Unlike Dragon Age: Origins where you started from scratch with barely a talent under your belt, Awakening presents you with two main options to vault your PC up to level 18: create a new character or import an existing character over from Dragon Age: Origins .
Create a New Character
When you choose to create a new character, you get many of the same options that you had if you created a character for Dragon Age: Origins .
You can choose a race and class (your starting origin story is Grey Wardens only), plus the various face and voice customization options. Remember, though, you’re on the fast track to level 18. You get to choose two of your class’s original specializations (such as Assassin and Bard for rogue), and you’re given 62 points to spend on attributes.
See the appropriate class chapter for how you should spend your attribute points. As tempting as it may sound to drop them all in your primary stat, you may regret that decision when you begin to falter in other areas of the game with frail secondary attribute scores.
After attributes, you get to purchase skills and talents/ spells up to level 18. Plan how you want to spend all your important talent/spell points before you spend a single one. Does your warrior want to concentrate in the Weapon and Shield tree, or load up on Two-Handed talents? Should your mage spend a full eight points on specializations, thus reducing how many mainline spells he takes?
See the appropriate class chapter for suggestions on how to spend your talent/spell points. Before you begin the game at Vigil’s Keep, each new character is given a decent set of starting gear, an inventory of helpful poultices and potions, and 55 sovereigns.
Importing a Character
If you played through Dragon Age: Origins, even if you didn’t finish the game, you can import a character. Any level character can be imported. Lower level characters will be boosted up to level 18. If you import a character higher than level 18, your imported character maintains its previous level.
You keep your attribute scores, and are awarded extra points to spend to reach level 18. All talents/spells remain the same, as do skills, and you buy new ones if you need to catch up to level 18. As with a new character, see the appropriate class chapter for hints on how best to spend your points for higher level characters.
You also get to keep your equipment. This can be a significant advantage if you stacked your previous character with nifty loot. If you want to ensure that your character has access to the same equipment, you must import your character at the game’s start.