Achievements
Complete each achievement to receive the allotted gamerscore:
Immigrant (5) - Became a resident of Kirkwall.
Delver of the Deep (10) - Explored the Deep Roads.
Birthright (15) - Kicked the slavers out of your ancestral mansion.
Specialized (25) - Learned two class specializations.
I Got Your Back (25) - Completely upgraded the armor of one of your party members.
Legendary (50) - Reached Level 20.
Financier (10) - Became a partner in a Deep Roads expedition.
Talented (5) - Upgraded a spell or talent.
Tag Team (5) - Used teamwork to perform a cross-class combo.
That Thing Has Legs (25) - Found and killed a varterral.
Weapon Master (25) - Mastered a weapon style.
Unstoppable (50) - Completed a full year in Kirkwall without any party member being knocked unconscious.
Craftsman (5) - Acquired your first crafting recipe.
Dragon Slayer (25) - Found and killed a high dragon.
Exorcist (25) - Found and killed the undying Xebenkeck.
Demon Slayer (25) - Found and killed the ancient demon, Hybris.
Master Craftsman (25) - Crafted all of the items from a single crafting tree.
Mogul (25) - Had 100 or more sovereigns in your purse.
Crowning Glory (25) - Became the viscount of Kirkwall.
Dedicated (15) - Reached Level 10.
A Friend in Need (5) - Upgraded the armor of one of your party members.
Enchanter (5) - Enchanted an item.
Chantry Historian (25) - Found all four chapters of "The History of the Chantry," by Brother Genitivi.
A Worthy Rival (25) - Earned the Arishok's respect.
Great Minds Think Alike (50) - Earned the friendship or rivalry of four party members.
Friend (25) - Earned the friendship of one of your party members.
Rival (25) - Earned the rivalry of one of your party members.
Romantic (25) - Completed a romance with one of your party members.
Epic (50) - Completed Dragon Age II twice, or completed it once with a save imported from Dragon Age Origins.(3)
Champion of Kirkwall (20) - Completed Dragon Age II.
Mercenary (10) - Allied yourself with the mercenaries upon arriving in Kirkwall.
Spelunker (25) - Visited 10 caves in Kirkwall and the surrounding area.
Full House (10) - Recruited four party members.
Friends in High Places (15) - Met Grand Cleric Elthina, Viscount Dumar, Knight-Commander Meredith, and First Enchanter Orsino.
Gift Giver (5) - Gave a gift to one of your party members.
Nefarious (10) - Allied yourself with the smugglers upon arriving in Kirkwall.
Flirtatious (5) - Flirted with one of your party members to begin a romance.
Mass Exodus (25) - Reached Kirkwall with each character class across multiple playthroughs.
Knowledgeable (25) - Unlocked 100 codex entries.
Treasure Hunter (25) - Opened 50 chests.
Darkness Falls (5) - Toggled the map from day to night.
Explorer (5) - Left Kirkwall to explore the outlying regions.
Supplier (25) - Found every variety of crafting resources.
Archeologist (50) - During each year in Kirkwall, discovered 3 secret messages from the Band of Three.(1)
Tale Within a Tale (5) - Listened to Varric begin his tale of the Champion of Kirkwall.
Additionally, there are five secret achievements:
Stone Cold (5) - Defeated the rock wraith on your expedition into the Deep Roads.
King of the Hill (10) - Defeated the Arishok.
Conqueror (15) - Defeated Meredith, knight-commander of Kirkwall's templars.
Mage Hunter (25) - Sided with the templars five times.
Arcane Defender (25) - Sided with the mages five times.
Additionally, there are five The Exiled Prince DLC achievements:
Avenged (25) - Confront the culprit behind the Vael family's murder.
Memento (25) - Give Sebastian a family heirloom.
Cloak and Dagger (25) - Meet secretly with the agent of the Divine.
Retribution (25) - Dealt with the mercenaries that killed the Vael family.
Loyalty of the Prince (30) - Earn either a friendship or rivalry with Sebastian.
Additionally, there are five Legacy DLC achievements:
Deep Roads Safari (15) - Kill a genlock, genlock alpha, hurlock alpha, bronto, and deepstalker in the Vimmark Mountains.
Conductor (30) - Defeat an ancient evil in the Vimmark Mountains.
Family Legacy (30) - Apply three effects to Hawke's Key.
Family Outing (15) - Complete the main quest in the Vimmark Mountains with Bethany or Carver in the party.
Tower Sweeper (30) - Complete every side quest in the Vimmark Mountains prison tower.
Additionally, there are five Mark of the Assassin DLC achievements:
A New Day (15) - Meet Tallis in Hightown.
Blackjack Subtle (15) - Evade vault security in Chateau Haine.
Chasing the Game (30) - Lure and kill an alpha wyvern near Chateau Haine.
The Take (30) - Disarm the fire traps in Chateau Haine's vaults.
Mark of the Assassin (30) - Defeated Duke Prosper, with or without Tallis.
Infinite Exp/Money
Choose a sidequest that does NOT end with a cutscene or dialogue tree. Usually finding an item or something of that nature. Draw your weapon near the NPC, but without finishing the quest. When you approach the NPC wait until your character begins to re-sheath their weapon. As they are putting it away press X repeatedly(PS3 version)or A (for the xbox 360 version of the game) and each time you press the allotted button you will be awarded with the quests reward in money/exp over and over.
Joss Whedon Reference
During random companion dialogue in the city between Anders and Isabella, she mentions that abominations are easy to escape because they make loud noises like "Grr Argh", which Anders refutes saying "Abominations to not go Grr Argh". During the ending credits of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon's "Mutant Enemy Productions" credit screen shows a little monster which says "Grr Argh?"
Sir Mixalot Reference
Take Isabella into the fade in the desire section. The demon will seduce her with the prospect of a boat in the harbor. When Isabella turns on you, she will say "I like big boats and I cannot lie", which is a reference to Sir Mixalot's "I Like Big Butts" song.
Wizard of Oz Reference
In your home when your mother says that her children should be nobles now, your uncle says "And if wishes were poppy we'd all be dreaming right now".
Jade Empire Reference
During a random conversation between Fenris and Varric, Fenris asks him "Who is Bianca?" When Varric tells him it is a crossbow, Fenris says that he must have named it after someone, to which Varric replies, "Nope, Mirabelle was taken", a reference to the rifle owned by Sir Roderick Von Fontlebottom The Magnificent Bastard from Jade Empire.
The Mask Reference
In the "Prime Suspect" mission when you meet Mr. Dupries, have Varric in your party. Give the sarcastic response of letting Dupries talk his way out the situation. Varric will make the comment "I bet 20 silver it's 'it wasn't me, it was the one-armed man'". This is a reference to The Mask when Jim Carey tries to defend his innocence when he gets captured.
Dead Anders Stays with Hero
Play through the game with a relationship with Anders. At the end of the game, choose to kill him for destroying the Chantry. In the end scene where Varric says that everyone had to leave the hero, he will say, "Everyone, of course, except Anders", even though he is already dead.
Recommended Party Configuration
It is best to plan your party from the start. While planning character roles, remember "One to take it, one to deal, one to weaken, one to heal". You should have a damager, tank, entropist and healer. This will ensure you have one member taking all the damage and bringing the attention away from the rest of the party. Have an entropist (probably Merrill) to weaken and demoralize the enemy, a healer to strengthen and maintain the party, and a damager to inflict the pain. This will ensure a well rounded party that covers all aspects of combat.
Unlock Blood Dragon Armor
If you have a save of Dragon Age Origins on your hard drive with the Blood Dragon Armor unlocked, it automatically transfers to Dragon Age 2 as well.