Sunday, July 16, 2017

Games, Books and Comics in Order: The Fiction Timeline

It's a question that comes up a lot in fandom—in what order should people experience the Dragon Age franchise?

In case it helps, with this in mind, I've put together a kind of "Tale of Years" in terms of Dragon Age fiction, that I hope encompasses all (or most) of the games, novels, comics, and movies, as follows:

Last Flight
By Liane Merciel
Covers 5:12-24 Exalted Age in Flashbacks(Chapters 2-5, 7-8)
Also covers 9:41-9:42 Dragon Age in frame story
‡NOTE: This can be read after the events of DAI, since that's when the frame story takes place. But most of the book details the devastating decade-long Blight of the Exalted Age, and I feel it's far more moving and effective if read as a taste of just how bad a Blight can get, before the other works.

The Stolen Throne
Novel, by David Gaider
Covers 8:96-8:99 Blessed Age; 9:18 Dragon Age. Details the adventures of a very young Loghain and Maric.

The Calling
Novel, by David Gaider
Covers 9:10-9:11 Dragon Age. About the adventures of Maric, Duncan, Fiona and a band of Grey Wardens who brave the Deep Roads to solve the mystery of a missing Grey Warden.

Dragon Age #1
Comic
Covers 9:12-13

Dragon Age - Legends: Remix
Comic
Covers 9:21 Dragon Age

Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker 
Animated Film
Covers 9:22 Dragon Age. A prequel story on Cassandra before the events of DA2 or DAI.

Dragon Age II: Aveline ("Focus")
Covers 9:25 Dragon Age

Dragon Age II: Fenris
Covers 9:28 Dragon Age

Leliana's Song (Dragon Age: Origins DLC)
Game
Covers 9:28 Dragon Age
A prequel on Leliana's adventures before DAO.

Dragon Age: #2-6
Roleplaying Game
Covers 9:30 Dragon Age
  • Faces of Thedas: A Dragon Age RPG Sourcebook
  • Dragon Age - Dark Fantasy Roleplaying Set 1
  • Dragon Age RPG Core Rulebook
  • Dragon Age - Roleplaying Game, Core Rulebook:  "Invisible Chains"
  • Dragon Age - Quickstart Guide:  "An Arl's Ransom"
  • Dragon Age - Dark Fantasy Roleplaying, Set 1:  "The Dalish Curse"
  • Dragon Age - Game Master's Kit 1:  "A Bann Too Many"
  • Dragon Age - Game Master's Kit 2
  • Dragon Age:  "Duty Unto Death"
  • Dragon Age - Blood in Ferelden
    • Blood in Ferelden:  "Amber Rage"
    • Blood in Ferelden:  "Where Eagles Lair"
    • Blood in Ferelden:  "A Fragile Web"
    • Blood in Ferelden:  "The Sound Sleep of the Innocent"
    • Blood in Ferelden:  "All is Theft"
    • Blood in Ferelden:  "The Pilgrimage of Sister Stone"
  • Dragon Age - Dark Fantasy Roleplaying, Set 2:  "The Autumn Falls"
  • Dragon Age - Dark Fantasy Roleplaying, Set 3:  "Battle's Edge"
  • Dragon Age - Gamemaster's Kit (GM Kit) Revised
  • Dragon Age - RPG Set 1 (for levels 1-5)
  • Dragon Age - RPG Set 2 (for Levels 6-10)
  • Dragon Age - RPG Set 3 (for Levels 11-20)
  • Dragon Age Dice Set
Dragon Age: Origins
Webcomic, Penny Arcade
Covers Templars hunting Flemeth before DAO (the game) begins

Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins ("The Stone Prisoner" DLC)
Dragon Age: Origins ("Return to Ostagar" DLC)
Dragon Age: Origins ("Warden's Keep" DLC)
Game
Covers 9:30-9:31 Dragon Age

Dragon Age: The Revelation
Comic
Covers interaction between Morrigan and Alistair near the end of the final events of DAO.

Dragon Age: Warden's Fall (Parts 1-5)

Dragon Age: Redemption (Parts 1-6)
Web Series (6 parts)
Covers 9:31 Dragon Age. Written by and starring Felicia Day. A companion to her DLC in Dragon Age II ("Mark of the Assassin").

Dragon Age: Origins ("Witch Hunt" DLC)
Covers 9:33 Dragon Age, but flows better if done between DAO and DAO: "Awakening"

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
Webcomic
Covers Nathaniel Howe's attempt on Vigil's Keep before the DAO: "Awakening" DLC

Dragon Age: Origins ("Awakening" DLC)
Game
Covers Dragon Age 9:31

Dragon Age: Origins ("The Golems of Amgarrak" DLC)
As with "Witch Hunt," covers 9:33 Dragon Age, but flows better if done between DAO and DAO: "Awakening"

Dragon Age II
Dragon Age II ("The Black Emporium" DLC)
Dragon Age II ("The Exiled Prince" DLC)
Dragon Age II ("Mark of the Assassin" DLC)
Game
Covers Dragon Age 9:31-9:38 (and 9:40 in frame story & epilogue)

Dragon Age II ("Legacy" DLC)
Game
Best if played near the end of Dragon Age II -- and definitely before DAI, since it serves as a kind of direct prequel.

Dragon Age - The Silent Grove #1-6
Graphic Novel, by David Gaider
Covers 9:38 Dragon Age. Alistair, Isabela and Varric seach for a mystery in Alistair's past.

Dragon Age - Those Who Speak #1-3

Graphic Novel, by David Gaider
Covers 9:38 Dragon Age

Dragon Age - Until We Sleep #1-3
Graphic Novel, by David Gaider
Covers 9:38 Dragon Age

Asunder
Novel, by David Gaider
Covers 9:40 Dragon Age

The Masked Empire
Novel, by Patrick Weekes
Covers 9:40 Dragon Age. The story of the intrigue behind the throne of Orlais, with Briala, Celene, Gaspard, Michel, Felassan, and more.

Magekiller
Graphic Novel Series, by Greg Rucka
Covers 9:41-42 Dragon Age


The Last Court
Online Game
Enter via the Dragon Age Keep
Covers 9:41 Dragon Age

Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisition ("The Black Emporium" DLC)
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Spoils Of The Avvar
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Spoils Of The Qunari
Dragon Age: Inquisition ("The Jaws of Hakkon" DLC—DAI Level 20-22)
Dragon Age: Inquisition ("The Descent" DLC—Best played by DAI players level 21-24 or so.)
Game
Covers 9:41-9:42 Dragon Age. 

Dragon Age: Knight Errant
Graphic Novel Series, by Nunzio DeFilippis
Covers 9:43 Dragon Age

Dragon Age: Inquisition ("Trespasser" DLC)
Game DLC
Covers 9:44 Dragon Age. DAI Level 22-24

Last Flight
By Liane Merciel
Covers 5:12-24 Exalted Age in Flashbacks (Chapters 2-5, 7-8)
Also covers 9:41-9:42 Dragon Age in frame story
NOTE: See my earlier entry, as this can be read after the events of DAI, since that's when the frame story takes place. But most of the book details the devastating decade-long Blight of the Exalted Age, and I feel it's far more moving and effective if read as a taste of just how bad a Blight can get, before the other works.

Did I miss anything? Please do share your own thoughts, corrections, or suggestions!

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