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Dragon Age: Origins: Dragons and Dalish and Darkspawn Oh My! (Gameplay tips in OP)
Dashui
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
A lot of the information below was taken from the unofficial wikia page, sometimes directly because I'm a cheap and terrible person, and you can get all of it and a lot more at the following address: http://dragonage.wikia.com
If you want to know more about the game, I advise you to check their site out as well as BioWare's official site. They detail and explain things much better than I can, as well as lots of features I couldn't fit in below. This is a deep game with a lot of lore behind it, and not a typical fantasy game with elves and dwarves and magic. At the very least, I hope I can get you slightly interested in this very large RPG.
News
11/19/2009 - Return to Ostagar addon announced for this holiday season. You can view information on this addon and others at the following link: http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon
11/03/2009 - Dragon Age: Origins is now available for purchase!
10/22/2009 - Dragon Age: Journeys is now available to play.
It's a 2D flash game, free to play in your browser, and set in the Dragon Age: Origins world. Playing the game will allow you to earn exclusives items for use in Dragon Age: Origins. http://www.dragonagejourneys.com/
10/13/2009 - BioWare's Social Network website is now live! http://social.bioware.com/
From here you'll be able to access friends, groups, uploaded character information, and more, as well as being able to download the Character Creator. You can make a character, save it for use with the full game, and even upload your character to the Social Network website.
You can also download the Character Editor directly from the following link: http://files.bioware.com/dragonage_cc_dl/DragonAgeOriginsCharacterCreator_en.exe
About
Dragon Age: Origins is an upcoming BioWare RPG for the PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3. Hailed as the spiritual successor to the Baldur's Gate series and a return to BioWare's roots, it's set to be a heroic, dark fantasy tale to stop a terrible blight unleashed upon the land through 80 or more hours of tactical gameplay. Players choose their sex, race, class, and origin story, presenting them with a wide range of options to customize their character. Who and what you are will impact your story not just in the beginning of the game, but throughout your entire journey.
The PC version of the game will have access to an editor, allowing players to create entirely new content, from new weapons and armor to lands and quests and campaigns. A community site will be established to easily browse and share these creations.
It will also be released digitally through such services as Steam, Stardock's Impulse, Direct2Drive, Gamersgate, and EA Store. All new copies of the game will also include The Stone Prisoner downloadable content free of charge, featuring a new party member, quests, environments and items. For further information on the various editions, check the Standard, Collector's, Digital Deluxe Edition? section below.
The intro cinematic, further detailing the plot and the dangers you'll face, can be viewed below.
Gameplay
Dragon Age: Origins features a tactical, play and pause combat system in the vein of Baldur's Gate. You can zoom in or out and play from an over-the-shoulder view, or high above the field of battle. You can pause, give orders, or take direct control of any of the other characters in your party. If you would rather not constantly issue commands, a scripting system is available in which you can place different orders or rules for a character to automatically follow. For example, if an enemy closes the gap between one of your ranged characters, you can create a script for him or her to automatically switch to melee weapons.
You can watch a tutorial explaining the mechanics of the combat system and the journal for the PC version below.
(Taken from Wikipedia) There is no tracking of alignment as in previous BioWare games, but the moral choices of the main character throughout the game will still affect the story. You may save the world whether you are good or evil, but the decisions that you make in the process will change the world around you – deciding who will become King, for example, and affecting nations and races and their places in the world. These decisions will also influence your companion NPCs, possibly causing an NPC to leave your party or even attack you.
Xbox 360 Controller Layout
For a look at the console controls, Giant Bomb has released a 20 minute long video showing the game in action on the Xbox 360.
http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-dragon-age-origins-360/17-1528/
Gameplay Tips
Camp Chest - BioWare has added a storage chest you can download for your party camp.
Dexterity Hotfix
Dagger Hotfix
Less Blood
Character Respecialization
The full info about the Dexterity/Dagger 'hotfixes':
In the game as it ships, and in the 1.01 patch, daggers take 100% of their damage bonus from strength, instead of the 50% str / 50% dex mix that they are supposed to. Both of these hotfixes fix this issue. The 'dexterity hotfix' also contains a first pass at rebalancing archery to make it more useful, however, this also applies to enemy archers, so it can greatly increase the difficulty of some areas of the game.
These aren't just some random person's idea of how things should be; they're provided by Georg Zoeller, lead systems designer of Dragon Age.
Where do I find specific class specializations?
Specializations are taught by NPCs, and some can be learned from books bought in stores. Once you have learned a specialization it is unlocked in every game on your profile, including previous iterations of your current game (earlier saves.)
Rogue:
Assassin: Learned from Zevran (if you don't kill him), or a tome in Alarith's Store in Denerim (after the Landsmeet starts)
Bard: Learned from Leliana (companion) or a tome Alimar sells (Orzammar).
Duelist: Learned from Isabela (The Pearl in Denerim). Either have a high dexterity and beat her at cards, or bring one of your companion rogues and they'll help you. Apparently you can also sleep with her and get it if the PC is male, but I'm not sure how this works.
Ranger: Learned from a tome in Bodann's Wares (Party Camp).
Mage:
Bard: Learned from Leliana (companion) or a tome Alimar sells (Orzammar).
Duelist: Learned from Isabela (The Pearl in Denerim). Either have a high dexterity and beat her at cards, or bring one of your companion rogues and they'll help you. Apparently you can also sleep with her and get it if the PC is male, but I'm not sure how this works.
Ranger: Learned from a tome in Bodann's Wares (Party Camp).
Arcane Warrior: Learned from The Presence in Brecilian Ruins. He's trapped in a phylactery that you'll find; just do what he asks. ("Nature of the Beast" quest line).
Blood Mage: Learned from Desire Demon in Fade during the Recliffe sequence. After entering the Fade via magic ritual, either bargain with or intimidate the desire demon and it will teach you ("Arl of Redcliffe" quest line).
Shapeshifter: Learned from Morrigan (companion) or a tome Varathorn sells (Dalish Camp).
Spirit Healer: Learned from a tome in the Wonders of Thedas (store in Denerim).
Warrior:
Blood Mage: Learned from Desire Demon in Fade during the Recliffe sequence. After entering the Fade via magic ritual, either bargain with or intimidate the desire demon and it will teach you ("Arl of Redcliffe" quest line).
Shapeshifter: Learned from Morrigan (companion) or a tome Varathorn sells (Dalish Camp).
Spirit Healer: Learned from a tome in the Wonders of Thedas (store in Denerim).
Berserker: Learned from Oghren (companion) or a tome Gorim sells (Denerim Market).
Champion: Learned from Arl Eamon automatically (at the end of the "Urn of Sacred Ashes" quest line).
Reaver: Learned from Kolgrim (Wyrmling Lair). When you get a chance to talk to him, you must offer to finish the Urn quest the evil way. If you do this, he'll teach you to be a Reaver.
Templar: Learned from Alistair (companion) or a tome in Bodahn's Wares (Party Camp).
Where do I find specific party members for recruitment?Champion: Learned from Arl Eamon automatically (at the end of the "Urn of Sacred Ashes" quest line).
Reaver: Learned from Kolgrim (Wyrmling Lair). When you get a chance to talk to him, you must offer to finish the Urn quest the evil way. If you do this, he'll teach you to be a Reaver.
Templar: Learned from Alistair (companion) or a tome in Bodahn's Wares (Party Camp).
Wynne: You meet Wynne on the first level of the Circle Tower. She joins your party as soon as you get locked in the tower, and will join the party permanently after you save the tower in the “Broken Circle” quest.
Sten: Release Sten from his cage in Lothering before the town gets invaded by darkspawn (see the “Lothering” section of the Walkthrough chapter for complete details).
Shale: After you leave Lothering, journey to Sulcher’s Pass and get the golem control rod from Felix. Travel to the Village of Honnleath and follow the clues to discovering Shale’s activation phrase.
Zevran: After you complete at least one major world quest line, you will eventually meet Zevran in a random encounter.
Oghren: When you meet Oghren at the entrance to the Deep Roads, he will volunteer to join you and track down his lost wife, Branka.
Leliana: When you enter Dane’s Refuge in Lothering, Leliana will join up with you after you smack around some mercenaries causing a ruckus.
Morrigan: When you seek out the Ancient Treaties in the Korcari Wilds, Morrigan will find you. After the battle at the Tower of Ishal, Morrigan will join your party.
Alistair: When you arrive at Ostagar, Duncan asks you to seek out Alistair, a fellow Grey Warden. Once you talk to Alistair, he joins your party and will stay with you for the duration if you choose.
Dog: Side quests in the Human Noble origin story or Ostagar unlock your Mabari friend.
Secret party member:
Gift InformationSten: Release Sten from his cage in Lothering before the town gets invaded by darkspawn (see the “Lothering” section of the Walkthrough chapter for complete details).
Shale: After you leave Lothering, journey to Sulcher’s Pass and get the golem control rod from Felix. Travel to the Village of Honnleath and follow the clues to discovering Shale’s activation phrase.
Zevran: After you complete at least one major world quest line, you will eventually meet Zevran in a random encounter.
Oghren: When you meet Oghren at the entrance to the Deep Roads, he will volunteer to join you and track down his lost wife, Branka.
Leliana: When you enter Dane’s Refuge in Lothering, Leliana will join up with you after you smack around some mercenaries causing a ruckus.
Morrigan: When you seek out the Ancient Treaties in the Korcari Wilds, Morrigan will find you. After the battle at the Tower of Ishal, Morrigan will join your party.
Alistair: When you arrive at Ostagar, Duncan asks you to seek out Alistair, a fellow Grey Warden. Once you talk to Alistair, he joins your party and will stay with you for the duration if you choose.
Dog: Side quests in the Human Noble origin story or Ostagar unlock your Mabari friend.
Secret party member:
You must first defeat Loghain in combat after the Landsmeet, then invite him to join the Grey Wardens.
Gifts are special items that can be given to your companions to raise their approval of you. Give them by viewing that character's inventory and either dragging it onto their paper-doll or choosing 'gift' from the item's radial menu.
Everyone likes every gift, even the disgusting ones, except for certain special plot-related gifts that will be refused by every character except the one they are intended for.
Regular gifts give approval equal to 1 + (5 if the gift is in the category the person particularly likes) + (4 minus the number of gifts you have given to that character previously, or 0 if that number is less than 0).
Most gifts in the game fall into one of several categories, and each of these categories is particularly desired by one party member, and is worth 5 extra approval when given to them (on top of the base approval for any gift). When you reach 25 approval rating with any character, their codex entry will be updated with a short paragraph describing their gift category.
Alistair likes statues, runes, carvings, and other artistic pieces of rock.
Morrigan likes jewelry.
Leliana likes religious symbols (and fashionable shoes).
Sten likes paintings.
Wynne likes books.
Oghren likes rare booze (and stuff like tankards).
Zevran likes money in the form of gold/silver bars.
Shale likes 'remarkable' gemstones.
Secret party member spoiler:
Morrigan likes jewelry.
Leliana likes religious symbols (and fashionable shoes).
Sten likes paintings.
Wynne likes books.
Oghren likes rare booze (and stuff like tankards).
Zevran likes money in the form of gold/silver bars.
Shale likes 'remarkable' gemstones.
Secret party member spoiler:
Loghain likes maps.
There are also gifts that seem dog-specific, particularly the bones and some of the things he finds you (good boy!), but his approval is locked at 100 so they don't do anything for him.Races & Classes
The player can choose to play as a human, a dwarf, or an elf.
Humans are the most numerous of all the races, but also the most divided. They conquered the realms of the elves and now treat them as second class citizens. The racial benefits of a human are +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Magic, and +1 Cunning.
The elves are a humanoid race, typically shorter than humans, and are often treated as second class citizens in many parts of the lands of Thedan. They are currently divided into two cultures, Alienage and Dalish elves. Alienages are closed communities of elves living in human cities. They are typically poor and survive by begging or taking on the most menial and unrewarding of tasks.
The Dalish, on the other hand, are nomadic and belong to tribes. These tribes do not often meet, and they may or may not get along with humans. Some create camps around human settlements to trade, whereas others simply wander or act as bandits to survive. In general, they tend to avoid confrontation than engage in skirmishes with humans. They seek to regain their lost history and are in search of a new home.
The racial benefits of an elf are +2 Willpower and +2 Magic.
Dwarves, referred to as dwarva in their own tongue, live among stone and place a great emphasis on the appearance of nobility and justice. The actions of one family member can often severely diminish an entire House's place in the social hierarchy of the dwarves. Some disgraced dwarves will choose to go through a ceremonial "death" to clear their names and the names of their families.
Their social structure is broken up into castes, and they do not worship anthropomorphic gods. Instead, they worship the stone and their ancestors before them. Dwarves who are believed to be strong and noble are said to strengthen the Stone when they die and return to it. Those who are ignoble or disgraced will weaken the stone or be rejected by it entirely.
Dwarves cannot become Mages due to their resistance to magic. Their racial benefits are +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +2 Constitution, and a 10% chance to resist hostile magic.
There are three starting classes to choose from - Mage, Warrior, and Rogue - each further having four specializations available.
Warriors are powerful fighters, able to withstand and deliver large amounts of damage and are able to put points into all of the available weapon types from the beginning. The specializations for the Warrior are Berserker, Templar, Champion, and Reaver. The class benefits for the Warrior are +4 strength, +3 dexterity, and +3 constitution. All races can play as a Warrior.
Rogues are adventurers able to pick locks and disarm traps, and can deliver devastating backstabs to opponents. The specializations for the Rogue are Ranger, Bard, Duelist, and Assassin. The class benefits for the Rogue are +4 dexterity, +2 willpower, and +4 cunning. All races can play as a Rogue.
Mages focus on spells to combat enemies or support their allies, from attacks to buffs and heals and even shapeshifting. They can also utilize spell combos for devastating effect. For example, a Mage can unleash a pool of grease before casting a fireball to set it and all enemies on it aflame. A blizzard spell may then be used to put out the fire. The Mage can become a Shapeshifter, Spirit Healer, Blood Mage, or Arcane Warrior. The class benefits for the Mage are +5 magic, +4 willpower, and +1 cunning. Only humans and elves can become Mages.
Origin Stories
Origin stories are several hour long segments of gameplay which introduce you to the world and your motivations for joining the Grey Wardens, an elite but now near extinct organization dedicated to the extermination of the Darkspawn. Your origin story, race, and your decisions made in those early hours, will determine how people react to you. Paths will be opened and closed, and you will be constantly seeing the consequences due to your origin and your choices.
There are six origins to choose from.
Human Noble
City Elf
Dalish Elf
Human/Elf Mage
Dwarf Commoner
Dwarf Noble
Characters & Companions
(Taken from Wikipedia)
Duncan – The dedicated warrior leader of the Grey Wardens who serves as a mentor of sorts to the player character. He has been entrusted with the task of leading the Grey Wardens in Ferelden. This is considered a difficult task because the Grey Wardens were exiled from Ferelden 200 years ago.
King Cailan Theirin – Son of the legendary King Maric Theirin who drove the Orlesian Empire from Ferelden. The young and naive Cailan was the first King born into a Ferelden freed of foreign occupation in three generations.
Teyrn Loghain – Loghain served as the right hand of King Maric in the war against the Orlesians and now hopes to help guide Maric's son Cailan in defense of the realm from the Blight.
Arl Rendon Howe - (Voiced by Tim Curry) Bioware: "Howe is the calculating villain, cultured and charming, with an insatiable lust for power, who never hesitates to harm anyone who gets in his way."
Flemeth - (Voiced by Kate Mulgrew) Flemeth is a powerful witch, and mother to Morrigan, who maintains immortality through dark means.
Known party members include:
Wynne – One of the most prominent mages of the Circle of Magi. She is a powerful spirit healer. She often cautions young or arrogant mages of the innate dangers of calling forth magical forces from the Fade. Dangers which justify the common fear of mages and the horrible powers and creatures they can free from the Fade, intentionally or not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sibKH5ViVyw
Alistair – This young warrior was recruited by Duncan from his ill-suited placement into training to become a templar for the Chantry (the dominant religion of Ferelden). Alistair has seen a hard childhood since his mother died in childbirth. He was raised in service of the lord at the castle in Redcliffe. His experiences have hardened him and created a wry and irreverent sense of humor. He is a romance option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i2KkWJLLco
Morrigan – (Voiced by Claudia Black) Morrigan is a shapechanging mage, taught by her mother in the wilds of Ferelden. She is a romance option for male characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJLSdZLdhLo
Oghren – (Voiced by Steven Jay Blum) Oghren is a dwarven warrior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hx6U7Bvpm0
Sten– An elder, powerful warrior of the Qunari people who is seeking atonement for unknown sins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEDeMSg_phY
Leliana - Leliana is from the Orlesian Empire and is classed as a rogue. She is a romance option for male and female characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFohuh72u48
Zevran - A male elf who excelled the ranks in one of the most infamous guild of thieves and assassins in all of Thedas, The Antivan Crows. When he was young he was sold to the Crows, although he resisted the brutal training at first. He became one of the Crows' most promising assassins. He accepts a most dangerous commission yet, a target far-off Ferelden which he hopes would bring him unimaginable rewards. He is a romance option for male and female characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db_HJa_5RN4
War Dog - Mabari War Dogs are a prized and essential part of the Fereldan miltary. These trained hounds easily break the lines of pikeman, pull knights from horseback and with a pack of Marbari dogs, they can cause panic to even the most hardened infantry soldiers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtpLJNtMxQ0&feature=related
Shale - Shale is a mighty stone golem that comes from The Stone Prisoner downloadable content pack. Shale will be available freely to all owners of a first-hand copy of the game. Those who purchase a previously owned copy have the option to purchase him for $15 USD.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sibKH5ViVyw
Alistair – This young warrior was recruited by Duncan from his ill-suited placement into training to become a templar for the Chantry (the dominant religion of Ferelden). Alistair has seen a hard childhood since his mother died in childbirth. He was raised in service of the lord at the castle in Redcliffe. His experiences have hardened him and created a wry and irreverent sense of humor. He is a romance option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i2KkWJLLco
Morrigan – (Voiced by Claudia Black) Morrigan is a shapechanging mage, taught by her mother in the wilds of Ferelden. She is a romance option for male characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJLSdZLdhLo
Oghren – (Voiced by Steven Jay Blum) Oghren is a dwarven warrior.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hx6U7Bvpm0
Sten– An elder, powerful warrior of the Qunari people who is seeking atonement for unknown sins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEDeMSg_phY
Leliana - Leliana is from the Orlesian Empire and is classed as a rogue. She is a romance option for male and female characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFohuh72u48
Zevran - A male elf who excelled the ranks in one of the most infamous guild of thieves and assassins in all of Thedas, The Antivan Crows. When he was young he was sold to the Crows, although he resisted the brutal training at first. He became one of the Crows' most promising assassins. He accepts a most dangerous commission yet, a target far-off Ferelden which he hopes would bring him unimaginable rewards. He is a romance option for male and female characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db_HJa_5RN4
War Dog - Mabari War Dogs are a prized and essential part of the Fereldan miltary. These trained hounds easily break the lines of pikeman, pull knights from horseback and with a pack of Marbari dogs, they can cause panic to even the most hardened infantry soldiers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtpLJNtMxQ0&feature=related
Shale - Shale is a mighty stone golem that comes from The Stone Prisoner downloadable content pack. Shale will be available freely to all owners of a first-hand copy of the game. Those who purchase a previously owned copy have the option to purchase him for $15 USD.
Important Lore
(Taken from the unofficial wikia page)
Grey Wardens
"In war, victory
In peace, vigilance
In death, sacrifice"
The Grey Wardens is an organization of the most elite and feared of warriors, dedicated to the destruction of the darkspawn in all lands. They are headquartered in Weisshaupt Fortress in the country of Anderfels, and they are known to have a significant presence in the Orlesian Empire. The centuries of peace have left them all but forgotten. The Grey Wardens have kept watch through the ages, well aware that peace is fleeting, and that their enemy will never truly be defeated until the last of the darkspawn have been slain.
From the first, the Grey Wardens sacrificed everything to stem the tide of darkness. Uniquely qualified for this task, they drew the most powerful of mages and the finest warriors from all races and forged them into a fighting force that time and time again has driven back the Blight. They remain legends, vigilantly watching for the return of their ancient foe, and stand ready to do battle once more when that day comes.
They are currently led by a man named Duncan, and they are few in number.
To become part of the Grey Wardens a recruit must first go through a ritual called the Joining. One of the reasons the ranks of Grey Wardens are small is that few can succeed this ritual. Those who do, however, gain an ability to resist the effects of the blight as well as the unique ability to sense the presence of darkspawn. For unknown reasons, the ritual and the details about it are kept a strict secret by the Grey Wardens.
The taint that gives Grey Wardens the ability to detect darkspawn, also cuts short their lives. Yet, rather than withering away from their sickness, Grey Wardens experience the Calling, where they choose to descend to the Deep Roads to battle darkspawn and end their lives with purpose.
The Blight
A Blight (capital 'B') is the term given to the event of the darkspawn corrupting one of the Old Gods and rising with it to the surface world. While darkspawn can occasionally be found raiding on the surface world, it is not termed an actual Blight unless an Archdemon leads them.
The blight (lower case 'b') is the disease spread by the darkspawn. It twists and corrupts all living organisms, creating such abominations as blight wolves and ghouls (assuming the creatures manage to survive the initial phase of the infection in the first place). These creatures are not actually related to the darkspawn, and their illness always proves fatal, usually in weeks or months of contracting it.
With each passing day, a blight grows. The earth itself withers and dies; the land is leeched of moisture, turning everything dry and brown. The sky fills with rolling, black clouds that block out the sun, making it easier for the darkspawn to surface. As this wasteland spreads, the corruption of the blight spreads with it, diseasing all in its path.
Behind-the-Scenes Documentaries
The Music of Dragon Age: Origins
Writing an Epic
Creating a Living World
Reviews & Articles
Witch Hunt the Penny Arcade Dragon Age comic
5/5 - Giant Bomb review - "However, as the sort of guy that has lovingly played an Infinity Engine game at least once every year for the past decade, I can think of no higher praise for this throwback than to say that Dragon Age: Origins leaves me feeling fairly confident I won't need to dig out the classics for this ritual next year."
9.5/10 - GameSpot video review - "If you're hungry for a fantastical original fantasy setting, an awesome story filled with memorable characters, and fun multi-layered questing, Dragon Age will fill you up. This is the RPG you've been waiting for, the one that's going to keep you up at night and invade your dreams."
94/100 - PC Gamer UK - "Roleplaying games now have a great deal to live up to."
9.2/10 - UK IGN PC - "Bioware’s achievements in all this are incredible. It cannot be stressed enough at the depth of the universe they have conjured. Every corner you look, there is a sense of age, of something old. Entire mythologies for multiple cultures have been brewed up, entire religions mapped out in their own belief systems, history that stretches back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Cities look lived in, worn – majestic and squalid places that spill with times gone by and a sense of place. The castles look like they have been there for centuries, and truly, there is an uncertain sense that they have been. That Ferelden and its inhabitants were waiting patiently in the wings for all this time, waiting for their chance to shine. Well, like the Grey Wardens, their time has come. Let us unite then, and in the words of an old friend: We shall show those cursed Darkspawn our hearts – and then show them theirs."
92/100 - Absolute Games review - "It has everything that is sought by the most jaded fans of the genre..."
9.1/10 - Gametrailers video review
90/100 - Game Informer review - "Even more than Mass Effect, the nation of Ferelden feels like a fully realized setting with its own history, conflicts, and power groups."
8/10 - Eurogamer PC review - "In its desperation to infuse this setting with 'maturity' - be it of the sober, political kind, or the game's painfully clumsy gore and sex - BioWare has forgotten the key ingredient of any fantasy: the fantastical. Without it, you're still left with a competent, often compelling, impressively detailed and immense RPG, but it's one that casts no spell."
The People of Dragon Age: Origins – An Interview with Sten, Wynne and the Tower Guard
Screenshots
PC System Requirements
Windows XP Minimum Specifications
* OS: Windows XP with SP3
* CPU: Intel Core 2 (or equivalent) single core running at 1.4Ghz or greater
* AMD X2 (or equivalent) running at 1.8Ghz or greater
* RAM: 1GB or more
* Video: ATI Radeon X850 128MB or greater
* NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB or greater
* DVD ROM (Physical copy)
* 20 GB HD space
Windows Vista Minimum Specifications
* OS: Windows Vista with SP1
* CPU: Intel Core 2 (or equivalent) single core running at 1.6Ghz or greater
* AMD X2 (or equivalent) running at 2.2GHZ or greater
* RAM: 1.5 GB or more
* Video: ATI Radeon X1550 256MB or greater
* NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB or greater
* DVD ROM (Physical copy)
* 20 GB HD space
Recommended Specifications
* CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz Processor or equivalent
* RAM: 4 GB (Vista) or 2 GB (XP)
* Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
* NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
* DVD ROM (Physical copy)
* 20 GB HD space
* OS: Windows XP with SP3
* CPU: Intel Core 2 (or equivalent) single core running at 1.4Ghz or greater
* AMD X2 (or equivalent) running at 1.8Ghz or greater
* RAM: 1GB or more
* Video: ATI Radeon X850 128MB or greater
* NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 128MB or greater
* DVD ROM (Physical copy)
* 20 GB HD space
Windows Vista Minimum Specifications
* OS: Windows Vista with SP1
* CPU: Intel Core 2 (or equivalent) single core running at 1.6Ghz or greater
* AMD X2 (or equivalent) running at 2.2GHZ or greater
* RAM: 1.5 GB or more
* Video: ATI Radeon X1550 256MB or greater
* NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB or greater
* DVD ROM (Physical copy)
* 20 GB HD space
Recommended Specifications
* CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz Processor or equivalent
* RAM: 4 GB (Vista) or 2 GB (XP)
* Video: ATI 3850 512 MB or greater
* NVIDIA 8800GTS 512 MB or greater
* DVD ROM (Physical copy)
* 20 GB HD space
Standard, Collector's, Digital Deluxe Edition?
All new copies of the game include free Blood Dragon Armor for use in Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. The code can be used for any platform. If you buy the game for the Xbox 360 but want to use the Blood Dragon Armor for Mass Effect 2 on the PC, you can.
All new copies of the game include The Stone Prisoner downloadable content, featuring a new companion (Shale, a dwarven golem), new quests, new items, and new environments. It can be bought separately for a price of 15 USD.
If you had pre-ordered any version of the game, you will have received the Memory Band, a special ring which adds an extra 1% to your experience gain or can be used to add a single point into a character's skill set.
If you pre-ordered at participating retailers, you will have received one of five in-game items. For example, Amazon.com offered the Lion's Paw boots, which adds to armor, dodge, and evading missiles.
The Collector's Edition will include a special tin case, a cloth map, a making-of DVD, a soundtrack, trailers and wallpapers and concept footage, and three in-game items. These items include Bergen's Honor, a massive helmet made of dragonbone; Grimoire of the Wastes, a special book that adds +3 attributes points when read; and Final Reason, a magical staff of immense power. You can view an image of the Collector's Edition and further details of these in-game items below.
The Warden's Keep downloadable content is available for purchase on all platforms.
The Stone Prisoner Trailer
The Warden's Keep Trailer
Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
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You must all be afraid of my wrath! Fear thy fury!
Seriously, though, I don't care if someone else makes it next time. Although I'm glad things are slowing down a bit.
It's all part of Loghain's master plan.
Still, it's too bad the PS3 version of it sucks, esp. for where I am in the game.
Am I the only one who has saved the Mages tower for last?
Though I am somewhat disappointed we didn't go with the thread title of - Dragon Age: Origins: Not gay if it's an elf.
Yeah, my character hasn't been updated since like the 10th, but it did update my achievements which I got like a week later o_O
My character updates all the time. BioWare must like me.
So I just finished Redcliff and it was really freaking easy. I'm not sure if it was here but I remember someone saying how difficult it was. I take it they nerfed the crap out of it on the console version?
Stop saying things like this. It's making it harder for me to not rush out and buy a PC version of this game... plus I'd instinctively want to upgrade my computer, even though I know it'll run the game. I figure if it'll play WoTLK just fine, it'll run DA: O.
Apart from the spawns being delayed, no it's no different. I'm not sure if this is a case of the staggered spawns making that much of a difference or people just sucking.
Because some people complain about seriously easy fights and I don't know what to think.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
Or, they suck :P
51 Hours
21 City Elf Rogue (Bard/Duelist) <-- Which I deeply regret and in the future would make Assasin/Ranger
Loved every minute of my playthrough. Good god this game is awesome.
Basically, AoE attacks from a mage won't be the best way to go for a change since you'll end up nuking the militia in addition to the zombies. A party of melee fighters that can take out a zombie in a couple seconds will end up being able to control things much easier.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
This is a fair point. I pretty much universally follow the pattern of (post-Lothering): Stone Prisoner, Denerim, assorted sidequests, Wardens Keep, Circle Tower, Redcliffe. I've never had any trouble with anything this way.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
I only have a few origins left. About to start on the dwarven commoner. God help me, I can't quit.
The game is no where near as popular as it was prerelease, clearly.
I've got a Male Elf Mage, a Male Human Warrior, a Dalish Female Rogue. I've got to throw the dwarf origins in there somehow as well...
Also, I can't seem to bring myself to even consider pursuing one of the romances with any dwarf character. It just seems like it would be so...out of place... and awkward hooking up with any of the party members. Sounds like perfect candidates for the "Ultimate Sacrifice" ending!
Ugh, with 5 more potential origins to go, multiple endings, and with the male/female variations, I can see this game owning my life for quite sometime.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
Zevran sleeping with anything makes total sense.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
Wow, it took me twice as long. I guess I was probably alt-tabbed for a decent amount of that, but still.
Thanks, Fiaryn. It's always good to be reminded we're always on the same page.
I'll get my last romance out of the way - Just can't seem to take the "hurt" in the characters to cheat on them :P
Final ending -
After that I'll probably just do the remaining origins. I've been going pretty crazy on the game and I find myself skipping too many conversations, and only being mildly disappointed when I realise something new was being said.
edit: I'm also going to try and 'harden' alistar and lelianna.. hopefully they don't disapprove too much and I can get back the approval enough to romance Lel finally.
It's hilarious to run around as a short, skinny person wielding a sword taller than I am and decked out in massive armor. Especially since I have Sten with me this time, he is literally twice my size and yet I'm doing more damage than him.
"I'm Kind of a Big Deal" isn't hard to get at all. Just don't let yourself die. I got it on my weapon and shield warrior with little effort on normal.
These links contain all the free preorder content that you get for having played the flash game, purchasing from specific retailers (eg, Bestbuy or Futureshop), or get to download by default. These are links to Bioware's North American Canadian site, and as such are legitimately offered to everyone who bought the game. The benefit is that these won't be disabled if you cannot access the net or something, nor do they require an EA login of any sort. These are also the only way I know that someone without a constant internet connection can use (some of) the preorder content.
The Edge:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_EDG/DAO_PRC_PROMO_EDG_1.0.dazip
Embri's Many Pockets:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_EMB/DAO_PRC_PROMO_EMB_1.0.dazip
Helm of the Deep:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_HOD/DAO_PRC_PROMO_HOD_1.0.dazip
The Lucky Stone:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_LKS/DAO_PRC_PROMO_LKS_1.0.dazip
The Lion's Paw:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_LNP/DAO_PRC_PROMO_LNP_1.0.dazip
Blood Dragon Armor:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_ME/DAO_PRC_PROMO_ME_1.0.dazip
Mark of Vigilance:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_VGL/DAO_PRC_PROMO_VGL_1.0.dazip
Amulet of the War Mage:
http://na.llnet.bioware.cdn.ea.com/u/p/eagames/bioware/dragonage/content/DAO_PRC_PROMO_WAR/DAO_PRC_PROMO_WAR_1.0.dazip
To use them, download them to a folder, and then open them with the DAUpdater.exe in your Dragon Age->bin_ship folder.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Don't you go dragging retarded shit in here.
I'm also very hopeful that that link is a troll. It has to be a troll; I don't want to believe the person is for real.
I have to admit, that was a lot of fun. It's too bad the game tries to shoehorn the City Elf warrior into dual wielding. I wish the game wouldn't pre-spend a talent point for you - maybe I don't want to dual wield! Maybe I don't want to go sword and board! But hey, thanks for making me blow my first talent point on a melee type I won't use the rest of the game!
Also, since this indeed the internet, you have just as much a chance of it being a genuine hatespawn as you do of it being a troll.
Granted he may have been trolling but I got more of an ignorant tool feel from his post rather than obvious troll.
Be careful not to play with Zev in your party, you might come down with "the gay".
All I know is I'm in another thread in there talking about heteronormativity and trying to explain why having gay characters in things is a good thing.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
That's what the respec mod is for!
also, leiliana isn't annoying!
You don't want to add things you already have, because this one will try to stack with the authorization required versions. Assuming you don't already have any of the content installed, then this won't cause an problems.
Also, the blood dragon armor is indeed the whole set. Remember that some of the items you get from online content do not start in your inventory. Many of them are added to merchants for example.