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So ive decided to replay Origins. However i find myself with a bit of a problem. quest wise i know i want to do, Circle first, Daelish seconed, Redclif third, and the dwarves last. However the issue comes with owning all the DLC. Im not sure where to place them in the quest order for completion. Any help with ideas to fitting in the DLC in between the other quests would be greatly appreciated.

I would recommend doing Shale (Stone Prisoner) early, probably after the first one you do.

Then, somewhere in the middle, "Return to Ostagar" since the items there are always Red Steel if I recall correctly.

I would think "Warden's Keep" would be best saved for last, before Orzimmar, since then the Warden Commander's Armor will be as high level a material as possible.

Definitely Do Stone Prisoner early. Shale is a wonderful companion.

DO Warden's keep after the Superman Reference for Best Effect (or at least return there after the reference).

Last Runthru of Origins I did it this way:

Ostagar
Lothering
Denerim
Broken Circle(I sided with the Mages)
Urn of Sacred Ashes
Zevran's Assasination Attempt (reccomendation: Let him live)
Started Stone Prisoner
Arl of Redcliffe
Finish Stone Prisoner
Return To Ostagar
Nature of the Beast
Denerim Part 2
Paragon of her Kind
Warden's Keep
Landsmeet issues
Final Battle
Awakening
Golems of Amgarrak
Witch Hunt

Lelianna's Song Preceeds the Evens of Origins & Darkspawn Cronicles is a What if the Warden didn't Survive scenario.

And yes, it IS possible to do two of the Quests if you are quick before Zevran Appears.

I always do Shale right after Lothering and Wardens Keep afterward.
Return to Ostegard, I keep something after the Mage Circle/Red Cliff issue is done - before Dalish/Dwarf.

My playthrough main quest order depends on what makes sense for the race I'm playing.

If I'm playing a Dalish or City Elf, I do "Nature of the Beast" first.

For a Human Noble, I go to Redcliffe first.

I've never played a Dwarf, but if I did I'd do "Paragon of her Kind" first.

Playing a Mage throws a wench in, since it can be Elf or Human, but I do "Broken Circle" first in that case.

After reading the preceding posts, "Stone Prisoner" and "Return to Ostagar" are Ok to do early. However, I was wrong about "Returns" equipment material ratings. The later you do it, the better the gear. It starts at Red Steel, but can go as high as Dragonbone, so you can put it off for better equipment or do it early for the exp and good equipment early. The "Warden's Keep" armor looks very good, so I put it off to get it's material as high as Silverite or Dragonbone so I can use it for the rest of the game (if I'm playing a Warrior or Arcane Warrior).

Now, playthrough wise, i recommend doing Redcliffe as first, regardless of anything else. Because Redcliffe level is capped on a very low score. By doing Redcliffe later you'll steal away any challenge that it normaly would present.
Then Warden's Keep and Ostagar (if you want some items) + Shale if you have his DLC, followed by the rest. So that you can enjoy all the DLC additions in as many quests as possible.

Item material can be upgraded easily, so there's no need of delaying adventures.

for me I try to think of which companions I want for the majority of the game and plan accordingly. so if I want wynne (eg: need a healer or want to trigger some banter between her and another companion) I'll do Mage Circle first. for Oghren I'd do at least the first few Orz quests, enough to recruit him, for Shale obviously I'd do the stone prisoner DLC...
other than that, I try to vary it from playthrough to playthrough, mostly at pretty much random

you can also do the Sacred Urn part before Redcliffe for a change, just follow the trail from the dead Templar in Lothering or skip straight to Genetivi's house in Denerim

also if you plan to recruit the secret companion, I suggest leaving Return to Ostagar until then, there's some interesting dialogue. sadly the other DLCs have nothing special for taking him along

I think most people know this, but just in case, an FYI:

If you do Warden's Keep and RtO when you are earlier in the game you'll end up with lower tier rewards. However, later on, if you sell said equipment to Levi Dryden or his brother and then leave the area, you can buy back upgraded versions.

dragon wench wrote:I think most people know this, but just in case, an FYI:

If you do Warden's Keep and RtO when you are earlier in the game you'll end up with lower tier rewards. However, later on, if you sell said equipment to Levi Dryden or his brother and then leave the area, you can buy back upgraded versions.

Doesn't it also work if you put the items in the party chest at Warden's Keep?

Rad wrote:Doesn't it also work if you put the items in the party chest at Warden's Keep?

Only on console AFAIK

Stworca wrote:Only on console AFAIK

I'm fairly certain this is the case. I play on PC, and I've never managed to upgrade items simply by putting them in that chest.
Selling them to the Drydens, though, always works like a charm.

dragon wench wrote:I'm fairly certain this is the case. I play on PC, and I've never managed to upgrade items simply by putting them in that chest.
Selling them to the Drydens, though, always works like a charm.

Thanks. I usually just use an old version of "The Winter Forge" to do it, but that would be fine as well.

Also keep in mind that there are a few unique items that will not be upgraded.

Stworca wrote:Also keep in mind that there are a few unique items that will not be upgraded.

I think one of them is the Ancient Elven Armor, but I've never tried.