Dragon Age: Origins gameplay and discussion thread.

[FactionHeir]

Found a bug with the Kennel quest

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

If you tell the Kennel Master you want no reward, you don't even get a single point of XP.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'm just about to enter the the tower of Ishal. Combat so far has been fairly easy and even though I was not prepared to the Shade in the Wilds, it went down pretty quick without anyone dying. And everyone except my main had 2 injuries at that point
The fights outside the tower have been a bit tougher as you have a weaker party, so I actually had to use a lesser healing poultice there. Annoying that my team keeps dying and I have to pick up the pieces *grumble*

Regarding people not turning off their passives, its to do with their tactics. Its usually set to make them enter a mode when something happens, but if you got space for another tactic, definitely have one at the very bottom reading if everything is clear, turn everything off or so. Not sure if that exists though.

[Monk]

18 hours in. Already surpassing every expectation i had (but.. seeing as I had very few going in, I guess that explains why I am so happy with the end result!). I'm thankful I have few plans this weekend so I can continue to hack at this game.

It's the conversations which are really getting me. Gone are the animated, dynamic conversations which made Mass Effect special. We're back to Bethesda style barely animated barbie doll heads paired with selectable lines of cringeworthy dialogue. I'm afraid I am skipping dialogue in all but the more important conversations; I read entire chunks of dialogue in the time it takes the mediocre actors to get three words out and there's no reason for me to sit and watch instead.

Really? I haven't felt that at all. Character models aren't as animated as Mass Effect but I wouldn't go so far as to deem them as bad as FO3's, where everyone uses the same two or three 'conversation animations' and it's hard to feel bad when you blow their head off. I've kept subtitles off for the most part since I know what it does to me, it makes me very impatient.

Edit: Retracted. They are stiff, I simply didn't notice until it was pointed out to me. Guess it doesn't bother me too much?

@froggy's spoiler

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Agree with you on Sloth, however. He reminded me of something from another game... but i can't put my finger on what.

@FactionHeir's second spoiler.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Tower is a tough battle, and it's very drawn out. You're in for a few surprises along the way and I wouldn't dare spoil it for you. Just make sure your party is pretty tough and you stock up on potions from the merchants there. Trust me, you'll need them!

[Vladimir]

Ahh excellent, thank you. One of the big selling points for me is the claim that in-character actions have a substantial affect on the game world.

Too bad there's no MP. Sounds like you guys could use a "troubleshooter."

[seireikhaan]

Well, I'm about 14 hours in, and things have opened up a bit.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'm finally turning my character around from the default "goody goody" character to a nastier piece of work. Was absolutely psyched to get blood magic specialty, even though its big payoff spells are a ways down the line.

[Monk]

Sten companion quest is bugged, but you can see it to completion regardless without the quest updating.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Simply follow the scavenger's instructions and head to Redcliff. Dwynn's house is on the waterfront, the sword is in a chest.

This game is very addicting, 21.5 hours in and I can safely say that nothing is ever simple in Dragon Age. There's always something in the way and by the time it's over I'm usually in no mood for mercy. I'm not evil, just tired!

Unfortunately the length of this game might have an unintended side-effect. I am wondering if I'll have the drive to play by the end, will I stand up once the ride is over and say "Again!" or cringe at the idea of spending so much time in the game again? I don't know. That was one thing I loved about Mass Effect. It was an amazing ride, great story and done in around 15 hours (or as few as six, depending on how fast you could go and how many side-quests you did). It was easy to jump back in.

Here I've done next to no side-quests, trying to see as much of the main story as I can as fast as I can. Companion quests, plot quests and DLC are all that get my attention.. and i've still got a lot left to go. Here's hoping i'm not a skeleton by the time I finish.

Orzammar spoilers.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Just completed Orzammar, which I think has been the longest of the two (and a half - one is very annoying and takes a lot of location hopping) plot quests i've done so far. Very interesting to play the game of Dwarven politics and I have to say I jumped at the chance to fight in The Proving.

The end of the quest line really surprised me. I don't wanna say too much, even in spoiler tags, but wow. The game is really giving me a lot of power in shaping the world around me, I have a feeling the fate of Orzammar can be very different depending on not only who you support as King, but what you do in the final battle. Great stuff.

[Beskar]

I felt like crying.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He killed my father and my mother.

[FactionHeir]

Beskar

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I think that happens for every origin story. I was a bit taken aback during the Human Noble one as well