Dragon Age Origins Talkback

[defunctzombie]

Originally Posted by Mek

I think that's the only place you can hear that.

But but but, it says at the end of the trailer that the full song debuts in the game! Maybe it's during the credits or something...

[SirLemming]

Well, I took the plunge. The game just seemed too good to miss out on. And so far, that's accurate.

I chose an elf mage, so my storyline started out with a trial in some sort of dream world. I already had to answer a riddle, which to me is a great sign. That's classic Bioware. I've also already encountered a significant plot twist that's left me wondering how I could've handled things differently.

My Bioware profile for the game is here (I don't think non-members are able to see it, though).

[Anyone00]

So far a really good game.

My player profile.

The beginning is frustrating because if you didn't have a parry healer: too bad. Once Wynne joins things get much, much easier.

Enemies seem to move past characters with ease so you can't use choke points as effectively as in the BG series.

The Sloth dream world sequence world sequence was great.

I accidentally came across a really, really cheesy way to slay that mountain top dragon.

Why does High Fantasy mean ripping off Tolkien and Dark Fantasy mean ripping off Moorcock?

Favorite party member: Dog.

[Marinite]

Originally Posted by Anyone00

The beginning is frustrating because if you didn't have a parry healer: too bad. Once Wynne joins things get much, much easier.

Morrigan can learn healing spells if you choose them when leveling her up.

[Anyone00]

Originally Posted by Marinite

Morrigan can learn healing spells if you choose them when leveling her up.

Ya, I know; but I don't like going off the default NPC builds in my first playthrough.

I almost want to go through the Elf bit of the game with Zevran because I hope when the subject of the Elven land-ships come up he breaks in:
"I know my own needs. And what I need from a land-ship I know I get from a Cordoba. I could ask nothing beyond the quality of Cordoba's workmanship; the tastefulness of its appearance. I request nothing beyond the thickly crucial luxury of seats available even in soft Antivan leather..."

BioWare RPG Cliché chart.

[Mr. Obsession]

The Bioware of Baldur's Gate is back. From what I've played Dragon Age deserves all the praise it has gotten.

The first character I created was a male human warrior. But I made the mistake of trying to become a jack of all trades fighter, and it hurt, alot. I was going through a ton of save summing. So now that I actually understand how the game works I've rerolled another Human warrior. This time focusing solely on the sword and shield, mostly because I've found I really like bashing my enemies in the face.

I was tempted go with another origin, but since the game's head writer confirmed you can tie up all of that story's lose ends I want to see it through. Plus I want to see as many of reactions to my origin as possible throughout the game before I experiment with a different one (and I want to see Howe pay). I did manage to unlock all the warrior and rogue specializations so my current play through will be much easier. And after unlocking Morrigan's romance I know I was getting close to Leliana's, because Leliana was starting to alternate between trying to engage Morrigan in girltalk and the two snipping back and forth.

I'm tempted to try and instigate Zevran's at the same time, just to see the interparty fireworks.


I am a little disappointed that elves get three origins to choose from where as humans and dwarfs only have access to two. Hopefully the Human Commoner or Human Barbarian origins that were cut midway through development will get released in the future as DLC. Though to be honest I have no idea what would work as a third origin for dwarfs.

Originally Posted by Anyone00

The beginning is frustrating because if you didn't have a parry healer: too bad. Once Wynne joins things get much, much easier.

Early on, sure. But I've found that by the time you can take a specialization if you or your main tank is strong enough to wear equipment sets like the Blood Dragon Armor anything outside of bosses or huge mobs isn't going to be detrimental.

Before you get Wynne the Herbalism skill is your best friend.

Originally Posted by Anyone00

I accidentally came across a really, really cheesy way to slay that mountain top dragon.

>__>
<__<

I'd be interested in hearing what you stumbled across.

[Anyone00]

Originally Posted by Mr. Obsession

>__>
<__<

I'd be interested in hearing what you stumbled across.

Spoiler:

Well the dragon will come slamming down where ever that horn is blown. There's this one spot on the map: there's this ramp that goes down to/comes up from the main temple complex, if you're coming up from it at the end of it to your right is this deep ditch. Blow the horn next to the ditch, the dragon comes slamming down, and gets stuck in a ditch. Proceed to engage it with longbows and staffs (make sure the mage is on the side and not to the rear or front).

[Marinite]

I like Shale as far as DLC goes, they really do a nice job bringing him into all the story missions and giving him dialog for them, rather than just being an empty spot when it comes to story dialog. He even gets a nice tidbit if you bring him along for the dwarf kingdom storyline

Spoiler:

or should I say her once you find out Shale's origin if you bring her along and meet the man who created her

[evildevil97]

Okay, I have to ask: How similiar is this to Baldur's Gate, in gameplay style?

[SirLemming]

Originally Posted by evildevil97

Okay, I have to ask: How similiar is this to Baldur's Gate, in gameplay style?

There are some significant differences. They've clearly taken some inspiration from MMORPG combat. (Of course, keep in mind I'm playing as a mage and am not sure how other classes play.) Instead of loading up spell uses one-by-one, you typically select one spell to learn per level. You can use your learned spells as many times as you want as long as you have MP, and they're also restricted by individual cooldown timers. When you select a spell to learn, you have to consider the various tiers and paths of spells. Choosing certain first-tier spells will give you access to related higher-tier spells, so there are a lot of things to weigh when you make your decision. (There are also class-independent "skills" that work in much the same way.) Spells, items, etc. can be bound to quickslots, accessed with the 1-0 keys on the PC version. (The console version has quickslots too, but they're a tad less convenient.) Also like MMORPGs, HP and MP automatically regenerate outside of battle.

Aside from these differences in how your character's abilities work, you'll find that the combat itself works very similar to Baldur's Gate. The PC version, of course, is more tailored to this, since you can zoom out for a top-down tactical view and select characters and issue commands with the mouse. Battles can be fought somewhat real-time, but in harder battles you'll more likely need to pause the game and issue commands.

The storyline, dialogue, and whatnot are all exactly what you would hope for as a Baldur's Gate fan, and more. As I mentioned earlier, I've already encountered a set of riddles.

[evildevil97]

Awesome. Thanks for explaining.

I'm eying the PS3 version, so I hope that would still be similiar enough when it comes to control.

[Anyone00]

Oh BTW, the mêlée (well sword and shield) sync kill on a large dragon is awesome.

I never understood why Sony and Microsoft haven't released a mouse and keyboard, and allowed developers to use them as game controls after the years there systems have been out.

[EinBebop]

Originally Posted by Anyone00

I never understood why Sony and Microsoft haven't released a mouse and keyboard, and allowed developers to use them as game controls after the years there systems have been out.

I know you can use a USB keyboard, don't know about a mouse. Maybe the functionality is there ...or could quickly be added... but no game makers have expressed interest.

[TacoHunter]

Originally Posted by Anyone00

I never understood why Sony and Microsoft haven't released a mouse and keyboard, and allowed developers to use them as game controls after the years there systems have been out.

I think Sony offer support for the ol' Keyboard and Mouse, because Unreal 3 on PS3 supports it. I don't know why no other game seems to support the set up.

[Shawn Hopkins]

It wouldn't be hard to do with the PS3. The USB ports are right there. It's just up to developers to take the time to implement it and a lot of them, for whatever reason, don't.

[Dens Maris]

For the record, my favorite RPG is Final Fantasy VII, and I'm enjoying the hell out of this.

That said, BioWare seriously needs to invest in a plot formula outside of "go to these four places and solve the local disputes." It's not hurting the game so far, but for those of us coming in off KotOR and Mass Effect, it's kind of lost its spark. Hardly anything that ruins this gem, though.

[Marinite]

So I beat it and got the standard ending (I'd say it's the one most people are going to get their first time through). Two of my party members ended up betraying me, though. Guess I should have built up their approval more.

This time I'm going to play an Arcane Warrior and go for the secret companion and side with the other people during each Treaty quest.

[bigdeath]

I'm trying out a city elf Duelist Rogue on hard and it kicks butt. Its not shocking I love this game so much considering most of the Western RPGs I love have been made by bioware.