Some questions about how the DLC works with the game

[TheInfomaniac]

So I actually have this on Origin, but I prefer to have discussions on Steam so I thought I'd ask this here. I bought the mass effect trilogy a while back and completed ME1, and at some point in the near future I will want to play ME2. I know I will want to play it with all the important/story DLC available (I don't remember exactly which ones but I have a list somewhere), so at some point during this whole thing I will eventually put down the money to buy them.

However, I had some questions as to how the DLC worked in the game:

*Can you start up a game and then buy DLC later on during your playthrough, or is it a situation where once you install the DLC you need to restart the game? If I have to restart then it would make sense to buy all the DLC before I start but if I can add DLC to an existing save without any problems that would be cool.

*I know there's a specific DLC which seems to be set after the end of the game (or at least is meant as a lead into ME3). How does this work if you have it installed? When the game's credits finish rolling, do they put you back into the game to play the DLC? Or is it a weird situation where even though you've completed the game you have to go back to a previous save in order to play this DLC?

Thanks for the answers!

[Dreadnought]

you can play ME2 after dealing with collectors FREEE ROAAAAAAAAM

if you have the game already running and DLC instalation has finished in the current game the dlc wont show just reload a previous save or instal the DLC then start the game (new game or savedgame)
and Arrival DLC you can complete after or before finishing the collectors(2x)

[TheInfomaniac]

Originally posted by Dreadnought:

you can play ME2 after dealing with collectors FREEE ROAAAAAAAAM

if you have the game already running and DLC instalation has finished in the current game the dlc wont show just reload a previous save or instal the DLC then start the game (new game or savedgame)
and Arrival DLC you can complete after or before finishing the collectors(2x)

So it sounds like if I install the DLC, I just need to restart the actual game (as in the .exe file) and load my save? If so, then that's great! Thanks for the answer!

[Jayrab]

Originally posted by TheInfomaniac:

Originally posted by Dreadnought:

you can play ME2 after dealing with collectors FREEE ROAAAAAAAAM

if you have the game already running and DLC instalation has finished in the current game the dlc wont show just reload a previous save or instal the DLC then start the game (new game or savedgame)
and Arrival DLC you can complete after or before finishing the collectors(2x)

So it sounds like if I install the DLC, I just need to restart the actual game (as in the .exe file) and load my save? If so, then that's great! Thanks for the answer!

Pretty much. Once the DLC is installed, just start the game and it should be available to you. Mind you that some of the DLC will only be available after a certain point in the game. (I think Lair of the Shadow Broker becomes available once you've completed the mission on Horizon.)

[SoldierScar]

You can download all the dlc from here for free
https://help.ea.com/en-ca/help/dragon-age/dragon-age-origins/bioware-classics-dlc/
then just download dlc unlocker and you got it all. I know people will hate me for this, but those dlc are so ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ expensive after 7 years i just won't support this.

[TheInfomaniac]

I only paid $5 for ME2, so I'm paying for the DLC since I figure it will come out to a reasonable cost of a game. I do wish they'd put the DLC on sale, though! From what I've read it never does.

Thanks for all of your help, you guys! Good to know I can get into the game without having to pay for everything right away.