Expansion details:
US, January 5, 2010 - Today, BioWare and Electronic Arts put rumors to rest and announced Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, the first official expansion pack which is slated to be released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 16, 2010. The expansion will require Dragon Age: Origins and will cost $39.99.
Set after the events of Dragon Age: Origins in the land of Amaranthine, players will take on the role of a Grey Warden trying to rebuild the order of legendary warriors. Along with this monumental task, players will have to discover new secrets of the Darkspawn menace as well as face off against deadly new threats such as the Inferno Golem, Spectral Dragon and a mysterious foe that calls itself the "Architect."
Fortunately, Awakening raises the level cap of the game, and provides new abilities, spells, specializations and items for players to acquire.Players will also have the option to import and revise their characters from Dragon Age: Origins, expanding on the customization of their heroes. Players can also choose to create a brand new Grey Warden from the land of Orlais.
Five new party members will also be available for players to recruit and add to their band of adventurers.
According to BioWare co-founder Dr. Ray Muzyka, "Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening shows BioWare's commitment to our fans by delivering new story-driven experiences which enrich the dark heroic fantasy universe our fans have come to know and love. The vibrant worldwide community of Dragon Age fans will relish uncovering the secret motivations of the darkspawn, revealing how the darkspawn continue to infest the world despite the defeat of the Archdemon."
* Choices in Origins definitely are recognized in the expansion.* You do import all of your gear from Origins, but not from the chest in Soldier's Peak. But you can always pull out what you like, save, then import that save.
* You can't play an Orlesian Grey Warden in Origins.
* Amaranthine is indeed the coastal arling that once belonged to Rendon Howe. And, of course, everyone will speak with a Jamaican accent. OK, maybe that last part isn't true.