We learn how four-player co-op works in Dragon Age: Inquisition

By Adam Rosenberg Published December 2, 2014

Dragon Age: Inquisition features a cooperative mode, and much like the Galaxy at War challenge BioWare built for Mass Effect 3, it’s all about pitting parties of four against an army of enemies. The first look at the mode from IGN reveals that it works a bit differently from ME3‘s multiplayer, however. Jumping into one of the three multiplayer “campaigns — each amounts to 20-30 minutes of play — available at launch erects a randomly generated level broken into smaller sections.

There are 10 of these areas in all, though a given campaign runthrough only sends a party up against five of them. Each one has special play conditions that promise to change up strategy and maintain replay value for the mode. In one example given, a first visit to a particular area landed the party in a graveyard full of treasures locked behind doors that could only be opened by a mage. A later return to the same area swapped out the graveyard for ruins with destructible walls that required a warrior to kick through them.

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Related: Exploring the wide-open world of Dragon Age: Inquisition

The multiplayer mode isn’t story-driven in the same way that the single player campaign is, but it does follow a narrative of sorts. The multiplayer parties are agents of the campaign’s Inquisitor protagonist, embarking on operations to aid the cause. Gold earned during a multiplayer match can be spent on treasure chests (think Galaxy at War’s card packs) filled with loot and support items like potions and grenades.

There will be nine multiplayer characters in all at launch, three for each of the game’s three classes. You can earn experience and level up each one, unlocking skills on an upgrade tree as you go. Inquisition‘s gear crafting mode factors in here as well, so you’ll be able to break down equipment and use materials to customize your loadouts.

It all sounds like a hefty expansion of the ideas established in Galaxy at War, and just like in the earlier game, BioWare intends to grow this mode over time with the release of free DLC. The developer likely expects to see income from this mode via microtransactions, as you’ll be able to buy (with real money) a Platinum currency that, like gold, can be spent on treasure chests.

For more details on Dragon Age: Inquisition‘s cooperative mode and a first look at it in action, check out IGN’s preview.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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How to hold more potions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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Potions are a mainstay in almost all fantasy media. In the world of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, they only come in one form, which is your classic healing potion. These mysterious elixirs are your only way to restore HP after you get smacked around a bit by some Darkspawn, but they are a notably limited resource, with just three by default. Upgrading how many potions you can hold is a common mechanic in games such as this, yet you would be hard-pressed to find a way to do it here since there's nothing in the skill trees or upgrade system that seems to allow it. There are at least two ways to hold more potions, however, so drink up as we go over what you need to do.
How to hold more potions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

The first way to hold one extra potion in Dragon Age: The Veilguard has to be done during the character creator phase. When you're selecting which Faction your Rook is as part of their background, you will see that each one comes with several traits. The Antvan Crows specifically are the only one that gives you the Hidden Pouch trait that lets you hold one extra potion. Sadly, just like your class, this isn't something you can change once you've selected it.

Gaming

How to increase max HP in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

A glowing statue in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

No matter which class you pick in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, you will notice very quickly how short your life bar is. While the Warrior, Rogue, and Mage do have different defensive stats and access to various armors, no one is going to be able to tank a ton of hits early on. Plus, with the exception of the bonus you get for choosing one specific background, you only have three potions at a time to back you up. There are ways to mitigate damage and heal, but that doesn't help much if you take a giant hit that wipes you out in one shot. Leveling up doesn't boost your health, and there's nothing on the skill tree that will do it, either. We all need more HP, so here's the secret to increasing your life bar in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
How to get more max HP in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

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Which class should you pick in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

A wizard and night in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

The character creator in Dragon Age: The Veilguard is incredibly deep. You can fully manipulate almost every aspect of your Rook, from their race down to their hair and eye color. Once you've finally settled on what you want to look lik,e you will need to make an even more important choice: what you want the game to play like. You will be presented with three choices for what class you want to be, each one with its own skill tree, specializations, weapons, and approach to combat. Unlike your skills or appearance, once you pick a class in the character creator, you're stuck with it. There's no changing your mind unless you are willing to start the game over with a new character. The game will give you a brief explanation of the classes, but it won't be enough to make an informed decision. Here's a detailed look at what you can expect from each class and whether or not it would be right for you.
Warrior

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