Dragon Age 2 - Here be spoilers.

[stray]

@Sjofn: You've probably realized this already, but Bethany (and I guess Carver) is available. Not bugged. You just have to form your group a second time after the Hightown intro scene, when Tallis wants you to go to the Chateau.

[Sjofn]

I knew that, I guess I just didn't notice Bethany light up the second time I was at that screen in my first playthrough. And she's dead in my Manhawke Rogue game, so ...

[stray]

I knew that, I guess I just didn't notice Bethany light up the second time I was at that screen in my first playthrough. And she's dead in my Manhawke Rogue game, so ...

Cool.

Anyways, I think I hate this DLC more than I like it. The parts that I like (the Orlesian party of all things) is hardly there. I can't even talk more with Leliana about issues that are actually important to the two of us. And I'm forced either way to help Qunari. Why do I need to care? They're not even "honorable" opponents. They beat up and execute people - civilians - half their size. Even if I tell Tallis to give me the scroll, I have no control over it. The whole story is about her and her control over things. I might as well have played as her then.

[rk47]

Think Dragon Age DLC that they churn out is shit compared to Mass Effect series. That's why I always am wary of the sequel's work. I admit, DA: O was very polished, but seeing DA2 main campaign into a complete storyline clusterfuck, I decide not to even bother about the DLC.

After reading someone's playthrough of the Legacy, and confirming that Bioware still don't understand the concept of choice and consequences, I decide to just ignore any future planned Dragon Age DLC.

[stray]

Think Dragon Age DLC that they churn out is shit compared to Mass Effect series. That's why I always am wary of the sequel's work. I admit, DA: O was very polished, but seeing DA2 main campaign into a complete storyline clusterfuck, I decide not to even bother about the DLC.

After reading someone's playthrough of the Legacy, and confirming that Bioware still don't understand the concept of choice and consequences, I decide to just ignore any future planned Dragon Age DLC.

There are improvements in the design and content of the DLC, but my priorities as a player are about story and agency.. umm roleplaying. Graphics and unrecycled zones is nice, but it only satisfies me somewhat.

 DA2 seems more about setting up a world rather than letting you have any part in it. Things will happen no matter what you do. At best, you're just some bumbling catalyst like Forrest Gump. Which would be funny, but Hawke was billed as "The most important person in Thedas".

And the sad thing is, they are completely aware of it. This DLC has Hawke himself facepalm and question why he lets himself get dragged into things and lied to. That annoys me more than if the writers were just stupid. Instead, they're are all too aware, and intentionally writing it that way.

edit: This all begs the question why I've even played. I guess I'm reclusive and bored lately.. and like trainwrecks.

Oh well, I have some game saves to transfer to a sequel now, if it turns out well.

[Ingmar]

Was Raiders of the Lost Ark a bad movie because Indiana Jones literally has no effect on the outcome of it at all?

[Sjofn]

And the sad thing is, they are completely aware of it. This DLC has Hawke himself facepalm and question why he lets himself get dragged into things and lied to. That annoys me more than if the writers were just stupid. Instead, they're are all too aware, and intentionally writing it that way.

It's like inevitability and futility are major themes of Dragon Age 2 or something.

[stray]

Was Raiders of the Lost Ark a bad movie because Indiana Jones literally has no effect on the outcome of it at all?

Hmm.. This is going to sound bad, but I don't remember enough about it. Last Crusade sticks in my mind a lot though (and I hated Temple of Doom.. but this is all beside the point).

It's obvious what plot points they just want to drive home though. It just sucks that you really play little part in it. And even if they want to push this particular plot, then they could have handled it better. Rather than having Hawke simply not do anything about Tallis' papers.

"Now that I know what they are, give them to me."

"No."

"Hmm.. OK."

You could have at least reached for them, and maybe got a little scuffle, and she poofed/vanished on you. Or better yet, the minute you do choose to do something, another group of Qunari show up - this time the ones on her side. Something dramatic like that. If you're going to force a plot, then might as well do it where your character doesn't look like an idiot. Especially Hawke, who can pretty much steamroll anyone he wants to.

[Sjofn]

Indiana Jones basically bumbles from one adventure to the next, not accomplishing a goddamn thing, throughout Raiders of the Lost Ark. He looks hot doing it, though.

[stray]

Indiana Jones basically bumbles from one adventure to the next, not accomplishing a goddamn thing, throughout Raiders of the Lost Ark. He looks hot doing it, though.

This is more like how I remember his dad in Last Crusade. Except the hot part. Heh

[rk47]

Indiana Jones is a movie. The moment you compare Bioware's lack of choices to a movie, that's when you accept that JRPGs linear progression cum dating game is what you really want in the first place.

[Ingmar]

That's not the comparison I'm making. You're making a comparison between the player and the audience member; I'm just making a comparison between the protagonists in 2 narratives. Indy's choices don't affect the ultimate outcome of the plot, neither do Hawke's. That doesn't mean that they aren't meaningful narratively, because they define the character and his/her relationships.

DA2 is a character-driven story which is essentially defined by how you react to things. It is hamstrung in that, yes, since it has to have a boss fight at the end because, well, that's just expected. But I really think the problem is that most gamers just don't know what to do when you drop a story in front of them that has no Big Bad Enemy; Orsino and Meredith are just symptoms of the Big Event rather than villains with an ongoing plan from the start of the game. There's no Saren, or Reapers, or Archdemon, or Irenicus, or Enclave, or even a Transcendent One. There's just <shit happens>.

Bioware decided to do a linear character study when what most people* want is 4 planets and a boss fight. I like the fact that they are shaking up the narrative structure more, personally. I like me a 4 planets game just fine (DA:O, ME1) but I think the variety of having the DA2 style and ME2 Dirty-Dozen-Let's-Build-A-Team style narratives available is a big improvement over just getting the same thing every time.

*Setting aside the NO SANDBOX NO PEACE contingent. We know that's basically off the table already when Bioware is involved.

[stray]

I'm all for them playing with new narrative ideas. It's just been executed badly in places.

Actually, I bet this one is the result of feedback from Leliana's song. I read an interview awhile back that Gaider reconsidered the idea on that story.. that apparently players don't want to play as other characters. That the central protragonist must be weaved into it. Except, what they've done here is make the protagonist look even more stupid by including him/her (at least under some conditions).

They obviously want to establish Tallis' place in the story. That's cool and all. I think they might have been better with the Leliana's song format then.

From Bioware's POV, they're probably thinking "man, we can't win".

[stray]

Lol.. I'm so fucking bored. In light of all this, I'm gonna try another playthrough. If my character is a dumbass, I'm going to make it plausible. I think I'll base him on that Ash Warrior leader in Ostagar. link

Stinking Ferelden Dog Lord. Kind of makes sense how he's viewed in the game anyways. Sister Petrice treats him like a thug who doesn't understand the subtlety of her politics. There must be a reason for that.

[rk47]

Lol.. I'm so fucking bored. In light of all this, I'm gonna try another playthrough. If my character is a dumbass, I'm going to make it plausible. I think I'll base him on that Ash Warrior leader in Ostagar. link

Stinking Ferelden Dog Lord. Kind of makes sense how he's viewed in the game anyways. Sister Petrice treats him like a thug who doesn't understand the subtlety of her politics. There must be a reason for that.

MY GOD STRAY WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? 

[stray]

Lol.. I'm so fucking bored. In light of all this, I'm gonna try another playthrough. If my character is a dumbass, I'm going to make it plausible. I think I'll base him on that Ash Warrior leader in Ostagar. link

Stinking Ferelden Dog Lord. Kind of makes sense how he's viewed in the game anyways. Sister Petrice treats him like a thug who doesn't understand the subtlety of her politics. There must be a reason for that.

MY GOD STRAY WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? 

I bought Deus Ex actually, but I'm bored. It's a got a lot of things that DA2 doesn't actually (the amount of player agency especially), but I don't like the gameplay (guns, stealth). I need more fantasy games. Skyrim couldn't come sooner.

[Sheepherder]

I bought Deus Ex actually, but I'm bored. It's a got a lot of things that DA2 doesn't actually (the amount of player agency especially), but I don't like the gameplay (guns, stealth).

Deus Ex suffers from a lot of really bad design decisions.  Rummaging through desks to find ammo for the only two weapons you'll ever use is not fun.

[caladein]

If you feel like loading up Origin, there's a nice reusable 60% off code out that works on most older titles (beginning of this year and earlier so including both DA2/ME2) and on $10 (800 point) BioWare Points bundle (and maybe a few other things).

From the Origin Store, choose Points and Time Cards and add the 800 BioWare Points bundle to your cart.  The promo code to add at checkout is "ORIGIN60".

It's more than a little convoluted, but $4 Mark of the Assassin, Lair of the Shadow Broker, or whatever future major DLC is pretty sweet.

[Furiously]

The ark would have ended in Nazi hands if Jones had not been there.

[stray]

If you feel like loading up Origin, there's a nice reusable 60% off code out that works on most older titles (beginning of this year and earlier so including both DA2/ME2) and on $10 (800 point) BioWare Points bundle (and maybe a few other things).

From the Origin Store, choose Points and Time Cards and add the 800 BioWare Points bundle to your cart.  The promo code to add at checkout is "ORIGIN60".

It's more than a little convoluted, but $4 Mark of the Assassin, Lair of the Shadow Broker, or whatever future major DLC is pretty sweet.

The more I think of it, I would recommend spending some points on the Weapon Packs actually.

[eldaec]

Origin......BioWare Points

Are they still using the idiotic points system even on Origin? For that matter can you even buy dlc through Origin?

[caladein]

Origin......BioWare Points

Are they still using the idiotic points system even on Origin? For that matter can you even buy dlc through Origin?

No on both counts.  It's just that they've sold time cards and the like (The Sims 3 also uses a point system for its store) through the EA Store for as long as I remember it existing.

[Ingmar]

The ark would have ended in Nazi hands if Jones had not been there.

Nah, it melts them either way.

[caladein]

If anything Indiana Jones saved Hitler and/or a whole German division from being the ones to look at the opened Grail Ark because they thought it would make them invincible.

[Sheepherder]

The holy grail is not the ark of the covenant, infidel.

[Tannhauser]

Am I the only one who really liked Last Crusade?  It was a great change of pace with Indy and his pop instead of a dame.

Hell, I love all three.

[caladein]

The holy grail is not the ark of the covenant, infidel.

Correct, wrong McGuffin on my part.

[Kail]

Hell, I love all three.

You mean, all four?

[stray]

I think Last Crusade is generally liked? It's Temple of Doom that sucks. As far as I'm concerned at least. I even remember going to see that on my 7th birthday and still didn't like it.

[Ingmar]

I didn't like Temple of Doom as a kid either, but I saw it again recently and it was actually much better than I remembered. The opening sequence up to when he gets on the plane may be the best individual sequence in any of the movies.

[Engels]

Necro, but worth it. Felicia Day playing with herself.

[Falconeer]

That's utter wyvernshit.

[Sjofn]

Well, since this got bumped, I will mention: The different companions all have a different sidequest associated with them if you bring them along to the DLC. Except Merril. Isabela gets two, though, and one of them is pretty cute, so you should bring her at least once. 

[Simond]

Saw this elsewhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVSFAlVZhY

[stray]

Saw this elsewhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVSFAlVZhY

Really?

That was well done, but like... a completely different world and style. And I don't mean just the engine.. even the little things. Like the city names and some of the lingo.