In a recent Q&A with his 200k subscribers on YouTube, Mark Darrah, a former producer at BioWare, shared his insights on why Mages in Dragon Age: Origins were considered the most feature-rich or ‘complete’ class compared to Rogues and Warriors.

“I would say it’s more because the design space that Dragon Age: Origins was being built into was heavily influenced by second edition D&D.”

Translation: Darrah explains that the game’s design was shaped by the rules of second edition Dungeons and Dragons.

He noted that Dragon Age was an effort by BioWare to return to its roots and create a more intricate RPG, akin to their earlier work on the Baldur’s Gate series. Darrah elaborated:

“The reality is: [Fighters] and Rogues, they were thinner classes. They were simpler classes. And the Mage was the stronger, more fully implemented, more fully considered class. Much more complicated, in terms of spells and such.”

Translation: He highlights that compared to Mages, Fighters and Rogues had less intricate gameplay mechanics.

Darrah also emphasized that Dragon Age: Origins was the most grounded of the series, adhering more closely to logical game mechanics, unlike later entries which allowed for more fantastical elements.

He said:

“In Origins, Warriors and Rogues didn’t have talents that violated physics, but in Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition, that changed.”

Translation: He feels that the later games introduced abilities that seemed unrealistic.

This thoughtful reflection on class balance in Dragon Age raises interesting questions about game design and narrative integrity in RPGs.