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