Dragon Age Tabletop RPG and Origins Reviews

With Return to Ostagar only a few days away, I thought I’d round up another set of Dragon Age-related reviews from around the web.

We’ll start things off with something a little different – a review at RPGnet of the Dragon Age tabletop RPG boxed set:

All in all, the game has met its design goals. Easy to pick up? Yes. Uncomplicated combat? Yup. Solid and cool GM’s advice? Could be better. Quality of the introductory adventure? Some issues, but overall a good job.

However, the settings information could be better. The first chapter which gives an overview of Freleden is best described as a tourist’s guide. It’s not evocative of the depths of the setting; the in-game CRPG’s codex does a better job. Also, failure to focus on what’s unique about the setting somehow make it feels like just another fantasy heart-breaker. Flemeth, the witch who adopted girls as her daughters so that she can supposedly extend her life through them, makes for a fascinating story but wasn’t mentioned. The Mage Collective, a potential source for intrigue and adventures, was left out even though they could be mentioned along with the Circle. That lyrium could drive someone mad, and was used by the Templar in excessive at times could be used as a shuddering plot hook. And really, no mention of blood magic?

Of course, one could argue that players coming to the game through the CRPG already knew these things. It is just that the first book could be better if a section was just dedicated to how those existing knowledge could be used for more adventures.

Then move to The Lost Gamer for a 9/10 review of Origins:

Overall, Dragon Age: Origins provides an incredibly deep fantasy RPG experience unlike any other that we’ve seen over past years. Its vast quests, variety of characters and deep storyline are enough to draw you in for hours on end, as well as the fact that the multitude of ‘˜Origin’ stories each provide a new experience for the player. Now if you’ll excuse me, i’m off to while away another chunk of my life playing it.

And then Diehard GameFAN for a “Classic Game” review of Origins:

I’ve been a big fan of Bioware games since before Knights of the Old Republic with Baldur’s Gate, and I’ve seen them put out some sub-standard titles or at the very least ones with massive compatibility issues, but thankfully Dragon Age: Origins is lacking those issues. With a solid story, epic feel, a cast of believable and likable heroes and even some villains, Bioware has managed to deliver that Dark Fantasy feel in spades. I haven’t been this engaged or absorbed in a single player title since Mass Effect came out on PC. People who leapt on the console version may be missing out as well as there has been a growing community of modders for this game, especially with the program to build your own items and sections of the world. This is the version I’d recommend people to get if they have a system that can run it. Dragon Age: Origins is a must have title for RPG fans.