DLCs first or main story?

[Larry]

Played this when it first launched way back when. Hands down the best RPG I've ever played. I only played the DLC that came on launch(Shale, Warden's Keep and I think I got armour for having Mass Effect linked to my account or something), the base game and the expansion.

With the 9 DLC's I'm reading the descriptions and wondering if it's worth starting some of these DLC's first or playing through them after a certain point in the game.

Some of the DLC's are standalone but you unlock stuff in origins and awakening if you beat them/get achievements so I'm thinking it's better to just play them first or at the very least play the base game to a certain point and then load the standalone story DLC's like Lilianna's Song. What's the best approach?

I've also seen it looks like some of the DLC items are unlocked by default now in the DLC tab? Do you need to do the DLC and get the achievements anymore or did they just say f it and give you the DLC items with the Ultimate Edition without requiring you to get achievements/play the standalone DLCs?

Is it at all advised to play the DLC's first or should I get, like, halfway through the game before trying them beyond what's included in the natural progression of the game?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say The Witch DLC should be done toward the end of the game(Given it takes place after a certain point in the game if memory serves right).

Reading up on it a bit some people have said to play the base game, do the three DLC's tied to the base game along the way then do the expansion followed by The Witch and the other two DLC's except Lilianna's Song. Lilianna's Song is basically a prequel and I guess can be done before you start the game or at least after you meet her in game?

[Lucus]

I'd advise you to play in this order the first time: DAO > Leliana's Song > Darkspawn Chronicles > Awakening > Golems > Witch Hunt.

Leliana makes mention of Leliana's Song in DAO and if you play that DLC without exploring that dialog you may not understand everything that is going on.

then after your first run through i would do DAO > Awakening > The Golems of Amgarrak > Witch Hunt.

as for A Tale of Orzammar i would do that after you have finished the game with a Dwarf Noble Warden. since it sheds some light on the Dwarf Noble Origin Story.

[MachineGod]

Play through the base game and do this order....
complete stone prisoner (extra companion, very relevant in the dwarf area),

wardens keep (grey warden lore/new skill/chest to store items)

Return to Ostagar (Bring Wynne, Dog, Alistair or Secret Companion for extra dialouge/lore)

After you beat the game you can carry your warden over into these DLC's...
Awakening (Takes place after the events of the main story, you're in charge of a new warden keep but darkspawn are now talking)

Golems of Amgaraak (Dwarf lore Dlc/Difficulty spike)

Witch Hunt (Morrigan DLC, makes more sense if you romanced)

After Witch Hunt you can check out the optional DLCs, they more just perspective/scenarios but not required.

Lilly's Song (Prequel to Lilliana's story)
Darkspawn (Play a whatif scenario and play as the dark spawn)

As for the item unlocks, yeah get a ton of promo DLC items/pre-order/deluxe edition exclusives and the items you can unlock for new playthroughs arn't worth a second play through but they can be nice extras.

After you beat the game you can carry your save over to Dragon Age 2 so it's worth plaything at least through Awakening before going to the next game.

[Larry]

Thanks Guys,

I'll do as suggested. Main game + DLCs included in the main game as they come up followed by the expansion then the standalone DLC's after I've beaten the base + expansion. I'll probably do Lilianna's song first 'cause apparently it's really short.

[JC]

I would do Lil's song first. You get some great armor as a reward that you get to use in the main game.

In game, stone prisoner unlocks NPC, It has nice magic items as well.

Wardens keep gives you a Stash box. It's also used to upgrade items if you collect them early toss um in the chest. When you remove them they are upgraded to a higher lvl. It works for the armors but possibly a couple weapons, i forget exactly. Any unique magic item try on occasion and see if it's an item that lvl's up. It also unlocks some great gear and something special. (i won't spoil it)

Ostagar, some epic loot.

If you do all these first, you get some really nice gear that will help a lot on a first play, and honestly lore wise it makes perfect sense. You are revisiting the battlefield to find clues about the grey wardens and the lost battle. You are investigating their keep for the same reason, and of course the extra NPC that could help you on your journey. So you get a lot of extra lore to learn about the game and some nice goodies. Of course if you want to make the game more challenging, don't use any magic items, but just do it for the lore and toss all the gear into the chest untill you really need it or just go hard core all the way through. Basic chainmail for all!

Lil's song first, you get to see a unique side of her, and tons of her early talking will make a ton more sense and honestly make her choices on what she has become seam more real as she explains them. On the down side, it removes a tiny bit of mystery about her, but i think the trade off is worth it because when she fills you in you get lots more than what you experience in the DLC so it's still rather fresh.


Everything else do after and those are not really connected, You could do the witch one first as it is a continuation of a sub plot, the others are basically stand-a-lone adventures. Golems is the hardest, but i would do it before Awakenings, as Awakenings is the best of them. It's a shorter version of Dragon age, and sort of a big wrap of of the whole series.

[Yhvh10]

Its quite chronological. Base Game is the first. After that its awakening + the DLCs. Theres an order you can find.

[BimboGooch]

Just do the ones that show up in your quest log. Chronological doesnt matter at all for those. Plus you get useful gear for mid game.
Also lilianas song, id recommend doing that the moment you meet her. That chest piece you can get if you find all the master leather stuff, is really good for rogues and duel wield warriors (frick, prolly solid on full tank warriors too, early/mid game). Ton of armor, okay stamina regain. +50 stamina and 15% chance to dodge attacks.
If you do it before you start the main game, youll also get the armor in your inventory right away lol.

The darkspawn dlc, wait till awakening. Witches hunt I think thats legit meant to be played at the end of the expansion.

[Jarsonne]

Originally posted by MachineGod:

complete stone prisoner (extra companion, very relevant in the dwarf area),

Why?

The DLC material is broken in French I use to play DAO, so did the DLC in English and after restored French and didn't bother with the golem companion. But reminding your comment and having start a quest related to find Branka so golem related, I thought ok I'll try the golem companion.

For combats Shale is a weak choice, Shale is problematic to program with AI setup so requires a lot of micro management, Shale has a weird multi stance system not even clear (activate long range and it still continue do close range attack, only a long range skill is enabled but it has a cooldown).

So what's the point of using it in Dwarf area? Perhaps it has many comments and I have none because it's broken in French. So I'll trash it as I don't want not replay DAO in French, but I"m curious.

[The Dude]

Shale is a lore drop.

[Ffabbia]

I would very, very strongly recommend people to do Warden's Keep as early as possible - straight after Lothering if you can.

The reasons for this are as follows:

1) Supply chest, which allows you to store your items, and thus saves you from having to walk around permanently encumbered with all the stuff you are lugging around in your bags. Having lots of free bag space is very helpful in this game.

2) Staging area: Travelling between areas has the chance to generate a semi-random event which will throw your party straight into combat, often with very tough enemies. Using the Wardens Keep grounds as a staging area to is a very useful tip. Go straight from camp to the Keep, and from there you can ensure your party is combat-ready, all sustained spells and abilities activated, weapons poisoned, tactics configured etc. before heading out.

This will seriously save you a tonne of grief.

Other DLCs can be done whenever, though I like to do them early as I like to get the unique weapons and armor sets ready and in place.

I would personally recommend largely ignoring Feast Day Gifts, as this DLC can literally break your game if you're not careful, or at the very least completely scupper the party reputation system. This DLC was an absolutely terrible idea, and to this day I have no idea what Bioware were thinking of.

[JC]

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

I would personally recommend largely ignoring Feast Day Gifts, as this DLC can literally break your game if you're not careful, or at the very least completely scupper the party reputation system. This DLC was an absolutely terrible idea, and to this day I have no idea what Bioware were thinking of.

This DLC is for people that already played the game and want to trigger different things with various NPC's

For instance, say lil's rep with you is to high, you can lower it to trigger a banter with morrigan. You need to have a little more knowledge or the game, or you can just Go with it and see what happens. Your choices make sten like you to much, but you'd rather see what he does when he doesn't.

that's what this DLC is for. The Extra magic items are much more game breaking as they are so powerful. I often just dump them all in the wardens keep and possibly pick up something later. If you use all that early it really screws up the balance. Both are perfectly optional though, so at least there is that.

[Jarsonne]

Originally posted by Ffabbia:

I would personally recommend largely ignoring Feast Day Gifts, as this DLC can literally break your game if you're not careful, or at the very least completely scupper the party reputation system. This DLC was an absolutely terrible idea, and to this day I have no idea what Bioware were thinking of.

No, companions reputation is annoying, it disturbs with greed elements the roleplay and mood in relationship with companions.

So those items are fine for some small laugh and just get the relationship bonus and not bother too much after and concentrate more on mood and pure roleplay.