Characters of Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins is a story-driven role-playing game set in a world called Thedas, where the player usually assumes control of one primary character as the protagonist of the story.^[1] Throughout the course of the story, player characters in Origins are continually presented with choices for how to deal with major game events, and any decisions made usually influence the overarching narrative. While the player does retain control over forks in the narrative, the overarching narrative in each game follows a specified path, and the player's influence is confined to certain pre-ordained events in the game rather than the entire narrative itself.^[2]

The supporting characters of the Dragon Age series have motivations and agendas that carry the narrative progression with an exposition, climax, and resolution; the player character is important, but often not the focal point of the progression of events in the plot.^[3] While both player characters and other characters carry narrative progression, companion characters are a pivotal feature of the series, who help create a richer and engaging narrative experience through their actions as well as their reactions to the player character's actions and choices.^[3] Companions tend to have a very particular world view, and the nature of the player character's actions will have a positive or negative effect on their companions.^[1]

This article describes player characters, important party companions, notable supporting characters, and major antagonists who appear in the video game Dragon Age: Origins, its expansion Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, and associated DLC's. Certain characters have names chosen by the player. These characters are designated the name they are addressed by in-game. In the case of party members, personal quests are also noted as these explore the characters' background.