Summary
Dragon Age: Dreadwolfwas long-bound for Tevinter. Since the end ofTrespasser, the map of Thedas with the zoom-in on Tevinter, and the Inquisitor’s declaration that they needed to “find people that he (Solas) doesn’t know”, it’d been a given for a long time that Tevinter would be the next destination forDragon Age.And, while many were excited to see Tevinter at last, many other nations in Thedas have yet to be featured in aDragon Agegame. The Dragon Age Day trailer,Thedas Calls, changed everything forDragon Age: Dreadwolf.
The trailer was just 48 seconds long and featured a combination of in-game footage and cinematics. The trailer moved away from Tevinter entirely, insteadfeaturing Antiva, Rivain, and Weisshauptin the Anderfels. The move to these nations was not entirely unexpected, but the confirmation of a variety of several anticipated locations has changedDragon Age: Dreadwolf’s potential.
Thedas as a Living World in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
The Real-World Inspiration for The Dragon Age Setting
While the first three games in theDragon Ageseries had settings that were interesting thanks to their political, magic, and religious systems and cultures, they were still inspired by Northern and Western European countries such as England and France, and typical of the fantasy genre.Ferelden and Orlais, the two countries depicted inDragon Age: OriginsandDragon Age: Inquisition, in particular, were heavily drawn from English and French history and tradition, with any cultural diversity coming from visitors to the respective countries.Dragon Age 2featured Kirkwall, which was a departure from these two nations but was still heavily influenced by Northern Europe.
A New World for Dragon Age
The expansion into other nations and cultures will make Thedas feel like a living continent, with different cultures and people. This is especially important for a narrative that’s about saving the new world that Solas inadvertently created when he created the Veil. Withdifferent climates and cultures, Antiva, Rivain, the Anderfels, and Tevinter will be more effective at showcasing a diverse world with places to discover and characters to meet around every corner.
Establishing the Threat in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
A Parallel to The Warden’s Quest
Expanding the world in this way makes Thedas more exciting, but it also makes the threat of the Veil’s collapse, or the rise of the Evanuris, more dire. While the threat of the Breach inDragon Age: Inquisitionthreatened all of Thedas, it largely felt contained to a small corner of Ferelden and Orlais rather than an entire continent. As allthe different factions inDragon Age: Originscame together against the Fifth Blight, so the different nations may come together inDragon Age: Dreadwolfto stand against whatever threat arises, whether that be Solas or the being behind the mysterious voice in the trailer. The scale of the response needs to match the scale of the threat, and including a multitude of nations is exactly whatDragon Age: Dreadwolfmay need to drive it home.
BioWare Needs to Get Their Open Worlds Right
to not be shallow, Thedas needs to be big, but the gameplay areas open for exploration cannot be empty, which became a common criticism for some of the areas inDragon Age: InquisitionandMass Effect: Andromeda. These areas need to be filled with meaningful side quests that bring life to the world, merchants, NPCs that players will care about, and stories that will be remembered. With a focused approach that emphasizes storytelling and worldbuilding,expandingDragon Age: Dreadwolfto include four nationscould be one of the best decisions yet.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of Thedas, a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Now, a pair of corrupt ancient gods have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world.Thedas needs someone they can count on. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. But you can’t do this alone – the odds are stacked against you. Lead a team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape, and together you will become The Veilguard.
