Dragon Age: Origins

General Comments

This review contains tags for the Stone Prisoner, Witch Hunt, Leliana's Song, Return to Ostagar, and Awakenings DLC.

Alcohol

Taverns serve alcohol, can be ordered by the player. Bottles of alcohol can be found in-game and given to companions as gifts.

Oghren is often drunk.

Animal Abuse

Shale frequently mentions wishing to squish ‘fleshy things’, especially pigeons.

If the secret companion is recruit, they will recount the tale of their dog being kidnapped and eventually returned having suffered extensive abuse including starvation.

Animal Death

The player can choose to kill a mabari (variety of dog) and a halla (variety of deer) at two separate points in the story. Animal enemies (wolves, bears, werewolves) are common and need to be killed.

Avians

Throughout the game there are birds in the background in various places. They will never attack and stay away from the Player Character.

Bigoted Language

‘Knife-ears’ is an in-universe slur for elves. Upper class dwarves call lower class dwarves ‘brands’. Some gendered slurs are present.

Blood

Common, usually as a result of combat. The party will become splattered in blood during battles and the blood will remain for some time. This can be avoided by using low graphic quality. Most corpses will bleed out before disappearing.

Body Horror

Darkspawn and Brood Mothers qualify. Individuals who have been tainted also gain unnatural features. Justice is possessing a rotting corpse.

Bones

When a companion is defeated in combat, their icon is replaced by a skull. Once combat ends, the character will be revived and their icon returns to normal.

Brainwashing

Mages in the Circle are mandated to learn the Chantry’s religion and are often outright told that they should not exist. Keili becomes suicidal because of this.

Canines

In the Human Noble origin the Player Character has a pet dog. The dog is extremely large but is friendly to the Player Character.

In the quest “Nature of the Beast” the Player Character must fight werewolves.

Cannibalism

During “Paragon of Her Kind”, the player learns that the Darkspawn sometimes force people to commit cannibalism.

Claustrophobia

Some tunnels in the Deep Roads are narrow. Brecilian ruins have narrow hallways.

During “Urn of Sacred Ashes”, the player will come to a cavern system with narrow tunnels.

In Awakening, there are tunnels under a tavern in Amaranthine.

Dead Bodies

Common, usually as a result of combat. Bodies disappear fairly quickly.

The Return to Ostagar DLC heavily features finding Cailan’s crucified body and deciding what to do with it.

Death of Family/Friends

The are a number of instances. The most significant include:

• City Elf Origin: The Player Character’s fiance(e) is killed.
• Dalish Elf Origin: The Player Character’s friend, Tamlen, disappears and returns later in the game, forcing the player to kill him.
• Human Noble Origin: Nearly all of the Player Character’s family is killed except for their brother.
• Dwarf Noble Origin: One of the Player Character’s brothers will die. Later in the game, the Player Character’s father dies.
• Magi Origin: During “Broken Circle” nearly everyone the player met during the origin dies.
• At Ostagar, the dog can be killed.
• During the Ostagar mission, Cailan and Duncan will die.
• During “Urn of Sacred Ashes”, Leliana will become violent if the player desecrates the urn. She must be killed and will die permanently.
• At the end of “Arl of Redcliffe”, if Jowan is still present, the player has the option of executing him.
• If Shale is in the party during “Paragon of Her Kind” and the player chooses to keep the Anvil, Shale will turn hostile and must be killed.
• When the Player Character encounters Taliesen, if Zevran is at low enough approval he will turn against the Player Character and must be permanently killed.
• Depending on player decisions, Anora may be executed, after Anora’s father is executed in front of her.
• Depending on player decisions, Alistair may be executed.
• During the final stage of the game, Riordan will die. The Player Character, Alistair, and the secret companion all also have the possibility to die, though this can be avoided by performing Morrigan’s ritual.
• In Awakening, if the Keep is not properly upgraded, anyone who is left behind may die.

Dehumanization

Elves are heavily discriminated against and forced to live in ghettos and in some places in the world are still slaves. This is particularly apparent in the City Elf origin.

Dwarves discriminate against any dwarf who is casteless, including surface dwarves. This is highlighted in the the Dwarf Commoner origin.

Mages are discriminated against nearly everywhere. If mages are deemed too dangerous they are turned ‘Tranquil’, which functions in a way similar to a lobotomy. After “Broken Circle” is resolved, someone suggests killing several mages, including children. The player can choose to allow this, but can also stop it from happening.

Shale refers to all people as ‘it’.

Depiction of Disaster

The Blight, the driving force of the game, is a large-scale disaster. After the Player Character leaves Lothering, the city is completely wiped off the map and everyone in it dies. The Player Character meets multiple refugees throughout the game.

Depiction of War

Throughout the game the Player Character finds different encampments of soldiers.

The Player Character must amass an army to complete the game. The first part of the end of the game plays similar to a military campaign.

Disease

The Blight functions as a easily spread disease.

Disruptive Home Life

The Circle is an extremely hostile place to live, with the constant threat of Tranquility, the religious belief that their existence is wrong, and implied physical abuse from templars.

In the Dwarf Commoner origin, the Player Character’s mother is an alcoholic and neglectful.

In the Dwarf Noble origin, the Player Character’s brother is plotting to kill his siblings.

Electrocution

Shock spells are available and can be used by enemy mages.

Emotional Abuse

Some of the things done and said to elves, casteless dwarves, and mages are clearly meant to evoke emotional abuse.

The dwarf commoner’s mother is emotionally abusive to her children. The player has the option to manipulate others from time to time.

When Alistair meets his sister for the first time, she is emotionally abusive toward him.

Existential Despair

The player learns that Grey Wardens have a significantly shortened life span, suffer from nightmares, and eventually must delve into underground caverns and die fighting.

Shale indicates existential despair after learning they were once a dwarf.

Explosions

Explosions can be caused via spellcasting or dragons. Enemy mages may use explosions against the Player Character.

The spells Walking Bomb and Virulent Walking Bomb plant a magical bomb inside a target and it will explode, killing the target and harming others.

Eye Horror/Eye Trauma

The Architect has eyes that are askew and one has skin that has grown over the socket. The eyes are generally covered by a mask.

Felines

In the Stone Prisoner DLC quest in Honleath the Player Character finds a cat that has been possessed by a demon. The cat will turn into a demon and attack based on player choices.

In Awakenings, the Player Character can buy a pet cat for Anders. The cat is not a party member, is not often seen, and will only meow if the Player Character talks to Anders a lot.

Fire

Fire spells are commonplace. In some instances, buildings or entire neighborhoods will catch fire.

Rage demons use fire to fight.

In the quest “Broken Circle” the Player Character is required to shapeshift into a man on fire.

Forced Implantation

In “Broken Circle” the Player Character discovers that a mage is forcing demons into people’s bodies.

The spells Walking Bomb and Virulent Walking Bomb plant a magical bomb inside a target and it will explode, killing the target and harming others.

Ghosts

In the “Lost in Dreams” quest when the player enters the fade there are ghosts that the Player Character must talk to and ghosts that the Player Character must fight.

In Soldier’s Peak, the player sees ghosts that reenact past events.

In the Elven Alienage the player can choose to enter a haunted house and battle ghosts.

In the “Urn of Sacred Ashes” quest there are ghosts that the Player Character must speak with.

In Witch Hunt, the player fights several elven specters.

Gore

Combat creates gore; can be avoided by changing the game settings in the settings menu.

Graphic Violence

This is a core game mechanic and an unavoidable part of combat.

Heights

One cutscene shows a dragon flying over a city while someone clings to its back. They are thrown off, to their deaths.

In the Deep Roads, the player comes to a bridge over a deep chasm.

During “Urn of Sacred Ashes” a cutscene shows a dragon flying over the player’s party

Homophobia

Oghren becomes hostile when Zevran jokes about being attracted to him.

The player can tell Zevran that his sexual orientation is a perversion.

Oghren objectifies the sexual relationship between Branka and Hespith, two women.

Insects

Shapeshifters, such as Morrigan, can turn into a flying swarm of insects. This can be avoided by not assigning that ability in the tactics screen or selecting it in combat.

Kidnapping

In the City Elf origin, a number of female elves are kidnapped by human males. This will also include the protagonist, if they are female. See “sexual assault” for more information on this event.

During “Nature of the Beast”, the player learns the ancestors of werewolves kidnapped and raped an elf girl.

Anora is kidnapped and is rescued later in the game. After rescuing her, a fight will ensue. If the player surrenders or loses the fight, they will be kidnapped.

Mind Control

Blood magic grants mind control powers.

Murder

Common on a narrative level. Loghain effectively commits regicide by abandoning his king when needed most. Zevran and Leliana were assassins. Sten murdered an entire family in a blind rage, which he deeply regrets. The player may commit murder in several instances.

A majority of enemies in the game are human that the Player Character must kill to progress.

Nudity

Characters will undress during optional sex scenes. While changing armor for a character, they will be only in underwear.

The Lady of the Forest, broodmothers, and desire demons are nude.

In “Return to Ostagar”, Cailan’s body is mostly nude aside from a loincloth. Neither nipples nor genitalia are ever visible.

Offensive Language

Swearing is common. See also “bigoted language”.

Parental Abandonment

In the Dwarf Commoner origin, the Player Character’s mother is distant and neglectful.

Physical Abuse

If Morrigan is brought along during Broken Circle, her nightmare features a demon disguised as her mother hitting her. Morrigan’s dialogue suggests this is commonplace in reality.

In the Feast Day Gifts DLC, the player can give Morrigan an Alistair voodoo doll, allowing her to physically harm him at a whim.

Templars are implied to be physically abusive to mages.

Zevran was physically abused as part of his training since he was a child. If he is brought along during “Broken Circle”, he will be found on a torture rack.

Psychological Trauma

Many characters suffer psychological trauma at some point or other. Branka and Hespith in “Paragon of Her Kind” are clearly traumatized.

Zevran mentions that as part of his training he was conditioned to believe he was worthless.

Exploring Loghain’s backstory may reveal psychological trauma as a result of the Orlesian occupation.

Some of Anders’ dialogue in Awakening may suggest trauma, although it is downplayed.

Leliana’s Song showcases the trauma that Leliana experiences prior to the main story.

Racism

Discrimination against elves is an allegory for racism, including profiling and ghettos. It is especially prominent in the City Elf origin, although the quest “Unrest in the Alienage” explores it as well, regardless of origin.

Rats/Rodents

Giant rats are a common enemy and featured in the Human Noble origin.

The quest “Broken Circle” requires the Player Character to shapeshift into a mouse.

Reptiles

Deepstalkers are a variety of dinosaur-like enemy that are primarily encountered in the Deep Roads.

Draconic enemies are especially common during “Urn of Sacred Ashes”.

Self Harm

Blood Mages access their power by cutting or otherwise injuring themselves.

Sex

The player may engage in sexual relations at brothels and a few other locations. Romancing Alistair, Leliana, Zevran, or Morrigan includes a mandatory sex scene. Sex is required to do Morrigan’s ritual, although the player need not be the one to do it.

Sex Shaming

One of the Feast Day Pranks DLC gifts is a chastity belt for Zevran, who is known for taking many sexual partners.

If romancing Zevran, the Player Character can break off the relationship purely because they find out that Zevran has had multiple sexual partners.

Sex Slavery

Casteless female dwarves are often forced into prostitution to support themselves and their family. This is a primary feature of the Dwarf Commoner origin, as the player’s sister is subject to it.

It is possible to solicit prostitutes at The Pearl. The game makes it unclear whether they prostitutes are willing.

Sexual Assault

In the City Elf origin, female elves will be kidnapped and sexually assaulted, including the Player Character if they are playing as a female. During the assault, several people are killed, including three of the women who are kidnapped. The player’s cousin, Shianni, is rescued before she is killed, but not before she is raped.

Broodmothers are heavily implied to be created after, in part, women are repeatedly sexually assaulted by darkspawn.

Sexual assault is present in other parts of the story, but not graphically.

Sexual Harassment

There are a few instances where a female Player Character is sexually harassed. Zevran’s banters with Wynne usually include him commenting on her breasts.

Sexualization/Objectification

Some armor, particularly some leather armor, is revealing on women, emphasizing breasts and providing a skirt rather than pants.

Morrigan’s default outfit is extremely revealing.

Desire demons are completely nude save for nipple tassels and regularly run their hands over their bodies.

The Lady of the Forest is nude, although her nipples are covered by her hair.

Slavery

During the “Unrest in the Alienage” quest, the player learns that elves are being sold into slavery. The player has the option to let the slavers get away with it, but can attempt to deliver justice instead.

Spiders

Spiders are common enemies and frequently drop from the ceiling. There are two no spider mods available to players, one that turns the spiders into deepstalkers (lizards) or bears. Note that both of these mods only change the model and animations of the spiders and prevent the enemies dropping from the ceiling (they will suddenly appear around the player instead). They will still make spider sounds and say “Giant Spider” when the mouse hovers over them. The mods are available here (deepstalkers) and here (bears).

Shapeshifters, such as Morrigan, can become spiders, however there are no enemy shapeshifters. The shapeshift ability is affected by mods, but the portrait is not, thus a spider will appear on screen. It is possible to avoid this by not choosing this option during combat.

In Witch Hunt, a creature called a Varterral appears as the final boss. Although it is not technically a spider, it has spider-like qualities. The no spider mods do not affect the Varterral.

Stalking

Some consider Cullen’s attraction to a female Player Character in the Magi origin to constitute stalking, but he never makes advances and will leave if the player makes advances on him.

Substance Abuse

Templars are noted to suffer from addiction to lyrium dust. It is hypothesized this is done deliberately to keep them under the control of the Chantry, which controls the lyrium trade. If they fail to continue taking lyrium, they will go insane.

Dwarf Commoner’s mother is an alcoholic.

Suicide

Keili in the Magi origin and “Broken Circle” indicates she is suicidal.

Supernatural Evil

The demons, darkspawn, and archdemon qualify. Demons and darkspawn are extremely common enemies.

Torture

If Zevran is brought along during “Broken Circle” he later will be found on a torture rack.

When meeting Sten, the player will find him in a cage and learn he has been there for thirteen days, with the intention of being left there when the darkspawn attack. The player can free him.

During Ostagar, the player can encounter a man who is trapped in a cage for theft of food and is starving.

Sten implies that the Qunari will torture people until they convert to the Qunari religion.

In Awakening, Anders says he spent a year in isolation due to misbehavior.

In Leliana’s Song, the Player Character meets Leliana and three of her friends. One is tortured to death.

Undead/Zombies

Undead can be summoned by blood mages. An optional side quest during “Nature of the Beast” involves killing revenants.

Justice in Awakening is possessing a corpse.

Unreality

The Fade level involves surrealism and an ever-changing landscape. It can be partially skipped through the Skip the Fade mod found here.

Verbal Abuse

When Alistair meets his sister for the first time, she is verbally abusive toward him.

Violence Against Children

Connor Eamon may be killed at the end of the “Arl of Redcliffe” quest.

During “Broken Circle” the player will find the corpses of child apprentices. Wynne’s dream in the Fade involves her inability to save them.

During ‘Nature of the Beast’, the kidnapping, murder, and rape of children is referenced.

Weapons

Core gameplay mechanic. The most common weapons are blades, bows/arrows, and axes.

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