* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
** The Architect brings the uncomfortable detail that [[TheHorde Darkspawn]] are only AlwaysChaoticEvil because the taint doesn’t exactly give them a choice. Once awakened, they can be as morally varied as any other race (if with a somewhat higher predisposition towards insanity; being tainted and then awakened seems to be pretty hard on their mental stability). Following his argument, a good portion of the hordes slaughtered during every Blight could be perfectly decent people like the Messenger if they were just capable of choice, making them as much victims of the taint as anybody else. This is somewhat countered by the reminder of [[FateWorseThanDeath how]] [[BodyHorror the]] [[NightmareFuel Darkspawn]] [[MotherOfAThousandYoung reproduce.]] Then again, we do not know how long do the Darkspawn live and whether the Architect would wish to create more. There's also the fact that despite the Messenger's attempts to help people post-story, he ''does'' spread the Blight sickness.
** The Mother implies that the Architect may not wish to free his brethren out of empathy for their situation, but simply because he does not wish to be [[AllTheOtherReindeer alone,]] [[MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch as the only sentient Darkspawn]] [[spoiler: This is somewhat undercut by the knowledge you gain in II and ''Inquisition'', which makes it clear that there ''are'' other sentient Darkspawn, and that there's a ''reason'' that they're sentient.]]
* AngstWhatAngst: Sigrun is amazingly cheerful for someone from a caste called Legion of the Dead, and is promised to only pursue death for the rest of her life.
* BaseBreakingCharacter:
** Oghren. Many people who disliked him in ''Origins'' warmed up to Oghren after ''Awakening'', because he showed much more responsibility both for himself and others, and because of his new-found family. On the other hand, a lot of people who liked him in ''Origins'' found his portrayal in ''Awakening'' to be disappointing, feeling like he had significantly less depth and served little more purpose than occasional comic relief (the "shleets" conversation, for example). There's also a large segment who are just mad that the game retcons Oghren's potential death in ''Origins''.
** [[HairTriggerTemper Velanna]] is an even bigger one. A large number of fans despise her for JerkAss tendencies, murdering a bunch of people with an incredibly flimsy motive, selfish reasons for wanting to become a Grey Warden, and overall shrill personality. Of course, a number of fans also love her for being one of the most developed characters in ''Awakening'', along with her HiddenDepths and willingness to change her worldview if given sufficient reason. Some are even hoping that she will make a return appearance in future games due to growing intrigue surrounding both the Blight and the elves.
* BrokenBase:
** ''Awakening'' either ruined ''Dragon Age'' forever, was a decent game that didn't have enough content for its $40 price tag, or was a great addition/conclusion to the story of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins.''
** One change was that, unlike in ''Origins'' (and Bioware's earlier games), when you talked to your party members, they would only give a voice clip and you could only gain influence via conversation whenever you clicked on something. On one hand, some liked that you couldn't say, [[HitboxDissonance click on somebody who is standing in front of a door or a chest]] by mistake and they [[{{Narm}} give a long conversation about their sidequest or a personal romance when you]] [[SkewedPriorities are in the middle of a dungeon]]. But on the other, some feel that [[GuideDangIt the options to bring up these conversations are too hidden or unobvious]] or that it would make more sense for them to instead have these conversations inside Vigil's Keep.
* CompleteMonster: The Baroness of the Blackmarsh was a VainSorceress who murdered her subjects’ children to use their blood in rituals to keep herself young. When her subjects rebelled and burned her home down, the Baroness responded by [[TakingYouWithMe killing her subjects]] and [[FateWorseThanDeath imprisoning their spirits in the Fade]]. Denied their eternal rest, the people of the Blackmarsh have their souls feasted on by the Baroness, [[spoiler:now a Pride Demon]], and are tormented by the demons prowling the spirit world. Should any person "die" they will only be revived back in the Fade for more misery. When confronted with her crimes, the Baroness brushes them off, saying that [[ItsAllAboutMe her subjects’ lives belong to her and are hers to do with as she pleases]].
* CryForTheDevil: Regarding the Mother, considering what we know about where [[BabyFactory Broodmothers]] [[WasOnceAMan come from.]]
* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Nathaniel is easily the most popular character in ''Awakening''. Many love him for his [[OnlySaneMan personality]], [[TallDarkAndSnarky looks]], [[GameBreaker combat skills]], and just in general being a good example of how to invoke a MisaimedFandom InUniverse. His appearance in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' also won him more fans, and many were disappointed by his lack of inclusion in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition''.
** Sigrun is also very popular for being the only Dwarf female party member in the entire series, as well as being a GenkiGirl. Her usefulness in combat also greatly helps.
** Anders would also qualify, despite his BaseBreakingCharacter status in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', mainly for his [[PluckyComicRelief humorous nature]] and serving as a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute for Alistair
* FanPreferredCouple: ''Awakening'' has no romance options, even when playing as an Orlesian Warden. It didn't stop players from shipping their Warden (even an imported one) with companions who would theoretically qualify as one. [[note]]Anders, Nathaniel, Sigrun, and Velanna. Since Oghren is already married to Felsi and has a child regardless of whether they got together in ''Origins'' and Justice is a spirit [[{{Squick}} possessing a dead body]], who was also a married man.[[/note]] Popular choices were [[HandsomeLech Anders]] and [[TallDarkAndHandsome Nathaniel]], the former eventually becoming a romance option in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''.
* {{Fanon}}: It's often stated by fans that, if he was recruited, [[TheAtoner Nathaniel Howe]] is promoted to Warden-Constable under the Hero of Ferelden. His ties to politics, as well as reliability out of the six ''Awakening'' companions, makes him the preferred candidate for the position. This is all despite the [[PlayerCharacter Warden-Commander]] not being able to choose their Warden-Constable, nor ever making that choice.
* GameBreaker: Has it's own page [[GameBreaker/DragonAge here]].
* GoodBadBugs:
** One bug in ''Awakening'' will allow you to max out your level before you even leave Vigil's Keep for the first time.
** Another good bug in ''Awakening'': In the City of Amaranthine, the smuggler leader quest line can provide infinite gold. Perform the first two tasks, but refuse the third. Every time you go back, he'll repeat the conversation, Including the part where he gives you 15 gold.
** A bad bug as detailed on the main page: If you import to ''Dragon Age II'', whether you save Vigil's Keep or not, anyone not with you to fight the final boss ''will be flagged as dead''.
** And then there's the bug where next to no DLC equipment will carry into this game - cue players having an OhCrap reaction when the Warden charges into battle in naught but their underwear.
** It has since been fixed (unless you're playing the Ultimate Edition), but until very recently, a bug existed on the "Legion of The Dead Heraldry," a mostly cosmetic, practically free bit of modification you can buy to put a different image on your shield. Instead of the normal +3 to all attributes given by other heraldic designs (which is a pretty hefty bonus for a cosmetic reward, all things considered), the bug caused the Legion of the Dead emblem to provide ''+20 to all attributes'', easily making any shield to which it's applied by a far and wide margin the most obscenely powerful piece of gear in the game.
* HarsherInHindsight:
** Anders telling Velanna that the chip on her shoulder has replaced her head is much less funny after what happens to him in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''.
** A female character billed as a permanent party member turns out to be a GuestStarPartyMember. The same thing happened with [[VideoGame/TalesOfZestiria Alisha]], five years later.
* HilariousInHindsight:
** Asking Anders if mages and the Chantry are all he talks about; this ended up being a criticism of his [=DAII=] attitude.
** Similarly, one of the banters between him and Oghren has Oghren making fun of Anders' "delicate" nature, and finishing with "Oh no, big templar man. What are you going to do with that sword?" Given Anders' status as AmbiguouslyBi in the sequel (and in fact confirmed bisexual by WordOfGod), his "Ew" reaction is even funnier. It also makes a lot of his dialogue look like [[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday posturing]]. Simultaneously HarsherInHindsight, as the next game touches on the issue of sexual assault in the Circle.
* IKnewIt: WordOfGod and ''[[AllThereInTheManual World of Thedas Vol. II]]'' confirm fan speculation that the Architect [[spoiler:is one of the seven Magisters who invaded the Golden City and became the first Darkspawn, and that he was once the High Priest of Urthemiel.]]
* ItsShortSoItSucks: Many fans weren't happy at ''Awakening'' being priced just as high as the main game, when it can be beaten in twelve hours or so.
* JerkassWoobie: Velanna murders the humans who travel through the Wending Wood... because she believed humans were responsible for the death of many of her clan. The true murderers were the awakened darkspawn that serve the Architect - and Velanna's sister is now working with him. She had a big blowout with her Keeper about her methods, leading to her leaving the clan proper, and later learns that the Keeper has passed away without giving her a chance to make amends. She harbors resentment towards humans and lashes out at them... because of how she envies that the humans have their history and stories, while the Dalish have searched for the scraps of their tattered culture. When a pair of city elves approach her unbidden, she lashes out at them for treating her almost like a zoo specimen, then gives them a Dalish artifact (which, by nature, tend to be precious and hard to replace at best) to remind them of the culture they came from. Divisive she may be, Velanna is also in serious need of a hug. Just... mind your limbs if you try to offer her one.
* {{Narm}}: Nathaniel's bard cry is akin to him stubbing his toe.
* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: Not a character, but a place; the Deep Roads are only rivaled by the Fade in terms of how hated and loathed they are in Origins. Awakening, however, tweaks this by making them far more visually interesting (exploring the ruined city of Kal'Hirol) and using them to expand on Dwarven lore in an interesting and compelling way.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Mhari, who was built up as a main character by early promotional materials, even gaining her own character trailer. Yet she is KilledOffForReal within the first ''hour'' of the game specifically to show off how dangerous the Joining was. We have a character who (like Oghren) ''wants'' to be a Warden, and surely the job of a Warden would lead to some interesting reactions. Yet she is killed off within the first ''hour'' of the game. Many people believe she should have been given more time or even branching choices that would affect her fate rather than be cruelly killed before any significant character can be set up, as even if she was going to die during the process, at least letting the player have some time to get to know her and possibly encourage or dissuade her from trying, would have been better then her actual fate.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Fans tend to acknowledge that, while ''Awakening'' has a great story and characters, [[ItsShortSoItSucks it suffers from being so short.]] Right after you recruit your last companion, it's time for the final battle. Many fans also note that [[spoiler:while ''[=DAA=]'' finally made the darkspawn ''interesting'' by introducing [[ItCanThink intelligent darkspawn]] free of the HiveMind, which opens up [[GreyAndGrayMorality ethical debates]] of [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill free will]] and NatureVsNurture, the Grey Wardens and darkspawn were [[DemotedToExtra shoved in the backburner]] in the sequels.]]
* UnderusedGameMechanic: The lack of romance in ''Awakening'' compared to the original game sticks out like a sore thumb. Especially if the player stayed single throughout ''Origins''. Nathaniel, Anders, Velanna, and Sigrun all could have been potential options.
* TheWoobie:
** Sigrun. She was a Casteless in Orzammar and forced to betray the trust of one of the few Merchant Caste dwarves who felt sympathy for the casteless and got them exiled and then joined the Legion of the Dead to make up for it. If you meet the dwarf Sigrun betrayed, she has some pretty harsh words for Sigrun.
** Nathaniel Howe, as he's completely looked down upon by all of Fereldan for the actions of his father Rendon and his entire family is worth less then dirt, which affects him pretty badly to the point that he has no idea what to do with himself until the Warden-Commander recruits him. Thankfully the Warden-Commander can help him and reassure him that he's not responsible for his father's actions (And if the Warden-Commander's a Human Noble, end the CycleOfRevenge between the Couslands and Howes). Or make things even worse.
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