Dragon Age

[tmp]

Oh yeah another thing. How the heck does anyone manage to get on the good sides of both Leliana and Morrigan?

I've skipped most of the k10rats and wasn't a cock to them when speaking in the camp. With couple gifts to each it ended with something like 80-90 rating with them both.

Morrigan likes to bitch but the disapproval hits she gets are pretty minor.

[Sky]

Or just leave Morrigan pouting over in her own little camp area like the cool kid she is. I laughed and thought of WUA last night when there was a cut scene after the elves of Lel singing a tune for us and Morrigan just shook her head. I guess maybe Sten was supposed to be in her little campsite, and that elven kid? Yeah, they're not in my game, har har.

I still have her as an archer with some grenades. I put her on supplemental damage and CC, she's got the knockdown shot and pin can help when mobs get on Wynne. I've gotten into a decent groove with the 2h templar/Alistair/Wynne/Leliana lineup. I still miss Bartdog, though. But I feel from an rp perspective that I should have Al with me, we are the last two Wardens, after all, and I don't see taking three warriors out. I almost wish I had taken another class as human noble just for the rp angle of having the dog and Al, it seems like they would be the natural group for that background.

[stray]

Yeah, I don't care much for the cool kids either. Although I'm not exactly "good" on my warrior. I try to be neutral, which I believe is what the wardens are all about. Even so, being neutral makes them a pain in the ass.

[murdoc]

I'm trying to play the game as 'good by any means necessary', but I don't always quite accomplish that. i wussed out with the urn and kinda want to do the Dalish area again as I don't think the choices I made are quite fitting for how I was trying to play my character.

Wynne didn't survive our first encounter. Actually, a lot of people haven't survived our first encounters. I keep killing people, but Leliana still thinks I'm awesome. With some of her dialogue it almost seems like I'm corrupting her a bit.

[Rasix]

With some of her dialogue it almost seems like I'm corrupting her a bit.

With her past, probably not as much as you'd think.  She's been there.

I've found the most effective usage for Lel is mage slaying (she also makes a pretty good ranger) by having her auto target mages and use a nice arrow of slaying on them (need some more stam).  I feel bad that I've forgotten about how the rogue auto-crit on stun ability would work great with her, especially in focus firing down yellow mages, so I'm working toward that now. 

Even without, she's pushing around 25% of party damage, which isn't bad at all.  Shale doesn't do much, Wynne does very little, while the arcane mage has been doing the bulk.  Requiring very little healing and rarely dying is another plus.

Still, I wish there was another rogue available.  I don't want to bring along Zev for my puppy kicker run. 

[jakonovski]

Starting my Dwarf Warrior playthrough, and I noticed I haven't gotten the recruit all party members achievement. I'm pretty much 100% sure I haven't missed any. How odd.

[Rasix]

Starting my Dwarf Warrior playthrough, and I noticed I haven't gotten the recruit all party members achievement. I'm pretty much 100% sure I haven't missed any. How odd.

[jakonovski]

Ohhhhhhh!

[01101010]

Starting my Dwarf Warrior playthrough, and I noticed I haven't gotten the recruit all party members achievement. I'm pretty much 100% sure I haven't missed any. How odd.

[Ingmar]

Oh yeah another thing. How the heck does anyone manage to get on the good sides of both Leliana and Morrigan? Morrigan is a pain in the ass if you want to do anything "nice" in the game. While Lel is the flipside. Cockblockers, the both of them.

Not even sure why so many of you like playing Sten either. He might be the worst character.

Gifts, in-camp dialogue, and persuade skill. There is typically an option, when Morrigan is about to get pissed off at something, to persuade her down to a smaller (or no) penalty as part of the conversation. Not sure if Leliana has a similar setup when you're making choices she doesn't like, as the only playthrough so far that I've used her in the party I was doing 'good' options that she liked.

Also Sten is a very interesting character, but you have to get him up in happiness before he'll really open up at all. If you've just got him sitting at neutral and in camp being unused, yeah he doesn't do much other than give you one word answers. He likes paintings, btw.

Still, I wish there was another rogue available.  I don't want to bring along Zev for my puppy kicker run. 

You could grab that no-autolevel-for-npcs mod and make Leliana a stabby rogue just for variety?

[eldaec]

Jade Empire was their first attempt at departing from D&D, incorporating more action, creating their own lore... So it was hit and miss, I guess. But they finally are in their groove. Which is why I think Jade needs to be revisited. Or something like it. I'd just like to play something like this, but more Asian or tribal or exotic.. as opposed to high fantasy (I dig that too though, of course). As much as I like Asian RPG's, I like how these western styled rpgs play out too. You'd never get a Bioware type of game from Asia.


I don't know why nobody likes Leliana. She's cool. A bit goody, but if you're playing a good character, it fits. It didn't dawn on me at first, but she's sort of... Joan of Arc like. Not just because she's French either! I dunno.. she's a cool character.

If it wasn't for EA, I'd be excited by what they've done with the Dragon Age world - there is plenty you could do in future games set there despite being superficially generic fantasy. There is enormous scope for basing less generic rpgs around specific conflicts and concepts introduced in Origins, I imagine Bioware see themselves basing several big games in this universe.

Unfortunately, it will never happen because EA. So I expect a couple of years of DLC loot dungeons at $5 a pop and a half hearted expansion, by which point Bioware will be completely gutted of talent and we'll never see a product like this from them ever again.

 

And I like Lel, she's light years ahead of kotor's obvious_female_trope_001-999 characters. It is just unfortunate that rogues suck monkey balls.

[Bunk]

I had planned on using Zev for my mean playthrough, but I couldn't drop Leliana for him. I find her just fine as an archer, personally.

I just took my first huge hit on Alister (-29) for a decision I made in Redcliff. If only he new what I really chose to do there...

[Lakov_Sanite]

I had planned on using Zev for my mean playthrough, but I couldn't drop Leliana for him. I find her just fine as an archer, personally.

I just took my first huge hit on Alister (-29) for a decision I made in Redcliff. If only he new what I really chose to do there...

With persuasion and a bit of creative truthfulness *cough* I only took a -9 hit from that, gave him some nice bracers and he was happy again. I can't figure out if I'm playing a good guy or bad guy, I think my mage(max persuasion at level 10) is all about saying whatever he can to get the best possible reward. meta-gaming? maybe but I like to think he's just a habitual liar. Thus far I've convinced liliana that morrigan and i were just "talking" in her tent and she should relax...which she believed and is still sweet on me.

[Yegolev]

I guess maybe Sten was supposed to be in her little campsite,

Sten is too cool to stand near fires.  Being warmed by something is showing weakness.

[tmp]

Besides Sten prefers his mages with their tongues cut out.

[stray]

If it wasn't for EA, I'd be excited by what they've done with the Dragon Age world - there is plenty you could do in future games set there despite being superficially generic fantasy. There is enormous scope for basing less generic rpgs around specific conflicts and concepts introduced in Origins, I imagine Bioware see themselves basing several big games in this universe.

Unfortunately, it will never happen because EA. So I expect a couple of years of DLC loot dungeons at $5 a pop and a half hearted expansion, by which point Bioware will be completely gutted of talent and we'll never see a product like this from them ever again.

 

And I like Lel, she's light years ahead of kotor's obvious_female_trope_001-999 characters. It is just unfortunate that rogues suck monkey balls.

I don't think it's generic fantasy per se. A little dependent on real life myths actually, and not in a Tolkien-esque way. It's transparent.. Like Flemeth and Morrigan for example. Or how Highever seems to be some form of Scotland or something. In fact I was a little irritated by that at first. I'm a little "OCD" when it comes to creating RPG characters, so I felt pigeonholed as a Human Noble. Seriously, I'm insane and not proud of it. Like, I started wigging out on how my character concepts fit. Anyhow, I made my Duncan McCleod ripoff warrior, and fuck it if he doesn't look like a Scot.   Neither do the McCleods. But my point is, I could have used a more "generic" setting. I feel like the game lacks that option, unless you're a mage. There should have definitely been a Human Commoner origin.

[Ingmar]

I think the very specific origin stories are the best thing they've done, personally. They do much more to make the character feel a genuine part of the world than the more generic backgrounds that these sorts of games have had in the past (Torment style games excepted.) It's pretty cool how the human noble is getting recognized everywhere he/she goes, etc., and that different encounters play out differently for the other origins, even if it is largely cosmetic. It helps immersion immensely. Yes, it comes at the cost of some amount of customization in terms of ethnicity and such. They've left themselves a lot of room to explore other stuff around that in the future though.

I do know there were some other origins planned that got cut (a human Avvar barbarian one for example). Seems like something that could conceivably be added in later through DLC, although maybe the cost of adding extra interactions to the existing encounters would mean that it wouldn't be as fully integrated as the first 6.

[sidereal]

On the topic of potential future expansions, I like that they've balanced between setting features that are global and those that are specific to Ferelden.  The Blight seems to be global, Grey Wardens are global, the Deep Roads seems to stretch over an area much larger than Ferelden.  I don't recall whether the way Templars work and interact with Mages is global, but I believe so.

So in the future you could develop a storyline in Orlais or with the Qunari or even further out, but you'd still have some foundational elements that would keep it familiar.

[tmp]

I don't recall whether the way Templars work and interact with Mages is global, but I believe so.

I believe they are since the Chantry which runs them is a "product" of Orlais and based in their capital city. Might be different for the mages in Tevinter.

[Engels]

Maybe someone's already said in this epic thread, but at what point do you get to specialize? I already got my specialize point, but the 4 fields remain locked on my level up windows.

[01101010]

Maybe someone's already said in this epic thread, but at what point do you get to specialize? I already got my specialize point, but the 4 fields remain locked on my level up windows.

Have to unlock the spec you want by doing the quest or talking to a trainer for it. Then (i assume) the next time you level you get to pop it into your spec talent.

--I assume since I leveled up right before finishing the urn quest and unlocked reaver at the end of it but can't slot it by any means that I found.

[rattran]

Unlock the specs, and get the points for them at level 7 and 14. Reaver was a disappointment, as was berserker.

As for how to unlock the specs, seems there's 2 ways for most of them, but not all.

[stray]

Once you unlock though, it's a one time thing.

Warrior specs... Probably going against the status quo here, but as far as how this game and that class plays out -- Temp and Champ are the two better specs. It's easy to write off Temp since you have Alister, but really.. It's plenty useful for your own character. Templars kick ass.

[rk47]

Unlock the specs, and get the points for them at level 7 and 14. Reaver was a disappointment, as was berserker.

As for how to unlock the specs, seems there's 2 ways for most of them, but not all.

Berserker is pretty much increased damage ++ at the price of your stamina. Berserk activation adds decent damage when you have Shield Expertise + Assault.
Champion is party buffer most of the time.
Reaver is somewhat offensive tanker with slight CC and PBAOE aura.
Templar is situational use skills. The 4th tier ranged AoE stun is good, but the stamina cost is really steep, most of the time I don't have any stamina to do anything else, better let Leliana use Scatter Shot instead, but cleansing is pretty nice when you got hit with a No-Heals-4-You debuff.

[stray]

Situational use, but Templar makes some tricky situations "less than tricky". Or just keeping Alister around is good too. I feel that he's underrated. He gets rid of magic threats quickly. Plus, he's one of the best party members. The game is much better with him, whinyness aside.

As for the main character though, Champ is the best spec in my opinion, and Temp if you have points to spare.

Has anyone found the Warrior warden keep abilities useful? I hate them. Rogue gets a passive though.

[Rasix]

Oghren is hilarious.  Ohh god, "grease up the bronto".  

"Excuse me, I'll be in my tent for a moment.. "

[veredus]

Only gotten them on my rogue and my mage so far. I like the rogue passive, don't even remember what the second rogue one is as don't use it. I like both the mage ones. I use the health to mana and the nuke all the time. With Death magic up using health for a nuke is no big deal. No idea on the warrior ones though.

[tmp]

Oghren is hilarious.

Oghren told me yesterday he'd think of me if he and his girl ever... then he reflected "actually no, that'd be gross."

[Njal]

And I like Lel, she's light years ahead of kotor's obvious_female_trope_001-999 characters. It is just unfortunate that rogues suck monkey balls.

I'm currently playing with Leliana and myself as stabby rogues with Morrigan and Wynne as healbots. We mow things down, momentum with two daggers is awesome, especially if you throw some poisons on. It takes until level 9 or so to really come into its own but now I don't even bother micromanaging my mages unless someone gets grabbed or similar and to lockdown any mages.

[Sky]

I haven't unlocked the Champion yet, and just hit level 14. Bah. Have to look that one up. Didn't take the Warden's Keep abilities. Blood magic bad. Alistair is great and last night I just finished off my 2h trees, so I'll also be focusing on Templar a bit, maybe the second warrior tree. In the ruined temple with a ton of goddamned misdirection hex mages who love to paste that on my 2h warrior, then I have Al pop his cleanse area (though we do lose our frost weapons until Wynne can recast). Been really helpful there, be nice to have both of us with it (as well as draining mana) for when we split up in bigger battles.

Still trying to fight my inner minmax and ditch the cheesy blood dragon armor. What was the art team thinking? Want to wear the warden armor or the juggernaut, they look so much better it's laughable.

[murdoc]

I sold the Blood Dragon armour right off the bat. Currently, Sten is rocking the Juggernaught armour and I got my Arcane Blood Mage in Dragon Scale Plate.

[Bunk]

Maybe someone's already said in this epic thread, but at what point do you get to specialize? I already got my specialize point, but the 4 fields remain locked on my level up windows.

Have to unlock the spec you want by doing the quest or talking to a trainer for it. Then (i assume) the next time you level you get to pop it into your spec talent.

--I assume since I leveled up right before finishing the urn quest and unlocked reaver at the end of it but can't slot it by any means that I found.

You can pick a spec mid level by going to the character tab and hitting the level up button. It will bring up the interface and let you pick the spec. Doesn't mean much, since you have no talent points to spend, but you can say you did it!

[Raguel]

Is there a book or something that will give a char another spec?

[Reg]

Yeah you can buy books to unlock most of the specs at various vendors.  And once they're unlocked they stay unlocked even if you restore to a save taken before you spend the gold to buy the book. 

[Raguel]

Yeah you can buy books to unlock most of the specs at various vendors.  And once they're unlocked they stay unlocked even if you restore to a save taken before you spend the gold to buy the book. 

lol

But the reason I asked is that I made Morrigan a spirtual healer for the group heal, but I also wanted to make her an arcane warrior for the armor. Speaking of mages, I really haven't come across any real cool stuff, and Im close to finishing the treaty quests