Image credit: Paradox / Dragon Age: Thedas at War team

Who knows when or if BioWare'll ever be allowed to make a follow-up to Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Whatever ends up being the future of a series EA've left in a rather ambiguous place, a group of Crusader Kings 3 modders have stepped up to make a Dragon Age total conversion that lets folks play out a bit of their own kingdom-battling history in Thedas.

Released late last week as part of a fan-run Paradox modathon, Dragon Age: Thedas at War is a BioWare-flavoured overhaul of CK3 in a similar vein to works folks have made setting up worlds like The Witcher series' Continent in it. Rather than the likes of England, Bavaria, and the Papal States, you fight to sit on the throne of Orlais or a united Ferelden and wage war on the rest of Thedas.

"Ten years after the Second Blight, Thedas is in the midst of healing whilst once again seeing war on the horizon," reads the mod's intro blurb. "Place yourself into the thick of the growing tension as Hassandriel of the Dales, who is trying to ensure his people are not annihilated by Orlais. Take the reigns of Teyrn Caedmon, who has proclaimed himself as king of Ferelden in his bid to unite everyone under his banner. For those that prefer their politics, join the men and women of Orlais who are always looking to ascend beyond their station."

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As of right now, the mod offers 40 different playable cultures, several Dragon Age-specific religions, and even the option to play as a mage. While the latter's limited to "only those who are outside of a Circle for the time being", it allows you to fling destructive spells at foes or heal allies. Thedas at War also boasts what its creators have dubbed a "Mega Wars system". It's "designed to make realm-wide wars involve less powerful characters within any given realm", with lesser vassals offered chances to pick sides and either benefit or suffer as a result.

As for the practicalities of playing the mod, you'll only need the base version of Crusader Kings 3 - with the Roads to Power & Royal Court DLCs as optional extras you'll need in order to play as a landless adventurer. The modders "cannot guarantee a stable experience" in multiplayer, so battle friends at your own risk. Going forwards, that same group plan to "continue adding as much content as humanly possible" to Thedas at War, releasing it "in chunks, generally based on complex additions".