The Wargamer

Bioware, developer of a number of great computer based role-playing games (RPGs), and Green Ronin, developer and publisher of a number of excellent pen & paper RPGs have announced a joint effort to create a pen & paper version of the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins.  Bioware's reputation preceeds it; they have an excellent record of success, having created classics like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, and Mass Effect.  It should come as no surprise that Dragon Age: Origins is highly anticipated. 

More surprising is the move to create a pen & paper game.   Green Ronin has an excellent record of producing RPG supplements and stand-alone games (a comprehensive list can be found here).  However, with the recent release of the 4th version of Dungeons & Dragons, an opportunity may have opened up in the pen & paper RPG niche for a more classic gaming system.  There have been at least two attempts to fill the void that was created when Wizards of the Coast (who presently owns the Dungeons & Dragons franchise) announced it was leaving its version 3.5 game and moving to the 4th Edition.  The 4th Edition of D&D is a solid game, but it has a significantly different feel to it than previous versions of the game.  It appears as though the creation of Dragon Age: Origins may be a move in that direction.  Bioware's credentials as an authentic computer RPG developer are impeccable.  There are many gamers who still hail the Baldur's Gate series as the penultimate expression of D&D on the computer.  In a back-to-the-future kind of way, a move of the electronic game to the pen & paper medium may create a very real challenger to the venerable D&D franchise.  Billing itself as the "spiritual successor" to Baldur's Gate, this announcement makes for some very intriguing news to the pen & paper RPG community.

"We’re delighted to be working with Green Ronin to explore more of the Dragon Age universe through a pen and paper role-playing game. We’re excited to deliver Dragon Age’s unique dark, heroic fantasy to our audience in a brand new way - a perfect complement to the landmark game we’re launching on PC, Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 this fall," said Dr. Ray Muzyka, General Manager and CEO, BioWare and General Manager and Vice President, EA. "Our development teams craft rich, deep worlds, and this is an excellent way to expand the franchise."

"Dragon Age: Origins has been described as the spiritual successor to BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate™, one of the most highly-acclaimed fantasy computer RPGs in the world, so when BioWare approached us to do a pen and paper version, we had to say ‘yes!’," said Green Ronin President Chris Pramas. "With our work on Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Black Company, and Thieves’ World, dark fantasy is in our blood and Dragon Age: Origins is the best in its class. An opportunity to collaborate with BioWare on Dragon Age: Origins was not to be missed."

The Dragon Age pen and paper RPG is expected to be available at card shops, book and comic retailers in summer 2009. The first release will be a boxed set perfect for new and experienced role-players alike.  Green Ronin plans to release additional boxed sets and supplemental books, expanding the Dragon Age world even further.

Dragon Age: Origins from BioWare invites players to create their own heroes and join the fight against the darkspawn in a world of violence, lust and betrayal.  The game will feature deep character customization, challenging decisions, and a wealth of gritty, mature plots that, combined with the BioWare heritage, make it one of the most highly-anticipated releases of 2009.  Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled to release this fall on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC.

Dragon Age: Origins is rated RP by the ESRB. No PEGI rating is available at this time.  For more information about Dragon Age: Origins, visit www.dragonage.com.  Pre-order the game now at www.eastore.ea.com. 

If you'd like to discuss this development on our forums, a thread has been opened here: http://www.wargamer.com/forums/tm.aspx?high=&m=348254&mpage=1#348254