I’ve noticed how over the course of several games when Bioware recycles certain character archetypes. This is not a criticism, as there’s really nothing new under the sun, but more importantly all writers want to explore themes from different angles. Reincarnating characters allows them to further examine their story without dragging them past their logical conclusion. Since Origins was billed as the “spiritual successor” to Baldur’s Gate, most of the characters take cues from that series, although many have touches from Jade Empire and Knights of the Old Republic:
Alistair- An adorkable, self conscious but still brave warrior? Khalid for sure, but some of his backstory and darker moments reflect Anomen.
Morrigan- Arrogant, wild magic using straw Darwinist? Viconia, with some Faldorn and Nyalee mixed in. Hilariously, the Dark Ritual could be seen as a Darker and Edgerier take on Aerie’s romance plot 
.
Leliana- Idealistic, adventurous red head with a Your Mileage May Vary retconned resurrection? Imoen. Hell, they have the same damn portraits 
! Not to mention how Leliana’s constant soften/hardening flip-flopping could be deconstructing how Imoen stays with an immoral CHARNAME.
Zevran- Flirty elven rogue who hinders as often helps? Coran. Zev’s swinging from to antagonist to support and possibly back again are also like a reverse Yoshimo, and his romance can be reminiscent of Sky’s.
Wynne- The wise elder mage evokes Dynaheir and Jaheira, while the seemingly benevolent undead abomination reminds me of Wild Flower and Ya Zhen.
Sten- Chuck Sonnenberg of SF Debris compared Sten’s arc to Zaalbar; a stoic giant warrior shamed by losing control but ramped up to eleven. Personally, Sten’s eloquence and pragmatism brought memories of Sagacious Zu.
Ohgren-You could bring up Korgan, yet another generic Dwarven berzerker. Myself, I think of Black Whirlwind, whose boisterous bruiser personality belied hidden depths. Really, really hidden…
Shale- Answer: HK-47. It would be inherently obvious to even the most insufferably squishy meat bags 
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Loghain- This is where my comparisons stretch, as I find Loghain Mac Tir easily Bioware’s most complex and even sometimes sympathetic villain to date. On a purely superficial level there is Saverok, a former antagonist the player can later recruit; though to be honest I found Loghain’s personality slightly more in tune with his step-father Rieltar Anchev. As does adding Loghain to your party causes an irreparable rift, so too with Death’s Hand. Finally we have Saren, knight templar patriot who resorts to increasingly desperate acts to save his people. Funny enough, an early draft of Origins’ story had Loghain secretly being under the Archdemon’s mental control, and was likely scrapped for being too similar to Saren.
Awakenings begins to reflect Origins proper, with Anders essentially being “Mage Alistair”. Given their back stories, you could argue Nathaniel, Sigrun and Velanna being expies for the Human Noble, Castless, and Dalish Wardens, respectively. The Dark Wolf continues the Rogue Wardens’ legacy as a shadowy revolutionary. Justice presents another spin on Wild Flower and Wynne’s “benevolent undead abomination” trope, but focusing mostly on the Spirit part this time. In the Golems of Amgarrack DLC, Jerrick and Brogan Dace practically foreshadow Varric and Bartrend, albeit with switched roles and a happier ending.
In Dragon Age 2, Bethany and Carver bring up Imoen again with Carver being a kind of twisted, but ultimately still loyal version. That either one can become a Grey Warden recounts the Bhaalspawn connection.
Aveline- On the surface you could say Branwen, but to me Aveline is Bizarro Leliana. Seriously, take a look at the history of their childhoods, demeanor and core beliefs, and Aveline zigs where Leliana zags.
Varric- Being the ultimate DA Anti-Dwarf, I had to look outside his kind for spiritual ancestry. Garrick (along with the close spelling) is also a Chaotic Neutral bard, and although Varric is obviously much braver, both prefer to talk their way out of fights. On the opposite end, Haer’Dalis is a storyteller who prefers getting material from life experience, and joined the protagonist because he knew their quest would make a grand tale. Not to mention that like Varric, the Doomguard would’ve been a fan preferred Love Interest to the ones they got.
Anders- In DA2 he could be the ultimate deconstruction of the “good” abominations we had in Wynne and Justice. Plus, a little theory of mine: in Origins’ planning the blood mage Jowan was going to be an optional party member, but was cut for time. I think the writers recycled Jowan’s arc in both Anders (renegade apostate), and Merrill (naïve blood mage).
Fenris- Hmmm… a no nonsense warrior who despises magic because of it’s abuses on him and his family, yet still uses magical abilities? Valygar anyone?
Isabella- A sultry, chaotic neutral female rogue? Ditch the noble ties and you have Safana.
Merrill- A lot of Merrill’s story reminds of bits of Aerie and Neera, along with the aforementioned Jowan. Plus, Tali Zorah also the whole young, quirky and dangerously curious Love Interest thing going on.
Sebastian- The prince of Starkhaven evokes Nathaniel by being an archery rogue with a calm persona, and Alistair in that he was a royal given to serve the Chantry and becomes consumed with vengeance.
In Inquisition:
Cassandra- Branwen again, but also continues the Dragon Age “spare to the heir given to the Chantry” trope.
Solas- At first glace Egghead resembles Cernd, with a little Solaufein. After Tresspasser, the Dread Wolf becomes a more complex and (debatably) more sympathetic Irenicus.
Vivienne- Recalling Baldur’s Gate again, Madame de Fer is an updated Dynaheir, although those less kind would compare her to Hexxat 
. In DA Viv contrasts Wynne as a loyal (but much more ambitious) Circle Mage and Morrigan (both ruthless, but opposed on order versus freedom).
Sera- Both Alora and Nalia’s story remind me of our particular Red Jenny. Ironically, in Dragon Age Sera’s female trickster elf is matched with Ariene .
Iron Bull- Hissard’s story seems a mostly Lighter and Softer version of Dorn Il-Khan. For DA, Bull is Bizarro Sten.
Blackwall- The direction of Thom Rainer’s backstory, motivations, relationship with the Player Character, and possible ultimate fates strike me as a deliberate contrast to Loghain, with a pinch of Sten for good measure.
Cole- This is the one I had the most trouble with, since Cole is, to me, one of Dragon Age’s most unique characters. I suppose he’s closest to Justice, being a Spirit that inadvertently assumed the identity of a dead man. Happily, Cole’s eventual fate (Spirit of Human) is better than Justice becoming Vengeance.
Dorian- A sly witted, stylish, rebel mage with a huge dose of Stop Being Stereotypical? For everyone who hated what happed to him in DA2, Dorian can come off as Awakenings Anders reincarnated.
There are other of course; how Sandal exhibits bits and pieces of Cespenar, Minsc, and Kang the Mad, or Flemeth evoking Amellyan, Nyalee, and Ellesime. Again, this is not a criticism; rearranging character tropes are great ways to examine their story in ways that wouldn’t suit them otherwise. Having said that, a question: in the event of your personal ensemble dark horses definitely Not Coming Back, are there any you would want to see creatively reincarnated? Similar enough for nostalgia, but different enough to be their own person? Conversely, are there characters that you liked or hated that you would want to see their polar opposite? Off the top of my head here are some of mine:
I have a soft spot for the Dark Wolf from Awakenings; a masked man of mystery with the storyline of a Rogue but fighting style of a Warrior. I would love a character that embodies the same legacy, or at least archetype.
As with another scrapped potential companion, Ketojan, I wouldn’t mind having a Saarebaas Companion. On the Bizarro side however, since the Qunari are Communists, I’d like to see their equivalent to Ayn Rand 
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Since Sera hated her elven ancestry, it might be interesting to see an elf-blooded human Companion who preferred their elven side. IT could explore both their own arc, and the reactions of their friends, family, and enemies.
Considering all of the Spirit based Companions we’ve had, I want one who starts as a full on Demon, with all of the moral dilemmas it would entail. With so many Spirits becoming Demons in the real world, could the Player actually help them evolve in to a Spirit? Would it work in the long run? Would the character even want to, or would it be a trick to become a more powerful Demon?
I’m sure more will come, but that’s all for now. What about yours? Remember, this is specifically about continuing a previous characters’ tropes, exploring unused potential, or outright
Retour en haut
. Or one that goes the full Ubermensch, from Hirol all the way to Branka, but with a happier end this time. Or not 
