Expanded Soundsets
⚪ Last updated 2024Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 1.5% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #7 of 20 Audio mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
While looking through the default soundsets (the random one-liners characters say outside of scripted dialog and party banter), I noticed there were many lines I didn't think I'd ever heard. After lots of digging through scripts, I can report that this is simply because many were never implemented, or only used in a few very specific situations.
In fact, in the file that governs soundsets - sys_soundset_h.nss - there's a developer note:
Sound set system.
A rough implementation for E3, but it seems we're now permanently stuck with it.
So. I decided to see if it was possible to expand the lines characters would say and the situations they would say them in, hopefully, without being completely incompatible with other mods and/or recompiling every script in the game.
V1. 2: Scripts have been reworked for efficiency and compatibility. In the Event Manager version, most have been changed to "listener" scripts instead of overrides.
I've also gone through the soundset GDAs, restoring some previously bugged nodes. Most notably, all soundsets were missing their "I'm out of mana!" lines, and all followers except Alistair and Shale were missing their "I see undead!" lines.
The restored soundset lines:
Caught Stealing: NPC lines for catching you stealing exist, but are are bugged and unfixable for me (and are only scripted to fire in Denerim anyway). -_-
Now, there's a chance of any NPC yelling at you (using a few different lines), or you cursing.
v1. 2: restored the "caught stealing" lines for PC, Follower, and some NPC soundsets. They've been added to the list of possible lines.
Two versions are included: one where stealth is always dropped after a steal attempt (vanilla behavior) and one where stealth is only dropped if the stealing fails.
Fighting Without Weapon: Never implemented, now a party member who is sent into battle with no equipped weapons has a chance of saying either their "fighting without weapon" line or their "bad idea" line.
(1. 2) I Can't Take That: Followers had recorded but inaccessible lines to reject gifts. Now followers will say that line instead of their "bad idea" line when given a special gift meant for another character.
Poisoned: Never implemented, now there's a chance of a character saying one of their "poisoned" lines when hit with a poisoned weapon or monster attack, or a nature- or spirit-damage trap or grenade.
Also fixes some other poison-related bugs.
(1. 2) Soundset Fixes: The toolset exporter must have a bug, because some dialog nodes were not properly mapped to the GDAs. I've gone through and fixed these by hand, so now you should hear mage followers (as well as the PC) warn you abo
Expanded Soundsets is an audio mod for Dragon Age: Origins that edits scripts and soundset GDAs to allow more ambient character lines in more situations. With 136 endorsements and nearly 9,000 downloads, it's a niche but popular choice for players wanting more vocal variety from their party.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Solid community support with 136 endorsements and nearly 9k downloads
- Lightweight audio tweak that doesn't overhaul the game
- Last updated in 2024, so it's still maintained
⚠️ Cons
- Only affects ambient lines, so impact may be subtle
- Potential conflicts with other mods that edit the same scripts or GDAs
- No detailed feature list, so you'll have to test to see the full effect
For Dragon Age: Origins players who want more variety in party banter and ambient dialogue without a full overhaul. If you're a completionist who's heard every line a hundred times, this adds freshness. Skip if you're looking for new quests or gameplay changes—this is purely audio.
💡 Beginner Tips
- Make sure to install with a mod manager like DAO Mod Manager to avoid overwriting issues.
- Check your load order if you use other sound or dialogue mods to prevent conflicts.
- Test in different areas to hear the new ambient lines in action.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Dragonage Mods
- Author
- Shanamah
- Version
- 1.3
- Downloads
- 8,974
- Endorsements
- 136
- Category
- Audio
- Created
- 6/7/2023
- Updated
- 2/5/2024
🔧 How to Install Dragon Age: Origins Mods
Download from Nexus Mods.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Dragon Age: Origins →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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