New DA novel

[Admiral Yacob]

Hey all,
My wife, who used to work for TOR books just told me the third DA novel has been announced, Dragon Age: Asunder. See TOR's news post here:

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/06/tor-bo ... vid-gaider

[dark_reaper_23]

Thanks for the heads up, first I've heard about it.

[finarvyn]

I'm really new to DA (got interested through the Free RPG Day booklet). Can you tell me which novels are out there and how good they are?

[NeilFord]

Here's the author's page at the publisher: http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidgaider

Can't comment on how good they are as I haven't read them yet.

- Neil.

[Whiskyjakk]

I enjoyed the Stolen Throne and the Calling a lot. If I am not mistaken then they were written by the main writer for Origins. Everything feels right and it is a sight better than most licensed writing.

[Talath]

I also enjoyed the authors two prequel novels, but with certain caveats. The books are very gripping and they are hard to put down, but you have to slog through improbable romances, cold blue eyes, fits of emo, mismanaged and sometimes unnecessary exposition, and contrived circumstances. However, despite these flaws, the author strings together a compelling narrative, likable characters, some sufficiently satisfying dramatic moral dilemmas, and exciting fight scenes.

You may find yourself saying to yourself "Good literature, this is not", but you may enjoy the books so much that you give them a pass as you frantically read your way through them to find out what happens next. Trust me, I'll be picking up the next book as soon as possible.

[Elfie]

I read the two books solely because I needed as much background on The Architect as possible for the campaign I'm runnin. As it turned out, I really enjoyed both novels for providing more background for characters that were mentioned (or appeared) in Origins and Awakening. I can't say whether they'd be an enjoyable read for someone who didn't play the CRPG, but they're certainly vastly helpful from a setting standpoint.

[Giorgio]

I bought both novels and the graphic novel for my mom, who is a HARDCORE Dragon Age CRPG player. Needless to say, after she finished reading them I "borrowed" them for a reading and haven’t given them back. Lots of good materials for a DA GM to get a better "feel" for the game world and its people.

[Allensh]

Just finished both books within the last 10 days myself. I totally enjoyed both of them. Interested in seeing if one of the secrets revealed in the books ever makes it into the game, let alone becomes known to the character in question...

Allen

[shonuff]

I enjoyed both of the other books. I thought they were pretty good for licensed property novels. I've had this one preordered forever it seems.

The one downside to the novels is that they're not fact-checked too thoroughly. There was a timeline issue that Gaider admitted a mistake, but at least he admitted it and didn't pull something out of his butt. Haha.

[Giorgio]

The one downside to the novels is that they're not fact-checked too thoroughly. There was a timeline issue that Gaider admitted a mistake, but at least he admitted it and didn't pull something out of his butt. Haha.

I was unaware of this, what was the mistake?

[Giorgio]

Yesterday was my day off from work and I read from 8am to 6pm the novel "The Calling" and I had a great time, learned a lot about darkspawn, Gray Wardens and the mayor characters. Well worth reading, and looking forward to book 3!

[shonuff]

I was unaware of this, what was the mistake?

Cailan's age at Rowan's death comes immediately to mind. Iirc, one novel has her dying when he's about 10. The other when he's like 3. Minor details, yes. But also obvious ones.

[Big Ned]

I really enjoyed the first two books (as I have the Mass Effect books).

I love the fact that they are written by the lead writers of the respective games.

As soon as DA: Asunder was released (as well as the new ME novel) I preordered them on Amazon.

[Giorgio]

Is this a correct timeline of the novel and games?

9:11 The Stolen Throne
9:25 The Calling
9:30 Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Age II
9:31 Dragon Age Awakeing
? Asunder

[Andferne]

Awakening happens before Dragon Age 2. If I remember correctly it takes place about 2 years after Origins ends. While DA2 covers a ten year time period. Starting during the Blight when Lothering was destroyed.

[Giorgio]

According to the DA wiki "The events of Awakening begin six months after the conclusion of Dragon Age: Origins", which should place it early 9:31 and the story of Hawke starts during the burning of Lothering, and that was in 9:30.

The timelines on the novels I am not certain on (I have a cold and headache, hard to think...)

[Admiral Yacob]

According to the DA wiki "The events of Awakening begin six months after the conclusion of Dragon Age: Origins", which should place it early 9:31 and the story of Hawke starts during the burning of Lothering, and that was in 9:30.

The timelines on the novels I am not certain on (I have a cold and headache, hard to think...)

But DA 2 then goes on year leaps, bringing it all the way out to 9:40. So it spans all but the opener is during the burning and the first section is 9:31.

The calling is much earlier then 9:25 because Cailan was actually supposed to be 5. See below:

Due to a mistake in the editing process Cailan's age in the novel is inconsistent with the established timeline. According to the author "Cailan is supposed to be five years old in "the Calling". Rowan died two years before. He is twelve in the epilogue for "the Stolen Throne"."

Also, Maric's "Death"/disappearance is in 9:25. Being the Battle of Dane River was in 8:99 and the rebellion continued for 3 more years, into 9:02 and the Calling is 11 years later.

to correct:

8:99-9:02 The Stolen Throne (excluding the epilogue)
9:13 The Calling
9:25 Maric's Death
9:30 Dragon Age Origins, beginning of DA2
9:31-9:40 DA 2 Main Piece
9:32 Awakenings (2 years after the end of DAO)

[shonuff]

Here is the most up-to-date timeline that I've seen, and it *looks* to be the most accurate:

Dragon Age II - Hindsight Hundreds of Years Ago (Short Story / Flash Comic)
Dragon Age - The Stolen Throne 8:97 - 8:99 BA (9:10 DA) (Novel)
Dragon Age - The Calling 9:10 - 9:11 DA (Novel)
Dragon Age - Journeys: The Deep Roads 9:13 DA (Flash Game - Browser)
Dragon Age II - Sebastian 9:22 DA (Short Story)
Dragon Age II - Aveline: "Focus" 9:25 DA (Short Story)
Dragon Age - Origins: Leliana's Song 9:28 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Campaign)
Dragon Age #1-6 (9:12 - 9:13 DA) 9:30 DA (Comic Book Mini-Series - IDW Publishing)
Dragon Age Set 1: "The Dalish Curse" 9:30 DA (RPG - Set 1, Levels 1-5)
Dragon Age "A Bann Too Many" 9:30 DA (RPG - Game Master's Kit)
Dragon Age "An Arl's Ransom" 9:30 DA (RPG - Quickstart Guide)
Dragon Age "Amber Rage" 9:30 DA (RPG - Adventure Book 1, Scenario 1)
Dragon Age "Where Eagles Lair" 9:30 DA (RPG - Adventure Book 1, Scenario 2)
Dragon Age "A Fragile Web" 9:30 DA (RPG - Adventure Book 1, Scenario 3)
Dragon Age Set 2: "The Autumn Falls" 9:30 DA (RPG - Set 2, Levels 6-10)
Dragon Age - The Deep Roads 9:30 DA (RPG - Adventure Book 2)
Dragon Age - Set 3 9:30 DA (RPG - Set 3, Levels 11-20)
Dragon Age - Origins 9:30 DA (Comic - Online)
Dragon Age - Origins: A Tale of Orzammar 9:30 DA (PC - Demo / Campaign)
Dragon Age - Origins 9:30 - 9:31 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3)
Dragon Age - Origins: The Stone Prisoner 9:31 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age - Origins: Warden's Keep 9:31 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age - Origins: Return to Ostagar 9:31 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age - Origins: The Revelation 9:31 DA (Comic - Online)
Dragon Age - Warden's Fall, Part 1-5 9:31 DA (Short Film - Machinima)
Dragon Age - Origins: Awakening 9:31 DA (Comic - Online)
Dragon Age - Origins: Awakening 9:31 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Expansion)
Dragon Age - The Golems of Amgarrak 9:31 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Campaign)
Dragon Age II - Anders 9:31 DA (Short Story)
Dragon Age II - Isabela 9:31 DA (Short Story)
Dragon Age II - Merrill 9:31 DA (Short Story)
Dragon Age II - Fenris 9:31 DA (Short Story)
Dragon Age - Origins: Witch Hunt 9:32 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Campaign)
Dragon Age - Dawn of the Seeker 9:?? DA (DVD/Blu-Ray - Anime Movie)
Dragon Age II 9:34 DA (Comic - Online)
Dragon Age - Asunder 9:38 DA (Novel)
Dragon Age II (9:30 - 9:31 / 9:34 / 9:37 DA) 9:40 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3)
Dragon Age II: The Black Emporium (9:31 / 9:34 / 9:37 DA) 9:40 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age II: The Exiled Prince (9:31 / 9:34 / 9:37 DA) 9:40 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age II: Legacy (9:31 / 9:34 / 9:37 DA) 9:40 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin (9:31 / 9:34 / 9:37 DA) 9:40 DA (PC/Xbox 360/PS3 - Add-On)
Dragon Age - Redemption, Part 1-6 9:40 DA (Short Film - Online)
Dragon Age - Legends 9:40 DA (Flash Game - Facebook)
Dragon Age #1 9:?? DA (Comic Book Mini-Series - Dark Horse)

9:32 Awakenings (2 years after the end of DAO)

Awakenings may be in 9:31. Awakenings is only 6 months after the end of Origins. If it were 2 years after, then Anders would still be in Ferelden and not Kirkwall.

And the introduction to DA2 is concurrent with DA:O. Lothering is approximately one month after Ostagar. The first chapter in Kirkwall is probably only a short time after the events of Awakenings --- which shoots the timeline of Anders all to poo.

*** Edited to add: timeline taken from Bioware social forums (I think) ***

[Admiral Yacob]

I agree with the majority of your time line except I thought one if the hawkes points out that it was six months since they left their home when they first arrive in kirkwall. Also, it want until one year after they arrive in kirkwall that hawke meets anders so if awakenings occurs six months after origins then it would be one year later that hawke meets anders, plenty of time to get there from amaranthine. Otherwise your timeline looks good.

[shonuff]

Well, it's not my timeline. Someone else did the legwork, and I just copied/pasted. I don't want to take credit where it's not mine... or blame! Haha.

As to the 6 months in Kirkwall quote, I don't recall it, but I haven't played DA2 yet. My wife and I dual box, and she's beat it 6-7 times now, so I've heard most snippets of conversation. Of course, weren't the Hawkes kept outside the city for a while? And I believe that they took a good deal of time getting there after they were rescued by Flemeth.

And in regards to Anders, I've always felt his personal timeline to be "squishy". In most of his Grey Warden epilogues, he spends a significant amount of time with the Wardens, but in DA2 I believe he has been established there for "some time" as well. While he would have time to get to Kirkwall from Amaranthine, I don't know if he would have time to establish himself in the city after spending a significant amount of time with the Wardens.

[Giorgio]

Here is the most up-to-date timeline that I've seen, and it *looks* to be the most accurate:

Thank you for posting this, very useful! Still confused, qouting from above:

Q#1
Dragon Age - The Stolen Throne 8:97 - 8:99 BA (9:10 DA) (Novel)
Dragon Age - The Calling 9:10 - 9:11 DA (Novel)
Dragon Age - Journeys: The Deep Roads 9:13 DA (Flash Game - Browser)

Q#2
8:99-9:02 The Stolen Throne (excluding the epilogue)
9:13 The Calling


As for the novel timeline I am still confused (two sets of dates are posted above), according the DA wiki:

•[8:99 Blessed: Ferelden rebels rise up against their Orlesian occupiers beginning the Fereldan Rebellion. ]
•9:00 Dragon: Led by the young King Maric, Ferelden successfully rebels and throws off Orlesian rule. Short time later, Antiva is shaken by a civil war.
•9:05 Dragon: Birth of Cailan, future king of Ferelden.[3]
•9:08 Dragon (approx): Death of Queen Rowan of Ferelden.[4]
•9:10 Dragon (approx): King Maric allows the Grey Wardens to return to Ferelden after two centuries of exile.[5]

"Dragon Age: The Calling is the second novel to be set in the Dragon Age universe. It is set approximately fourteen years after King Maric Theirin and his companions ventured into the Deep Roads as described in Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne and eleven years after the Orlesian occupation of Ferelden was brought to an end at the close of the Blessed Age. "

So if the occupation ends in 8:99 (the point at which the first novel ends), and the The Calling is 14 years later, shouldn’t that second novel take place in 9:10?

[shonuff]

I don't know. I think the first novel was broken into several parts. That might be why the timeline is broken up as it is.

[kronovan]

This novel is now out and as many will know it's titled Dragon Age: Asunder

From the words of the publisher:

A mystical killer stalks the halls of the White Spire, the heart of templar power in the mighty Orlesian Empire. To prove his innocence, Rhys reluctantly embarks on a journey into the western wastelands that will not only reveal much more than he bargained for but change the fate of his fellow mages forever.

So this time it's out to western Orlais where you find such quaint places as the Abyssal rift, Sulphur lakes and Sea of Ash.

[Big Ned]

I'm about 2/3rds thr way through it now. It's a good book, I've probably enjoyed it more than the first two.

It's set a year after the end of Dragon Age II, and concentrates a lot on the relationship between the circle mages and the templars.

People would certainly be able to take some inspiration for adventures from it.