| 26 MAR 2011 at 6:00pm |
KarstenSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 347
Joined: 23 SEP 2006
Location: DK
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Fnord (25 MAR 2011 7:04pm)
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).
There's this now locked thread where David Gaider comments about this decision you're talking about, Fnord. And Zanderat, why you want your money back?
There's also this thread (still open) http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6747515/65#6782677
where we're discussing this.
And here's Gaider's most excellent post on the subject:
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/304/index/6661775&lf=8
As for the romances, Isabella seems just to offer sex, while the others seem to have a more deeper emotional invesment in you. Anyway, that's what I have gotten from reading the Bioware DA2 forums.
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| 27 MAR 2011 at 3:51am |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By placeholder (26 MAR 2011 5:07pm)
I never take Fenris with, because I find him the crappiest fighter of the bunch anyway. I myself am a mage, so...
Interesting, alternating with Fenris and Aveline through the game I am finding Fenris to be the more effective fighter as he seems to be far more proficient in delving out the most damage quickly and efficiently. Click click click. I do miss my bro' Carver. Hope things are working out well for him. Wondering if I will see him again...
As for the romance issues...at this point I'm not really sure if I care all that much but I was at least interested in the options.
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| 27 MAR 2011 at 9:31am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (27 MAR 2011 3:50am)
Originally Posted By placeholder (26 MAR 2011 5:07pm)
I never take Fenris with, because I find him the crappiest fighter of the bunch anyway. I myself am a mage, so...
Interesting, alternating with Fenris and Aveline through the game I am finding Fenris to be the more effective fighter as he seems to be far more proficient in delving out the most damage quickly and efficiently. Click click click. I do miss my bro' Carver. Hope things are working out well for him. Wondering if I will see him again...
As for the romance issues...at this point I'm not really sure if I care all that much but I was at least interested in the options.
It might be, CB, That because I preferred Eveline socially, I equipped her better. She deals more damage, AND she is more resistant. I invested heavily in the "Weapon and shield" skillset for her, and have almost all my points in that one - all the offensive ones; I hardly invested in any defensive skills for her, opting rather to rely on my investment in constitution and buffing trinkets for her.
Her high DPS might also be linked to the fact that I use R for her, interspersed with pausing and using her skills, like 'shield bash", "assault" and "scatter". The latter two skills do mega damage, abolutely devastating...
Since I have Fenris as a two-hander, he is slower and of course I have to use different skills for him. I find he dies much easier as well- I've always got to be buffing his health and healing him, whereas I'm so used to not worrying about that with Eveline, that she actually died through my neglect when I was fighting that Arcane thingy in that cave, (Deep roads, I think it was) which seems to be the hardest fight in the game so far.
* * * 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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| 28 MAR 2011 at 5:57pm |
| Deleted User | Presently I have both Aveline and Fenris almost maxed out (a missing upgrade it appears) with their respective primary skill sets. I needed to find a good location to test them out for purposes of comparison. The Abandoned Thaig at Sundermount turned out to be just that place where at the end you find: Spoiler AlertA large room containing Stone Golem, Revenent(2?) Desire Demon, Rage Demon(12), Skeletal Archers(?)....In both cases I will just say that things did not end well even using/wasting potions.
On the bright side if you team them up together using some battle synergy...
One thing I guess I like about this game is that, other than the Deep Roads (so far), it only takes a moment or two to go back and switch out party members. :-X
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| 28 MAR 2011 at 6:29pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Hmm, so are you saying by "primary skill set", two handed and sword and shield, or that customised skill set that comes with each individual?
* * * 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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| 28 MAR 2011 at 11:08pm |
TechnoSpikePrivate Detective
Posts : 581
Joined: 26 APR 2005
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Just poping up in this thread to post 2 cartoons I've seen about the game.
Since I'm not familiar with the game, I just found them mildly amusing, but perhaps players of the game will get a bigger kick with them.
"The price of Friendship"
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20110314
"Questing, verbatim"
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20110316
Happy gaming!
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| 29 MAR 2011 at 3:25pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By placeholder (28 MAR 2011 6:29pm)
Hmm, so are you saying by "primary skill set", two handed and sword and shield, or that customised skill set that comes with each individual?
Oh, yes I was referring to those specific fighting style attributes.
As for the customized skill sets, I started with Aveline quite early, so she didn't have all that much to start with other than the basics, shield bash, one or two sustained abilities. Along with sword and shield she also has a few talents in Vanguard: Control, might, cleave.
I don’t really remember specifically which customized skills Fenris started with, although now he seems fairly endowed as a Battlemaster: Rally, battle synergy, bolster, second wind, deep reserves.
You’re right about one thing though. When the two are together in the course of battle, Aveline does seem more resilient, especially with her strength of immunity from rear attacks. Well, for the sake of accuracy, most of the time.
Cute cartoons Techno. Hawke really does look like a dweeb.
At least the artist verbally rationalizes the intended subject matter in a 'gentle' manner.
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| 29 MAR 2011 at 4:43pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | I'm now finally about to start the deeproads expedition!
I still can't believe the game has so little areas to explore. I mean, if the city was more interesting, but no... the opressive walls and the lack of life make it so boring to wander around, and the alternative is to go outside, where the streets and nature elements are the same everywhere... I have to admit, it's getting boring.
And whats the point of allowing us to see our companion's inventory when all we can give to them are rings, bracelets and belts? I bet even "Sims Medieval" will have more inventory options than this game... :-X
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 29 MAR 2011 at 5:16pm |
| Deleted User | Aside from the Deep Roads, so far the only outside area that I found to be rather expansive is Sundermount, and as it is I still have one area that I have not yet unlocked to finish a quest.
Once in a while I'll come across an upgrade for my companions' armor, but that's about it. Yeah, I do miss the opportunity to mess around with the armor and such with all my old DA pals and trying my best to keep them ready and able. As for the rings, bracelets, and belts well it seems I no longer need to contemplate the relative merits of each with respect to the character. No, I just count the number of stars. :
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| 29 MAR 2011 at 6:17pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | Just came across this: http://uk.gamespot.com/features/6305575/index.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=picks&tag=picks%3Btitle%3B7
Interesting reading!
On another note, the game is looking more interesting now after the expedition, with the new house, new reputation, new romance...
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 31 MAR 2011 at 2:24am |
| Deleted User | Yes, it seems that many of the main plot related quests in Act 2 do appear to have more significant impacts regarding politics/policies and other various disturbances that continue to proliferate throughout Kirkwall and its outlying environs. It even feels satisfying that the reputation carries its own degree of respect.
No surprise (why utilize those vast caverns for just a single campaign right? :) but I'm back in the Deep Woods again for round two.
[img]http://justadventure.com/yabb/Smilies/shudder.gif[/img]
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| 31 MAR 2011 at 9:25am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By TechnoSpike (28 MAR 2011 11:07pm)
Just poping up in this thread to post 2 cartoons I've seen about the game.
Since I'm not familiar with the game, I just found them mildly amusing, but perhaps players of the game will get a bigger kick with them.
"The price of Friendship"
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20110314
"Questing, verbatim"
http://www.cad-comic.com/cad/20110316
Happy gaming!
Thanks for thinking of us, Techno! 8-)
Hehe, although quite funny, I do think that no 1 is a gross overstatement of how thinks really work. The player has to romance the character - I mean, there is a clear large glowing heart next to the "romantic" (some quite cringeworthy) responses.
Perhaps the problem lies with the fact that some of the straight male gamers (certainly not all of them) do not know that a heart indicates romance? :
I must admit that I had my own little problem with the romance thingy, though.
I do want to try out Anders as a romantic option, but at a point in time I was feeling pretty disgusted with his behaviour and wanted some answers from him regarding something quite despicable that he did, but all I got was a choice of romantic babble! [smiley=hair_pull.gif]
I mean, the a$$ had just Spoiler Alertkilled an innocent mage, and all I get to do is come on to him sexually with leery eyes when what I really wanted to do was give him a few good swift kicks in the behind! >
As to the second comic - that is indeed a good one. Still giggling about that one, actually.
I must admit that some of those: "Oh, look! I found something that might belong to you!" quests seem to be so typical of the "modern" approach to RPG's.
Whereas with the older RPG's, you would get enough info in text form, for you to know exatly what you are looking for and what it means to whom, in DA2 I often find myself simply blindly following the quest marker on the map and then once I come to the little glowy arrows, I click on the person underneath them, and the person says: "Ah, yes, I'd been looking for that!"
... and you presume something disappears out of your inventory, and you get a warm synthesizer sound over your speakers, that you have come to learn means you did something good, and you get a message on your screen that some quest has been solved, and you got some cash for it - though you have not the slightest clue what the quest was: you were simply following the glowy arrow quest marker... [smiley=boggled.gif]
I must say, when I saw something about some fancy pantaloons in my quest list, I thought the result would be funny or humorous, but before I could even hear properly what the characters were saying I got the "quest solved" sound and the money received message flashing on my screen, and I thought "What was that all about? :-? "
I must say that I think that German RPG developers tend to handle humor a lot better. Ah well.
Anyway, my point is that with many of the quests, I got abolutely zero satisfaction in solving them, because I had not really solved them myself - I was just being a good little puppy and followed the quest marker and clicked the glowy arrows.
* * * 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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| 31 MAR 2011 at 1:22pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Oh, hey Stiler! It seems that you can romance Aveline after all!
...or not... :-/
* * * 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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| 31 MAR 2011 at 3:51pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Oh boo! I somehow missed the bit about the Sebastian DLC and never bothered to get it. Is this a free DLC? Did any of you guys get it?
* * * 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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| 31 MAR 2011 at 4:15pm |
| Deleted User | It was included in the Sig Edition.
Otherwise you'll have to pony up 560 BioWare points. >
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| 31 MAR 2011 at 4:18pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Ugh. Do you have it? Is it worth it?
PS. I just don't get it. I go out of my way to help Aveline with her idiotic romance, and I lose 5 friendship points? :-?
* * * 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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| 31 MAR 2011 at 5:14pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | He's pretty good, I like Him + Varric the best out of the male group members. He's like the male version of Leliana/Wynee. He doesn't seem as fleshed out though as the others somewhat.
It sucks though that you can't really use both him and Varric (both are Rogue archers, varric uses crossbow, Sebastian uses bow).
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| 31 MAR 2011 at 5:14pm |
InesrocksPrivate Detective
Posts : 682
Joined: 16 OCT 2008
Location: PT
Status : Offline | I can't help to stress how fake the relationships work in this game. I'm talking specifically of Hawke-Anders. I mean, we barely talked to each other before, and suddenly we're all like "I can't live without you!". I mean, at least with Allistair, you built that relationship, from shy flirting and giggliness to more mature decisions, but it made sense, it didnt feel abrupt and out of place... What do you think? :-/
Playing: Skyrim (ongoing)
Last Finished: can't recall, been too long.
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| 31 MAR 2011 at 5:31pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | I agree, Ines. I think it also helped that I genuinely liked Alistair, but with Anders, I don't think I like the character that much, plus I feel rather uncomfortable with his demon side.
If I was a man, I'd also not be comfortable with Merril and her demon rubbish, plus Eveline just gives one the cold shoulder. I have not got Sebastian, and for some reason I don't have Isabella either.
Since I cannot stand Fenris, if I was really Hawke, I suspect Varric might have started looking more and more attractive to me. I guess that at this point, his personality seems closest to what I'd feel comfortable with anyway, and he certainly seems less vulgar than Oghren used to be.
Posted by: Stiler Posted on: Today at 1:14pm
He's pretty good, I like Him + Varric the best out of the male group members. He's like the male version of Leliana/Wynee. He doesn't seem as fleshed out though as the others somewhat.
It sucks though that you can't really use both him and Varric (both are Rogue archers, varric uses crossbow, Sebastian uses bow).
Noo, that really sucks! It would have been so cool to have had a dual-wielder. Ugh. I actually did get the Signature edition, but not sure if I can still redeem that DLC, since I got it second-hand.
* * * 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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| 31 MAR 2011 at 7:39pm |
| Deleted User | Originally Posted By placeholder (31 MAR 2011 4:18pm)
Ugh. Do you have it? Is it worth it?
PS. I just don't get it. I go out of my way to help Aveline with her idiotic romance, and I lose 5 friendship points? :-?
Sorry, no. I missed out on the Sig Edition since I forgot about it until right after the offer expired. I would have considered purchasing it separately but I have bad blood with Bioware DLC's. :-X
Ah yes, that silly quest. Forgive me but but from here on out I now designate it as "The Dragon Age 2 SIMMS experience." (even though I haven't done SIMMS) : You could have gotten +20 friendship with Aveline but I don't recall whether it involved choosing the heart or not.
Trav said:
I suspect Varric might have started looking more and more attractive to me. I guess that at this point, his personality seems closest to what I'd feel comfortable with anyway, and he certainly seems less vulgar than Oghren used to be.
I would say so myself but not a lot of sparks present in that direction. Definitely not the beer swilling womanizer type either as I recall with my time spent with Oghren.
I sometimes find it annoying how much party members seem to dislike each other and still function as a cohesive group. They really should have included a gag option IMO. The one exception being Varric and Daisy (should have paid more attention as to how that started referring to Merril) but at least they do seem to get along in an acceptable borderline friendly manner which gives them priority treatment.
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| 1 APR 2011 at 6:41pm |
| Deleted User | I wonder IF there is any type of safe spot for the Varterral. :-/
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| 1 APR 2011 at 7:11pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Camaroboy1968 (1 APR 2011 6:40pm)
I wonder IF there is any type of safe spot for the Varterral. :-/
That one is a BAAAD, bad baddie... [smiley=zombie.gif] I did manage to kill it, though. 8-) .. or actually Avaline did in the end.
* * * 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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| 1 APR 2011 at 7:46pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Listen, I seem to be at the end of act 2 without ever meeting Isabella. Any idea what I might have neglected doing which precluded me meeting this charming lady?
* * * 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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| 1 APR 2011 at 7:49pm |
| Deleted User | Actually we were all doing quite well until unknowingly stepping into that poisonous mucus and well, end of story. :
I recall there was a cut scene during act one in Lowtown (I think it was Lowtown or maybe the Gallows) where Isabella has an encounter with her primary rival. Her place of residence is the Hangman Pub.
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