History Trivia / DragonAgeII

** Alec Newman voices Seneschal Bran, Sebastian Vael, and the male elf who stands guard at the entrance to the Dalish camp.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The game was rushed after the highly-awaited and ambitious Star Wars MMO ''VideoGame/TheOldRepublic'' was unable to make it to its projected release in early-2011 and EA demanded a major title before the end of the first fiscal quarter of 2011.

* DummiedOut: Vigilance, the InfinityPlusOneSword from ''Awakening,'' is in the game files, but is unobtainable. This is {{actually pretty funny}}, since the epilogue of ''Awakening'' states that the sword is continually being stolen and passing from one owner to another; maybe you can't obtain it in this game because someone stole it.

* FanNickname:
** "Dragon Effect," because this game borrows some elements (voiced protagonist, dialogue wheel, greater focus on action than tactics) from ''Franchise/MassEffect''.
** The "Diplomatic" and "Aggressive" personalities are more commonly identified as [[Franchise/MassEffect "Paragon" and "Renegade."]] In fact, this is so ingrained that, when the personalities are referred to by color, the Diplomatic personality is almost always called "''blue'' Hawke" - despite the fact that in-game, the Diplomatic choices are sometimes represented by icons depicting ''green'' olive branches. (Other times the icon really is blue.)
** The female Hawke is called Lady Hawke by some of the fanbase. (Some use it deliberately because of the movie ''Film/{{Ladyhawke}}''.) "[[PunnyName Mike]]" is a favorite name for Male Hawke, for [[IncrediblyLamePun some reason]]...
** "Noodlehair" and variants for Cullen, since in certain lights his curls resemble a packet of ramen.
** Sebastian is sometimes (usually affectionately) called "Seabass."

* ActorAllusion: Probably an unintentional example with Sebastian. A nobleman's son, who loses his father to betrayal and finds himself involved in events that will reshape the world. He's voiced by Alec Newman, who played Paul Atreides in the ''Series/{{Dune}}'' miniseries.
* BadPowersGoodPeople: According to [[WordOfGod Bioware]], the Hawke featured in the ''Destiny'' trailer is canonically a [[BadPowersGoodPeople Blood Mage]].

* ExecutiveMeddling: The game was rushed after the highly-awaited and ambitious Star Wars MMO ''VideoGame/TheOldRepublic'' missed its projected deadline of early-2011 and EA demanded a major title before the end of the first fiscal quarter of 2011.

* UpliftedSideStory: ''Dragon Age II'' hadn't originally been intended as a sequel to ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' -- instead, it was conceived as ''Dragon Age: Exodus'', a SpinOff game with a much smaller scope. However, publisher Creator/ElectronicArts demanded from Creator/BioWare a fully-fledged sequel within less than 16 months after the relative commercial failure of ''VideoGame/TheOldRepublic'', forcing them to repurpose ''Exodus'', with [[ContestedSequel polarizing results]]. Downplayed with ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', which was conceived as a mainline entry from the get-go but had to retroactively absorb much of the plot from the ''[=DA2=]'' expansion ''Exalted March'', which was planned but scrapped after its main game underperformed in sales.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The game was rushed after the highly-awaited and ambitious Star Wars MMO ''VideoGame/TheOldRepublic'' missed its projected deadline of early-2011 and EA demanded a major title before the end of the first fiscal quarter or 2011.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The game's development was rushed due to the relative commercial failure of ''VideoGame/TheOldRepublic''.

** The "Diplomatic" and "Aggressive" personalities are more commonly identified as [[Franchise/MassEffect "Paragon" and "Renegade."]] In fact, this is so ingrained that when the personalities are referred to by color the Diplomatic personality is almost always called "''blue'' Hawke", despite the fact that in-game, the Diplomatic choices are sometimes represented by icons depicting ''green'' olive branches. (Other times the icon really is blue.)
** The female Hawke is called Lady Hawke (some use it deliberately because of the movie ''Film/{{Ladyhawke}}'') by some of the fanbase. "[[PunnyName Mike]]" is a favorite name for Male Hawke, for [[IncrediblyLamePun some reason]]...

* IKnewIt: A few fans noticed that Qunari, other than Sten, likely possessed horns in ''Origins'' and that this trait might turn up in future installments. Sure enough, the Qunari faction were redesigned with horned heads being the norm in the sequel. The hints came from a lone codex entry and the darkspawn Ogres (once you learn where they come from). Behind the scenes, Sten was originally supposed to be horned, but they proved problematic when mapping them to helmets, so he lost them.

* SimilarlyNamedWorks: The DLC ''The Exiled Prince'' shares its name with the second installment of the ''VideoGame/DarkParables'' hidden object games. They were even released within ten days of each other in 2011.

* UpliftedSideStory: ''Dragon Age II'' hasn't originally been intended as a sequel to ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' -- instead, it was conceived as ''Dragon Age: Exodus'', a SpinOff game with a much smaller scope. However, publisher Creator/ElectronicArts demanded from Creator/BioWare a fully-fledged sequel within less than 16 months after the relative commerical failure of ''VideoGame/TheOldRepublic'', forcing them to repurpose ''Exodus'', with [[ContestedSequel polarizing results]]. Downplayed with ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', which was conceived as a mainline entry from the get-go but had to retroactively absorb much of the plot from the ''[=DA2=]'' expansion ''Exalted March'', which was planned but scrapped after its main game underperformed in sales.

** The devs have said that, in hind sight, they would have changed Hawke's duel with the Arishok to the Act 3 climax instead of Act 2, so the game would end on a more triumphant note and make Hawke's famed accomplishments less of an InformedAttribute. In fact, one of the reasons the devs planned the ''Exalted March'' DLC (and possibly to make Hawke the protagonist of ''Inquisition'') was to make Hawke's in-universe [[WorldsStrongestMan larger-than-life reputation]] seem a little more deserved, but ''[=DA2=]'' under-performing in sales caused them to scrap this.

* UpliftedSideStory: ''Dragon Age II'' hasn't originally been intended as a sequel to ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' -- instead, it was conceived as ''Dragon Age: Exodus'', a SpinOff game with a much smaller scope. However, after ''Origins'' became a massive success, publisher Creator/ElectronicArts demanded from Creator/BioWare a fully-fledged sequel within less than 16 months, forcing them to repurpose ''Exodus'', with [[ContestedSequel polarizing results]]. Downplayed with ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', which was conceived as a mainline entry from the get-go but had to retroactively absorb much of the plot from the ''[=DA2=]'' expansion ''Exalted March'', which was planned but scrapped after its main game underperformed in sales.

* ExecutiveMeddling: The game's development was rushed in order to capitalize on the success of the previous installment.

** As part of a graphical overhaul due to ''Origins'' reciving a lot of flack for dated visuals, ''2'' was made on a modified version of the Eclipse Engine called Lycium. This required remaking all of the assets for this game, and by the time ''2'' came out, Lycium had become outdated graphically to the team's regret.

* CreatorsFavorite: The developers often gush on [[LineGoGod social media]] that Purple Hawke is their favorite personality, and often half-jokingly consider it the "correct" way to play.
** To a lesser extent, many devs have mentioned enjoying working on or being proud of this game the most since they were still riding high on the success of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' and (despite this game being rushed) felt more creative freedom since this was [[UpliftedSideStory intended to be a side game]], without the pressure of being a main installment.

** Nicholas Boulton voices Male!Hawke, Malcolm Hawke in ''Legacy,'' and Baron Arlange in the ''Mark of the Assassin'' DLC.

* WordOfGay: The Viscount's son, Saemus, was given this treatment when the Bioware Forums were still active.

** ''Exalted March'' would have also given Hawke the option to marry their love interest.
** Check out some concept art [[http://mattrhodesart.blogspot.ca/2013/07/concept-art-behind-scenes.html here]] (the first part is ''Mass Effect'' - scroll down). Most of the cast are recognizable, but Merrill and Fenris "the widowmaker" had some ''drastically'' different looks. Some of the concept art can also be seen in the official strategy guide; interestingly, Bethany originally looked like a mage [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Sera]], complete with choppy blonde hair.

* WordOfGay: [[http://social.bioware.com/index/forum/1/topic/315/index/11724520/4#11788695 The Viscount's son, Saemus.]]
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** The above-mentioned ExecutiveMeddling that saw Bioware being forced to make a full sequel within 18 months of the ''Origins'' launch, while continuing DLC support for ''Origins'' and ''Mass Effect 2,'' meant that this was inevitable. According to some sources, the game first underwent an incredibly rushed pre-production as Bioware quickly put a team together, after which it spent as little as ''8-9 months'' in development. This is compared to ''Origins'', which had a pre-production of 18 months and a development cycle of about 5 years.

** The above-mentioned ExecutiveMeddling that saw Bioware being forced to make a full sequel within 18 months of ''Origins'' launch, while continuing DLC support for ''Origins'' and ''Mass Effect 2,'' meant that this was inevitable. According to some sources, the game first underwent an incredibly rushed pre-production as Bioware quickly put a team together, after which it spent as little as ''8-9 months'' in development. This is compared to ''Origins'', which had a pre-production of 18 months and a development cycle of about 5 years.

** The above-mentioned ExecutiveMeddling that saw Bioware being forced to make a full sequel within 18 months of ''Origins'' launch, while continuing DLC support for ''Origins'' and ''Mass Effect 2,'' meant that this was inevitable. According to some sources, the game first underwent an incredibly rushed production-period as Bioware quickly put a team together, after which it spent as little as ''8-9 months'' in development. This is compared to ''Origins'', which had a pre-production of 18 months and a development cycle of about 5 years.

*** The "Diplomatic" and "Aggressive" personalities are more commonly identified as [[Franchise/MassEffect "Paragon" and "Renegade."]] In fact, this is so ingrained that when the personalities are referred to by color the Diplomatic personality is almost always called "''blue'' Hawke", despite the fact that in-game, the Diplomatic choices are sometimes represented by icons depicting ''green'' olive branches. (Other times the icon really is blue.)

* TroubledProduction: The above-mentioned ExecutiveMeddling that saw Bioware being forced to make a full sequel within 18 months of ''Origins'' launch, while continuing DLC support for ''Origins'' and ''Mass Effect 2,'' meant that this was inevitable. According to some sources, the game first underwent an incredibly rushed production-period as Bioware quickly put a team together, after which it spent as little as ''8-9 months'' in development. This is compared to ''Origins'', which had a pre-production of 18 months and a development cycle of about 5 years.

** Much like how ''Origins'' has ''Awakening'', ''Dragon Age II'' was going to have an expansion pack called ''Exalted March,'' but this was cancelled due to other projects, most notably adapting the Frostbite engine to work with RPGs in time for ''Inquisition.'' Some of the story elements were kept for ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' instead.

* TroubledProduction: The above-mentioned ExecutiveMeddling that saw Bioware being forced to make a full sequel within 18 months of ''Origins'' launch, while continuing DLC support for ''Origins'' and ''Mass Effect 2,'' meant that this was inevitable.

* WordOfGay: [[http://social.bioware.com/index/forum/1/topic/315/index/11724520/4#11788695 The Viscount's son, Saemus.]]

** Much like how ''Origins'' has ''Awakening'', ''Dragon Age II'' was going to have an expansion pack called ''Exalted March,'' but this was cancelled due to other projects. Some of the story elements were kept for ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' instead.

*** The "Diplomatic" and "Aggressive" personalities are more commonly identified as [[Franchise/MassEffect "Paragon" and "Renegade."]] In fact, this is so ingrained that when the personalities are referred to by color the Diplomatic personality is almost always called "''blue'' Hawke", despite the fact that in-game, the choices are ''green''.

* IKnewIt: A few fans noticed that Qunari, other than Sten, likely possessed horns in ''Origins'' and that trait might turn up in future installments. Sure enough, the Qunari faction were redesigned with horned heads being the norm in the sequel. The hints came from a lone codex entry and the darkspawn Ogres (once you learn where they come from). Behind the scenes, Sten was originally supposed to be horned, but they proved problematic when mapping them to helmets, so he lost them.

** The boss fight against [[spoiler: Orsino]] was originally going to be exclusive to the Templar endgame. However, it was added to the mage endgame for the sake of another boss fight.

* WordOfGay: [[http://social.bioware.com/index/forum/1/topic/315/index/11724520/4#11788695 The Viscount's son, Saemus.]]
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*** The "Diplomatic" and "Aggressive" personalities are more commonly identified as [[Franchise/MassEffect "Paragon" and "Renegade."]]

*** "Diplomatic" and "Aggressive" are more commonly referred to as [[Franchise/MassEffect "Paragon" and "Renegade."]]

* TalkingToHimself: Nicholas Boulton voices Male!Hawke, Malcolm Hawke in ''Legacy,'' and Baron Arlange in the ''Mark of the Assassin'' DLC.