Dragon Age: Origins

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Beefbowl

1 pt of Coercion doesn't do much if you're a mage. Your PC should only need Coercion and Combat training. All other skills should be passed to the NPCs unless you're a rogue.

Okay, so when I build my PC (Player Character, like my main character?, sorry I'm not fully up to speed with every acronym), I should devote the skills to Coercion and Combat training?

Will having Coercion being maxed out make up for being a Mage?

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Okay, so when I build my PC (Player Character, like my main character?, sorry I'm not fully up to speed with every acronym), I should devote the skills to Coercion and Combat training?

Will having Coercion being maxed out make up for being a Mage?

I think we're making too big of a deal out of this coercion thing. If you want your character to win conversations, you should have high coercion skills. If you are fine using the fight or stand down method, then it doesn't matter, and build up other skills. You can play the game and complete all of the major quests without winning conversations. You just might not be able to complete them in every way. For instance (could be big spoiler for some)

[Show spoiler]I was absolutely unable to convince Alistair he should marry Anora. I did not try to insist. That would be unlike my character.

So I will have to play out the Landsmeet quest without that. There are other options.

Dialogue is only one aspect of the game. Again, it's a role playing game. If you choose your character or select options based on the script, the game is playing you. If you want to role play, you need to create YOUR character (within reason) and play the game with that. You can't be stupid, like not assigning points to magic for a mage or strength for a warrior, but everything else is small stuff.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Okay, so when I build my PC (Player Character, like my main character?, sorry I'm not fully up to speed with every acronym), I should devote the skills to Coercion and Combat training?

Will having Coercion being maxed out make up for being a Mage?

I'm not sure. Coercion is affected by Strength or Cunning. A Mage has neither.

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

I think we're making too big of a deal out of this coercion thing. If you want your character to win conversations, you should have high coercion skills. If you are fine using the fight or stand down method, then it doesn't matter, and build up other skills. You can play the game and complete all of the major quests without winning conversations. You just might not be able to complete them in every way. For instance (could be big spoiler for some)

[Show spoiler]I was absolutely unable to convince Alistair he should marry Anora. I did not try to insist. That would be unlike my character.

So I will have to play out the Landsmeet quest without that. There are other options.

Dialogue is only one aspect of the game. Again, it's a role playing game. If you choose your character or select options based on the script, the game is playing you. If you want to role play, you need to create YOUR character (within reason) and play the game with that. You can't be stupid, like not assigning points to magic for a mage or strength for a warrior, but everything else is small stuff.

Having high Coercion skill just means you have more options. It not just winning conversations, it also mean more/better equipments/weapons or even more ways to complete a mission.

But you are correct, it's a RPG. People should play however they want.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Beefbowl

I'm not sure. Coercion is affected by Strength or Cunning. A Mage has neither.



Having high Coercion skill just means you have more options. It not just winning conversations, it also mean more/better equipments/weapons or even more ways to complete a mission.

But you are correct, it's a RPG. People should play however they want.

Agreed, bartering is another example. I just wanted to point out that it doesn't make or break the game. It's impossible to create a character who excells at everything, and I think (my opinion only) that it's more important to have a high level of skill or talent in fewer areas rather than spread them out to try and accomodate all aspects of gameplay.

[Marine Mike]

I was able to get all the way up to waking up at Morrigan Mom's crab shack in 2 hours flat without missing any items or dialogue!

Oh and I have 2 backpacks that I got for less than 2 gold total!

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I was able to get all the way up to waking up at Morrigan Mom's crab shack in 2 hours flat without missing any items or dialogue!

Oh and I have 2 backpacks that I got for less than 2 gold total!

Yeah, those two backpacks at Ostagar are a steal.

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

I was able to get all the way up to waking up at Morrigan Mom's crab shack in 2 hours flat without missing any items or dialogue!

Oh and I have 2 backpacks that I got for less than 2 gold total!

I bet you missed the free sword at Ostagar

[BluHavik]

Is this news? They had DLC from day one. Sure you could get the Blood armor and Shale for free. But the Keep was available day one and that costs money. Sorry I'm ranting, I hate games getting gimped to sell DLC and this is one of them. To be clear I did buy this game.

Mods feel free to delete if needed.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Beefbowl

I bet you missed the free sword at Ostagar

What was the sword called?

[Beefbowl]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

What was the sword called?

I don't remember. An Elf was running around with it.

[caliblue15]

How do you pick locked chests, it seems I can never open any of these.

[MacDaddyOJack]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

How do you pick locked chests, it seems I can never open any of these.

I think you have to have a rogue in your party with the skill learned as well. I have not yet picked any locks either

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

How do you pick locked chests, it seems I can never open any of these.

You need to use the rogue you picked up in the first town you visited (Lothering (sp?). She is in the bar next to the bridge dividing the town.

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

You need to use the rogue you picked up in the first town you visited (Lothering (sp?). She is in the bar next to the bridge dividing the town.

oh i'm being using the assassin rougue. It looks as though I went on my merry way too fast as I missed alot of people, or did the missions out of the logical order.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

oh i'm being using the assassin rougue. It looks as though I went on my merry way too fast as I missed alot of people, or did the missions out of the logical order.

Ooooh, I didn't know you were already a rogue, my bad. I do not know how then other than learn the Lock Picking skill.

[caliblue15]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

Ooooh, I didn't know you were already a rogue, my bad. I do not know how then other than learn the Lock Picking skill.

I'm not a Rogue, but I did pick up one, but its a he not a she. And he's not very good.

[Terjyn]

Only a Rogue has a chance to open a chest, as you've discovered.

Either yourself, Leliani, or Zevran can do it.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by caliblue15

I'm not a Rogue, but I did pick up one, but its a he not a she. And he's not very good.

According to this, the higher the 'Deft Hands' skills learned, the greater the picking a lock gets.

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Rogue_Talents


EDIT:
Just read this part that may or may not make a difference for you:

Note: since lock picking and trap disarming are based on a Rogue's cunning skill, taking this talent will give you +10 to your cunning score as it applies to lock picking and trap disarming, but not to anything else.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

According to this, the higher the 'Deft Hands' skills learned, the greater the picking a lock gets.

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Rogue_Talents


EDIT:
Just read this part that may or may not make a difference for you:

And until you max out the skill, there are still a fair number or chests you can't open. OTOH, most the loot in the chests isn't that great. Most of it was good only to sell.

[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)