Inquisition already introduced a perk system but it is fairly detached from character development and only changes a dismal amount of gameplay features like the amount of potions you have, a small resistance buff or increased XP.
Instead we develop our characters on a completely separate system of passives build on attribute points from experience while perks are gained from influence.
Also, when we create a character we can only determine traits inherent to an arbitrary benefit from their species rather than improvements and drawbacks from their lifestyles and background.
My point is that Dragon Age could improve character customization by adding character traits besides race traits while separating passives and active abilities into a perk three and and ability three.
Origins already had a talent tree besides an ability one but it was more about unlocking gameplay features than modifying the character's abilities. What I am talking about is something more akin to Fallout but divided between abilites you use and perks which change your character's passive attributes.
Instead of having to waste points on abilities you don't use just to get a passive you want, you just use a perk point to buy that passive while saving your ability point to invest on improving an ability you use.
Ideally, instead of assigning a slot to single ability, you assign a slot to an entire ability tree which can be toggled by holding down the slot button and changing which ability is active in that slot at the moment.
Example:
Winter Attack Tree:
Winter Grasp > Cone of Cold > Winter Blast (AoE freeze) > Blizzard
Winter Defense Tree:
Fade Step (with energizing step) > Ice Mine > Chilling Array > Ring of Ice
Winter Perks:
Attack branch: Frost Mastery > Winter's Vengeance (all defense abilities do damage) > Brittle Glyph (for all frozen enemies) > Winter's Ruin (triple ice damage for all frozen enemies)
Defense branch: Winter Stillness > Mana Surge > Ice Armor > Ice Aura (contantly emits an aura of ice that damages and chills enemies around you, provides source for unlimite Ice Armor)
You have a total of 16 abilities and 16 perks each with their different points to improve rather than sacrificing one for the other.
As for traits, ideally you could choose two background traits besides your race trait.
Independently of race or class you could, for example, choose to be perceptive of stealth enemies at the cost being more vulnerable to flank attacks, regenerate over time at the cost of potions healing less, increase damage by 20% at the cost of 200% increase in aggro , generate a 10% chance of fear at the cost of doubling companion dissaproval and so forth.
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