We can't have party banter with dog, so it's his main weakness. But it's nice to see him at the camp.
He does have some party banter, actually. Not as much as the others, but some.
Zevran for me, though mostly because he was just redundant on top of my two-weapon rogue. I try to use every party member for at least one main quest, though.
A brief run down:
The Stone Prisoner is Shale, a new companion who joins you after you find first her control rod from the merchant near the Frostbacks then you go to the town of Honnleath which will pop up after you get the quest to find the golem. A nice helmet and ring can be gotten here, in addition to Shale.
Warden's Peak starts with Levi Dryden in the warden's camp (after you open up the main camp, not the original one which disappears after you leave it). It will be located north once you unlock the location. Once the DLC is completed, it unlocks a storage chest. Depending on your choices in the keep, you can obtain a nice armor set and staff. It's also where you come back to forge Starfang, which is a nice sword.
Return to Ostagar can be done any time after you leave Lothering (maybe even before, I am unsure). It opens up a new area for fighting darkspawn, gathering Cailan's armor and getting a bit more lore. Wynne, Alistair, Loghain and Dog all have additional dialogue there, though Dog's is limited to one moment, it's a pretty poignant one.
Darkspawn Chronicles is just a hack and slash in an alternate reality that has your warden dead and the player takes on the role of a darkspawn invading Denerim.
FeastDay items is gifts and gag gifts for raising and lowering approval, some are generic, some are specific to certain companions.
Golems of Amgarrak takes place after Awakenings and is an old school dungeon crawl with none of your previous companions joining the warden. A couple of puzzles and some dwarven lore is all that I did this for.
Witch Hunt is the conclusion of the Origin story where you can confront Morrigan at her Eluvian and speak with her.
Leliana's Song is a prequel, and pretty fun to play.
Most DLC can be completed in an hour or two and I found them fun, though I much prefer Legacy from DA2 to any of them. Several of the DLC unlock items your warden can use in Origins once you complete the mini-quests to unlock them.
If you have trouble getting any of them to work (like I did at my last reinstall) check out the bottom of this wiki page for more information.
http://dragonage.wik...ntent_(Origins)
Good luck, and have fun.
Thanks so much for that!
For Return to Ostagar I'll wait until I get Loghain, because he has interesting dialogues there.
Well I don't mind starting again the game, but this time I really wanted to do my Amell fem!Warden, so I'll do again exactly what I did a few days ago.
I already tried the Dalish start, the Cityelf one, the Cousland one, and so the Amell one. I never tried with dwarves but I'll do it one day 
Pretty sure RtO has to be done after Lothering, but I may be wrong on that point. I've always done Lothering before doing anything else.
Pretty sure RtO has to be done after Lothering, but I may be wrong on that point. I've always done Lothering before doing anything else.
Well, yes, I don't think you can do it before Lothering anyway.
I prefer doing it at the end of the game, to have Loghain with me. The funny thing in that case is that it's sooo long after the battle of Ostagar that it's surprising to see Cailan's body so well conserved 
still fresh like if it was the day before.
Well, yes, I don't think you can do it before Lothering anyway.
I prefer doing it at the end of the game, to have Loghain with me. The funny thing in that case is that it's sooo long after the battle of Ostagar that it's surprising to see Cailan's body so well conserved
Timeline in the game is all wonky anyway. The actual game events take place over the pace of a year, though some dialogues can be really weird, especially if you're a mage and speak to Wynne about the events in your origin. So if it's early into the game, the nicely preserved corpse makes sense. The one that's almost a year old...not so much. 
Even more traumatizing, the first time I did it I had the Nude Mod on, and Cailan looked just a wee bit too 'happy' about hanging around dead. 
What I meant about RtO was I didn't know if you can play the DLC upon entering Lothering (without doing any of the quest line there). I think it's possible, but you have to arrive at Lothering from Flemeth's hut first. A moot point since you want to take Loghain with you, which means late in the game anyway.
Haha, with the Nude mod it would have looked weird, yes 
never tried any mod as I'm playing on ps3.
Before, I throught that RtO could be played only towards the end of the game, that's why I thought that Cailan's body looked a bit too "fresh and almost alive", but yeah, it's because it's possible to do it just after Lothering.
Or maybe the darkspawn have some kind of refrigirator or Cryogenic coffin *little music from Forever Young*
Haha, with the Nude mod it would have looked weird, yes
Before, I throught that RtO could be played only towards the end of the game, that's why I thought that Cailan's body looked a bit too "fresh and almost alive", but yeah, it's because it's possible to do it just after Lothering.
Or maybe the darkspawn have some kind of refrigirator or Cryogenic coffin *little music from Forever Young*
The scenery in Ostagar is all snowy in the DLC. And I seem to recall some dialogues talking about how cold it is further south? Even in Inquisition, the Avvars you encounter have those furs on. Maybe temperatures in the south are cold enough to be semi-refrigerated?
If it's all snowy then it doesn't take place "just" after the battle, isn't it? that's why it feels too early to return to Ostagar when you reach Lothering, I think.
Hmm in the DLC with Sophia Dryden, are there "companion specific dialogues"? when should I do that quest? there is that Levi guy who is at my camp...to launch the quest...
I also have all these presents to offer (the good ones and the prank ones), including the voodoo doll of Alistair, Morrigan likes it so much (maybe she likes him in secret in fact) there is also a chastity belt, is it a "prank present" for Zevran? o_o I guess that the "orlesian mask" is the prank present for Loghain.
Chastity belt is a prank for Zev, I think. I'd say Orlesian mask is prank for Loghain or maybe a gift for Leliana, but not sure?
Haha, with the Nude mod it would have looked weird, yes
Before, I throught that RtO could be played only towards the end of the game, that's why I thought that Cailan's body looked a bit too "fresh and almost alive", but yeah, it's because it's possible to do it just after Lothering.
Or maybe the darkspawn have some kind of refrigirator or Cryogenic coffin *little music from Forever Young*
Darkspawn contamination kills decay bacteria along with everything else that can't go ghoul. I could never figure out what the deal was with that bird.
Darkspawn contamination kills decay bacteria along with everything else that can't go ghoul. I could never figure out what the deal was with that bird.
Makes sense, I remember reading that parts of the Anderfels are still sterile thanks to the Blight centuries ago.
If it's all snowy then it doesn't take place "just" after the battle, isn't it? that's why it feels too early to return to Ostagar when you reach Lothering, I think.
Hmm in the DLC with Sophia Dryden, are there "companion specific dialogues"? when should I do that quest? there is that Levi guy who is at my camp...to launch the quest...
I also have all these presents to offer (the good ones and the prank ones), including the voodoo doll of Alistair, Morrigan likes it so much
I think the gear you get is keyed to 'level' it's tier to your level (like around 15-16 you get Silverite instead of grey iron). Stone Prisoner, Wardens Keep and Return to Ostagar can be done at anytime you like during the events of Origins. I always did Stone Prisoner immediately after Lothering to get the golem as soon as possible, and I don't think the helmet changes tier. Since you play on PS, you have to determine if what you get from the DLCs is worth doing early or later in game since you won't have any gear mods and need nice stuff for the end battles.
*Edit* Leliana's song, Golems of Amgarrak, Witch Hunt and Darkspawn Chronicles don't take place during the game events but they do provide you with some nice items you can use in the main game if you achieve certain requirements.
There are some companion specific dialogues, but nothing truly different from any other area of the game. It all depends on what kind of tone you want to set for the playthrough. I know in Return to Ostagar Loghain has some really good dialogue, better than Alistair and Wynne and offers some insights into his behavior and feelings about the battle. I actually contemplated having him in my group for it, but then I got to the Alienage and...well, you know how that ends. I ended up Utubing it. All I can say is, being a fan of his, you will have a treat in store for you if you wait to bring him.
Leliana's Song is a prequel in which the Hero is absent, you play Leliana, Golems of Amgarrak takes place after Awakenings and Witch Hunt is the concluding chapter some time after the events of Origins. So those are played outside the main body of Origins at any time you prefer.
Again, bringing Loghain in RtO is something you can do to have a better understanding of the whole battle, what happened, etc. It's not something you only do when you like the character.
Even Wynne says that she "has been mistaken about him" and she apologized for being so rude with him! it tells you how much you can learn about him and his motivation, and understand everything better (you're not obliged to forgive him all his crimes, you can still sacrifice him against the archdemon if you want to make a useful death).
As you get Loghain only at the end and have almost no quests with him, I'll keep the maximum for the end then.
Leliana's song was cool, it's a prequel
Again, bringing Loghain in RtO is something you can do to have a better understanding of the whole battle, what happened, etc. It's not something you only do when you like the character.
Even Wynne says that she "has been mistaken about him" and she apologized for being so rude with him! it tells you how much you can learn about him and his motivation, and understand everything better (you're not obliged to forgive him all his crimes, you can still sacrifice him against the archdemon if you want to make a useful death).
As you get Loghain only at the end and have almost no quests with him, I'll keep the maximum for the end then.
Leliana's song was cool, it's a prequel
I still think you should do Stone Prisoner as soon as possible. Shale is well integrated into the main story and has some character commentary in most dialogues in the game.
The Golem is especially interesting if you bring it along in the Deep Roads for when you speak to Caridin. You get a lot of backstory on who it was before becoming a Golem.
And Shale, Alistair and Zevran have my personal favorite banter in the game, with all three characters having something to say about "Alistair crossing borders".
I will try to recruit Shale soon then, like this I can go to Honnleath and maybe see Cullen's family
I will try to recruit Shale soon then, like this I can go to Honnleath and maybe see Cullen's family
OMG I just realized.
The character you meet there, the son of Wilhelm, is voiced by Greg Ellis, the same man who voiced Cullen. I didn't make the connection till you just reminded me his family is from Honnleath. As far as I know this character isn't related to Cullen, it's just a funny little side note to the story. I wonder if Bioware did this on purpose.
But yes, Shale is awesome!
In french, Shale has a male voice. Is it supposed to be female? in english it sounds more neutral.
haha it is the golem from the Stolen Throne, funny. Loghain recognizes it but Shale doesn't remember so Loghain thinks it's maybe not the same golem. But it is.
Yes, it's the same golem. I believe it's former owner was also in Stolen Throne as well.
Well I was spoiled in another thread so... too late for me 
Yes its owner Wilhem was the mage in Stolen Throne, funny to hear about him in the game.
And I try to imagine Cullen running around the golem as a child
In french, Shale has a male voice. Is it supposed to be female? in english it sounds more neutral.
haha it is the golem from the Stolen Throne, funny. Loghain recognizes it but Shale doesn't remember so Loghain thinks it's maybe not the same golem. But it is.
Yes, Shale is supposed to be female though as Golem Shale doesn't have gender similarly as dwarves have.
I'm searching for the gifts for my companions and according to the wiki, there are TWO maps for Loggy in the castle of Redcliff. One of Orlais and another one we can get only after the Landsmeet.
But I visited all the rooms of that castle and didn't find any map (during the mission to save Connor). We are supposed to find at least one at that moment, right?
or is it too early?
Yes, I want to tame him with maps... (reminds me of that fanart by Batata-tasha)
http://batata-tasha....Wilds-183673071
I'm searching for the gifts for my companions and according to the wiki, there are TWO maps for Loggy in the castle of Redcliff. One of Orlais and another one we can get only after the Landsmeet.
But I visited all the rooms of that castle and didn't find any map (during the mission to save Connor). We are supposed to find at least one at that moment, right?
or is it too early?
Yes, I want to tame him with maps... (reminds me of that fanart by Batata-tasha)
I only found the one in Redcliffe castle after the Landsmeet. I seem to think it was in Alistair/Loghain's room? I am unsure, I never really looked. At that point all my companions had max approval and I didn't care enough about Loghain the 1 time I recruited him to hunt down all the maps.
I've read on a website that one could be found before the Landsmeet, in Redcliffe.
I admit that in my first playthrough, when I didn't know about the "secret companion", I had a map in my inventory and I was wondering who it was for. But I don't remember where I got it.
There is one map at Loghain's room right before the final battle at Redcliffe. You need to be a rogue to unlock it.
There is a map at the grey warden vault were you find Duncan shield, a map sold at the alienage by the elf merchant and a map sold at the wonders of thedas shop in Denerim.
Hmm ok, yes I had a list of these ones, but maybe the website I was checking was mistalen about the map to be found in Redcliffe "before the Landsmeet"...
and on the english wiki, they talk about some Botanist map "unobtainable via normal means", what??? never heard of that.
Retour en haut