Dragon Age: Origins Catch-All

Some of the characters are awesome. Alistair, Morrigan, Zevran and Ohgren are pretty entertaining. Ohgren makes everything sleazy. Every second comment from him is some sort of jacking off metaphor. That is fantastic.

I don't understand why they even bother with the serious, religious etc type characters in these games - they are not nearly as fun. Just give me different variations on Minsc and I'm happy.

Jeff-66 wrote:

Thanks, I'm at the keep now. After that, any suggestions on a manageable zone for a level 7-8 party?

I tried allot before I picked and finished the Mage's Circle. Not only was it passable for my post-Lothering Rogue, but it gives you some permanent stat boosts that are quite helpful.

DO NOT go to Redcliffe like Alistair suggests, it is crazy hard.

garion333 wrote:

Taking away her daggers will work, but you might still want her to have them. Bows shoot nice and all, but don't backstab.

Really? Not even if you get behind them in a flanking position? Or if they're stunned?

I'm way behind, just getting to the Tower of Ishal, the intro to that mission is pretty damn epic though. I'm balancing this game with Torchlight, and learning Spanish, so I have a feeling I'm going to be way behind you guys... might be able to keep in line with a few of you on your second playthrough

Captain_Arrrg wrote:
Jeff-66 wrote:

Thanks, I'm at the keep now. After that, any suggestions on a manageable zone for a level 7-8 party?

I tried allot before I picked and finished the Mage's Circle. Not only was it passable for my post-Lothering Rogue, but it gives you some permanent stat boosts that are quite helpful.

DO NOT go to Redcliffe like Alistair suggests, it is crazy hard.

Thanks. Is it listed as "Mage's Circle" on the map, or by another name?

Citizen86, Don't sweat it man, it's not a race, though it may seem so from reading this thread

I like to take my time and savor great games, and this is definitely a great game. If it continues on it's current pace, or heaven help us -- gets better -- this thing could turn legendary (a la Baldur's Gate). I'm loving it.

Scaphism wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Taking away her daggers will work, but you might still want her to have them. Bows shoot nice and all, but don't backstab.

Really? Not even if you get behind them in a flanking position? Or if they're stunned?

Only melee weapons backstab, but ranged do flank.

ubrakto wrote:
Latrine wrote:

Oh my god, these Revenants in the Brecelian Forest just kick my ass. I can't even scratch them. I guess I might have to come back later to loot and pillage or something.

Spoiler:

And yes, I tried the hint of engaging them at range that's in the codex but the guys I took with me aren't specced for archery.

Yeah, I gave up on trying to beat those guys.

I headed to Brecelian Forest straight after Lothering and agree that they are pretty much crazy hard for my 7-8 level party. Managed to get through two of them by burning through my potion supply and have since realized it makes more sense to just come back later.

My level 6-7 party sailed thru all of Warden's Keep, until the final fight. I wiped. Too fast, too furious, and no health potions left.

I reloaded a save just before talking to the final guy, turned around and left and hit the world map and headed to Denerim, in hopes of getting some health potions before heading back. Anyone know if the Keep will reset, or can I take up where I left off?

Also, what's good for restoring stamina? I find my melee guys are running low of stamina quite often.

As potions go... Diablo this is not! Tip for the newer players, BUY ALL health potions you can. They are worth their weight in gold. Also, have your herbalist learn to make them, by all means.

Also, what's good for restoring stamina? I find my melee guys are running low of stamina quite often.

Deep Mushrooms restore stamina a LITTLE bit. I haven't found anything better yet.

NSMike wrote:
Also, what's good for restoring stamina? I find my melee guys are running low of stamina quite often.

Deep Mushrooms restore stamina a LITTLE bit. I haven't found anything better yet.

I've found some pieces of armor that increase stamina regen.

It's interesting, I'm level 12, yet I feel much "older" and like I have late game gear. I can't wait to see even higher level gear.

Shoal07 wrote:

It's interesting, I'm level 12, yet I feel much "older" and like I have late game gear. I can't wait to see even higher level gear.

I feel the same. I'm a similar level and feel like I've already been through so much. I would like to find a place to specialize. According to the stats screen I've played 25 hours and I'm 18% of the way complete and have explored 31% of the world. Don't know how reliable all that is, but I figured I was close to half way there. Maybe not.

I played a Dwarf noble up to lvl 8 over the weekend on the 360 version at normal difficulty. I think i had one death in the party, one of the early boss types.

Stepped back to my PC tonight, and to my lvl 3 Rogue. My entire party died at their first serious encounter in the Wilds. This game is about one level of difficulty off, i think. The PC normal is definitely harder than the 360 normal, it seems pretty clear to me.

I can't believe I haven't touched this game all day. Well, my back certainly appreciates it.

Jeff-66 wrote:

Thanks. Is it listed as "Mage's Circle" on the map, or by another name?

You get there from the Lake Calenhad Docks.

Captain_Arrrg wrote:
Jeff-66 wrote:

Thanks. Is it listed as "Mage's Circle" on the map, or by another name?

You get there from the Lake Calenhad Docks.

And you got to argue / Persuade / Intimidate with Templar to take you across.

Larry, you should definitely spoiler-tag that strategy. It's much too specific. I think you were the one who mentioned the final boss earlier too, and you should probably also spoiler-tag that as well.

I'll spoiler tag it but the Final Boss is scene within the first thirty minutes of the game, dude. Heck its in the title of the game.

I went back and finally beat the Archdemon with my torqued / crappy Mage Build.

Spoiler:

I just set her on Ranged Healer and let the A.I. run my character, Morrigan (set up as another healer), and Alister, then used Oghren to work the ballistas on the roof. Worked. Sloppy but it worked.

After the end credits (which go on for at least 20 minutes) everyone will be happy to know you get a post-end game save that allows you to go back and play any DLC that's forth coming. And actually BioWare almost seems to sorta announce whats coming next for DLC at the end of the game.

I just wrapped up my first play through (beginning to end as a Human Noble). I will most assuredly take another play through -- after a long break. Having invested 41 hours (and only 36% of the game covered) I have spent far too much time this week and need to get back to the normal work/family schedule.

I attempted to cover MOST side quests but it definitely appears achieving 100% is, if perhaps not impossible, very very difficult.

The visual and audio presentation are definitely highlights of the experience. The voice acting overall was very good and the story (while somewhat cliche) was engaging. Not surprisingly with a game of this length there are some down points/slow spots but overall a fantastic experience. When this game was focused on tight story telling it was at its best.

I wrapped up this play through with 625 out of 1600 points and 33 out of 87 achievements.

Spoiler:

The epilogue screens with text following the last scene(s) seemed a bit weak and inconsistent with the rest of the game's high quality presentation. A narrated epilogue would have been a nicer touch although I recognize that this is the summary of the different choices/actions taken and may have been prohibitive to do.

garion333 wrote:
Scaphism wrote:
garion333 wrote:

Taking away her daggers will work, but you might still want her to have them. Bows shoot nice and all, but don't backstab.

Really? Not even if you get behind them in a flanking position? Or if they're stunned?

Only melee weapons backstab, but ranged do flank.

Thanks, that's definitely good to know. I did a little looking and found this page with more info on flanking and backstab.

I don't have the game (yet), but it seems like it probably wouldn't be a great idea to send your archer around to the back to get a flank. But if you can spare the talents, you can pick up Coup de Grace which gives you a 360 flanking angle on any stunned or paralyzed enemy, letting you get the flanking attack bonus no matter where you attack from. That's probably a combo that probably doesn't work well until you have multiple characters who can stun/paralyze.

Most everyone can stun or paralyze it seems. Rogues get it automatically (Dirty Fighting) when you roll one up. Or at least the two origins I played as a rogue started with it. I suppose it could be racial.

You'd be surprised how many times the enemy turns its back to you as a ranged class. The enemy flanks your melee guys out in front and opens itself up to firing from behind.

Edit: Btw, that link you posted is where I was cross referencing most of my info.

Good to know. According to this wiki, all rogues start with dirty fighting and poison making.
The other skill you start with depends on your race+status.

Spoiler:

# Dalish Elf: Survival
# City Elf: Coercion
# Dwarf Commoner: Stealing
# Human Noble and Dwarf Noble: Combat Training

Does Dirty Fighting work at range? Otherwise I don't know if it would be worth 2 talents (combat movement + coup de grace) on an archer, when you don't really get to benefit from the added backstab damage.

Scaphism wrote:

Good to know. According to this wiki, all rogues start with dirty fighting and poison making.
The other skill you start with depends on your race+status.

Spoiler:

# Dalish Elf: Survival
# City Elf: Coercion
# Dwarf Commoner: Stealing
# Human Noble and Dwarf Noble: Combat Training

Does Dirty Fighting work at range? Otherwise I don't know if it would be worth 2 talents (combat movement + coup de grace) on an archer, when you don't really get to benefit from the added backstab damage.

Dirty Fighting is a melee-range ability.

Yeah, Dirty Fighting is, well... dirty fighting.. as in kicking dirt in someones face. Can't kick from too far away.

Progress update, I finally made it to the world map. Got the doggy. The game is awesome, and I've barely just begun. It does remind me in a lot of ways of Mass Effect, but I think it's great they did away with the whole Paragon/Renegade Good/Bad point system. It really does allow you to choose options in the badass, or not so badass, nice guy, or angel type way, and whatever they thought of in the middle as well.

I already have 3 out of the 4 skills unlocked in Persuasion, so I think I'll be able to avoid most fights if I'm able to. Basically I can reason with people, but I won't be pushed around either, as was the case with the bandits. I think I generally like being able to use the Persuade ability in my RPG's. Second playthrough (if I ever do get to that... never did make it very far in any Mass Effect second playthroughs), I'll probably just knock out anyone who looks at me funny.

i think its the best game i have ever played at least top 3

Which starting class is best for bows? What's a good specialization for an archer?

Vector wrote:

Which starting class is best for bows? What's a good specialization for an archer?

Rogue/Ranger

Blind_Evil wrote:
Sinatar wrote:
Vector wrote:

Which starting class is best for bows? What's a good specialization for an archer?

Rogue/Ranger

There is nothing that makes a Ranger a better archer than any of the other specializations, actually. Their skills only pertain to their pet. Also, the Ranger's stat bonus is +1 con and +5% Nature resist.

I'd say assassin or duelists are better archers. I'm also very curious whether the damage and attack bonuses from Warrior specs.

That was my line of thinking. I don't have the game yet so I can only go by what I've read.

Sinatar wrote:
Vector wrote:

Which starting class is best for bows? What's a good specialization for an archer?

Rogue/Ranger

There is nothing that makes a Ranger a better archer than any of the other specializations, actually. Their skills only pertain to their pet. Also, the Ranger's stat bonus is +1 con and +5% Nature resist.

I'd say assassin or duelists are better archers. I'm also very curious whether the damage and attack bonuses from Warrior specs.

Subject Change-o! I made an alternate save and made one of my mages into an Arcane Warrior, and am pretty pleased with the results. He can use the heavy stuff that not even my warrior (Alistair) can use, and with Combat Magic turned on does 33-35 damage per swing with a standard tier 4 1h Axe. This is quite a bit higher than Alistair's damage. The lack of melee talents isn't as big a hurdle as I expected, and having Mass Rejuventation on as often as possible helps with the fatigue hike. The biggest issue is that without Combat Magic on (it's a toggled skill), the AW's hit rate is very low, and I don't want to spend stat points on Dexterity. During a boss fight, I turned it off and became a normal mage, but kept the heavy armor on, and it noticeably helped my survivability.