Dragon Age 3

[Ingmar]

Because it's never too soon for me to hurfblurf about Bioware RPGs.

Starting the thread now because some details have leaked:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=486787

It is probably too early to call anything spoilery, but there's a bunch of character concept art and a little plot blurb about the setting, from a customer survey. TLDR version of the linked thread: everyone who was speculating you play as a Chantry Inquisitor in the 3rd one gets a gold star, and the character designs don't appear to be changing significantly.

[Lantyssa]

DA 3: The Inquisition (what a show!  The Inqui-si-tion!)

[Zetor]

Nobody expects the DA Inquisition!

Wondering about gameplay. I JUST finished DA1 last week (waiting for GW2 does odd things to one's playing habits  ) and combat was getting kind of repetitive/simplistic by early midgame. What direction are they taking for this game? (I've never played DA2, so yeah)

[Ingmar]

A lot of people disliked the combat in DA2, it was probably the 2nd most complained about thing in the game after the level asset reuse. So, if I had to hazard a guess I'd say they're likely to swing the pendulum somewhat back towards DA1's more traditional combat, while hopefully keeping the more engaging fighter and rogue stuff from 2.

But really that's just guessing. I know they've said they're going to change it up some based on the feedback they got from 2 but I don't think they've said how.

[Zetor]

Well, as long as they aren't turning it into QTE combat, I'll be cautiously optimistic. The larger group size hints at potentially more tactical engagements ala BG2 (hopefully without the bullshit mage protection spell minigames)... I'm just hoping they add some more choices/depth to their character system, DA1 was a bit light in this regard.

[Ingmar]

Well, I would hesitate to assume that "5 person party" means 5 people in the group at once. I hope that it does, but it could just as easily mean only 5 recruitable characters or whatever.

[tmp]

The OP in that Neogoaf thread cites "up to ten complex companions" so '5 person party' likely ain't that. Since DA could handle 5 person squad with either permanent dog mod or with ranger summon creature(s) out, it wouldn't be too unlikely in DA3, i guess.

[Ingmar]

Ah, so it does. Well that's good, the characters are pretty much the thing they do best, so glad to see them expanding that back up a bit.

[Sjofn]

I would be pleased to have more space in my party, yeah. I didn't notice any dwarves in the companion concept art, though. 

[Venkman]

I liked both DA:O and DA2, but they felt like completely different games in different worlds. That was conscious on their part. My chief complaint was asset reuse in 2, but I thought the combat was fine.

They did announced how impressed they were with Skyrim, and hinted that this could impact their thinking on DA3. But right now, 3 could be anything. The biggest thing for me will be whether they decide you are the story (like Origins) or you are just playing their main character (like 2). Origins was an homage to older school RPGs, but 2 is easier to turn into a transmedia franchise.

[Khaldun]

Played everything so far to death but I was so frustrated with the most recent material and so uncomfortable with Mass Effect 3 that I feel like I'm going to sit back on my hands on this one for a bit unless I feel overwhelming reason to do otherwise. Which doesn't mean some Kotaku asshole creaming his pants or whatever.

[Fordel]

I'm sure Sjofn will have a review of at least 4 character arcs a month into release for you. 

[Raguel]

I actually prefer DA2 combat. It was over the top in terms of animation, but I loved playing a rogue. I don't remember any fondness for playing a warrior or mage tho.

[Ingmar]

I actually prefer DA2 combat. It was over the top in terms of animation, but I loved playing a rogue. I don't remember any fondness for playing a warrior or mage tho.

Yeah I liked the pace and mechanics of it a little better overall I'd say. The DLC did a lot to improve the 'feel' of it with masking how the waves spawned in, etc., too. Still kind of bitter the later DLCs for it got cancelled.

[Sjofn]

I also prefered DA2's combat (just put tactical view back in and tone down the animations and I'd be pretty much as happy as could be). The mage in particular was much more fun (to me) than it was in DA:O. I never actually finished a mage playthrough of DA:O, but I had two mage Hawkes that finished.  The archer rogue was probably my favorite, though.

I really, really, really hope they keep the branching trees of DA2 (or improve on that concept somehow) rather than regress to the way DA:O was, too. My 2h warriors in DA:O were all the same, my 2h warriors in DA2 had some variety, for example.

[Zetor]

This branching trees thing does sound interesting. DA1 character development (of the 'stats' kind) was honestly kind of dull, even for a mage... and much moreso for my thieves/warriors. Dog had a whopping 8 skills total, but I think his portrait could be replaced with a trollface anyway  

[Sjofn]

Yeah, the way it worked in DA2 was a little different. You still had your little categories, but it was a web instead of linear, and you had way more choices. Like here's a screenshot of the warrior trees (although the specialization trees (like templar) aren't displayed, I think it's from an early-ish build):

[amiable]

I thought the build diversity and by extension combat was actually pretty well done in DA:2.  The re-use of art assets however really killed that game for me, by the time I was done I knew the wounded coast better than my upstairs bedroom.

[Tebonas]

Indeed, that and the nonsensical railroaded ending were the only large faults I could find with Dragon Age 2.

[amiable]

Of course I need to add that if they do not put this on Steam I will never play it because fuck Origins.

[Zetor]

That character ability tree definitely looks more interesting than the DA1 one. My main beef with DA1 was that the gameplay of each character archetype (except mages, maybe) didn't change all that much from level 8 to level 20, assuming you got the REALLY important abilities first; the other abilities were just 'make your existing abilities kill shit betterer' sustained abilities or passives.


... and oh fuck, I forgot about Origin. Hopefully they'll come to their senses and put it on Steam as well -- though with the recent origin-vs-steam hatefest, it doesn't seem likely.

[Merusk]

You won't see it on Steam. Just ignore the game or accept that it's origin or nothing.

[Paelos]

You won't see it on Steam. Just ignore the game or accept that it's origin or nothing.

It will be nothing for a lot of people.

[Ingmar]

Well... Origin, Amazon, a store, or nothing.

[Paelos]

The question would be if you have to have an Origin account no matter where you buy it.

[Trippy]

ME3 on the PC requires an Origin account so I would say that DA3 on the PC will require one too.

[Ingmar]

Yeah, that does seem likely. Console is an option too, of course.

[Pezzle]

Just say no to DA3!

[Rasix]

Origin was pretty much invisible when I was playing ME3.  I don't imagine it'll be much of a problem here.  I might even buy it off Origin.   

[Ingmar]

Yeah, it isn't as convenient as having all my games in the same launcher but it works fine. It's how I bought TSW.

[Zetor]

I don't have the visceral origin hate unlike some people () and I did buy SWTOR through it.. though I never had to install it to play SWTOR, obv. Have they reined in the spyware/rootkit aspect?

Otherwise it'd have to be a brick-and-mortar copy for me, which is a shaky (and overpriced) proposition in Hungary. Ohwells!

[Sjofn]

I thought the build diversity and by extension combat was actually pretty well done in DA:2.  The re-use of art assets however really killed that game for me, by the time I was done I knew the wounded coast better than my upstairs bedroom.

Yeah the re-use of maps was pretty brutal (something they attempted to address in the the DLCs) (seriously if you liked DA2, you'll like the DLCs a lot) and probably my biggest gripe as well, although having to visit my party members in their houses for them to have a five line conversation with me is way up there too.

[Amaron]

How does the ME3 DLC work?  Can you buy it with real money on Origin?  Or do you need to buy EA monopoly money first?

[Trippy]

How does the ME3 DLC work?  Can you buy it with real money on Origin?  Or do you need to buy EA monopoly money first?

Don't know for sure yet as all DLC so far has been free. However for the previous games you pay for the DLCs with real money for the PC rather than using BioWare points.

[amiable]

I also hope they bring Varric back.  I thought he was one of the most well-written and entertaining characters I've seen in a modern CRPG.  He's like the dwarf Han Solo.