UPDATE v1.11: Skip to the bottom to read how to add Specialisations to Companions and Companion Trees to Hawke.

UPDATE v1.1: Skip to the bottom to read how you can add the skill trees to existing games

This mod essentially gives players the choice to expand their companions in ways that they previous could not. Wanted to have Merril accompany you but needed at least one person with the Heal spell?

Now you can get her that much needed spell. What about wanting Fenris along but needing a tank? Or Isabela using a bow? This mod essentially unlocks all the possibilities by no longer forcing Companions into the weapon roles that BioWare had initially intended them for.

This means you can now have Isabela use a bow or Fenris use Weapon-and-Shield, straight away!

Has not been extensively tested but it should not break anything in your game. Please let me know if you encounter any bugs so I can fix them ASAP.

IMPORTANT NOTE: for this mod to take effect, you must either start a new game or load a save game before the companion joins your group. Unfortunately, if the companion has already joined, this mod will not work. (OR SKIP TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO RESTART)

Installation Instructions: Extract the contents of the zip file to /user/Documents/BioWare/Dragon Age 2/packages/core/override. Make sure your game is not running when you do this.

A few screenshots:


Anders with Entropy skill tree


Merril with Creation skill tree

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT WANT TO START A NEW GAME!
Using the Dev Console, it is possible to manually add skill trees to your companions without restarting your game! Just follow the following steps to do it:

1 - Go to /installDirectory/Dragon Age 2/bin_ship/ and create a shortcut of DragonAge2.exe
2 - Right click on DragonAge2.exe - Shortcut and select Properties
3 - In the field called Target:, add after the last " -enabledeveloperconsole then click OK
4 - Go to /user/BioWare/Dragon Age 2/Settings/KeyBindings.ini
5 - Look for the line OpenConsole_0=Keyboard::Button_Grave and edit Grave to a button that is not used like ~ (Tilde) and Save
6 - Load the game and press the assigned button then try using a movement key. If your character does not move, the console is working fine.

To add a given skill tree to a selected Companion, first select the companion then open the console by pressing the assigned key. Then type: runscript AddTalent <talentid></talentid>.

Talent IDs are as follows (Make sure to add them in sequence (First -> Second):

+ Bethany: Primal
- 302000 -> 302001
+ Anders: Entropy
- 305000 -> 305001
+ Merril: Creation
- 306000 -> 306001
+ Aveline: Two-Handed
- 102000 -> 102001
+ Fenris and Carver: Sword-and-Shield
- 101000 -> 101001
+ Isabela: Archery
- 202000 -> 202001
+ Varric: Dual Weapon
- 201000 -> 201001

Adding Specialisations to Companions or Companion Trees to Hawke
Note: This method requires the activation of the dev console. Please scroll up to see how to activate the dev console.

Follow these simple steps to add a Specialisation to a Companion or a Companion Tree to Hawke (It's actually the same as adding normal skill trees to Companions).

To add a given Specialisation to a Companion or to add a Companion Tree to Hawke, first select the companion/Hawke then open the console by pressing the assigned key. Then type: runscript AddTalent <talentid>.<br><br>Specialisation IDs are as follows (Make sure to add them in sequence [First -&gt; Second]):<br><br><u>Warriors</u><br><strong>Templar</strong>: 107000 -&gt; 107001<br><strong>Reaver</strong>: 109000 -&gt; 109001<br><strong>Berserker</strong>: 110000 -&gt; 110001<br><strong>Aveline - Guardian</strong>: 111000 -&gt; 111001<br><strong>Fenris - Lyrium Ghost</strong>: 112000 -&gt; 112001<br><br><u>Rogues</u><br><strong>Shadow</strong>: 207000 -&gt; 207001<br><strong>Duelist</strong>: 208000 -&gt; 208001<br><strong>Assassin</strong>: 210000 -&gt; 210001<br><strong>Isabela - Swashbuckler</strong>: 211000 -&gt; 211001<br><strong>Varric - Marksman</strong>: 212000 -&gt; 212001<br><br><u>Mages</u><br><strong>Forcemage</strong>: 307000 -&gt; 307001<br><strong>Spirit Healer</strong>: 308000 -&gt; 308001<br><strong>Bloodmage</strong>: 309000 -&gt; 309001<br><strong>Anders - Vengeance</strong>: 311000 -&gt; 311001<br><strong>Merrill - Creeper</strong>: 312000 -&gt; 312001</talentid>