Dragon Age: Inquisition An Introduction To The War Table, Advisors, Skyhold and More

Hi Cameron, can you give us a quick recap on what exactly Skyhold is?
Skyhold is a huge fortress and the seat of your power as the leader of the Inquisition. From there, you decide the fate of nations, direct your agents throughout Thedas, pass judgment on your enemies, and decide how you will personally take action against the Elder One.

Does Skyhold's appearance change over the course of the game?
As you progress, you'll notice some parts of Skyhold expanding and becoming more detailed. Murals may be painted, and trophies collected and mysterious artifacts researched by your Inquisition followers. All of this and more has a physical impact on Skyhold.

What areas of Skyhold can players customise?
Skyhold can be customised to reflect what sort of Inquisition you're leading. You choose what to do with major parts of the castle such as towers and the courtyard as well as decorations like statues, windows, drapes, furniture, and even the heraldry your Inquisition forces will take into the world.

Where can players find additional items to add to their Skyhold?
There are many ways for you to obtain new items to personalise your Skyhold. Some are found as you explore the world, others require you to complete side quests, and you can buy some from merchants you'll meet in other towns and cities.

Skyhold is enormous! How much time will players have to explore it?
You are free to return to and explore Skyhold as often as you like, which means you can talk to all of your followers and major characters you've recruited into the Inquisition. Many of these major characters have their own rooms that reflect their role in the Inquisition.

There are also minor characters for you to engage with: merchants, stablemasters, barkeeps, researchers, blacksmiths, enchanters, and other interesting and diverse people who look to you for leadership.

Are there lots of different areas to visit in Skyhold?
Skyhold is filled with interesting places to visit! There's a tavern where Inquisition followers are having a drink. A dungeon with your defeated enemies rotting away. Your throne room, where you'll pass judgment on your enemies (but we'll get more into that later).

There's a large library with a research assistant, and a garden where you can choose which plants to grow for making potions. Other locations you can visit include a vault, kitchen, guard tower, rookery, training ground… and that's still not a complete list of all the places you can visit.

Skyhold is also equipped to help you prepare for your next battle, right?
Absolutely. When you're ready for another adventure or battle, you may want to visit the crafting rooms to forge, enchant, or upgrade armour and weapons. You also can brew potions and poisons at the crafting table. Next, walk over to the stables where you can pick which mount you'll ride on your adventure.

Seems like there's still one other area of importance that you haven't mentioned yet…
Indeed. Last but not least is the war table, where you can see what's happening throughout the world and whether your agents have reported any new leads on the Elder One.

All three of the Inquisition's advisors have been introduced, but can you tell us more about their role in the Inquisition?
Leliana, Cullen, and Josephine are your primary advisors in the Inquisition. They represent the three pillars of power: espionage, military, and politics. Each of them leads a contingent of agents they send out on operations that help you in your search for and battle against the Elder One.

So, each advisor has a specific area of expertise?
Exactly. Leliana is the leader of your agents who uncover secrets, assassinate enemies, and sabotage your enemy's organization. Cullen leads your military, so he's focused on building your army and training and equipping your forces so you can use them as a hammer against the Elder One. Josephine uses political power and diplomacy to advance your Inquisition's cause. Each of the advisors will want to approach challenges in different ways, but it's your choice about which action to take.

What types of tasks can you carry out from the war table?
There are over 300 missions and operations available on the war table, and they can change depending on your previous choices and actions in the game. There's a range of types: scouting missions to establish the first camp in a new area you'd like to explore, building missions to raise structures in the areas you've being exploring, recruitment missions to bring expertise into the inquisition, treaties, resource-gathering, political assassinations, and many, many more.

How will players gain influence and power for the Inquisition?
You earn influence and power as you explore, overcome enemies, bring stability to regions, complete quests, and close rifts between the world and the Fade. You spend that influence and power at the war table when you send your agents on an operation or begin a new major story plot.

What do you get from completing operations through the war table?
Operations will give you different rewards such as gold, rare crafting materials, weapons and equipment, new recruits, and even the ability to rebuild structures you've seen on your adventures.

Will the advisors have different opinions on the best way to complete an operation?
Each of your advisors will want to approach an operation in a different way, which will help determine the outcome and rewards for completing the operation and can potentially affect any follow-up operations.

Okay. Are you ready to talk about judgments now?
Let's do it!

Dragon Age: Inquisition is available to pre-order now on Origin.