Well, I did try to write a post directly after my trip through the Korcari Wilds - but unfortunately it got eaten up. And so, I decided I would simply trek out and tear through at least one new area for me before I posted again. 
 
Where I Am
 
After finishing through Lothering and setting up camp for the first time, I headed straight for Soldier's Peak (Warden's Keep: DLC) and defeated that. My main reason to do this was to get the storage chest as I am finding I'm holding onto items for sentimental reasons (Family's Sword, Morrigan's Robe, Chantry's Robe) or just sets of armor "just in case". I am a freaking pack rat. And the buying of back packs is not a cheap process (last one was just over 7 gold to bump it from 80 --> 90). 
 
Difficulty 
" There's nothing like a brush with death to make you... not like death very much"  -  Alistair 
"Always try to flank your enemy. History won't remember how valiant your failed frontal assault looked."    - Load Screen
 
Playing on Hard mode is keeping the game excitingly challenging. I think I am doing very well though as rarely do any of my party members ever fall - and I'm not even quaffing potions like mad. The more difficult battles come because I am simply flanked - but even then with a quick bit of rearranging or kiting I have had no trouble. I know people are having trouble on Normal, and I am not bragging but I'd like to at least speak on my tactics. It has much do to with my party configuration, which consists of my main (Rogue) - Alistair - Sten - Morrigan. First off, why did I choose this party set up. Well on my second play through (the first play through I got up to Lothering and decided to respec so I started over) - I found that I was effectively utilizing the three man melee team and Morrigan brought that extra punch at the end to finish off folks. So instead of sticking in a squishy Leliana, I traded her for Sten who could clearly handle himself and dishes damage as well.  
 
Each of my meleers have a "stun/interrupting" technique - the Rogue (Dirty Fighting), Alistair (Shield Bash), and Sten (Pommel Strike). Pommel Strike, I believe has the shortest cool down. So often, when stamina wasn't a problem - I would start off with that. Simultaneously, I would have the Rogue and Alistair use a single-target damaging skill on them. At this point - depending on how the opponent one, normal attacks from all four party members can typically kill it off. Moving to the second target, I'd apply Sten's Massive Blow with Morrigan's Winter's Grasp, if the threat still had ~50% life, I might consider stunning it and then just pummeling it with normal attacks. Depending on your level - you might be out of offensive talents (I'm pretty early yet so I don't have too much) - but this would quickly eliminate the second target. All this is obviously situational, I normally use this tactic if I'm not too crowded and watching everyone's Health. If 3 or more are on one person or he is getting slapped around - I'm specifically targetting folks ganging up on that PC.
 
I never let Morrigan near the melee. She is there to finish folks off quickly. Winter's Grasp followed by the lighting spell (sorry forget the specific name) can quickly finish off an enemy simply engaged by Sten after he's used Might Blow. Also if needed - horror to stun off a "Yellow Rank" to keep him out of the way. Another trick, is when out in the open - it is insanely easy to simply kill off one to two enemies with range at a distance. Often, I started off battles this way and only aggro'd over a few enemies if possible. All this being said - I never use tactics. My game is very paus-y. I'm constantly checking to see when cooldowns are met, and adjust to the situation at hand seeing who is getting ganged on and generally trying to focus everything on one person. 
 
So essentially, Sten only uses Pommel Strike, Mighty Blow and the Sustained Powerful Swings. Alistair uses Shield Bash, Shield Pommel and Overpower(?) typically with Shield Wall activated. My rogue uses mainly only cripple + riposte (I attempt to not have to rely on Dirty Fighting unless he's in a bind, since he outputs a lot of damage with those skills but his willpower because of his armor sinks quickly). Morrigan uses Winter's Grasp, Lightning... and then rarely Mind Blast and Horror. Everything is situational of course... I wish I could pin down more tactics for folks. Hard is definitely doable - and besides a few sticky battles, I've walked away just fine.. and even in those that were harrowing - it was fun indeed.  
 
We'll see how things change though in time though as now I'm finding Sten running out of Stamina - and even my Rogue. Alistair seems to be fine though, in fact, the best off in battle with his fat Grey Warden Armor and Giant Shield with activated Shield Wall on.
 
So Besides Battles... 
 
I've clocked just around 11 hours and 30 some minutes I believe. Too lazy to check now on the minutes exactly, but besides the insanely fufilling tactic battle for me there's so much life in this game thus far. Besides the temporary character at Ostagar, I was surprised to see that characters like Ser Jory and Daveth (the other Grey Warden recruits) had a back story at all. It certainly wasn't anything earth-shattering, but the fact it was there and was written enough to give them both life and personality, I enjoyed a lot. It was a seamless way of introducing companions and how you could ask their back story. Other details which are there for those that want to lose themselves in the lore is the extensive Codex. I know I had commented on this before, but really it needs to be said again. The creature codex (as well as others) continues to expand. There is hardly anything that is a simple few lines (Genlocks do come to mind I believe). Even the "Wolf" codex has small story paragraphs that are told not as some bland basic informative lecture - but instead told more like a pseudo-scholar/Discovery channel interest in the lore and life of such creatures. The writer's have really put a lot of in-depth thought to many, many parts of this game that you can lose yourself in if you'd care to. 
 
Party Banter is just what I wanted. My personal like for Alistair and Morrigan are even more emphasized as the two trade scathing words back and forth. The conversations, I feel, are more revealing and witty then found in previous BioWare game. Personally, while I knew Alistair and Morrigan would have this kind of witty banter - it is surprising to me how Morrigan and Sten interact and how interested I am when they have words as well. It's nice seeing the ever biting and demeaningly sarcastic Morrigan (to Alistair) having to hold her own against Sten's dour and grim attitude!
 
DLC Warden's Keep: Worth It? 
 
T his may come up so I might as well just state my opinion now. First, I am an insanely biased fan of this game. My opinion will differ with people who are just typically more critical of things. Consider also, I received this DLC for free - and I have no previous DLC experience with any other game. Also, $7 is just of little value to me on a grand scale (outside of DLC). I can't even see a movie in a theatre for this much anymore. So take everything that proceeds with that disclaimer in mind. 
 
Would I suggest this to a fan  of the game? Yes.  
What about an average player? Well if they ask with hesitation.. I'd answer with hesitation. It is very hard to define value for a person. For me, I got a storage chest - the lore in the game was expanded on, the Codex bloated up with more things to draw me into the game and the level design itself was well done with engaging battles. As for exact time spent in the initial adventure - just by glancing at my save files, I want to say it took me around 1.5-2 hours. 
 
This was the first place I went to, after Lothering, so maybe it'll be good to see the value of this after I've seen all the other places to visit in DA (Redcliffe, Denerim, The Circle) and measure it up to them. 
 
Well I think I have commented on enough at this point time to continue the adventure.