| 14 MAR 2011 at 2:59pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Any specific reason why Merril would suddenly decide to stop drinking her mana potions?
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 14 MAR 2011 at 3:34pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1460
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By placeholder (14 MAR 2011 11:35am)
Ok, it must be snowing harder: there's another thing that I enjoy about the game: the banter between Varrick and Merril. I wish I could engineer a romance between them.
I must admit I also enjoy all the 'jester' sassy dialogue options with Hawke.
EDIT: A question: If I didn't finish Awakening or play Witchhunt, are there parts of the story in DA2 that I'll be missing out on? Like with Anders and so on?
What a pity that Aveline joined the town guards and disapproves of anything a trifle shady, because she is certainly the best tank/dps combo...
Pity Fenrick isn't half as good a fighter, his company would have been more interesting.
Frenic is one of the best dps in the game, he is capable of two handed tanking as well as doing massive dmg. I found him better to use then Aveline. Where with Aveline tanking shie's get aggro and stay alive a long time, Fenric can get aggro but then he can obliterate the people that attack him.
Build him similar to this:
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/305/index/6396096
But invest in his defense skills (in his own tree). and things you'd like to have on a tank (taunt/goad, etc).
Also regarding the inventory, you are selling most if it right? Not simply deleting it?
Like in DA you can buy backpacks that increase your inv space.
Originally Posted By Inesrocks (14 MAR 2011 11:19am)
I still haven't figure this out: do the healers of your party heal you automatically during the battle or you have to command them to do that? :-?
And yes, I'm already courting both Anders and Fenris, and trust me, the romance lines are so... cheesy and random lol.. stuff like "you have a sexy body..." Yup. :-[
Select the character you want to be a healer, push c, then in this screen go to tactics. On the top you'll see the style that you can toggle, IE Scrapper, defender, etc. Select the "Healer" role. then you can add in your own tactics below these for things you might want.
Also for everyone here, it can REALLY pay off to use the cross class combo's. So that you can set up your cross class things, IE have a rogue use "x" ability against a target that's frozen, or a mage (ie chain lightning ability against someone staggered. These combo's do MASSIVE dmg and can really help in harder fights.
Good list for what to use:
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6116921/1
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| 14 MAR 2011 at 4:19pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | I'm not sure how I managed to turn my Avaline into such a monstrous machine. She can tough it through any fight, she has a storm atttack that makes her very fast, and she can cut a row of opponents into pieces- literally. ..and I mean literally - she cut 3 guys into pieces with just 2 swings - heads and little blocks of body were flying all over the show.. (hehe- it made the saying "heads will fly" gain more meaning for me.. )
This was in a fight where I originally had Fenric, but everyone kept dying, so I reloaded and trotted off to fetch Avaline instead. I use only one tank, and I like him/her to be a good damage dealer as well, so i usually fight controlling the tank. Plus i like to micro-manage the other in harder fights like this one.
Well I can tell you, Avaline keeps making me go
Thanks for the combo tip. I used to have fun with them in DA - but there are so much less mage skills to go around this time around - or at least it feels that way.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 14 MAR 2011 at 5:41pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I'm actually starting to get a bit bored with the game. The story is not really advancing at the moment, and most fights are starting to feel the same...
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| 15 MAR 2011 at 10:50am |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I decided to go with Merrill as my romantic companion. It was either that or a person who I don't know if I would feel very safe around.
Also, people mustn't think that console games aren't being pirated. I've heard of plenty of people having their consoles 'chipped'.
Chipping a console takes a bit know how than cracking a game, thus fewer people pirate console games. It would also seem like chipping a console is quite a bit harder than it was when PS1 was "the console to own" (finding a PS1 that is not chipped seem harder than finding one that is). Still, at least Xbox 360 and Wii suffers from heavy pirating these days.
Also, consoles are simply not built for strategy games, and now it would seem, not really for RPG's either.
One very interesting experiment came out of the attempts to make a console friendly RTS, and that was Tom Clancy's EndWar, a voice controlled game. It was not very good, but it was at least interesting & quite different.
The more I play DA2, the more I feel like playing a deeper CRPG, either one with a lot of character customization options, or a more tactical party based CRPG.
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| 15 MAR 2011 at 3:31pm |
AkhillesPrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 21 JUL 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Finished it !
Despite all the complaining about the game from the Bioware forum whiners... I liked it.
Yes, they dumbed down the interface, less customization of party members, but the rich story telling and incredible voice-overs... I think the main character having a voice REALLY brings up the level of story telling. Before you responded in clicking responses.. not as impactful (sp!).
I'm not that good at RPGs, so I get aggravated at some fights (dragon fight in this one is really long and difficult in NORMAL mode, so I turned it down). Speaking of which... some hard fights... turn them down to CASUAL... doesn't help.
Some boss fights you can turn down the difficulty... some.. doesn't help.
The interface is obviously tuned for the consoles... mouse scroll wheel just doesn't work right. The scroll buttons... they're smaller than the bloody mouse cursor and very thin.
They really tuned the money... I think it's the first RPG i've played that I didn't end up with billions of gold at the end. There are alot of special items you can buy with no way to get the money to buy them. Ugh.
You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
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| 15 MAR 2011 at 4:28pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I suspect that I'm nearing the end of the game.
Spoiler AlertThe conflict between the templars & mages are getting worse, might it be that the templar grand master is in fact in possession of the artifact that you found earlier in the game, during the expedition?She is quite insane, and the artifact was sold to a woman...
I'm currently in possession of quite a lot of money. I'm buying every potion that I can find, and I'm still above the 100 sovereign line.
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| 15 MAR 2011 at 8:42pm |
KarstenSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 347
Joined: 23 SEP 2006
Location: DK
Status : Offline | http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6531015&lf=8
If you click at the linked thread, you'll see Stanly Woo, a Bioware developer saying:
We believe many of the concerns are legitimate. We would prefer to hear them without the conspiracy theories, name-calling, insults, spam, and posturing. Thank you for presenting yourselves and your opinions well.
To me, this clearly sounds like maybe EA has but a mild (or heavy?) pressure on Bioware to make the game in a hurry to make some quick cash because of the sales numbers and popularity of DA: Origins. And that Stan, and other Bioware devs. need the constructive criticism so that they can show this to EA. I'm just guessing, of course...
In this thread:
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6565715&lf=8
Stanley Woo explains something about development time, costs and focus. It is all very nicely done. I'be tried to explain how modern games are developed.
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| 16 MAR 2011 at 1:23pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | And the last boss has finally been slain by my brave group of followers. It was interesting to find a last boss which could be chain-locked with spells (petrify & ice magic), I can't remember ever facing such a last boss in the past (petrify is by the way a great spell to have as it works on everything).
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| 16 MAR 2011 at 5:10pm |
AkhillesPrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 21 JUL 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Fnord (15 MAR 2011 4:28pm)
I suspect that I'm nearing the end of the game.
Spoiler AlertThe conflict between the templars & mages are getting worse, might it be that the templar grand master is in fact in possession of the artifact that you found earlier in the game, during the expedition?She is quite insane, and the artifact was sold to a woman...
I'm currently in possession of quite a lot of money. I'm buying every potion that I can find, and I'm still above the 100 sovereign line.
Did the end boss surprise you? Spoiler AlertI thought she was pretty stern but I didn't see any evidence other than complaints that would have made her a bad person that needed to be removed from power. As far as the relic, she couldn't have had it that long... did she have the pure-lyrium sword only or was THAT the relic turned into a sword? I think I may have misunderstood some things near the end. Also, did you let Varric have the piece of relic or did you dispose of it? Curious if something happened to Varric if you let him keep it...
Lots of money? I had 157 before I bought a sweet pair of boots for my rogue at the emporium (99). After I spent all but about 25 I ended the game with around 50.
It's the first game I've played in a long time that's been really tame with the money. It wasn't until near the end of the game I find 2 bag expansions! (Went from 50 slots to 70).
I'd give Isabela's brassiere for a bag of holding!
You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door. There is a small mailbox here.
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| 16 MAR 2011 at 5:43pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Spoiler AlertWhen you talked to her in person, she was relatively sane, but she did give those around her orders that made her seem paranoid. And they never did explain how the artefact was turned into that sword (if it was embedded in it, or if it had actually been transformed, not as far as I can tell at least).
Nothing happens to Varric if you give him the piece. His crossbow gets a few more rune slots though
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| 16 MAR 2011 at 6:08pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Sadly the exam season has arrived. So I guess I have to say goodbye to Hawke for now...
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 18 MAR 2011 at 6:38pm |
ZanderatIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 40
Joined: 23 JUN 2010
Status : Offline | I want my money back.
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 7:05pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/304/index/6661775&lf=8
I'm glad to see that the developers of DA2 are at least prepared to stand up for some of the choices they made, in particular one of the more controversial ones (which really should not have been controversial in the first place).
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 8:25pm |
| Deleted User | Before I take a look at the link, let me guess:
Could it be that through no fault of my own my main character turns out be a Spoiler Alertlesbian?
Spoiler Alert[img]http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb35/Camaroboy1968/DA2_08.jpg?t=1301084451[/img]
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 8:33pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2751
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Almost, it could be because a male character could turn out to be gay (or at least the fact that two of the male companions could hit on him), which made a person feel uncomfortable.
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 8:44pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline |
[size=14]I don't think many would argue with the fact that the overwhelming majority of RPG gamers are indeed straight and male. Sure, there are a substantial amount of women who play video games, but they're usually gamers who play games like The Sims, rather than games like Dragon Age. That's not to say there isn't a significant number of women who play Dragon Age and that BioWare should forego the option of playing as a women altogether, but there should have been much more focus in on making sure us male gamers were happy.
Aargh..- I think I should post that into my hot spot topic...
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 9:07pm |
| Deleted User | The straight male demographic is a huge demographic. I'd put the number that over 80% of RPG fans are males. They all like different things, this is a group numbering millions.
I'm sure they do, I won't speculate here, perhaps it will pop up in the hot spot arena.
I see there is no mention of the other 20% representing female RPGers but to the best of my knowledge I didn't get the sensation that I was being hit on.
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 9:29pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Where the heck does this guy get this info from? 80% ??? Oh come on..- nobody ever asked me to fill in a questionnaire and asked wether I was male or female, so my guess is that if anybody is even bothering to do market research on the gender distribution of gamers, they are somehow excluding females from responding in the first place...
I'd love to know from the female gamers around here if they were ever asked their gender. Perhaps the guy is talking about MMORGPs. ..because there are a few websites around full of females who play offline RPG's.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 25 MAR 2011 at 9:39pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (25 MAR 2011 9:06pm)
but to the best of my knowledge I didn't get the sensation that I was being hit on.
Absolutely. The romance option comes up in the conversation wheel, and you can very easily choose to avoid it.
I think I've had one chance to romance Anders, (perhaps I should speak to him more) but so far, I have found the main romance options with Fenris, and I reaaalllly felt tacky while going through the motions, because I sinply just don't like Fenris. Strangely I quite liked Zevhran in thew first game - well, better than Fenris, anyway.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 26 MAR 2011 at 4:25am |
| Deleted User | I don't know if it is a consequence of my character's initial romance, (after the the initial encounter, Isabella always seemed to turn up at other party member's place of residence almost as if she had had a prior discussion and she then takes her leave never without giving me a knowing subtle wink LOL) but I have visited both home locations of Anders and Fenris on my own and even though I have tried using the heart dialogue options to the best of my ability all I can conjecture from their responses is that it's just not the right time.
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| 26 MAR 2011 at 4:57am |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1460
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | When it comes to romances in DA2, as a straight male gamer, none of the ones available interest me really.
Isabella, looks good? yes, but he character/nature is just so.....slutty. Merril on the other hand is completely at the other end, she's so naive and just sheltered it comes off way too harsh. Both of their characters are just straight up and obvious, there's nothing really behind them.
Aveline is the most suitable imo but......she's not an option. Shes the only "down to earth" female in the party. There's no one that's like Morrigan, who's not like the front page of her book but rather complicated once you get to know the character.
If you like Morrigan from DA or are looking for a more developed/well rounded character, there is no one for a straight male gamer. All you have is male's hitting on you or slutty mcsluts or oblivious merril.
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| 26 MAR 2011 at 9:20am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4039
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Hmm, I haven't "met" Isabella in person yet. I'm a few quests on from after the Deeproads campaign. (You know all those kind of side quests that you get after having bought your mansion - and btw, didn't you guys get a bit of a deja vu feeling re Fable during the curscene after you'd bought you mansion? )
Anyway, I'm playing a female, as I did with my main playthrough in DA, and I did get only one chance to romance Merril, but she is a bit .. kind of a skittish character, isn't she? I rotate her with Anders, and Anders never says anything, but I do find the banter between Varric and Merril rather amusing. I never know if Merril is being serious or not. :
PS, Stiler - I also really liked Morrigan's character, and although she completely loved me on the meter, it doesn't really seem as if she had lesbian romancing options. (Leliana did, but I somehow didn't feel quite comfortable with that. Morrigan would have been such a conquest to make though, wouldn't you say? ) Besides, I enjoy sharp witty women ....
Oh, and I've been wanting to say that romance options are really the very, very very very very last thing that would worry me in either it's presence or absence in a game. I couldn't really care less either way.
The "repetitive areas" that some have been whining about doesn't bother me either.
I'm much more irritated by the smaller skill trees and idiotic loot/inventory system and unsatisfying combat in the game.
Anyway, the only option in DA2 I'd be interested in so far, would be Anders, but I don't seem to be getting very far with him...
Ooh, and may I just mention that Alistair and I were hot lovers in DA 8-) [smiley=blush.gif]
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 26 MAR 2011 at 5:00pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1460
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | For anders you need to keep siding with mages, etc. That is what he likes (opposite of Fenris basically).
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