History DragonAgeII / TropesMToR

** Don't give Sandal any salamanders. That's where the "boom" comes from, Bodahn thinks.[[note]]Salamanders are the [[FourElementEnsemble elemental creature for fire.]][[/note]]

* RouteBoss: Subverted. ''Dragon Age II'' was ''supposed'' to have included a version of this trope during the final battle. Regardless of whether Hawke decides to support the mages or the Templars, they will have to fight both [[spoiler:Knight-Commander Meredith and Grand Enchanter Orsino]]. The former was meant to be the FinalBoss regardless of choice, but the latter was supposed to only be a BonusBoss if the Templars were supported; however, the producers insisted on adding the fight to both story paths. Given that the cut-scene preceding the battle [[spoiler: consists of Orsino going OneWingedAngel as the mages are killed, it winds up making no sense if you supported the mages, since few if any of them will die in that event. It winds up appearing that Orsino simply goes insane for no reason]].

* OnlySaneMan: In the endgame, Sebastian is the only who points out that [[spoiler: debating the Rite of Annulment as 'justice' is pointless when the culprit for the Chantry bombing is right there in front of them]]. Unfortunately, this - like all of his other commentary in the scene - is entirely ignored by the other characters.[[note]]This is due to his status as a DLC-only companion; the scene had to be constructed to run properly with or without him, and it does, but with the side effect of making it look like no one hears a word he says.[[/note]]

[[/folder]]

** While he loves them, Carver hates being saddled with the burden of having to live life on the run because of his mage sibling(s), and feels that things would be better if they didn't have their abilities.
** Aveline has no love for the Templars (apart from her late husband), who so often abuse their power, and acknowledges that there are many good mages. But she nevertheless agrees that mages in general are a danger and must be kept under watch for the safety of everyone.
** Anders despises the fear and hatred mages suffer simply for being born with magic, enduring endless cruelties at the hands of the Chantry and its corrupt Templars.

** There had to be ''someone'' who stared at the statues of Andraste and thought, "Boy, I'd like to see ''her'' naked." The nude sculpture inspired is, due to Chantry censorship, Unrevealed at the Black Emporium. Taken UpToEleven because the Chantry could not bring themselves to destroy so perfect an image of Andraste, even if they found her nudity taboo, and therefore they simply rendered the sculpture invisible. [[spoiler: So now people "study" it by touch.]]

** The rival romances can veer into this during the cutscenes. Conversations that start out as arguments can turn into tender romantic interludes, and vice versa - while this is due to these romances being prime examples of FoeYay, it can be jarring to say the least, especially to ''Origins'' players who are used to that game's very friendship-oriented romances.

** During Act 2, you may have an OptionalSexualEncounter with your love interest. Depending on how you've handled this Act, this may very well occur right before the quest "[[AdultFear All That]] [[BodyHorror Remains]]," especially if you're not following any particular guide and just quest until you've no choice but to return home, and since they both take place in your own home one will lead directly into the next. Particularly jarring if your LI is Isabela, due to what she may say at the end of the encounter - essentially, that [[HarsherInHindsight love is messy.]]

* NonLethalKO: Teammates who run out of hit points will get back up after combat.

** What happened in Hawke's first year in Kirkwall working with either the Red Iron or Athenril's smugglers. This includes a few Noodle Acquaintances, such as Lady Elegant, Tomwise, and Worthy, all of whom apparently worked with Hawke and are on friendly terms with them at the beginning of Act 1. While Varric omits parts of the tale that are neither relevant or interesting, this particular omission is due in part to the fact that Varric himself only meets Hawke at the beginning of Act 1, and thus isn't privy to first-hand knowledge of this period of Hawke's life.

** The last time that Isabela went digging for a stash she was ''certain'' contained the Relic:

** It is seemingly no coincidence that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSCq7jTL7tQ "Fenris' theme"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxUrz7ZLCp8 "Mage Pride"]] are nearly identical, symbolising both the anti-mage and pro-mage backdrop of this game.

---> '''Flemeth''': ''[laughs]'' Oh, ''you'' I like'!

** And the Grey Warden [[spoiler: Janeka]], when she finds out that [[spoiler: controlling Corypheus is not as easy as she thought.]]

** Bartrand once gives us the one-off "Andraste's tits!". Given as he was raised in Orzammar, he may well venerate the Ancestors (unlike Varric, who is surface-born and Andrastian), so this could be a Dwarven slur to disparage Human religion.

** Aveline has no love for the Templars (apart from her late husband), who so often abuse their power, and acknowledges that there are many good mages. But she nevertheless agrees that they are a danger and must be kept under watch for the safety of everyone.

** Merrill grew up among her people and is unaware of the Templar-Mage conflict that exists in Human cities. She is largely uninformed and has little opinion on the matter, but leans toward support of the mages.

** [[spoiler: The alliance of mages and Templars against Meredith could have avoided being wiped out if they had approached Orsino or a mage-aligned Hawke, instead of trying to threaten them into compliance without revealing their goals or identities. It's especially glaring in playthroughs where Hawke is on good terms with Ser Thrask.]]

** Within the city itself, you will frequently bump into improbably large hordes of thugs while wandering around the various sections of Kirkwall, especially at night. Clearing out the streets forms a side quest in each Act, culminating with the option to finish them and their leaders off at their base. There's one gang in each of three sections of the city (Hightown, Lowtown, and the Docks), and getting rid of all the gang members is a great way to pick up extra coin and XP. This is different from Random Encounters, but those do occur, outside of Kirkwall.

* TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized: The game does a ''very good job'' of making you realize why people are scared of mages, and just as much why mages are scared of Templars.

* NotSoDifferent:

* RouteBoss: Subverted. ''Dragon Age II'' was ''supposed'' to have included a version of this trope during the final battle. Regardless of whether Hawke decides to support the mages or the Templars, they will have to fight both [[spoiler:Knight-Commander Meredith and Grand Enchanter Orsino]]. The former was meant to be the FinalBoss regardless of choice, but the latter was supposed to only be a BonusBoss if the Templars were supported; however, the producers insisted on adding the fight to both story paths.

* RouteBoss: Subverted. ''Dragon Age II'', which was ''supposed'' to have included a version of this trope during the final battle. Regardless of whether Hawke decides to support the mages or the Templars, they will have to fight both [[spoiler:Knight-Commander Meredith and Grand Enchanter Orsino]]. The former was meant to be the FinalBoss regardless of choice, but the latter was supposed to only be a BonusBoss if the Templars were supported; however, the producers insisted on adding the fight to both story paths.

* RetCon:

--->'''The Arishok''': Their actions are mere symptoms. Your society is the disease. They have chosen. The viddithari will submit to the Qun and find a path your way has denied them.

** Even ''Flemeth'' of all people, freely admits that she ''really'' is fond of Hawke.

---> '''Flemeth''': ''[laughs]'' Oh, you I ''like''!

** During the HauntedHouse mission if Anders is brought along, when a vase flies across the screen: "Andraste's flaming knickers!"

* OldSaveBonus: Saves from the last game can be carried over to influence events in this one. Otherwise the player chooses from three different builds: The Hero of Ferelden (Male human Warden kills the Archdemon, survives, and makes [[spoiler:Alistair]] king); The Martyr (Dalish Warden who sacrifices herself and leaves the kingdom to [[spoiler:Alistair and Anora jointly]]); and No Compromises (Dwarven Warden-Commander who [[spoiler:exiles Alistair, sacrifices Loghain to the Archdemon, and makes Anora queen]]). Completing ''Dragon Age II'' with a save imported from ''Origins'' also grants the "Epic" achievement/trophy, which normally requires two playthroughs to be earned.

* PayingItForward: If you rescue Lia from the serial killer Kelder and then kill him in Act I, then in Act III, Lia will proudly introduce herself as one of the newest recruits to the City Guard.

** In a non-literal sense, [[spoiler:Flemeth]] has a moment of this sort in the prologue with Aveline, to whom she demonstrates genuine sympathy for the loss of her beloved husband. When she appears again later on Sundermount, she has a few similar exchanges with Hawke and Merrill.

* PointAndClickMap: An interesting variant, in that there are three maps and you can jump from any of them to either of the others. One is Kirkwall by day; one is Kirkwall by night; and one is Sundermount and the surrounding countryside. The day and night maps feature loot, enemies, and (some) quests independently of one another, forcing a thorough search of both in each act.

** While it's understandable why you'd keep it quiet, Malcolm, you could have [[spoiler: prepared Hawke for ''Legacy'' by warning them that you were once were coerced by the Grey Wardens into reinforcing the seals that [[SealedEvilInACan locked away an ancient darkspawn]] and that now your family's blood is the key to unlocking that prison.]] ''Possibly'' justified by his death a few years before the start of the game; he may have intended to tell his children once they were older, and never got the chance.
* PotteryBarnPoor: As noted above under InformedPoverty. The Hawke family talk about Gamlen's hut as though it's a filthy little hovel, yet it's shown to be rather spacious, fairly clean, and even with multiple rooms. When Merrill moves into the Alienage, she and other characters talk like she just moved into a rathole, with her even apologizing for the mess on their first visit, yet her home is also very spacious and immaculately clean.

* PregnantHostage: In ''Legacy'' it's revealed that [[spoiler: the Grey Wardens used Hawke's mother (pregnant with Hawke at the time) as this to force her husband Malcolm to reinforce the wards on [[HumanoidAbomination Corypheus's]] prison to keep the Darkspawn Magister from escaping. Though the Grey Wardens kept their word and left Leandra unharmed, Hawke is understandably ''furious'' that they threatened both their mother's and their own lives, so much so that the Grey Wardens using BloodMagic again in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' becomes a BerserkButton for the Champion no matter what Hawke's personality is]].
* PrestigeClass: Simplified compared to the first game - each class has three possible specializations available from the start, but can only pick two (one at level 7, the other at 14). Each full-time companion has their own unique skill tree, while your sibling gets a specialization if they live past Act 1.

* {{Protectorate}}: In ''Mark of the Assassin'', Hawke explicitly states that Kirkwall is under ''their'' protection.

* PyrrhicVictory: [[spoiler:The endgame. Regardless of who you side with, the Mages are wiped out, the Templars take massive losses, and the city of Kirkwall is left in shambles. Neither side can claim a moral victory, as the leaders of both sides succumb to insanity and evil. And the incident acts as the trigger for a world war between Mages and Templars, ultimately wiping out anything that could be described as a "gain". As far as the individual endings are concerned]]:

* RaceLift: There are a couple of mods that make Isabela white (even giving her blue eyes and blonde hair). Heated arguments have gone over to the moral integrity of such mods, with some believing it is a harmless cosmetic change or that she was actually a white woman who has been tanned by the sun, and others feeling it is insensitive and immoral. It also contradicts canon. Isabela is from Rivain, which is one of the few places in Thedas where the population is consistently darker hued.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Your companions, in accordance with tradition.

--->'''The Arishok''': Their actions are mere symptoms. Your society is the disease. They have chosen. The viddathari will submit to the Qun and find a path your way has denied them.

* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: In ''Legacy'', just before Hawke delivers the killing blow to [[spoiler: Corypheus]], his eyes briefly change colour and [[spoiler: Janeka or Larius]] in the background is seen to briefly stumble, clutching at their head... a clear sign that [[spoiler: Corypheus]] is now [[BodySurf possessing them]].

** In Act 1, elven children are kidnapped and murdered by a known {{serial killer}}. No one (except maybe Hawke) cares.[[note]]However, this is not helped by the serial killer being a magistrate's son, with said magistrate using his power and influence to see that his son isn't brought to justice. Still, it's a little chilling that Hawke's companions - even Aveline, the Captain of the Kirkwall guard - aren't overly bothered to learn this. Fenris is the only one who seems particularly distressed, to the extent that he volunteers to kill the killer in Hawke's place, although a few of the others will gain friendship points for Kelder's death.[[/note]]

** The "On the Loose" sidequest that deals with three escaped mages in Act 3 is the epitome of this. Dealing with Emile de Launcet is a fairly lighthearted and hilarious little affair. Dealing with Huon [[spoiler:(a Blood Mage who murders his wife to summon demons)]] and Evelina [[spoiler:(an abomination whom you have to kill in front of her adopted children)]] is horrifying and heartwrenching. And you can deal with them in any order.

* MysticalCityPlanning: The City of Kirkwall, revealed in the Enigma of Kirkwall to form one of these: "In the oldest parts of the city, one can make out the outlines of glyphs in the very streets! What manner of magic is this?"

* OldSaveBonus: Saves from the last game can be carried over to influence events in this one. Otherwise the player chooses from three different builds: The Hero of Ferelden (Male human Warden kills the Archdemon, survives, and makes [[spoiler:Alistair]] King); The Martyr (Dalish Warden who sacrifices herself and leaves the kingdom to [[spoiler:Alistair and Anora]]); and No Compromises (Dwarven Warden-Commander who [[spoiler:exiles Alistair, sacrifices Loghain to the Archdemon, and makes Anora queen]]). Completing ''Dragon Age II'' with a save imported from ''Origins'' also grants the "Epic" achievement/trophy, which normally requires two playthroughs to be earned.

* MadeOfExplodium: Don't give Sandal any salamanders. That's where the "boom" comes from, Bodahn thinks.[[note]]Salamanders are the [[FourElementEnsemble elemental creature for fire.]][[/note]]

* {{Matriarchy}}: Behind the scenes, outsiders might think Qunari society is this - the breeders (Tamassrans), administrators, financiers, builders, merchants, food distributors, bureaucrats, and much of the priesthood are all women. This is played with, as according to the codex, neither the men nor the women of the Qun see it this way. "The brain can be said to rule the body, but so does the heart, the arms, and the stomach. It is a part of the whole." The Tamassrans have their purpose and fulfill that, as do everyone else.
** Moreover, only the Arigena (head of the craftswomen) is explicitly female. The Arishok (head of the military) is always male. The Ariqun (high priest of the Qun) apparently can be either. The Ariqun isn't necessarily their leader, but rather one third of a Triumvirate.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Many of the FromBadToWorse moments in the game can be directly or indirectly blamed on the player and their party. The most notable examples are [[spoiler:recovering the lyrium idol and providing Anders with the opportunity to destroy the Chantry]].

*** If Hawke [[spoiler:helps Isabela before going to the Qunari compound, then their interference prevents the Arishok's forces from recovering the artifact, making them partly responsible.]]
** [[spoiler: And then in ''Legacy,'' Hawke unwittingly allows Corypheus to inhabit one of the Grey Wardens after defeating him. Of course, they had no way of knowing this would happen, nor of preventing it, but the ramifications are immense - as the third game reveals.]]

* OddFriendship: Hawke and most of their companions.

* OhMyGods: A new one: "Flames," referring to Andraste's burning at the stake.

*** Carrying on the proud tradition from ''Origins,'' such as Shianni's "Andraste's ass, you'd think I'd learn some social graces."
** [[spoiler: If Hawke lets Fenris do the interrogation in one optional quest,]] a slaver yells, "Andraste's great flaming arse!" [[spoiler: Since Fenris has just stuck his hand in the guy's chest and rearranged his internal organs, this is understandable.]]

* OldSaveBonus: Saves from the last game can be carried over to influence events in this one. Otherwise the player chooses from three different builds: The Hero of Ferelden (Male human Warden kills the Archdemon, survives, and makes [[spoiler:Alistair]] King); The Martyr (Dalish Warden who sacrifices herself and leaves the kingdom to [[spoiler:Alistair and Anora]]); and No Compromises (Dwarven Warden-Commander who [[spoiler:exiles Alistair, sacrifices Loghain to the Archdemon, and makes Anora queen]]).
** Completing ''Dragon Age II'' with a save imported from ''Origins'' also grants the "Epic" achievement/trophy, which normally requires two playthroughs to be earned.

* OneHitKill[=/=]OneHitPolykill: Archers can instakill weaker opponents with a shot that overpenetrates, Punishing Lance. The skill is dramatically illustrated in Varric's cutscene.

* OpenSecret: Maleficarum in the Gallows. [[spoiler: The secret goes to the top.]]

* PetTheDog: The ''Black Emporium'' DLC adds a mabari hound, for the same purpose as the one in ''Origins'': to give everyone a literal dog-petting moment in their own idiom. Not only that, but several of your companions can also do this literally in dialogue at Hawke's home. Apparently, people come over just to visit Hawke's dog. Varric actually ''plays cards'' with him on occasion!

* {{Pirate}}: The Raiders of the Waking Sea.

* PragmaticVillainy: [[spoiler:Flemeth]] invokes this trope to refute Aveline's claim that she steals children. As if she didn't have better things to do!

* ProperlyParanoid: As you play the game, you see that the Templars' harsh methods are somewhat justified since blood mages really are extremely dangerous, but said paranoia also contributes to the ViciousCycle.
** While [[spoiler: he quickly goes off the deep end, Anders]] is partially justified in [[spoiler: his]] paranoia about the Templars. They might not ''all'' be the brutal fascists [[spoiler:that he]] claims they are, but there are many instances where they can act wantonly and chillingly brutal.

* RaceLift: There are a couple of mods that make Isabela white (even giving her blue eyes and blonde hair). Heated arguments have gone over to the moral integrity of such mods, with some believing it is a harmless cosmetic change or that she was actually a white woman who has been tanned by the sun, and others feeling it is insensitive and immoral.
** It also contradicts canon. Isabela is from Rivain, which is one of the few places in Thedas where the population is consistently darker hued.

* RandomEncounter: Going outside of the city (to Sundermount and the Wounded Coast area) will sometimes spawn these. Unlike most of the ones in ''Origins'', these are usually related to the plot. In fact, Fenris's personal quest progression hinges on you bringing him outside of Kirkwall and getting one of these.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: If the Aggressive option is chosen, Hawke can give a short one to Carver at the conclusion of the "Birthright" quest.
-->'''Hawke''': The "second child" act is getting pretty stale, Brother.
-->'''Carver''': Try it from this side, always running after you. [...] That was a waste, huh? Could have found my fortune if Bethany was going to die on your watch anyway.
-->'''Hawke''': Do you feel better getting that off your chest?
-->'''Carver''': I... I suppose.
-->'''Hawke''': ''(coldly)'' Good. Because I carry every death with me. If you want that weight, ''be sure you're ready to take it''.

-->'''The Arishok''': Their actions are mere symptoms. Your society is the disease. They have chosen. The viddathari will submit to the Qun and find a path your way has denied them.

* RelationshipValues: Upgraded from ''Origins''. You can no longer gift-spam to make people like you, as gifts are unique items of special importance to certain characters. They can only be given to that character, and come with an accompanying conversation. In addition, negative approval is no longer disadvantageous to the player; companions with negative approval form a Rivalry with Hawke, which grants a different ability from a Friendship.
** WordOfGod states that Rivalries are not inherently bad, either. The bond of companionship is just as strong, the only difference being that Hawke and the companion have opposing viewpoints. In certain cases where the companion is misguided, it could be argued that the most moral thing Hawke can do is to oppose them for their own good.

** [[spoiler:Anders]] is alive and well, even if you imported a save where he died at the end of ''Awakening''. [[spoiler:In a conversation with Nathaniel, Anders claims that the wrong body was identified (''Awakening'' left no such ambiguity). However, this doesn't account for the possibility of you handing him over to the Circle without ever recruiting him properly, in which case he didn't do half the things he claims to have done, and never even ''met'' Justice]]. Gaider has said that the folks at Creator/BioWare liked [[spoiler: Anders and the plot he was involved in]] too much to leave him dead.
** [[spoiler:Leliana]] will always be alive, even if she died in ''Origins''. If ''The Exiled Prince'' DLC is installed and you speak to her, Leliana can be asked point-blank how she's alive when it's known (as part of the Warden's tale) that she died. She doesn't give an entirely straight answer, but implies that it may have been divine intervention. (This one does at least get some clarification eventually, but not until very late in the next game.)
** [[spoiler: Justice was bound to the body of the deceased Warden Kristoff and served for many years in the Grey Warden ranks, post-''Awakening'', before presumably departing back into the Fade. By Act 1 of ''Dragon Age II'', set a mere six months after the events of ''Awakening'', Justice is not only bound to Anders, but has been for quite a while.]]

* RuleThirtyFour: There had to be ''someone'' who stared at the statues of Andraste and thought, "Boy, I'd like to see ''her'' naked." The nude sculpture inspired is, due to Chantry censorship, Unrevealed at the Black Emporium.
** Taken UpToEleven because the Chantry could not bring themselves to destroy so perfect an image of Andraste, even if they found her nudity taboo, and therefore they simply rendered the sculpture invisible. [[spoiler: So now people "study" it by touch.]]

*** In the same DLC, avoid Orlesian ham at all costs. It tastes like ''despair''.

** By Act 3, everyone knows mage Hawke is an apostate, and if you get too snarky with her, Meredith reminds you that her leniency goes only so far. The only reason you haven't been imprisoned is your position in the nobility; it would hurt the Templars' standing with the people of Kirkwall if they threw "The Champion" in the Gallows. This protection (whether Hawke is a mage or not) also extends to Anders, is frequently seen in Hawke's company with magic staves on their backs. Additionally, she likely doesn't want to tangle with Hawke and friends, since even if she won her losses would be ''tremendous''.

** A lot of trouble could have been avoided if only the Arishok had actually told the Viscount why he was staying in Kirkwall. The reason he doesn't is that the Qun's rigid caste structure means that warriors cannot even ''act'' like diplomats. So when a boat full of warriors chases their objective to Kirkwall and the bureaucratic tape prevents them from requesting backup while their duty prevents them from leaving, they end up spending their time taking in refugees and punching the shit out of anyone who claims they're breaking the law, instead of forming trade relations or negotiating a truce. Things get ugly.
** Presumably, Hawke prefers not to tell [[spoiler:Leandra]] the gruesome details of the incidents he or she gets involved with on a daily basis; but a great deal of heartache could have been avoided if, at some point over a period of six years, Hawke had thought to tell her [[spoiler:to be wary of a "suitor" giving gifts of white lilies]].

** [[spoiler: While it's understandable why you'd keep it quiet, Malcolm, you could have prepared Hawke for ''Legacy'' by warning them that you were once were coerced by the Grey Wardens into reinforcing the seals that [[SealedEvilInACan locked away an ancient darkspawn]] and that now your family's blood is the key to unlocking that prison. ''Possibly'' justified by his death a few years before the start of the game; he may have intended to tell his children once they were older, and never got the chance.]]

* PregnantHostage: In ''Legacy'' it's revealed that [[spoiler: the Grey Wardens used Hawke's mother (pregnant with Hawke at the time) as this to force her husband Malcolm to reinforce the wards on [[HumanoidAbomination Corypheus']] prison to keep the Darkspawn Magister from escaping. Though the Grey Wardens kept their word and returned Leandra Hawke unharmed, Hawke is understandably ''furious'' that they threatened both their mother's and their own lives, so much so that the Grey Wardens using Blood Magic again in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' becomes a BerserkButton for the Champion no matter what Hawke's personality is]].

** While [[spoiler: he quickly goes off the deep end, Anders]] is partially justified in [[spoiler: his]] paranoia about the Templars. They might not ''all'' be the brutal fascists [[spoiler: he]] claims they are, but there are many instances where they can act wantonly and chillingly brutal.

* RandomEncounter: Taken up several notches from ''Origins'' and much more heavily used. You frequently bump into improbably large hordes of thugs while wandering around the various sections of Kirkwall, especially at night.
** Actually, clearing out the streets forms a side quest in each Act, culminating with the option to finish them and their leaders off at their base. This is different from Random Encounters, but those do occur, outside of Kirkwall.
** Interestingly, Fenris's personal quest progression hinges on you bringing him outside of Kirkwall and getting one of these.

** In "Demands of the Qun," the Arishok tells Aveline (and, by extention, all of Kirkwall) how much they suck for their FantasticRacism and systemic inequality.

* RelationshipValues: Upgraded from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins''. You can no longer gift-spam to make people like you, as gifts are unique items of special importance to certain characters. They can only be given to that character, and come with an accompanying conversation. In addition, negative approval is no longer disadvantageous to the player; companions with negative approval form a Rivalry with Hawke, which grants a different ability from a Friendship.

** [[spoiler:Leliana]] will always be alive, even if she died in ''Origins''. If ''The Exiled Prince'' DLC is installed and you speak to her, Leliana can be asked point-blank how she's alive when it's known (as part of the Warden's tale) that she died. She doesn't give an entirely straight answer, but implies that it may have been divine intervention. (This one does at least get some clarification eventually.)

** See also LudicrousGibs above.

* MagicKnight: While the Hawke in the ''Destiny'' trailer exaggerates the martial prowess of mages in this game (magical prowess too, for that matter), mages later in the game can equip some form of armor, and also use their staves to physically attack. On the plus side, Mages now have blades on the other end of their staves, which definitely is a welcome change from ''Origins'' where unless you were an Arcane Warrior, you'd have a hectic time in close-quarters combat. On the warrior side, two of the three specs involve magic of some sort: Templar and Reaver, meaning pretty much all Warrior Hawkes will have at least a little touch of magic to them (it helps that Templars are less situational here than in ''Origins'', since mages are more frequent as enemies). Fenris is probably the purest example, since his particular lyrium powers allow him to unleash spirit pulses and magically buff himself.

* AMillionIsAStatistic: Invoked by Varric in party dialogue. [[spoiler:When Anders is guilty about killing or almost killing a girl in the quest "Dissent," Varric points out that he's killed at least a thousand people by that point in the game, and the only significant difference between this case and all the others is that Anders feels bad about this one.]]

** What happened in Hawke's first year in Kirkwall working with either the Red Iron or Athenril's smugglers. This includes a few Noodle Acquaintances, such as Lady Elegant, Tomwise, and Worthy, all of whom apparently worked with Hawke and are on friendly terms with them at the beginning of Act 1. While Varric omits parts of the tale that are neither relevant or interesting, this particular omission is due in part to the fact that Varric himself only meets Hawke at the beginning of Act 1, and thus likely isn't privy to first-hand knowledge of this period of Hawke's life.

** There's a nameless, easily-missed NPC who hangs around either outside the clinic or at the Docks at night. There's nothing to differentiate him from the random civilians except an unusual amount of lines, all of which revolve around some mysterious illness that no one, not even Anders, can seem to cure. No one in Lowtown will let him near the market, and apparently people stare at him as though he's Blighted. What the heck does this guy have?

*** Finally, in Act 3, upon retrieving lost blades for the Qunari Taarbas, he declares Hawke to be ''Ben-Hassrath'' and hands Hawke a Qunari weapon. It should be noted that to the Qunari, one's sword has the symbolic value of one's own soul, and as we later learn that the ''Ben-Hassrath'' act as the defenders of the Qunari faith, this heavily implies they deem Hawke to be an honorary Qunari.

* OhCrap: Idunna, the blood mage working in the Blooming Rose, has this reaction if Hawke or a mage companion breaks her control over Hawke.
--> '''Idunna''': How did you... [[PrecisionFStrike Oh shit]]!

* ParentalMarriageVeto: Hawke's parents. This is only briefly touched on in the game and given more focus in the second ''[[AllThereInTheManual World of Thedas]]'' book, but Leandra's parents were eventually made aware that she was pregnant by a man who was not her betrothed and was planning to elope with him. They offered to let her out of her betrothal and accept her child as a full family member if she would just drop the elopement plot, and when she refused they disowned her.

** In comparison, the Templar Ending has Hawke [[spoiler:become the Viscount(ess) of Kirkwall. However, Hawke is now ruling over a city in ruins thanks to the final conflict, and they become a symbol of hatred and oppression to mages worldwide. Hawke's gains are ultimately undone by the ensuing war between the Mages and the Templars.]]

** [[spoiler:Leliana]] will always be alive, even if she died in ''Origins''. If ''The Exiled Prince'' DLC is installed and you speak to her, Leliana can be asked point-blank how she's alive when it's known (as part of the Warden's tale) that she died. She doesn't give an entirely straight answer, but implies that it may have been divine intervention.

[[/folder]]
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* RunningOnAllFours: The re-designed genlocks do this.