[Gaming] Official Dragon Age 2 Thread - Thar be Spoilers
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Killed the high dragon. Why is it any time I fight something that has a Hawke-stabs-it-to-death cinematic, I always have a maul equipped?
I can't decide if Hawke is a fantastic warrior or a terrible one for being able to kill things by stabbing them with a hammer.
Well I broke down and got the game. I didn't invest in DLCs though other then the Emporium, and I did that mostly because I heard it's the only way you can respec if I decided I hated the direction I went. Funny enough I have yet to actually even visit that thing.
I have to say, after getting used to the new combat system I guess I was unfair with it before. Things can go down quickly once you learn how to utilize the "weakening" abilities that allow cross class synergies. Right now my main group is my guy, Richard Hawke, as a sword and board warrior. He goes in and takes the hits all the while I have Varric, Merril, and Bethany in the background. They destroy anything and everything.
I have attempted some groupings with Isabella, Aveline, and Anders. I like Isabella and want to use her more often. Aveline would be in my party all the time if I had an extra slot for her. Anders... I don't know. I never really liked him in Awakening, and now with his... curse... I find him even more whiny. I never touched Fenris, his voice and demeanor bore me to tears. Plus his look, poor elves became some weird pink skinned Navi.
This game did remind me of a few of the things that always bothered me about these types of games. I know I can't really change the formula, as it's part of the character development, but I felt this would be a good thread to mention it.
I find myself growing "attached" to characters. This is good in some ways, but not so good in others because you don't get all the characters in the beginning. The same thing occurred in Mass Effect where I never used the "second stringers". Basically the characters they throw in your lap in the beginning end up becoming my go to characters. I can't get myself to not bring Bethany, because she is my sister and all. Varric was the first extra member I got, so now I find it hard to remove him too (the way he helps me weasel out of bad situations is always a boon too)
Aveline was also always in my party until I got Merril, and she only replaced her because I really liked Merril and had to make a hard choice (Merril barely winning because she was superior for my comp, and is hilarious) Isabella for whatever reason came in rather late to my game, so while I want to have her in my party more, I feel overly attached to the characters I have now to bring her along most of the time. She also has pretty much no friendship with me because of this. Bethany, on the other hand, have full friendship, making a lot of the side quests I am doing a waste on possible friendship or rivalry with others. Yet I can't bring myself to not have her around.
In other words, I kind of wish games would just figure out a way to throw all the characters into the beginning, allowing you to choose and form bonds with favorites before you get to attached to the starter characters.
Now my other issue. The character specializations are nice and all, but I am really worried because some classes don't have options I need. For instance, I heard from a source that you pretty much don't get Bethany in Act 2. She, right now, is my main healer and "buffer" with some fire spells to throw out when she has the mana. If she is gone, the only way I can keep my group working is by taking Anders, who I said before I am not really keen on. I understand making them specialized since they are unique people, but at least leave the base trees open to all the classes. My plan right now is to take Isabella instead of Bethany and just stock up on lots of potions.
In the end, the storyline is rather engaging, though I feel a bit more... confined, then I did in Origins. Other then a few small trips out to the the country (which used pretty much mirrored maps half the time) everything keeps happening in the same areas of Kirkwall. I kind of miss stretching my legs more in places like the forests of the Dalish, the swamps of Flemeth, Lothring, Redcliffe, Orzamar, etc. I know I am just finishing up Act 1 now, so maybe we get around a bit more in later Acts, but for the time being my whole first day was rather confined. Also, having a quick travel to Ander's Clinic but not having an exit anywhere near the place is just cruel, I hate Darktown.
I have to say, after getting used to the new combat system I guess I was unfair with it before. Things can go down quickly once you learn how to utilize the "weakening" abilities that allow cross class synergies. Right now my main group is my guy, Richard Hawke, as a sword and board warrior. He goes in and takes the hits all the while I have Varric, Merril, and Bethany in the background. They destroy anything and everything.
I have attempted some groupings with Isabella, Aveline, and Anders. I like Isabella and want to use her more often. Aveline would be in my party all the time if I had an extra slot for her. Anders... I don't know. I never really liked him in Awakening, and now with his... curse... I find him even more whiny. I never touched Fenris, his voice and demeanor bore me to tears. Plus his look, poor elves became some weird pink skinned Navi.
This game did remind me of a few of the things that always bothered me about these types of games. I know I can't really change the formula, as it's part of the character development, but I felt this would be a good thread to mention it.
I find myself growing "attached" to characters. This is good in some ways, but not so good in others because you don't get all the characters in the beginning. The same thing occurred in Mass Effect where I never used the "second stringers". Basically the characters they throw in your lap in the beginning end up becoming my go to characters. I can't get myself to not bring Bethany, because she is my sister and all. Varric was the first extra member I got, so now I find it hard to remove him too (the way he helps me weasel out of bad situations is always a boon too)
Aveline was also always in my party until I got Merril, and she only replaced her because I really liked Merril and had to make a hard choice (Merril barely winning because she was superior for my comp, and is hilarious) Isabella for whatever reason came in rather late to my game, so while I want to have her in my party more, I feel overly attached to the characters I have now to bring her along most of the time. She also has pretty much no friendship with me because of this. Bethany, on the other hand, have full friendship, making a lot of the side quests I am doing a waste on possible friendship or rivalry with others. Yet I can't bring myself to not have her around.
In other words, I kind of wish games would just figure out a way to throw all the characters into the beginning, allowing you to choose and form bonds with favorites before you get to attached to the starter characters.
Now my other issue. The character specializations are nice and all, but I am really worried because some classes don't have options I need. For instance, I heard from a source that you pretty much don't get Bethany in Act 2. She, right now, is my main healer and "buffer" with some fire spells to throw out when she has the mana. If she is gone, the only way I can keep my group working is by taking Anders, who I said before I am not really keen on. I understand making them specialized since they are unique people, but at least leave the base trees open to all the classes. My plan right now is to take Isabella instead of Bethany and just stock up on lots of potions.
In the end, the storyline is rather engaging, though I feel a bit more... confined, then I did in Origins. Other then a few small trips out to the the country (which used pretty much mirrored maps half the time) everything keeps happening in the same areas of Kirkwall. I kind of miss stretching my legs more in places like the forests of the Dalish, the swamps of Flemeth, Lothring, Redcliffe, Orzamar, etc. I know I am just finishing up Act 1 now, so maybe we get around a bit more in later Acts, but for the time being my whole first day was rather confined. Also, having a quick travel to Ander's Clinic but not having an exit anywhere near the place is just cruel, I hate Darktown.
Please.... never color your text. Black on black is fail.
As per choice selections, you need to experiment. I routinely change my party's comp, simply because of the game best points (the passive discussions between party members) is always there and they never seem to run out of things to say.
If I had to choose between Bethany and Anders, Anders beats her hands down in that department... despite his personality which at some point of the game.... get VERY interesting. I think the Fenris voice acting is FANTASTIC as well as Varric's. Merill doesn't heal but there's a mod out there that CAN change that.
I'm in Act 2, running around during the mundane quests just so that I can equip my party well enough.
Overall, I find myself losing interest in the game after an hour of gameplay or so, something completely odd compared to say, if I'd open Mass Effect 2 or DA:O where I'll easily get into a 4-5 hour gaming sessions.
As per choice selections, you need to experiment. I routinely change my party's comp, simply because of the game best points (the passive discussions between party members) is always there and they never seem to run out of things to say.
If I had to choose between Bethany and Anders, Anders beats her hands down in that department... despite his personality which at some point of the game.... get VERY interesting. I think the Fenris voice acting is FANTASTIC as well as Varric's. Merill doesn't heal but there's a mod out there that CAN change that.
I'm in Act 2, running around during the mundane quests just so that I can equip my party well enough.
Overall, I find myself losing interest in the game after an hour of gameplay or so, something completely odd compared to say, if I'd open Mass Effect 2 or DA:O where I'll easily get into a 4-5 hour gaming sessions.
Odd with the black text. I had to type out the message in another browser to avoid the work trolls, and somehow when I copied it back over to the forum is automatically took in all the color, font, and size information. Oops. Should hopefully be fixed now.
As good as Anders is (which people have told me he is the best caster in the game) I just have no interest to take him with me in my party, I don't like him as much as other characters. Maybe I am being unfair to him (maybe I will take him to the Deep Roads, being a Grey Warden and all) but I just don't want to lose out on seeing how my favorites react to various side quests, or lose out on "friendship" points.
As for a mod allowing Merril to heal, do you have a link? I might enjoy that since I find myself growing rather fond of her. Though, the "scottish" accent gets a bit weird at times.
As good as Anders is (which people have told me he is the best caster in the game) I just have no interest to take him with me in my party, I don't like him as much as other characters. Maybe I am being unfair to him (maybe I will take him to the Deep Roads, being a Grey Warden and all) but I just don't want to lose out on seeing how my favorites react to various side quests, or lose out on "friendship" points.
As for a mod allowing Merril to heal, do you have a link? I might enjoy that since I find myself growing rather fond of her. Though, the "scottish" accent gets a bit weird at times.
It's in the mod forum in the Bioware forums.
One thing I miss, your players never get taken out and you need to focus on helping them out. For example, the dogs/spiders in DA:O overwhelming characters, CC etc.... the worst I've gotten is "interrupted" and you can perform the same action seconds later.
One thing I miss, your players never get taken out and you need to focus on helping them out. For example, the dogs/spiders in DA:O overwhelming characters, CC etc.... the worst I've gotten is "interrupted" and you can perform the same action seconds later.
Overwhelm worked both ways. I guess I'm just I just miss the strategy and hating the "waves" of enemies insta-spawning on top on my characters.
Oh, I finished act 2 last night. Here's a printscreen of my epic assassination combo i've been doing. Can't wait to kick some ass in the 3rd act. The arishok was.... an interesting challenge... for an archer rogue.
Oh, I finished act 2 last night. Here's a printscreen of my epic assassination combo i've been doing. Can't wait to kick some ass in the 3rd act. The arishok was.... an interesting challenge... for an archer rogue.
Honestly of all the things I compare between the two games, I think that the character banter in DA II is so much better than DA:O. Maybe I'm just paying more attention to it now though, or don't remember the DA:O banter as well, though I remember some gems, like Oghren trying to convince my dog to pull him on a chariot, and Morrigan informing Oghren that all she had to do to hurt him was kick him in the crotch.
Well, beat it.
Played as a 2-handed warrior. Got more fun as I got more abilities. The class is capable of really high burst damage and can take on groups of smaller enemies by itself, but it doesn't do too well during long combat, especially long combat versus a single enemy. Also is defeated by well-spaced out enemies, as it loses out on its main advantage of hitting multiple enemies at once.
If you'd want to play something that can perform consistently, this isn't the class and weapon style for you. If you want to be able to open combat by dropping 5+ enemies at once, go for it.
Sided with the mages. After that battle with Orsino, I can't help but think that Meredith was right about that whole circle being blood mages.
Final battle was pretty fun. Wasn't expecting the lyrium idol to come back. Figured its influence was only going to be a part of Varric's personal arc, so that was a pleasant surprise.
Really want to see if there's a way to end it by siding with the Grand Cleric because she was the only really powerful person in Kirkwall that I liked.
Final battle was pretty fun. Wasn't expecting the lyrium idol to come back. Figured its influence was only going to be a part of Varric's personal arc, so that was a pleasant surprise.
Really want to see if there's a way to end it by siding with the Grand Cleric because she was the only really powerful person in Kirkwall that I liked.
Played as a 2-handed warrior. Got more fun as I got more abilities. The class is capable of really high burst damage and can take on groups of smaller enemies by itself, but it doesn't do too well during long combat, especially long combat versus a single enemy. Also is defeated by well-spaced out enemies, as it loses out on its main advantage of hitting multiple enemies at once.
If you'd want to play something that can perform consistently, this isn't the class and weapon style for you. If you want to be able to open combat by dropping 5+ enemies at once, go for it.
Well, that is disappointing. Anders always blows it up, regardless of if you help, or somebody else decides they hate the chantry?
Also, 2H warrior is probably the best class to play while intoxicated, since it's a very simple class to play and bad decisions don't hurt as much as they would with other classes.
but I could be wrong.
Meh, it's what I call easy mode. I guess it's fine for a first playthrough. Though I doubt I'll play this game more than twice, I'm in Act 3 and Kirkwall is getting REAL OLD right now.
To me, there's an art to successfully place your characters in the field and getting them to work with synergy. FF off is basically gimping any aspect of difficulty in the game as you don't punish yourself for bad strategy. Damn, even with my rogue archer's AOE abilities can open up a can of kickass if he can volley all day surrounded by our enemies. I sometimes do it when the shit hits the fan but I tend to only hit Aveline.
Mind you the game isn't huge on tactics with waves of enemies dropping from LITERALLY NOWHERE or spawning under your feet wave after wave. In a way, this game punishes you if you're anything more than a casual gamer.
To me, there's an art to successfully place your characters in the field and getting them to work with synergy. FF off is basically gimping any aspect of difficulty in the game as you don't punish yourself for bad strategy. Damn, even with my rogue archer's AOE abilities can open up a can of kickass if he can volley all day surrounded by our enemies. I sometimes do it when the shit hits the fan but I tend to only hit Aveline.
Mind you the game isn't huge on tactics with waves of enemies dropping from LITERALLY NOWHERE or spawning under your feet wave after wave. In a way, this game punishes you if you're anything more than a casual gamer.
I had some pretty good AI behaviours set up in Dragon Age Origins... but I don't even have to bother with them in Dragon Age 2.... just "Cleave, Scythe, Whirlwind, Pommel Strike, Repeat!"
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