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Dragon Age To Expand In March

The classic feel of BioWare's RPG continues with the announcement of a full-on proper expansion.

In this age of quick-hit downloadable content, proper "old-school" expansion packs have become something of a rarity. So when EA and BioWare officially announced an upcoming add-on for Dragon Age: Origins this morning, I sort of immediately assumed it was yet another piece of DLC for the game. But this new expansion, known as Awakening, will actually hit as a traditional, full-on expansion--on a disc at retail stores or digitally, if that's your thing. It's currently scheduled to become available on March 16 and will retail for $39.99 on PS3, 360, and PC.

The expansion will add a higher level cap, five new party members, additional spells and abilities, and the ability to re-spec your character, which is something that required you to pull down the console or edit your save files previously. The new quest will allow you to bring in existing characters or start a new one as you attempt to rebuild the order of Grey Wardens. Here are the relevant bits of the announcement for more details on the story:

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, occurs following the events of Dragon Age: Origins and puts players into the role of a Grey Warden Commander entrusted with rebuilding the order of Grey Wardens. In addition to rebuilding the ranks of the Grey Wardens, you will be tasked with uncovering the mystery of how the darkspawn survive after the slaying of the Archdemon. How players choose to rebuild their order, resolve the conflict with the mysterious “Architect,” and determine the fate of the darkspawn are just some of the many intriguing moral choices that will shape each player’s heroic journey. Players will be able to import their character from Dragon Age: Origins or start out as a new Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais.

Oh, and hey, here are some shots of said thing, too! 

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jeff

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Edited By jeff

In this age of quick-hit downloadable content, proper "old-school" expansion packs have become something of a rarity. So when EA and BioWare officially announced an upcoming add-on for Dragon Age: Origins this morning, I sort of immediately assumed it was yet another piece of DLC for the game. But this new expansion, known as Awakening, will actually hit as a traditional, full-on expansion--on a disc at retail stores or digitally, if that's your thing. It's currently scheduled to become available on March 16 and will retail for $39.99 on PS3, 360, and PC.

The expansion will add a higher level cap, five new party members, additional spells and abilities, and the ability to re-spec your character, which is something that required you to pull down the console or edit your save files previously. The new quest will allow you to bring in existing characters or start a new one as you attempt to rebuild the order of Grey Wardens. Here are the relevant bits of the announcement for more details on the story:

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, occurs following the events of Dragon Age: Origins and puts players into the role of a Grey Warden Commander entrusted with rebuilding the order of Grey Wardens. In addition to rebuilding the ranks of the Grey Wardens, you will be tasked with uncovering the mystery of how the darkspawn survive after the slaying of the Archdemon. How players choose to rebuild their order, resolve the conflict with the mysterious “Architect,” and determine the fate of the darkspawn are just some of the many intriguing moral choices that will shape each player’s heroic journey. Players will be able to import their character from Dragon Age: Origins or start out as a new Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais.

Oh, and hey, here are some shots of said thing, too! 

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Cloudwork

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Edited By Cloudwork

Woot, more Dragon Age just finishing off origins on PC.
 
edit: also woot first

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fwylo

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Edited By fwylo

That Lightning Dragon looks amazing.  I still have to play this, but waiting to play it on PC instead of 360.
 
Just have to buy that PC...

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Wildfire570

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Edited By Wildfire570

Sounds like Bioware is keeping their promise when it comes to DLC and stuff but a whole expansion? Wow thats a little surprising.

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RHCPfan24

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Edited By RHCPfan24

Noice. A full-on expansion for Dragon Age is good news to hear.

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THE_END

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Edited By THE_END

It sucks the expansion that was suppose to be released today (Return to Ostagar) was delayed.  :(

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phrosnite

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Edited By phrosnite

Must-buy for sure. Until the expansion comes out I will probably have 200hours in DA:O.

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Jimbo

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Edited By Jimbo

Is that Ghost again in the last screenshot?  You're gonna need to introduce The Ghosties next award season.

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thecleric

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Edited By thecleric
@Jimbo said:
" Is that Ghost again in the last screenshot?  You're gonna need to introduce The Ghosties next award season. "
Modern Warfare invented skulls
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JokerClown88

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Edited By JokerClown88

NICE!!!!!  Proper Expansions are indeed an amazing thing.
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Heartagram

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Edited By Heartagram

Wonder if this is going to be a sign of better things to come for Mass Effect 2. The DLC for Mass Effect 1 was Horrible

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Frederik

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Edited By Frederik

Yes! March is gonna be good for RPG fans

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TheAdmin

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Edited By TheAdmin

Bioware is seriously pwning my wallet - between all the dragon age content and Mass Effect 2 on the way... it's over... I've got 63 hours into DA:O and I'm still not finished yet.

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ajamafalous

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Edited By ajamafalous
@thecleric said:
" @Jimbo said:
" Is that Ghost again in the last screenshot?  You're gonna need to introduce The Ghosties next award season. "
Modern Warfare invented skulls "
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Cerza

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Edited By Cerza

This is a day 1 buy for me. I can't wait. It seems like forever since I bought an actual expansion pack.

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Jimbo

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Edited By Jimbo
@thecleric said:
" @Jimbo said:
" Is that Ghost again in the last screenshot?  You're gonna need to introduce The Ghosties next award season. "
Modern Warfare invented skulls "
God invented skulls, Modern Warfare popularized them.
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MvB

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Edited By MvB

Awesome. Can't wait!

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vonsoot

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Edited By vonsoot

OMFG. That soon!!! I know they delayed the DAge release to port it to consoles; love it. Bioware FTW. Hopefully this expansion will turn Dragon Age + Awakening + DLC into a 200+ hour mega ultra RPG; the best kind of RPG!

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Jadeskye

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Edited By Jadeskye

Damn...i just completed my third playthrough x_x 
 
Think i'll pick this up later in the year, i'm pretty dragon age'd out.

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trophyhunter

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Edited By trophyhunter

five new party members? SOLD!!!!

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Stephen_Von_Cloud

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I'm in the middle of Dragon Age right now, but this still sounds good.   I hope we hear something about content length at some point here though.

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JoeH

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Edited By JoeH

NO! I have exams in march! Bioware is stealing my study time! :P

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GunnBjorn

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Edited By GunnBjorn
@jadeskye said:
"Damn...i just completed my third playthrough x_x  Think i'll pick this up later in the year, i'm pretty dragon age'd out. "

After three playthroughs, yeah, i'm pretty convinced as well you're utterly saturated.
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MadBootsy

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Edited By MadBootsy
NICE!
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unreal999

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Edited By unreal999
@JoeH said:
" NO! I have exams in march! Bioware is stealing my study time! :P "
This will be on FOX News. I am callin it.
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Teirdome

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Edited By Teirdome

Gamestop has it listed at $30 on PC instead of $40 like the consoles.  Hoping it'll stay at that price on steam.

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Metiphis

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Edited By Metiphis

Is it me or does it look like you can have a Dark Spawn party member...  I hope he's fun to talk to.

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SilentCommando

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Edited By SilentCommando

Man, I can't WAIT this is gonna be awesome

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DukeTogo

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Edited By DukeTogo

I'm still barely going through the first playthrough,  I might have to wait on it get it in the Summer when nothing is out (and hopefully it's cheaper).

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Edited By mordukai

I wonder how they will handle the using of an already made character becasue 
 

 
I just hope they won't handle it in the same manner as the first ME where you had to reload an earlier save. 
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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

I haven't even finished my second play through but yea I am down for some more Dragon Age.

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delta_ass

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@Mordukai said:

" I wonder how they will handle the using of an already made character becasue 
 

 I just hope they won't handle it in the same manner as the first ME where you had to reload an earlier save.  "
They'll let you play as a new Grey Warden from Orlais.
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@unreal999 said:
" @JoeH said:
" NO! I have exams in march! Bioware is stealing my study time! :P "
This will be on FOX News. I am callin it. "
Nah I'm British, worst it'll be on the BBC. Though I won't actually replace studying with Dragon Age time.... I can go without sleep instead for a few weeks right?
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Valentino

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Edited By Valentino

This 100% proves that Ghost cannot die!

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towly177

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Yay, dragon age is awesome

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Ineedaname

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Edited By Ineedaname

I can respec that's awesomesauce, pretty sure I waste one skill point. I also want to move in lock picking.

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@Mordukai said:
" I wonder how they will handle the using of an already made character becasue 
 
 I just hope they won't handle it in the same manner as the first ME where you had to reload an earlier save.  "

I did that. I hope I get to see that statue they promised me.
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deactivated-6418ef3727cdd

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Looks like we'll be fighting two smaller dragons at the same time, I always felt those were a bit underwhelming when fighting only one of them. Hope the fight with the spectral dragon will be unique, not just a reskinned High Dragon that shoots lightning instead of fire. And The Architect should have been in the main campaign as he is by far the most interesting badguy in the Dragon Age lore (he's a major player in the 2nd prequel novel).

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Metroid545

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Edited By Metroid545

dang i have yet to get this game

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ITSSEXYTIME

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Edited By ITSSEXYTIME
@Metiphis: I believe that is the Architect, whom is a character from the second novel.  I don't think he'll be a party member though, that seems very unlikely if you're fighting Darkspawn.
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Tuggah

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Edited By Tuggah

I don't plan on playing Dragon Age any time soon, but I am glad to see that expansions still come out.

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MaddProdigy

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@thecleric: lol 
 
these screen shots look bad ass, stoked to battle a lightning dragon
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Edited By CharleyTony

Dragon Age is a god game but for someone who just started playing it during the holidays, this is really really soon...  :(
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PJ

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@JoeH said:
" @unreal999 said:
" @JoeH said:
" NO! I have exams in march! Bioware is stealing my study time! :P "
This will be on FOX News. I am callin it. "
Nah I'm British, worst it'll be on the BBC. Though I won't actually replace studying with Dragon Age time.... I can go without sleep instead for a few weeks right? "
Yeah, sleep is overrated. And its something that the man made up to keep us down.
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Noxpectius

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Edited By Noxpectius

I only care about One thing....Morrigan. How did that "little surprise" turn out??

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PJ

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Edited By PJ
@GunnBjorn said:
" @jadeskye said:
"Damn...i just completed my third playthrough x_x  Think i'll pick this up later in the year, i'm pretty dragon age'd out. "
After three playthroughs, yeah, i'm pretty convinced as well you're utterly saturated. "
I played it through 5 times and I just want more.
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End_Boss

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Edited By End_Boss
@Mordukai said:
" I wonder how they will handle the using of an already made character becasue 
 
 I just hope they won't handle it in the same manner as the first ME where you had to reload an earlier save.  "
GOOD GOD WHY DID I CLICK THE SPOILER BOX?
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skrutop

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Edited By skrutop

Dragon Age is pretty good (as my total time spent on it shows), but I think I've just about had enough.

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ArbitraryWater

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Edited By ArbitraryWater

This is basically the equivalent of the Throne of Bhall expansion for Baldur's Gate 2, which is pretty awesome.

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PJ

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@End_Boss said:
" @Mordukai said:
" I wonder how they will handle the using of an already made character becasue 
 
 I just hope they won't handle it in the same manner as the first ME where you had to reload an earlier save.  "
GOOD GOD WHY DID I CLICK THE SPOILER BOX? "
Its because when something is in red you have to press it. Its just a fact that all humans have to live whit. Also dont worry, there are still 4 other endings for you to get so its not really the end of the world.