with persmission from maxwell.

                                                   Introduction

 RISE TO POWER.....

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY 

Experience the epic sequel to the 2009 Game of the Year from the critically acclaimed makers of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. You are one of the few who escaped the destruction of your home. Now, forced to fight for survival in an ever-changing world, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history. This is the story of how the world changed forever. The legend of your Rise to Power begins now.

• Embark upon an all-new adventure that takes place across an entire decade and shapes itself around every decision you make.
• Determine your rise to power from a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land.
• Think like a general and fight like a Spartan with dynamic new combat mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle whether you are a mage, rogue, or warrior.
• Go deeper into the world of Dragon Age with an entirely new cinematic experience that grabs hold of you from the beginning and never lets go.
• Discover a whole realm rendered in stunning detail with updated graphics and a new visual style.

Races:

Dragon age 2 has 4 races, elves, qunari, humans, and dwarves, and the elves, dwarves, and the qunaris are being redesigned in order to increase the difference between each race.

Save transfer:

 Dragon age 2 allows the player to import save from any completed Dragon Age: Origins playthrough. Even. though you will be playing another character in Dragon Age 2, the choices of the warden during Dragon Age: Origins will be reflected in the world(choices in dlc included).

Starting out the game players are asked to choose from three builds if they didn't import a save:

"Hero of Ferelden"(default): Ended fifth Blight by killing the Archdemon and survived. Placed Alistair on the throne.

"The Martyr": Young Dalish elf who died to kill the Archdemon. She/he left the kingdom ruled by Alistair and Anora.

"No Compromise": Dwarven noble took command of grey wardens. Exiled Allistair, sent Loghain to die against the Archdemon, and kept Anora on the throne.

Dialogue:

 The dialogue system od Dragon Age: Origins will be replaced with a dialogue wheel, similar to Mass Effect. Unlike Mass Effect however, when you move your cursor over a selection, an icon is shown in the center of the wheel that indicates the intent of the player line: flirty, violent, sarcastic, etc. The dialogue wheel will have up to six dialogue options for the player to choose from.

Additionly the player Hawke will be fully voiced(male and female).

Approval and Gifts:

 Dragon Age 2 will use a friendship and rivalry system. instead of only getting content and combat bonuses based on positive approval, you can either build a friendly or antagonistic relationship with your companions. Also specific actions canstill cause companions to turn on you, in spite of their approval rating.

There are fewer gifts in Dragon Age 2, and the gifts are specific to each companion. Gifts will also prompt specific dialogues.

Crafting:

 In Dragon Age: Origins in order to make a potion or a poison or a trap PC had to first learn the recipe, then find all of the necessary ingredients. Now, rather than having to carry components around with PC, PC simply have to find their source out in the world. Once PC comes across a strain of Elfroot (for example) all crafting vendors will have access to it - no need to shuttle bits and pieces back and forth. The challenge now comes from finding the different sources of raw materials, and the different strains of components. It's a far more elegant system, one that rewards exploration over hoarding, unclogging PCs' inventory in the process

Talent Tress:

The linear progression of the talent trees in Origins meant that the player frequently had to spend valuable points on talents the player never had any intention of using so that the player could get to the one he/ she actually wanted. The talent trees in Dragon Age II are actually webs, more circular in nature and offering more than one path to the different types of talents. Talent upgrades branch off from their base skills, leaving the way clear for other progressions. 

Major Characters:

Hawke: the major protagonist.

Flemeth: the notorious witch of the wilds.

Cassandra: a chantry seeker who is interested in Hawke.

Varric: a dwark rogue who acts as narrator and as a companion of Hawke.

Bethany: Hawk's sister and an apostate mage. Also a companion.

Carver: Hawk's brother and a warrior. Also a companion.

Aveline: a female warrior and a companion.

Issabela: the captain of the pirate ship the Siren's Call. Also a companion and a potential romance for both male and female Hawke.

Fenris: a male elf and ex-slave who was infused with lyrium by his former master. Also a companion and a potential romance for Hawke.

Merethari: the Dalish keeper from he Dalish elf origin.

Merril: keeper Merethari's first from Dragon Age: Origins, is an elf, a companion and a potential romance to Hawke.

 Sebastien: an archer of noble birth seeking revenge from the murder of his family by assasins. Also a companion.

Anders: an apostate mage and Grey Warden from Dragon Age: Origins- Awakening. Also a companion and a potential romance for Hawke.

Orsino: the elven First Enchanter of the circle of magi of Kirkwall. He is one of the most respected people in Kirkwall.

Meredith: Knight Commander of Kirkwall. She is one of the most influential people of Kirkwall

Marlowe Dumar: Viscount of Kirkwall. One of the most powerful politicians of Kirkwall.

Grand Cleric Ethina: Grand Cleric of Kirkwall. One of the most powerul people of Kirkwall.

Romances:

 Dragon Age 2 will feature romances for all genders and orientations. The four confirmed romances are, Isabella,  Fenris, Merrils, and Anders. 

Downloadble content

The following DlC's have been anounced:

Hindsight: available  from the Dragon Age 2 official website.

Staff of Parthalan: available by signing up for the newsletter

Evar's Might, Evra's Trophy Belt, Air of confidence, Ivo Family Crest, Dura's Blue flame:(available by playing Dragon Age Legends on Facebook.

Haydar's Razor: available by playing the Dragon Age 2 demo.

The Exiled Prince: available with signature edition or for 7$ or 560 ms points on psn or xbl.

The Black Emporium: available with every Dragon Age 2 original copy. 

Other information:

The world map is going to have a new look. You could also use it to toggle between day and night cycles since this time some missions can only occur at night.

Trailers/interviews/previews

Companions:

Anders:

As an adolescent he was taken to the Circle of Tower by the Templars, which he despised as he compared it to a prison. He's a very talented mage and has escaped from the tower seven times, only to be captured and brought back by the templars. Despite accusations that he is a maleficar, he is only an apostate and wants nothing more than to be free.

Aveline:

Aveline is a soldier, a master of sword and shield, and a tireless guardian... to a point. The daughter of an exiled chevalier, Aveline is not the knight her father wished her to be. Although fully trained in chivalrous combat, she was raised in the shadow of a lost life and will not lose another for the sake of honor. Protecting her adopted home of Kirkwall becomes a chosen duty, not a privileged calling. The people she stands for will not be wasted on lost causes or protecting the foolish from themselves. Pride can be bandaged like any other wound—when threats are dead and everyone is safely home.

Bethany: 

Bethany is Hawk'es youngest sister, and Carver's fraternal twin. She is an apostate mage who recieved magical training from her father. She might accompany Hawke and is atleast a temporary companion.

Carver:

Hawke's youngest brother, and Bethany's fraternal twin. He's a warrior, and he might accompany hawke. 

 Fenris:

Fenris is a warrior specializing in two-handed weapons. The lyrium markings that line his body grant him the unnatural ablity to phase through solid objects. The limits of this power is unknown, but Fenris uses this ability mostly as an unexpected weapon, phasing through individuals and solidifying, killing them violently. He has fled to Kirkwall as a fugitive, constantly hunted by the soldiers of his former master. The lyrium burned into his body causes him pain, making him guarded against physical contact; however, it is more of an aversion to them being touched rather than physical pain.

Isabella:

Isabela is originally from Rivain, but has traveled far and visited many places during her life. She was once married to the original owner of The Siren's Call, until he was killed by Zevran for unknown reasons, leading her to inherit the ship. She doesn't seem too regretful over her husband's death, calling him a "greasy bastard", explaining her rather cordial relationship with Zevran. She has picked up a special fighting technique during her travels, one that depends on speed instead of strength. Since she has learned this technique by dueling many different warriors, she calls herself a "duelist".

 Merril:

The Keepers of the Dalish are the masters of ancient lore and guardians of old secrets. Merrill can recite all of known elven history and navigate the Fade… but has very little experience with the world or even her own people. Now in a foreign land, surrounded by dangers on all sides, Merrill must find help for her clan. Whatever the cost

 Sebastien: 

Sworn to the priesthood as a boy, Sebastian is forced to re-enter the viper's nest of princely politics when his family is brutally murdered, leaving him as the sole surviving heir.

Varric:

His family was part of the merchant caste before they left for the surface and Varric was born in Kirkwall. He is a merchant prince among the surface dwarves.

Varric comes from House Tethras and is a rogue. He is the youngest son of the Tethras family while his older brother is the head and runs the family business. On the outside, he is seen as the idle younger brother who spends his time in taverns telling wild stories while people buy him drinks. His real job is to maintain a "spy network" with contacts to deal with various troubles that come along with being in a family that is part of the Dwarven Merchant Guild.

Until now those are the reveals companions their could be an additional one on the way like Loghian in DA:O bu that would happen at the end of the game.

Gameplay:

Bioware are taking a diffrent approach to combat in Dragon Age 2. The game is going to have improved animations and the warrior and rogue class are getting an overhaul. Here's a nice explanation:

Classes:

The Warrior:

The most physical of the classes in Dragon Age II, a warrior is at his or her best when surrounded by foes, keeping their attention with powerful swings while allies wreak havoc in relative safety.

At the heart of a warrior's fighting style is the choice of weapons. Staunch defenders will gravitate to mixing one handed weapons (be it axe, mace or blade) with a shield, taking advantage of the extra protection offered by interposing a wall of wood or steel between themselves and their foes. More offensive warriors gravitate to the larger two-handed weapons such as the greatsword or maul. What they sacrifice in defense, they make up for in damage potential, as the mighty arcs of their blades can easily hit multiple foes at once.

Warriors are not as constrained around their weapon choice as they were previously, however. A wide variety of their abilities are weapon-agnostic, such as the stunning Pommel Strike. Various offensive and defensive stances -such as Might, Control and Turn Blade- can be assumed regardless of weapon, and depending on the needs of the current encounter. Warriors are also the only class that can actively gain the hate of multiple foes at once, controlling the flow of battle and keeping their more fragile teammates alive.

Specializations: 

Reaver:  

Life is power. Blood Mages know this, but they are not the only ones. Warriors can also command the energy that flows through blood and bone, but it is not an easy path. The Reaver specialization trades pain for strength in a constant balance of selfish sacrifice. At first it seems that Reavers are doing the work of their enemies, damaging themselves in gruesome fashion. But Reavers can transform their own living essence into raw damage, and then replenish that health by stealing the life from their foes. It's a dangerous gamble that counts on added strength to destroy enemies before incoming attacks or the Reavers' own abilities kill them. At its best, the Reaver specialization results in a brutal harmony. The closer they are to their own deaths, the more efficient they are at inflicting the same on others.

Templar:

It takes incredible focus to wield magic, but even greater will to withstand it. The Templar specialization originated in the Chantry with the establishment of the order, and their mandate remains the restriction and containment of mages. But the abilities Templars command are not divine; they are the product of intense training and rigorous devotions. These are achievable by any warrior, although the discipline required may seem just as much a calling. Templars don't just endure magic, they deny it, and deny others the use of it. At the height of ability, a Templar simply shrugs off most harmful effects, and can completely suppress a mage's ability to cast. They are warriors of singular focus, and none can match their dedication or effectiveness at taming those who would abuse the magical energies of the Fade.

Berserker:  

All warriors command respect, but the Berserker is an unrelenting physical force. The name of this specialization suggests rage, risk-taking, and that is certainly part of its effectiveness, but it would be a grave mistake to suggest that the Berserker is sloppy or undisciplined. It takes an incredible amount of control to know when to lose control. Battle momentum is the key: finding the balance between total commitment and over extending. The Berserker controls the pace of combat, setting a standard that the enemy can't match. In turn, they can be sustained by the mayhem they produce, and find new energy in every fallen foe. While they stand, while stamina remains, they have no match, but they can't stand back and let battle unfold. For the Berserker, battle always ends in glory, win or lose.

 The Mage:

Most mages in Thedas belong to the Circle of Magi. As such, they are taken from their families while still children, and highborn children who are able to use magic will lose all claims to their family's estates and titles when they are taken to the Circle. This helps to create a bond stronger than social class or race, since everybody in the Circle is raised and taught the same way.

 What a mage is able to do with magic in Thedas is some what limited when compared to other fantasy worlds. Interdimensional travel and teleportation are non existent, and the average person will rarely ever see and true example of magical power.

Mages however, are capable of manipulating the basic elements, such as conjuring gouts of flame and small localized ice and electrical storms. There are also spells that allow for temporary reanimation of corpses and the draining of an opponent's life-force.

Mage specialization:

Force Mage: All mage specializations manipulate energy, but Force Mages revel in it. A specialization popular in Kirkwall, they focus only on the raw application of magic, in all its vicious glory—maelstroms that draw opponents, ethereal weight that crush and slow, or great waves that throw enemies about like ragdolls. Targets not to be toyed with are simply slammed into the ground, as though pummeled by a great fist. And in their mastery of such damage, Force Mages can make themselves all but immune to similar attacks, an ability that hints at the true discipline they must maintain. After all, unsubtle doesn’t mean unsophisticated—the Force Mage specialization requires uncommon precision to keep such overwhelming power under control.

Spirit Healer: Spirit Healers focus on restoration, not destruction. They know that the best way to win a battle is to keep themselves and their allies in the fight as long as possible. They are the mages most likely to be accepted—or at least tolerated—by common people, and yet templars fear them as much or more than the damage-focused specializations. No other mages so directly draw their power from the beneficial spirits of the Fade. It’s a risk, but the rewards are undeniable. Removing injuries, granting resilience to wounds, even rescuing comrades from the brink of death—these are not support abilities, they are the core of any effective party. Any fool can cause harm, but no amount of muscle can make a weapon heal.

Blood Mage: Nothing inspires as much wild-eyed terror as the Blood Mage. Mages of this type take the raw energy of life and twist it to their own purposes. They can corrupt and control, and sustain their power by consuming the health of others, willing or not. The effects can be vile, but this specialization isn’t limited to madmen and monsters. Many see it as the only form of magic that is truly free, because it’s tied to the physical, not favors to spirits or demons. It remains an undeniably violent and self-destructive discipline, however, and the Blood Mage must be careful. The temptation to take just a little more is always there.

The Rogue:

 Rogues are crafty combatants who succeed in battle by combining speed, subterfuge, and a wide range of abilities to bring their opponents down in unexpected ways, sometimes before the enemy even perceives danger.

Rogues can pick locks with great skill, incapacitate enemies with ease, or sneak up on targets to deliver a devious and crippling backstab. Dexterity and cunning are essential for a rogue, as many rogue and rogue specialization abilities rely on high cunning and dexterity.

Gameplay videos:

A 50 mintue walkthrough with the lead developer of Dragon Age 2:   http://www.livestream.com/electronicarts/video?clipId=pla_e1af7357-aff9-4758-b744-c98a28fb5806&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

A gameplay Interview:  http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gameplay-producer-dragon-age/710373

Story:

In Dragon Age 2 the story will be told through a frammed narrative, where your dwarven companion Varric will tell a seeker your legend and how you became the champion of Kirkwall. While you play you will see that your actions are effecting what is being told by Varric.

The story of Dragon Age 2 spans over 10 years, as you Hawke go from being a refugee to becoming the Champion of Kirkwall. And yes you will be fighting the darkspawn again, but the story won't have anything to do with the Grey Wardens.

Here is a nice video talking about the story.

Locations:

The Gallows:

    The Gallows is an area of Kirkwall. Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them

Hightown:

Everyone who is anyone lives in Hightown, and they give little thought to what goes on in Lowton other than to complain when the wind drags up the stench from its foundries or ancient mines. People in Hightown feel safe, not because the city's walls are impregnable, but because an invader would need to scale the stairs from Lowtown in order to reach them. Many bloody battles have been fought on those narrow stairs, and in several wars Hightown has held out for months after Lowtown was taken. The wealthy often forget, however, that those stairs are also their only escape.

Kirkwall:

Kirkwall is a coastal city and a major population center located in the Free Marches. It is on the southern edge of the Vimmark Mountains, east of the Planasene Forest, and north across the Waking Sea from Ferelden.Hawke is known to be a Champion of Kirkwall.

Lowtown:

A ship that sails past the twin statues and through the narrow corridor enters a cauldron-shaped area of Kirkwall called Lowtown. Once this was the first quarry, where slaves carved out the harbor and their own living quarters from the rock-face before new quarries needed to be created in the Vimmark Mountains just beyond the city. Lowtown is literally a pit where the slaves were once quartered in dwarven-engineered courtyards: "hexes" in the local common parlance. The hexes in Lowtown are plainly built and bear the unrepaired scars of damage caused by collapsing walls.

Sundermount:

Kirkwall is guarded by mountains to its north, the tallest of which is Sundermount. The mountain has a fearsome reputation. Legend says it was the site of a vicious battle where both sides unleashed horrors into the waking world, and unholy creatures prowl the heights to this very day, unaware that the war for which they were summoned is long since over. A clan of Dalish Elves have settled here, led by their Keeper,Mathari, and it is here that Hawke completed the task set by the Witch of the Wilds, Flemeth.

And finally the demo:

The entire world stands on the brink of war, and you are the one person at the center of it all. On February 22, 2011, BioWare™ will release a demo for Dragon Age™ 2, allowing gamers on all platforms to experience a portion of this epic action RPG. Featuring enhanced graphics, faster, more responsive combat and a gripping storyline, the Dragon Age 2 demo is your chance to find out firsthand why IGN, Game Informer, MTV and The New York Times' Seth Schiesel have endorsed Dragon Age 2 as one of the most anticipated games of 2011.

In the demo, players will venture through the game's prologue, choosing from three different character classes. They'll also learn more about Hawke and hone their skills and abilities that will make them the ultimate hero. After finishing the prologue, players will enter a key new location in the world of Dragon Age, Kirkwall, befriending Isabela, a romantic interest in the game who is also a deadly smuggler. Upon completion of the demo, players will unlock a special weapon, Hayder's Razor, an ancient dwarven blade which increases health, mana, and combat abilities, in the full release of Dragon Age 2.*

This demo represents just a small taste of what Dragon Age 2 has to offer. With a whole new realm to discover, and an all-new hero to become, players will go deeper into the world of Dragon Age unlike ever before in an adventure that shapes itself around every decision you make. The time has now come to engage in action-packed, dynamic combat that allows you to think like a general and fight like a Spartan! The legend of your rise to power, begins now!

ps: i will constantly update the thread as new inofrmation comes out. thanks and enjoy! 

Good work, keep it up, very excited for this.

thanks. i have to thank the creator of dragon age wiki. it helped a lot.

Choosing day or night on the world map seems like a pretty cool idea.

Great work!!!!! Amazing!

Can't wait to play this game!

its mainly their because of quests. unless the day and the night bring diffrent enemies to diffrent locations. that would be great.

i posted the list of companions. decisions, decisions. until know id like in my main party, isabella, varic, fenris and ofcourse my character. but that could change depending on my class. and as romance, it shal be isabella on all playthroughs.