Varric is a fan-favorite companion in Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age: Inquisition. His character broke many fantasy dwarf cliches, as he hated tradition, had no beard, and preferred ranged weapons. Many fans loved him enough to wish they could romance him, but Varric was better suited as a wingman and friend.
It was revealed in an interview with Game Informer that Varric actually went through a ton of changes before he was finalized for Dragon Age 2. According to the interview with BioWare lead writer David Gaider, Varric actually was going to be a "sleazy slimeball." That is quite a far cry from the Varric fans know and love today.
Varric: What Could Have Been
In the beginning, according to Gaider, Varric was written to be untrustworthy. He was not to be the charming rogue, but the sort of rogue that lies and cheats without style, while caring little about others. This early concept makes sense, as Gaider also mentioned that it is a misconception that BioWare developers want players to love all party members. What is more important to them is how the characters serve the story and balance out each other's personalities. A sleazy rogue would have fit for a character raised in the city of Kirkwall and living in a tavern.
Varric being a more immoral character likely would have affected a lot. It would have affected Varric's relationship with the Dwarven Merchants' Guild, his brother, and he likely would have spoken to Cassandra a little differently during his interrogation. It definitely would have changed how he interacted with other characters like Merrill, Aveline, and Isabela. However, it was actually the role of other characters that made writers decide to take Varric in a different direction.
Dragon Age: Why Varric Was Changed
It was the balance of personalities that ultimately decided the fate of Varric's character. The BioWare writers realized that Varric would be better off as a dependable friend and one who cares for other people. This was because of the other companions they developed for Dragon Age 2. The other companions did not offer Hawke solid ground. All the other characters had very divisive personalities, often wrapped up in the Mage versus Templar debate, blood magic, Kirkwall's guards, piracy, and family drama. BioWare realized Hawke needed a character that would stand up for them and act as a shelter in a storm amongst such a chaotic group.
This decision turned out to be a great idea. Varric balanced very well with other characters, as he was opinionated and down-to-earth. He also had charisma and knowledge of Kirkwall that none of the others had. He kept a taste of his original concept as well, as he was still known to lie and know a good deal about crime. However, BioWare kept him lovable. He was sassy but also had a compassionate streak. At times, Varric is even wise.
How Varric's Changes Affected Dragon Age: Inquisition
Varric returning to Inquisition could have been totally different if BioWare stuck to its original concept for him. It's possible he would not have been in the game at all, because he would not have been as popular with fans. If he still returned to Inquisition with the original concept, he likely would have been more antagonistic to Cassanrda, not care about Cole, and not get along with characters like Solas, Vivienne, and Dorian.
However, the Varric fans knew and loved maintained a down-to-earth personality in Dragon Age: Inquisition. He was still the sort of character that could get along with most others. Fans loved him all the more because of how protective he was of Hawke. It was revealed he knew where Hawke was the whole time and lied to Cassandra. His reason seemed to be out of love and respect for Hawke, as he said, "You people have done enough to them." That is a line that would not have existed if BioWare stuck to the original concept.
Dragon Age 4 is in development.