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Context YMMV / DragonAge

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1See the separate YMMV subpages for the individual installments of the franchise:
2
3!!The games
4* YMMV/DragonAgeOrigins
5* YMMV/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening
6* YMMV/DragonAgeII
7* YMMV/DragonAgeInquisition
8* YMMV/DragonAgeDreadwolf
9
10!!The novels
11* YMMV/TheStolenThrone
12* YMMV/TheCalling
13* YMMV/{{Asunder}}
14* YMMV/TheMaskedEmpire
15* YMMV/LastFlight
16* YMMV/TevinterNights
17
18!!The comics
19* YMMV/UntilWeSleep
20* YMMV/{{Magekiller}}
21* YMMV/KnightErrant
22* YMMV/DragonAgeDeception
23* YMMV/BlueWraith
24* YMMV/DarkFortress
25* [[YMMV/DragonAgeTheMissing The Missing]]
26
27!!Other
28* YMMV/DragonAgeRedemption
29* YMMV/DawnOfTheSeeker
30* YMMV/DragonAgeAbsolution
31
32!!The franchise as a whole
33* BrokenBase:
34** Mages vs Templars. Are Templars [[KnightTemplar fanatics]] who mercilessly hunt down innocent mages? Or [[KnightInShiningArmor protectors]] of mages and non-mages alike who [[IDidWhatIHadToDo do what they have to do]]? Are Mages victims of a bigoted worldview pushed by the Chantry, which keeps them permanently oppressed? Or are they narrow-minded and selfish, and only end up justifying everyone's fears about them? The conflict between the two factions plays a major role in the second and third games in the series.
35** The Qunari as a whole. Are they the OnlySaneMan species of Dragon Age, a complex, flawed society that, [[GreyAndGrayMorality like most things in]] ''Dragon Age'', can't be defined as right or wrong, or pretentious, self-righteous murderers who deserve to all die? ''Inquisition'' has fanned the flames of this as new insight from Iron Bull downplays several of the negatives.[[note]]You don't get to choose your job, but the actual duties of that job are likely no different than it is for anyone in the same line of work in a different society, offering the chance for downtime. You don't know your blood relations, but you still have friends who're as close to you as a family. There are strict gender roles that keep men and women in their [[StayInTheKitchen respective kitchens]], but you can be declared [[UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} Aqun-Athlok]] and allowed to assume a role opposite of your biological gender. You don't have sex for love, but it turns out that they do practice a form of sacred prostitution; free, no attachment sex whenever you want it with whatever gender you prefer in the sack, no more stigmatized than seeing a doctor, and it can get... kinky.[[/note]] The ''Trespasser'' DLC of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' cast the Qunari as the primary antagonists, and showed them doing some deeply disturbing and downright villainous things, and seems to indicate that Creator/{{BioWare}} intends them to be bad guys. All this has done is escalate the debate about the Qunari from the fandom's perspective, however.
36** As of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', the topic of transgender people among the Qunari. Another layer to Qunari society that makes them seem more progressive and sympathetic, or a cheap AuthorsSavingThrow by Creator/BioWare done in a poor attempt to retcon how they wrote the Qunari as having strict gender roles in earlier games? That it intersects with a sensitive RealLife issue doesn't help matters.
37** The Dalish. Some respect their dedication to preserving their religion and culture, their refusal to bow to humans that would [[EnslavedElves convert and subjugate them like their city elf brethren]], and their commitment to [[FightingForAHomeland holding out for a homeland]]. Others see them as an overly haughty, elitist, CulturalPosturing WhiteDwarfStarlet race that cling too much to past glory, [[FantasticRacism are overly hostile and distrusting to all non-Dalish]] ([[BoomerangBigot including fellow elves]]), and feel they are largely responsible for their own plight since they continually alienate anyone that might help them.
38* CompleteMonster: See [[Monster/DragonAge here]].
39* CryForTheDevil: The Archdemons. While we don't know much about the Old Gods and what their alignment was, since the Darkspawn are drawn to uncover them and infect them with the Taint, it's possible they're not so much evil as merely BrainwashedAndCrazy. Furthermore it's a telling sign of the physical toll that the corruption takes, when you learn that Urthemiel, the Archdemon of the Fifth Blight, was once known as "The Dragon of ''Beauty''".
40* DieForOurShip: Bianca Davri got ''a lot'' of this since she is the main reason why the wildly popular Varric is not a romance option for both Hawke and the Inquisitor as well as the fact that she treats him very poorly and is largely seen as borderline emotionally abusive.
41* DracoInLeatherPants:
42** The Qunari society is seen by a large margin of players as superior to the others in the setting due to providing clear metrics of success and failure without ambiguity, being equal with everyone having the same prestige and place as well as being taken care of by the state. These fans also seem to downplay the bad elements of the Qun in their heads. No family, no opportunity to choose one's own role or path in life. You go where you are told and do what you are told. Personal happiness is not a concern. You should be happy in the Qun's role for you. If you're not, then there is no recourse because the problem is ''you''. Enjoy being [[{{Brainwashed}} "re-educated"]] until you either are successfully indoctrinated or are turned into a mindless slave.
43** Same case about the Tevinter Empire. It is ''the'' textbook example of 'mages gone bad', with slavery, blood magic, human (and elf) sacrifice, and power abuse on a regular basis, yet many people who are pro-mage and anti-Templar uphold them as a ''positive'' example of mages being able to govern themselves, which is totally backwards.
44* FanartAtFirstSight: During Gamescon 2020, Creator/BioWare released a behind-the-scene teaser to promote their next game. While the video mostly consists of concept art, it hasn't stopped the fans from immediately latching onto the few characters introduced in it, most notably the Qunari woman who has received a lot of fanart despite not even having a name yet (she has thus been affectionately dubbed "[[FanNickname Qunari wife]]" by a good portion of the fanbase).
45* FandomRivalry: With fans of Creator/CDProjektRED's ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' adaptations, chiefly over the protagonist choice, tone, and sexual content. This was mostly in early 2011, with both ''Dragon Age II'' and ''The Witcher 2'' coming out in the same period, though it has flared up occasionally between ''Dragon Age: Inquisition'' and ''The Witcher 3''.
46* FriendlyFandoms: Anyone who doesn't fall into the above entry generally gets along with ''Witcher'' fans over the differences ''and'' similarities between the franchises. They may even like playing both.
47* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: Divisive companions and [=NPC=]'s tend to get ''much'' more dedicated hatedoms than most of the series' actual villains -- probably since the player spends much more time with them, form [[RelationshipValues emotional]] [[RomanceSidequest bonds]] with them, and can feel scorned when trust is betrayed or mundane-feeling jerkassery hits too close to home. One example includes Bianca Davri (see DieForOurShip above) getting ''far'' more hate for her perceived mistreatment of fan-favorite Varric than the game's OmnicidalManiac, [[CardCarryingVillain Corypheus]].
48* LGBTFanbase: One of the most beloved video game series among the LGBT community thanks to having a wide variety of LGBT characters with different characteristics while generally avoiding [[SissyVillain the]] [[BuryYourGays typical]] [[{{Gayngst}} gay]] [[NoBisexuals tropes]]. The fact that [[EveryoneIsBi all the love interests are bisexuals]] [[GenderEqualEnsemble and of equal gender numbers]] (barring a DLC party member) in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' has been applauded by the bisexual community as well as having gay, straight, and bisexual love interests and the series' first transgender character in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition''.
49* MagnificentBastard:
50** The mysterious [[PhysicalGod Flemeth]], [[WickedWitch Witch of the Wilds]], is [[AmbiguouslyEvil shrouded in mystery]], a seemingly dotty old woman who speaks in riddles. In truth a mortal who bonded with the soul of Mythal, Flemeth deals in bargains but is swift to twist them to her own benefit. Saving the Grey Warden of Ferelden, Flemeth assists them and sends her daughter Morrigan with the secret hope that Morrigan will conceive a child using the soul of the Darkspawn Archdemon. Setting up her own survival by manipulating the hero Hawke, Flemeth returns years later to secretly assist Morrigan and potentially take the Archdemon's soul from her grandson before seemingly giving her life to the mysterious Solas for his own purposes.
51** Leliana is an initially carefree Orlesian bard who helps save Thedas on more than one occasion. After [[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins helping the Grey Wardens defeat the treacherous Loghain and the darkspawn]], a hardened Leliana [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition years later]] becomes the spymaster for the Inquisition, and helps track down many of the order's foes through coercion, bribery and murder. Despite her newfound ruthlessness, Leliana can be softened and persuaded by [[Characters/DragonAgeInquisitionTheInquisitor the Inquisitor]] to use more merciful methods, and if she's elected Divine Victoria, she abolishes the Circle of Magi and opens priesthood to all races. If she remains hardened, she has a rebellion that opposes her reforms infiltrated and destroyed from the inside.
52** [[LovableRogue Zevran Arainai]] is a former member of the Antivan Crows. An assassin whose brilliance is focused on seduction, Zevran deserts the Crows to join the [[Characters/DragonAgeOriginsPlayableCharactersTheWarden Grey Warden]] and assists them with flair and intellect the whole way through. Later returning to Antiva, Zevran begins to [[OneManArmy bring the Crows down]], converting some to his cause and infiltrating and destroying other Houses of the Crows, with full intent to see them burn for what they have done.
53** For Solas and the Iron Bull see YMMV/DragonAgeInquisition.
54* MisaimedFandom: It's not uncommon to hear complaints in the fandom over [[OutOfFocus the reduced importance of the Grey Wardens]] in the sequels. This typically comes from those who hold [[FirstInstallmentWins the first game in the highest regard]] and feel that the Wardens should remain the focus of the series. They tend to ignore the fact that even going back to the first game, their only purpose is to fight the Darkspawn and the Blight, and as the franchise grew beyond this initial plot Wardens were appropriately phased to the background.
55* PopCultureHoliday: December 4th is "Dragon Age Day", which was originally spelled "'''D'''ragon '''4'''ge Day", but was later changed to prevent confusion with the upcoming ''Dragon Age 4'' game.
56* RonTheDeathEater:
57** Many Mage supporters tend to paint the Chantry, and particularly the Templar Order, as the ultimate source of evil in Thedas. While it is outdated in some aspects and quite a few members like Sister Petrice or Ser Alrik ''are'' horrible people, there are many decent people among them too, and the conflict is much more [[GreyAndGrayMorality complex]] than just ''evil fanatics trying to oppress the innocent minority'' - among other things, the number of innocent minorities that can shoot fire from their hands and raise the dead in reality remains zero.
58** Dalish haters also tend to paint them all as violently haughty, elitist Dalish supremacists who want to wipe out or enslave all humans [[BoomerangBigot and city elves for being]] {{Race Traitor}}s, even though the games have shown many times that ''most'' Dalish just want ''one'' nation of their own where they can live in peace away from humans, which is not unreasonable considering how [[EnslavedElves elves are treated in human nations]]. This also ignores how most Dalish Clans shown don't even think twice about helping city elves in need,[[note]]Keeper Marethari's Clan takes in both Pol the escaped city elf criminal in [=DAO=] and potentially Feynriel the half-elf apostate in [=DA2=]. Keeper Zathrien's Clan took in Lanaya the city elven mage and made her their First some time before [=DAO=]. Velanna's Clan actually kicked her out for being too hostile to humans and city elves in [=DAA=]. Keeper Hawen's Clan can send a Dalish ambassador to foster good relations with humans in [=DAI=], and Clan Lavellan, provided their quest chain is completed and they aren't killed off, willingly risk their own lives in a hostile human city to protect city elves that would have been scapegoated and purged for a human noble plot.[[/note]] and that the level of friendliness to and acceptance of outsiders varies from clan to clan and individual to individual, just like people of every other nation and culture in Thedas.
59* UnderusedGameMechanic:
60** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', Creator/BioWare initially intended for every playable character to become a Grey Warden potentially. Originally, [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Bioware wanted for the taint to infect all of the companions, meaning the player would have to make them into a Grey Warden]]. This mechanic was incorporated into ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' in a way, but there are very few consequences gameplay-wise for ''not'' making Nathaniel, Velanna, and Sigrun into Grey Wardens save Nathaniel being executed.
61** Post-''Origins'', the Rogue class' iconic Stealth ability becomes practically useless, since your non-stealthy party members are hard-wired to follow you even if you order them to stay back. Its only use is to quickly de-aggro yourself when surrounded and to shift positions, similar to the Tactical Cloak in ''Franchise/MassEffect''. In ''DAO'', by contrast, a good enough rogue could scout out the entire map, stealthily disarming traps right under the enemies' noses and thus making upcoming fights a lot easier.
62* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical: A lot of people are drawing parallels between the Templars and mage conflict to real-life issues of security vs. freedom. [[http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-social-satire-of-dragon-age-mages.html 1]], [[http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-social-satire-of-dragon-age-mages_9.html 2]], [[http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-social-satire-of-dragon-age-mages_75.html 3]].
63* WoobieSpecies: After the elves had their homeland invaded, were enslaved, freed, had their homeland invaded again, and now are either second class citizens or living in the forest, with uneasy relations with humans, it's hard not to pity them. Though their descendants certainly suffer greatly, it's heavily implied that the attacks on the Dales weren't unprovoked. The Inquisitor discovers some letters from those involved in the attack on Red Crossing, which sparked the war against the Dales: [[spoiler:It was a tragic case of PoorCommunicationKills, fueled by years of growing hostility and distrust from both sides.]] Whether or not one feels the war was justified, most Thedas humans now consider the conflict just another footnote in their long history, while the ''entire elven race'' (outside [[EnslavedElves Tevinter]]) is ''still'' being punished for it ''over 700 years later''.

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