In February 2023, the release of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf was eagerly anticipated by players. Surprisingly, gameplay footage and screenshots were leaked on Reddit, providing players with valuable insights into the upcoming installment of the Dragon Age franchise. These leaked materials showcased improved gameplay mechanics, enhanced animation quality, UI advancements, and special abilities. However, the most intriguing revelation from the leak was a potential overhaul of the class system in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.
The source of the leak, a Reddit user, claimed that the footage and screenshots were obtained from a playtester who obtained them before being reassigned to another project. To protect the playtester's identity, only a portion of the video was released. Nevertheless, this sneak peek hinted at a possible change to the game's classes, which may now be influenced by the major factions within the game. Although this information should be approached with caution, it certainly sparks speculation and excitement among fans.
Factions May Now Be Tied to Dragon Age: Dreadwolf’s Classes
The Reddit leak offered a sneak peek at the character screen for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. This screen showcased the player's level, stats, and items, although certain details such as level, guard, armor, health, and EXP were blurred out. Additionally, it revealed that the player belonged to the Grey Wardens, a faction specialized in battling darkspawn. Consequently, some fans are speculating that the player's chosen faction might impact their class. For instance, joining the Grey Wardens would suit someone who wants to be a warrior, while becoming a member of the Antivan Crows would be fitting for a rogue.
However, some fans argue that tying the player's class to their faction may restrict their role-playing experience. They point out that many factions in the game already have characters that embody the mage, rogue, and warrior archetypes. Therefore, it is possible that the faction a player joins could determine their available class options, similar to how it functioned in Dragon Age: Origins. For example, joining the Grey Wardens or the Crows would allow players to select any class, whereas joining the Tevinter in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf would limit players to the mage class.
Choosing a Faction Early Could Make Dragon Age: Dreadwolf’s First Chapter Unique for Each Player
Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Origins and offer a chapter one that caters to the player's chosen faction rather than their race. For instance, a Tevinter mage could delve into their responsibilities as a magister's apprentice, while a stealthy Crow rogue might find themselves operating undercover in enemy territory. Alternatively, Grey Warden warriors could face off against darkspawn. This feature would greatly enhance the game's replayability, as players could select different factions for subsequent playthroughs, resulting in a completely unique lore experience.
Beyond teaser trailers and leaks, little is known about the gameplay of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Official news regarding whether the sequel will retain the traditional classes of rogue, mage, and warrior remains absent. Nonetheless, recent leaks have sparked speculation among fans that players may be able to choose a faction at the outset of the game, potentially influencing their class selection.
Speculation exists that factions may potentially supplant classes in Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. For instance, choosing to become a Grey Warden would grant the player warrior-like abilities, while opting to be a Crow would bestow rogue-esque skills. Leaked information has already indicated that the game will showcase hack-and-slash combat, a significant departure from its traditional turn-based gameplay. Therefore, significant changes to the game's class system may not be entirely implausible. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is currently being developed for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.