Dragon Age: Origins

Hey, first of all thanks to TA Member 'McGubbalo' for finding the list of the 23 locations required (and also, by extension, the person who wrote that list to begin with) for this achievement, but I've been spending some time with that guide, a brand new Dragon Age playthrough, and a lot of Pepsi (for tha sugazzzz) so I thought I'd make it a little more reader-friendly along the way. (I apologise if this rubs anyone the wrong way)

Ok, so as mentioned above, you only actually need to visit 23 locations (the 23rd is inevitable, as are a few of the others) for this achievement, and only one can be missed (#1) so if you've got a pre-Landsmeet save (provided you encountered Leliana in the Dane's Refuge Tavern) you're good to go with that one, but I started a whole new file to make sure I could finally lay this one to rest.

(Note: My descriptions are - for the most part** - made redundant by simply entering the town in question, bringing up the map, and seeking out the following maptags. I guess they're there for people who, err, didn't use their map...?)

Oh, and SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS - You were warned.

~ Lothering ~

#1. Dane's Refuge - This is the tavern in Lothering where you encounter Leliana. Hard (maybe impossible?) to miss, but if you're going for this achievement, make sure you visit ASAP. Lothering is consumed by the blight early on, and cannot be returned to.

~ Redcliffe ~

#2. Blacksmith - This building, labelled "Blacksmithy" is just off the town square. (The area around the fire where you first enter Redcliffe proper.) You are directed to it in an early quest (the darkspawn attack on the town.)
#3. Dwyn's Home - To the south-east of the town, on the complex of jetties suspended over the water. You are also directed to this location in the attack on Redcliffe.
#4. Kaitlyn's Home - Again, just off the town square. West of Dwyn's Home, your map will help you locate it.
#5. Kaitlyn's Home (Upstairs) - Obviously, just head upstairs in Kaitlyn's Home, sit through a load screen... Aaand, head back downstairs again, 'notha load screen.. (Maybe I should have this game installed?).
#6. Tavern - Easy to miss, this one. It's away from Redcliffe proper, up in the hills on the way to the World Map.
#7. General Store - Another quite missable one, it's south-west along the jetties from Dwyn's Home.

~ Orzammar ~

#8. Proving Grounds - I'm convinced that this refers to the entrance complex before the Proving arena proper, because the related questline can be completed without ever stepping foot in the arena. However, if you want to be sure, and have already completed the related questline, the arena is accessable via a small side-tournament given by a Dwarf within the Proving complex (labelled Proving Armsman). Simply talk to him, take part in a fight, and voila, you've set foot in the proving grounds.
#9. Shaperate - The Shaperate is located in the Diamond Quarter. It is accessable the moment you set foot in Orzammar.
#10. AND #11. Shop - The code is unspecific about WHICH shops must be visited, but I have deduced that one is in the Commons, and the other is in Dust Town. However, to be sure, simply make a thorough sweep of Orzammar (Dust town and The Diamond Quarter included) and enter all available buildings to ensure you check these two.

!! UPDATE : The two shops in question are, without a doubt, FIGOR'S IMPORTS (located in the Commons, it appears to be locked until you've completed some Orzammar main quests.) and ALIMAR'S EMPORIUM (located in Dust Town.) !!

~ Denerim ~

#12. The Pearl - Accessible via the Denerim City map. (The Denerim City Map is accessible via attempting to leave Denerim Market District.)
#13. Gnawed Noble Tavern - Located in Denerim Market District, to the south.
#14. Wonders Of Thedas - Located in Denerim Market District, south west of the Gnawed Noble.
#15. Warehouse - Located in Denerim Market District. (Note, you do NOT need to enter the Warden's Cache (The hidden, inaccessible room hidden behind the bookcases.) for this achievement, merely entering the Warehouse is enough.)
#16. Wade's Emporium - Located in Denerim Market District, centre of the area map.
#17. Dirty Back Alley - As with Locations #18 and #19, this area of the Denerim City Map is only accessible via the Chanters Board Quest "Back Alley Justice."
#18. Dark Alley - See Above.
#19. Rundown Back Street - See Above.
#20. Orphanage - In the Elven Alienage, accessible via Denerim Market District OR Denerim City Map. This location is only available after you have met with Arl Eamon and made your way to the Landsmeet. Upon rescuing Queen Anora, she will inform you of 'Unrest In The Alienage' whereupon you will have an opportunity to visit this location. In the Alienage you will find 'Ser Otto' who, after a little investigation, needs leading through the orphanage.

~ Haven ~

#21. Villager House - To your immediate left as you enter, this empty house is the first structure you will encounter.
#22. Village Shop - This building is directly in front of you as you crest the first hill in Haven, past the Villager House. ( ** This is the only accessible structure in the game to not have a maptag. However, I believe this building may be involved in the main quest anyway.)

~ Final Battle ~

#23. Fort Drakon Rooftop - This location is only accessible in the endgame, whereupon you fight the Archdemon. If you have followed the guide, this achievement should pop on the load screen leading to the Rooftop. Congratulations ^_^

THE definitive guide!!! Taken directly from the lines of code for the PC version (not by me), here are the only locations (23) you need to unlock this achievement. And yes, you must do it all in one playthrough. Hopefully you have a save point from right before the Landsmeet. The only location you can't return to is Lothering.

Lothering:
#1. lot120ar_danes_refuge (where u meet Leliana).

Redcliffe:
#2. arl120ar_blacksmith
#3. arl130ar_dwyns_home
#4. arl140ar_kaitlyn_home
#5. arl141ar_kaitlyn_upstairs
#6. arl150ar_tavern
#7. arl170ar_general_store

Orzimmar
#8. orz220ar_shop
#9. orz260ar_proving
#10. orz310ar_shaperate
#11. orz420ar_shop (not sure which 2 shops this refers to, but swing by Dust Town to be sure.)

Denarim:
#12. den100ar_brothel (Tell 'em Tubby sent you.)
#13. den220ar_noble_tavern
#14. den230ar_wonders_of_thedas
#15. den260ar_warden_cache (Duncan's Shield quest).
#16. den280ar_smithy (The drake scale guy).
#17. den950ar_alley_justice_1 (Chanter's Board quest).
#18. den951ar_alley_justice_2
#19. den952ar_alley_justice_3
#20. den960ar_orphanage (Blind Templar quest)

Haven:
#21. urn120ar_village_house
#22. urn130ar_village_shop

Climax Battle on the Roof:
#23. cli220ar_fort_roof_1

The Achievement should pop about the time you see the Archdemon.

I just want to add something to the already guides up here. I have done this 2 times over with these guides and the ones online and I never got traveler to unlock for me. I have also noticed that some others have had the same issue in the comments and I want to add a few areas I went to that I usually didn't go and it gave it to me in the end.

Get leliana to talk about her past and Majoline. theres a guide already up to help with the romancing of Leliana, In denerim theres a room that majoline is in that is only accessable once leliana talks about her past with her and after you get attacked by assassins who give you a note to that house.

When you have the option to kill or save Conner from Red Cliffe. Choose to enter the fade, ( I dont know if it counts but it wont hurt to just go in to be safe )

also in Denerim you need to talk to a guy in the center of the market district with a name like Ignacio or something. he starts the quest line "Trial of the Crows". there is 2 areas that open up to assassinate some guys as part of the quests.

I did just those 3 along with going to every door / room in every location and it worked fine.

~~Also I will point out as I have not seen a percentage of what you should have to get the achievement posted anywhere.. before the landsmeet I had the world uncovered 77%. be sure to save pre-landsmeet so if you didnt get it, you can always retry without restarting the game like I had too. by the end of the game my % was 92 and it unlocked.~~

I Hope this helps some of you who used these guides and did not get the achievement... Just remember to always open your map and look at every possible room / door. even floors count..

(Edited) I want to also add the 3 DLC areas do not count at all in this even if you have it. I got Shale during my run but didnt go to the other 2 locations and I got it to unlock,

This has to be done in one playthrough. If you missed Dane's Refuge on your first one, you'll have to start a fresh playthrough.

Easy setup: Start as a mage, play through the origin story in the Circle Tower, then talk to Duncan. Start the Tainted Blood quest. Collect just the vials, return and keep turning the quest in to grind up to level 20. Now, purchase Group Heal, Group Revive and whatever else you need. Collect the treaties and continue on to Lothering.

Advantage: You have two mages in your party, you and Morrigan. Now, both of you may equip Group Heal. This will make the final battle a lot easier.

Now visit the following other locations:
Redcliffe:
- Blacksmith - You'll enter this as part of the Arl of Redcliffe quest line.
- Dwyn's Home - You'll visit this during the attack on Redcliffe.
- Kaitlyn's Home - West of Dwyn's Home off the town square.
- Tavern - This is uphill from the town across from the world map.
- General Store - Southwest along the jetties from Dwyn's Home

Orzammar:
- Proving Grounds - You simply have to set foot in the entrance complex before the actual arena. This is directly across from the entrance to the Hall of Heroes, where you came from.
- Shaperate - This is located in the Diamond Quarter and is immediately accessible.
- Figor's Imports - This is located in the Commons and can be found immediately upon exiting the Hall of Heroes.
- Alimar's Emporium - This is a shop located in the middle of Dust Town. Dust Town is located on the right side of the Commons.

Haven - On your way to the Urn of Sacred Ashes, you'll come here.

- Villager House - This is to the immediate left as you enter.
- Village Shop - This is up the hill from the house.

Denerim:
- The Pearl - This is accessible via the city map. Just go back and select The - Pearl upon entering the Market District.
- Gnawed Noble Tavern - This is located at the southern end of the market.
- Wonders of Thedas - This is located south west of Gnawed Noble Tavern.
- Warehouse - This is located in the market district
- Wade's Emporium - This is located in the center of the market district.

While you're here, start up the Chanter's Board Quest "Back Alley Justice" and enter the following areas on the city map:

- Dirty Back Alley
- Dark Alley
- Rundown Back Street

Now head to the Elven Alienage accessible via the city map:
- Orphanage - This is only available after you rescue Queen Anora

Final Battle
- Fort Drakon Rooftop - This is only accessible in the endgame where you fight the Archdemon. The achievement should pop here. If it doesn't, simply load up your pre-Landsmeet save and check for what you missed.