Dragon Age Set 2 is out. My First Impressions

Like so many I scooped up Set 2 from Green Ronin and I spent much of last night reading through it. I’m proud to announce that it is well worth the wait.
I did take the chance to go over the play test documents released a while ago and and thought a lot about whether to pick this up or not. Our group has done a single one-shot of the Dalish Curse and they were kind of meh on the system. But I attribute that to many other factors mostly which was not the game itself. But I picked it up anyway, because this is still on my to run list (which keeps getting longer and longer.)
So what’s up in Set 2. There’s a ton more fluff on Thedas, the Gray Wardens, the Chantry and just about everything and everybody else in the setting. It’s really cool from the “I want all sorts of information” geeky stand point and could be a real asset to folks planning to run their games based in the Dragon Age universe. Personally, I’d probably pitch the DARPG for a more Conan like setting and campaign but that’s a project that is on one the back burners.
Now for the crunchy bits. There’s really a wealth of stuff here. Of course, there’s leveling up to 10 and the nine Specializations, three for each class (Arcane Warrior, Assassin, Bard, Berserker, Blood Mage, Champion, Dualist, Spirit Healer, Templar), more Talents with Ranks up to Master, more Backgrounds and some good options for character generation. And, yes, kids. You can play a Gray Warden, if you’ve got the guts for it. Qunari, too.
For me, the real gems come from the addition of grenades and poison as well as more spells. There’s some pretty good spells that aren’t in the video game but do add some much needed variance to a table top game. On top of that, we got rules traps and their dangers and an exceptional section on improved and magical items. Really, I don’t know about you but I kind of get tired of the magic shops being the equivalent of Costco.
There’s even more. I like the new stunts but I’m still on the fence about the role playing and exploration stunts. It’s just one of those gut instinct things that I can’t quite put my finger on. I think mainly because I just don’t the warm fuzzies about adding an extra game mechanic on something as abstract as having some characters basically talk to each other. But, hey, to each his own. In the GM’s Guide, there’s plenty of useful information on running a campaign and balancing encounters as well as another adventure, The Autumn Falls.
Here be monsters too. There’s more nasties to throw at player characters. Ogres. Yippe, I hated those things in the video game. I wish there would have been the space (or at least a level appropriate version) for a dragon and/or abomination but there’s plenty of other material out there so that’s not a real big concern. I would have also like to see more about demons and the Fade but that stuff is to come.
Overall, I give it a big thumbs up. If you got Set 1 and want to continue using the AGE system then Set 2 is well worth the investment. If you’re still on the fence then hell, buy Sets 1 and 2. Really, I’m pretty sure that is enough material to run a decent campaign.