Voice Actors and Characters

"Does it change how they're written? Does it change how they look? Does it change how they sound? [...] Essentially yes," Patrick Weekes stated on voice actors affecting the characters. However, it's not nearly as much as you think. The voice actors bring their own tone and feel to the characters; sometimes, lines are added or changed so the actors can better suit the character. It's a symbiotic draw between the two which produces a great character.

Additionally, actors need to fit the needs of the role and provide variety. In providing different voices, Bioware wants to "hit all over the map" with banter and romance. A lot of voices can sound the same; it is important to have dynamic, distinct sounds.

Open, Consensual Romances

These romances do not exist (yet) in Dragon Age because "scripting destroys you," according to Patrick Weekes. While Bioware has considered implementing polyamorous relationships, it is a nightmare to code. In order to have such a romance, here's what could possibly happen:

Player wants to be with A and B. A is OK with a polyamorous relationship. B is OK with a polyamorous relationship. Player can romance A and B simultaneously. Perhaps...with each other.

"Scripting breaks down every time" and while polyamorous relationships are possible in the future, it's difficult.

Relationship Variety

The current gates for romance are by gender and race. At the end of the day, the problem is figuring out what is characteristically realistic for the environment and narrative the character lives in, while simultaneously providing variance across the board. Players should experience very different romances and interactions with different characters. However, writers are constrained by multiple factors, including (but not limited to): voiceovers, cinematics, and budget. Fully voiced languages are English, French, and German; translations are available in Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, and more. If a character has more lines in one area, other lines will be cut. Cinematics need to be blocked and setup for conversations as quickly as possible. Romantic variance is something that needs to be timely and budgeted, otherwise the game does not ship.

Asexuality

David Gaider notes that the writers at Bioware want to have a proper conversation on how to approach asexuality. While a certain way to approach this is to have a romantic relationship available that does not lead to sex, that may "not necessarily be the most respectful way." The writers want to research asexuality and give it justice within the narrative and for its characters.