Which means I will not in fact be playing it at all over my nice long Christmas break in which I intended to spend a lot of time play Dragon Age because I had a nice long Christmas break.
That sucks. Looks like you have spend time with your girlfriend. Boohoo.

My only complaint about Dragon's Age is the lack of intelligence with the computer controlled characters. I enjoy exerting a certain amount of control over all of the characters but it is ridiculous how much hand-holding I have to do.

"Alistair, I want you to attack the big group of mobs right there, okay? No. What are you doing. Why are you attacking a wall. Stop talking to the barrel. What the hell Alistair you're going the wrong way! No! Monster! MONSTER! Thanks you asshole, now Morrigan is dead."