chantry do we need? When are we going to acknowledge that the Qunari chapter of DA2 was ten times more interesting?
never because thats YOUR opinion, not mine.
What I think most people do not realize is that story wise, DA2 was a building block for the next games. Yes, many things could have been done way better, but for what it was, the game was alright. Not great, not DA:O but definitely worth it’s own credit. That being said, think about everything, thematically, that has happened in the last several parts of this game, many of which was contributed to by the last game. The Dragon Age universe is spiraling apart at the strands because of the events surrounding BOTH the Hero and the Champion.
The darkspawn have taken on a higher, more intelligent form.
Morgan had herself a demon baby. (most likely yours)
The Maker has abandonned the land.
The mages have rebelled.
The Templars are….crusading.
The witch of the wilds has been resurrected and is hell bent on screwing things up for EVERYONE.
Kirkwall has fallen.
….like I said…the world has become a pretty messed up place, and it will take an EPIC story to fix it.
That being said, this next game will probably just build it more. Sit pretty folks. Let’s see how hard the crap hits the fan.
I agree with that. But everything else was so…generic. Almost ever party member was a archetype.
Aveline: Uptight bitch (see Ashley Williams, Miranda Lawson for reference)
Fenris: The emo of Cloud Strife proportions.
Anders: Character with inner struggle, acts like Batman about it
Merrill: Happy go lucky char
Isabella: Slut (I like her though)
The game did have its cool moments though, namely fighting Vishok, that was awesome. But yeah, the story felt too, nailed down.
Ashley Williams, Miranda Lawson and Aveline have almost nothing in common besides being women that are good in combat.
+1
this guy dont have a single clue what his talking about
Please… I beg you… Do not ever compare Anders to Batman again. I’m ashamed Anders was even in DA2. He should’ve stayed in Awakening where he belonged.
Honestly what pissed me off the most about Da2 was that the enemies could get you against a wall and just knock you down again and again untill you die lol
What? Did that happen?
I quite liked DA2. the game itself felt much more relaxed then DA:O as it included more jokes in the dialogue and seemed more casual with more realistic responses then the generic RPG script used in DA:O. dont get me wrong i loved playing DA:O and its what made me play DA2 but it did feel very serious the WHOLE way through and it was nice to have some serious and some funny moments in DA2. also i REALLY hope they keep up the whole “what you did in the previous games can influence this game” and also how you act in this game can influence the story of the game as well thing.
i hope they give you the choice of what race you race and social status you can be and also how you became the inqisitor like they did in ORIGINS before you became the grey warden
Its human only again.
What are u talking about? Dragon age 2 kicked ass and i am also a very devoted fan of origins and so is many of my friends. The only problem with the secound edition of DA was the constant reuse of maps. But the fighting was much better and though it will improve more the new like /dislike meter with the followers also kicked ass!