Apple314

If you've played the game, the title should make sense. If not... what are you waiting for? Dragon Age is set in a quasi-medieval world known as Thedas. It always reminds me of if JRR Tolkein and GRR Martin did a book together. You've got your standard races (Elf, Dwarf, Human) plus Qunari which is.. totally different. Humans and Elves can both be mages and go to a sort of Hogwarts, if Hogwarts was a prison instead of a school. You have the politics of the world which play a huge role in the story, and in many ways are what kicks off your role in the plot. You have your end-of-the-world apocalypse scenarios that you must defeat. Also, Dragons!

Keep in mind this is a personal view, not a definitive this-ones-better-then-this list.

1. Human Noble Origin
Okay, so you're the child of the second-highest ranked noble house in the country, second only to royalty, and they get killed in front of you and you have to go on the run for your life. Have you heard this one before? It is a fantasy standard, and I love it because of that! It's a little cliche, but I love playing out such a familiar story. The Couslands are all sweet characters (although I do believe their attitudes towards you can change depending on your choices during the origin) that their fate at the end really does have the impact it should. And the man who kills your family is so easy to hate, it gives your character a nice motivation for revenge (if you want to play it that way). I also like the fact it gives some other options for solving a big decision later in the game. Special mention for being the easiest way to obtain Dog, too!
2. City Elf Origin
Again, you meet a group of lovable characters and watch as bad things happen to them. Shianni especially I felt protective of easily. I tend to rank based on how much I cared about the characters in each origin. It just helps make the origins feel more personal. Seeing characters again later in the game is awesome, too, I like it when characters from the origins come back later in the game. Getting to take revenge on Evil McEvilpants during the origin and not just later in the game feels very cathartic. This origin also contains what I personally consider to be the most distasteful evil option in any Bioware game, ever.
3. Dwarf Commoner Origin
This one accomplishes something few other origins do - introducing and informing you about the culture and making it entertaining. You also get a character to love - Rica! I don't know if anyone could play this origin and not feel instantly protective of her. Duncan gifts you a weapon in this one, because you never had much of anything growing up, and it's the nicest thing I'd ever seen. I wish all the origins had had a similar moment, but it does make sense in this one.
4. Mage Origin
Playing as a mage is awesome! The origin not so much. Although you do meet Jowan who plays into the story later, and going back to the mage tower is better as a mage, I don't like the origin itself. It's the lack of choice actually that gets me. Jowan and his friend Lily want me to help them escape. If I do, I... get caught by the Templars and made a Grey Warden. If I go and tell the Senior Enchanter, I... get caught by the Templars and made a Grey Warden. You can't win with this origin, and it annoys me.
5. Dalish Elf Origin
It's not that it's bad, it's just that it's forgettable as far as the origins go. The characters, except for Merrill, aren't memorable. Until DA2 at least, none of the characters from this origin played a role in the story, and not interacting with them again in DAO feels weird. Also, I don't feel like you prove yourself in this origin. In the rest, the reason you're made a Grey Warden is because Duncan saw you fight at one point and was impressed. Now, you do end up having no other choice but to become one - the point is Duncan was impressed first. In this one, you have to take the Grey Warden ritual because you became sick with the blight. Duncan didn't really have much of a reason to make you a Warden (something which is supposed to be a huge honour) except to try and save your life. Also, I think it is the shortest origin.
6. Dwarf Noble Origin
Sorry, Dwarf Noble, but I don't much like your brothers. I don't care about the characters in this origin, and it means that I didn't end up caring about their fate. However, playing this origin after completing the game once meant I was spoiled about a certain characters true motives, so maybe that didn't help. And also, you have to go into the Deep Roads during this origin. I hate the Deep Roads, I get enough of them during the main game!