Dragon Age

[Morat20]

Heh, some of us didn't have computers that would run DA until after our wives bought us the game for Xmas.

At least, that's my excuse for playing it on the Xbox.

That's mine. My computer is some seven years old. I've...added a hard drive, replaced the video card when it ate itself, and added some RAM. It won't play DA.

Got my wife's PC at the same time --- last night got to play "Where's that burning electrical smell coming from" -- her case, as it turns out. Luckily, she has a laptop, so her desktop is basically just a network drive these days. A backed up one, thankfully.

Much as I prefer PC gaming, I just can't bring myself to go back to constant upgrades.

[stray]

I played on the PS3 because it's ezmode. 

[Engels]

Define constant upgrades? Been using my 8800GT for the last two years without a serious need to get a new vid card.

Anyways, some games are made for the console, like Arkham Asylum. PC port is decent, but the keymappings are ackward without getting a console controller for the PC.

[Sky]

You should have a 360 controller for your pc. Batman:AA is perfect with it.

[Morat20]

Define constant upgrades? Been using my 8800GT for the last two years without a serious need to get a new vid card.

Although it has gotten better, I was used to either buying bleeding edge OR facing a processor replacement within 3 years, a videocard every 2 years, and of course the constant maintaince required to keep Windows running semi-functionally. And, of course, not to mention the ever lasting fun of "Why doesn't this game play nice with my damn video card".

When I stopped playing FPS and other graphics-intensive stuff, that helped a lot. Now my PC plays, um, WoW, Spore, and stuff like Civilization and the Total War stuff (not the new one). RTS's and sim games, mostly. And WoW.

I switched to consoles because, well, my wife bought it (she's always preferred them) and it was so damn convienent. Shit worked on it. I didn't have to keep dicking with the graphics settings, or constantly update my damn drivers because the latest patch caused my particular ATI card to decide to pixelate the screen instead of render, or decide whether I needed another gig of ram or whether it was time to just build a new box....

Yeah, the downside is no patches, the FPS play isn't as fun, and RTS's are an exercise in self-hatred. On the other hand, most of my friends have a 360 and similiar taste in games, so I can generally get together and play stuff that way.

I'm due to buy a new PC anyways -- mine really is ancient, but I've been putting it off until my employment situation is resolved (end of contract for me is in September. Not a time to make new purchases until I'm sure to be employed).

Back to Dragon Age: Just finished up the Dalish stuff. I sided with the werewolves and killed Tuvok (the head elf guy, he's voiced by the guy that plays Tuvok on Voyager, right? Or am I just imagining shit) and, well, frankly it was a really easy fight.

I was expecting something like Broodmother. Now I'm planning to go back and, um, deal with Flemath and that dragon on the mountain top. Any suggestions for those fights? My main party is me (mage), Alistair, Leliana, and Wynne. I was thinking of subbing in Shale for Alistair, if I can work out his crystals, for Flemath at least. With matched crystals (convert all damage to, say, spirit with the crystal that adds like 50% or so spirit resistance), I'm pretty sure he can tank easily enough.

[Bunk]

I just did Flemmeth last night with Me (rogue) Allister, Lelianna, and Wynne at 13th/14th. Took two tries on normal. Second time, secret was standing Wynne as far away from everyone else as possible and concentrating all her healing on Al while he took the brunt of the damage. This left my two rogues to DPS her down. Anytime she turned on my main rogue, I'd use healing pots and back off, so Al would regain her attention. Secret seems to be waiting to heal Al just before she does her Massive Attack, so that he's at full and survives it. It wasn't easy though, Wynn was the only one standing and ended up finishing her off. Plus I had to Revive the two meleers once.

Only time I've successfully won against the one on the mountain was when I cheesed her out - she got her head stuck in the landscape and couldn't move.

[Morat20]

I just did Flemmeth last night with Me (rogue) Allister, Lelianna, and Wynne at 13th/14th. Took two tries on normal. Second time, secret was standing Wynne as far away from everyone else as possible and concentrating all her healing on Al while he took the brunt of the damage. This left my two rogues to DPS her down. Anytime she turned on my main rogue, I'd use healing pots and back off, so Al would regain her attention. Secret seems to be waiting to heal Al just before she does her Massive Attack, so that he's at full and survives it. It wasn't easy though, Wynn was the only one standing and ended up finishing her off. Plus I had to Revive the two meleers once.

Only time I've successfully won against the one on the mountain was when I cheesed her out - she got her head stuck in the landscape and couldn't move.

I hear Shale more or less shrugs off the Massive Attack if he's got stoneheart on. I think I'm going to wait a level so I can take a rank in Arcane Mage and get some slightly better armor on me.

I thought about trying a run and freeze approach to her -- I might just drop a blizzard and a lightning storm on top of her and exploit the hell out of dampened friendly fire. :)

[eldaec]

Only time I've successfully won against the one on the mountain was when I cheesed her out - she got her head stuck in the landscape and couldn't move.

Drakeskin armour, warmth balms, + fire resistence up the wazoo, the axe amd the sword with +damage vs dragons, damage from mods and runes (not talent attacks) and three warriors + wynne spamming regeneration from way back over there.

Same recipe for Flemeth or the Dragons.

[Azuredream]

Warriors have a skill that allows them to be immune to knockdown with Shield Wall up. Cone of Cold is really useful on the High Dragon & Flemeth. I think it's been said before but setting a tactic on all your melee and your tank to take a health pot when they get <50% (or whatever percent you want) is useful as well. 2h warriors with Indomitable activated are also immune to knockdown.

[taolurker]

Two handed Indomitable also is immune to knockdown and the dragon Massive Attack.

[Ingmar]

You can also cheese the high dragon with an entirely ranged party. Stay in the shadows under the little bridge thing and the dragon will just hop back and forth between the open spaces to either side and fireball you, but won't come under the bridge for melee. You'll still need healing, but the incoming damage is an order of magnitude less.

That said on my 2nd playthrough I really had no trouble dropping either dragon with a melee dominant strategy. The spell in the force line that increases armor penetration for the party is good for those fights.

[Raguel]

You can also cheese the high dragon with an entirely ranged party. Stay in the shadows under the little bridge thing and the dragon will just hop back and forth between the open spaces to either side and fireball you, but won't come under the bridge for melee. You'll still need healing, but the incoming damage is an order of magnitude less.

That said on my 2nd playthrough I really had no trouble dropping either dragon with a melee dominant strategy. The spell in the force line that increases armor penetration for the party is good for those fights.

that's good to know. I wasn't sure that spell was doing its job, but then again I rarely use it.

[Velorath]

Ostagar DLC is up on Xbox Live now.  Supposed to be up for the PC later today.  No word on the PS3 version besides "later".


Edit: Also, people might be interested to know that Mass Effect 2 is up for pre-order on Steam now in both regular and digital deluxe editions.

[Morat20]

Ostagar DLC is up on Xbox Live now.  Supposed to be up for the PC later today.  No word on the PS3 version besides "later".


Edit: Also, people might be interested to know that Mass Effect 2 is up for pre-order on Steam now in both regular and digital deluxe editions.

Since my work keeps me away from all the sites that might give me some info -- what's in the new DLC? I have the others (Stone Prisoner + Blood Armor with game, and bought Warden's Keep mostly for the stash), so what's it going for on Xbox Live?

[Velorath]

Ostagar DLC is up on Xbox Live now.  Supposed to be up for the PC later today.  No word on the PS3 version besides "later".


Edit: Also, people might be interested to know that Mass Effect 2 is up for pre-order on Steam now in both regular and digital deluxe editions.

Since my work keeps me away from all the sites that might give me some info -- what's in the new DLC? I have the others (Stone Prisoner + Blood Armor with game, and bought Warden's Keep mostly for the stash), so what's it going for on Xbox Live?

It goes for 400 MS points on Live which is about $4.99.  From what people are saying it's only about an hour long.

[CmdrSlack]

So, having just finished warden's keep -- basically, you get a new merchant and some nifty armor out of it?

It was crazy late when I played through it, I guess I could have missed something really big.

[Ingmar]

So, having just finished warden's keep -- basically, you get a new merchant and some nifty armor out of it?

It was crazy late when I played through it, I guess I could have missed something really big.

There's also the opportunity to get some weird new powers, a very, very badass sword, and whatever enjoyment you might derive from the actual process of playing through it.

[Morat20]

So, having just finished warden's keep -- basically, you get a new merchant and some nifty armor out of it?

It was crazy late when I played through it, I guess I could have missed something really big.

The new merchant has a box next to him -- stores about 100 or so items in it. There's a new set of armor, and there was a nice potion you could drink during the quest that gives you a nice set of powers. (You can, I suspect, still run up and quaff it).

Also, the merchant's brother is a swordsmith, and sooner or later you'll hit a random encounter that'll leave you staring at a meteor crater and you can grab yourself some meteor iron and he'll make you a pretty sweet sword out of it.

[Ingmar]

I don't think you can go in again to get the potion actually? Maybe I'm misremembering.

[eldaec]

You can't go in to the keep again once you leave.

I missed one of the visions in there and can't complete the quest as a result.

[Khaldun]

BTW, I thought the whole sequence in the Fade from the Circle part of the storyline was just great. Really intuitive puzzle-making, very compelling.

[Ingmar]

BTW, I thought the whole sequence in the Fade from the Circle part of the storyline was just great. Really intuitive puzzle-making, very compelling.

Yeah it seems to be a love it/hate it thing. I liked it, but the people who didn't REALLY didn't like it.

[eldaec]

BTW, I thought the whole sequence in the Fade from the Circle part of the storyline was just great. Really intuitive puzzle-making, very compelling.

Yeah, it's fine first time through. But now play it a second and third time - see how long it takes to ....

a) get eye strain from the fucking awful post process effects that all games overdo now (can you seriously imagine a film maker getting away with 3 continuous hours of the filter used in the fade? Bullshit)
b) fall asleep
c) ragequit

[CmdrSlack]

So, having just finished warden's keep -- basically, you get a new merchant and some nifty armor out of it?

It was crazy late when I played through it, I guess I could have missed something really big.

The new merchant has a box next to him -- stores about 100 or so items in it. There's a new set of armor, and there was a nice potion you could drink during the quest that gives you a nice set of powers. (You can, I suspect, still run up and quaff it).

Also, the merchant's brother is a swordsmith, and sooner or later you'll hit a random encounter that'll leave you staring at a meteor crater and you can grab yourself some meteor iron and he'll make you a pretty sweet sword out of it.

Ah cool. I got those powers, etc. No meteor crater yet, but hopefully "soon."

[Riggswolfe]

BTW, I thought the whole sequence in the Fade from the Circle part of the storyline was just great. Really intuitive puzzle-making, very compelling.

Yeah, it's fine first time through. But now play it a second and third time - see how long it takes to ....

a) get eye strain from the fucking awful post process effects that all games overdo now (can you seriously imagine a film maker getting away with 3 continuous hours of the filter used in the fade? Bullshit)
b) fall asleep
c) ragequit

2nd and 3rd time in the Fade is fast and easy. You know where to go and what to do and so can blow through it with little problem.

[Riggswolfe]

Ah cool. I got those powers, etc. No meteor crater yet, but hopefully "soon."

The easiest way to get the Meteor Crater cutscene is to circle the map between Flemeth's Hut, Denerim and Lake Callenhad. It's a rare encounter but the sword you can make is worth it. I think it's the best sword in the game.

[veredus]

I have always gotten the cutscene for the meteor by travelling to Honnleath (sp?), even if already gotten Shale it seems to work.

[stray]

The Fade gameplay is done well, but I think it'd probably be appreciated more without the fuzzy/dreamy atmosphere. It's already dumb to make people play through anything that looks the same for too long, let alone something that intentionally looks like crap.

[Raguel]

I've never seen a company Fail harder at an update than Bioware with this RtO business. Well, outside of mmogs 

[Velorath]

The DLC has apparently been pulled from Live due to some sort of bug with specializations.

[Raguel]

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/9/index/699211/1

It's almost universal: ranger suxors. I just don't see it. Yes, I hate to have to re summon a pet when I zone, but IMO having a pet is like having a damage add + damage absorption + stun buff.  I guess I need to do another playthrough as duelist + assasin to compare. 

On second thought, I really should get ME1 from Steam so I don't feel like a schmuck when I pre-order ME2.

[Azazel]

They're pimping a $40 expansion already on Steam. Good to see they're going for DLC, day-1 DLC and traditional expansions in an attempt to extract as much as money as possible via all of the existing channels.

I regret buying this now. I should have waited a year or so for the GoTY/Gold edition with all of this shit included. (as well as the no-doubt future exclusive DLC that can only be gotten through the inevitable GotY/Gold pack!)

[Lakov_Sanite]

They're pimping a $40 expansion already on Steam. Good to see they're going for DLC, day-1 DLC and traditional expansions in an attempt to extract as much as money as possible via all of the existing channels.

I regret buying this now. I should have waited a year or so for the GoTY/Gold edition with all of this shit included. (as well as the no-doubt future exclusive DLC that can only be gotten through the inevitable GotY/Gold pack!)

Not worth it imo.  Dragon age was fun enough with an interesting if derivative story but I'm ok with waiting until a proper sequel.

[Goreschach]

Yeah, fuck them. Three months out, and they'll have already whipped out enough content for ten dollars less the original box? My ass.

[Venkman]

Would it help if they put in raiding?