If I ever replay DAO in its entirety, I’m downloading as many such mods as possible.
The Deep Roads section was a miserable enough grind, but the Fade was an exercise in rage.
DAO and DAI to their discredit involve lots of grind work, and fetch quests. It’s a difficult balance given DA2 was criticized for being limited to Kirkwall, but I think you can find something in between “a single city and it’s outlying wilderness” and “6 areas at least literally have zero relation to the main plot at all”.
I mean, I guess I’m glad I killed all the dragons. I didn’t get all the landmarks and Astariums though-(who on earth has the time or patience for that?).
Anyways, favorite characters and least liked characters:
DAO:
Zevran-I actually cut his throat the first time and then realized he was a companion, so reloaded a save. Both in combat and in general, I found him the most likable.
Leliana-her singing voice is amazing(did the voice actress do that?)
Morrigan-Claudia Black’s voice is sex.
Alistair-somehow very weak in combat, he’s alright as a character I guess?
Sten-gruff and unapproachable. I never really discussed the Qun because apparently I never got high approval.
Oghren-really unpleasant. “Haha funny drunk” is the meme, but he’s honestly a good depiction of the crass wastrel archetype you see in sitcoms.
Wynne-indifferent
Shale-I avidly hated the DLC and thought the character was weirdly arrogant with a sort of faux Britishness? I dunno, not a fan.
Haven’t played awakening.
DA2:
Varric-love him.
aveline-depending on where your standing, she’s either a corrupt cop, or captain America or pitifully bad at courting despite having been a married woman. All in all, I like her in the party. Quite a tank.
Merrill-sweet big eyes, and a side of demonic deals. I like Merrill, romanced her as Male Hawke. Wonder if she’d like Solas.
Fenris-I like Fenris, he’s an edgy Final Fantasy protagonist who broods and has a ridiculously oversized sword. But I like him.
Anders-the man tried to trick me into being an accomplice for his planned act of terrorism. He’s an unpleasant ass to deal with.
Isabela-“What if…Jack Sparrow, but a woman” the character. Including utterly shameless selfishness and dishonesty. Nice tits I’ll grant. Little bit of realism I liked was when she said she didn’t sleep with men in her crew. As modernist as DA is about gender egalitarianism, having a bit of realism on that score was refreshing.
Sebastian-I didn’t care for him the first time around, but he’s not bad.
Bethany/Carver-not much to say.
DAI:
Varric-loyalty to Hawke is honestly very touching.
Cassandra-the stern warrior woman with a gentle heart/soft side. Is something of a BioWare archetype. Still makes me smile a bit, but I don’t dislike her.
Solas-very useful in combat, and of course critical for the story. All in all. I like the character. Even if he comes across as measured and understated, despite being so important.
Dorian-our flamboyant gay companion. As someone who’s played ME, and who found Cortez barely tolerable, Dorian is strangely…alright? Mostly? Because while he’s a faggot the game also plays up gay stereotypes “I’m too pretty to die”-no way BioWare would do that now. He’s great to have in combat. Hi dunno, maybe the whole aristocrat makes the homosexuality less base? Also I was playing a female inquisitor.
Blackwall-I never got to the reveal about him lying about his identity and all. So he left by Trespasser. I did the reading on his background, if I ever replay DAI I might have to finish that quest. In combat he’s good enough.
Sera-holy shit the Whedon character. Maybe there is something interesting about the Robin Hood character being a self hating minority who isn’t actually very bright or even articulate but wow is Sera unimaginably painful to interact with.
Cole-our friendly spirit/demon/skinsuit. No problem with him.
Iron Bull-my inquisitor was played by the same woman who played Samantha in ME3, and the VA for Bull is James Vega in Mass effect. Which always gave me a bit of whiplash. Not as good in combat as I hoped. Alright otherwise.
Vivienne-what if our aristocratic snooty magic noblewoman was…black. Yet still a contemptuous grasping snooty noblewoman.
Companions:
Leliana-vicious murdering intrigue master. Fine I guess
Cullen-all in all, an inoffensive guy. Romanced him playing a woman.
Josephine-isn’t diplomacy and court intrigue supposed to be done, in person? Or can you make inducements and threats have the same psychological weight via letters? I don’t dislike her, but out of all the companions, her work seems the most tell and not show. Cullen is a soldier. And Leliana is having people run around, spy and kill things. Does Josephine have a 1000 expert diplomats who can get nobles to dance on their fingers? How does she get anything done from Skyhold?
