I don't know exactly why but something really put me off it when it came out, I have to say, Series X's kinda a godsend with the way the backwards compatibility functions, I hadn't touched the Dragon Ages in nearly ten years, and God damn Origins'... a masterpiece.
That build up to the battle of Ostagar?
Utter perfection.
I have decided to make this my canonical playthrough for now anyway. Female Warden Alienage Rogue, Male Hawke Mage Champion, Female Inquisitor Warrior Qunari.
I have also came out with a real appreciation for II now, not just in look, the clean artstyle looks substantially better on a larger display but it hits with more intimate beats being that you're not saving the world just trying to hold everything together.
It's definitely still got issues for sure though.
It's also got an issue of expectation in the way things unfold, Hawke's already a fully formed person, that you get to direct the development of instead of a truly blank slate. I actually really enjoyed playing him as a character in the world, and considering the way Dragon Age actually works, I decided I'd play marketing Hawke because he looks extremely cool and it's a bit silly if all the heroes of thedas end up being women so he's the one man so far anyway.
For similar reasons I like to play a different race and class each time, and the ones I felt might make for the most interesting dynamic with the plot itself- so an Alienage Warrior or Rogue that's considered neither a true elf nor counted amongst the humans with that dire opening, I do really like the whole mirror aspect from the Dalish origin and the fact that ends up being super important later on though, but yeah romancing Leliana feels especially fulfilling as a Tabris' because of the way her history ties into Tabris' own if you know in Leliana's Song, and because of the way she features prominently in the later entries. Obviously Mage Hawke's got the most stake in II's story. And I thought a Qunari being the herald in III makes the premise all the more interesting and also of course I want to play one in the event we don't get a chance in the other entries.
Hopefully III can win me over, it starts off weird, but it is fun- even on Nightmare difficulty.