Dragon Age reportedly embracing multiplayer gaming, with playable dragons

By Adam Rosenberg Published November 30, 2011

EA

Mass Effect 3 is doing it, so why not Dragon Age? BioWare releases the trilogy-capping next entry in its sci-fi RPG Mass Effect series in March, and for the first time the series will feature an online multiplayer component in the form of a co-op-driven wave-based survival mode. Now there’s word that one of the developer’s forthcoming Dragon Age will follow the example set by ME3, that is if an unnamed Electronic Arts insider speaking to Kotaku is to be believed.

The alleged new multiplayer mode is described as “an arena-based affair and features player versus environment (PvE) elements as well as player versus player (PvP), as well as humans fighting dragons.” It’s not clear if this will be a component of Dragon Age 3 or a standalone product, though BioWare’s attitude toward the multiplayer in ME3 serving to enhance the single-player experience certainly suggests that an online component in Dragon Age will follow a similar path.

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The source also mentions that this mysterious Dragon Age multiplayer game is being built on the Frostbite 2 engine, the one that DICE created and used to power Battlefield 3.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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How to increase max HP in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

A glowing statue in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

No matter which class you pick in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you will notice very quickly how short your life bar is. While the Warrior, Rogue, and Mage do have different defensive stats and access to various armors, no one is going to be able to tank a ton of hits early on. Plus, with the exception of the bonus you get for choosing one specific background, you only have three potions at a time to back you up. There are ways to mitigate damage and heal, but that doesn't help much if you take a giant hit that wipes you out in one shot. Leveling up doesn't boost your health, and there's nothing on the skill tree that will do it, either. We all need more HP, so here's the secret to increasing your life bar in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
How to get more max HP in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

There are two methods for increasing your HP. The first is related to optional points of interest on the map called Evanuris Altars. These won't ping on your map until you get close to them, but two early ones you can find in the Arlathan forest are marked below.

Gaming

Which class should you pick in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

A wizard and night in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The character creator in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is incredibly deep. You can fully manipulate almost every aspect of your Rook, from their race down to their hair and eye color. Once you've finally settled on what you want to look lik,e you will need to make an even more important choice: what you want the game to play like. You will be presented with three choices for what class you want to be, each one with its own skill tree, specializations, weapons, and approach to combat. Unlike your skills or appearance, once you pick a class in the character creator, you're stuck with it. There's no changing your mind unless you are willing to start the game over with a new character. The game will give you a brief explanation of the classes, but it won't be enough to make an informed decision. Here's a detailed look at what you can expect from each class and whether or not it would be right for you.
Warrior

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Gaming

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A character draws a bow in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The threat to Thedas in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is greater than anything we've seen before. Solas, The Dread Wolf, is attempting to tear down the Veil, but that's only the tip of the iceberg of problems your Rook will need to deal with. Needless to say, the odds are stacked against you and you will need to use every edge you can get to find a way to overcome the odds. While the game does offer plenty of difficulty options, learning the deeper systems and mechanics will let you compete and keep up with the difficulty as it ramps up without having to change any settings. There's a lot to absorb when diving into this world, so we'll help you prepare with these essential tips and tricks.
Pick your class carefully, but experiment with skills

While you're making your character, the most important choice you have is which class you will be. The three options are Warrior, Mage, and Rogue and the one you pick here is the one you will be stuck with for the rest of the game. There's no changing classes or controlling other party members directly like in past games, so don't take this decision lightly. If you are having trouble deciding, we can help you decide which one is right for you.