I've just started skimming through the non-game material, and I've discovered some rather crazy things... like Alistair's real mother. Like... what? I didn't even know this was a controversial question. Wow.
So it appears that Dragon Age's expanded universe content is far more important than Mass Effect's. I mean, significant plot progression has actually happened. I feel like I'm not caught up on the story at all.
I love the books. They add so much more richness to the world and are entertaining in their own right. I read The Masked Empire in a day. Asunder too, just about. Reading The Stolen Throne and The Calling made Loghain's eventual betrayal 10x more potent and bitter and left me a little devastated. Also, while they're not necessary to play the games, having more knowledge about the nature of Thedosian society helps me roleplay.
I haven't gotten around to the comics yet, mostly because they contradict my canon playthroughs. Maybe someday I'll make Alistair king...
... So is there a cliff's notes spoiler list of relevant details somewhere?
I love the books. They add so much more richness to the world and are entertaining in their own right. I read The Masked Empire in a day. Asunder too, just about. Reading The Stolen Throne and The Calling made Loghain's eventual betrayal 10x more potent and bitter and left me a little devastated. Also, while they're not necessary to play the games, having more knowledge about the nature of Thedosian society helps me roleplay.
I haven't gotten around to the comics yet, mostly because they contradict my canon playthroughs. Maybe someday I'll make Alistair king...
Reading the books helped me to understand why Loghain did what he did in Origins, though. At first I thought he was just a power-hungry jerk, but when you know the backstory, it makes you see where his head is at when he's doing things.
The books are very important. Stolen Throne is absolutely essential to understand what Loghain's character was really about, and even ultimately why Cailan and Alistair turned out the way they did, through what you learn about Maric, Rowan and the Guerins. The Calling is essential to understand who Duncan really was beyond the guy who recruited you and then died, and why protecting both Cailan and Alistair was so important to him. Asunder resolves hanging threads from Origins and introduces characters who will definitely show up in Inquisition, and along with Masked Empire set the events that directly lead to DA:I.
Plus, they're all very entertaining reads, well written, and the universe is cohesive between each book and game, really expanding the universe with rich backstories rather than muddling it up. The mess that were those ME books doesn't even compare.
The comics are a different story. They're good, but they follow a unique canon that doesn't blend in so neutrally as the book universe does with the games, and some decisions in the treatment of certain characters are... questionable. Worth reading, especially if you're interested in how Alistair fares post Origin, but take them with a grain of salt and some suspension of disbelief if their canon doesn't exactly match up with yours.
But yes, the books. Read them. Do it. If you're a slow reader or only have limited time or resources to get all the expanded universe, I'd really recommend letting everything else for later and just reading Asunder and Masked Empire now, if you can. They're not mandatory, but they really help situate you on where the world stands right now -it's changed a lot since the last time you saw it at the end of DA2- and no summaries will do the characters and events of these books any justice.
Reading the books helped me to understand why Loghain did what he did in Origins, though. At first I thought he was just a power-hungry jerk, but when you know the backstory, it makes you see where his head is at when he's doing things.
Absolutely. Before the books I didn't quite get Loghain's angle at first. Then I was like, okay, this guy is power hungry and deluded. Then I read the books...
For me, a better understanding of his motivations actually made the betrayal feel worse. And that made the story so much more emotional and meaningful...and tragic.
Indeed..with the extra time, I wouldn't mind it if Asunder and Masked Empire got on Audible. Stolen Throne and the Calling are already on there.
Who Alistair's mother is is not really important.
I couldn't put Asunder down but I can't get past the first chapter of Masked Empire. (I don't know what the difference is. It just seems kind of ... political? Instead of interesting lore wise, with demons and such.)
Is there super relevant stuff in there for DAI do you reckon?
I'd say the only book that is ''required'' reading is Stolen Throne for DA:O, because otherwise the Loghain character's motivations will make little sense.
The books are very important. Stolen Throne is absolutely essential to understand what Loghain's character was really about, and even ultimately why Cailan and Alistair turned out the way they did, through what you learn about Maric, Rowan and the Guerins. The Calling is essential to understand who Duncan really was beyond the guy who recruited you and then died, and why protecting both Cailan and Alistair was so important to him. Asunder resolves hanging threads from Origins and introduces characters who will definitely show up in Inquisition, and along with Masked Empire set the events that directly lead to DA:I.
Plus, they're all very entertaining reads, well written, and the universe is cohesive between each book and game, really expanding the universe with rich backstories rather than muddling it up. The mess that were those ME books doesn't even compare.
The comics are a different story. They're good, but they follow a unique canon that doesn't blend in so neutrally as the book universe does with the games, and some decisions in the treatment of certain characters are... questionable. Worth reading, especially if you're interested in how Alistair fares post Origin, but take them with a grain of salt and some suspension of disbelief if their canon doesn't exactly match up with yours.
But yes, the books. Read them. Do it. If you're a slow reader or only have limited time or resources to get all the expanded universe, I'd really recommend letting everything else for later and just reading Asunder and Masked Empire now, if you can. They're not mandatory, but they really help situate you on where the world stands right now -it's changed a lot since the last time you saw it at the end of DA2- and no summaries will do the characters and events of these books any justice.
Some people need a better imagination they need to look at the comics as Visiting a Alternative Universe or like Reading Marvel what if or Ultimate Universe
I couldn't put Asunder down but I can't get past the first chapter of Masked Empire. (I don't know what the difference is. It just seems kind of ... political? Instead of interesting lore wise, with demons and such.)
Is there super relevant stuff in there for DAI do you reckon?
It starts of pollitical but there is some lore stuff later on. It pretty much tells us all about Orlais, it's nobility and what kind of political landscape the Inquisitor will be walking into in DAI. Not needed as such because I am sure all the relevant info will be covered in game but I really enjoyed it. There is some stuff about spirits/demons, the elves and the Eluvians in it.
Hmm. Cheers. I might try again.
(I have to admit to a fondness for Eluvians.)
I couldn't put Asunder down but I can't get past the first chapter of Masked Empire. (I don't know what the difference is. It just seems kind of ... political? Instead of interesting lore wise, with demons and such.)
Is there super relevant stuff in there for DAI do you reckon?
I had exactly same issues, I could only make myself past first ME pages on my 3rd attempt. It's nothing like Asunder, in very many ways. I can't say 'it's a bad book per se, but it's definitely not my type of reading. Much less expressive descriptions, which are supposed to pass an impression to a reader. much more direct dry details (buttons, laces, gems, pearls, buckles etc). Much less believable emotions, much more politics.
Unfortunately, both Asunder and ME seem to be vital for the DAI plot. On the other hand - it's meta-gaming. Player is going to know hell lot of stuff that the character is (very likely) unaware of.
like Alistair's real mother. Like... what?
Don't even go there. Unless they bother to explain Goldanna, I can't accept that as a game-canon. All the 'sister' DAO dialogues do not fit the 'Calling' events. Mother's Amulet does not fit either, but could possibly be explained.
It annoys me that it seems like the books and whatnot are being tied into the game universe. I already have a to-read list that's about 20 books long and I have no interest in adding more books to it. Add to that the fact that now the books feel like they're 'required reading' and that's really, really off-putting to me. I haven't done 'required reading' since I was at university and frankly the best way to make me not read a book is to tell me I have to read it to understand what's going on. To make it 'required reading'. Call it my own little imp of the perverse - the more you tell me I should read something, the less I want to read it and the more I will actively dislike it.
The books do add to the lore quiet a bit. Asunder was an interesting take on the mage rebellion it is nice to know it wasn't all about Anders and his stupid ideas.
I think the books and comics are really great for going more in depth into the series, but not in any way necessary to understand what's gone before, since anything relevant will be covered in game. There are some really intriguing possible future plot implications in them, though, if you like to guess what might be important coming up.
I'd say the only book that is ''required'' reading is Stolen Throne for DA:O, because otherwise the Loghain character's motivations will make little sense.
They made perfect sense, Biowares writing is typically better than the usual video game fare, but it's never subtle, or objectively complex. I think people (westerners especially), have just been (sub)culturally programmed to have a disposition towards seeing antagonist, once they are presented, as mustache twirling villains.
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