Is Dragon Age based on D&D?

Is Dragon Age based on Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)? The answer is yes, Dragon Age has been influenced by tabletop RPGs, most notably Dungeons & Dragons, as revealed by the Senior Writer of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, with the game’s world, characters, and story drawing inspiration from various fantasy sources, including A Song of Ice and Fire and D&D.

Introduction to Dragon Age and D&D

The Dragon Age series is a highly acclaimed high-fantasy role-playing game franchise created by BioWare, known for its engaging stories, memorable characters, and immersive gameplay, while Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop RPG that has been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for decades, inspiring countless fantasy works, including Dragon Age.

FAQs about Dragon Age and D&D

General Questions

1. What was Dragon Age inspired by? – Dragon Age takes inspiration from A Song of Ice and Fire, a fantasy novel series by George R. R. Martin, particularly in the depiction of a morally ambiguous world where characters are often embroiled in no-win scenarios.
2. What time period is Dragon Age based on? – Dragon Age is not based on any specific time period, but its world and setting are similar to the late Middle Ages in many respects.
3. What was Dungeons and Dragons based on? – Dungeons & Dragons was derived from miniature wargames, with a variation of the 1971 game Chainmail serving as the initial rule system.

Dragon Age Specific Questions

4. Is Dragon Age based on a book? – Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne is a fantasy novel written by David Gaider, released in March 2009, set in the world of Thedas, the setting of BioWare’s Dragon Age role-playing video game franchise.
5. What is the canon story of Dragon Age? – According to BioWare, the “canon story” for Dragon Age: Origins is that the Warden is of Dalish Elf origin, the Warden sacrifices themselves to kill the Archdemon, and Alistair becomes King.
6. Does Dragon Age have canon? – There is no official canon in Dragon Age, but certain aspects of the other media use specific choices.

Character Specific Questions

7. How old is Leliana? – At age 36, Leliana is the second youngest Divine in history and the third to be elected outside the traditional Chantry hierarchy.
8. How old is Cassandra Pentaghast? – Cassandra was in her late teens to early 20’s in Dawn of the Seekers and is in her late 30’s to early 40’s in Inquisition.

Setting Specific Questions

9. What country is Ferelden based on? – Ferelden in the games mirrors medieval England before it became the British Empire.
10. Is Orlais supposed to be France? – Orlais is loosely based on the real-world nation of France.

Game Development Questions

11. Is Dragon Age 4 being made? – Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is currently in development, but it has yet to receive a release date.
12. Does Dragon Age story carry over? – Yes, players’ decisions in Origins carry over to Inquisition using the Dragon Age Keep application.

D&D Specific Questions

13. What does D and D stand for? – D&D stands for Dungeons & Dragons, a role-playing game.
14. Is D and D based on LOTR? – Dungeons & Dragons was inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, among other fantasy works.
15. What would Gandalf be in D&D? – Gandalf would likely be a human with stats centered around mental attributes and his sword arm, although he is technically a Maiar, a supernatural being with power comparable to demigods.