### *Run the game from Vortex at least once before you start modding it to verify it launches properly. This will allow Vortex and/or DAO to set up any files/folders it needs. For more information on getting started, tips, etc. you can go *[*here*](https://next.nexusmods.com/dragonage/collections/yllsfu?tab=comments\&commentId=3260)*.* # ***ABOUT THIS COLLECTION*** How many times have I played Dragon Age Origins? 30? 40? After awhile it does become a little too familiar. And you start to notice small errors or inconsistencies. The mods I included address those issues. Dozens of hairstyles and other changes to the character generator give me a unique looking Warden every time. I included mods which address most, if not all, of the little bugs and odd notes. A quick note about '***Circles Be Gone***'. If you can't download it because it is truly and fully deleted instead of hidden away in the archives, you can try [**No Ground Rings**](https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/3483).

More...

Perhaps the biggest change, though, is to combat. I consider myself a rubbish to fair fighter - why I usually prefer bows or magic and to set up tactics for my companions. But even I can be an expert on Nightmare when I know who, how many, and what my enemies are. Now I don't. Sure, the usual suspects are there, but not only them. Each game spawns different enemies when you enter a new area. Once I had to fight wild drakes on the way to light the Tower of Ishal!

I hope you enjoy the changes to your game. *** ## ***SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS*** ## ------------------------------- After installing, make sure the fonts.erf is in Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\ **data** and *not* your override folder. If you don't already have it, download and install the [ChargenMorph Compiler](https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/971). After all your mods are deployed and before you start the game, run the ChargenMorph Compiler, remember to click *'Remove Bad References...'* before you close the Compiler, and re-deploy so you can enjoy all those options in the character creator. ***Ser Gilmore*** and ***ZDF***: If you're playing with Ser G, you'll need to install "ZDF Dialog Fix - Ser Gilmore Compatible" file in options. It will/should overwrite "ZDF Dialog Fix". When downloading ***Tucked Hair*** and ***Neutral Teeth***, make sure to hit the Red *Download Now* below the file information. (Watch out for popups with download buttons).

Another thing about

this is what I call a 'Master' .zip, meaning this .zip files contains the 3 actual .zip files you need to install. It might be easier to download it first to your "...Vortex\downloads\dragonage" directory, then extract the 3 zip files inside it to that same directory. Install.\ ***Or*** you can wait and after you finish downloading the collection, go to your mods tab and click the 'Open...' icon and 'Open Mod Staging Folder.' Find and open the folder 'tuckedhair'. You'll see the 3 .zip files. You can just extract the contents right there in that folder, even delete the .zips if you want (earring\_hair.zip, tucked\_hair.zip, and tucked\_hair\_chargenmorphcfg.zip). Go back to Vortex and Deploy mods again. Now the right information is in your override folder. You'll need to run the ChargenMorph Compiler, and re-Deploy.

FYI, many people find it a good practice to install a Collection in a new profile so you start on a cleaner slate. Then, when that's up and running, if you want to install other mods you can better incorporate them with the Collection.

About Slinks S3 RAVAge:

# *the Origins and Awakening versions cannot be enabled at the same time.* Ready to play Awakening? Do not uninstall the Origins version, just disable it and run 'Deploy Mods'. Any Slinks items in your inventory should transfer to the new campaign. Do the reverse when you want to play Origins again. At this point the Collection is technically 'incomplete', but that's okay. The changes to your .ini file (see below) won't need to change between Origins and Awakening.

Two of the mods in this Collection require you to edit your *DragonAge.ini*. Actually, 2 base mods plus 1 optional mod for a total of 3. Anyway, go to Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings and find *DragonAge.ini*. Copy it and paste it someplace safe.

Now for the changes to your .ini:

1st, for the new video intro

open *DragonAge.ini* and scroll down until you find **"\[Movies]"**. Make these changes: - DisableIntroMovies=0 - FirstRun=0 - 0=video.bik Now when you run Dragon Age, you'll get clips from the game trailer. You'll find a more extended version in the optional downloads. This ini tweak works for both versions.

2nd, add a new section For

At the bottom of your *DragonAge.ini*, add the section, \[RAVAge] (including the brackets). Below \[RAVAge] you need to add the parameters below. These settings are the settings I use and are maximum difficulty. Once you copy and paste into your .ini file, you can change the difficulty settings - anywhere from 1-5. : \[RAVAge] Difficulty=5 ExtraDifficulty=5 NoExtraMobs=0 NoMobEq=0 NoBossExtra=0 NoItems=0 NoAutoLoot=0 ItemsPerHolder=5 DropRate=6 PropRate=10 NoNegative=0 NoAutoAdjust=1 NoVFX=0 EliteOnly=1 NoFloaty=1 NoFade=0 ImStuck=0 As you can see, the settings don't just refer to combat difficulty. Read the document in the Slinks S3 RAVAge archive for more information about what these settings mean and how to tweak them to suit your gameplay.

3rd, if you choose to install Lock Bash

Here's the information from the [mod page](https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/301) (there is no other readme): "add the following lines to the bottom: \[xatmos] BashChestsOnly=0 BashJustBash=0 BashAchievement=0 BashEXP=1 BashCanRogue=1 BashCanWarrior=1 BashCanWizard=1 BashCanOther=1 BashNoRequirements=0 BashItemBreakNotice=1 BashItemBreakChance=MEDIUM BashStatRogue=DEXTERITY BashStatWarrior=STRENGTH BashStatWizard=MAGIC BashStatOther=STRENGTH BashDifficulty=NORMAL Most of these options are self-explanatory but here are some details on the less obvious ones: - BashNoRequirements will always allow bashing regardless of stats (applies to doors always, but chests only when BashItemBreakChance is set to NONE). - BashItemBreakChance has four settings, LOW (~20%), MEDIUM (~33%), HIGH (~50%), and NONE. When set to NONE there is no chance of breaking items, however you will instead have to pass a "bash" check, unless BashNoRequirements is also set. - BashAchievement causes bashing to count towards the lockpick achievement. - BashJustBash will cause the player to bash away even if there is a chance to break items and an eligible lockpicker (other than yourself) present. - BashDifficulty has three settings, EASY, NORMAL, and HARD, which correspond to the stat requirements to bash the most difficult locks in the game (31, 46, and 61, respectively)."

***

Tools

This Collection will install (or try to install) 3 tools to your Vortex dashboard: The [ChargenMorph Compiler](https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/971) mentioned above, the DAO launcher with console enabled, and [Dragon Age Mutator](https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/166). DA Mutator allows you to apply a variety of small tweaks w/o having to install several different mods. Each tweak has a description that includes how safe or risky it is to apply. You can download it and set up the tool in Vortex yourself or the Collection will try to install it to your D:\ drive. You might want to try setting these up yourself before downloading the Collection, especially if you don't have a d:\ drive or your game setup is somehow unusual. Since the ChargenMorph Compiler can be used for both DAO and DA2, I installed it in "...\Documents\BioWare\DAO-DA2 Chargenmorph Compiler". Open the 'DA\_CharGenMorphCompiler.exe', select a game and go to Path Configuration to make sure it finds the" ...\Documents\BioWare...packages\core\override folder' for your game(s). Set up the tools in Vortex as you would any other game tool.

***

THE OPTIONAL FILES

Most of these are origin related. Best practice is to only install the one(s) you need for your next playthrough because they are not all compatible. One not on the list, but I can highly recommend, is the [***Human Commoner Origin***](https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/4649?tab=files) and its optional weapons and armor archive. However, it is definitely not compatible with ***Dalish Mage Origin***, for example. **Of Noble Cast** is a mod for the human noble origin. Since it contains both a .dazip file and an override folder (called 'armor tints'), only the .dazip will be installed. Manually add 'armor tints' to your override folder; it contains alternate colors for your noble armor. I would also download the readme to 'armor tints' for easy reference later. **Farewell Ser Gilmore** is for the human noble origin. **Ser Gilmore companion NPC - Fully Voiced** is completely independent of any origin and you can add him as a full party companion in Lothering. If you want Ser G in your party, remember, you will need to install "ZDF Dialog Fix - Ser Gilmore Compatible" file in options. It will/should overwrite "ZDF Dialog Fix"

I added some additional troubleshooting info in the [Comments](https://next.nexusmods.com/dragonage/collections/yllsfu?tab=comments\&commentId=3260)

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