Dragon Age: Origins gameplay and discussion thread.

[seireikhaan]

Question for those who are very far in the game:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

How do I get into the Elven Alienage in Denerim?

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Its not available until you've gathered all allies and gone to Denerim for a happy time with Loghain.

Anyways... Finally got the game re-installed following my clean reboot to win 7, ported the save over, and... finished. I was able to finally figure out the arcane warrior dealio, many thanks to those who helped out.

I was a bit disappointed, overall, by the epilogue. The end for gameplay wasn't really anything special either, to be frank.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Took the dragon down on the first attempt with myself, Morrigan, Alistair, and Shale. Was disappointed that Morrigan took off on me after I tried wooing her to nearly +100 for the epilogue. Perhaps I messed up on trying to convince otherwise? I don't think so, but I may re-load right before the final battle just to see.

Super spoiler, very very end stuff:

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I took her offer to help me survive- not sure if that was necessary or not(again, for the reload, another day).

[FactionHeir]

Mountaintop battle

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That dragon was tough but I did manage on the first try, my party being warrior, Leliana (archer), Morrigan (all assault caster), Alistair (pansy warrior just for quest).
Within the first minute all my companions lay dead on the ground and it ended up being an extended tit-for-tat with the dragon while in precise striking + shield wall mode. Took some 3 greater and 11 normal and 4 lesser poultices to do it, though I was at nearly full hp afterwards. Too bad the game didn't automatically take any screens when you kill it, the scene was epic.
My party was all level 17-18 at that point btw.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I realized after the battle I still had my archivar belt on rather than my actual battle belt

[TinCow]

Many thanks for the advice on specialization classes. After some further playing, I've decided to go with a combo of Blood Mage and Healer.

I would like also comment on how truly superb the AI scripting system is (represented by Combat Tactics). Every single time I go into that screen, I am amazed by just how versatile the system is. No matter what situation I can think of, I can create an accurate command trigger to adapt to it well. Playing as a mage, I find that I need to spend a lot of time controlling my own character, so having the others work on their own without my direct input is very useful. The DA:O system is so good that I'm heavily inclined to add more points to Combat Tactics for the NPCs to make them even more versatile as they get stronger.

This is one area in which Bioware have definitely surpassed both the Infinity Engine and the Aurora Engine. Overall, I'm very pleased with the Eclipse Engine. I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes one of the classics of RPG gaming.

[FactionHeir]

Tactics can be quite useful but could significant work:

1. You cannot use AoE spells properly with tactics. For instance you can only target the nearest enemy with cone of cold, not use it when surrounded, as surrounded requires spells targetable to Self.

2. You cannot tell a caster via tactics to only cast a spell on a cahracter if that character doesn't already have that effect - Wynne used up all her mana in seconds mass casting Heroic Offense on my main.

3. Multi-condition tactics use the object in the last tactic condition as the target. Not exactly useful for your hostile target spells or buffs given certain situations - i.e. spell won't work.

4. No condition for character frozen/shatterable, so you can't use spells like stonefist properly via tactics.

5. You cannot select an ally who is surrounded by enemies, only allies bunched up with enemies (i.e. 2+ allies with 1+ enemy).

6. Nearest visible class is wonky. I want my mage only to cast a spell on a mage (or otherwise) and she casts spells on the nearest visible enemy regardless if mage or not.

I could go on...

Still, it has some good points, but overall it needs a lot of work.

Another thing they should have taken from NWN is that if your character kills an enemy, he should automatically target the next rather than stand around silly while controlled. In fact, the contolled char won't even fight back when attacked.

[TinCow]

I see what you mean, and I suspect I haven't encountered most of those issues because I never let the AI control the main character who does all my mage work. Despite those limitations, though, it's still a massive improvement over previous games. Even with heavily modded scripting, the AI scripts in the IE were very limited, and in the AE they were extremely primative. The flexibility and ease of use of the EE scripting interface is itself a huge improvement, and it doesn't seem like it would be very difficult for the things you're asking for to be added into that system via patch or mod.

The DA:O system is very flexible OOB and allows us to create characters that can survive very well under AI control, even if they're not as good as they would be under human control. I never expected Bioware to devote a lot of attention to a new AI scripting system, so this is a genuine surprise for me.

[rajpoot]

I have another question-

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

After killing the high dragon, the dragon bone armour one can get forged, is it leveled? Will it have better stats if I go get it after level 14? Like Oblivion?

[FactionHeir]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

No, essentially the very first armor you let Wade make will always be basic. All armors thereafter will be of superior quality I believe. I gave him 3 drake, then 1 dragon then another 3 drake. First was normal Wade, then superior and then superior again.
Note that after he made you 3 suits of armor, the shop permanently closes

The nice thing about the dragonscale (not bone) armor (using dragon scale) is that your overall fatigue as a warrior will be just around 2 or so %, which is negligible. It can (oddly enough) also be combined with the nifty 100 gold armor Herren sells that is made of dragonscale to give you its -20% fatigue set bonus.

[frogbeastegg]

To continue the spoilered discussion between india and FactionHeir:

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I read that it's supposed to be related to whether you paid Wade when offered the chance. If you pay him you get superior, if not regular.

[rajpoot]

Right I just tried the options myself.

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He takes three drake scales to make the armour first time. It is basic alright. I hadn't slain the dragon then, so I simply gave him the remaining three drake scales. This time it was superior armour.
Finally, I killed the dragon and gave him the dragon scales, asked him to make massive dragon bone armour. This one isn't named superior or anything, simply 'Wade's <armour name>'......
The equipment apparently, is not scaled. I was afraid that it might be the same system as in Oblivion, where a special enchanted equipment you get at level 5, becomes useless by level 15......

BTW, the superman sword, what sort of stats does it have......I hate having the metal in my inventory and not being able to get it forged because I lack the DLC...

[Beskar]

For my tank, I set him to have threaten on and to taunt anyone who comes after-me. Since it is usually him or me or has aggro, it works very well. I have my healer mainly healing my tank, if surrounded, for the Bard to sing stun them, etc.

These are a few elements, but yeah, they work very well.

[Krusader]

Right I just tried the options myself.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He takes three drake scales to make the armour first time. It is basic alright. I hadn't slain the dragon then, so I simply gave him the remaining three drake scales. This time it was superior armour.
Finally, I killed the dragon and gave him the dragon scales, asked him to make massive dragon bone armour. This one isn't named superior or anything, simply 'Wade's <armour name>'......
The equipment apparently, is not scaled. I was afraid that it might be the same system as in Oblivion, where a special enchanted equipment you get at level 5, becomes useless by level 15......

BTW, the superman sword, what sort of stats does it have......I hate having the metal in my inventory and not being able to get it forged because I lack the DLC...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Meteorite weapon

Although a two-hander from Circle Tower sidequest might be the same statswise. Don't remember the name though.
But I agree, it sucks that you need DLC to complete a quest. Bethesda didn't pull this kind of stuff with Oblivion or Fallout 3.

[seireikhaan]

Hmm...

For whatever reason, DA is not liking the clean install I did. The game is still entirely playable, but there's far more frequent "tears" and so forth, graphically, while playing the game. Its a bit off putting, and I'm not sure how to fix it.

[Monk]

Hmm...

For whatever reason, DA is not liking the clean install I did. The game is still entirely playable, but there's far more frequent "tears" and so forth, graphically, while playing the game. Its a bit off putting, and I'm not sure how to fix it.

If you're using an nvidia card it might be the Physx drivers as DA doesn't like them very much. Try disabling it.

I was having the exact same problem and this fixed it for me.

[seireikhaan]

If you're using an nvidia card it might be the Physx drivers as DA doesn't like them very much. Try disabling it.

I was having the exact same problem and this fixed it for me.

Using ATI, but I'll try it.

edit: I don't suppose you could tell me how to do that?

[Monk]

Using ATI, but I'll try it.

edit: I don't suppose you could tell me how to do that?

I think PhysX is an Nvidia only thing, i heard ATI has something similar but I don't know for sure and I wouldn't know how to turn it off. You might look in the video card's control panel that many of their drivers come bundled with.

[FactionHeir]

I found I need to run DA using Vsync to prevent tearing.

Finally got my main to do a paltry 253 damage in 1 hit using the berserker final strike, but while it registers online and in my char sheet, it didn't net me the achieve
Leliana on the other hand regularly does 700+ using her arrow of slaying...so jealous.

My PC is now level 25 too (highest you can get it seems) and is 2 talents short of arrow of slaying (got all templar, berserker, warrior and sword/shield talents already). Argh.

To get XP quickly:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Buy lots of elfroots from the merchant at the elven camp. 99 elfroots for about 80 silver. Gets you some 800 xp. Compare that to giving 30 gold to the mercenaries for a mere 1000.

[seireikhaan]

I found I need to run DA using Vsync to prevent tearing.

Tried that, tried pretty much every setting to no avail. I'm really hoping there's some kind of fix that can be released for this.

[Lemur]

Right I just tried the options myself.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

He takes three drake scales to make the armour first time. It is basic alright. I hadn't slain the dragon then, so I simply gave him the remaining three drake scales. This time it was superior armour.
Finally, I killed the dragon and gave him the dragon scales, asked him to make massive dragon bone armour. This one isn't named superior or anything, simply 'Wade's <armour name>'

I went a different route:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I paid Wade for the first set, and he made normal drakescale armor. Then I paid him for the second set, and he made Wade's Superior Drake Armor. Then I gave him the dragon scales and he made Drake's Superior Dragonbone Armor. I think the issue is pay -- if you volunteer the coins, he makes the good stuff.

[LeftEyeNine]

I want to critical-hit all of you while on a frost giant potion and gone berserk

[rajpoot]

I went a different route:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I paid Wade for the first set, and he made normal drakescale armor. Then I paid him for the second set, and he made Wade's Superior Drake Armor. Then I gave him the dragon scales and he made Drake's Superior Dragonbone Armor. I think the issue is pay -- if you volunteer the coins, he makes the good stuff.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Are you sure? If he really does make the final dragon bone armour 'superior' on paying, then I'll reload an old save.....because from what I hear this is one of the best available massive armour without DLCs...

[FactionHeir]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I think paying increases the chance, but the very first armor will never be superior.

[Mailman653]

I haven't been able to put this game down since i bought it. I've autoleveled up some of my NPC's but now I see I could really use a healer and the autolevel up didn't help in that area.

[Monk]

I haven't been able to put this game down since i bought it. I've autoleveled up some of my NPC's but now I see I could really use a healer and the autolevel up didn't help in that area.

Indeed. Unfortunately if your PC isn't a mage, you really only have two options.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You'll meet your main healer in the Mage Tower quest but she may not "mesh" with your attitudes on how to treat people. If not, your only option for heals is to then start leveling Morrigan as a healer, of which she is average but not fantastic.

Invest in health potions at every store!

[FactionHeir]

I find you swim in potions by the end of the game, I pretty much kept to using lesser ones where possible and ended up with some 20 potent, 50 greater and 70 something normal health poultrices

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And the final battle against the demon doesn't even require a single one...

[Monk]

I find you swim in potions by the end of the game, I pretty much kept to using lesser ones where possible and ended up with some 20 potent, 50 greater and 70 something normal health poultrices

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And the final battle against the demon doesn't even require a single one...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I felt a fool when i learned the trick to killing the demon.

I did that fight the hard way however, as in no use of the siege engines. I fought The Dragon the way Chuck Norris did before me. With my bear hands.

On higher difficulties you get less potion drops and they heal you for far less per potion.

[Mailman653]

Yeah I've noticed I'm spending serious money on potions and eventhough I've managed to level up Morrigan to healing just a bit, I think potions do a better job. That spoiler......interesting, I did not know that.

[Krusader]

Is it just me or does Wynne go mana-dry pretty fast when set to Healer tactic set?

I tweaked it a bit, removing Rock Armor being cast, as my sword&shield character and Sten picks up most mobs pretty easily, plus the few who gets by are easily taken out by Leliana) and initially set her to drink a "least powerful lyrium potion". Before I had noticed, I only had two powerful Lyrium potions left.

Compared that both my own character and Sten are set to drink potions at 50% health, I have lots of healing potions.

[Monk]

Is it just me or does Wynne go mana-dry pretty fast when set to Healer tactic set?

I tweaked it a bit, removing Rock Armor being cast, as my sword&shield character and Sten picks up most mobs pretty easily, plus the few who gets by are easily taken out by Leliana) and initially set her to drink a "least powerful lyrium potion". Before I had noticed, I only had two powerful Lyrium potions left.

Compared that both my own character and Sten are set to drink potions at 50% health, I have lots of healing potions.

She does, thanks to the Auras and Buffs she will use before she starts healing, in a fight she will spend around 40% of her overall mana just tossing support spells. In a standard fight with some minions it's nothing to worry about, but in a boss battle?

I deactivated most of her support tactics and have her focused solely on healing. I find that she's great in that regard and her mana lasts long when she's got a focused tactic set, if i need the support skills i'll just micro them. Wynne has also redeemed herself a bit in my eyes, thanks in part to the banter she provides when paired with Ohgren. Who knew the old bat had it in her?


Major spoilers on Shale, Orzammar and Shale's Companion quest.

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I took Shale with me to the Anvil this time, and who would have known that Shale was actually a female? Have to say it caught me a bit off guard and led to some rather amusing banter with my PC, since she is female as well. Ceridin actually knew Shale in her past and expresses astonishment upon seeing her again, which opens some memories of Shale's past.

You can then (after going back to camp) venture to a lost Thaig in the Deep Roads and discover Shale's roots. The entire quest line is very interesting but I feel they could have done more with the climax, still, it was good to finally get some true background on the golem

[FactionHeir]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Didn't use the ballistae neither. Leliana was a master archer and my main has arrow of slaying too, so the dragon went from 50% to 25% pretty quickly.
Playing on hard and getting that many potions, you playing on nightmare or what?

I have some mixed feelings over item scaling. It just seems wrong that nearly everything you find post level 20 seems to be either dragonbone or the tier before that. I mean really, does every commoner have a dragonbone axe in their drawer? Of course those items are unenchanted and unsocketed, so they are good for nothing but gold.

And shameless plug/spoiler for my char's page

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http://social.bioware.com/playerprof...game=dragonage

[Greyblades]

Ah that was fun.

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The Urn of sacred ashes quest just had me kill off an entire villiage of crazy cultists, I feel like Nicolas Cage in The Wickerman.