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  1. #1
    Robot Unicorn Member Kekvit Irae's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    After contemplating a bit, I know of another bug. A huge one, at that.
    If you use Anders' Regroup spell or a restoration potion to revive dead team members in combat, sometimes they will act like they aren't even in combat because the game doesn't recognize them as being in combat. Sure, they'll attack, but they act lethargic. When controlling said character, autoattack is non-existent. For affected characters, they will be regenerating health and stamina/mana like crazy. This is definitely game-breaking as it makes characters like Varric with Bianca abilities or an Assassin Hawke completely unstoppable if controlled. I've had this happen several times (mostly because Anders is the only damn mage in the game with healing spells, thus forcing me to use him in every fight).
    Last edited by Kekvit Irae; 03-14-2011 at 00:07.

  2. #2
    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    Yes, I've encountered that same bug several times and it's very annoying. That and the bug where I can't click on a target (be it a door or an enemy) are very common and I'm amazed they let that slip through testing.


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    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    I will give Bioware a big thumbs up on at least one plot point: Varric's companion question. Specifically when you first go to a particular house (further details omitted due to spoilers). That was very inventive, and I fell in love with it instantly. In fact, combined with the similar style of the 'tutorial' section at the beginning, I'm becoming rather fond of the 'narration' aspect of the story.


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    Spirit King Senior Member seireikhaan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    Well, clocked in around 45 hours, and its done. Plan is to give it at least one more playthrough, with a non-mage character. Overall thoughts and feelings:

    The final boss(at least for me, I imagine different choices will alter the order or possibly who you even fight at all, idk, ) was quite fun and enjoyable. Much more well designed than most of the boss fights.

    Bioware was on the ball for companions, of what we got to see of them. The interaction wasn't to the degree I wanted, but even Isabella was an enjoyable party member, which I seriously doubted when I started. The choices made in the later game mostly resulted in reactions that I figured would happen, which was a relief. No general nonsensical decisions by your party members, at least in my experience. I particularly enjoyed Varrick, who pretty much is the only reason the 'story-telling' format worked. Companion quests(well, those I did, I lost Isabella somewhat early) were all pretty fun. Once again, Varrick shone on his quests.

    Combat, structurally, is fantastic, imo. Kiting generally works like it feels it should. The problem is too often, the fights weren't well balanced, so you were forced to kite the whole battle, which is distinctly un-fun. Mages were given the proper neutering they needed, but I'm not sure they found the balance quite right on rogues. Assassins in particular are immensely frustrating. One assassin at a time on the battlefield makes things interesting and challenging. Two just means you're likely to start the battle one party member down, which I don't consider particularly fair.

    Random notes, bugs, irritants, etc...:

    Level design. Seriously, Bioware? C'mon. This is the sequel to the massive, varied game I loved? Did they can the whole level design staff sans one person? I feel like I beat a 4 hour game a whole bunch of times. This was easily my biggest disclaimer on this game. Give some darn variety! I don't need or want to go through this same fragging underground or cavern or house for the 100th time. Enough to make me say this was a bad game? Honestly, almost. Not quite, but really close.

    Only major bug I noticed was the clicking one TinCow noted. I don't consider it too game breaking(easy fix, pause button prevents shenanigans), but it did get annoying.

    Pride Demon fights were quite interesting. The AOE crushing prison was quite nicely balanced, and an interesting touch. There was one fight which was, sadly, imbalanced once again by waves of rage demons, but oh well.

    Champion's armor looks so close to being good, but ends up silly. What's with the protruding boilerplate sticking out of the chest piece?

    Also, on the end:

    For you all playing morally upright characters i'll warn you now to have one of your mages take up healing as a secondary.

    For the final act:
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Your team picks sides in the Templar/Mage dispute, the only people left alive/left supporting me by this time were full friend, but I got the feeling they may have turned on me if they were Rival. I'm unsure, but you don't want to get caught on the other side of the isle from your tank/healer. There are some ROUGH fights ahead of you. Also.. Terrorism. Seriously.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Very impressive terrorism, I might add.

    Also, yeah, definitely try to get your party members some balance, and friends are a good thing. I ended up with a party consisting of myself(mage), Varrick, Merril, Anders, and Aveline. In other words, I was one friend short of not having a tank, and I'm pretty sure it was a close cutoff on her bailing too.

    Also, Leliana? Really? Grah.... Curious what they make of it if you off her in Origins at Andraste's tomb.


    To sum, there's lots of good, and lots of bad. Which is more bad than Origins, imo. Despite being hosed on how much you can converse with your party members, they still manage to shine. Despite poorly balanced fights occasionally rearing their ugly head, combat's generally a lot of fun. The story is good, and though the format isn't to my liking, it generally keeps itself in the background. If it wasn't for level design, I'd honestly say it was a pretty darn good game. But that element just knocks it down a fair number of pegs for me. Overall, I'd say about 7.5 or 8 out of 10. Bearing in mind, I consider Origins a 9.5. :/
    Last edited by seireikhaan; 03-14-2011 at 21:14.
    It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then, the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

  5. #5
    But it was on sale!! Scienter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    I agree with Yaseikhaan's opinion of the reused environments. In a lot of the dungeons I think, "I feel like I've been here before...wait, I have been here before!" The designers took a shortcut there. I'm not finished with the game yet, but I do wish there was more dialogue w/ the NPCs, and I really miss the "camp" from DA:O. Having to go to an NPC's home to talk with them is a bit of a pain.

    I wish I could just
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    move everyone to the Hawke estate when I got it


    That said, I'm enjoying the game so far.

  6. #6
    The Abominable Senior Member Hexxagon Champion Monk's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    45 hours
    38 hours
    Jeeze what kept you guys?

    Quote Originally Posted by Yaseikhaan
    To sum, there's lots of good, and lots of bad. Which is more bad than Origins, imo. Despite being hosed on how much you can converse with your party members, they still manage to shine. Despite poorly balanced fights occasionally rearing their ugly head, combat's generally a lot of fun. The story is good, and though the format isn't to my liking, it generally keeps itself in the background. If it wasn't for level design, I'd honestly say it was a pretty darn good game. But that element just knocks it down a fair number of pegs for me. Overall, I'd say about 7.5 or 8 out of 10. Bearing in mind, I consider Origins a 9.5. :/
    That's pretty much how I feel with a few subtle changes here and there. Replace level design with incredibly annoying party interaction and yup, that's me. Party banter goes a long way to saving the experience but it can't quite make up for it in my opinion. Still thoroughly enjoy the game but I can't help but feel Bioware made some real stumbles here and there. Expected much better from this showing. Ah well. Even if it's not great, it's still good in my books.

    I'm playing the game through a second time now as a pure Entropy mage, which is crowd control and debuffs (where before I was full elemental, AOE and control). The game is... surprisingly a lot easier. Taking Creation as a secondary tree so i am full on support for my team as well as some nasty status afflictions. It still doesn't help with some fights though. Mainly due to poor balance choices in the encounters. I'm of the opinion that the combat is a great improvement over the first, but just like the first, Bioware didn't bother to tune certain aspects of it to avoid random spikes in difficulty. A shame really, because it seems like combat was the main focus this time around.

    Quote Originally Posted by Yaseikhaan
    The final boss(at least for me, I imagine different choices will alter the order or possibly who you even fight at all, idk, ) was quite fun and enjoyable. Much more well designed than most of the boss fights.
    Final Boss fight spoilers:

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    I supported the Magi and had to fight Orsino first, who turned to Blood Magic to save himself at the end. It was your standard tank+spank until phase 2 where he'd pick a party member and go after them, and then it was a game of keep away. Phase 3, his head jumps off his body and summons tons of additional mobs to fight while running wild on your party. COntroling phase 3 is very very hard. If you kill his head he rejoins together for another go and its just a game of keep away again. Fun, but LONG. Had to take 20 min to kill him.

    Then I had to fight Meridith who was possessed by the artifact. A really easy fight mainly because I had built my team for mass AoE. When she summons additional just spam your aoe and kite around until Cone of Cold's up. Then blast 'em. She was the final boss for me, but I preferred the Orsino fight to be honest. It had a much bigger "Ah crap" feel to it.

    The reason I suggested people have a back-up mage is.. well, I had to kill Anders for what he did. That was seriously a non-bro thing to do. Not cool at all, Anders.
    Last edited by Monk; 03-14-2011 at 22:50.

  7. #7
    Robot Unicorn Member Kekvit Irae's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    Well, I finally won the game. The lack of an epilogue added to my list of disappointments in the game.

  8. #8
    Spirit King Senior Member seireikhaan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dragon Age 2: Gameplay Discussion

    Quote Originally Posted by Monk View Post
    Jeeze what kept you guys?
    Lots of side questing? I'm not sure how you beat the game so fast.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    If you didn't, I'd advise finding Hybris- he's a pretty fun fight if you notch the difficulty down to normal. Plus he gives you one of the sicker one-handed swords in the game. He wasn't part of any major quest, so its not hard to miss him.


    I'm playing the game through a second time now as a pure Entropy mage, which is crowd control and debuffs (where before I was full elemental, AOE and control). The game is... surprisingly a lot easier. Taking Creation as a secondary tree so i am full on support for my team as well as some nasty status afflictions. It still doesn't help with some fights though. Mainly due to poor balance choices in the encounters. I'm of the opinion that the combat is a great improvement over the first, but just like the first, Bioware didn't bother to tune certain aspects of it to avoid random spikes in difficulty. A shame really, because it seems like combat was the main focus this time around.
    Hmm. I pretty much skipped out on entropy. My only real experience with it(I think) was the occasional Arcane Horror ending my party with(I think) a death cloud. I'd gone full blood mage, a decent chunk of Force, and the full lightning/rock tree, with my only other dabbling being snagging upgraded heal. Blood magic gets pretty strong later game, if only for all the bonuses you can get for your health regeneration and health to mana ratio for blood casting. Final fight, I pretty much kept casting forever and with impunity as long as Aveline kept aggro. As long as I tempered my nuking, I could cast for just about forever.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    I supported the Magi and had to fight Orsino first, who turned to Blood Magic to save himself at the end. It was your standard tank+spank until phase 2 where he'd pick a party member and go after them, and then it was a game of keep away. Phase 3, his head jumps off his body and summons tons of additional mobs to fight while running wild on your party. COntroling phase 3 is very very hard. If you kill his head he rejoins together for another go and its just a game of keep away again. Fun, but LONG. Had to take 20 min to kill him.

    Then I had to fight Meridith who was possessed by the artifact. A really easy fight mainly because I had built my team for mass AoE. When she summons additional just spam your aoe and kite around until Cone of Cold's up. Then blast 'em. She was the final boss for me, but I preferred the Orsino fight to be honest. It had a much bigger "Ah crap" feel to it.

    The reason I suggested people have a back-up mage is.. well, I had to kill Anders for what he did. That was seriously a non-bro thing to do. Not cool at all, Anders.
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    I had a pretty much identical route. The only difference was keeping Anders with me. Not sure if that was what ultimately scared Fenris off or not. I figured at that point, what's done is done. War's a gonna happen regardless of him being alive, so let's keep every healthy mage we can. Plus, I was just that impressed. I mean, did you see that explosion?

    I didn't find the fights unreasonably difficult. Perhaps because I got that +5/6/7 to all stats rune into all of my companion's and mine's armor. That, and those statues in particular took ages to get moving, with the exception of the last two that dropped down and started firebreathing everything in sight. Orsino was an interesting fight, but probably one stage longer than necessary. Not super difficult assuming you've got a proper party arrangement, just long. Heck, the three rage demons waiting for you() outside of where you fight Orsino was a harder fight than either boss, if for no other reason than the usual mass-assassin spamming issues. Probably doing a non-mage playthrough just to explore the other possibilities.
    It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then, the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

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