After reading about the upcoming release of Dragon Age Inquisition, I've been spending some time in the first two DA games and enjoying myself.

This week, I played a background story in DA Origins as a male noble warrior. My original play was as a female human mage, so I got to see some new material this time (and earned a new achievement). I might go further into the game with this character or maybe I'll try out one of the other backstories as an elf or dwarf. I think there are actually 6 of these beginning character setups.

I also broke down and bought DA II Legacy DLC. Very much enjoyed seeing my DA II hero and his companions again. A couple of tough battles in Legacy, but some fun dialogue, puzzles, and exploration. I'm tempted to get Mark of the Assassin too. Although I had played all the content in DA Ultimate Edition, I had not played these two add-ons for DA II.

Has anyone played Mark of the Assassin? Did you like it?

Congrats on your achievement. I love games that reward replay with new info.

I had the DA2 with all the DLC's included so I did play Mark of the Assassin and liked it. It fit in with the game well and it was not stand alone. You obtain the quest during the regular game play and have a special helper. It has several side quests as well as the main one.

Well, I think I'll get that DLC too. I have a gift certificate balance at Amazon and I can buy Bioware point bundles there and then redeem them at the Bioware website (not Origin). Doing it that way takes an extra step, but it's a nice way to spend my gift money!

I love Elder Scrolls, but I really prefer the fighting system in Bioware games. Pausing and strategizing, using team work. Companions can get annoying at times, but fun for the banter--and it's neat seeing how "a plan comes together" during a fight.

I also recently bought Mass Effect 1 & 2 at a Steam Sale, so I want to play those too. I think they have a battle system similar to Dragon Age, Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate, and Neverwinter Nights.

PS: Thanks oldman and looney4labs!

Mass Effect 1 and 2 are great games. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

I have the first two Dragon Age games still to play - I'd forgotten all about them

But if the combat in them is similar to that in Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights (as lanlynk says) then I've two treats in store

Dragon Age: Origins follow the same combat concept as the old party based RPGs (Baldur's Gate and such), while Dragon Age 2 follows in the steps of more modern RPGs (Knights of the Old Republic and such).

But checkout Angry Joe's review of both games, they should clear things up a lot

Mad, those two games, especially the first, will keep you going for months. DA:O is the closest any game has ever come to the experience of Baldur's Gate 2, in my opinion, for the great party member interactions you can have.

Lucky you, starting these for the first time.

I'm guessing that you did a play through with most of the DA:O races, am I right hagatha?

I played a little further in DA Origins with my male warrior character. It does offer a different viewpoint from the first time when I played the female mage. We just reached Lothering. Alistair and Morrigan are bickering.

I also made a new Dalish Elf rogue to play through the background story, but haven't done that yet.

AND I bought Mark of the Assassin for DA II. What I liked about the second DA was that I could hear my character actually speak when I chose his dialog choices. It wasn't just silent tree dialog. I know some people didn't like DA II as much as the first more classic DA, but I really got attached to my DA II guy. He became real to me. I'm glad I have more content to play with him.

PS: @hagatha: I'm looking forward to Mass Effect. I hadn't bought them before because I needed to play some other games I'd purchased first. But I decided to get them at that last sale.

EDIT 2: Changed to Mark of the "Assassin". I originally wrote Betrayer. Mask of the Betrayer is a NWN 2 expansion.

Oh, great !! And thank you hagatha

Of course, it will be quite a while before I get to them.
I have lots more Gothics to do (and some other RPGs to eventually attempt) .... AND .... a sky high stack of as yet unplayed Adventure games still to make start on