Dragon Age: Origins | Top 8 Essential Mods 

wow I really was not expecting to se a DA:O video come out in 2019. man that game was great.

It's so cool to see people still play this gem and still shower it with enough love to see it evolve for the better.

Here's a game that could use a remaster --- it's spectacular as is, but modernizing textures, some quality of life issues, etc. would be amazing.

Mod Timestamps: 1:11 - Make console commands visible. 1:51 - extra Dog Slot 2:46 - No Helmet Hack 3:34 - improved atmosphere 4:37 - Skip the Fade/Ostigar 5:30 - unique face textures for companions DAO edition 5:59 - Bidelle's cosmetics 8:00 - Grey Wardens of Ferelden

This makes me want to replay the game yet again, even though I could probably quote every Origin and Ostagar interaction from memory because I kept making new characters every 5 hours

simply one of the best games ever made.

Excellent list. You've convinced me to revisit this epic game from Bioware's golden era. Keep up the good work!

10 years on & I still love this game

Wow, I just realised you mentioned my mod in this video. I'm flattered, hahah.. Thank you. I hope you enjoy the mods. But I do apologise that it's been so long ago that I no longer support the Grey Wardens of Ferelden mod anymore. So I can't really help if your or anyone is having issue especially with recently updated mods that can conflict it. But I appreciate the mention to your top 8 mods. Enjoy...

sometimes i feel like the one person on earth that likes seeing helmets during cut-scenes.

You know DA:O really has an amazing modding scene. I remember there was I mod that revolutionized my playthrough. It made everything lootable... Meaning, if a soldier was clearly wearing full splint-mail, you could take a full set of splint mail off of his corpse. I much prefer that, to the original system that gave you a 5% chance of getting his boots. AND Dahlialynn! If you want improved atmosphere, she's the one to go to. She basically re-does the important cinematics in the game, with much greater care. She gives Dragon Age the best pay-off moments you could ask for.

Started playing the game seriously last week, so glad I did

i miss the dragon age origins era so much, it was my favorite dragon age, real choices, great character, and so beautifull ost

It's been a super long time since I've played this but I always used circles be gone to remove the huge highlight circles. Faster combat was also a huge one for me. It can make the game even more challenging in certain areas as well.

I don't know why you are in my feed, nor do I care. Like

You're like an australian trapped inside an american, I love it!

I love DAO and still play it today. Hopefully I get a PC so I can play with mods

Just started up another run of DAO so this is good timing, although im more minimalist with modding these days.

I always have the Better Seige in Redcliffe mod installed in every playthrough:) also.. great mod list!

I'd get rid of Improved Atmosphere and install Qwinn's bug fixes instead. The two don't mesh at all (except for two folders), but I prefer playing a bug free DA:O over a bit of movement. Personal choice, of course.

skip the fade? :O one of the best part of the main quests for me though

DA:O and DA:I contact in 2019. Thank you so much.

There is also a Skip the Deep Roads, which I feel is even more essential now (after a dozen playthroughs) than Skip the Fade. My personal favorite now may be Morning Camp, where you get your own tent and you can sléep with Dog or your romanced companion.

For reminding us of this awesome game and still bringing updates to it. You my friend, you are AWESOME.

Impressive list, skipping Ostagar is ok imo, but yes to the fade. I would add, Zevran Dialogue Fix, Morrigan Restoration Patch and DIalogue Tweaks. Natural Bodies is also good, if you want to go for it all :D

oooh this is just in time!! i was just about to start a new play through

This woman's voice is so good!

Thanks for the video! I'm happy to see videos made this recently for this game!!

The annoying thing with the extra dog slot is that if he dies and you resummon him, he’s still dead. Switching him out of the party fixes it but yeah, playing on harder modes its annoying XD

This is great, I've been searching for a while for something like this. Thank you!

I just found your channel and I immediately subscribed. You have videos about my favorite games and my favorite past time, modding. I'm looking forward to your next video! (And skip the fade is essential after first playthrough)

This video caused me to install DA:O, it was such a wonderful game. I remember falling completely in love with morrigan back in the days haha. Thanks for the video!

I'm very happy to say I have completed DAO, DA2 and currently playing DAI the entire month of July. I am engrossed in this series and happy that I was shown it.

"Skip the Fade" is the most essential mod I've ever heard of

I remember the first mod installed was the crow to reset the talents, then Skip the fade when I tried a mage, and all of the graphics mods.

Time to go play DA:O again, now with these mods!

I highly recommend Qwinn's Ultimate DAO Fixpack. It restores a whole bunch of content, fixing 857 bugs. From unavailable items to dialogue trees to quests, it is an absolute must have mod.

Excellent mod list! I think I have used most of these mods, plus a bit more. I love creating my own custom versions of characters, rather than presets or using other people's 'improved' versions of the companion characters. I've my own versions for all the companions, minus Shale, plus several of the other characters we meet along the way. For this reason, I am very big into mods that add complexions, hairstyles, make up, tattoos, etc, so that I can tweak characters how I see fit. I try to keep these tweaks so they resemble the companions original appearances (though in Oghren's case I made him appear a bit more worn, due to his alcoholism). I tried to make Arl Eamon look closer to the same age as Loghain and Duncan, as all three characters are about the same age. I made the Chasind we meet in Lothering actually LOOK like Chasind. These are the types of customizations I prefer to make for the characters. Additionally, I prefer consistency over the random getting a new armor set, unless acquiring the anew armor set actually makes sense from a RP standpoint. I use The Winter Forge to tweak gear, and upgrade it for increased level, while maintaining balance. There is a mod out there, that I currently cannot think of the name of, but it extends the Ostagrar cutscene after defeating the ogre. It basically adds a scene that is hinted at after waking up in Flemeth's shack. Excellent mod. I also love the bash lock mods, as this allows the non-rogue player character use literally break open a chest, meaning it is not required to always have Leliana in your party to pick locks.

Thanks for posting this! It's a really nice refresher coming back to DAO, a childhood favorite of mine. Can't wait to dive back in :D

You know a game is fantastic when even a decade later people still talk actively about the best ways to mod it for a fresh new game.

Thank you so much for this. I think I had commented in another video that I had spent years without playing Inquisition. Well, recently, I acquired Dragon Age Ultimate Edition and also reinstalled Dragon Age 2 (I lost a 1 TB HD so I've gotta start from scratch). Your videos are helping me a lot!

Great video for this classic, thanks! I for one was disappointed in DA2 when the Mabari was no longer an official party member. :)

There once was a time when classics like DA:O would be standard new releases for games. It's sad to see the entertain,ent industry fall so far

I also used DAO Redesigned (the lore friendly option, because it fixes a lot of NPCs who are supposed to look a certain way, but are just random in vanilla, like old people looking young, etc.), More Options in Pearl (it's not for everyone, but it's just so funny to see Arl Howe "raped" by an Ogre (you don't actually see the act) while you and your Mabari look at each other in shock), some specific armor redesign mods and new armor mods, and most of what you suggested.

A big thumbs up. This game is one of the classics. This is when Bioware made games and not money making gimmicks. I just reinstalled the game and man I still love it as when I 1st played it. Thanks op.

Playing DAO now again, and very happy about your well done video! Thanks, stay healthy!

I remember making the very first guide ...yeah great time!! Peole struggle with the override folder, SQL...bak files , compile files .....spent literally a whole week figuring out , how to make it simple for everyone to understand great times. Thankfully someone made a mod manager much later ..saved slot of struggle.

You´re my absolute gaming-hero. Everything I know about modding the Dragon Age games, I know from you. So thank you!

Honestly wish there was a camera or control mod to make it more modern as the controls are the reason i just havent played the game. Inquisition may not have been the best game but the modern controls did feel nice for this series.

thank you for your video ! I didn't do a run of Dragon age origins for a LOOONNGG time . Thanks for all the tips ! :-)

I don't usually critque mods because it is a matter of taste but in this case i make an exception. Improved amosphere is an ok mod but it interferes/conflicts with a lot of fun and more adult mods. Don't use it till you have explored these other mods that might be more fun. I recommend looking at the Sappho's Daughters the Wardens Women series after you have done your first play through. Always do a first play through vanilla. So you can really appreciate what the modders have done. Cheers

Ah we'll never get another dragon age like this one, savor it

I think a truly essential mod for the game is Stamina Potions mod. You can buy the recipe from Bodahn at the party camp.

“When you get kidnapped.” Why get kidnapped when you can kill the people trying to kidnap you 😂 (Yes it was extremely hard to do) Love the video tho.

So thankful for this video, before it I had yet to find a mod that updated graphics a bit but didn't rearrange the characters too heavily. I got pretty tired of seeing mods that were supposed to "improve the appearance of the game" but in doing that they made the womens' features daintier or their breasts bigger, the dwarves' noses smaller, and Zevran paler.

Really cool video, thank you so much for the suggestions 😁

Memories of grand old Bioware. RIP

One thing I've noted about the "Extra Dog Slot" mod is that, occasionally, the game might attempt to act like the Mabari was selected as a party member when you leave camp. Not sure why but it's easy enough to "deselect" the Mabari and then select the party. Granted, this may just be an odd bug.

I find you because of railjack and you make a mod top 8 of one of my most nostalgic games bruh.

Love these choice of mods, thanks for sharing, it's about time I try using mods XD

you keep showing on the feed, good work youtube's algorithm already loves u with the low (but rapidly growing) subscriber count, and well, youtube is right, its quality content so, glad to see it

the kidnap bug people get when using extra dog slot is due to them picking the dog as one of the ones to come for you the way i got around this was pick another two this is also handy as during the mission most of the enemies will only attack your dog which means you can use it to escape on your own and it adds a funny little bit with the guards when they detect you not being one of them

A fucking DAO video? I’m so happy, my favorite game of all time getting more attention even now

Super nice job on this video. Thank you!

Really great video loved it

Omg thank you so much for making this video! I only knew about the No Helmet mod -- all of these other mods are wonderful! Have you made/do you plan to make a DA 2 essential mod video? If not, I'd love to see it!!

I have some of these in my game and they make a world of difference

Do you think you do a tutorial one day on how to install them on DAO?? I always get so confused with modding DAO

Such an excellent game! And the mods are aweome

Enchantment?

Thank you for making this video. You made my day

Wow this is exactly what I was looking for, so thanks. Lol.

Pretty cool mod list, thanks!

Hey there, I wonder if you've ever played the "Dragon Age Reborn" mod that basically revamps and changes almost every skill/spell in the game? It's pretty freaking awesome and opens up a lot of new stuff gameplay wise. It feels like a brand new thing since many vets of DAO usually know what they're going for and what skills they need to achieve their goals but Reborn makes it exciting and more of a first time experience

I love Origins so much. Must have played it through at least 5 times. Next time I will install the skip the fade mod. Ive never liked that part of the game.

Whenever I use Grey Wardens of Ferelden, Duncan shows up nude.

I love the DA series~ makes me feel nostalgic! I am playing through them again but this time with mods! Tho, tbh I ham having some trouble D: some mods work, some don't. Some are easy enough being a ZIP file, some are 7z that I have zero idea what to do with those. I have Vortex mod manager and I tried getting the one you mentioned in the video and it is a 7z file as well o.o to say I am not tech savy on some subjects is an understatement D:

Hair mods, all banter, dye kit and Alistair romance or Cullen mods FTW lol

Improved Atmosphere will cause your game to CTD when in Denerim every time to a point that you will stop playing

Great video! Just played origins for the first time a few months ago. Also, I know this is unrelated but I'm curious about your accent? You sound American but then certain words you sound almost Australian.

I looove your videos

No Follower Auto-Level. Every party member joins the party with no points assigned in attributes, skills, or talents, so you can build every character exactly as you would like. This mod does rather trivialize the Tower of Ishal for melee Wardens, however, as it lets you give the generic mage party member enough of the glyph line to get Paralysis Explosion, which makes the Ogre battle super easy. I also always use NerfsBeGone, a mod that undoes the spell nerfs added to the game in patch 1.02. I didn't like how that patch made Elite-level enemies unshatterable, so I use the mod to switch it back. I don't know if that mod is available anywhere now, though. I only ever knew where to find it on the BioWare Social Network, and that went dark in August 2016.

nice radio voice tho!

Would love your alistair specific mods ! :D

Still the best party based real time combat RPG ever.

I never felt the need to mod games. Dao especially I very much enjoy its old graphics. It’s part of the charm

what i would love to see is a rerelease of origins with mods like skyrim

Thanks Complex

I've done the fade so many times that at this point I don't even need a mod, I can just fly through it.

Maybe some best weapon and armor mods, next? :D

Could you perhaps post a video, for the improved atmosphere mod advising us one which contents to keep and which contents to delete.

My favorite game ever

I would be slightly careful about using mod managers for DAO (I did my modding manually. It does add some extra reading but from what I've read it makes mods more consistent in regards to installing correctly as long as you you can manage the dazip installer alongside file directories).

What mods do you also use for your character, like face, ears, model, etc? And instead of DAO Mod Manager, I'm using Vortex from Nexus. Doesn't it work, too?

Are you using other armour mods? The starter sets in character creation looked way better then vanilla

Great video! Just got into modding DAO, couldnt do anymore vanilla runs on the old Xbone. Btw do you know which hair/cosmetic pack the hairstyle on your warden is from?

You made me dowload the game again, i love and hate you at the same time

HI! Thank you for the video! I was wondering what mod you use to make the elf warden ears look better? Thank you!

When I saw essential I thought there would be bug fixes and gameplay mods, but ok if you think texture improvement is more important part of a deal

I love all of these mods (already use them) aside from Unique Faces. There are so many better mods for better looking faces. I think this was a terrible job, although Loghain looks alright. Poor Morrigan though. You should look up LadyDeadlock's Morrigan mod. So much nicer. You can still use higher res textures, but she'll be very attractive, rather than butt ugly, rofl. Thank you for your time! I realize you didn't make the mods, so i don't feel bad voicing my opinion. ;D