Like the original, Dragon Age 2 has companions and an approval system. This has been expanded to include rivalry as well as friendship and romance. If you’ve played Origins, you are probably used to giving supportive responses and gifts to gain maximum friendship with a companion and having that turn out well. In DA 2 the dynamic is different. The Friendship path can be “enabling” at times, while a Rivalry earning response is more honest where a true friend might disagree and be concerned for their friend. As we know from real life, enabling is not always a good thing.
Another interesting change from the previous Dragon Age is that the standard companion love interests are open to any gender, rather than restricted to one or the other.
Here are the companions:
Anders – The apostate mage companion from Awakening is back, now a former Grey Warden and a little different than we remember. The Spirit of Justice, also from Awakening, has joined with him, but Anders’ anger and resentment over how he’s been treated, as a Mage, has transformed Justice into Vengeance. Anders is a possible love interest.
Aveline Vallen is a strong and honorable warrior, and wife of a templar, who meets Hawke on their escape from Lothering.
Bethany Hawke is our hero’s apostate mage sister.
Carver Hawke is our hero’s warrior brother.
Fenris is elven, a former Tevinter slave, and potential love interest.
Isabela – The pirate duelist from Origins returns with a new look, still a potential romantic option.
Merrill – The Dalish mage from the DA:O Dalish Origin story is back, as well, also with an updated look. She is a potential love interest.
Sebastian Vael is a noble archer available to those with The Exiled Prince DLC. He is a possible love interest, but is an exception among them, offering only chaste romance and only to a female Hawke.
Varric Tethras is a dwarven rogue who narrates our adventures, as well as taking part.
