I’m about 28 hours into the game and just read that you can actually have Carver in your party?

*SPOILERS*

Might have completely missed something here but in the demo as well as the actual game Carver dies in the prologue (before you even get to customise Hawke) without you being able to do anything about it. 
 

Can anyone shed light on this

If Hawke is a mage, Bethany will die in his place and Carver will remain in your party.

If you create Hawke as a mage, Carver joins your party instead of Bethany.

Also, if you have the PC version you can add him in to your party via the console.

" Also, if you have the PC version you can add him in to your party via the console. "

Carver has a stick lodged firmly up his ass anyway.  I was kinda glad when 
 

" @melcene:

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

He actually went off to be a templar not a Grey Warden they are the ones who drinks the Darkspawns blood.

  But uhhhhhh Carver is not a great brother to have lol. "

" @melcene:

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

He actually went off to be a templar not a Grey Warden they are the ones who drinks the Darkspawns blood.

  But uhhhhhh Carver is not a great brother to have lol. "

Annoying little asshole... he left me for the templars too when I refused to take him to the deep roads, just like my little brother would do, so kudos Bioware, you nailed that dude.