Dragon Age II

[Tawmis]

Well, other than it looks like something from Final Fantasy VII, I thought they were all fine.

Never played it

Cloud of Final Fantasy VII

[AndreaDraco]

There's a similarity indeed.

Now I like Hayder's Razor less

[AndreaDraco]

Tawmis... since you're replaying the game too... am I the only one who finds it a tad boring during a second playthrough? Sure, you can make different choices, use different tones, but the story is more... granitic, in a sense. No?

[Tawmis]

Tawmis... since you're replaying the game too... am I the only one who finds it a tad boring during a second playthrough? Sure, you can make different choices, use different tones, but the story is more... granitic, in a sense. No?

Yes.

By far, yes. I have found play throughs for DAO still fun. But DA2, is a little more difficult. This is partially why I dumped my Mage I began as a second play through, in favor of the Rogue.

Just WATCHING the Rogue is entertaining. While, over all useless (since it seems like it'd best be used for bosses, but doesn't seem to affect them much) - is that kick the container move to stun enemies. And the "teleporting" back stab is a fun visual. Especially if you time it so the enemy is almost dead, and that's the finishing type move. So I wanted something a little more visually stimulating than the mage. (While far more powerful, because you can brittle the heck out of everyone) - I didn't find the Mage visually stimulating enough during the second play through and quit after customizing him and beating the ogre.

I don't know if I am going to make it all the way with the Rogue. May set everything on EASY or whatever the lowest end is - just to get through it all - and see the different end result choices by siding with the templars at the end.

[Maiandra]

I tried to focus on giving her passive abilities that would increase her chance for critical hits in various situations, as well as giving her a small range of combat abilities for different situations. I managed to avoid taking too many talents I didn't want.

This is kind of like I wanted to build it, without many combat abilities and many passive or supporting abilities. In short, I'd like to build him around the Scoundrel, Sabotage and Subterfuge tree, without spending point in Dual-Wielding. Is it possible in your opinion? Or the combat-related talents are just too good to be true?

You could probably do it, if you planned carefully and tried to take some of the passive abilities that give you criticals in certain circumstances as early on as possible. Criticals are the backbone of rogue attacks. However, you may end up feeling underpowered in terms of attacks until you can take them.

You may want to consider at least taking Backstab and Murder. My rogue currently kills a normal enemy in a single hit with backstab most of the time. When it doesn't kill them instantly, it sends them flying and severely weakens them. Plus, backstab can be used strategically to get behind enemies if you're surrounded or to travel short distances on the battlefield in an instant, assuming there is an enemy in the general direction you want to go.

I'll be interested to hear how that works out for you: taking little or no point in dual-weapon. I'm sure it's possible to do effectively, if you plan carefully and are creative.

I also made a point of building up my cunning faster than my dexterity to begin with, until cunning was level 40. That way I ensured that I didn't encounter any traps I couldn't disarm or locks I couldn't pick. I'm glad I did, because I did encounter one master trap in Act 2 so far and I wouldn't have been able to disarm it otherwise.

[Maiandra]

Just WATCHING the Rogue is entertaining. While, over all useless (since it seems like it'd best be used for bosses, but doesn't seem to affect them much) - is that kick the container move to stun enemies. And the "teleporting" back stab is a fun visual. Especially if you time it so the enemy is almost dead, and that's the finishing type move. So I wanted something a little more visually stimulating than the mage. (While far more powerful, because you can brittle the heck out of everyone) - I didn't find the Mage visually stimulating enough during the second play through and quit after customizing him and beating the ogre.

It's especially fun as a rogue when you can pause it as soon as someone tries to attack you from behind, then hit backstab to backstab them instead. Better yet, if they're behind you, use Twin Fangs and your rogue doesn't even have to turn around or move to attack them. They just stab backwards at them and take them out. It makes you look pretty on the ball.

By the way, Miasmic Flask is very useful to temporarily disable a group of enemies, then take them out sequentially before they can start attacking you again. It works even better if you have one of the passive abilities that gives you criticals against stunned opponents. I find it's actually more useful against normal enemies, since bosses can be immune.

Some of the passive abilities also let you setup cross-class combos for the mage or warrior to take advantage of them.

[Tawmis]

I also made a point of building up my cunning faster than my dexterity to begin with, until cunning was level 40. That way I ensured that I didn't encounter any traps I couldn't disarm or locks I couldn't pick. I'm glad I did, because I did encounter one master trap in Act 2 so far and I wouldn't have been able to disarm it otherwise.

There is a Master Chest, available from Act 1 - that's hidden down that long hallway in Kirkwall outside. It's in Hightown. In that little square where people are usually talking... (nothing else going on there - same place where you locate the "Conspirators" in Act 1). I am curious to know what's there - but forgot to put points in cunning, and was focusing on DEX (and CON, so that I have health to live since Rogues can steal aggro pretty quickly - which under normal cases, is not a problem - but against bosses, can be... troublesome). I am dying to know what's in that chest since it's taunted me since Act 1 (and stays there throughout the acts!)

[DeadPoolX]

Yeah... this entire post is one big spoiler.

Almost done with my "help the Templars" endgame this time. I'm still using the same character, I just loaded an earlier save and took a different path.

Anyway... I hate to say it, but I actually feel better about this decision. I disagree with Meredith's methods and I've never been a fan of the Templars, but given how almost every Mage seems to use blood magic (when they claim they don't) I don't feel much sympathy toward them.

The really stupid thing about using blood magic to defend themselves is that they're only proving Meredith is right! She's claimed the Mages there use blood magic for a long time and the First Enchanter always denies it.

Originally Bethany was against me (and for good reason), but after Orsino admitted to letting Quentin do his experiments, she turned on him and joined me.

After we fought Orsino Meredith wanted to kill Bethany, but I stepped in. She reluctantly agreed to let her live. There's also an option to let Meredith kill Bethany, which you can view here. You'd have to be really cold to do allow that, but some people are, I suppose.

One thing I really liked was at the beginning when storming into the Gallows and defeating the Mages in the center area (the one with staircases on either side), there are several Mages who run out and surrender. They claim they didn't want any part of what Orsino was planning and even though I was willing to listen to them, Meredith wanted to kill them.

Surprisingly, Cullen spoke up in their defense and basically told Meredith that they're not murdering those Mages. It was neat to see the other Templars listening to Cullen on that matter, even when Meredith openly disagreed and practically ordered otherwise.

This is one reason (among some others) that I feel Cullen is actually a good Templar. His mission, as a Templar, is to defend against dangerous Mages and kill them if he needs to do so, but he refuses to bully or butcher them. That's how a Templar should act.

[AndreaDraco]

I have found play throughs for DAO still fun. But DA2, is a little more difficult. This is partially why I dumped my Mage I began as a second play through, in favor of the Rogue.

Well, I find mages the most visually stimulating class of all three, but, as you know, I'm a born mage player

The thing that keeps me going is selecting the humorous option during dialogues, since these are often (but not always; there's one in the prologue that is just... too much) well-written and amusing.

I'll be interested to hear how that works out for you: taking little or no point in dual-weapon. I'm sure it's possible to do effectively, if you plan carefully and are creative.

Well, it may be early - I'm only at level 7 - but it doesn't seem very viable. If I want to do some serious damage I have to switch to archery and use the Adder of Antiva bow, otherwise my twin daggers without any combat abilities don't do that much damage, even with Blind Sinde, Twist the Knife and Ambush already acquired. It may also be because I have yet to find an interesting dagger: everything I find is either for warriors or for archers and the only dagger (acquired via the Black Emporium) is pretty mediocre in comparison with Adders of Antiva (13 physical damage vs. 64 physical damage + 13% nature damage).

This is one reason (among some others) that I feel Cullen is actually a good Templar. His mission, as a Templar, is to defend against dangerous Mages and kill them if he needs to do so, but he refuses to bully or butcher them. That's how a Templar should act.

And yet he didn't seem so reasonable in DA:O when demanded the Right of Annullment because mages were exposed to Blood Magic and may harbor abominations amongst them after what Uldred did. Unfortunately, he's still a Templar, and the only good Templar is the dead Templar... and Thrask

[DeadPoolX]

I guess I don't see the difference in replaying DA:O or DA2. In both you know what's going to happen, so the only change is playing a different class. Sure, DA:O had differing origin stories, but beyond that, the game is the same for each background.

[AndreaDraco]

I guess I don't see the difference in replaying DA:O or DA2. In both you know what's going to happen, so the only change is playing a different class. Sure, DA:O had differing origin stories, but beyond that, the game is the same for each background.

Well, that's not entirely true.

In DA:O you had some major choices in every major plot quest.

In "Arl of Redcliffe," for example, you could choose to destroy the entire village, to kill Connor, to kill Isolde to save Connor, to save both of them. In "Nature of the Beast" you could choose to save the elves and kill the werewolves, to side with the werewolves and slaughter the elves, to save both of them but kill Zathrian. And when it comes to the Landsmeet, you really had tons of choice: who will be King? what will happen to Loghain? And, after that: will you take Morrigan's offer? And, if not, who will struck the final blow to the Archdemon.

Here in DA2 the only relevant choice is mages vs. templars, but even in this case the way the final segment plays out is very similar.

Also, why I love DA2 characters, given the amount of dialogue the Origins companions had, you have plenty of diverse opportunities while replaying DA:O. For example, I've yet to make a character that deepen his relationship with Sten or with Leliana, whereas in DA2, since companions give you their quest no matter their friendship/rivalry, I've already explored all their stories in a single playthrough, minus Isabela for the reasons I've already told you.

[AndreaDraco]

Sometimes he talks so fast I can't understand what he's saying for the life of me.

I think I already said how much I hate this guy but some things in this pseudo-review are actually fun (if I have understood them correctly).

[Tawmis]

I guess I don't see the difference in replaying DA:O or DA2. In both you know what's going to happen, so the only change is playing a different class. Sure, DA:O had differing origin stories, but beyond that, the game is the same for each background.

I don't fault you for making different choices near the end. I did the same exact thing in Mass Effect 2, to bed every female available. I saved it before doing everything; then just kept restoring to see what each one was like, since each was a little different. (Also ME2 didn't seem to have many "consequence" choices... other than the slaughter of an entire race). And DA2, is pretty much the same - but with my warrior, I always did the more "Saintly" answers; with the rogue, I am doing the more arse response, just to hear some new dialogue (and select Templars in the end). So knowing I will side with the Templars there's a few things I am curious to see (the kidnapped Qunari, the Blood Mages in the cave, etc).

[AndreaDraco]

A very interesting companion survey

[Tawmis]

A very interesting companion survey

I don't understand where he's pulling these numbers from?