I just wonder, how actions in DA2 can affect plot of DA3. Choices in DAO affected minorly plot of DA2 just side quests. Siding with mages or templars doesn't matter at all, because the war starts after all; side with Janeka or Larius, you have to fight Corypheus and unintentionally help him escape; follow or abandon Tallis, you have to fight Prosper alongside with her. Currently I see Feynriel as a variable - he can return as a demon or be an ally, when player of DA3 visits Tevinter; other consequences can be quests from companions, who survived and their quests depend on relationship with Hawke.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.8.128.146 (talk)

I have to agree with Feynriel being one of the only variables. The only other possible changes are if you killed Anders, who left Hawkes group before the final battle, what happened to Isabela at the end of Act 2 (even though theres a possible retcon in there), and what happened to Sebastian.Avg Man (talk) 21:57, July 2, 2012 (UTC)

That's true, there aren't many variables after DA2. So they are more or less safe. I bet the choie between mages and templars will not really matter either.

It'll probably be in the area of ME3's connection to the previous installments. No choices will really matter, the difference will only be subtle. Replacement NPCs for dead characters, etc. You will get the same game whether or not you spent weeks perfecting the previous saves or you are just new to the franchise.

But hopefully it won't be as grim as this. Henio0 (talk) 22:02, July 2, 2012 (UTC)

Here's hoping DA3 doesn't lead to another "Retake" movement, otherwise BioWare is SOL.Avg Man (talk) 22:10, July 2, 2012 (UTC)

The first thing is to figure out what Hawke and the Warden (yes, the Warden is just as important) did, and what the ripple effect each action has. You see, the problem is that people are focusing on the major plot points, but there are ripple effects, a small action leads to a larger problem (or solution) later on. It might not be in the next direct sequel, but carried on to a later game. For example, lets just say the Warden saved Zerlinda and her son in Dust Town. So what would be the ripple effect? Well, Zerlinda's father presumably belongs to the Mining Class. So suppose aid is needed from Orzammar during the Templar-Mage war, would Ordel be someone who would help supply material for the war effort? Or if you sent his daughter and grandson to the surface would he be a shell of a man and refuse to help?

We know the big things are going to affect DA3, thats not going to change. So the real question is, what are the supposedly inconsequential actions going to have? --Madasamadthing (talk) 23:27, July 2, 2012 (UTC)

I'm not expecting my choices to matter so i won't be disappointed if that is the case. The fate of Hawke's companions is really the only thing that could potentially have consequences. But some characters don't have a strong reason to appear again, like avaline(a captain of the guard), Fenris(broody elf whose master is dead), and Merrill (assuming nothing with restoring the elves happens) User:Warrior Tabris

Considering how DA peripherals seem to be shoving a canon set of choices down our throat, we might not even get those. I mean, what's going to be on the chopping block, your saves or their comics, novels, and DVDs? DAWUSS (talk) 01:32, July 3, 2012 (UTC)

There is no reason to suggest any of it is on the chopping block. The lead writer himself has gone out of his way to say none of it will affect your imports if it involves a dead Alistair for example. Tommyspa (talk) 02:14, July 3, 2012 (UTC)

So we believe writers employed by BioWare now? Remember the LAST Bioware writer who promised something about a game? I think he's more hated than Laidlaw and Gaider now.Avg Man (talk) 04:50, July 3, 2012 (UTC)

Not gonna believe 'em either. What with all the Anders and Leliana aliveness no matter what. :) Henio0 (talk) 12:19, July 3, 2012 (UTC)

I haven't particularly cared about the mass effect universe since ME2 kept releasing new dlc. In ME3 you can't even access all of the content unless you owned and played the Lair of the Shadowbroker, etc so you have to stare at an empty model slot in the captains cabin, you lose out of war assets for not having the ME2 dlc and party members from dlc you didn't own are treated as being dead in ME3 and appear on the memorial wall even though my Shepard shouldn't even know those people (plus they reversed my decisions and made me take their story appropriate ones, such as the Anderson/Udina councilor switch). There are even instances in ME3 where lack of ownership of ME2 dlc results in characters dying (because a dlc character was supposed to be there to save them) and loss of even more war assets.

No matter how good the story is, it doesn't make up for trying to squeeze every dollar they can out of me and offering a consistently worse product each time. DA2 was horrible and felt generic and lazy, ME3 is even easier in terms of difficulty than the previous titles (and I despise the fact you have to wait around and let an npc finish a conversation with another npc to get some missions, you can't just talk to them and skip dialogue for fetch quests) and the endings are still pretty much just blue, green and red but they added in "fuck you" as an option.

Bethesda added a ton of content with Dawnguard, but they also gave 360 users mounted combat for free, no Dawnguard required for a completely new aspect of gameplay. With Bioware it feels like you don't get anything for free, they just nickel and dime you and then make you feel like part of the game is missing if you don't pay up. I am done buying their products. Mictlantecuhtli (talk) 15:19, July 3, 2012 (UTC)

Microtransactions...welcome to the future. It's coming sooner than you think. I can see a credit card being required to even PLAY a game in the not too distant future. Just so you can buy that new sword with REAL money to cut up that darkspawn...And yes, it will really be that bad, and yes, it really is coming....The Grey Unknown (talk) 14:41, July 4, 2012 (UTC)

It sort of surprises me, but I'm actually more in favor now of LESS consequences from previous games mattering in DA3. I'm more in favor at this point of something much closer to a complete stand alone new story and direction. DA2 sort of tried to cater to past decisions from Origins, and in some cases outright forcing characters back into the story no matter what may have happened before, but did so in a manner that felt cheap and unimaginative. And in some cases a little insulting. A mention here or there of a few things past may be acceptable, but given the past two Bioware games the track record for this is shockingly poor. Many a time in DA2 or ME3 a decision was made that contradicted what I had done previously, and that just rips you right out of the story, and often makes the game itself much less enjoyable. I suppose if they could get it right this time it would be fine, but honestly I don't think they can anymore. The variables are too high, the cost too great, the ire surely to come in many cases is just not worth it, and honestly, I just don't think the talent level is as high as it once was. At this point I think less is more in regard to past game consequences mattering. The Grey Unknown (talk) 14:41, July 4, 2012 (UTC)

Another possible variable can be Arishok. If qunari regained thier book, their morales are stronger and they can be more difficult to defeat or their POVs can change. If Arishok is killed by Hawke, qunari will treat bas different, of course he will be repleaced by next more or less desiring expansion of his people. Arishok killed in duel by a bas is something qunari cannot be indifferent.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.8.128.146 (talk)

Another possibility was Hawke being a Basalit-an, which is more than just a bas. Anyway, I doubt BioWare will go for it because I'm sure only a fraction of people actually let him go with Isabela. Don't get me wrong, I want it to have repercussions, but I doubt Arishok will be a companion. Besides, An Arishok's duty is to be a military leader and I don't see a leader following some puny human. Henio0 (talk) 20:52, August 11, 2012 (UTC)

I never even mentioned Arishok as a companion. I just think his death will mean something, he can be repleaced by new one better or worse. I can compere this to Mass Effect, when killed Wrex was repleaced by his warmongering brother Wreav. Only potential variables I found were Feynriel and Arishok. It's confirmed that if Anders died in DA2 he won't return like Leliana, but he can be a quest giver in DA3, no major character. In DAO were far more variables.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.8.128.146 (talk)

Oh, right. I think I thought I was in a different thread and assumed wrong things. That's why they say what they say about assuming. :) Sorry. Henio0 (talk) 04:33, August 12, 2012 (UTC)

Since both high-ranking qunari officers I saw were massive idiots, I think following a "puny human" would actually be a privilige to them. Maybe they'd learn something and, who knows, maybe they'd even grow a bit of a brain between those horns. -Algol- (talk) 21:37, August 11, 2012 (UTC)

But in any case:

1)@OP "Currently I see Feynriel as a variable - he can return as a demon or be an ally" - Why the "or"? Why those two possibilities have to be mutually exclusive? Also humans do not actually become demons (a pity), that's Warhammer, not DA. In DA they become abominations.

2)On the topic: I think carrying over the variables is neatly illustrated by Gaiders answer to a question of Anders' possible return in DA3. Since, you know, he may live or die. Quote: "... Justice, however, is another matter". So with those words of the lead writer in mind, I take my stance on predicting all the consequences in the very same way. Like, no difference, who you sided with in DA2, the progress of the M-T war is another matter. No difference who of Hawke's siblings (if any) survived DA2, Charade is another matter. So nothing really carries on, but there will be new events and people loosely connected to DA2. Oh, and if they want some character to reappear regardless whether you actually killed him/her or no, they could always use "it wasn't my time" punchline. -Algol- (talk) 21:37, August 11, 2012 (UTC)

When Uldred was possessed his body took form identical to a pride demon, so abominations eventually become demons, but more material. Undead abominations only remain in form of armored sceletons. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.8.128.146 (talk)

The personality of the human in question doesn't remain (at least as far as we know). In the case of abomination the demon ASSUMES DIRECT CONTROL (not funny, I know), albeit remaining in human body, but it's only a body. Kinda the whole idea of possesion. In the case of abomination turning into a demon, the demon simply emerges from the body and fully manifests in it's preferred form. But in both cases the human personality is no more, unlike from Warhammer, where human souls can become new demons directly, or humans becoming Daemon Princes, demon forms, which retain most of the human personality intact - the example I mentioned earlier. Again, a pity:( -Algol- (talk) 22:42, August 11, 2012 (UTC)

Indeed, the choices Hawke faced do not influence the future at all, as in most cases, the aftermath of your choice was the same. Perhaps the only important choice is if Isabela abandons Hawke with the Tome of Koslun or not. Disappointing indeed and surely part of the pile of arguments that people have against DA2. Even the big and important choices that the Warden took was represented very badly in DA2 in an unprofessional and minor way.

I guess we can just hope when it comes to DA3. 08:16, August 12, 2012 (UTC)

Summaring most of influence on plot of DA3 is surely based on decisions made in DAO, actions in DA2 are almost meaningless. Only variables are Anders, Isabela, Arishok and his book and Feynriel.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.8.128.146 (talk)