Dragon Age The Joyguard (formerly Hype Train) [Spoilers]

That's something AC: Odyssey did with the weekly missions. Youd have a boss mercenary and ship spawn in the game. Killing the mercenary would sometimes reward you either a unique weapon or item, while destroying the ship netted you a new customization option for your own ship.

I'm happy to see most likely none of the old companions are returning as squadmates.

Cassandra, Morrigan, Lelliana and even Cullen, if I recall, where involved in other titles in the franchise in some capacity. So I should have clarified "returning in any capacity", not just squadmates.

That does put a dent in my optimism.

I didn't have a problem with returning characters in ME. It's not having a new protagonist that turns me off, from having returning characters in DA4. It's the fact that I was pretty far from content with them, in the first place. I did not like them, I did not have fun interacting with them, I had problem bonding with them and I was unable to relate with them. So I'd rather they not show up in a sequel, in any capacity.

”I don’t think I’ll like the new companions.”

“Think positive.”

“Okay. I’m positive I won’t like the new companions.”

I didn’t like most of them either, but I doubt the new group will be any better. Looking at the series so far, if anything the percentage will go down as it has every game so far (unless counting the advisors in DAI).

Things that hyped me :
- New concept of Dark Solas, the antgonist ! Hopefully my character will look as good as him in the game by the way !   ( don't mess up the character creator Bioware ! )
- A warden as a companion. I'm relieved that Blackwall isn't the only fake warden we will get.
- We will get companions we either love OR hate. This, I love. There is nothing worse than bland uninteresting characters. 
- Our group will be like family again, like in DAII. I missed that in DA:I, where I felt it was more distant and formal, even if there was friendship. 
- Hopefully the possibility to shake up the Tevinter society, with an anti- slave agenda. Already planning an uncompromising Spartacus character !
- A group without power is obviously a concept I find very attractive. 
- Having crows, a female qunari, and maybe a mortalitasi is also something I would find absolutely cool. Hopefully Calpernia is among the companions as well !! 
- I like the armors I'm seeing in the concept art.
- Aaand since I mostly play S/S gameplay, what I saw with combat pleased me A LOT. Especially the way things were blocked by the character in a beautiful armor !!! This that type of armor I'd like to see more !!!!

The pic that really hyped me is this one :


Three visually interesting characters ( Calpernia, Lace Harding, both with new hairstyle ? and maybe Lucanis / the new protagonist ? ) in an interesting ambush moment. 

First you're gonna need to hope she makes it to the final lineup. 

All I'm interested in for the moment romance-wise is the Qunari lass who may or may not be Rasaan.

Leggy or crow girl for me. 

Oh my goddd yes, I didn't even think about that. I really hope the return to a protagonist not automatically given a position of power like the Inquisitor means we get this again. One of my favorite things about DA2 is the way the relationships between Hawke and the companions really feel like friends. As much as I love DAI I feel like everyone just saw the Inquisitor as a boss or co-worker. 
I know it's too much to hope for but I wish friendship and rivalry would return. I think that helped make the relationships feel more complex and genuine 

Friendship/Rivalry was an absolute disaster. If they ever bring it back, it needs to be a part of a bigger system. Like a two axis scale, one being friendship/rivalry and the other being approval/disapproval.