Dragon Age II

[DeadPoolX]

A very interesting companion survey

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

As crude as it sounds, I'd say his ass.

[Tawmis]

So I played a little more with the Rogue I created for the second play through, and just opted on setting it to CASUAL just to get through everything fast and try some different choices... still in Act I... and the quest the Magistrate gives you...

So when I went through; the first time, I dragged him out and had the law decide what to do with him... Obviously the guy is off his rocker and has a mental disorder that leads to abusing women; but claims it's demons that make him do it; but the Circle claims to find no demonic influences within him... So this time around, I decide to all out kill him. Surprisingly, I got favorable points for this from everyone in the party (Bethany, Varric, and Aveline). From Varric, I could see it; Bethany, too perhaps, since she's a woman; but Aveline, seems like she would not have approved of me out right killing the guy! The down side is - when you return to the Magistrate for the quest turn in - there's literally no dialogue, unlike if you spare him and drag him out for the law to decide... So that was a little disappointing. Would have liked some dialogue to discuss how sick his son was and why I did what I did. I am hoping that doing this has some other consequence later... but I doubt it, since sparing him certainly didn't.

Found another bug. Though extremely minor. When you go to the Blooming Rose for the beginning of the Lady Killer quest to talk to the one guy in the room; if you then get one of the hookers (no matter which one) - when you come back (and are putting on your clothes) - he's still in the room and you basically clip through him while you're putting your clothes on.

[Rath Darkblade]

Holy crap - this game hasn't been out for a month yet and already it has 30 pages here?!?

Anyway, I read a bit about this game over on wiki (careful not to read any spoilers!) It sounds interesting, although a couple of things bothered me... one, that the player character's race is fixed; and two, the mention of the ME2-style dialogue wheel. I'd never played ME2 myself, so I don't know what this dialogue wheel is - can anyone enlighten me, please?

As for the PC's race being fixed... why? I understand the PC is a refugee fleeing the darkspawn during the events of DA:O, but surely a refugee can be any race? I think DA2 could've been even better if there was the race choice of the original. (Hmm... although I suppose, if that had been the case, people would complain that "My PC is a dwarf but the voice acting doesn't sound dwarfish enough!!!" or some such. I guess if BioWare wanted to make a PC that sounds human AND dwarven AND elven, the game would become so bloated that it wouldn't fit on THREE DVDs, let alone two).

Anyway, that's my initial reaction...

[AndreaDraco]

A very interesting companion survey

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

The whole forum partecipated in a survey a couple of weeks ago. The partecipation was staggering. And these are the first results.

(The survey can be seen in the signature of the OP)

[Tawmis]

Holy crap - this game hasn't been out for a month yet and already it has 30 pages here?!?

Well, we began discussing it when DA2 was first announced... so it goes pretty far back. So it's not like it's 30 pages of gameplay and actual game discussion. First ... like 5 pages are just DA2 announcements... Granted, from like page 6 to 30, it's all actual game discussion.

Anyway, I read a bit about this game over on wiki (careful not to read any spoilers!) It sounds interesting, although a couple of things bothered me... one, that the player character's race is fixed; and two, the mention of the ME2-style dialogue wheel. I'd never played ME2 myself, so I don't know what this dialogue wheel is - can anyone enlighten me, please?

Rather than have options:
1. I'd rather kill you, than stand by you.
2. I've trusted you this far, let's see what happens.
3. Varric, what do you think we should do?

It's now on a circular wheel, with those options. Pretty much the same exact thing, just a different format in how it's presented.

As for the PC's race being fixed... why? I understand the PC is a refugee fleeing the darkspawn during the events of DA:O, but surely a refugee can be any race? I think DA2 could've been even better if there was the race choice of the original. (Hmm... although I suppose, if that had been the case, people would complain that "My PC is a dwarf but the voice acting doesn't sound dwarfish enough!!!" or some such. I guess if BioWare wanted to make a PC that sounds human AND dwarven AND elven, the game would become so bloated that it wouldn't fit on THREE DVDs, let alone two).
Anyway, that's my initial reaction...

The character definitely has to be human, in order for it to work. It could work as a dwarf, but since Kirkwall is primarily a human settlement... Events that lead to certain things would require you to be human.

Definitely could not be an elf, for sure.

[DeadPoolX]

Aside from the origin story, DA:O wasn't really that different if you played a human, elf or dwarf. The main difference, I suppose, is how you wanted to roleplay that character.

For instance... you might choose different dialogue choices if you're playing a human noble versus a city elf. You don't have to, but you could and doing so might better fit the character.

There's only a few choices in the game that really depend on your race or position. Marrying Anora is a good example. You can only do that if you're a human noble.

I don't know if your race matters if you make Alistair king and want to marry him. I'd assume that's also limited to the human noble, but I'm not sure. I never played a female character and Maia didn't make Alistair king.

Most decisions, however, have very little to do with your race or background. Knowing this, BioWare decided that they'd make you human in DA2. Like Tawmis said, Kirkwall is predominantly a human settlement. There are some dwarves living there (Varric, for example), but very few are actually present. Any elves there also live in the alienage, but that's a very small area and elves make up a minority of the population.

Trust me when I say this that although DA2 has some problems (some of them are significant) the lack of different origin stories aren't among them. If you decide to play it, you'll quickly find that being human plays out quite well in DA2.

As for the dialogue wheel... I feel it works better than in ME1 or ME2, but some people still dislike it. I'd recommend playing the demo or looking a video of DA2 on YouTube. Make sure to watch the beginning of the game so you don't ruin anything for yourself.

[AndreaDraco]

I don't know if your race matters if you make Alistair king and want to marry him. I'd assume that's also limited to the human noble, but I'm not sure. I never played a female character and Maia didn't make Alistair king.

Yes. Only a female human noble can marry Alistair, although, if hardened, Alistair will agree to keep other races as paramour, if romanced.

Origins were also taken into consideration during the various world quests: if you are a Dalish elf, you receive a very different treatment from Marethari clan; if you are a dwarf, Orzammar is more reactive toward you and you have a chance to become the new Paragon of the dwarves. However, like DPX said, only the Human Noble origin is featured heavily into the story, since what happens at the beginning is directly tied both to main story of DA:O and to Awakening.

With that being said, it's true that, while being a human was really the only viable option for DA2, but I still missed the opportunity to be an elf

[Tawmis]

Dragon Age II addon rumored.

"You are one of the few who escaped the destruction of your home. Now, forced to fight for survival in an ever-changing world, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history. This is the story of how the world changed forever. The legend of your Rise to Power begins now. The The kossith, better known as qunari, are a large humanoid race hailing from the island nations of Par Vollen and Seheron in northern Thedas. Bra'thras, defecting from Par Vollen brings whispers of war."

Preview Available Here.

[DeadPoolX]

From that description, it sounds like the player character won't be Hawke. If so, I'll be really glad. I liked Hawke a lot, but as far as I'm concerned, his story is done. He's out on the open ocean with Isabela (and maybe Merrill, too, if she convinced Isabela to bring her along).

[Tawmis]

From that description, it sounds like the player character won't be Hawke. If so, I'll be really glad. I liked Hawke a lot, but as far as I'm concerned, his story is done. He's out on the open ocean with Isabela (and maybe Merrill, too, if she convinced Isabela to bring her along).

Yeah the video link shows a little bit of it...
Whispers of War.

[DeadPoolX]

From that description, it sounds like the player character won't be Hawke. If so, I'll be really glad. I liked Hawke a lot, but as far as I'm concerned, his story is done. He's out on the open ocean with Isabela (and maybe Merrill, too, if she convinced Isabela to bring her along).

Yeah the video link shows a little bit of it...
Whispers of War.

Bullshit. There's no way I'm clicking on any YouTube link you post today.

[AndreaDraco]

Sadly, I did

Really, again?

[Tawmis]

From that description, it sounds like the player character won't be Hawke. If so, I'll be really glad. I liked Hawke a lot, but as far as I'm concerned, his story is done. He's out on the open ocean with Isabela (and maybe Merrill, too, if she convinced Isabela to bring her along).

Yeah the video link shows a little bit of it...
Whispers of War.

Bullshit. There's no way I'm clicking on any YouTube link you post today.

Wise man.

Sadly, I did

Really, again?

It's a double whammy! Because it IS April Fool's Day - and it's Friday! Friday! Got to get down on Friday!

From that description, it sounds like the player character won't be Hawke. If so, I'll be really glad. I liked Hawke a lot, but as far as I'm concerned, his story is done. He's out on the open ocean with Isabela (and maybe Merrill, too, if she convinced Isabela to bring her along).

Heh - the description is actually Dragon Age II's description. The thing from the Qunari is from the Dragon Age II wikipedia thing (or wikea or whatever?) and then the name of the Qunari I made up is "Brat" + "Harass" - but with some creativeness.

[DeadPoolX]

So... I'm making a second playthrough with a Mage and I can't seem to get into it. The Mage is fine, but I think the game's too fresh in my head. I know everything that's going to happen, no matter what choices I make. Granted, that happens with any game once you've played it, but if I wait a while, some details may begin to fade.

To be honest, a huge part of my feeling this way is I consider my Warrior Hawke as the "real Hawke." Anyone else is an impostor. Silly, I know, but I really liked how the game went.

BTW, speaking of feeling silly and all, does anyone else here get mildly depressed after beating a really good game? That's a highly unusual feeling for me and I can't recall it ever happening until after beating DA2. I certainly didn't have that reaction to DA:O, KoTOR, ME1 or ME2 (although it might've helped that you can continue the game after winning in ME2).

I think what made DA2 really good for me was the more down-to-earth storyline and the characters had personality. They seemed far more interactive and lifelike in many ways. I actually felt like they were people with their own thoughts, feelings, wants and desires (at least as much as a game can emulate those aspects) whereas I didn't get that from any other game, BioWare or not.

All I can say is I hope BioWare does a good job with ME3 and whatever DLC/expansions they make for DA2. Like I said before, I hope a DA2 expansion progresses with a different character and no DA2 companions appear.

[AndreaDraco]

To be honest, a huge part of my feeling this way is I consider my Warrior Hawke as the "real Hawke." Anyone else is an impostor. Silly, I know, but I really liked how the game went.

I have the exact same feeling. I didn't have it in DA:O thanks to the multiple origins, but here... yes, my Mage Hawke definitely feels like the "real Hawke."

I think what made DA2 really good for me was the more down-to-earth storyline and the characters had personality. They seemed far more interactive and lifelike in many ways. I actually felt like they were people with their own thoughts, feelings, wants and desires (at least as much as a game can emulate those aspects) whereas I didn't get that from any other game, BioWare or not.

I agree with you on the story and characters, even if I'd have liked to be able to talk to the companions more.

Like I said before, I hope a DA2 expansion progresses with a different character and no DA2 companions appear.

Here I disagree. I feel there's more story to be told about Hawke, especially about the years between "The Final Straw" and Hawke's disappearance as hinted by Cassandra and Leliana.

A quick question: considering your feelings toward the game, I guess that, if forced to choose between your Warden and your Hawke, you'd choose Hawke. Correct? I'm torn, to be honest, but, in the end, I think I felt more a genuine connection with my Warden.