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Boss Fight Books #40
Dragon Age II
Rushed through development in just a year to capitalize on the runaway success of its predecessor, Dragon Age II's writing team had only a few months to write an entire game before handing it off to voice acting and development. The result was an often ramshackle sequel featuring a smaller world, fewer companions, and repetitive quests—as well as some of the best characters, dialogue, and storytelling Bioware has ever put to screen.
Based on new interviews with DA2 writers David Gaider, Jennifer Hepler, Lukas Kristjanson, as well as editor Karin Weekes, author Charlotte Reber tells the wild behind-the-scenes story of how a team at the top of their game made the best of an impossible assignment to create the series’s first fully voiced protagonist, its charmingly unreliable narrator, and a crew of unforgettable party members to bother, befriend, and romance. From DA2’s inception to its mishandled marketing campaign to its volatile reactions from players, Reber’s book raises a mug of ale to the game that was—and the game that might have been.
Based on new interviews with DA2 writers David Gaider, Jennifer Hepler, Lukas Kristjanson, as well as editor Karin Weekes, author Charlotte Reber tells the wild behind-the-scenes story of how a team at the top of their game made the best of an impossible assignment to create the series’s first fully voiced protagonist, its charmingly unreliable narrator, and a crew of unforgettable party members to bother, befriend, and romance. From DA2’s inception to its mishandled marketing campaign to its volatile reactions from players, Reber’s book raises a mug of ale to the game that was—and the game that might have been.
212 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 13, 2026
I've written a lot about game development. In that journey, many stories wind up fitting into a mold. DRAGON AGE II’s story shares much in common with ones I’ve written, but there’s so much that’s unique about its tale. It is, as author Charlotte Reber describes, as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming.
I haven’t played many RPGs since I was a kid. I prefer games I can pick up and play for a few minutes here and there, mostly due to my own time constraints. This book gave me a newfound appreciation for the love and loyalty to characters and studios RPGs can foster in players, and for the gifts BioWare has given millions of fans. Moreover, this book has made me want to try Dragon Age II for myself. Given my propensity for gaming in short bursts, that’s one of the highest honors I can bestow upon it.
An even higher honor: This book is extremely well written. Reber is as gifted a storyteller as the principal narrator in Dragon Age II, and I’d happily read more work from her.
I haven’t played many RPGs since I was a kid. I prefer games I can pick up and play for a few minutes here and there, mostly due to my own time constraints. This book gave me a newfound appreciation for the love and loyalty to characters and studios RPGs can foster in players, and for the gifts BioWare has given millions of fans. Moreover, this book has made me want to try Dragon Age II for myself. Given my propensity for gaming in short bursts, that’s one of the highest honors I can bestow upon it.
An even higher honor: This book is extremely well written. Reber is as gifted a storyteller as the principal narrator in Dragon Age II, and I’d happily read more work from her.
March 20, 2026
I really enjoyed reading this, as I'm a huge fan of Dragon Age and definitely have a soft spot for DA2. I wasn't in the fandom when this game came out in 2011so I appreciate learning more about that time and what the developers were going through.
Absolutely irritated to find that the executives made huge mistakes with marketing DA2 and then somehow made *the exact same mistakes* marketing Veilguard. Should I be surprised? Those people don't care, they still got their bonuses. But I digress.
If you Iike DA or game development this will probably be a fun read for you!
Absolutely irritated to find that the executives made huge mistakes with marketing DA2 and then somehow made *the exact same mistakes* marketing Veilguard. Should I be surprised? Those people don't care, they still got their bonuses. But I digress.
If you Iike DA or game development this will probably be a fun read for you!
March 26, 2026
A book on Dragon Age 2, in the year of our Lord 2026, hallelujah
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews