43 réponses à ce sujet

[Solrest]

(So over a year ago I was trying to dig as deeply in to the Dragon Age lore as I could having beaten the first two games after their release. In the process I searched high and low for a timeline that put every bit of media in to chronological order as that was how I wanted to tackle it and to help see the big picture. I found one that was out of date and inaccurate so I ended up making one of my own and updated it as I checked out everything first hand. So after using it for my own reference for quite some time I decided to put it on here. This is what I've managed to come up with so far. Any suggestions or questions are welcome. I'll update this as new information comes forward. This includes all related media that I could find, and goes off of the most recent official information that I can gather in game and out.)

 

Dragon Age Media Timeline

 

(8:96 Blessed-9:00/9:17 Dragon) Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne (Novel)

(9:10-9:11 Dragon) Dragon Age: The Calling (Novel)

(9:12-9:13 Dragon) Dragon Age (Comic Book Mini-Series: Book 1)

(9:13 Dragon) Dragon Age: Journeys (Browser game)

(9:22 Dragon) Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Movie)

(9:28 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Leliana's Song (DLC)

(9:30 Dragon) Dragon Age (Comic Book Mini-Series: Books 2-6)

(9:30 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins (Webcomic)

(9:30 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- A Tale of Orzammar (DLC)

(9:30-9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins (Game)

(9:30 Dragon) Dragon Age II- Prologue (Game)

(9:30-9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Return to Ostagar (DLC)

(9:30-9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- The Stone Prisoner (DLC)

(9:30-9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Warden’s Keep (DLC)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age Origins: The Revelation (Digital comic)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age Origins- The Final Battle (Game)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Warden's Fall (Web series)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Awakening (Webcomic)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Awakening (Game Expansion)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Golems of Amgarrak (DLC)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Anders (Short Story)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Varric (Short Story)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Isabela (Short Story)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Merrill (Short Story)

(9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age II- Act 1 (Game)

(9:31-9:34 Dragon) Dragon Age: Redemption (Web series)

(9:31-9:37 Dragon) Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin (DLC)

(9:31-9:37 Dragon) Dragon Age II: The Black Emporium (DLC)

(9:31-9:37 Dragon) Dragon Age II: The Exiled Prince (DLC)

(9:31-9:37 Dragon) Dragon Age II: Legacy (DLC)

(9:32 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins- Witch Hunt (DLC)

(9:34 Dragon) Dragon Age II- Act 2 (Game)

(9:34 Dragon) Dragon Age II- Act 2 (Webcomic)

(9:37 Dragon) Dragon Age II- Act 3 (Game)

(9:38 Dragon) Dragon Age: The Silent Grove (Digital comic)

(9:38 Dragon) Dragon Age: Those Who Speak (Digital comic)

(9:38 Dragon) Dragon Age: Until we Sleep (Digital comic)

(9:40 Dragon) Dragon Age: The Masked Empire (Novel)

(9:40 Dragon) Dragon Age: Asunder (Novel)

(9:40 Dragon) Dragon Age II- Prologue/Conclusion: Varric’s interrogation (Game)

(9:41 Dragon) Dragon Age: The Last Court (Text Based Browser Game)

(9:41-9:42 Dragon/5:12-5:24 Exalted) Dragon Age: Last Flight (Novel)

(9:41 Dragon) Dragon Age: Magekiller (Comic)

(9:41-9:42 Dragon) Dragon Age III: Inquisition (Game)

(9:41-9:42 Dragon) Dragon Age III: Inquisition- Jaws of Hakkon (DLC)

(9:41-9:42 Dragon) Dragon Age III: Inquisition- The Descent (DLC)

(9:44 Dragon) Dragon Age III: Inquisition- Trespasser (DLC)

Additional Content:

(-7600 Ancient- 9:40 Dragon) Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 (Guide book to the Dragon Age universe)

Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2

Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1: An Erratum by Brother Genitivi (Blog entry correction to the World of Thedas)

(-975 Ancient/-715 Ancient/-395 Ancient/ -203 Ancient/2:10 Glory/ 3:10 Towers/6:30 Stone/8:45 Blessed/9:30 Dragon/9:31 Dragon/9:34 Dragon) Heroes of Dragon Age (IOS/Android Game)

(??) Dragon Age 2: Hindsight Belt (Motion Comic)

(13 years prior to Legends) Dragon Age: Legends Remix (Browser game)

(??) Dragon Age: Legends (Browser game)

(?? Prior to 9:30 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Aveline (Short Story)

(?? Prior to 9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Sebastian (Short Story)

(?? Prior to 9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age 2: The World- Fenris (Short Story)

(“What If” 9:31 Dragon) Dragon Age: Origins-  The Darkspawn Chronicles (DLC)

Dragon Age (Tabletop RPG)

Dragon Age Faces of Thedas: Tallis (Tabletop RPG DLC)

Dragon Age Faces of Thedas: Varric (Tabletop RPG DLC)

Dragon Age Creatures of Thedas: The Wyvern (Tabletop RPG DLC)

Dragon Age Origins and Dragon Age 2 DLC Bundle

Modifié par Solrest, 16 décembre 2015 - 05:32 .

[Pokemario]

What about Last Flight?

[SomeoneStoleMyName]

wow... I had no idea there were so much DA media out there. 

 

[Hellion Rex]

What about Last Flight?

The Last Flight begins at 9:41 Dragon.

[Hydwn]

I'm not sure how you suggest that things should be pinned to the top of the forum, but this timeline probably should be.  It would help make things a lot less confusing for a lot of people

[Fiery Phoenix]

TME takes place before DA2's conclusion? Are we sure about that?

[Hydwn]

TME takes place before DA2's conclusion? Are we sure about that?

 

I think it has to.

 

Spoiler

There's no sign at the end that the revolt at the White Spire has happened yet - throughout Asunder, everyone's convinced that Celene is in Halamshiral.  

 

The Masked Empire takes place over a very narrow time frame, unless they spent a lot longer walking the Eluvian pathways than they expected - so by the time the mages would have heard she was at Halamshiral, there probably wouldn't be more than a week before the end of the novel.  

 

The frame story of DA2 takes place after the revolt at the White Spire, the collapse of the chantry, the breaking away of both the circles and the Templars - Varric mentions it.  Which means that it takes place well after Celene's and Gaspard's return.

 

My only quibble with the timeline would be that it would go Masked Empire (begins before the assassination attempt on the Divine) before Asunder (begins with the assassination attempt and includes scenes of Gaspard's and Celene's troop movements, as well as rumours of the coup attempt).  Then it would be Asunder, then the chantry collapses at the end, and Cassanfra interviews Varric at the Hawke estate.

[EmperorKarino]

(So over a year ago I was trying to dig as deeply in to the Dragon Age lore as I could having beaten the first two games after their release. In the process I searched high and low for a timeline that put every bit of media in to chronological order as that was how I wanted to tackle it. I found one that was out of date and innacurate so I ended up making one of my own and updated it as I checked out everything first hand. So after using it for my own reference for quite some time I decided to put it on here. This is what I've managed to come up with so far. Any suggestions or questions are welcome. I'll update this as new information comes forward. This includes all related media that I could find, aside from the tabletop information.)

 

Dragon Age Media Timeline

BA: Blessed Age

DA: Dragon Age

(8:96 BA -9:00/9:17 DA) Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne (Novel)

(9:10-9:11 DA) Dragon Age: The Calling (Novel)

(9:12-9:13 DA) Dragon Age (Comic Book Mini-Series- Book 1)

(9:13 DA) Dragon Age: Journeys (Browser game)

(9:22 DA) Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (Movie)

(9:28 DA) Dragon Age: Origins- Leliana's Song (DLC)

(9:30 DA) Dragon Age (Comic Book Mini-Series- Books 2-6)

(9:30 DA) Dragon Age: Origins (Webcomic)

(9:30-9:31 DA) Dragon Age: Origins (Game)

(9:30 DA) Dragon Age II- Prologue (Game)

(9:31 DA) Dragon Age Origins: The Revelation (Digital comic)

(9:31 DA) Dragon Age: Warden's Fall (Web series)

(9:31 DA) Dragon Age: Origins- Awakening (Webcomic)

(9:31 DA) Dragon Age: Origins- Awakening (Game Expansion)

(9:31 DA) Dragon Age: Origins- Golems of Amgarrak (DLC)

(9:31 DA) Dragon Age II- Act 1 (Game)

(9:32 DA) Dragon Age: Origins- Witch Hunt (DLC)

(9:31-9:34 DA) Dragon Age: Redemption (Web series)

(9:34/9:37 DA) Dragon Age II- Act 2/Act 3 (Game)

(9:38 DA) Dragon Age: The Silent Grove (Digital comic)

(9:38 DA) Dragon Age: Those Who Speak (Digital comic)

(9:38 DA) Dragon Age: Until we Sleep (Digital comic)

(9:40 DA) Dragon Age: Asunder (Novel)

(9:40 DA) Dragon Age: The Masked Empire (Novel)

(9:40 DA) Dragon Age II- Conclusion (Game)

Upcoming:

Dragon Age III: Inquisition (Game)

Additional Content:

(-7600 Ancient- 9:40 DA) Dragon Age: The World of Thedas (Guide book to the Dragon Age universe)

Dragon Age: The World of Thedas- Volume 1: An Erratum by Brother Genitivi (Blog entry correction to the World of Thedas)

(13 years prior to Legends) Dragon Age: Legends Remix (Browser game)

(??) Dragon Age: Legends (Browser game)

(??) Dragon Age 2: Hindsight Belt (Motion Comic)

Faces of Thedas

 

how can the silent grove be before dragonage 2's conclusion? and why isn't dragonage 2 dlc legacy and mark of the assassin not up there?

[Adaar the Unbound]

I think Cassandra's interrogation of Varric happens after TME and Asunder, but the thing that happened with Meredith has to happen before those novels because I know that in atleast Asunder they talk about what happened at the Circle in Kirkwall. By conclusion do you mean after Varric's interrogation?

[Samahl]

how can the silent grove be before dragonage 2's conclusion? and why isn't dragonage 2 dlc legacy and mark of the assassin not up there?

 

Legacy and Mark of the Assassin are vague, since you can play them whenever you want.

[Hydwn]

how can the silent grove be before dragonage 2's conclusion? and why isn't dragonage 2 dlc legacy and mark of the assassin not up there?

 

The problem with those two is you can play them in any act - and they will reference events in previous acts.  I think their dates are meant to be fluid.  

[Solrest]

Just to address a bit of the confusion. A large portion of my dates on here come from verifications in  Dragon Age: The World of Thedas. I'll address each of these questions separately unless they seem to be the same question.

 

how can the silent grove be before dragonage 2's conclusion? and why isn't dragonage 2 dlc legacy and mark of the assassin not up there?

 

The Dragon Age 2 Conclusion covers the time period of Varric's interrogatation at the hands of Cassandra which is shown to be in 9:40 DA according to The World of Thedas. The Silent Grove occurs in 9:38 DA nearly a decade after the Fifth Blight. I had not put Legacy or Mark of the Assassin on the timeline yet due to confusion concerning when they take place. As mentioned by Samahi you can start them in game at varying times. But I will do so shortly.

 

What about Last Flight?

 

Sorry, I was a little out of touch with the most recent novels, as I had last really dug in to this right before The Masked Empire was scheduled to come out. Thanks to Eluvianus Rex for the information. I double checked and confirmed and the timeline is updated.

 

TME takes place before DA2's conclusion? Are we sure about that?

DA2's conclusion is Varric's interrogation and although it does occur during the same year it takes place after the events of TME on the official timeline in Dragon Age: The World of Thedas.

 

I think Cassandra's interrogation of Varric happens after TME and Asunder, but the thing that happened with Meredith has to happen before those novels because I know that in atleast Asunder they talk about what happened at the Circle in Kirkwall. By conclusion do you mean after Varric's interrogation?

 

I'm still reading Asunder and plan on reading The Masked Empire after, but upon further research concerning Asunder and The Masked Empire, both occur concurrently. The Masked Empire starts first, as chapter one of TME mentions the ball that occurs in chapter 2 of Asunder as happening in no more than a month with no apparent time gap between chapter 1 and 2 of Asunder. The timeline has been updated to reflect this.
 

[EmperorKarino]

Just to address a bit of the confusion. A large portion of my dates on here come from verifications in  Dragon Age: The World of Thedas. I'll address each of these questions separately unless they seem to be the same question.

 

 

The Dragon Age 2 Conclusion covers the time period of Varric's interrogatation at the hands of Cassandra which is shown to be in 9:40 DA according to The World of Thedas. The Silent Grove occurs in 9:38 DA nearly a decade after the Fifth Blight. I had not put Legacy or Mark of the Assassin on the timeline yet due to confusion concerning when they take place. As mentioned by Samahi you can start them in game at varying times. But I will do so shortly.

 

 

Sorry, I was a little out of touch with the most recent novels, as I had last really dug in to this right before The Masked Empire was scheduled to come out. Thanks to Eluvianus Rex for the information. I double checked and confirmed and the timeline is updated.

 

DA2's conclusion is Varric's interrogation and although it does occur during the same year it takes place after the events of TME on the official timeline in Dragon Age: The World of Thedas.

 

 

I'm still reading Asunder and plan on reading The Masked Empire after, but upon further research concerning Asunder and The Masked Empire, both occur concurrently. The Masked Empire starts first, as chapter one of TME mentions the ball that occurs in chapter 2 of Asunder as happening in no more than a month with no apparent time gap between chapter 1 and 2 of Asunder. The timeline has been updated to reflect this.
 

 

thank you for clearing that up for me

[Johnny Shepard]

Asunder takes place 1 year after the final battle in DA2 so that should be 9:38, shouldn't it. They say in the book:

 

Mages in the far-off city of Kirkwall had rebelled a year ago, and considering what happened to them Rhys wasn't surprised the talk never went further than that. 

 

Also, Witch Hunt takes place 2 years after Awakening. In the game it say:

 

"Vigil's Keep is a strategic gateway between the coastal lowlands of Amaranthine and the rest of Ferelden. The Mother's darkspawn hordes besieged this fortress two years ago and were destroyed by the Wardens. Repairs are still underway, and with Mistress Woolsey's assistance, the Vigil may quickly outgrow its original walls."

But the problem is that Alistair say that he has to go home and meet the Warden and that is 9:37. Since many versions of the Warden disappear in the end of Witch Hunt it would mean he returned and then disappeared again.

 

Putting when Awakening takes place after Origins is hard because they have said both 1 year and 6 month. First they said 1 year on the official page but when the game was released it was said to be 6 months. The 1 year is the only one that makes sense unless dwarfs can get pregnant and have a baby in just 5 months (the baby was some weeks old).

But that screws the DA2 timeline more than it already is.

[KC_Prototype]

Thank you so much, this will be very helpful! I commend you for doing all this work

[Solrest]

Asunder takes place 1 year after the final battle in DA2 so that should be 9:38, shouldn't it. They say in the book:

 

Also, Witch Hunt takes place 2 years after Awakening. In the game it say:

But the problem is that Alistair say that he has to go home and meet the Warden and that is 9:37. Since many versions of the Warden disappear in the end of Witch Hunt it would mean he returned and then disappeared again.

 

Putting when Awakening takes place after Origins is hard because they have said both 1 year and 6 month. First they said 1 year on the official page but when the game was released it was said to be 6 months. The 1 year is the only one that makes sense unless dwarfs can get pregnant and have a baby in just 5 months (the baby was some weeks old).

But that screws the DA2 timeline more than it already is.

 

The biggest issues I run in to when nailing down when a lot of these events occur are generally when no date at all is mentioned, when multiple sources are conflicting, or when the time frame is left incredibly vague. Luckily all three events you mentioned: the Witch Hunt with Morrigan's brief return, the machinations of the Architect in Awakening, and the events of Dragon Age: Asunder are listed on the official timeline in Dragon Age: The World of Thedas. Although these times may conflict with the in game text concerning the Witch Hunt, Awakening, and the passage that you mention in Asunder, the timeline in The World of Thedas is recognized as the correct dates including the corrections made to it in An Erratum by Brother Genitivi. So call them retcons, or the corrections to a false account from an in game/book scholar, but that seems to be the case.

[AshenEndymion]

The biggest issues I run in to when nailing down when a lot of these events occur are generally when no date at all is mentioned, when multiple sources are conflicting, or when the time frame is left incredibly vague. Luckily all three events you mentioned: the Witch Hunt with Morrigan's brief return, the machinations of the Architect in Awakening, and the events of Dragon Age: Asunder are listed on the official timeline in Dragon Age: The World of Thedas. Although these times may conflict with the in game text concerning the Witch Hunt, Awakening, and the passage that you mention in Asunder, the timeline in The World of Thedas is recognized as the correct dates including the corrections made to it in An Erratum by Brother Genitivi. So call them retcons, or the corrections to a false account from an in game/book scholar, but that seems to be the case.

 
I am of a different mind.  If there are conflicts between The World of Thedas and the games about information or dates, then the games are to be considered correct until/unless there is a conflict between the different games themselves.  Mostly because the book, like all the others, is just supplemental information, and not canon.
 
And honestly, it's hard for me to take Genetivi's "notes" on the subject very seriously, because he died in 9:30(in every playthrough I've ever done).  And therefore couldn't possibly determine whether or not the events and dates after that point are accurate.  Well, I suppose he could, but he'd be possessed.  Which would mean I'd have less of a reason to believe the words.

[Daerog]

You can forget placing Dragon Age Legends I would think, as well as that other online game. I don't think they count towards actual lore.

 

If they do, then what about the campaigns in the Dragon Age Pen and Paper RPG?

[garrusfan1]

Sweet mother of god! They have an insane amount of DA stuff don't they

[Solrest]

 
I am of a different mind.  If there are conflicts between The World of Thedas and the games about information or dates, then the games are to be considered correct until/unless there is a conflict between the different games themselves.  Mostly because the book, like all the others, is just supplemental information, and not canon.
 
And honestly, it's hard for me to take Genetivi's "notes" on the subject very seriously, because he died in 9:30(in every playthrough I've ever done).  And therefore couldn't possibly determine whether or not the events and dates after that point are accurate.  Well, I suppose he could, but he'd be possessed.  Which would mean I'd have less of a reason to believe the words.

 

I agree with you about the importance of the in game information, but I think it's bit much to say the books are not canon considering that David Gaider, the lead writer of the Dragon Age games, wrote the majority of the novels and the three Alistair comics. He was also one of the writers who worked on The World of Thedas. I stick with the in game information until the newest official bioware information comes out, considering they can't easily patch corrections to the codexes or release a new edition of the novels just to correct a timeline error here and there. Yes the book are suplemental but they are very much so part of the canon and lore of the series including the games. Why do you consider them not canon? As for Genetivi he just sent in some helpful corrections to the World of Thedas, he lived in my game, but who knows, maybe he's reaching out to you from the fade . The supposed in universe author is unknown but I like to think it's Xenon the Antiquarian .

[AshenEndymion]

I agree with you about the importance of the in game information, but I think it's bit much to say the books are not canon considering that David Gaider, the lead writer of the Dragon Age games, wrote the majority of the novels and the three Alistair comics. He was also one of the writers who worked on The World of Thedas. I stick with the in game information until the newest official bioware information comes out, considering they can't easily patch corrections to the codexes or release a new edition of the novels just to correct a timeline error here and there. Yes the book are suplemental but they are very much so part of the canon and lore of the series including the games. Why do you consider them not canon? As for Genetivi he just sent in some helpful corrections to the World of Thedas, he lived in my game, but who knows, maybe he's reaching out to you from the fade . The supposed in universe author is unknown but I like to think it's Xenon the Antiquarian .

 
I don't consider any book containing King Alistair canon because I don't have a scenario in which I would allow Alistair to be king in DAO.  The books are stories following their own set of variables, but Gaider and the rest of the staff have explicitly said that one's canon is one's own.  If a book conflicts with one's personal canon of DA, then that book is wrong, not the events that occurred in one's game of DA.  I do recognize that the events of some of the books must have occurred(such as Asunder), even if certain things (like Wynne and/or Shale being present) may not be exact.  But until Inquisition comes out, there's no real point in trying to differentiate what actually happened in such books.
 
That said, conflicts of information between games can't be settled as easily, and I don't begrudge using the books to help balance the scales... But when Witch Hunt says it occurs two years after Awakening, then the only way, in my mind, that The World of Thedas could be correct about Witch Hunt occurring one year after Awakening, is if DAI comes out and edits the dates...  Until such point, however, taking the book's word over that of the game's is foolhardy to me...

[Sifr]

The problem with those two is you can play them in any act - and they will reference events in previous acts.  I think their dates are meant to be fluid.  

 

While they are fluid in-game, if we had to try to ascribe a "canon" date for them, Legacy makes the most sense (at least imo) to be set either sometime in time skip between Act 2 and 3 (9:34 and 9:37) or at some point during Act 3.

 

The reason why Legacy makes little sense to have taken place in Act 1 is that we're supposed to believe that Hawke's content to put the entire Deep Roads expedition on hold to go chase an entirely new threat through the Vimmark Mountains, potentially missing the boat and Bartrand leaving without him. Coupled with Hawke's relative lack of fame even within Kirkwall (except for certain circles), makes me question whether the Carta would have been aware of them enough to connect the surname of two Ferelden refugees fresh off the boat with that of an apostate hired by Grey Wardens from over twenty-five years ago? It's possible sure, but it seems like a huge stretch.

 

Hawke was also far too busy during most of Act 2 to simply up and leave the city for any length of time, especially as they were the only person in Kirkwall that the Arishok was willing to treat with at all. And if Bethany is alive and in the Circle, I don't know that even with the Deep Roads fortune Hawke would have had the necessary amount to bribe the Templars to allow her to tag along? While we know that the Circles do allow certain loyal members to temporarily be allowed to venture out on occasion (Wynne in Origins, Rhys in Asunder), the Gallows seems too strict for such activities to occur, especially without a Templar escort (unless Varric left them out of the story).

 

For Mark of the Assassin meanwhile, Hawke's reason for being invited to attend the party at Chateau-Haine is explained quite well depending on each Act and could easily fit within all of them. It's also conceivable that Tallis would have chosen Hawke in Act 1 because they were a relatively unknown and expendable mercenary, in Act 2 because she'd heard of them through their dealings with the Arishok and in Act 3 because of their fame as the Champion.

 

However, the same reasons for Act 2 apply as for why Hawke probably wouldn't have left the city for that amount of time in the middle of the Qunari crisis, as well as why Circle!Bethany (or even estranged Templar!Carver) wouldn't have been allowed leave. This leaves either Act 1 or before/during Act 3 as the best candidates for when MotA likely took place within the timeline.

 

I personally prefer either before/during Act 3 as the more likely option, as if it was during Act 1, once again Hawke would have had to travel halfway to Nevarra and back before the Deep Roads Expedition. Tallis' reasons for hiring Hawke and open admiration for them as the Champion, especially if they were declared Basalit-an by the Arishok, also make far more sense for why she hired them.

 

Of course, this is all idle speculation on my part...

 

Thoughts? Disagreements? Anything I missed?

[Johnny Shepard]

Yeah, you missed that Legacy (like Mark of the Assassin that takes place 1 year before the time when you play it) takes place in the past so it can't take place during Act 2. It's called "A Memento of the Past" for a reason. Also, there is a scene in the end with Hawke and his mother and that scene gets lost if you do the quest in late Act 2 or Act 3.

 

Mark of the Assassin works, IMO, best to play in Act 3 since Hawke's status with the Qunari and the things revolving his mother like him finishing her favorite game for her and an old friend of hers giving her condolences. But there is also the fling that Hawke can have with Tallis and the kiss that feel most appropriate before he has an romance so it's hard to say, really.

 

So if you do them in Act 1 they take place during the first year when they were mercenaries and if you do them in Act 2 they (at least MotA) take place the year before, that would be 2 years after Act 1. If you do them in Act 3 it's the same thing, the year before. Hawke is only remembering about what happened the year before when you do the quests.

 

I just wish they hadn't chickened out and just made them take place during a certain time instead. They take place in the past no matter when you play so why not just say that Legacy takes place year 3 and MotA year 6 or something?

[Solrest]

 
I don't consider any book containing King Alistair canon because I don't have a scenario in which I would allow Alistair to be king in DAO.  The books are stories following their own set of variables, but Gaider and the rest of the staff have explicitly said that one's canon is one's own.  If a book conflicts with one's personal canon of DA, then that book is wrong, not the events that occurred in one's game of DA.  I do recognize that the events of some of the books must have occurred(such as Asunder), even if certain things (like Wynne and/or Shale being present) may not be exact.  But until Inquisition comes out, there's no real point in trying to differentiate what actually happened in such books.
 
That said, conflicts of information between games can't be settled as easily, and I don't begrudge using the books to help balance the scales... But when Witch Hunt says it occurs two years after Awakening, then the only way, in my mind, that The World of Thedas could be correct about Witch Hunt occurring one year after Awakening, is if DAI comes out and edits the dates...  Until such point, however, taking the book's word over that of the game's is foolhardy to me...

 

I understand your point, and I'm going to address that with a disclaimer on the timeline. I also go by my own timeline concerning my characters in the games, but my intention with this is to show what order existing media does follow according to the most recent official information. A lot of the media focused around the fifth blight does run in to issues with possibly conflicting with your own choices during the game, but I think reading them still holds merrit (although you never argued against that).

 

Despite key characters in those tales possibly not existing any longer or not in any position to be there as shown (Alistair as king etc.), other events depicted would have still occured regardless at that time in history (the location of a certain some one's father, and of a certain someone's daughter.). Which brings about another interesting take of reading those events and considering what would have happened during that occasion with that character gone as per your own timeline. So even outside of personal timelines I think these dates still hold true, butterfly effects withstanding.

 

Concerning Witch Hunt in particular there's been a lot of confusion. In Witch Hunt it mentions that it has been 2 years since the Mother attacked, as you cited, and also that it's been years since the Archdemon died. However, the Dragon Age website mentions "Nearly a year has passed since the Archdemon's death..." and in the World of Thedas it marks her sighting as having occured in 9:32 DA as well which falls in line with the website. As I'm not constricting these dates purely to ingame information but rather the most up to date that I can find (The World of Thedas, responses from Dragon Age writers via online forums and other social sites etc.) I'm going to have to side with the 9:32 DA date, despite having it marked originally on my earliest timeline according to the in game information.

 

When Dragon Age 3 is released I certainly will be updating this with the most recent information presented and look forward to hopefully some of the more contested dates on here being clarified fully.

[Sifr]

Mark of the Assassin also seems more likely to have happened between Acts, as Hawke's diary after completing it mentions that it's been a year since they saw Tallis.

 

Although this doesn't discount the possibility that each Act took place over multiple years, it still fits more in 3 as aside from the growing tensions between the Mages and Templars, it comes across as a much shorter Act that the previous two and most of the quests and events outside of the Mage-Templar stuff are largely unconnected.

 

Unlike the Deep Roads Expedition and Qunari Crisis which seem to have more time constraints to them in the timeline, Hawke wouldn't be missed if they left the city briefly during Act 3 to take care of Legacy and MotA, as nothing really major happens until all hell breaks loose at the Gallows.