Dragon Age: Origins.

[Rath Darkblade]

If you've entered the numbers in correctly (and believe me, it's easy to get them wrong) then my next suggestion is to call or email BioWare's tech support. You could also try posting on the BioWare forums and see if they have any ideas. In addition, search for this problem on Google. You might come up with something useful.

Hmm. I think I'll call Bioware, at least to begin with, and see if we can fix it that way. I've googled for it and can't find anything.

***UPDATE*** Sigh... I tried calling the support line - in Australia, it's provided by EA - and I keep getting the message "Calls to the number dialed are not authorised on this service". I thought, WTF? and called up my phone provider. They told me that they can't call the support line either, so it must be a fault on EA's end. Grrr.

You could also give me your information (account name, password and registration number) so I can try it myself. I'm not sure I'd get a different result and I'd completely understand if you'd be hesitant to give me any of that info.

Just so you know, I have no interest whatsoever in that info beyond getting your game to work. I already have a BioWare account and have no need of a second one, especially if it meant screwing over a friend.

All right. We might try that... I am a little hesitant about that, so I might try that as a sort of last resort. Let me try calling Bioware first and see if I can fix it that way. Thanks!

***UPDATE*** So it looks like we might have to come back to this option after all. How would you like to do this, DPX?

[DeadPoolX]

Check your PM folder.

[Maiandra]

Those tactics, Maia, are perfectly reasonable, if they fit your playing style, but how do you deal with threat? With a single mage casting hexes and damaging spells, mobs are bound to target the mage only because of the threat he builds, far more high than Threaten + Taunt. And if the mage goes down, you lose not only the ability to heal from time to time but also the ability to cast crowd control spells, which are easily the most useful in the game.

You don't lose the ability to heal at all. That's what healing potions are for.

It really depends on the battle, but normally I keep the mage back and protect them as best I can, using immobilization spells to keep any enemies off them or slow pursuit. I try to keep them moving, if an enemy is really targeting them and they can't take care of it themselves. I also use the other characters to draw the attention of their attackers. I didn't find they always got swarmed anyway. It depended on the situation.

I'm not saying it was easy, since it wasn't, but I was able to do it for the entire game, so it's certainly possible.

Anyway, I agree with the warrior. Unless you're making a two-handed warrior, the sword & shield one is pretty useless when it comes to damage. His only purpose is to draw the enemy's attention while mages and rogues deal heavy damage.

Actually, I wasn't stating that that type of warrior was useless completely, just against dragons, when I fought them earlier in the game. Later in the game, I found Alistair fairly useful as a warrior, since he was so well defended with his shield abilities. Granted, since I'm usually busy with my rogue and the party mage, I don't usually pay as much attention to the warrior as some people probably do. I'm just happy if they kill some enemies and don't die themselves, so perhaps that's why I like them to be well defended.

The only problem with potions ... and I can't remember if this is the case for Dragon Age, because I haven't touched in the game in what feels like forever... But isn't there a "recharge" time for potions? So say Character A swallows a health potion - he can't swallow another health potion for like 30 seconds (or is it 60 seconds?)

I don't think it's 60 seconds because it never feels like a very long wait to me. If you have healing potions that are of sufficient level for the character, then one is usually enough. Besides, spells and abilities have to recharge too, so it's not just a limitation of the potions.

If I feel a certain character is taking too much damage then I usually get them out of there or send them some help, then switch tactics a little.

[AndreaDraco]

It really depends on the battle, but normally I keep the mage back and protect them as best I can, using immobilization spells to keep any enemies off them or slow pursuit. I try to keep them moving, if an enemy is really targeting them and they can't take care of it themselves. I also use the other characters to draw the attention of their attackers. I didn't find they always got swarmed anyway. It depended on the situation.

Have you played the Golems of Amgarrack DLC? It's by far the most difficult DLC BioWare released for Dragon Age and it requires almost a flawless tactic, because you'll be pitched against some of the most powerful mob ever seen in the entire game, dragons included. I'll be curious to know how this tactic fare against these challenges, because, by the look of it, it seems pretty good, even if it's very different from mine, but, without a fully dedicated healer/buffer, I still can't understand how did you guys managed buffs and debuffs.

I mean, if you go only with one mage, you want it to be a damaging powerhouse, or maybe a master of control, and with a maximum of 20-24 spells attainable in the original campaign, how do you make room for talents like the anti-magic spells, or the glyphs, or the hexes or even the Heroic buffs?

Maybe it's because I'm in love - always have been - with mages, but I can't think to take with me only one mage and make him a jack-of-all-trades. Two heavily specialized mages are better

[Tawmis]

Admittedly, the only time I used any debuffs/buffs was against the High Dragon and the "Other Dragon."

Other than that, M was for Damage, and Wynne was for healing.

[AndreaDraco]

I suppose it's another part of every player's strategy, but I usually find buffs and debuffs very useful.

For example, when battling a Revenant surrounded by skeletons, the tank locks the Revenant, the healer buffs him (with Heroic Defense and Heroic Aura) and then starts the usual healing chain on him (Heal, Rejuvenation, Group Heal when needed), the rogue and the mage dispose of the skeletons and then start dealing damage to the Revenant.

The Anti-Magic spells are very useful when battling other mages, of course, and especially if you don't already have Mana Clash. The Glyphs are priceless to set up traps (I distinctly remember one battle in the Elven Ruins where the glyphs literally saved my party) and the hexes are incredibly powerful against highly resistant foes, like the aformentioned Revenant.

[Tawmis]

First time through, I didn't even have Mana Clash...
Admittedly, there's the one room in Denirum (DPX, feel free to tell me if I am spelling that wrong too! ) - where you go through the whole thing... all these rooms... (where there's the barrels with the oil on the floor) - and you finally come to a room with a mage in there (and a bunch of other people). That fight... I was stuck on forever, before I did hit and run tactics, until just the mage was left.

Second play through, I had Mana Clash... and that fight was over in like 3 minutes.

For the Revs & Skeletons... I suppose it's too much MMO... I kept him busy with the warrior, Wynne did the heal, and A and L or Z would pick off the "Adds" (Skeletons), then everyone focus on the Rev. Because A and Z would have NO problem taking down skeletons. And once all three were on the Rev, there was NORMALLY not a problem.

[DeadPoolX]

Have you played the Golems of Amgarrack DLC? It's by far the most difficult DLC BioWare released for Dragon Age and it requires almost a flawless tactic, because you'll be pitched against some of the most powerful mob ever seen in the entire game, dragons included. I'll be curious to know how this tactic fare against these challenges, because, by the look of it, it seems pretty good, even if it's very different from mine, but, without a fully dedicated healer/buffer, I still can't understand how did you guys managed buffs and debuffs.

No, we haven't played that DLC. I didn't even know it existed until now. I doubt we'll get it anytime soon (if at all). Maia's currently playing Mass Effect 2 and I'm still slugging it out in DA:A.

As for our strategy... I'm not sure how to explain it in any more detail. I don't think you'll understand simply because you believe in a very different playing style.

I mean, if you go only with one mage, you want it to be a damaging powerhouse, or maybe a master of control, and with a maximum of 20-24 spells attainable in the original campaign, how do you make room for talents like the anti-magic spells, or the glyphs, or the hexes or even the Heroic buffs?

You see Mages as "highly specialized" in that you need one for this and one for that, etc. By now it's obvious that Maia and I don't agree (or at least have found it unnecessary).

As we've already explained, Maia and I had very similar setups in our parties: one Warrior, one melee Rogue, one archery Rogue and one Mage.

The main difference being that she played a Rogue and I play a Mage, so our experiences involving party leadership are a bit different.

You get to play every character in your party (there are simply some actions the computer shouldn't control, like Cone of Cold or Fireball) so we've both had somewhat similar party control experiences in DA:O and presumably DA:A (the latter of which Maia has already finished and I'm now playing).

As a Mage, I've found no need of a second Mage. I'm not a dedicated this or that, either. I have sustainable spells, buff/debuff, crowd control and damage. Obviously I don't have enough spell slots to fit in every spell, but I know what I like and find the most useful.

I'll admit that at this point I do have Heal and Group Heal slotted, but that's ONLY because my other non-slotted spells are either too situational or just plain stupid. Blizzard, for instance, is a very powerful spell (I've used it a few times in the past) but it's also extremely situational and Curse of Mortality, a spell that's just about useless, is something I took early on mistakenly believing that it might be good.

Yeah, I could respec, but I have so many spells now, it really doesn't matter.

Honestly, I've been trying to figure out which spells to REPLACE Heal and Group Heal with right now. So far I haven't used either spell in DA:A and I've already picked up Justice and Sigrun.

Maybe it's because I'm in love - always have been - with mages, but I can't think to take with me only one mage and make him a jack-of-all-trades. Two heavily specialized mages are better

Before DA:O, I hated Mages. Then again, I'd mostly played D&D games. Despite how much I disliked NWN, I did try it out for a while. I also played through BG2, which I actually enjoyed, despite it being D&D.

I think I got fed up with the whole "memorize a spell" thing. I much prefer DA's spell casting system.

For example, when battling a Revenant surrounded by skeletons, the tank locks the Revenant, the healer buffs him (with Heroic Defense and Heroic Aura) and then starts the usual healing chain on him (Heal, Rejuvenation, Group Heal when needed), the rogue and the mage dispose of the skeletons and then start dealing damage to the Revenant.

I don't have ANYTHING in the Enhancement line of spells (i.e. no Heroic Defense, etc). I've never needed them. My teammates do fine on their own -- all of whom have their own sustainable buffs or debuffs -- without me intervening on their behalf.

The Anti-Magic spells are very useful when battling other mages, of course, and especially if you don't already have Mana Clash. The Glyphs are priceless to set up traps (I distinctly remember one battle in the Elven Ruins where the glyphs literally saved my party) and the hexes are incredibly powerful against highly resistant foes, like the aformentioned Revenant.

I've never taken ANY spell in the Glyph line. Hexes, sure, but Glyphs? Nope.

Now Anti-Magic spells... that's a whole different ballgame. I make frequent use of Mana Clash. In fact, that's one of my favorite spells, especially since I've come across so many enemy Mages (particularly in DA:A) in the game.

I've been able to kill ALMOST ANY enemy with one shot when using Mana Clash.

[AndreaDraco]

Are you liking DA:A so far? It has some great characters!

And I'm also curious if you were able to salve Rath's problem!

[DeadPoolX]

Are you liking DA:A so far? It has some great characters!

Honestly? It's so-so. The characters aren't bad, but they're not as interesting as DA:O's characters.

I've also made the "mistake" of playing DA:A after having completed ME2. In my opinion, ME2 is the best of any BioWare game to date, so living up to that is tough -- especially for an expansion.

And I'm also curious if you were able to salve Rath's problem!

Not yet. I worked on it last night, but so far I haven't been successful. I plan on spending more time with it tonight.

What I've gathered so far is that Rath's problem is VERY well known among the BioWare community. Most of the posts about the "code is invalid" issue are from about a year ago (some were more recent and some were older), but everyone in those threads are/were experiencing the same problem.

The "code is invalid" issue has appeared on more than DA:O and DA:A. People who've bought and attempted to register ME2 have met with the same problem.

There have also been issues recently with DLC for DA:O/DA:A and ME2. Maia's had problems with Witch Hunt DLC and as of this post, she hasn't been able to get it working.

This is definitely an issue on BioWare's side, since people who bought the retail copy or downloaded it through Steam have all had the same problems. I've also read that the Ultimate Edition of DA:O registers differently and tends to have more problems setting up than the regular or Collector's Edition versions. I don't know why and it appears no one else does either.

The worst piece of information I've found is that there is an overwhelming amount of CD-Key generators available. The CD Key (or DVD Key nowadays) is the same as the registration code as far as BioWare's games are concerned.

Some people are also selling registration codes or simply handing them over to friends. I've even seen people post them on message boards, including sites like Yahoo Answers. One guy on there posted about ten of them for "anyone to use."

There are four possible results from of all of this:

• Someone generated the same code as Rath's and has already registered it.
• Someone grabbed his registration code off a website or message board.
• Someone bought the code itself.
• Someone bought the same copy as he did and returned it after using Rath's registration code.

I don't know if any of the above actually happened; I'm merely outlining some possibilities.

Right now I'd strongly recommend Rath contact tech support through email (if he hasn't already done so), since for some reason he can't call them. I'd offer to call in his place, but they might ask something I'd know nothing about or not believe me if I tell them I'm asking for a friend (which sounds like a scam, even though it wouldn't be in this case).

[Rath Darkblade]

AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH.

I have tried to navigate through the Bioware site to find some way to email tech support, but all I can find are links to EA promotions, 'bargains', other games, and Dragon Age FAQs. There's just no email address for Bioware tech support or EA tech support. I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more.

If I can't find some way out of this, I'll uninstall the game and throw it in the bin. Worst $70 I ever wasted. If that sounds drastic, consider that this course of action comes in lieu of what I really want to do, which is to put it all back in the case and throw it against the wall. GRRRR.

I'll also make sure to boycott all Bioware games, and tell all my friends to do the same. AGH!

[DeadPoolX]

Rath, you'll be happy to know that I found a way to contact EA technical support on their website. It's not immediately clear, but you have to log in (on EA's website) to access your account BEFORE being able to ask for help.

Here's what I did to log in:
1. Sign in to EA using your email address and password at the bottom of the page.
2. Look at the section on your left entitled "Support Links."
3. The "Contact Us" link provides you with a way to email tech support.

While logged in as you, I wrote up your problem and sent it to EA tech support for you. Don't worry, I logged out afterward.

Here's what I wrote:

I can't register my game (Dragon Age Ultimate Edition) on BioWare's social site. I've tried multiple times to register it and every time I receive the following error message: "Code is not valid for game."

I've tried your troubleshooting tips (and checked all applicable FAQs) on registering the game and code redemption.

Email: (Rath's email address)
Registration Code: 1111-2222-3333-4444-5555

Thanks for your assistance.

OUR INCIDENT NUMBER IS: [Rath, check your email]
- You should receive a response within 24 hours.
- You will receive an e-mail when your incident is updated.
- Use the MY QUESTIONSin the MY STUFF menu to track and update your incidents at any time.
Be sure to:
- Add customerservice@ea.com and support@ea.com to the list of allowed senders.
- Check your Junk or Spam folders for messages from EA.

I hope that works. If it doesn't... well, I don't know. We'll figure out something.

[Rath Darkblade]

Thanks DPX! Yes, I received that email from EA about 15 minutes before you emailed me their response.

I think Dragon Age is a very fun game, but I'm kinda disappointed with Bioware's and EA's lack of technical support for their game. As well as doing all the usual things online to find tech support, I tried calling the EA support line and calling EA directly. However, after looking up their phone number and calling them, I got through to a completely unrelated company - a place that makes lingerie!

Thanks for all your help and hard work. I really appreciate it.

[Tawmis]

I'd like to point out ... it was much better - tech support that is for Bioware - before EA purchased Bioware.

[Tawmis]

NOTE: I went ahead and merged the two topics.