Walking Dad: agreed; I paid for it, let others do the same! Also: good to have you on board!
I'm going to change some of the setting to fit my needs, mind you. I'm working off what's in the book, as I haven't played the computer game. I'm also thinking it'd be a great system for more historical characters.
I want all players to read the section on Ferelden society and history. If you're a Noble, understand what it means to be one in this setting. If you're a commoner, get what that means also.
Why you adventure:
Nobles: your job is to make war. You convince freeholders to let you protect them, and this is done by earning honor in battle, or other prestige.
Commoners: You want to earn prestige to earn a noble title, perhaps. Or you have a personal reason. Whatever, but anyone with enough skill can be deemed a "noble", or get enough respect to fulfill whatever other goals you may have.
Mages: the very real risk of possession by demons means that the common folk fear even the most benevolent of mages. Circle Mages are watched by the Chantry, but accepted. Apostate mages are actively hunted. Adventuring allows mages some level of respectability.
[sblock=Dwarves] while there is a kingdom left undestroyed, Dwarven PCs (called surface dwarves) are descended from those who escaped having their kingdoms destroyed by the Blight (ie: orc-like Darkspawn and dragons who claimed their homes. Think Moria or Lonely Mountain). So it's not just that they left and were dishonoured, like in the game; they are, compared to deep dwarves. However, this is why: having been forced out of their stone homes they lost honor in the sight of their paragons/great ancestors. Dwarves hate Darkspawn from before their exile, and this makes it worse. If they could find and reclaim a kingdom, that would let them reclaim honor. [/sblock]
[sblock=Elves] The elves are a broken people. Wild Elves are those who escaped to the forest and keep to their old ways in small bands. They hunt Darkspawn, but also non-wild elves entering their domains. I don't really want anyone to play a Wild elf from this region.
City Elves: fit the same role as half-elves would (those come out as humans, btw). They're a lower class of slaves and forced labour, as they were taken in by the humans who destroyed their nation. As such, those in cities live in (protective) ghettos, while those outside of them travel in Gypsy-style caravans.
City elves adventure because it's the only way they can lead a respected life.[/sblock]
