Dragon Age (role-playing game) explained

Dragon Age RPG
Designer:Chris Pramas
Publisher:Green Ronin Publishing
Date:January 25, 2010
Years:2010 – 2019
Random Chance:Dice rolling
Playing Time:Varies
Genre:Dark fantasy
System:Dragon Age system
Series:Dragon Age
Skills:Role-playing, improvisation, tactics
Media Type:Tabletop role-playing game

Dragon Age is a tabletop role-playing game published by Green Ronin Publishing from 2010 to 2019. It is based on the Dragon Age video game series by BioWare, and uses the video game series' setting.

Description

The game uses traditional tabletop role playing game features, such as character classes (fighter, mage and rogue), races (human, dwarf or elf), and ability scores.

Gameplay in the system centers around the use of three six-sided dice for all rolls. One die, called the "dragon die", is differently colored than the other two. When doubles appear on any roll, the player can perform special actions called "stunts", based on the value on the dragon die.

Publication history

Dragon Age: Set 1 was released on January 25, 2010.[1] Shannon Appelcline, in the book Designers & Dragons (2011), commented that the project was "initiated by BioWare, which highlighted Green Ronin's position of importance within the industry". Chris Pramas designed the "simple class-and-level system" for the game.[2] Pramas explained that the stunt system originated as "a dynamic critical hit system" where doubles on any of three dice rolled "generated a number of stunt points" which "could be spent on a menu of various maneuvers".[3] He noted that doubles occur "almost 50% of the time" and added "tension in every attack roll" – the popularity of "combat stunts" in playtesting led to the addition of "spell stunts in the initial release" of the game which were then followed by other stunt types such as "roleplaying and exploration stunts".

The game's initial release was as a boxed set including a Player's Guide, Game Master's Guide, map of Ferelden and three dice, and covered characters of levels 1 through 5.[4] [5] Pramas believed releasing the game as a boxset would "improve its accessibility". That year, Green Ronin also released a corresponding Game Master's Kit (2010), which included a gamemaster's screen and an adventure, and the supplement Dragon Age: Blood in Ferelden (2010), which included three full-length adventures and three scenario seeds.[6] Dragon Age: Set 2 (2011) and Dragon Age: Set 3 (2014), covering levels 6–10 and 11–20 respectively, were later released.[7] [8] The Dragon Age: Duty Unto Death adventure (2013) originated as the module Pramas ran in the Dragon Age episodes for the web series TableTop; Green Ronin then released it as a free PDF.

A single hardcover compilation and update of the rules, titled Dragon Age RPG Core Rulebook, was released in May 2015.[9] [10] [11] The initial set was based on , however, the 2015 updated core rulebook "features material from Origins, Dragon Age 2, and Inquisition". The adventure Dragon Age RPG: The Dalish Curse (2016) was released by Green Ronin as a standalone free PDF; it was originally included in Dragon Age: Set 1 which went out of print. On April 9, 2019, Green Ronin released the supplement Faces of Thedas. This sourcebook is dedicated to porting series elements that could not fit in the core rulebook, such as a variety of companion and non-playable characters from the Dragon Age video games, into the table-top game.

BioWare also released two system-neutral lore books, Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Vol. 1 (2013) and Vol. 2 (2015), which included art by Green Ronin's Tyshan Carey.[12] [13] [14] These were re-released in 2023 as a combined boxset.[15] In 2024, Robin Valentine of PC Gamer noted that while "Green Ronin has ceased supporting the game, and it never really got a lot of releases in the first place", the publisher adapted the system's rules into their Fantasy Age game system.[16] Valentine explained that since "Dragon Age features all sorts of classic fantasy tropes, it's easy to adapt Fantasy Age's many adventures, monsters, and more to it, and keep Thedas alive that way".

Reception

The Dragon Age system was a perennial best-seller for Green Ronin – ICv2 highlighted that it was in the top five roleplaying games for multiple quarters, such as #4 in Q1 2010,[17] Q4 2010,[18] Q1 2011,[19] Q2 2011,[20] Q3 2011,[21] Q4 2011,[22] Q2 2012,[23] Q3 2012,[24] Q4 2015,[25] and #5 in Q2 2016.[26] In 2013, ICv2 also highlighted that Dragon Age received a 30% "TableTop Bump" in sales after being featured on the web series TableTop; ICv2 noted that "the Alliance Game Distributors sales increase is measured from a baseline three months before the original release of the TableTop episode, and compared to a recent rolling three month average".[27]

Marshall Lemon, in his 2015 review written for The Escapist, praised the Dragon Age Core Rulebook, commenting "Green Ronin's Dragon Age isn't just a fantastic RPG adaptation, it's an excellent game period. It doesn't matter if you're a veteran tabletop player, a BioWare fan, or a complete newcomer to gaming. Dragon Age is a wonderful tabletop RPG that absolutely deserves your attention."[28] Lemon thought the main downside of the new combined rulebook was its "massive" size at "over 400 pages" since "parsing the book for useful content will feel more daunting to new gamers" compared to the split between the three sets where "first-time players could focus entirely on rules for low-level characters until they were comfortable with advanced mechanics". Susana Polo of Polygon highlighted that while the game limits players to three class choices, the game still feels like there is a "multitude" of choice "with no less than 30 distinct Backgrounds for players to choose from" and that Green Ronin "shows its dedication to the vast world that Bioware has painted for its Dragon Age series" with the background options.[29] Polo felt that players who like both the Dragon Age setting and tabletop role-playing games should "check the game out".

Robin Valentine of PC Gamer commented the game has "old school charm to its take on fantasy adventure, with some clever new ideas thrown in to make it feel fresh and exciting"[30] and that it almost felt "a bit like old school D&D" due to its "simple class and levelling system and lots of classic adventuring, albeit with the dark fantasy atmosphere of Dragon Age past". While Polo thought the game mechanics were not more complex than Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition, she wasn't sure about recommending "it to a group that was completely new to tabletop RPGs, if only because of the source material. Dragon Age wouldn't feel like Dragon Age without mature handling of sex, addiction and dark ritual – challenging subjects that can turn a poorly managed game into an uncomfortable experience". Alex Lenzini of CBR thought the Dragon Age lore was "fairly welcoming to players" and "easy for players to jump into without knowing too much".[31] He felt it was a "fantastic tabletop RPG" which made "it easy for new players to hop into the adventure".

Polo also highlighted that the game uses just three six-sided dice unlike other tabletop role-playing games and adds "flair" via the Stunt Point table which players gain access to if they roll doubles on any of their dice. Lenzini opined that the game's dice and stunt "system not only separates it from the countless other tabletop RPG dice systems but also excels at making players feel like awesome fantasy adventurers". Lenzini commented that one of the three dice, the Dragon Die, determines the strength of the stunt and it "creates a fun and engaging reward that happens more frequently than rolling a natural 20 does in D&D, and it has layers of effectiveness that keep things balanced and interesting". Valentine called the stunt mechanics "particularly good", highlighting that "every roll to hit in combat has a chance to generate points you can spend on getting cool extra effects". Lemon similarly commented that "the Dragon Die make the lowest of characters into an epic hero" and that "stunts keep players focused on the in-game action. In turn, dice rolls get a lot more exciting – and dangerous – when you realize NPCs might use stunts against you".

Lemon reviewed the Faces of Thedas sourcebook for VG247 in 2019. He noted that it is not an essential product for game masters working from the core book, though he recognized that fans of the Dragon Age video games will relish the "opportunity to interact with fan-favorite characters", and that "the relationship rules can encourage roleplay opportunities for new players".[32]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2010ENnie AwardsBest GameDragon Age: Set 1[33]
Product of the Year
2011Origins AwardsBest Roleplaying Game[34]
2012Best Roleplaying Supplement or AdventureDragon Age: Set 2[35]
ENnie AwardsBest Art, Interior[36]
Best Free ProductDragon Age Quickstart Guide
2016Best Art, InteriorDragon Age Core Rulebook[37]
Best Game
Product of the Year

Books and supplements

YearTitleTypeAuthorsISBN
2010Dragon Age: Set 1Rulebook (boxed set)Chris Pramas[38]
Dragon Age Game Master's KitGamemaster's screen, adventure moduleJeff Tidball[39]
Dragon Age: Blood in FereldenAdventure moduleWalt Ciechanowski, Kevin Kulp, TS Luikart[40]
2011Dragon Age: Set 2Rulebook (boxed set)Steve Kenson, T.S. Luikart, Chris Pramas, Jeff Tidball[41]
Dragon Age RPG Quickstart GuideSupplementJeff Tidball[42]
2013Dragon Age: Duty Unto DeathAdventure moduleChris Pramas[43]
2014Dragon Age: Set 3Rulebook (boxed set)Chris Pramas, Will Hindmarch, Steve Kenson, Mary Kirby, Lauren Roy, Logan Bonner, Zack Walters[44]
2015Dragon Age RPG Core RulebookRulebookChris Pramas[45]
2016Dragon Age Game Master's Kit, RevisedGamemaster's screen, adventure moduleChris Pramas, Dave Brookshaw[46] [47]
Dragon Age RPG: The Dalish CurseAdventure moduleSteve Kenson, Evan Sass[48]
2019Faces of ThedasSupplementLisa Adams, Stephen Michael Dipesa, Justin Harris, Alyc Helms, Jack Norris, Matt Miller, Oz Mills, Jack Norris, Ryan Schoon, Jamie Wood[49]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dragon Age RPG: Dark Fantasy Roleplaying . Greenronin.com . 2009-11-08 . 2009-11-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091110064842/http://www.greenronin.com/dragon_age/ . live .
  2. Book: Shannon Appelcline. Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. 2011. 978-1-907702-58-7.
  3. Pramas . Chris . March 2018 . The Evolution of AGE . live . https://archive.today/20241116213156/https://gametrademagazine.com/Home/1/1/58/591?articleID=208441 . November 16, 2024 . November 16, 2024 . Game Trade Magazine . . 217.
  4. Web site: May 27, 2009 . Details Emerge on Green Ronin's 'Dragon Age RPG' . 2024-11-16 . . en.
  5. Web site: December 12, 2009 . 'Dragon Age,' 'M&M,' 'Fire and Ice' . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2023-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202211008/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/16474/dragon-age-m-m-fire-ice . live .
  6. Web site: Tidball . Jeff . Blood in Ferelden Developer's Journal . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130528192529/http://greenronin.com/dragon_age/blood-in-ferelden-developer-journal.php . May 28, 2013 . November 16, 2024 . Green Ronin.
  7. Web site: February 23, 2011 . 'Dragon Age: Set 2' . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2023-12-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211040413/https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/19467/dragon-age-set-2 . live .
  8. Web site: July 17, 2014 . 'Dragon Age: Set 3' . 2024-11-16 . . en.
  9. Web site: Dragon Age RPG Core Rulebook. Green Ronin. May 8, 2015.
  10. Web site: Helton . Christopher . 2015-04-20 . Green Ronin Announces Dragon Age Tabletop RPG Core Rules . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-02-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222205251/https://bleedingcool.com/movies/green-ronin-announces-dragon-age-tabletop-rpg-core-rules/ . live .
  11. Web site: January 27, 2015 . 'Dragon Age,' 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' 'Return to Freeport,' More . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2022-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524160842/https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/30743/dragon-age-a-song-ice-fire-return-freeport-more . live .
  12. Web site: Gelinas . Ben . March 14, 2013 . BLOG: The World of Thedas . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130810084238/https://blog.bioware.com/2013/03/14/blog-the-world-of-thedas/ . August 10, 2013 . November 16, 2024 . BioWare Blog . en-US.
  13. Web site: Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 1 HC . November 16, 2024 . Dark Horse Comics . Product page . April 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230413000438/https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/22-388/Dragon-Age-The-World-of-Thedas-Volume-1-HC . live .
  14. Web site: Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Volume 2 HC . November 16, 2024 . Dark Horse Comics . Product page . April 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230418075604/https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/22-389/Dragon-Age-The-World-of-Thedas-Volume-2-HC . live .
  15. Web site: Schedeen . Jesse . October 26, 2022 . Dragon Age: The World of Thedas Boxset Reprints Two Essential Lore Guides . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221026172635/https://www.ign.com/articles/dragon-age-the-world-of-thedas-boxset-encyclopedia-lore . October 26, 2022 . November 16, 2024 . IGN . en.
  16. News: Valentine . Robin . October 30, 2024 . If Dragon Age: The Veilguard has got you in a Thedas mood, make sure you grab this brilliantly cheap deal on the official Dragon Age tabletop RPG . live . https://archive.today/20241116213317/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/dragon-age/if-dragon-age-the-veilguard-has-got-you-in-a-thedas-mood-make-sure-you-grab-this-brilliantly-cheap-deal-on-the-official-dragon-age-tabletop-rpg/ . November 16, 2024 . November 16, 2024 . . en.
  17. Web site: May 26, 2010 . Top Five RPGs--Q1 2010 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-04-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240423021240/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/17571/top-five-rpgs-q1-2010 . live .
  18. Web site: March 28, 2011 . Top 5 Roleplaying Games--Q4 2010 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-04-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240423011056/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/19721/top-5-roleplaying-games-q4-2010 . live .
  19. Web site: May 27, 2011 . Top 5 RPGs--Q1 2011 . 2024-11-16 . icv2.com . en . 2024-04-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240423014452/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/20178/top-5-rpgs-q1-2011 . live .
  20. Web site: August 4, 2011 . Top 5 RPGs--Q2 2011 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-10-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241008111301/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/20743/top-5-rpgs-q2-2011 . live .
  21. Web site: November 2, 2011 . Top 5 RPGs--Summer 2011 . 2024-11-16 . icv2.com . en . 2024-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240505092507/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/21403/top-5-rpgs-summer-2011 . live .
  22. Web site: February 21, 2012 . Top 5 RPGs--Q4 2011 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240613165012/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/22214/top-5-rpgs-q4-2011 . live .
  23. Web site: July 25, 2012 . Top 5 RPGs--Spring 2012 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524170729/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/23500/top-5-rpgs-spring-2012 . live .
  24. Web site: October 23, 2012 . Top 5 RPGs--Summer 2012 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-08-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811143221/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/24224/top-5-rpgs-summer-2012 . live .
  25. Web site: March 9, 2016 . Top 5 Roleplaying Games--Fall 2015 . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240721192314/https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/33911/top-5-roleplaying-games-fall-2015 . live .
  26. Web site: Top 5 RPGs--Spring 2016 . 2024-11-16 . icv2.com . en . 2024-06-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621135352/https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/35144/top-5-rpgs-spring-2016 . live .
  27. Web site: November 7, 2013 . The 'TableTop' Bump . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2023-06-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609040624/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/27158/the-tabletop-bump . live .
  28. Web site: Lemon . Marshall . May 6, 2015 . Dragon Age RPG Core Book Review - You Won't Be Disappointed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200121193302/http://v1.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/tabletop/reviews/13880-Dragon-Age-RPG-Core-Book-Review-Dungeons-and-Darkspawn . January 21, 2020 . March 30, 2020 . The Escapist.
  29. Web site: Polo . Susana . 2016-07-29 . The Dragon Age tabletop RPG will scratch your blood magic itch . 2024-11-16 . Polygon . en-US . 2024-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240304004914/https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/29/12311936/dragon-age-tabletop-rpg . live .
  30. News: Valentine . Robin . May 13, 2024 . The coolest tabletop RPGs based on videogames, from Fallout to Dragon Age . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516005606/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/the-coolest-tabletop-rpgs-based-on-videogames-from-fallout-to-dragon-age/ . May 16, 2024 . November 16, 2024 . . en.
  31. Web site: Lenzini . Alex . 2023-01-31 . The Dragon Age Tabletop RPG Is the Perfect Alternative to D&D . 2024-11-16 . CBR . en . 2023-02-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230204113240/https://www.cbr.com/dragon-age-ttrpg-alternative-dnd/ . live .
  32. Web site: Lemon . Marshall . February 25, 2019 . Dragon Age: Faces of Thedas review – a lovingly crafted RPG resource, but non-essential . March 30, 2020 . VG247.
  33. Web site: 2010 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards . 2024-11-16 . en-US . 2024-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240624023200/https://ennie-awards.com/portfolio-item/2010-nominees-and-winners/ . live .
  34. Web site: April 13, 2011 . 37th Annual Origins Awards Finalists . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2024-02-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240221120039/https://icv2.com/articles/games/view/19852/37th-annual-origins-awards-finalists . live .
  35. Web site: May 30, 2012 . Origins Awards Nominees . 2024-11-16 . . en . 2023-11-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231110060518/https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/23007/origins-awards-nominees . live .
  36. Web site: 2012 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards . 2024-11-16 . en-US . 2024-06-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240623112623/https://ennie-awards.com/portfolio-item/2012-nominees-and-winners/ . live .
  37. Web site: 2016 ENnie Award Winners . March 30, 2020 . March 19, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190319221341/http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2014-ennie-awards-nominees/2015-ennie-award-winners/2016-ennie-award-winners/ . dead .
  38. Web site: Dragon Age RPG, Set 1 (Print) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207080646/http://greenroninstore.com/collections/dragon-age-rpg/products/dragon-age-rpg-set-1-print . December 7, 2014 . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en.
  39. Web site: Dragon Age Game Master's Kit (Print) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150225044647/http://greenroninstore.com/collections/dragon-age-rpg/products/dragon-age-game-masters-kit-print . February 25, 2015 . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en.
  40. Web site: Dragon Age: Blood in Ferelden (Print) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150225043252/http://greenroninstore.com/collections/dragon-age-rpg/products/dragon-age-blood-in-ferelden-print . February 25, 2015 . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en.
  41. Web site: Dragon Age RPG: Set 2 (Print) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150225045306/http://greenroninstore.com/collections/dragon-age-rpg/products/dragon-age-rpg-set-2-print . February 25, 2015 . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en.
  42. Web site: Dragon Age RPG Quickstart Guide (PDF) . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en . 2024-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419111952/https://greenroninstore.com/collections/dragon-age-rpg/products/dragon-age-rpg-quickstart-guide-pdf . live .
  43. Web site: Dragon Age: Duty Unto Death (PDF) . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en . 2024-06-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240614090947/https://greenroninstore.com/products/dragon-age-duty-unto-death-pdf . live .
  44. Web site: Dragon Age RPG: Set 3 (Print) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209085317/http://greenroninstore.com/collections/dragon-age-rpg/products/dragon-age-rpg-set-3-print . February 9, 2015 . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en.
  45. Web site: Dragon Age RPG Core Rulebook . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en . 2024-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521203805/https://greenroninstore.com/products/dragon-age-rpg-core-rulebook . live .
  46. Web site: Dragon Age Game Master's Kit, Revised . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en . 2024-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716003611/https://greenroninstore.com/products/dragon-age-game-masters-kit-revised-edition . live .
  47. Web site: April 15, 2016 . New 'Dragon Age GM's Kit' Arrives . 2024-11-16 . . en.
  48. Web site: Dragon Age RPG: The Dalish Curse (Free PDF) . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en.
  49. Web site: Faces of Thedas . 2024-11-16 . Green Ronin Online Store . en . 2024-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716000350/https://greenroninstore.com/products/faces-of-thedas . live .

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