Dragon Age: Origins

[Marine Mike]

From reading more wikis on this game, looks like I've been missing out on some cash for the side-quests by not asking for payment, lol.

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by jharv

Best RPG on the PS3 currently, it's so deep and love how Bioware keeps supporting DA. Hope future Bioware games come to the Playstation! (Including Mass Effect)

Not true, I still think Oblivion is the best RPG on PS3. I liked Sacred 2 more than Dragon Age as well, although Dragon Age is still a good game.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

From reading more wikis on this game, looks like I've been missing out on some cash for the side-quests by not asking for payment, lol.

It's part of the role playing aspect. Are you playing a profiteer, or are you playing a philanthropist? Usually, though, when you don't ask for payment, you get an item that you can either use or sell.



On another note, I've been trying to play through the final battle without summoning the army. It's been really, really tough going. Is this a reasonable approach? It's really frustrating that the enemy has a range that exceeds mine. I can back away from a bunch of darkspawn so they are out of range, but continue to get pummeled by arrows and spells. And you can't just run in for a full front attack; it's simply overwhelming. It's the ranged attacks that are doing me in. In close quarters, the dual weapon sweep will take out 4 normally ranked darkspawn in one shot. Perhaps I need to program my character or

[Show spoiler]Loghain

to defend the archer. OR, I simply need to summon an army.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

It's part of the role playing aspect. Are you playing a profiteer, or are you playing a philanthropist? Usually, though, when you don't ask for payment, you get an item that you can either use or sell.



On another note, I've been trying to play through the final battle without summoning the army. It's been really, really tough going. Is this a reasonable approach? It's really frustrating that the enemy has a range that exceeds mine. I can back away from a bunch of darkspawn so they are out of range, but continue to get pummeled by arrows and spells. And you can't just run in for a full front attack; it's simply overwhelming. It's the ranged attacks that are doing me in. In close quarters, the dual weapon sweep will take out 4 normally ranked darkspawn in one shot. Perhaps I need to program my character or

[Show spoiler]Loghain

to defend the archer. OR, I simply need to summon an army.

is there a reason why you're not summoning the army?

[Spiderbri]

there is a trophy for having at least half of your army in tact after beating the final battle. I'm guessing thats why. though does it count if you don't summon them?

[Show spoiler] the strategy I was going to try was not summoning any armies until the the dragon was in the last quarter of life. i'm sure it will be hard, though now that I know how the last battle will go it might be a bit easier. not sure.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by Spiderbri

there is a trophy for having at least half of your army in tact after beating the final battle. I'm guessing thats why. though does it count if you don't summon them?

[Show spoiler] the strategy I was going to try was not summoning any armies until the the dragon was in the last quarter of life. i'm sure it will be hard, though now that I know how the last battle will go it might be a bit easier. not sure.

Considering how weak the darkspawn are at the end, I would summon them. I summoned the mages and only lost 2 out of the whole party. Also, I got the trophy before I got to the final battle.

I would save the archers/mages till the end as you are going to need them. I also ran into a glitch as they got stuck somewhere and they ended up being useless.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Beefbowl

Considering how weak the darkspawn are at the end, I would summon them. I summoned the mages and only lost 2 out of the whole party. Also, I got the trophy before I got to the final battle.

I would save the archers/mages till the end as you are going to need them. I also ran into a glitch as they got stuck somewhere and they ended up being useless.

Yes, I was trying to save them as long as possible, partly for trophy purposes and partly to make sure I had some left at the end. I wasn't entirely generous in contributing to their warchests. Though I did donate a bunch of journeyman runes. I guess I'll summon them and see how it goes. At least I might get to the end a little faster. I've been playing this forever and still have not beat it once.

[Show spoiler]I feel like I'd be having much better success, if I had not spurned Morrigan's offer

. Myself, Leliana and Morrigan would have been a pretty brutal combo with Wynne as support.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Yes, I was trying to save them as long as possible, partly for trophy purposes and partly to make sure I had some left at the end. I wasn't entirely generous in contributing to their warchests. Though I did donate a bunch of journeyman runes. I guess I'll summon them and see how it goes. At least I might get to the end a little faster. I've been playing this forever and still have not beat it once.

[Show spoiler]I feel like I'd be having much better success, if I had not spurned Morrigan's offer

. Myself, Leliana and Morrigan would have been a pretty brutal combo with Wynne as support.

I used that combination at my last game and I found it was a horrible combination. The amount of darkspawn that comes at you, the mages can't defend themselves and heal at the same time. On top of that you have the final boss dealing out a chunk of damage as well.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Beefbowl

I used that combination at my last game and I found it was a horrible combination. The amount of darkspawn that comes at you, the mages can't defend themselves and heal at the same time. On top of that you have the final boss dealing out a chunk of damage as well.

Interesting.

[Show spoiler] I have Loghain with me (and Leliana and Wynne), by default, as per my game choices. I'm not accustomed to using him, so there's a learning curve.

I could have taken Shale with me, but I though using DLC character for this was cheesy. I've done a poor job at party development, but it's a first game. I really didn't know what I needed to have with me at the end. I just hope I can finish with what I have.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Interesting.

[Show spoiler] I have Loghain with me (and Leliana and Wynne), by default, as per my game choices. I'm not accustomed to using him, so there's a learning curve.

I could have taken Shale with me, but I though using DLC character for this was cheesy. I've done a poor job at party development, but it's a first game. I really didn't know what I needed to have with me at the end. I just hope I can finish with what I have.

[Show spoiler]Logain is pretty decent as his warcry is very effective

. Who ever you decide to use I would make sure they have a high constitution, otherwise they will be using lots of potion trying to stay alive.

Also make sure to equip yourself with Corruption if you haven't done so already.

[caliblue15]

who needs loghian when my PC has warcry!... lol

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

who needs loghian when my PC has warcry!... lol

I found the Templar specialization much better than the Champion. better equipment too.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by MacDaddyOJack

Not true, I still think Oblivion is the best RPG on PS3. I liked Sacred 2 more than Dragon Age as well, although Dragon Age is still a good game.

I thought Sacred sucked. But that's just me.

I love the party interactions in this game! Allistar and Morrigan always bicker an it cracks me up.

[jsteinhauer]

Finally beat the Archdemon yesterday. Actually did it twice, just to register two endings. I did not do a good job of party development for Archdemon fighting. I needed lots of potions. Furthermore, I completely forgot to equip my "required" party member with advanced equipment. That was a huge booboo! Anyway, I did find out that it is not difficult to preserve the lives of half of the army at Ft. Drakon. I might have lost 4 of the summoned army, but it was just boost I needed to get into the tower.

What I did find disappointing was that you could only summon one of the 4 armies at a time (I suppose you have to leave someone fighting darkspawn elsewhere). But for the final battle you really need good ranged fighters and good melee fighters. It would have been great, if I could have had my party focus solely on the Archdemon and leave the rest of the darkspawn to the summoned armies.

I think it was Beefbowl who mentioned above that you need Corruption. I had it but did not use it. What is the benefit of that helm against the Archdemon? I chose not to use it, because I would have lost the bonus for having a matching set of armor.

Luckily, I did not have a problem with the Traveler trophy, though even at the end, my statistics show only 94% of world explored. So I should be able to play two more times and accomplish everything. BUT, what advice do you have for getting the 250 damage in one hit? It was not an option with my character this first time, since he was a dual-wielder. I think a two-handed weapon would have been better. I plan to play a Dalish Elf Rogue next, and I am hoping that you can get 250hp either with maxed out archery or maxed out backstabbing skills. Any experience with this?

[Terjyn]

The easiest skill to get 250 damage with is supposedly Mana Clash (reports of Hex of Vulnerability + Mana Clash on the right target exceeding 1000 damage).

I got it with my archer rogue without actively trying, it just happened when I used 'Arrow of Slaying'.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Finally beat the Archdemon yesterday. Actually did it twice, just to register two endings. I did not do a good job of party development for Archdemon fighting. I needed lots of potions. Furthermore, I completely forgot to equip my "required" party member with advanced equipment. That was a huge booboo! Anyway, I did find out that it is not difficult to preserve the lives of half of the army at Ft. Drakon. I might have lost 4 of the summoned army, but it was just boost I needed to get into the tower.

What I did find disappointing was that you could only summon one of the 4 armies at a time (I suppose you have to leave someone fighting darkspawn elsewhere). But for the final battle you really need good ranged fighters and good melee fighters. It would have been great, if I could have had my party focus solely on the Archdemon and leave the rest of the darkspawn to the summoned armies.

I think it was Beefbowl who mentioned above that you need Corruption. I had it but did not use it. What is the benefit of that helm against the Archdemon? I chose not to use it, because I would have lost the bonus for having a matching set of armor.

Luckily, I did not have a problem with the Traveler trophy, though even at the end, my statistics show only 94% of world explored. So I should be able to play two more times and accomplish everything. BUT, what advice do you have for getting the 250 damage in one hit? It was not an option with my character this first time, since he was a dual-wielder. I think a two-handed weapon would have been better. I plan to play a Dalish Elf Rogue next, and I am hoping that you can get 250hp either with maxed out archery or maxed out backstabbing skills. Any experience with this?

Corruption will greatly reduce the damage dealt by the archdemon.

Arrow of Slaying would be the easiest way of getting the 250 damage trophy as it's known to deal 800-1000+ hp damage.

[Marine Mike]

At the Haven mountain top, I'm not suppose to be able to kill the

[Show spoiler]High Dragon

when I ring the gong, am I?

I'm only at like level 13 right now.

[BlackMamba]

Originally Posted by jharv

Best RPG on the PS3 currently, it's so deep and love how Bioware keeps supporting DA. Hope future Bioware games come to the Playstation! (Including Mass Effect)

As good as Dragon Age Origins is, I think Demon's Souls gets the better of it. If anything, the latter is much more polished and unique. Also, in terms of RPGs this gen, DAO still gets beat by Oblivion.

[BlackMamba]

Guys, how is the expansion by the way? I'm planning on picking it up sometime soon.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by BlackMamba

As good as Dragon Age Origins is, I think Demon's Souls gets the better of it. If anything, the latter is much more polished and unique. Also, in terms of RPGs this gen, DAO still gets beat by Oblivion.

For me DAO beats Oblivion and Fallout easily. The loot is way more satisfying to get and far less tedious to search for. More engaging story too.

The biggest problem with DAO is that its obvious it was delayed too long. Had this come out 1-2 years ago it would have been an instant classic.