Returning and new characters for Dragon Age 4

That actually sounds amazing actually.

I would accept an appearance by Bianca Davri only if I get to punch her for being an insufferable, conceited twit. I don't think she's the worst character in the franchise, I just think she's the result of lazy writing and terrible presentation. I have less than zero interest in interacting with her again. Her participation in the story should end with Varric.

I don't see anyone from Origins making it in there. The only possible exception would be if they wanted to show the results of the Warden's quest for the removal of the Taint, and they added in a brief moment with the Warden's LI to catch us up on what's happened. However, if DA4 is set more than 5-6 years after the events of Trespasser, it's unlikely that the Warden is still living if they hadn't found a cure by that point. The Joining shortens a person's lifespan to about 20 years, and Inquisitions takes place in 9:41, about ten years after they joined- that means they're already more than halfway through their time. Trespasser takes place in 9:44, so if the next game takes place much longer after that... well, we might find a codex about a grave with a marking indicating that it's the Hero of Ferelden.

We may have companions from DA2 show up- I would say Fenris and Isabela are the most likely to appear, given that the first is from Tevinter and would go back to kill lots of people, and the second is a sea-faring pirate who could be anywhere at any time- she doesn't have a schedule. I agree with others that Varric is unlikely to make an appearance again now that he's Viscount of Kirkwall.

Of all the Inquisitor's companions, the only one likely to make it into the next game is Dorian. Possibly Cole, but I think that his character could go so wildly one of two ways that I think it would be more realistic for him to have a short cameo. The others would have no reason to be there- and Bull would be killed if he went to far into Tevinter himself.

EDIT: You know what random character I would actually LOVE to see return? Finn, from Witch Hunter. I thought he was hysterical. I loved that adorkable guy, I'd have him in my group. Plus, he seems like he'd do well in Tevinter's much more open society.

No, I don't think so. From what little we know, it sounds like the Arishok only leaves Par Vollen when he absolutely has no choice whatsoever. I mean, he's more likely to show than Wynne or Oghren (sadly), but I'm not convinced.

Waiting for them to give up, and write Leliana into the script with Morrigan, Cullen, and Alistair showing up for Cameos.

I want as few recurring characters as possible. I call for an inverse polarity. If they were important to previous games, their role can't be greater than a cameo. If they were cameo or very minor, then I'm okay with more. But fresh characters over already used.

I'd like to see Charade come back as a playable character. She was fun and sassy, and her character quests could introduce us to Bethany/Carver. It would be an easy way to encourage a second playthrough to see the other questlines. She's almost a fantasy Lara Croft.

Give me an elf who is annoyed with the concept of returning to the past. Show me one elf that has the sense to say: "We were wiped out when we turned isolationist. Several times. Let's see if we can figure out a better way."

Give me a dwarf who is proud of the traditions of the Stone. All the dwarves we get as playable characters are outcasts. Give me a quest in the Deep Roads, get the dwarf exiled, then make his plotline quest the futile snipe hunt of him trying to be a Paragon. But at the same time, make him welcoming of other races (even if he thinks they'd be better off with the Stone)

Give me a Magister who is proud of his traditions but encourages positive growth. Make him an Imperial Father so we can see the stark differences of the Imperial priesthood. Make him accept slavery and produce reasoned arguments against its abolition (there are tons of slaves, you'll disrupt the economy in enough time for everyone to starve because no one harvests food).

Show me someone with an actually good marriage.

No, I'm not speaking about Dorian. He never encourages positive growth in others, he's too self-focused and whiny. 

But still wants to identify as an elf and hasn't rejected all their culture. Essentially the elf you describe is my Lavellan, in fact pretty much what Mahariel's father was before he died. The Storyteller in our Dalish clan also seemed to be continuing with his ideas because he says if we ever have another homeland, maybe the city elves can teach them what they have learned about living alongside humans so they can peacefully co-exist with them. I don't think Lanaya would have been isolationist and you would think that after the help with the Blight that the two communities, Dalish and human, could have worked together. Also, the clan in the Exalted Plains wanted to make a peace offering to build bridges after being given the information about Red Crossing but it was our advisors who only very grudgingly wanted to obliged and in fact Leliana preferred to trick the village into thinking it was something else entirely.

However, the writers preferred to go in the opposite direction, have the Dalish boon turn out a complete failure and then PW gave us Clan Virnehn and their awful Keeper Thelhen. The sentinels seemed to make it clear that the ancient elves were very isolationist, so ancient Tevinter were not to blame for retaliating when their peaceful envoys and citizens kept being attacked when they strayed into Arlathan Forest (having endured this activity for the best part of 40 years before they took action). So certainly I would recommend ditching the ideas that were handed down by the priesthood of the Evanuris as clearly that is where the ideas about the need for isolation came from.

So I'm all for an elf who is proud of what he is but looks to the future rather than the past for how elves should conduct themselves with other races and would tell the Dread Wolf to shove it somewhere painful when he suggests restoring the world of the elves at the expense of everyone else.

You were provided that opportunity in DAI so there shouldn't be a need for any such thing in DA4.

Wait, she didn’t commit suicide? If so, then the next question is if we have a new PC will we care?