Golem Companion and Sidekick Option
Dragon Age: Golem Companion and Sidekick Option
One thing Dragon Age has surprisingly underused is the concept of golems. They exist in the lore, they are iconic, and they are among the most powerful creations ever made by the dwarves. Yet most games treat them as rare encounters instead of meaningful companions.
A Dragon Age game could greatly benefit from allowing players to recruit, build, restore, or even create a golem companion.
Companion Concept: "Stoneheart"
An ancient golem discovered beneath a lost thaig.
At first glance it appears to be nothing more than a dormant statue covered in dust, lyrium veins, and centuries of damage.
Once awakened, however, it becomes one of the most unique companions in the game.
Appearance
The player can gradually customize it through upgrades.
Possible forms include:
- Ancient Paragon Golem
- Legion of the Dead Golem
- Crystal Golem
- Obsidian Golem
- Silverite Golem
- Red Lyrium Corrupted Golem
- Living Marble Golem
- Tevinter Arcane Golem
Each material changes:
- Defense
- Weight
- Abilities
- Resistances
- Appearance
Personality
The biggest question is:
Who was turned into the golem?
Dragon Age lore establishes that many golems were once living beings.
This creates incredible storytelling opportunities.
Examples:
The Ancient General
A commander from a forgotten dwarven kingdom.
- Strategic genius
- Stoic
- Speaks in military terms
- Remembers fragments of lost wars
The Poet
A former scholar.
- Philosophical
- Reflective
- Questions identity
The Criminal
A condemned prisoner forced into service.
- Cynical
- Bitter
- Distrustful of authority
The Hero
A volunteer who sacrificed themselves.
- Noble
- Protective
- Sees the player as someone worth safeguarding
Sidekick Version
Not every player wants a full companion.
Instead, Dragon Age could introduce sidekick golems.
These are smaller constructs that assist the player.
Examples:
Scout Golem
Small and agile.
Abilities:
- Detect traps
- Find hidden doors
- Gather resources
- Carry supplies
Shield Golem
Acts as a mobile wall.
Abilities:
- Protect allies
- Draw enemy attacks
- Block projectiles
Porter Golem
Built for logistics.
Abilities:
- Increased inventory
- Mobile storage
- Camp utility bonuses
War Golem
A smaller combat-focused construct.
Abilities:
- Charge attacks
- Shield bashes
- Crowd control
Relationship System
Unlike normal companions, the relationship with a golem evolves differently.
Questions emerge:
- Is it truly alive?
- Does it remember its former life?
- Should it regain emotions?
- Is the golem curse a blessing or a prison?
Your choices determine its development.
Paths include:
The Machine
The golem abandons emotion.
Becomes:
- Extremely powerful
- Logical
- Efficient
But loses its remaining humanity.
The Remembered Soul
The golem reconnects with its former identity.
Becomes:
- More emotional
- Gains unique dialogue
- Unlocks special story scenes
The New Being
Rejects both past and present.
Creates an entirely new identity.
One of the most unusual character arcs in the game.
Combat Role
The golem would be the ultimate tank companion.
Unique Traits
- Cannot bleed
- Immune to poison
- Immune to fear
- Resistant to fire
- Resistant to cold
- Resistant to spirit manipulation
Weaknesses:
- Lyrium disruption
- Specialized anti-golem weapons
- Earth-shattering magic
Ultimate Ability
Mountain Walks
The golem unleashes its full power.
Effects:
- Grows significantly larger
- Gains massive armor
- Knocks enemies back
- Causes localized earthquakes
For a short time it becomes a walking siege engine.
Why It Fits Dragon Age
Golems are already one of the most tragic and fascinating parts of Dragon Age lore.
Characters like Caridin proved that golems are not merely machines. They are living moral questions.
A true golem companion could explore:
- Identity
- Sacrifice
- Memory
- Dwarven history
- The ethics of creating life
- The cost of power
Those themes sit at the heart of Dragon Age and would make a golem companion one of the most memorable characters in the entire franchise.
Expanded Golem Companion System
If Dragon Age truly wanted to make a golem companion special, it should not just be "a big tank."
It should feel like an entirely different lifeform.
Golem Types
Most people think all golems are the same.
In reality, centuries of experimentation could have produced many varieties.
Thaigbreaker Golems
Originally designed for warfare.
Characteristics:
- Massive size
- Siege specialists
- Slow movement
- Incredible durability
Abilities:
- Smash gates
- Break walls
- Throw enemies
When they enter battle, the ground shakes beneath them.
Sentinel Golems
Guardians of ancient dwarven ruins.
Characteristics:
- Defensive
- Highly disciplined
- Ancient military programming
Abilities:
- Formation tactics
- Protective barriers
- Ally defense bonuses
These golems might still obey commands from long-dead kings.
Crystal Golems
Constructed from rare enchanted crystals.
Characteristics:
- Elegant
- Faster than traditional golems
- Magical affinity
Abilities:
- Reflect spells
- Store magical energy
- Emit magical beams
Many mages would consider them priceless.
Deep Road Golems
Built specifically to fight darkspawn.
Characteristics:
- Scarred
- Ancient
- Relentless
Abilities:
- Detect darkspawn
- Resist the Taint
- Tunnel through rock
Some may have fought continuously for centuries.
Living Lyrium Golems
Extremely rare.
Characteristics:
- Constantly changing appearance
- Radiate magical energy
- Dangerous to approach
Abilities:
- Amplify magic
- Manipulate stone
- Power magical artifacts
Even dwarves fear them.
Companion Questline
The Stone Remembers
As the game progresses, fragments of memory begin returning.
The golem recalls:
- Forgotten kingdoms
- Lost Paragons
- Ancient betrayals
- Hidden entrances to thaigs
The player slowly learns who they once were.
Perhaps they were:
- A king
- A criminal
- A mage
- A famous warrior
- A forgotten hero
Or perhaps several memories are trapped inside one body.
The Soul Chamber
Late in the story, the player discovers a hidden dwarven facility.
Inside are hundreds of inactive golems.
Some are:
- Friendly
- Insane
- Corrupted
- Sleeping
Others still think ancient wars are ongoing.
This could become one of the most memorable locations in Dragon Age.
Companion Evolution Paths
The Colossus
The golem embraces its purpose as a weapon.
Changes:
- Grows larger
- Gains armor plates
- Increased strength
- Reduced social abilities
People fear it.
Enemies flee from it.
The Guardian
The golem becomes a protector.
Changes:
- Defensive powers
- Healing auras
- Ally protection abilities
Villages may view it as a hero.
The Sage
The golem pursues knowledge.
Changes:
- Ancient lore expertise
- Tactical bonuses
- Unique dialogue options
It becomes one of the wisest beings in Thedas.
The Wanderer
The golem seeks freedom.
Changes:
- Greater mobility
- Exploration bonuses
- Unique world interactions
For the first time in centuries, it chooses its own path.
Unique Interactions
A golem companion should interact with the world differently.
In Tevinter
Magisters become fascinated.
Some want to study it.
Others want to control it.
In Orzammar
Many dwarves react with awe.
Some see a living legend.
Others see an atrocity.
The memory of golem creation remains controversial.
With Mages
Some want to understand how it functions.
Some argue it has a soul.
Others insist it is merely a construct.
With Spirits
Spirits may react strangely.
Some claim they can hear echoes within the golem.
Others refuse to approach it at all.
Legendary Upgrade System
Throughout the game, rare components can be found.
Titan Heart
A fragment connected to the mysterious Titans.
Effects:
- Tremor abilities
- Stone manipulation
- Earth-based powers
Paragon Core
Created by ancient dwarven masters.
Effects:
- Tactical intelligence
- Leadership bonuses
- Faster ability recovery
Dragonbone Frame
Constructed using dragon remains.
Effects:
- Increased durability
- Fire resistance
- Roar ability
Fade Crystal
A forbidden upgrade.
Effects:
- Spirit interaction
- Dreamwalking
- Magical resistance
Many dwarves would consider this heresy.
Ultimate Story Twist
Near the end of the game, the truth is revealed.
The golem was never powered by one soul.
It contains dozens.
Generals.
Scholars.
Heroes.
Criminals.
Kings.
All trapped together for centuries.
The personality the player has been speaking with is merely the dominant voice among them.
The final quest becomes a choice:
- Free the souls.
- Merge them into a new being.
- Keep them imprisoned.
- Transfer them into new bodies.
Each decision changes both the companion and part of the future of Thedas.
A golem companion built around these ideas would not simply be a tank. It would become a living piece of dwarven history, one of the last surviving witnesses to ages that even the Chantry and the kingdoms have forgotten.
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