Dragon Age: Origins finally lets you bring more of your companions along for the adventure

One of the crueler decisions in Dragon Age: Origins has always been figuring out which companions to leave behind at camp. You've spent all this time recruiting interesting characters, getting to know them, listening to their stories, and then the game tells you to pick three. Three! Everybody else can apparently sit around waiting for the Hero of Ferelden to get back.

KotunKotofey's Party Size Expansion gives players a little more freedom, allowing active parties of six, eight, ten, or even twelve characters, including your protagonist. The expanded interface displays additional companion portraits and health information, and the creator says everyone can participate in combat and follow their assigned tactics. The twelve-character option is especially useful for people running additional companion mods, since Party Size Expansion doesn't actually add any new characters itself.

It's still a beta, and there are some things to be careful about. The creator hasn't tested every major story sequence, including the Fade, Awakening, and the final battle, and extra companions aren't guaranteed to participate properly in every conversation. You'll also need Dragon Age: Origins 1.05 and DAOLib, and the creator recommends backing up your saves before installing.

Still, there's something wonderfully appealing about marching into battle with practically everyone you've recruited. Whether the game's enemies appreciate the sudden increase in company is another matter entirely.