Getting a smooth experience in 2024 - LAA, DLC Updates, Bugfixes and Modifications.

This guide is for all types of player but initially it was created to help address the crashes that happened when playing the game. As recently as 2021 the game files on steam have changed and the guide is now updated to reflect these changes.

By following this guide to the point of updated DLC and bugfixes, you have everything you need to get into the game and play a vanilla playthrough.

However if you would like to use Modifications when playing the game, there is a list of my own personal favourites which I have used (in conjunction to ensure compatibility) and enjoyed.

Large Address Aware Patch - Bugfixes & Mods - 2024

How To Update your game and LAA Patch !

2024


1) Go to this Guide! https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=233222451 and follow the steps. I have tried this and it is working in 2024, the old methods seem to fail.

The current download on steam is a version of the DA Origins executable file that will cause error 51 when you patch it with the LAA. Using the cleaned one from the guide I have mentioned here will fix the issue for you!

Full credit to -3xA'Lu©κy the disappearing act for finding this updated method of LAA patching, go and give them a 5* rating on their guide <3

2024 - Access your DLC

So it's 2024 - I've just installed a vanilla copy of Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition from steam, what do we find included in the files?

*If your DLC does not show up (and you own the Ultimate Edition)*

If your DLC does not show up, then you may be missing the offer files. Simply download the offer files from here Dragon Age Origin Offer Files[1drv.ms] and put them in the following folder:

*DriveNumber* i.e C:\Users\%username%\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\AddIns

*From the Wiki itself - if you have offer file issues*

If the offers files are not working, you can bypass auth requirements by doing the following:

Go to C:\Users\%username%\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings
Copy the AddIns.xml file somewhere safe (as a backup)
Open... the original AddIns.xml in Notepad (or Notepad++).
Find... RequiresAuthorization="1" and Replace with RequiresAuthorization="0"

Once these are in place the DLC should be accessible. If you are missing any DLC, you can download all DLC AND all Promotional Items here:

DLC & Promo items[1drv.ms]

(The above link includes files previously downloaded from the Dragon Age Wiki, these files may no longer be available there or the Bioware website so I have provided my personal backup copies)

They are installed via the Daupdater program which is located at:

Steam or Steamlibrary/steamapps/common/Dragon Age Ultimate Edition/bin_ship
The location should be similar for origin installations.

Once you have installed all of the DLC and Promotional Items - update the following files

Download and install the Return to Ostagar 1.1 update.

Download and install the witch hunt 1.1 update.

Download and install the Blood Dragon Armor 1.1 update.

(Press Ctrl+A to highlight all and then download)


Sources

Please check out DLC for Origins[dragonage.wikia.com]

This page has ALL the official DLC available on it, you should have the files installed already but if you don't, simply download the dazip file you need, and load it with the daupdater in your bin_ship folder.

Modifications - Bugfixes

The most important modifications to your vanilla installation.

Here I will list the bug fix mods that you should consider using with your copy of the game, some of these bugs may not affect you, but it is a good idea to use these to ensure your experience is the most complete Dragon Age: Origins can offer.

If you want all Official DLCs - here they are. (4GB of Files)

Official DLCs[1drv.ms]

If you need Offer Files to use the DLCs - here they are. (only applies if they are not showing as activated)

Offer Files[1drv.ms]

If you want all of these bugfixes plus mods (except for the texture mods such as JB3 due to filesize) from the mod list in one download - here they are.


Modpack 2021[1drv.ms]


As with all mods read the description when installing files, as they sometimes have different versions available.

Dragon Age: Origins Fixes

• Qwinn's Ultimate DAO Fixpack v3.52 [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  (Qwinn's Fixpack includes a lot of the previous standalone fixes and therefore replaces the need for them.)
  
  
• Mesh lightmap fixes [1drv.ms]
  

Dragon Age: Awakening Fixes

• Armor Rune Drop Fixes [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Awakening Blackblade Armor Dragon Drop Fix [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Awakening endgame cutscene fixes [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Awakening Helmet Fix [1drv.ms]
  
  
• Awakening Runes Fixes [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Awakening Silverite Mines Bugfix [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Baroness Reward Fix [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• DLC in Origin and Awakening Fixes [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Joining ritual fix for Awakening companions [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Law and Order Fixes [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Yuriah's third store upgrade [www.nexusmods.com]

Dragon Age: Origins & Awakening Fixes

• Dain's Fixes [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  *Dragon Age Rules Fix no longer recommended* - thanks to ADEC Inc for the heads up!
  
  
• Damage Statistic Fix [www.nexusmods.com]

Unfortunately the Bioware forum has been closed, so I imagine that most of these are included in the new all in one patch on nexusmods.


Now you have installed these - you can play the vanilla game, OR you can look at the modlist I've made of what I feel are "useful" or "must have" mods.

Modifications - Quality of Life Improvements

Here are some modifications that are not bugfixes but instead are helpful for players. I think some of them may be classed as cheating and as such it is your choice whether to use them or not.

• Extra Dog Slot [www.nexusmods.com] Because a Mabari should never be left behind!
  
  
  
• More Detailed Tooltips [www.nexusmods.com] thanks to ADEC Inc for the heads up!
  
  
• Lock Bash [www.nexusmods.com] For Warriors
  
  
• Open Lock Spells[www.nexusmods.com] For Mages
  
  
• Madd Gift Guide [www.nexusmods.com] Helpful for romancing people and not wasting gifts
  
  
• Gift Guide - Awakening [www.nexusmods.com] Helpful for not wasting gifts - in awakening
  
  
• No Helmet Hack [www.nexusmods.com]
  
  
• Schwarzalbenheim [www.nexusmods.com] Probably the best beard and hair mod for Dwarves!
  

Please note - if using multiple mods for hair and face changes, you will want to use the chargen compiler

Chargen Compiler[www.nexusmods.com]

you will need to place each chargen file within your override folder (they should come with each mod), in separate folders and the compiler should put all of them into one tasty master file allowing the use of multiple hair and face mods.


remember
.zip or .rar files with folders and loose files in - go in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dragon Age Ultimate Edition\packages\core\override folder

Any chargen.cfg files need to go in separate folders, within override and once all mods are in place the Chargen Compiler needs to be ran to create one uniform file.

.dazip files go in the DAO mod manager to be extracted.

Modifications - Graphical Upgrades

Here is a list of modifications that improve the Graphics of the game, including creatures, environments, NPCs and the player.

If you do intend to use anything that changes hairstyles, faces and other properties of the player character then you may find there are issues at some point. You will need to collect all the chargen files from each specific mod into the override folder and then use the DAChargencompiler to make a single file.

This does not always work for me in Dragon Age 2 but it was successful in Dragon Age: Origins. Use it at your own risk, if it all goes wrong, reinstall the graphical mods and try again, or use less hair/face mods at one time.

One way to deal with texture problems is to put all your files into the override folder and as you install the mods, manually pick the texture you prefer, that way you avoid any conflicting textures in the subfolders, this is more likely for environment modifications than face/hair mods as the face/hair modifications usually use Chargens.

Gameworld and Objects
• JB3Textures[www.nexusmods.com] *Old - CAN CAUSE Crash To Desktops - Possibly better to avoid (Almost 3GB of data in the full install of this).
  
  
• Retexturing DAO[www.nexusmods.com] New to me in 2021.
  
  
• Theta HD [www.nexusmods.com] Graphical overhaul for the lowest resolution parts of the game
  
  Companions and NPCs
  
  
• Dragon Age Redesigned[www.nexusmods.com] Very popular, but can cause issues if you are using hair/face mods - RTFM
  
  
• Shale Retextured HD[www.nexusmods.com] A Nice looking Retexture of Shale - new to me in 2021.
  
  
• Unique Face Textures for Companions DAO Edition[www.nexusmods.com] Very nice companion face Retexture - new to me in 2021.
  
  
• White Teeth [www.nexusmods.com] Nice clean teeth for the NPCs
  
  Menus and UI
  
  
• Realistic Worldmap [www.nexusmods.com] Makes the map more washed out - not sure why I preferred it!
  
  
• More Detailed Tooltips [www.nexusmods.com] thanks to ADEC Inc for the heads up! - new to me in 2021.
  
  
• Circles Be Gone! [www.nexusmods.com] If you find the party circles too distracting. - new to me in 2021.
  
  Player - Lore Friendlyish
  
  
• More Hairstyles [www.nexusmods.com] Includes some great options - some I'm not so keen on too but it's preference!
  
  Player - Joe Exotic
  
  
• Pineappletree's Vibrant Colors [www.nexusmods.com] Hair, eyes, eyebrows, skin tones - the Dulux Colour Palette at your disposal!

I haven't listed all of the great Graphical mods out there - Dragon Age Nexus is your go to for that, however I have also not listed the countless NSFW nude mods, which you will also find there. You have been warned!

Thanks - Sources

Thanks for reading my initial setup guide - I previously had "initial character creation" included in the guide but I think most people just want to know how to get the game ready to play in 2021 so I have removed that part.

Some of the info is from the dragon age wiki, please go there to see tables of information regarding everything covered in the guide,. Dragon Age Wiki[dragonage.wikia.com]

Thanks to Bioware for creating the game, but no thanks for not fixing the bugs that are present, (lets just blame EA for the after care?) and thank you for reading!

Enjoy the game!!!

[Dantoshou]

Hey @Dravi I think I must have reuploaded it because its available again now from what I can see!

[Dravi]

2021 modpack is gone

[Yolo™ no Marvelwatch]

I've tried so many times to get the promo itens but finally found a guide that could helped me.
Thank you friend.

[Tiger]

i just set my shit to medium bro, i agree about the dog mod and the lock bash mod tho. especially on nightmare in the beginning the dog is somewhat balanced still.

[DrAirWair]

The LAA patch doesnt work on this post, at least not anymore.

This guide here should work for you depending on your hardware

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=233222451

[Steve]

Followed this guide and it seemed to work at first, then after launching the game it didnt actually work. Warning to everyone - it wiped my save and corrupted my hard drive.

[miller44now]

downloaded LAA now my game wont launch

[mermaideve]

the Origins LAA link for the 4gb patch works, the link in THIS guide does not work. just an fyi

[gustavo.brauner]

Thx! Just by applying the patch I was able to run the game!

[⚜︎Dmitry Light]

The guide is outdated, 4 GB patch make it completely unlaunchable.