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Dragon Age: Origins: Dragons and Dalish and Darkspawn Oh My! (Gameplay tips in OP)

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Posts

  • RonaldoTheGypsyRonaldoTheGypsy Yes, yes Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    That's from the trailer.

    Where MC is a human male and you and leliana morrigan and shale go kill a dragon on some mountain.

    KILL THE EMISSARY

    (which is what everyone should do at the start of any battle)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iFrHRaH0Os

    RonaldoTheGypsy on
  • NeliNeli Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Neli wrote: »
    I may just be retarded, but did this game have CGI movies I missed? I just googled around and found images like this;
    dragon-age-origins-leliana-001.jpg

    Those CGI videos are promo stuff. TV spots and some trailers on websites. You don't get to see it in the game, which is kinda lame. But then, the game doesn't really resemble those CGI trailers at all, so it's not a big loss.

    Ah, I see

    That was a neat video too.

    Neli on
    vhgb4m.jpg
    I have stared into Satan's asshole, and it fucking winked at me.
    [/size]
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    -Loki- wrote: »
    What platform are you playing on, and if PC, what settings? I've got it at 1440x900, full AA and Ultra high settings, and it looks very nice. Not as good, close up, as, say, Crysis, or even Mass Effect. But it does look quite nice and very detailed.

    I'm playing it on 360, and I've seen screenshots and video from the PC version.

    Here's an example of what I'm talking about.
    1184432-dage1.jpg

    1184433-dage2.jpg

    The character models look nice and detailed, they're fine, but the environment looks godawful.

    The 360 version is the worst of the 3 versions - compressed textures and washed out colours. The PS3 version has uncompressed textures and better colours. The PC version looks really good at Ultra high (I'm trying to find some screenshots, but 'dragon age ultra high' just finds Crysis shots in google images... and porn).

    -Loki- on
  • GMaster7GMaster7 Goggles Paesano Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    I was considering getting this for a while, but I backed off because I didn't know if I'd have the time or sustained interest for so many hours of non-MMO RPG gameplay. I downloaded the Character Creator, however, and now I must have it. If I loved KotoR, am I going to love this?

    Also, I'm sure it's been brought up many times, so I'm sorry to ask, but does really matter that much which origin story I choose as a newb, beyond what sounds cool to me? I was thinking of going human noble or magi, but the Dwarf stories sound pretty sweet too. If magic is too cool to pass up, though (I usually play a mage of some sort in RPGs, and I love summoning types, though I don't see much summoning here), I'll go Magi.

    GMaster7 on
    PSN: SKI2000G | Steam: GMaster7 | Battle.net: GMaster7#1842 | Twitch: twitch.tv/SKI2000G
  • JulesJules Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Egos wrote: »
    Neli wrote: »
    Is that a thing in America? To irrationally hate on the french? :lol:
    nah, I'm American. And I find French cute. Not sure the accent, but definitely when speaking it.

    No doubt, I dated a french girl in college (she was my inorganic chem lab partner). My God, she changed my preconceptions about women forever: Smart, sexy, confident, gorgeous, a little geeky, and not conceited in the least. Her perfect date? She wanted to see one of the new Star Wars films when it came out. <3<3<3

    Jules on
    (USER WAS INFRACTED FOR THIS POST)
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    -Loki- wrote: »
    The 360 version is the worst of the 3 versions - compressed textures and washed out colours. The PS3 version has uncompressed textures and better colours. The PC version looks really good at Ultra high (I'm trying to find some screenshots, but 'dragon age ultra high' just finds Crysis shots in google images... and porn).

    When I'm talking about graphics in the game, I'm not just referring to the textures. A big part of the awfulness in the screenshots I posted weren't just in the low quality textures, but also the low poly count of the cliff. Many areas and objects in the game have very low poly counts. That's not something that the PC version is going to improve upon.

    Delta Assault on
  • TheStigTheStig Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Jules wrote: »
    Egos wrote: »
    Neli wrote: »
    Is that a thing in America? To irrationally hate on the french? :lol:
    nah, I'm American. And I find French cute. Not sure the accent, but definitely when speaking it.

    No doubt, I dated a french girl in college (she was my inorganic chem lab partner). My God, she changed my preconceptions about women forever: Smart, sexy, confident, gorgeous, a little geeky, and not conceited in the least. Her perfect date? She wanted to see one of the new Star Wars films when it came out. <3<3<3

    My brother married a french girl. Her family does not accept their marriage because he's not french and not rich like her. I'm not sure if it's a french thing or just a rich asshole thing.

    My copy of DA is in the mail and I just finished 2/3 of my finals. The wait is killing me.

    TheStig on
    bnet: TheStig#1787 Steam: TheStig
  • Eat it You Nasty Pig.Eat it You Nasty Pig. tell homeland security 'we are the bomb'Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    GMaster7 wrote: »
    I was considering getting this for a while, but I backed off because I didn't know if I'd have the time or sustained interest for so many hours of non-MMO RPG gameplay. I downloaded the Character Creator, however, and now I must have it. If I loved KotoR, am I going to love this?

    Also, I'm sure it's been brought up many times, so I'm sorry to ask, but does really matter that much which origin story I choose as a newb, beyond what sounds cool to me? I was thinking of going human noble or magi, but the Dwarf stories sound pretty sweet too. If magic is too cool to pass up, though (I usually play a mage of some sort in RPGs, and I love summoning types, though I don't see much summoning here), I'll go Magi.

    you will love it

    it doesn't matter

    Eat it You Nasty Pig. on
    NREqxl5.jpg
    hold your head high soldier, it ain't over yet
    that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    GMaster7 wrote: »
    I was considering getting this for a while, but I backed off because I didn't know if I'd have the time or sustained interest for so many hours of non-MMO RPG gameplay. I downloaded the Character Creator, however, and now I must have it. If I loved KotoR, am I going to love this?

    The only RPG's I've ever finished on PC are NWN and Kotor, and I find this pretty similar to Kotor. You should have a blast.
    GMaster7 wrote: »
    Also, I'm sure it's been brought up many times, so I'm sorry to ask, but does really matter that much which origin story I choose as a newb, beyond what sounds cool to me? I was thinking of going human noble or magi, but the Dwarf stories sound pretty sweet too. If magic is too cool to pass up, though (I usually play a mage of some sort in RPGs, and I love summoning types, though I don't see much summoning here), I'll go Magi.

    Nope - origin stories are basically just a tutorial and a way to add more to the story than just 'pick your name, pick your appearance, go play'. Pick the character you want to play, and it puts you into that characters origin story.

    -Loki- on
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    GMaster7 wrote: »
    If I loved KotoR, am I going to love this?

    Oh, you're absolutely going to love this. The game is much much closer to KOTOR then Mass Effect. The only differences are that you're in fantasyland instead of George Lucaslands, and the party combat is a bit more hands-on. So you'll need to spend a bit of time working in Tactics for your dumb AI members, whereas KOTOR was better about taking care of that and letting you do your own thing. Or you'll have to micromanage all four members yourself, which leads to pausing. Not sure how much pausing you did in KOTOR, but it'll probably be less then you do in this game.

    Delta Assault on
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    -Loki- wrote: »
    The 360 version is the worst of the 3 versions - compressed textures and washed out colours. The PS3 version has uncompressed textures and better colours. The PC version looks really good at Ultra high (I'm trying to find some screenshots, but 'dragon age ultra high' just finds Crysis shots in google images... and porn).

    When I'm talking about graphics in the game, I'm not just referring to the textures. A big part of the awfulness in the screenshots I posted weren't just in the low quality textures, but also the low poly count of the cliff. Many areas and objects in the game have very low poly counts. That's not something that the PC version is going to improve upon.

    Good texture work can hide low poly models - and a PC version very well can expand on the polycount in a console version, since multiple polycount models are generally made for LOD's. Forcing the console version to use a lower LOD in general is going to cause the lower poly models to be used. Though I don't think that's what Dragon Age does.

    But really, of all the things to write an essay to bitch about... the graphics? Just play the game. It's awesome.

    -Loki- on
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    -Loki- wrote: »
    Good texture work can hide low poly models - and a PC version very well can expand on the polycount in a console version, since multiple polycount models are generally made for LOD's. Forcing the console version to use a lower LOD in general is going to cause the lower poly models to be used. Though I don't think that's what Dragon Age does.

    But really, of all the things to write an essay to bitch about... the graphics? Just play the game. It's awesome.

    I've played the game. I'm playing through it a second time. It's very good.

    It's not perfect.

    Delta Assault on
  • SpoitSpoit *twitch twitch* Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    But really, am I the only one who finds the (character) texturing to be an order of magnitude better than ME PC, and the engine to run smoother with much less niggling problems? Especially wrt to not having stupidly distracting patchy shadows and actually having anti-aliasing?

    Spoit on
    steam_sig.png
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Spoit wrote: »
    But really, am I the only one who finds the (character) texturing to be an order of magnitude better than ME PC, and the engine to run smoother with much less niggling problems? Especially wrt to not having stupidly distracting patchy shadows and actually having anti-aliasing?

    Nope. I'm playing both on PC at highest settings, and Dragon Age looks considerably better. Though it is, what, 2 years newer?

    -Loki- on
  • Eat it You Nasty Pig.Eat it You Nasty Pig. tell homeland security 'we are the bomb'Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    huh, I hadn't seen that trailer before, that's pretty neat

    Eat it You Nasty Pig. on
    NREqxl5.jpg
    hold your head high soldier, it ain't over yet
    that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
  • RanadielRanadiel Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Jules wrote: »
    Egos wrote: »
    Neli wrote: »
    Is that a thing in America? To irrationally hate on the french? :lol:
    nah, I'm American. And I find French cute. Not sure the accent, but definitely when speaking it.

    No doubt, I dated a french girl in college (she was my inorganic chem lab partner). My God, she changed my preconceptions about women forever: Smart, sexy, confident, gorgeous, a little geeky, and not conceited in the least. Her perfect date? She wanted to see one of the new Star Wars films when it came out. <3<3<3

    My God man, and you didn't marry her!?

    Ranadiel on
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    It probably went south once she actually saw one of the new Star Wars films.

    Delta Assault on
  • KlykaKlyka DO you have any SPARE BATTERIES?Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Ultra high?

    I only see "very high" as the highest. How come?

    Klyka on
    SC2 EU ID Klyka.110
    lTDyp.jpg
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Klyka wrote: »
    Ultra high?

    I only see "very high" as the highest. How come?

    Just a habit, since most games I've noticed like to have 'Ultra High' instead of 'very High'. Probably sounds better, and I've just gotten into the habit of calling it Ultra High for everything.

    -Loki- on
  • TaramoorTaramoor Storyteller Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    It probably went south once she actually saw one of the new Star Wars films.

    As my in-game relationship with Leliana will attest. "Going south" is not necessarily a bad thing. :winky:

    Taramoor on
  • TexiKenTexiKen Dammit! That fish really got me!Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Taramoor wrote: »
    It probably went south once she actually saw one of the new Star Wars films.

    As my in-game relationship with Leliana will attest. "Going south" is not necessarily a bad thing. :winky:

    "Fell her like the darkspawn and make inroads in the south"

    TexiKen on
  • Radikal_DreamerRadikal_Dreamer Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Is there no other way to get Blood Mage other than in Redcliffe? There's no item or anything to teach it?

    Radikal_Dreamer on
    theincidentsig.jpg
  • BlackjackBlackjack Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Nope. That's the only way.

    Blackjack on
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    3DS: 1607-3034-6970
  • Radikal_DreamerRadikal_Dreamer Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Well that sucks... I suppose that means Morrigan gets to be a spirit healer or something this time around.

    Radikal_Dreamer on
    theincidentsig.jpg
  • aBlankaBlank Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Well that sucks... I suppose that means Morrigan gets to be a spirit healer or something this time around.

    You only need to unlock the specialization once, then you can just re-load and it'll still be unlocked.

    aBlank on
  • CadeCade Eppur si muove.Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Ranadiel wrote: »
    Jules wrote: »
    Egos wrote: »
    Neli wrote: »
    Is that a thing in America? To irrationally hate on the french? :lol:
    nah, I'm American. And I find French cute. Not sure the accent, but definitely when speaking it.

    No doubt, I dated a french girl in college (she was my inorganic chem lab partner). My God, she changed my preconceptions about women forever: Smart, sexy, confident, gorgeous, a little geeky, and not conceited in the least. Her perfect date? She wanted to see one of the new Star Wars films when it came out. <3<3<3

    My God man, and you didn't marry her!?

    That's my current French girl wrapped right up as he describes it, yes she's a geek and loves Star Wars too.

    Needless to say I adore her.

    That and she does that RAWR thing so damn well. It makes people melt and makes me bring out the cuffs.

    But that's another matter that we don't need to discuss.

    Getting the blood mage specialization is the most confounding one in the game since you pretty much have to play a mage to get it, Morrigan won't do it, Wynn definitely wouldn't, leaves you with only a mage play through to get it thus, kinda sucky.

    Of course you can get it with a cheat too but that's beside the point.

    Cade on
  • V-timeV-time Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Just started playing this last night - thought it was good and then I began to think it was awesome when:
    The kill animation when the Grey Warden dude in my part (keep forgetting his name) took out the Ogre in the tower during the battle. Was so awesome and I wasn't expecting it at all.

    the animation is awesome unless there are still foes left and you can´t get out of the animation to drink a pot or do sth at all and you are not invincible. It´s the only problem i have with the kill animations.

    V-time on
  • Silent TristeroSilent Tristero Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    So, regarding Anvil of the Void:
    Am I really trapped in there once I enter? I just ran back to the start but can't get out; I've reached the final room, but I have 0 poultices or ingredients, numerous injuries and no kits.

    This is also probably the hardest choice to make for me so far; I was prepared to help a slightly maddened Branka, but I wasn't counting on meeting Cairdin - I actually feel like siding with him, but I may do that in another playthrough and bring Shale along.

    Silent Tristero on
  • OlivawOlivaw good name, isn't it? the foot of mt fujiRegistered User regular
    edited December 2009
    So, regarding Anvil of the Void:
    Am I really trapped in there once I enter? I just ran back to the start but can't get out; I've reached the final room, but I have 0 poultices or ingredients, numerous injuries and no kits.

    This is also probably the hardest choice to make for me so far; I was prepared to help a slightly maddened Branka, but I wasn't counting on meeting Cairdin - I actually feel like siding with him, but I may do that in another playthrough and bring Shale along.

    Let me help you make this decision:
    if you stuck around and listened to crazy Branka ramble on, you'll find out she sold out her dwarven friends and lover and purposefully gave them to the darkspawn to turn into broodmothers so she could use the unending darkspawn to test the traps

    I heard that and I knew what side I was taking

    I don't know what happens if you take Shale along, though. I think you lose a lot of approval if you make a certain decision there but I can't remember which one

    Olivaw on
    signature-deffo.jpg
    PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
  • TexiKenTexiKen Dammit! That fish really got me!Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Yeah, you're trapped. If you have a save before Branka closed off the exit go back to orzammar and restock and sell off some stuff.

    Branka let the darkspawn create that Broodmother, no way she gets to live after that.

    TexiKen on
  • Delta AssaultDelta Assault Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    So I went to Honnleath.
    "I like it when Kitty sings to me."

    "Kitty is my best friend."

    "I was thinking about the sun, silly."

    "Tell me a story."

    "Kitty says Grandpa Wilhelm locked her up in her room. Isn't that awful?"

    "Father doesn't like cats. But he never met Kitty!"

    "I've always wanted a cat and Kitty is so perfect and pretty."

    "Kitty is my best friend."

    "I've always wanted a cat and Kitty is so perfect and pretty."

    "I was thinking about the sun, silly."

    "I was thinking about the sun, silly."

    "Tell me a story."

    "Oh, it's a flower! Is it a daffodil? I liked daffodils."

    "I've always wanted a cat and Kitty is so perfect and pretty."

    "Tell me a story."

    "Kitty says Grandpa Wilhelm locked her up in her room. Isn't that awful?"

    "Oh, it's a flower! Is it a daffodil? I liked daffodils."

    ...

    SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU STUPID BITCH AND FUCK THIS GODDAMN PUZZLE

    Delta Assault on
  • -Loki--Loki- Don't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining. Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    So I went to Honnleath.
    "I like it when Kitty sings to me."

    "Kitty is my best friend."

    "I was thinking about the sun, silly."

    "Tell me a story."

    "Kitty says Grandpa Wilhelm locked her up in her room. Isn't that awful?"

    "Father doesn't like cats. But he never met Kitty!"

    "I've always wanted a cat and Kitty is so perfect and pretty."

    "Kitty is my best friend."

    "I've always wanted a cat and Kitty is so perfect and pretty."

    "I was thinking about the sun, silly."

    "I was thinking about the sun, silly."

    "Tell me a story."

    "Oh, it's a flower! Is it a daffodil? I liked daffodils."

    "I've always wanted a cat and Kitty is so perfect and pretty."

    "Tell me a story."

    "Kitty says Grandpa Wilhelm locked her up in her room. Isn't that awful?"

    "Oh, it's a flower! Is it a daffodil? I liked daffodils."

    ...

    SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU STUPID BITCH AND FUCK THIS GODDAMN PUZZLE

    That puzzle took me so fucking long, mainly because it's been ages since I played PipeDream.

    -Loki- on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Olivaw wrote: »
    So, regarding Anvil of the Void:
    Am I really trapped in there once I enter? I just ran back to the start but can't get out; I've reached the final room, but I have 0 poultices or ingredients, numerous injuries and no kits.

    This is also probably the hardest choice to make for me so far; I was prepared to help a slightly maddened Branka, but I wasn't counting on meeting Cairdin - I actually feel like siding with him, but I may do that in another playthrough and bring Shale along.

    Let me help you make this decision:
    if you stuck around and listened to crazy Branka ramble on, you'll find out she sold out her dwarven friends and lover and purposefully gave them to the darkspawn to turn into broodmothers so she could use the unending darkspawn to test the traps

    I heard that and I knew what side I was taking

    I don't know what happens if you take Shale along, though. I think you lose a lot of approval if you make a certain decision there but I can't remember which one
    Shale leaves your party and fights you if you side Branka with her there. If you tell her after siding with Branka, she loses approval, but gains it back when you go to her Thaig.

    Khavall on
  • PancakePancake Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    LOOK AT ME AND MY FRENCH GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLFRIEND, GUYS!

    Please? Please? Guys, come on. Please.
    V-time wrote: »
    Just started playing this last night - thought it was good and then I began to think it was awesome when:
    The kill animation when the Grey Warden dude in my part (keep forgetting his name) took out the Ogre in the tower during the battle. Was so awesome and I wasn't expecting it at all.

    the animation is awesome unless there are still foes left and you can´t get out of the animation to drink a pot or do sth at all and you are not invincible. It´s the only problem i have with the kill animations.

    It's worse if the game bugs out and you get two characters doing a sync kill on one enemy at the same time. So now you've just lost two melee characters for the duration.

    Pancake on
    wAgWt.jpg
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Pancake wrote: »
    LOOK AT ME AND MY FRENCH GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLFRIEND, GUYS!

    Please? Please? Guys, come on. Please.
    V-time wrote: »
    Just started playing this last night - thought it was good and then I began to think it was awesome when:
    The kill animation when the Grey Warden dude in my part (keep forgetting his name) took out the Ogre in the tower during the battle. Was so awesome and I wasn't expecting it at all.

    the animation is awesome unless there are still foes left and you can´t get out of the animation to drink a pot or do sth at all and you are not invincible. It´s the only problem i have with the kill animations.

    It's worse if the game bugs out and you get two characters doing a sync kill on one enemy at the same time. So now you've just lost two melee characters for the duration.

    I had a fun time where the Ogre died normally and just fell down, and suddenly my dwarf warrior launches into the kill animation lunging his axe into the thin air.

    Khavall on
  • OlivawOlivaw good name, isn't it? the foot of mt fujiRegistered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Pancake wrote: »
    LOOK AT ME AND MY FRENCH GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLFRIEND, GUYS!

    Please? Please? Guys, come on. Please.

    Seriously

    Olivaw on
    signature-deffo.jpg
    PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
  • XyyzXyyz Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    I may have played a little too much Dragon Age over the last couple of weeks.

    Today, I was going to the pub with four friends. For a few seconds, I was seriously contemplating which one of them I was going to have to leave behind at camp.

    Xyyz on
  • EgosEgos Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Pancake wrote: »
    LOOK AT ME AND MY FRENCH GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLFRIEND, GUYS!

    Please? Please? Guys, come on. Please.

    He has nothing on me and my demonic girlfriend that I summoned in a botched ritual to resurrect Cthulhu. Now she is hot...

    Egos on
  • RanadielRanadiel Registered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Pancake wrote: »
    LOOK AT ME AND MY FRENCH GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLFRIEND, GUYS!

    Someone's jealous!


    ...



    ...



    ...


    ...and it's me. :(

    Ranadiel on
  • OlivawOlivaw good name, isn't it? the foot of mt fujiRegistered User regular
    edited December 2009
    Xyyz wrote: »
    I may have played a little too much Dragon Age over the last couple of weeks.

    Today, I was going to the pub with four friends. For a few seconds, I was seriously contemplating which one of them I was going to have to leave behind at camp.

    Hahahahah

    Okay that's pretty good

    That reminds me of the times I've played GTA games for many hours and then had to go drive somewhere and thinking about cutting across medians and considering other cars for their stats

    Olivaw on
    signature-deffo.jpg
    PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
This discussion has been closed.