Dragon Age II: real-life quests for in-game rewards

StarMars — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:33:52 +0000

The release date of Dragon Age II draws near so expect a surge of in-game bonus content en masse. Not free of course but as rewards for real-life quests. Wait. what?

Yes, I said it right. Real-life quests for in-game rewards.The tasks you do in the real world will give your avatars in Dragon Age 2 bonus items. Things like downloading and finishing the demo version, subscribing to BioWare’s newsletter and playing a Facebook Dragon Age spin-off flash game. For a full list of the currently available bonus contents, check out the Dragon Age II DLCs, add-ons, unlockables and items.

This stratagem has worked perfectly in the past, especially for me. Because DAII is an RPG, its players are most likely hardcore, driven by story and entranced in the beautiful, alternate world. And to get the most out of playing the game, they absolutely must have the best, most powerful, most renowned items in the gameworld. The bonus contents — downloadable contents (DLCs), unlockable items, add-ons — are items of great power and use and are offered for only a limited time, enough to get gamers rushing to buy the game. I remember I rushed to the mall to buy Dragon Age so I could get the code (that would expire in 2 days) that came with it and download the bonus item. (I would have bought the game later anyway if not for the extra item!) There was a feeling of achievement in having a character more powerful than the “just-normal” character.

How can you resist these epic items advertising to you:

Helmet – “If you wear me, your head will look oh-so-scary or oh-so-heavenly depending on the ingredients. Change your appearance to your liking. Oh, and I come with 100% immunity to fellow party member’s rants.”

Chest – “I’m a super duper hard plate armor with 25% resistance to slashing, piercing, blunt, fire, water, ice, lightning, earth, wind, and any other elemental damage I’m not aware of. “

Thighs – “I’m designed with the latest in monster-carcass fashion in mind and I come in many varieties: goblin, troll, ogre, wyvern, skeleton, zombie and dragon. Wear your trophies today!”

Gauntlets – “I’m the uber gauntlet worn by the great, legendary, powerful, dominating, unstoppable, wicked sick and godlike level-199 1/4-elf-1/4-human-1/4-dwarf-1/4-gnome fighter-mage-rogue-cleric-monk.” (whew)

Greaves – “I give unlimited stamina, +60% speed, the skill Blinding Speed, fast running, fast swimming and pretty much everything any lazy, worthless player needs to travel from place to place. I’m indispensable.”

Rings – “If I become your ‘precious’, I’ll grant you +99 to all stats and a bonus skill that doubles all your rings’ bonuses. (infinite, got it?) And the power to control other rings…”

Sword – “My blades have +45 enchantment so you can guarantee a hit with every swing. Did I mention I also have 98% chance to kill anyone in one blow? I’m pretty much a cheat.”

BioWare/EA is not the first to use this tactic but they are probably the best in using it.

Just keep them coming BioWare. We’re suckers for these items.

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Download Free Dragon Age DLC items

StarMars — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:54:54 +0000

While some of the Dragon Age: Origins downloadable content (DLC) items require authorization, many of them are available for free. Some require you to do some tasks to get them in-game but following the instructions below will save you the trouble of doing so. They exist as files which can be downloaded directly from Bioware and added to your game via an update tool provided with the release of Dragon Age.

Download the DAZIP files below.
Find and run DAUpdater.exe in your game installation under the bin_ship folder.
Load the DAZIP files by pressing Select DAZIP.
Install them by pressing Install Selected.
Run Dragon Age: Origins and check your DLC.

The files below were provided by Bioware to help in the manual installation of registered items for those who have issues downloading them in-game. The fact that some of them were not encrypted means they’re available for free to everyone. Source

The DLC items and how to get them officially:

Free Dragon Age DLC items

The first 3 free items can be obtained by playing and completing quests and achievements in Dragon Age: Journeys.

Embri’s Many Pockets – DAO_PRC_PROMO_EMB.dazip: To earn Embri’s Many Pockets in Dragon Age: Origins, save the Grey Warden Martine by completing The Missing Warden quest in Dragon Age Journeys.
Helm of the Deep – DAO_PRC_PROMO_HOD.dazip: To earn the Helm of the Deep in Dragon Age: Origins, you must earn all five achievements in Dragon Age Journeys: The Deep Roads.
Amulet of the War Mage – DAO_PRC_PROMO_WAR.dazip: To earn the Amulet of the War Mage in Dragon Age: Origins, simply sign in to your EA account in Dragon Age Journeys.
The Edge – DAO_PRC_PROMO_EDG.dazip: Available to players who bought and registered the game on the Bioware Social Site on or before Nov 30, 2009.
The Lucky Stone – DAO_PRC_PROMO_LKS.dazip: Upload a character made with the Character Creator to your Bioware social account to get this item.
The Lion’s Paw – DAO_PRC_PROMO_LNP.dazip: Pre-order bonus from Amazon
Mark of Vigilance – DAO_PRC_PROMO_VGL.dazip: Free if you buy a Dragon Age t-shirt from Hot Topic.
The Wicked Oath – DAO_PRC_PROMO_WKD.dazip: Pre-order bonus from Steam.

UPDATE: 6/8/10

Bulwark of the True King (Origins) – DAO_PRC_PROMO_BTK_1.0.dazip: Give-away from Alienware. For those who have the Origins game only.
Bulwark of the True King (Awakening) – DAO_EP1_PROMO_BTK_1.0.dazip: Give-away from Alienware. For those who have the Awakening expansion.
Pearl of the Anointed (Origins) – DAO_PRC_PROMO_PAN_1.0.dazip: Pre-order bonus for Awakening from amazon.de and play.com. For those who have the Origins game only.
Pearl of the Anointed (Awakening) – DAO_EP1_PROMO_PAN_1.0.dazip: Pre-order bonus for Awakening from amazon.de and play.com. For those who have the Awakening expansion.
Bregan’s Bow (Origins) – DAO_PRC_PROMO_GBK_1.0.dazip: Pre-order bonus for Awakening from gamestop.de and game.co.uk. For those who have the Origins game only.
Bregan’s Bow (Awakening) – DAO_EP1_PROMO_GBK_1.0.dazip: Pre-order bonus for Awakening from gamestop.de and game.co.uk. For those who have the Awakening expansion.

Not Free Dragon Age DLC items

The Stone Prisoner – DAO_PRC_CP_2.dazip: Free with every new purchase of Dragon Age: Origins. My promo card expires on April 30, 2010.
Warden’s Keep – DAO_PRC_NRX_1.dazip: Comes free with the Collector’s Edition and several Digital Deluxe Editions.
3 Collector’s Edition items – DAO_PRC_PROMO_C2.dazip: Free items that came with the Collector’s Edition of the game. Grimoire of the Frozen Wastes is available at start. Bergen’s Honor and Final Reason must be purchased from Bodahn in the camp.
Blood Dragon Armor Set – DAO_PRC_PROMO_ME.dazip: Free with every new purchase of Dragon Age: Origins. My promo card expires on April 30, 2010. The plate armor is available at start, the rest must be purchased from Bodahn.
Blood Dragon Armor Set Version 1.1 – DAO_PRC_PROMO_ME_1.1.dazip: The 1.1 version of Blood Dragon Armor is heavily nerfed but it fixes the bug caused by Female Elf characters wearing the armor.
Memory Band, Formari Tome – DAO_PRC_PROMO_1.dazip: Pre-order bonus from any retailer.
Feral Wolf Charm – DAO_PRC_PROMO_2.dazip: Pre-order bonus from GameStop.
Guildmaster’s Belt – DAO_PRC_PROMO_3.dazip: Pre-order bonus from Gamecrazy or Mighty Ape.
Band of Fire – DAO_PRC_PROMO_4.dazip: Pre-order bonus from EA Store.
Dalish Promise Ring – DAO_PRC_PROMO_5.dazip: Pre-order bonus from Direct2Drive or GAME.

UPDATE: 6/8/10

Return to Ostagar – DAO_PRC_CP_1_1.1.dazip: Downloadable Content available for $5.
Feastday Gifts – DAO_PRC_CP_3_1.0.dazip: A collection of mostly humorous gift items that will significantly increase your followers’ affections for you. Buy them from Bodahn.
Feastday Pranks – DAO_PRC_CP_7_1.0.dazip: Ten unique feastday pranks that your party members will love to hate. Buy them from Bodahn.
Darkspawn Chronicles – DAO_PRC_DRK_1.0.dazip: Downloadable Content available for $5.
Leliana’s Song – DAO_PRC_LEL_1.0.dazip: Downloadable Content available for $7.
Blightblood (Origins) – DAO_PRC_DRK_DAO_1.0.dazip: Reward for completing the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC. For those who have the Origins game only.
Blightblood (Awakening) – DAO_PRC_DRK_EP1_1.0.dazip: Reward for completing the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC. For those who have the Awakening expansion.

UPDATE: 9/22/10

Golems of Amgarrak – DAO_PRC_GIB_1.0.dazip: Downloadable Content available for $5.
Witch Hunt – DAO_PRC_STR_1.1.dazip: Downloadable Content available for $7.
Battledress of the Provocateur (for Origins) – DAO_PRC_LEL_DAO_1.0.dazip: Quest-related item in Leliana’s Song.
Battledress of the Provocateur (for Awakening) – DAO_PRC_LEL_EP1_1.0.dazip: Quest-related item in Leliana’s Song.
Golem’s Might (for Origins) – DAO_PRC_GIB_DAO_1.0.dazip: Set of quest-related item in Golems of Amgarrak
Golem’s Might (for Awakening) – DAO_PRC_GIB_EP1_1.0.dazip: Set of quest-related item in Golems of Amgarrak.
Witchcraft (for Origins) – DAO_PRC_STR_DAO_1.0.dazip: Set of quest-related items in Witch Hunt.
Witchcraft (for Awakening) – DAO_PRC_STR_EP1_1.0.dazip: Set of quest-related items in Witch Hunt.

Keep in mind that you are supposed to have only one or a few of these items at the start of the game. Having all of them at once can significantly affect your gameplay.

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Dragon Age II: real-life quests for in-game rewards

Download Free Dragon Age DLC items

Free Dragon Age DLC items

Not Free Dragon Age DLC items