Dragon Age: 31 Mods You Never Knew You Needed

The first time I played Dragon Age: Origins was on the Xbox and I had a hard time getting into it because of the crappy graphics.  Well, I recently tried the PC version and discovered that OMFG THE GAME IS AMAZING WHEN YOU MOD IT TO DEATH!  I highly encourage a playthrough with these mods if you haven’t done so already.  Here is my list of the 31 best mods you never knew you needed (but now you can’t live without):

9 Mods for Better Gameplay

3 Mods for Better Character Customization

7 Mods for Better Romances

3 Mods Just for Fun

9 Mods for if You Love Alistair

9 Mods for Better Gameplay

1.  JB3 Textures

This mod gives HD textures to the whole game and makes DA much more beautiful.  If you only download one mod, this should be it.

2.  Dragon Age Redesigned

This mod redesigns over 500 NPCs in the game to make their appearance better.  You can choose to change them based on Lore (characters redesigned to fit their races better) or Aesthetics (characters redesigned to be more attractive) or a combination of both.  It also includes an optional Morrigan morph that makes her look more like her original face model (ie. super gorgeous).

3.  Skip the Fade

Ugh, I hate the Fade.  If you’re like me and just want to get on with the story, this is the perfect mod for you.  It allows you to skip the boring parts of the Fade and go directly to your follower’s dreams and then fight the demon with all the Fade transformations already unlocked.  You also get all the item drops using this mod, too!

4.  Lock Bash

This lets any class unlock chests using strength or magic.  This is great because I find the Rogue class rather useless in DA and hated having to take one with me.

5.  Extra Dog Slot

Let’s you take your Mabari war hound as a 5th companion.  Super useful.

6.  Madd Gift Guide

You know when you have a gift in your inventory and have no idea who to give it to?  This mod solves that problem by listing the appropriate gift receiver in the item description.

7.  No Helmet Hack

This hack makes your helmet invisible unless you’re in a battle.  Crucial if you want your character to look anything other than ridiculous during conversations.

8.  Advanced Tactics

This mod expands your options for follower tactics so that you can improve your battle strategy.  Super useful and allows your followers to make more intelligent tactical decisions.

9.  Auto Loot Mod

Automatically adds items to your inventory when you’re looting – saves so much time and effort!

3 Mods for Better Character Customization

1.  Pineappletree’s Vibrant Colors

Adds a bajillion new color options when customizing your character’s looks.

2.  Hairstyle Day

Someone ported some beautiful hairstyles from The Sims to Dragon Age and they look great!

3.  Whiten Teeth

Tired of your character looking like they’ve been chewing on dirt?  This mod fixes the teeth for every character in the game.

7 Mods for Better Romances

1.  Ser Gilmore NPC & Morph

This mod is amazing!  It allows you to add Roland Gilmore as a follower (he is in the Cousland intro if you don’t remember him) and includes fully voiced banter and conversations, as well as the option to romance him.  This mod is super well-done and feels as complete as any built-in follower storyline/romance.  I like to pair it with the Handsome Ser Gilmore Morph to make the character better looking, because his default is a little homely :)  You should also download Ser Gilmore’s First Night for a touching romance scene when you finally sleep with him.

2.  Improved Romance Scenes

This allows you to do other things with your LI besides kiss them or have sex with them.  You can give them a hug or spend quiet alone time under a tree and stuff – you know, normal things you would do IRL.

3.  Better Sex Cutscenes

Bioware is a master at delivering epic romances … with awkward sex scenes.  This mod allows you to change those sex scenes according to your taste for the explicit – you can choose from medium, mild and zesty (you can guess which one I picked!).  NSFW

4.  Rendezvous at the Tavern

Allows you to do more sexy times with your LI at the Gnawed Noble Tavern in Denerim – NSFW

5.  More Options at the Pearl

Allows to do more sexy times with a whole range of NPCs at the Pearl in Denerim – literally, dozens of strange combinations that are often quite funny – super NSFW

6.  Dahlyialynn’s Sleep Until Dawn

This mod allows you to sleep with your LI or Mabari in camp and wake up the next morning to daylight.  Lots of cuddling involved in this one.

7.  Realistic Look for Natural Bodies

This mod allows you to choose nude options for your character and followers – way better than the default granny panties or the standalone Natural Bodies mod.  My favorites are the Theseus mod for men and the Seductress mod for women (if you opt for full nude, you can even choose what cup size you want for women and what penis size for men!).

3 Mods Just for Fun

1.  Dance Party

These dances are hilarious!  This keeps in the Bioware tradition of super awkward dancing and there are dozens of different combinations you can see.

2.  Slap Morrigan

Sometimes Morrigan can be a bitch and sometimes I just want to slap the shit outta her.  Someone out there made a mod to make my dreams come true.

3.  A Little Leg

This makes all armor in the game a little more revealing to the degree of your taste.  I like this mod because it’s not over the top sexual – it provides just the right amount of eye candy.

9 Mods for if You Love Alistair

1.  Alistair Morph

This is the perfect mod if you want to enhance Alistair’s good looks without altering his fundamental appearance.  Very subtle but makes all the difference.

2.  A Hero’s Sacrifice

This adds a scene if your Warden/Alistair kills the Archdemon and dies.

3.  Alistair’s Funeral & Funeral Kiss

This adds a  much need funeral scene if Alistair kills the Archdemon and dies.  The kiss version adds a scene where Alistair imparts a goodbye kiss at the Warden’s funeral if she dies after killing the Archdemon.

4.  Dahlialynn’s First Night

Makes taking Alistair’s virginity super special :)

5.  Last Night

If you choose not to do the Dark Ritual, Alistair will spend the night with your Warden instead.

6.  The Proposal

If you choose to make yourself queen during the Landsmeet, Alistair will properly propose to you after the Coronation.

7.  Dahlialynn’s Alistair Nightmare

This mod works in conjunction with the Sleep Until Dawn mod – if you go to bed in camp with Alistair a second time, he will awake one night with a nightmare – beautifully edited and emotionally charged scene that fits seamlessly within the main storyline.

8.  Dahlialynn’s The Royal Wedding

This mod shows the Warden and Alistair’s wedding during the Epilogue – a gorgeous and lengthy production :)

9.  Dark Ritual

This mod adds a scene between Morrigan and Alistair when it’s time to discuss the Dark Ritual.  Quite touching on Alistair’s end.