How To Create Your Own "Remaster"

This guide will show you mods that improve textures and models, fixes for the game, and other improvements for Dragon Age: Origins.

Downloading the Mod Manager, Showing Where to Put Mods, and 4-Gig Patch

This section is all about making you familiar and set up for modding this game. Modding Dragon Age: Origins isn't as straight forward as other games, where you just put mods in a folder, as there are different steps for different mods, as well there are two different locations the game installs, one being steam (or whatever launcher you bought the game on) and in your documents folder (Bioware>Dragon Age). On top of that, some mods need the Dragon Age Mod Manager to install them.

4-GIG Patch Plus DXVK

DAO and games of the time by default can only use a max of 2 gigs of RAM. Which normally isn't that much of an issue in those games, but once you start adding higher resolution textures you start running into crashes very often. The 4-gig patch will also greatly reduce the game's memory leak issue, where the game's framerate will be greatly reduced after playing for awhile. Download the 4-gig patcher from: https://ntcore.com/?page_id=371, unzip the file, click on the 4gb_patch exe, then lead the patcher to the game's exe, which will be in the file in Steamapps>common/where your launcher installs games>Dragon Age (Ultimate Edition), then go to bin_ship and click on the DAOrigins exe. Once you do that, it will tell you it has been patched. To further reduce the memory leak issue and crashes you can download this mod: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/6435?tab=description that makes the game run run in Vulkan which will reduce the memory usage and the memory leak issues, just make sure your computer supports Vulkan.

Downloading the Mod Manager

To download the Dragon Age: Origins Mod Manager go to https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/277, then follow the install directions from there. Unlike the 4-gig, this is really only going to be useful for some mods, mainly a certain body mod, so you don't need to install it unless you want the mods that use it.

Where to Put Mods

Most Dragon Age: Origins mods will have two places mods will go into, the Addins (Documents>Bioware>Dragon Age>Addins) and the Override folder (Documents>Bioware>Dragon Age>packages>core>override). But for some mods, mainly patches, you will have to use the DAUpdater that's in the bin_ship folder.

UI and Cutscene Mods

I will provide links to install the mods and tell you the pros/cons of them. Some of the mods will override each other, so pick which one you like more (overriding is based off of alphabetical order, so if they are in a folder, a folder titled "A" would override a folder titled "B"). Also, mods will be categorized by type.

*The vanilla UI doesn't scale with resolution, so the higher the resolution the smaller the HUD gets. A mod does somewhat fix this by just making the HUD elements bigger. (Character Health, Abilities quick slots, Mini-map, etc.) Recommended to not go over 1080p without the mod, but 1440p is playable, anything higher, the HUD is too small.

• Nathanael's 4K Resolution Mod - Doubles the size of the HUD
  Pros: Makes the game playable at 4K (or 2K).
  Cons: Doesn't do the Fade map, setting menu sliders are misaligned.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/6332?tab=description
  
  
• FtG UI Mod - More Readable Fonts and UI, does what the title says it does.
  Pros: Highly customizable (can change font size), removes the drop shadow effect on the Tectics menus.
  Cons: Doesn't do every HUD element.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/73?tab=description
  
  
• Mouse Cursors for 4k DAO, makes the mouse cursor bigger
  Pros: multiple sizes you can choose
  Cons: cursor can look low quality from the mod just making the cursor bigger
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5167
  
  
• Clean UI, removes the blood stains from the UI
  Pros: Makes the UI cleaner, can make it easier to see certain things, mainly the map screen.
  Cons: Can be seen as a art direction change
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5799?tab=description
  
  
• 1080p Cutscenes, makes the pre-rendered cutscenes 1080p instead of 720p
  Pros: Cutscenes become clearer
  Cons: since it's upscaled using AI some minor issues can come up/some details get lost, only has 1080p 30 fps option.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5437?tab=description
  
  
• Dragon Age Origins 4K 60FPS Cinematics Mod, makes cutscenes higher res, up to 4k, and 60 fps
  Pros: Cutscenes are higher res, multiple resolution options, can download the original cutscenes from the mod page incase you want to go back the the original cutscenes.
  Cons: Upscaled and interpolated with AI so some minor issues can come up/some details get lost.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5497?tab=description

Bug fixes and Gameplay Mods

Some glitches can be caused from playing the game at high framerates, so capping the framerate to 60 can fix some issues.

• Qwinn's Ultimate DAO Fixpack, fixes multiple bugs, adds some minor scraped content.
  Pros: fixes more than 850 bugs, restores some scrapped content.
  Cons: only fixes the base game not Awakening and the other DLC, can conflict with other mods (a lot of the same-sex romance mods aren't.)
  Mod Link:https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/4689
  
  
• Dain's Fixes, fixes gameplay bugs and adds QOL improvements.
  Pros: Fixes bugs related to combat, easily customizable.
  Cons: Not compatible with some mods (list on the mod page), can make big non-vanilla changes, but those are easily removable
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/4384?tab=description
  
  
• DLC Item Integration, puts the DLC reward items into the stores instead of your inventory
  Pros: Fixes the early game balance by making you have the originally intended items.
  Cons: Some of the items are priced way too high or priced too low.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5190?tab=posts
  
  
• Awakening Fixes and Tweaks, different fixes for the Awakening Expansion (download the recommended mods at the bottom of the mod's description)
  Pros: Fixes a lot of issues in Awakening, lists different mods for more fixes.
  Cons: minor incompatibilities with other mods (listed in Description)
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5944?tab=description
  
  
• Improved Atmosphere, makes NPCs less static in the environment
  Pros: NPCs look like they have actual lives, improves variety of NPCs equipment, adds more friendly NPCs to areas, makes dead bodies last longer, and more
  Cons: may increase amounts of crashing, may be incompatible with some mods (including DAO Fixpack.)
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/577
  
  
• DLC Transfer To Awakening Patch (UPDATED), makes DLC items work properly
  Pros: Makes DLC items work in Awakening, works for all launchers
  Cons: some items may get duplicated, No Mac version (Only Windows)
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5354?tab=description

Graphic Mods

This section will be a collection of different types of graphical mods.

Graphic Mods

• Theta HD, improves the "lowest" quality textures.
  Pros: makes the worst items look better, vanilla friendly, low spec friendly.
  Cons: only improves the low quality items.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/3869
  
  
• HQ Eyebrow Stubble and Scalp Hair Replacers, changes what it says.
  Pros: Hair effected looks high quality.
  Cons: Doesn't effect long hair styles, may not work with some character model retextures.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5528?tab=description
  
  
• Dragon Age Origins Unofficial Remaster, a collection of different mods in one download.
  Pros: Easily customizable (remove folder of things you don't want), effects multiple items.
  Cons: Art style changes (makes things/Characters look like how they do in 2/Inquisition, could be a pro and can be removed easily)
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5728
  
  
• Real Pigment - a skin tint fix, makes darker skin look better.
  Pros: Makes character with dark skin look better.
  Cons: not compatible with some makeup modes.
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5559
  
  
• Clouds Retextured, changes the cloud textures.
  Pros: Clouds are higher resulotion
  Cons: Cloud type changes (not really a con just an art style difference)
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5993
  
  
• AP Neural Enhanced Textures v4, improves multiple textures
  Pros: textures are high quality
  Cons: Can cause crashes, some minor texture issues
  Mod Link: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5402?tab=description#
  
  
• Pixelated Shaders begone, improves resolution of bloom and DoF.
  Pros: Removes the pixelated effect of Depth of Field and bloom.
  Cons: Bloom effect was changed but is fixed with, Bugfix for Pixelated Shaders Begone.
  Mod Link:https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/3801
  Bug fix for Pixelated Shaders begone: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5509?tab=description

Final Messages

From the list of mods I provided, you can improve multiple elements of the game from textures, bug fixes, and UI elements. If a mod you use isn't in any of the list, post a comment of the mod and I will put it in the category it belongs in (any NSFW mod will not be listed). Also, if you liked this remaster guide, I made one for Knights of the Old Republic as well: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2836753578

Now go end the Blight Grey Warden.

[Hippo Gorgeous]

The Error 51 appears to be a conflict between the 4Gig patcher and steam's encryption (DRM?). You can use Steam's "verify files" function to get the game back into a playable state, but you won't have the 4G patch. I replaced my `bin_ship/DAOrigins.exe` with the file from "4GB LAA patch compatible DAorigins.exe" [www.nexusmods.com] and ran the patcher again, and now it seems to be working properly.

[Hilleon]

I have another question.
Over on DAO's PCGamingWiki page, I noticed that they recommended a few bug fixes for Awakening, and I've noticed that you didn't include any of them in your guide. Why?

Are those bug fixes obsolete or... do any of the listed MODs in your guide fix some Awakening bugs?

[Hilleon]

to: Panzerkampfwagon

Then it means that the FtG MOD is working as intended for me, and I didn't really understand what it would actually fix. Thank you for the response.

[Panzerkampfwagen]

FtG mod only effects the inventory, dialogue, etc and doesn't effect main menu, portraits, etc. I don't think there is mod for those HUD elements, but if I ever find one I will add it here.

[Hilleon]

to: Panzerkampfwagon

I thank you for putting together this guide. DA:O is a game I played years ago in my late-teens. But sadly, the game is showing its age, and especially the bugs. And I'm glad that the DA community is here to help, not just with mod makers but people like you who put together guides. Kudos.

By the way, may I ask about the FtG UI Mod. After I installed it, I opened the game and the new game, option, continue, and character portraits are still very tiny at 4k… why?

The FtG mod only fixed the inventory screen, codex, subtitles and anything else that has to do with texts …the MOD didn't fix what I thought it would fix, you know, said problems that are still tiny at 4k.

The only solution to this, for me, was to turn down the resolution to 2560x1440(16:9)

I don't understand what the problem is and how to fix it. Please, can you help me? Or is the FtG MOD incapable at enlarging said problems at 4k?

[Panzerkampfwagen]

If you want 4K/1440P/1080P at 60 FPS cutscenes download the 4K 60 one (which has the audio out of sync), if you want a bit higher resolution at the original framerate of 30 get the 1080p one. Which ever one you download last will be the one used.

[Hilleon]

I don't understand, why should I download the ''1080p Cutscenes''-mod when I can get the ''4K 60FPS''-mod.

I don't understand. Please, explain this to me. should I first install and download the 1080p mod and then download the 4k mod, paste that 4k mod over the 1080p mod and... that's it? Please, help me understand.

[My Goodness What A Long Name!?]

Steam's daorigins.exe is encrypted and can't be 4 GB LAA patched. For a work around use the already pre-patched 'daorigins.exe' in the link below
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=233222451

[Teeleef]

Thanks for doing this list, very helpful.

[f0nszik | Al01Chaos]

what should I do if "error 51" appears after I install 4gb patch?