Summary
No lore is complete without supplementary media that supports a game’s persistent world. BioWare, in their (sometimes) wisdom, knows this, and has created many complimentary stories to theirDragon Agegames over the years. From straight-up lore books to digital collaboration comics, there’s a little something for everyone.
Thankfully, the catalog is not nearly as large as for something likeHaloorStar Wars; BioWare keeps things tidy with targeted stories — most of which tie-in to game events. They also collaborate with Dark Horse Comics regularly to create stunning graphic novels. But how much ofDragon Ageisn’t in the games themselves?
Since this is about media other than games, the related gamesDragon Age Journeys, Dragon Age Legends, Heroes of Dragon Age, and Dragon Age: The Last Courtwill not be included.
Dragon Age Lore And Art Books
The Ultimate Companions For Hardcore Fans
Every RPG needsaccompanying art and lore books, right? BioWare provides fans with beautiful hardback editions all about the world of Thedas. These house information about all the countries and cultures in Thedas, character backgrounds, concept art, and more. There’s even a section about Thedosian fashion and a retrospective on Hawke’s family tree.
Additional content includes a poster book and a coloring book with dozens of intricate drawings for fans to fill in — including some early concept art fromOrigins. It features characters and events from all three games, so it’s best toplay the gamesfirst to avoid spoiling any plot reveals.
Dragon Age Novels And Books
Like The Graphic Novels, But With Less Art
The novelizations of stories are similar to the graphic novels in that they are companion pieces toDragon Agegames and fill in story blanks or set up characters and stories forThe Veilguard. However,Hard in Hightownis just a collection of the snippets found acrossInquisition, as written by fictional author Varric Tethras.
Dragon Age: Last Flighttells the story of bringing back griffons, whileThe Masked Empireserves as a political thriller prequel to the mission “Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts” inInquisition. Most relevant would be the recent addition to the catalog known asTevinter Nights—a collection of storiesset around the whole country of Tevinter with new faces and some familiar ones,like Dorian Pavus, that set up the events ofThe eilguard.
Dragon Age Tabletop Role-playing Game
Best For Fans Of Dragon Age Games
First released in 2010 by publisher Green Ronin, Chris Pramas wrote theDragon AgeTabletop Role-Playing Game for 3–5 players who embody mages, warriors, and rogues in Thedas, challenging foes and other threats around the world. This can include Darkspawn, spirits from the Fade, Orlesian nobles, and more as they explore Dwarven ruins, Orlesian courts, and perhaps the Fade itself. Each box adds more content, with Box 1 featuring a Fereldan story, Box 2 featuring a story about the Chantry, Grey Wardens, and Orzammar, and Box 3 featuring a story about Orlais, Tevinter, and the Dales.
The game uses its own ruleset and systems that aren’t likeDungeons and Dragons. Some fans have said that, post level six, the game becomes a bit cumbersome despite a great combat system. Players are generally quick to pick up the systems, though, so it may be a great initial entry intoTTRPG mechanics for newer playerswho are also fans ofDragon Age.
Dragon Age TV, Mini-Series, And Animation
A Mixed Bag That Acts As Supplemental Content
BioWare has never had much luck with TV adaptations over the years, andDawn of the Seekersticks out as a prime example. The characterization of Cassandra is a bit off and the animation style feels immature given the type of storiesDragon Agetells. In stark contrast, the live-action Machinima series starring Felicia Day (wholends her likeness to TallisinDA2) holds up quite well and stays in line with the lore, too.
The most recent animated adaptation from Netflix,Absolution,follows Miriam and friends trying to steal a Blood Magic artifact with one hitch: the son of the house of Miriam’s former slave master and powerful Tevinter family, the Ammosines, wants it, too. It takes places betweenInquisitionandThe Veilguard, and reveals something odd about a character fans will remember fromDA2. The six-episode arc is short and sweet, with Kimberly Brooks, whovoices Ashley Williamsin theMass Effectgames, voicing Miriam here.
Dragon Age Darkhorse Comics & Graphic Novels
Direct Companions & Lore Expansions
The graphic novels from Dark Horse always feature impressive art and well-crafted stories from around theDragon Ageuniverse. They alsooccur concurrently with or in-between the events of the games, as withThe Missing,which serves as a prequel toThe Veilguard. Fans of Alistair and Isabela should take special care to pick upThose Who Speak,Until We Sleep, andThe Silent Grove,as they fill in some blanks about Alistair’s bastard lineage and Isabela’s past before she escaped the Qunari. Each story deepens the lore around a specific character, but also introduces new individuals, as well, who appear in multiple comics.
Fans can also pick upWraiths of Tevinter —acompilation ofBlue Wraith,Deception, andDark Fortress— orLibrary Edition Volume 1, which combinesThose Who Speak,Until We Sleep, andThe Silent Groveto keep the stories in one tidy package.Library Edition Volume 2combinesMagekillerandKnight Errant.
Other Dragon Age Comics
Funny Additions & Things Never Spoken Of
BioWare has a long history of working alongside other creators to craft content in other mediums to support their game IPs. The Penny Arcade comics forDragon Agepoke fun at the world and characters (as seen above) in the comedic style of the Penny Arcade comics themselves.
TheDragon Agecomic with input from Orson Scott Card has been referred to as theStar Wars Holiday SpecialofDragon Agecontent. That means that these comics are definitely not canon, and many fans did not think they were very good either. In contrast, the short comicDragon Age: The Revelationfeatures art by Aimo and a cut scene fromOriginswhere Morrigan has misgivings aboutperforming a certain ritual.
Dragon Age Short Stories
Small Vignettes Into Specific Characters
BioWare has long supported writers by posting content on their website in the form of short stories. There are even seven stories currently up forThe Veilguard, but forInquisition, the two lesser bads (Calpernia and Samson) each got their own little stories to detail their backgrounds, personalities, and goals. The stories occur afterDA2and beforeInquisition. The Riddle of Truthshares more information about Celene’s family member, Florianne de Chalons.
There was also a series of short stories for the companions inDA2which read more like micro-fiction from an array of writers across theDragon Ageseries. These vignettes, like the subsequent stories after them, offer small insights into the characters, but the one about Anders offers the most insight, as Anders struggles with the spirit of Justice inside him, whom he corrupts.
