Here is my list of things i'd love to see in the next Dragon Age: (Please feel free to +1 or criticize)
Overall plot aside...
RELATIONSHIPS / CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
1. Sex: Continue pushing the boundaries in regards to adult content & sex scenes but keep them varied, character specific and unique. Example: Iron Bull is into BDSM where as Cassandra is an old school Romantic. Bull is indoors, Cassandra outdoors. Others could be in Rivers after washing (Shower scenes). Foot fetishes? Others could be right after a battle or even on a battlefield. Also, more than 1 engagement. Passion should be a huge deal when facing the end of the world, emotions and adrenaline/endorphins run high.
2. Children & Pregnancy. More Pregnancy situations, nothing more fragile than a pregnant woman and thus few quests more dire or important than saving a romanced companion who's carrying your child. I know i'm looking forward to the reunion of my Warden and his son Keiran.
3. Inter-party relationships or cross-party relationships. Like Tali Zorah & Garris if you didn't romance either, they start a relationship together within your party. More of this. Also the potential to start relationships with party members from Hawke's troupe or The Hero of Fereldans. Mix it up and make things interesting.
4. Non relationship sex. One of the things that first blew my mind playing the original DAO was playing the Human High Born Warrior and being able to sleep with an elven maid... RIGHT AT THE START OF THE GAME! That's amazing, please more NPC sex options. More Polyandrous/Polyamory relationships, lets get real BioWare.
5. Hard Hitting Sexual Themes. Such as child abuse, rape, domestic violence etc. Similar to JACK in Mass Effect... a character that has been mistreated can evoke many powerful emotions for a player, from compassion, pity and vengeance etc. More hard hitting themes such as these for greater feels and connections to characters.
6. Sex appeal & Beauty. Granted these themes lay in the eyes of the beholder. It's subjective but i noticed a distinct even unanimous reduction in breast sizes on female characters in the game and a complete lack of any sexualised characters, even tavern wenches or ladies of the night? (Just generally speaking). I understand the USA has a problem with Political Correctness atm but id have thought BioWare would be above most of that nonsense. Every female character was an A cup and only Iron Bull was a sexualised character having his top off most of the time and being into BDSM? I would like more balance in this regard. Bards, Whores & Pirate Queens should be sexualised by nature of their nature.
WORLD INTERACTION & GAMEPLAY.
1. Camping. I'd love to be able to chose where i set up camp, start a fire, wash clothes in a river, bathe under a waterfall with companions, develop romances.
2. Mounts. The entire squad should be on horseback not disapear and as you travel, chat to you or each other. Also, no weird mounts ever again. (Nugs, Cheap Dracolisks) but Griffons, Dragons, Brontos etc.
GAMEPLAY MECHANICS
1. Race Specific Abilities. I personally found that being a Qunari Mage, i wasn't able to use any Dragon Blood or Qunari Saarebas type magics sucked major ass. But Iron Bull had a unique warrior set of skills "Dragon Rage". The Magic in the game was generic across the board pretty much, even specialisations were a bit of a bore fest. Bring back "Shape Shifting" "Blood Magic" "Elven Nature Magic" etc etc
2. The enemy Rogue A.I was so awesome, it was a major let down when my own rogue couldn't fight in a similar fashion. More rogue acrobatics.
3. 2 handed weapon style was utterly dull. Earthshat strike looked as boring as it's overall effect in battle was. Whirlwind is also cheap. 2 Handed style also statistically should be about shear brute force and knockdown potential. -critical chance but high +Attack% example; 800-1000% weapon damage with reduced critical hit because it lacks finesse.
4. Death. Death isn't punishing, you don't fear it... you don't care if your companions are hurt or about to die. That has to change. When i'm in a fight i want to be made to give a **** about my companions health, status etc. Battles will be that much more intense. Not sure on how best to improve it...
MORE CHARACTER DIALOGUE.
Especially during combat, with cursing, shouting and when companions are close to death or in serious trouble... screaming, pain etc. Make us care.
Anyway, just a few of my thoughts. I love your work BioWare and have played all your games since you began, so please continue to move forward, not step backward.