Dragon Age: Origins, Awakening & DA2 : Othor Games

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:28 am

Yes, seriously, he kept pwning me. Admittedly I haven't paid too much attention to spell sequences and so on because it generally doesn't matter in the slightest in this game, it's a spam fest of spells and other fast paced nonsense. This was the only fight, bar none, that I have been remotely challenged by.

He's quite tricky, but at least you weren't fighting him with a sword and shield warrior. It's not hard, it just takes hours.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:55 am

He's quite tricky, but at least you weren't fighting him with a sword and shield warrior. It's not hard, it just takes hours.

Hours? Seriously? It took me like 10-20 mins on easy with a mage and 20-30 on normal with a 2H warrior.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:21 pm

Hours? Seriously? It took me like 10-20 mins on easy with a mage and 20-30 on normal with a 2H warrior.

No, not seriously.

It just felt like ages because they do such small amounts of damage.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:45 am

Haveyou tried running around in circles waitng for spells to recharge ?

That would be my next tactic, if I try it again later. I don't have the stoneshield spell,

I wish I could help you here, but I settle things peacefully with the Arishok.

edit:ratlsayer is right about that one. Most enemies in this game just can't hit a mage that is running around them.

By settling things peacefully...

Spoiler

does that mean you let him take Isabela. I was inclined to keep companions, but unlike DAO, in this game, I'm not that interested in any of them and perfectly willing to let Isabela-oh-I-am-such-a-saucy-wench-stereotype go. However, I would have loved to have let her duel him. Heh. That would have been cool... let her duel the Arishok, he kills her, they leave, I dust my hands off and continue on.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:04 pm

Haveyou tried running around in circles waitng for spells to recharge ?

This is the tactic i had to beat the dragons :blush: Except last time, everyone actually staid alive :celebration:

Anyone tried and successfully made Merrill into a good Blood Mage?

Yup. Once you unlock "Blood of the First" for her, start increasing her constitution instead of willpower. I raise 2 points magic for every 1 point willpower (or constitution for blood mage)

Have tactics

Self: Mana <10% - Activate Blood of the First
Self: Health < 25% - Deactivate Blood of the First

while having a healer with tactic "Ally: Health < 25% - Heal" should keep her alive and kicking. Also set her to use ranged tactic. Also one of her unique skills can be upgraded to leech enemies health for herself while Blood of the First is activated.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:19 pm

That would be my next tactic, if I try it again later. I don't have the stoneshield spell,

By settling things peacefully...

Spoiler

does that mean you let him take Isabela. I was inclined to keep companions, but unlike DAO, in this game, I'm not that interested in any of them and perfectly willing to let Isabela-oh-I-am-such-a-saucy-wench-stereotype go. However, I would have loved to have let her duel him. Heh. That would have been cool... let her duel the Arishok, he kills her, they leave, I dust my hands off and continue on.

Spoiler

Yes it does. If you agree to let the Arishok take Isabella, he'll return to par vollen (spelling?) without causing any further conflict. Although he does warn that he'll be back (no comebacks during DA2 however), but the qunari always claim they'll strike back.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:07 am

I succesfully dueled the Arishok with my archer Rogue, though it did take a lot poisons, potions, grenades, dogs and general underhanded tactics. But hey, rogues do it from behind

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:08 am

No, not seriously.

It just felt like ages because they do such small amounts of damage.

Oh, yeah I know what you mean. It seems all your attacks are very weak during boss fights. Maybe they should have had the entire party fight him and other Quanri, maybe that would have been more challenging.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:40 am

Spoiler

Yes it does. If you agree to let the Arishok take Isabella, he'll return to par vollen (spelling?) without causing any further conflict. Although he does warn that he'll be back (no comebacks during DA2 however), but the qunari always claim they'll strike back.

Spoiler

I didn't even get that option. I told Isabella we were going to give the book back to the Arishok. We go in, the thief runs out followed by Isabella, when I go outside... she is gone, with the book. I never saw her again.

The weird thing is that the enchantment menu still had her stuff in it and the endgame story has Hawke running off with Isabella. What the hell just happened?

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:21 pm

Oh, yeah I know what you mean. It seems all your attacks are very weak during boss fights. Maybe they should have had the entire party fight him and other Quanri, maybe that would have been more challenging.

That is possible too. My mage who always tries to find a non-violent diplomatic aproach had that happen. Apparently the Qun has no definition of "diplomacy" :hehe:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:12 am

Looks like they went out of their way to pull out the mages fangs like they did the adept. *sigh* Why does there need to be balance in a game like this? I want to be an all powerful doomsday machine. At ;east from what people are saying/previews.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:10 am

Primal Arcane Force Mage Spirit Healer is quite the powerhouse. Healing, damage, protection and crowd control all in one package.

Especially the Force Mage skills are delicious.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:34 am

Spoiler

I didn't even get that option. I told Isabella we were going to give the book back to the Arishok. We go in, the thief runs out followed by Isabella, when I go outside... she is gone, with the book. I never saw her again.

The weird thing is that the enchantment menu still had her stuff in it and the endgame story has Hawke running off with Isabella. What the hell just happened?

Spoiler

Did you romance her? That's odd. There must be some circumstance where she doesn't join you at the last minute in the Viscount's keep.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:02 pm

Spoiler

Did you romance her? That's odd. There must be some circumstance where she doesn't join you at the last minute in the Viscount's keep.

Spoiler

I did romance her, once. When she showed up at the mansion looking to get some. After that I went after Merrill and completed that romance until the end of the game. Isabella never showed her face again after running off with the book.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:35 am

Spoiler

I did romance her, once. When she showed up at the mansion looking to get some. After that I went after Merrill and completed that romance until the end of the game. Isabella never showed her face again after running off with the book.

Spoiler

Well the romance explains her popping up in the ending, but this requires more testing! or someone with cheat codes and a pc version to stomach the replays. It might have something to do with dialogue choices with Isabella, or something else. Either way, I can't think of anything specific that would have caused her to be a no-show.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:10 pm

Spoiler

Well the romance explains her popping up in the ending, but this requires more testing! or someone with cheat codes and a pc version to stomach the replays. It might have something to do with dialogue choices with Isabella, or something else. Either way, I can't think of anything specific that would have caused her to be a no-show.

Spoiler

All I know is what I have told you and that I never used Isabella where it wasn't required. My main party was Anders, Merrill and Varric (after Bethany went to the Wardens, she was replaced with Merrill).

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:46 am

Spoiler

All I know is what I have told you and that I never used Isabella where it wasn't required. My main party was Anders, Merrill and Varric (after Bethany went to the Wardens, she was replaced with Merrill).

Spoiler

checked on the wiki. Looks like Isabella can permanently leave the party at the end of act 2 if she hasn't been romanced or if her friendship/rivalry is low. (and from what I've read, sleeping with her the first time doesn't necessarily count as romance)

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:22 am

Spoiler

My Bethany was Gray Warden and I still got this quest. Did you mean the other way around?

Spoiler

I'm talking about the one involving Nathaniel Howe and Carver, and the dwarf with the explosive barrels.

I did get the one with the three dwarves on a non imported save (As in, default story selected) so that might be what causes this, I ran my second playthrough with a generated save where awakening had been completed and Nathaniel was alive etc.

I did not get the one involving three dwarves venturing down there on the playthrough using an origins save file, I got the warden one instead.

Hope that clears the matter up somewhat, not entirely sure what causes the switch here and I assumed the most obvious reason right away.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:17 pm

Spoiler

checked on the wiki. Looks like Isabella can permanently leave the party at the end of act 2 if she hasn't been romanced or if her friendship/rivalry is low. (and from what I've read, sleeping with her the first time doesn't necessarily count as romance)

Spoiler

This is true. When I played through the first time, I was trying to romance Isabella. And I did, but it still wasn't considered a "romance". Once the two people are done, you have to say the right things, and then she should be initiated into the romance...... You may have to romance a second time though.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:29 am

I know the game hasn't been out long, but I thought I'd check out what mods people have come up with. There's a couple nice tweaks, but the vast majority are awful companion "improvements", which include giving Bethany massive knockers, and making Isabella look "better" by taking away even more of her clothes and giving her the face of a heroin addict.

Bioware games attract some odd people.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:18 am

I know the game hasn't been out long, but I thought I'd check out what mods people have come up with. There's a couple nice tweaks, but the vast majority are awful companion "improvements", which include giving Bethany massive knockers, and making Isabella look "better" by taking away even more of her clothes and giving her the face of a heroin addict.

Bioware games attract some odd people.

I don't play it on the computer, but based on what your talking about, that is pretty sad. I thought that Isabella was already wearing little clothes. I mean you can see her a** for crying out loud.

Did you notice that in the beginning of the game, Bethany has HUGE briasts, but later on, they are smaller? (It's that way on the PS3 at least.)

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:21 am

I know the game hasn't been out long, but I thought I'd check out what mods people have come up with. There's a couple nice tweaks, but the vast majority are awful companion "improvements", which include giving Bethany massive knockers, and making Isabella look "better" by taking away even more of her clothes and giving her the face of a heroin addict.

Bioware games attract some odd people.

So does every other form of media in the world, including TES games i might add.

Rule 34 exists for a reason, trust me, you haven't seen anything yet.

Did you notice that in the beginning of the game, Bethany has HUGE briasts, but later on, they are smaller? (It's that way on the PS3 at least.)

I wonder why, seeing as Varric is exaggerating everything else in that scene...

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:58 am

So does every other form of media in the world, including TES games i might add.

Rule 34 exists for a reason, trust me, you haven't seen anything yet.

True enough I guess, there's some slightly disturbing mods for TES and Fallout too. It's not really surprising considering the mods that came out for Origins just after it's release.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:47 am

Edit: Nevermind, you don't want to know.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:48 am

I wonder why, seeing as Varric is exaggerating everything else in that scene...

True...... I didn't even think about that. I though it was just an error that Bioware forgot to take care of. :banghead: