Guide to the Ultimate Dragon Age Inquisition Playthrough
To get the most Dragon Age-esque experience out of Dragon Age Inqusition and not get “stuck in the Hinterlands” (aka fall for the more fetch quest and grindy aspects of the game) I have devised a method of playing the game to get the most out of the top quality aspects of it.
First there is a general priority you should always keep in mind no matter what you are doing, and second I have a recommended order of unlocking areas and doing or finishing content.
Always talk to all companions
Only if convenient do side quests
Ignore grind like the requisition officer in world camps, picking up shards and mainly ignore astrariums
What to do at a certain time in the game?
Always start at number one; if there is a companion who you can talk to and where you have not exhausted all conversation options, keep talking to them. Even say goodbye and start over to see if new conversations unlock. Then move on to number 2.
Do companion quests before moving on with the main quest (unless in becomes utterly ridiculous, then switch somewhat between them). After done with available companion quests move on to doing the main quests.
Only do side quests in areas if they are right by where you are. Pick them up by all means, but generally follow the companion quest and main quest paths and then do the side quests if they happen to coincide.
Lastly ignore the requisition officer in the camps in the world (there are some requisitions tied to quests you will pick up, those you may do, but ignore any quest you get from the “requisition officer” in world map areas, if possible don’t even pick them up from her. You may look through any occularum you find (they give nice views of the lands) and reveal shards, but only pick up shards if they are literally next to you. And only do the astrariums if you like mini game puzzles and they are close to you.
Order of content unlocking:
Talk to your companions and advisors as much as you can.
Explore your camp. Talk to mother Giselle.
Leave the Hinterlands as soon as you have enough power to continue the main quest. Only exceptions are helping the refugees if you want to (talk to corporal Vale and get food and blankets for them), and getting your own horse (not all the horses for the Inquisition).
Continue main quest here. Explore the area.
Do the thing you’ve been sent there to do! Also talk to the Sky Watcher.
For research purpose. But you do not have to venture there unless you have collected all the shards. Do it later if you are a completionist
Visit the faction in Redcliffe. The first visit doesn’t need you to make a choice so you might as well enjoy the story of it. Explore the village.
Unlock all companions available at this time. Check out the hint about a Warden in the Hinterlands. You might as well after that go looking for Warden clues in the Storm Coast. Unlock the companion in the Storm Coast and two through leads from Val Royeaux. If you didn’t get the encounters in Val Rouyeaux then explore that city more and go to the smaller areas on the world map.
Continue talking will all companions as much as you can, exhausting all options they have for conversation.
Make the choice that the main quest needs you to do at the war table.
Continue talking will all companions as much as you can, exhausting all options they have for conversation as soon as you have a break.
Continue the main quest and enjoy the cutscenes.
Continue talking will all companions as much as you can, exhausting all options they have for conversation before leaving your base. Don’t forget to talk to Cullen and Leliana at all opportunities to unlock the special main quest side quest.
Continue the main quest here.
Talk to the mayor and do as he asks on the way to your destination. Capture the Keep. Help the Keep.
Unlock the Western Approach
Continue the main quest here.
Remember: If the companions have a companion quest maker sure to bring them to that place and event. Capture the Keep. Unlock the corresponding missions. Help the dragon researcher if you want to, it’s a nice storyline.
For the Solas quest and getting the dalish agent at the dalish camp. Dorians and Vivienne’s personal fetch quests can also be found here. Leave the ramparts for later.
Unlock Emerald Graves and Emprise du Lion
Visit them if you want to or need to for some companion quests.
Unlock Here Lies the Abyss
Continue the main quest there.
Emprise du Lion: Capture the Keep. Investigate what is happening to the miners.
Emerald Graves: Learn about the Freemen of the Dales.
Exalted Plains: Help the ramparts in Exalted plains before unlocking Wicked Hearts (voluntary, but doing it before Wicked Hearts makes it more of an intro to the Orlesian situation)
Unlock Eyes and Wicked Hearts
Unlock the Hissing Wastes (may be unlocked before Arbor Wilds)
Investigate what the Venatori are after.
Unlock the Frostback Basin - do everything here
Unlock the Deep Roads - do everything there
Dragons: Somewhere here, right before or after the Arbor Wilds or after the DLC:s you could go after the different dragons of the game (in the order Hinterlands, Crestwood, Western Approach, Exalted Plains, Emerald Graves, Storm Coast, Hissing Wastes, 3 in Emprise du Lion).
For the completionist: Here is where you can pick up shards, finish astrariums, and do all manner of unnecessary side quests you have not yet done, get all of the mosaique pieces and scout entire maps if you feel like it. Do as much or as little as you want to!
Unlock Doom Upon All the World
You are going to be over powered during this event no matter what you do, so take it slow! Doing this will make all companions stop talking to you so even though the game promises you can keep playing afterwards all companions turn to robots which makes it a horrible experience, therefore leave this to last!
Unlock the war table mission for Trespasser
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