Dragon Age: Origins

[dk3dknight]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

I don't have the game yet, but I too normally try to focus on one quest at a time.

On top of that your last ability lets you partially exist between the fade and reality..



A very cool perk in my mind.

[stonkeye]

I should have this by next hopefully looks good from all i have read so far.

[hellmonkey]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

Thanks for the clarification guys. Arcane warriors do sound awesome. Didn't know you could essentially combine base classes. Still think I'll go with rogue/assassin to start off, but you never know!

You dont combine base classes. Arcane Warrior is a specialty class for mages that uses their magic stat as the requirement for equipment instead of str. A better name would have been battle mage, or guy that can pew pew while wearing plate. There is no magic ability for warriors or rogues.

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

You dont combine base classes. Arcane Warrior is a specialty class for mages that uses their magic stat as the requirement for equipment instead of str. A better name would have been battle mage, or guy that can pew pew while wearing plate. There is no magic ability for warriors or rogues.

oh okay, that makes more sense

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by dk3dknight

On top of that your last ability lets you partially exist between the fade and reality..



A very cool perk in my mind.

Wait... I don't get it (but don't tell me!)

[stonkeye]

I will go magic user from some reason i always go magic route, every game magic.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

Wait... I don't get it (but don't tell me!)

It sounds like Blood Magic to me. TSK! TSK!

[dk3dknight]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

Wait... I don't get it (but don't tell me!)

It was in reference to how cool arcane warriors are.

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

It sounds like Blood Magic to me. TSK! TSK!

No blood magic that is the last tier ability of arcane warrior

[Show spoiler], bonus to dodge and mana regeneration while combat magic is in effect.

Since your between the two realities it makes you harder to hit, and since it is the fade you get mana regeneration bonus.

Note if you already had combat magic in passive deactivate and reactive to get the new effects.

I posted that awhile back and no one said anything.. but yeah that is how cool arcane warriors are.

[hellmonkey]

Originally Posted by dk3dknight

It was in reference to how cool arcane warriors are.



No blood magic that is the last tier ability of arcane warrior

[Show spoiler], bonus to dodge and mana regeneration while combat magic is in effect.

Since your between the two realities it makes you harder to hit, and since it is the fade you get mana regeneration bonus.

Note if you already had combat magic in passive deactivate and reactive to get the new effects.

I posted that awhile back and no one said anything.. but yeah that is how cool arcane warriors are.

It is cool, but it loses its coolness fast. I only turn that on in boss fights, or massive battles.

[Beefbowl]

The only thing I don't like about the mage is the good equipments are so damn expensive. 120 sovereign was probably the most money that i ever had.

[hellmonkey]

Originally Posted by Beefbowl

The only thing I don't like about the mage is the good equipments are so damn expensive. 120 sovereign was probably the most money that i ever had.

All the classes are like that. The best sword I found was 130g, i think from the camp vendor.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

All the classes are like that. The best sword I found was 130g, i think from the camp vendor.

Not really..

Silverfang (longsword) = free
Faith's edge (battleaxe) = free
Majolaine's Recurve (longbow) =free
Rose's Thorn (dagger) = free
Juggernaut (armor) = free
Wade's Dragonscale Armor = free (kind of)

then you look at the mages stuff..

Staff of the Magister Lord (staff) = 100+
Reaper's Vestments (robe) = 100+

Is the 130g sword better than the silverfang?

at this point it doesn't really matter as Wynne left my party so I no longer need any mage stuff. Had to waste some magic spells so I could give Morrigan Heal and group heal.

Those of you who have played mage, what spells did you liked the best. I was liking inferno in the begining but lately its become useless as many enemies were immune to fire. I also wasn't a big fan of earthquake and blizzard as my own guys can't pass the physical resistance but my enemies could. Mass paralyze wasn't very efficent for me as I only get half my enemies so it was kind of a waste. I did find Paralyze useful for freezing elite enemies though. Currently I'm using tempest and found it useful and haven't met an enemy that is immune to lighting. Pretty soon I will be trying out Chain lighting and deathcloud.

[BlackMamba]

Guys, got the game yesterday from Amazon and played through the first chapter (?). I just met King Calaith. I like the game so far. Nothing groundbreaking (yet) but I can see how the stat/skill-building and interaction system will be addicting. I can see myself investing some quality time with Dragon Age Origins.

My only real complaint are the generic and quite frankly ugly visuals. I'm not a graphics snob (although I love my 2D handdrawn!), but this game is downright one of the worst looking games that has come out in recent memory! Even Oblivion, a launch game essentially looks tons better than DAO.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

Nothing groundbreaking (yet) but I can see how the stat/skill-building and interaction system will be addicting.

Too me, those are just aspects of gameplay. What sucks me in is the story. All of the games I've loved to play have had compelling stories. This and similar games are simply the modern parallel to the original PC text adventures, which had no redeeming audio or video qualities, which I also loved.

I unfortunately had to forgo my usual early morning gaming time, since I'm the early guy at work today, and I wrapped up at what I believe is the big battle before the boss in the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest last night. It will be tough with my party and take some adjustment of tactics. But I have a good save point so I can return and play it both ways. My party has made it pretty clear what they want me to do.

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Too me, those are just aspects of gameplay. What sucks me in is the story. All of the games I've loved to play have had compelling stories. This and similar games are simply the modern parallel to the original PC text adventures, which had no redeeming audio or video qualities, which I also loved.

I unfortunately had to forgo my usual early morning gaming time, since I'm the early guy at work today, and I wrapped up at what I believe is the big battle before the boss in the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest last night. It will be tough with my party and take some adjustment of tactics. But I have a good save point so I can return and play it both ways. My party has made it pretty clear what they want me to do.

True, it's all about story for me too. But, I haven't played enough of the game to make a judgment call on that yet. Basic plot and opening scenes seem interesting enough... we'll see how it develops!

[Beefbowl]

Ugh..looks like i'm going to have to replay the game as a rogue again. there was one trophy I was trying to get but my cunning skill were too low so I wasn't able to do what I wanted. oh well. I have one more story arc to go and I'm finished with my mage. I find myself dying quite more often now that I've lost Wynne.

[jsteinhauer]

Leliana sure is hard to get into the sack! Her approval rating is through the roof, and I still can't seem to choose the right dialog options. She still harps on me about Morrigan. She's very high maintenance!

Finished the Urn of Sacred Ashes quest late last night. I was surprised as Hell at how the end sequences played out.

[Show spoiler]I did not need to fight the high dragon, as I expected I would, which is a good thing, since the times I tried were finished practically before I started. I'll have to go back and try again later, but for now I need to go back and replay the final sequence in favor of the cult, just for the other trophy. For those who have played this, is there any advantage to killing the dragon at this point? How the other decision plays out will let me determine the best way to go in a future playthrough. That last battle against the shades of my own party was very tough. I had only one party member surviving at the end of that one, after several tries. I did not kill Brother Genitivi. He has something to give me later, and I'm still trying to get on with Leliana. I was nice to him. Did anyone play this by killing the guardian?

But, at least now I can move on with the story. I ended up having to destroy a bunch of loot on this quest, due to lack of capacity.

[BlackMamba]

Played a couple more hours and things just got a lot more interesting! Just got Morrigan in my party and am looking forward to some more playtime later today. A couple questions though...

1. Can you heal your teammates with potions without switching to them? I can't seem to target them with the reticule to do so.
2. How do I create potions/traps/etc. Admittedly, I haven't spent much time trying to figure out how, but if someone could explain it to me, that'd be great.
3. I've only really met one shopkeeper so far (the quartermaster in the camp where you fight against the horde with King Calain and co) - can the items I sell to him be bought back from any shopkeeper later on in the game? Do they even stay in his inventory?
4. Is there a storage area where you can keep your excess goods? Please no spoilers if it's something like "once you get your castle".
5. Adding onto point 4, does the game bog down like Oblivion did if you have too many items floating around? Is that why there is a "destroy item" option?

Thanks for all your guy's help and please let me know if you need clarification on any of my questions.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

Played a couple more hours and things just got a lot more interesting! Just got Morrigan in my party and am looking forward to some more playtime later today. A couple questions though...

1. Can you heal your teammates with potions without switching to them? I can't seem to target them with the reticule to do so.
2. How do I create potions/traps/etc. Admittedly, I haven't spent much time trying to figure out how, but if someone could explain it to me, that'd be great.
3. I've only really met one shopkeeper so far (the quartermaster in the camp where you fight against the horde with King Calain and co) - can the items I sell to him be bought back from any shopkeeper later on in the game? Do they even stay in his inventory?
4. Is there a storage area where you can keep your excess goods? Please no spoilers if it's something like "once you get your castle".
5. Adding onto point 4, does the game bog down like Oblivion did if you have too many items floating around? Is that why there is a "destroy item" option?

Thanks for all your guy's help and please let me know if you need clarification on any of my questions.

1. You either have to switch to character or use a tactics slot to use health poultices, until you have a character who can heal, which requires herbalism. I haven't been able to do it by targeting.
2. Creating potions and traps require skills that some characters can acquire during levelling, as well as ingredients, recipes and equipment to make them.
3. No. I'm not sure, if they stay in inventory.
4. You can buy backpacks to increase storage capacity
5. Never played Oblivion, so I don't know what you mean. So far, I have not found it necessary to retain too many items. Destroy is necessary when mid-questing you exceed your capacity, and you want to pick up a great weapon or piece of armor or a gift item. You can then easily ditch the leather boots or iron ring in your backpack.

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

1. You either have to switch to character or use a tactics slot to use health poultices, until you have a character who can heal, which requires herbalism. I haven't been able to do it by targeting.
2. Creating potions and traps require skills that some characters can acquire during levelling, as well as ingredients, recipes and equipment to make them.
3. No. I'm not sure, if they stay in inventory.
4. You can buy backpacks to increase storage capacity
5. Never played Oblivion, so I don't know what you mean. So far, I have not found it necessary to retain too many items. Destroy is necessary when mid-questing you exceed your capacity, and you want to pick up a great weapon or piece of armor or a gift item. You can then easily ditch the leather boots or iron ring in your backpack.

Thanks jsteinhauer! With regard to my 2nd question, say I have the skill necessary to create potions and traps. How would I go about doing so then. Do I go into my inventory, highlight an "ingredient" and some option will appear for me to combine it with another?