The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
Please vote in the Forum Structure Poll. Polling will close at 2PM EST on January 21, 2025.
Dragon Age 2 anti-hype thread [PLEASE POST IN NEW THREAD]
I'm not liking the sound of some of the decisions being made for DA2. But its still a day one for me. Its bioware, I have yet to be disappointed by them as every rpg they have made has pleased me, and is among my top favorites.
While I very much enjoy DA:O, I'm not going to avoid buying DA2 because it's different. I am capable of enjoying more than one style of storytelling. I'm sure it will be a quality RPG on the whole, and that is enough for me. But it won't be a day one purchase.
I'm even considering waiting for the "ultimate" pack. Being late to the party on both Oblivion and FO3 saved me quite a bit of cash, and it would have been the same for DA:O if I hadn't bought it early on.
The constant changes in the thread title amuse me, and seeing this:
ME2: Medieval Edition is not what I want.
really has me intrigued.
I was not a fan of Dragon Age at all, but loved ME1 and 2 (especially 2) to death. Are they taking a much more action-oriented approach this time around?
Man, if I'd actually had a pre-order, then I'd be getting it. But I was waiting for amazon to confirm that they'd get the limited whatever. Which they did, along with the price hike
Throw me in as another person for the 'unless it gets like triple A reviews' not getting it at launch. It's just not looking to be a high priority type of game, which is a shame.
I mean I'd love to see this mythical 'the PC version plays totally different' come true, but after seeing the vids I can't bring myself to believe that until I see it as well.
Ah pre-release defenders are always the best. Especially when it's entirely legitimate complaints about a game that has changed things since the first one in ways a lot of people don't like.
But that is true, it's very unlikely I will be buying DA2 (but that's because I just don't like the sound of it in general) but I'm going to make sure that Bioware knows why I didn't.
See I've given up complaining about Bioware games before release, because they keep turning out awesome
I hated the lack of inventory in ME2, but the game still managed to win me over, so I'm going to give DA2 a shot - Bioware has earned it. Let's just hope they dont fuck it up like ID did (the only other company to gain my day 1 purchase respect and then lose it)
The constant changes in the thread title amuse me, and seeing this:
ME2: Medieval Edition is not what I want.
really has me intrigued.
I was not a fan of Dragon Age at all, but loved ME1 and 2 (especially 2) to death. Are they taking a much more action-oriented approach this time around?
On the consoles it's more action-oriented, but on the PC it will play nigh the same as the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins.
The other notable changes include a voiced main character. This is immersion breaking and sucks balls. The dialog wheel makes its return but now features a tone icon. Fuck dialog wheels. They are inaccurate and suck balls. If a dialog choice is aggressive and may result in your character punching someone in the face, then there will be a fist icon next to that choice. Since this is BioWare it still probably won't work and therefore sucks balls.
The storyline takes place over ten years, so there's apparently a greater emphasis on seeing the consequences of your choices. Who wants to see their character age ten years and show gray hair? No one, that's who. That sucks balls. I bet your choices won't even matter until the very end and it will all suck balls. Apparently the story is also narrated by two people trying to piece together the tale of Hawk to find him and recruit his aid, and sometimes they exaggerate the facts or lie. What the fuck, BioWare? Is their writing staff made up of hipsters, thinking they're cool and trying to write something confusing as fuck? It's going to suck balls and all the exaggerated portions are just going to piss me off.
Dashui on
Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
The constant changes in the thread title amuse me, and seeing this:
ME2: Medieval Edition is not what I want.
really has me intrigued.
I was not a fan of Dragon Age at all, but loved ME1 and 2 (especially 2) to death. Are they taking a much more action-oriented approach this time around?
On the consoles it's more action-oriented, but on the PC it will play nigh the same as the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins.
The other notable changes include a voiced main character. This is immersion breaking and sucks balls. The dialog wheel makes its return but now features a tone icon. Fuck dialog wheels. They suck balls. If a dialog choice is aggressive and may result in your character punching someone in the face, then there will be a fist icon next to that choice. Since this is BioWare it still probably won't work and therefore sucks balls.
The storyline takes place over ten years, so there's apparently a greater emphasis on seeing the consequences of your choices. Who wants to see their character age ten years and show gray hair? No one, that's who. That sucks balls. I bet your choices won't even matter until the very end and it will all suck balls. Apparently the story is also narrated by two people trying to piece together the tale of Hawk to find him and recruit his aid, and sometimes they exaggerate the facts or lie. What the fuck, BioWare? Is their writing staff made up of hipsters, thinking they're cool and trying to write something confusing as fuck? It's going to suck balls and all the exaggerated portions are just going to piss me off.
I forgot something I'd read about your companions, too. Your idle companions won't just sit at some camp while you go off on grand adventure without them. Apparently they all have separate lives and their own goals, so they'll be off doing their own thing if you didn't take them along with you. That doesn't mean you'll be unable to use them if you leave them behind while you quest, though. With the story taking place over ten years, they're not going to be sitting around a campfire just twiddling their thumbs during that time.
BioWare has also said there's no great, evil threat that needs to be defeated.
"No exclusive organization. No saving the world. No ancient evil." - David Gaider
It's apparently about how Hawk becomes the Hero of Kirkwall. His exploits are in the past while the tale is being retold in the present.
"Cassandra is interrogating Varric the Dwarf on the actions of Hawke over the last 10 years to better understand how the world came to be on the brink of war."
And lastly, your dialog choices will actually form a personality for Hawk. He will deliver his lines differently depending on how you've built his personality. I can't remember the exact details about how this work, but someone here can explain it much better.
Oh, and that all sucks balls.
Dashui on
Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
They never said there would definitely not be a Dragon Age 2 toolset. What they did say was that they're looking at how they can upgrade the Dragon Age: Origins toolset to be used with Dragon Age 2.
Dashui on
Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
Now, is it inherently important that I had to have played through the first?
You will be able to import a Dragon Age: Origins save into Dragon Age 2, but since this is in an entirely different part of the game world and with a different main character, it probably won't be entirely necessary to play the first game. They haven't talked too much about the specifics of importing, unfortunately. We do know that various characters from Origins and even the expansion pack and DLC will show up in Dragon Age 2, however, as well as the decisions made that altered the political, and perhaps even religious, landscape.
The overall story is apparently its own beast, though, so if you don't want to play Origins don't feel pressured to do so. They've said at the very beginning of the series that they'd like each game to cover different places and periods of the world they've created. With Flemeth making a return, and the slight revelations about her in Witch Hunt, I do wonder if there will be an overall plot throughout all these games. We may keep moving forward in time and play as different people in each new title, but Morrigan and Flemeth could perhaps be central figures to the entire series? That could be kind of interesting.
Dashui on
Xbox Live, PSN & Origin: Vacorsis 3DS: 2638-0037-166
0
LokiDon't pee in my mouth and tell me it's raining.Registered Userregular
Now, is it inherently important that I had to have played through the first?
You will be able to import a Dragon Age: Origins save into Dragon Age 2, but since this is in an entirely different part of the game world and with a different main character, it probably won't be entirely necessary to play the first game. They haven't talked too much about the specifics of importing, unfortunately. We do know that various characters from Origins and even the expansion pack and DLC will show up in Dragon Age 2, however, as well as the decisions made that altered the political, and perhaps even religious, landscape.
The overall story is apparently its own beast, though, so if you don't want to play Origins don't feel pressured to do so. They've said at the very beginning of the series that they'd like each game to cover different places and periods of the world they've created. With Flemeth making a return, and the slight revelations about her in Witch Hunt, I do wonder if there will be an overall plot throughout all these games. We may keep moving forward in time and play as different people in each new title, but Morrigan and Flemeth could perhaps be central figures to the entire series? That could be kind of interesting.
Things I can think of that will affect DA2.
Origin
1) Mage or Templar
2) Elf or Werewolf
3) Dwarf or Golem
4) Arl Eamon's son
5) A Child with Morrigan or not
6) Alastor/Loghain
Awakening
1) Town and Fort did them survive
2) Grey Warden or Olyesian
3) The Architect
Im pretty damn excited about the new art style, it looks absolutely stunning without being over the top, makes the world feel unique.
Also the main character will probably quite interesting, everyone loves Shepard, and from the pre-ME1 press he just looked like generico buzzcut space marine #5, but thanks to Bioware's storytelling and the freedom you had in shaping his subtle but engaging personality it worked.
At the very least, there won't be emails to show "OMG we looked at your save file" kind of choice and consequences. I mean, why else have a "Big Moral Choice" at the end of every single hub?
They also said the boon you chose at the very end of the game could factor in somehow. At the very least a mention, but some of them are pretty damn major things, that would affect the whole world
Like "oh, look, all of the mages are suddenly not bound to the tower and free to self-regulate"
They also said the boon you chose at the very end of the game could factor in somehow. At the very least a mention, but some of them are pretty damn major things, that would affect the whole world
Like "oh, look, all of the mages are suddenly not bound to the tower and free to self-regulate"
They also said the boon you chose at the very end of the game could factor in somehow. At the very least a mention, but some of them are pretty damn major things, that would affect the whole world
Like "oh, look, all of the mages are suddenly not bound to the tower and free to self-regulate"
I think they said that one isn't happening. Apparently someone grabbed Alistair during the party after the speech and reminded him that he was a king and in fact not the Pope of the Chantry
I want to be like Hawke in the videos sporting the swordstaff, alternating between whirling the blade around and pew pewing some fools like only a mage can.
Back to DA:O for a sec, I wanted to add a mod I found. I like to store a lot of items, and the generic camp chest that most people have just has too little space (100 slots I think?). I found another storage mod which adds a weapon and armor rack. This means two more storage boxes, with a convenient appearance change for organization.
I want to be like Hawke in the videos sporting the swordstaff, alternating between whirling the blade around and pew pewing some fools like only a mage can.
Join the club. I'd love to see a mage/melee hybrid that is more than an armored turtle with a so-so melee capability. Hell, if Bioware were to give us a Arcane Warrior version that relies on evasion instead of a shitload of armor I'd be pretty interested.
I want to be like Hawke in the videos sporting the swordstaff, alternating between whirling the blade around and pew pewing some fools like only a mage can.
That's how staffs work in DA2. The pew pew at a distance and do melee up close.
So I noticed the other day that K-Mart will be selling the Ultimate Edition of DA:O on Black Friday for $35. Having never bought any of the DLC (minus the packed-in Shale one), I was wondering if this was a worthwhile investment. I even plan to sell my vanilla copy (which was given to me for free, anyway, as a review) to justify the price further.
I just have a few questions about the Ultimate Edition:
1. Can I transfer my saves from the vanilla game over to UE (some repackaged editions don't let you do this, so just wondering)?
2. Is all of the DLC included on the disc, or as separate download codes?
3. Same question for Awakening: is it included on the disc, a separate disc, or a download code?
4. Is all of the DLC available to play regardless of where you are in the quest? Teaser footage that I've seen of Return to Ostagar has me questioning this, since
Allistair is shown in the trailer, and I'm currently at the final boss sans him
If the DLC are codes rather than automatically included, I can sell the Stone Prisoner code with my vanilla copy, since I already redeemed the one originally included.
In related news, I never found a proper strategy to defeat the final boss. Is it better to just start over the final mission and make sure I don't lose any allied forces early on?
If you're looking for strategy, I've got one for you. Keep in mind that the encounter is much easier if you saved your backup units.
Spoilered for big:
During the first "phase" when it's just you and the Archdemon, there's no real need for strategy. Handle it like you did the High Dragon or Flemeth. The Archdemon leaps around more, though which makes it a little tougher to play the ranged game.
Take note that unlike the High Dragon and Flemeth, the Archdemon's breath attacks are Spirit Based, so at least take care to load your tank up with Spirit resistance gear if you can. Shale really shines here because you can make her very resistant to Spirit with her level 4 Crystal set, plus she can't be grabbed.
In the second phase when the Archdemon leaps away onto a platform your party can't reach, swarms of Darkspawn will start to rush the area. Here is when I call the dwarves to hold them off, while I command my entire party to follow my Warden up to one of the platforms with the ballista mounted on it. Hold position there, with your tank fending off any Darkspawn that followed you. Have someone man the ballista (someone with high trap making and/or lock picking, this will come in handy later), while your ranged units fire on the Archdemon. You may also want to summon the dalish elves or mages to assist with ranged firepower against the Archdemon.
If the bastilla breaks, and you have someone with high trap making/lock picking, they can repair it and get it back to working again. The ballista also seems to break down less often if the person using it has these high traits as well. Each shot does about 90 damage. If the ballista breaks down and you can't repair it, you may want to consider switching to the opposite side to man the other one.
Once this phase has ended, the Archdemon will leap back to the main staging area and all Hell breaks loose! Darkspawn continue to swarm and the Archdemon lashes out with everything it has. Consequently, you should too! Call any remaining backup units you have and give it everything you've got!
If you're looking for strategy, I've got one for you. Keep in mind that the encounter is much easier if you saved your backup units.
Spoilered for big:
During the first "phase" when it's just you and the Archdemon, there's no real need for strategy. Handle it like you did the High Dragon or Flemeth. The Archdemon leaps around more, though which makes it a little tougher to play the ranged game.
Take note that unlike the High Dragon and Flemeth, the Archdemon's breath attacks are Spirit Based, so at least take care to load your tank up with Spirit resistance gear if you can. Shale really shines here because you can make her very resistant to Spirit with her level 4 Crystal set, plus she can't be grabbed.
In the second phase when the Archdemon leaps away onto a platform your party can't reach, swarms of Darkspawn will start to rush the area. Here is when I call the dwarves to hold them off, while I command my entire party to follow my Warden up to one of the platforms with the ballista mounted on it. Hold position there, with your tank fending off any Darkspawn that followed you. Have someone man the ballista (someone with high trap making and/or lock picking, this will come in handy later), while your ranged units fire on the Archdemon. You may also want to summon the dalish elves or mages to assist with ranged firepower against the Archdemon.
If the bastilla breaks, and you have someone with high trap making/lock picking, they can repair it and get it back to working again. The ballista also seems to break down less often if the person using it has these high traits as well. Each shot does about 90 damage. If the ballista breaks down and you can't repair it, you may want to consider switching to the opposite side to man the other one.
Once this phase has ended, the Archdemon will leap back to the main staging area and all Hell breaks loose! Darkspawn continue to swarm and the Archdemon lashes out with everything it has. Consequently, you should too! Call any remaining backup units you have and give it everything you've got!
Sounds solid, I'll give it a try.
To add to my above questions, I'm also debating whether to nab the PC version of the UE (I own the 360 version currently). Everyone's always going on how the PC version is leaps and bounds above the console ones, and while I don't debate that, I'm not exactly ecstatic about starting my character over (hence why I'm considering finishing the 360 version, then moving on to the PC's DLC and Awakening).
Just a couple more questions regarding the PC version.
1. I know it doesn't support controllers, but like with ME2, I can make do with Xpadder. My question is if I can cycle through the text and UI menus with the arrow keys (which I could map into the 360's D-pad) like in ME1, or if it only supports mouse selecting like in ME2.
2. Is it worth importing your character from DA:O to Awakening? I've heard the transferable stuff is minimal at best. If so, I could be justified just downloading a character save similar to my own (again, like ME2) and jump onto Awakening rather than start over in Origins.
3. Does the physical PC disc let you install the game onto Steam?
Posts
ME2: Medieval Edition is not what I want.
PSN: ShinyRedKnight Xbox Live: ShinyRedKnight
I'm even considering waiting for the "ultimate" pack. Being late to the party on both Oblivion and FO3 saved me quite a bit of cash, and it would have been the same for DA:O if I hadn't bought it early on.
Steam (Ansatz) || GW2 officer (Ansatz.6498)
really has me intrigued.
I was not a fan of Dragon Age at all, but loved ME1 and 2 (especially 2) to death. Are they taking a much more action-oriented approach this time around?
I mean I'd love to see this mythical 'the PC version plays totally different' come true, but after seeing the vids I can't bring myself to believe that until I see it as well.
See I've given up complaining about Bioware games before release, because they keep turning out awesome
I hated the lack of inventory in ME2, but the game still managed to win me over, so I'm going to give DA2 a shot - Bioware has earned it. Let's just hope they dont fuck it up like ID did (the only other company to gain my day 1 purchase respect and then lose it)
On the consoles it's more action-oriented, but on the PC it will play nigh the same as the PC version of Dragon Age: Origins.
The other notable changes include a voiced main character. This is immersion breaking and sucks balls. The dialog wheel makes its return but now features a tone icon. Fuck dialog wheels. They are inaccurate and suck balls. If a dialog choice is aggressive and may result in your character punching someone in the face, then there will be a fist icon next to that choice. Since this is BioWare it still probably won't work and therefore sucks balls.
The storyline takes place over ten years, so there's apparently a greater emphasis on seeing the consequences of your choices. Who wants to see their character age ten years and show gray hair? No one, that's who. That sucks balls. I bet your choices won't even matter until the very end and it will all suck balls. Apparently the story is also narrated by two people trying to piece together the tale of Hawk to find him and recruit his aid, and sometimes they exaggerate the facts or lie. What the fuck, BioWare? Is their writing staff made up of hipsters, thinking they're cool and trying to write something confusing as fuck? It's going to suck balls and all the exaggerated portions are just going to piss me off.
God and to think two threads ago I bitched about it being too actiony and got heckled
This all sounds fucking amazing
Hell yeah dialog wheel
I forgot something I'd read about your companions, too. Your idle companions won't just sit at some camp while you go off on grand adventure without them. Apparently they all have separate lives and their own goals, so they'll be off doing their own thing if you didn't take them along with you. That doesn't mean you'll be unable to use them if you leave them behind while you quest, though. With the story taking place over ten years, they're not going to be sitting around a campfire just twiddling their thumbs during that time.
BioWare has also said there's no great, evil threat that needs to be defeated.
"No exclusive organization. No saving the world. No ancient evil." - David Gaider
It's apparently about how Hawk becomes the Hero of Kirkwall. His exploits are in the past while the tale is being retold in the present.
"Cassandra is interrogating Varric the Dwarf on the actions of Hawke over the last 10 years to better understand how the world came to be on the brink of war."
And lastly, your dialog choices will actually form a personality for Hawk. He will deliver his lines differently depending on how you've built his personality. I can't remember the exact details about how this work, but someone here can explain it much better.
Oh, and that all sucks balls.
Does it actually matters?
Since DA O toolset sucks.
The section labeled "Dragon Age: Origins - PC Mods" in the OP says it does.
Now, is it inherently important that I had to have played through the first?
A fine arguement.
DA O nasty toolset may not get us any decent fan made modules but it at least gives us some decent mods.
You will be able to import a Dragon Age: Origins save into Dragon Age 2, but since this is in an entirely different part of the game world and with a different main character, it probably won't be entirely necessary to play the first game. They haven't talked too much about the specifics of importing, unfortunately. We do know that various characters from Origins and even the expansion pack and DLC will show up in Dragon Age 2, however, as well as the decisions made that altered the political, and perhaps even religious, landscape.
The overall story is apparently its own beast, though, so if you don't want to play Origins don't feel pressured to do so. They've said at the very beginning of the series that they'd like each game to cover different places and periods of the world they've created. With Flemeth making a return, and the slight revelations about her in Witch Hunt, I do wonder if there will be an overall plot throughout all these games. We may keep moving forward in time and play as different people in each new title, but Morrigan and Flemeth could perhaps be central figures to the entire series? That could be kind of interesting.
Nope. I'll be buying the shit out of it day 1.
Things I can think of that will affect DA2.
1) Mage or Templar
2) Elf or Werewolf
3) Dwarf or Golem
4) Arl Eamon's son
5) A Child with Morrigan or not
6) Alastor/Loghain
Awakening
1) Town and Fort did them survive
2) Grey Warden or Olyesian
3) The Architect
Also the main character will probably quite interesting, everyone loves Shepard, and from the pre-ME1 press he just looked like generico buzzcut space marine #5, but thanks to Bioware's storytelling and the freedom you had in shaping his subtle but engaging personality it worked.
Haters gonna hate
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
I'm hoping for a better fighter-mage class. And no, Arcane Warrior or Arcane Warrior with mods does not count >:|
XBL: GamingFreak5514
PSN: GamingFreak1234
http://social.bioware.com/project/1041/
Steam (Ansatz) || GW2 officer (Ansatz.6498)
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
I just have a few questions about the Ultimate Edition:
1. Can I transfer my saves from the vanilla game over to UE (some repackaged editions don't let you do this, so just wondering)?
2. Is all of the DLC included on the disc, or as separate download codes?
3. Same question for Awakening: is it included on the disc, a separate disc, or a download code?
4. Is all of the DLC available to play regardless of where you are in the quest? Teaser footage that I've seen of Return to Ostagar has me questioning this, since
If the DLC are codes rather than automatically included, I can sell the Stone Prisoner code with my vanilla copy, since I already redeemed the one originally included.
In related news, I never found a proper strategy to defeat the final boss. Is it better to just start over the final mission and make sure I don't lose any allied forces early on?
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
Spoilered for big:
Take note that unlike the High Dragon and Flemeth, the Archdemon's breath attacks are Spirit Based, so at least take care to load your tank up with Spirit resistance gear if you can. Shale really shines here because you can make her very resistant to Spirit with her level 4 Crystal set, plus she can't be grabbed.
In the second phase when the Archdemon leaps away onto a platform your party can't reach, swarms of Darkspawn will start to rush the area. Here is when I call the dwarves to hold them off, while I command my entire party to follow my Warden up to one of the platforms with the ballista mounted on it. Hold position there, with your tank fending off any Darkspawn that followed you. Have someone man the ballista (someone with high trap making and/or lock picking, this will come in handy later), while your ranged units fire on the Archdemon. You may also want to summon the dalish elves or mages to assist with ranged firepower against the Archdemon.
If the bastilla breaks, and you have someone with high trap making/lock picking, they can repair it and get it back to working again. The ballista also seems to break down less often if the person using it has these high traits as well. Each shot does about 90 damage. If the ballista breaks down and you can't repair it, you may want to consider switching to the opposite side to man the other one.
Once this phase has ended, the Archdemon will leap back to the main staging area and all Hell breaks loose! Darkspawn continue to swarm and the Archdemon lashes out with everything it has. Consequently, you should too! Call any remaining backup units you have and give it everything you've got!
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Sounds solid, I'll give it a try.
To add to my above questions, I'm also debating whether to nab the PC version of the UE (I own the 360 version currently). Everyone's always going on how the PC version is leaps and bounds above the console ones, and while I don't debate that, I'm not exactly ecstatic about starting my character over (hence why I'm considering finishing the 360 version, then moving on to the PC's DLC and Awakening).
Just a couple more questions regarding the PC version.
1. I know it doesn't support controllers, but like with ME2, I can make do with Xpadder. My question is if I can cycle through the text and UI menus with the arrow keys (which I could map into the 360's D-pad) like in ME1, or if it only supports mouse selecting like in ME2.
2. Is it worth importing your character from DA:O to Awakening? I've heard the transferable stuff is minimal at best. If so, I could be justified just downloading a character save similar to my own (again, like ME2) and jump onto Awakening rather than start over in Origins.
3. Does the physical PC disc let you install the game onto Steam?
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
Played through it on Windows 7 - no issues.
It'll be in a steam christmas sale though, right?