Huge Dragon Age: Inquisition Q&A info dump

UPDATE: Another gameplay walkthrough video released.

News by Robert Purchese Associate Editor

Updated on July 11, 2014

UPDATE 11/07 2.30PM BST: BioWare has released the second E3 gameplay video walkthrough for Dragon Age: Inquisition, this time focusing on Redcliffe.

UPDATE 9/07 5PM BST: BioWare has released a new Dragon Age: Inquisition gameplay video. It's a walkthrough of the Hinterlands area narrated by creative director Mike Laidlaw.

ORIGINAL STORY 9/07 2.30PM BST: BioWare (collectively Mark Darrah, Mike Laidlaw and Cameron Lee) answered a barrage of questions about Dragon Age: Inquisition on Raptr yesterday. I've combed over the Q&A and reposted, in sections, the relevant information here.

A Tumblr titled andaran atish'an caught a few more details I'll include with an asterisk. I couldn't find them - it's laborious navigation on Ratpr.

Nothing particularly revelatory but some new detail nonetheless.

Character creation

Described as "really in depth"
You'll create your Inquisitor before the big opening cut-scene
Can change inner and outer iris colours*
Can have scars*
Qunari horns are customisable
Male Qunari player model will be smaller than Iron Bull (party member) model
There are "a lot" of lip options
There are no 'body type' choices
Your Inquisitor will also be referred to by his or her surname. (Not clear if the surname will be set and voiced like Shepard in Mass Effect.)
Your background depends on your race/class choice. No dwarven mages

Customisation

Follower's armour will change colour as you equip new gear. Dyes are "still being looked at" for them
"You can use different materials to change how items look and the stats of the items, enchant them, make potions etc," wrote Lee
"Find the template of the new armour you want to look like, then make it from materials which give it the look and stats you want. You wouldn't modify the original armour," added Lee
Qunari don't wear helmets - they have a different head slot
Mage Inquisitors can wear heavy armour as Knight Enchanter by crafting it and then summoning weapons
Level-cap is 25-30
There are three specialisations for each class, and specialisations can affect moments in the story
Specialisations (filled out by Wiki): Knight Enchanter, Necromancer, Rift Mage (Mage); Artificer, Assassin, Tempest (Rogue); Champion, Reaver, Templar (Warrior)

Loot

There will be colour-coded loot according to rarity
Mounts will be earned through quests

Companions

You can hug "some" of them
"Major characters all track something similar to approval, but the system has changed to put more focus on what you are doing and what you say instead of grinding by constantly giving them gifts. Each follower does have their own set of goals they want to achieve and if you help them, they will appreciate it. And if you piss them off, they might just leave," wrote Laidlaw
It matters "a lot" who you take with you on quests
Solas' voice is Welsh
No Mabari (dog) companion
No Shale. "Maybe later. No current plans," wrote Darrah

Voice actors

There's a British and American option for both the male and female Inquisitors, it sounds like
The male Inquisitor can be voiced by Harry Hadden-Paton (British) or Jon Curry (American)
Jon Curry voiced Zevran, a character who won't be in Inquisition (but not for that reason)
Harry Hadden-Paton is less well known
The female Inquisitor can be voiced by Alix Wilton Regan (British) or Sumalee Montano (American)
Alex Wilton Regan was Mass Effect 3's Comm Specialist Samantha Traynor
Sumalee Montano voiced the Enchantress companion in Diablo 3
Darrah said "you may indeed see Gideon Emery again". Emery voiced Dragon Age 2 follower Fenris. His IMDB page doesn't mention Inquisition

Romance

Eight romances
Two have racial preferences
"There will be romance scenes, but not necessarily just focused on sex," wrote Laidlaw
There will be "at least one" romance option outside of the Inquisition
One will be Lady Josephine Montilyet - AKA Scribbles - who's bisexual

Combat

Combat settings will range from easy to nightmare, as in previous Dragon Age games, but there is not (yet, at least) a story mode*
Rogues can set traps
Stealth had to fit with party combat so sneaking up on people outside of combat and backstabbing them didn't fit the bill
No flailing with fists if you don't have a weapon
"Having control over Fade rifts may provide some interesting possibilities in combat," wrote Lee
You can control abilities individually
There are "lots" of abilities and spells from previous games but a "ton" of new ones too
"Destruction and environment plays a part in combat," wrote Lee
"The tactical combat is more like DAO with the tactical camera (extra improved) and the real-time combat is slower with more weight behind the attacks, defence, hits etc. You can swap between these modes whenever you like and as always you can swap between party members at any time," wrote Lee
There will be cross-class combos possible, as expected. "A lot of abilities can capitalise on states like frozen, or stunned, encouraging teamwork, yes"

Story

As an Inquisitor you're considered holy, to a degree
But how the Chantry - the world's religious organisation - regards you after you walk out of a Fade rift, BioWare doesn't want to say. A major plot point?
Also: "I think the best villains are the ones you can relate to," teased Lee.
"You'll see a lot of Morrigan in Inquisition," added Lee
You can 'judge' people in the world

Missions

There's "a goodly dose" of side missions that are contextualised to make sense as something the Inquisition would be getting involved with, "to either win the hearts of people or otherwise grow the Inquisition's power", for example

Good or evil or joker?

"The overall tone is more neutral," wrote Laidlaw, "until you hit what we call a 'reaction' hub, where you can respond more strongly, often to questions, by being pleased, stoic, angry, sad, etc."

Map

Allows custom plot markers
Can choose which quest is active quest
There's a mini-map
You'll experience snow and rain and dust storms
You can fast-travel but only to Inquisition camps you've set up and populated
Your Inquisition HQ is big - much bigger than any base you've had in Dragon Age games so far

Misc

"There will be some Red Jenny. Because I've wanted to answer 'who ARE they?' for a while now," wrote Laidlaw
Morrigan's Witch mother/dragon Flemeth may return, but you can't visit her shack. "Yep there's a number of recurring NPCs", wrote Lee
Female Dragon Age: Origins dwarf Dagna "does appear" at some point
You can jump but that doesn't mean jumping puzzles*
No flying mounts*
No capes*

DLC