

Keep all interactions with Sten brief, he prefers more frequent brief conversations and 'let's get on with it' to long heart to hearts. Sten is only interested in defeating the darkspawn and stopping the blight (like Morrigan) and anything that is not directly related to that will cause a loss of approval (except, of course, for their personal quests). There is also a totem for Sten, but you won't have come across that yet. Some gifts are particular to one companion (that is, one companion particularly likes them) while others are general. As you explore, use whatever key you have bound to show selectable objects and pick up every single 'gift' item there is. As others have said, Sten likes paintings.
