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Post by Daos on Dec 20, 2020 12:28:54 GMT -8
Normal gave me trouble the first time I played. I can't remember at what point in the game I finally switched over to Easy, but I definitely remember it was something I had to do.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 20, 2020 14:42:11 GMT -8
Actually, I was able to beat the first two groups, the darkspawn attacking the dwarf on the bridge, and the refugees who wanted to turn me in for the bounty (which I felt rather sad about. Can't I just...scare them off or something?) without much difficulty. The last group-the one round the back of the hill, with the dogs-has still been giving me some trouble on normal. The thing was, I was barely pausing; playing it in real time. Which is weird, because I really don't like real time for CRPGs.
I also chatted a bit to Leiliana and Sten, got some nice lore. Sten was a bit grumpy about my asking about the Q'nari, but I didn't find his complaint very reasonable. True, you can't describe every member of a particular group so generally, but the question was really about the culture of the Q'nari, or at least the group he came from. Leiliana was much more forthcoming, though I notice the dialogue trees don't let your character be very religious. I'd put it down to picking an Elf, but the City Elves in the prologue do clearly reference the Maker, and they would probably be exposed to the faith as a whole much more than, say, the Dwarves or Dalish Elves.
She also told the fanciful story of Morrigan's mom, Captain Janeway, and how she turned into an abomination--and then apparently changed back? I wasn't aware that was possible, which certainly changes my view of the world. Slightly. Or, the stories are full of poppycock. But it was a good story.
And it just now occured to me that I've been running around with three members in my party. Rather than, say, four. Which has been implied multiple times to be the party limit.
...on second thought, perhaps my difficulty issues was unrelated to my level of skill. Just my level of observation. And comprehension. And of not-being-an-idiot.
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Post by Daos on Dec 20, 2020 16:44:36 GMT -8
It's funny, because the Qunari usually aren't shy about spreading their faith. But that's Bioware relationships for you; characters don't open up until you max out the values. Fun fact about the Qunari; they're supposed to have horns. But the devs couldn't figure out how to make them work with helmets, so removed Sten's. They do figure it out later, and so Qunari get a massive makeover in the sequels, and they later retcon it that certain kinds of Qunari are born without horns, hence explaining Sten. Second fun fact: Sten isn't his name, but his title. It's the equivalent of an infantry platoon commander.
I can tell you a bit about the Qun and the Qunari. The Qunari are the only culture whose treatment of mages make the Circle seem enlightened by comparison. They have impressive technology (including gunpowder), don't use money, and believe very strongly that everyone is born to live a specific role. Warriors cannot become merchants, merchants cannot become farmers, farmers cannot become warriors, and so forth. This is reflected in the mechanics of the game, too. Note that Sten is the only party member who cannot take more than one specialization.
Flemmeth's true origins don't really get mentioned until the very end of the third game, and I suspect they'll be fleshed out more in the fourth. That said, Leliana's story could be true. Something Dragon Age likes to do is establish a rule, then break it later or reveal that the rule was not so much a rule to begin with, but more of a guideline. It makes for some great plot twists later on. So it's established that becoming an abomination is permanent. Or is it? Guess we'll find out.
But whether the story is true or not is part of the fun of the setting. Nothing is really certain. It's part of what I like about it. Does the Maker really exist? Was Andraste really his prophet/bride, or just a powerful mage? Was the First Blight really caused by Tevinter Mages breaking into the Golden City? There's really no way to be sure. This is so different from D&D, where the Maker would certainly exist and grant divine powers to his priests. But here, it's left to one's own judgment.
Anyway, yes, party consists of four people; the main character and three others.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 21, 2020 8:54:30 GMT -8
Well, once I discovered that I was down a member (I place partial blame on the game for not automatically adding Leiliana to the party when she joined me. The fact that it took me to the party select screen made me believe that I needed to swap someone out) and that Morrigan can just...turn into a spider, the final team of bandits was trounced without too much difficulty. The bears and the one child's dead mother also had their quests completed.
Now, is there anything else really important I need to do in Lothering before it gets blighted? I don't believe there are any more party members, there may or may not be more quests, and once it gets destroyed, that means we get into the game proper proper proper.
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Post by Daos on Dec 21, 2020 14:01:36 GMT -8
Let's see...you did all the Chanter's quests, you dealt with the bandits on the road, you recruited Leliana and Sten...so what else?
Did you turn in the dead templar's amulet?
Did you complete the basic tutorials for herbalism, trap-making and poison-making?
Did you deal with the unscrupulous merchant who was overcharging refugees?
Did you do the two quests for the Blackstone Irregulars?
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 21, 2020 14:11:02 GMT -8
Let's see...you did all the Chanter's quests, you dealt with the bandits on the road, you recruited Leliana and Sten...so what else? Did you turn in the dead templar's amulet? Did you complete the basic tutorials for herbalism, trap-making and poison-making? Did you deal with the unscrupulous merchant who was overcharging refugees? Did you do the two quests for the Blackstone Irregulars? 1. Yes. 2. ...I...couldn't find any flasks. 3. Yes, I did. 4. I'm afraid not. The bad news is, I've already left. The worse news is, the Blight is moving. On the map. Which would seem to imply that Lothering is not the only town in danger, and which makes my decision to head for the old Warden base, with a stop in Denarim...a poor one.
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Post by Daos on Dec 21, 2020 19:55:24 GMT -8
Barlin, the fellow in the tavern who gives you the poison-making job, sells flasks.
But yeah, it's too late now. Lothering is gone; wiped off the map. The Blight will start to march toward Denerim now, but the good news is they won't arrive until the end-game, so you don't have to worry about anything else being swallowed up.
In any case, I would recommend you stay away from Denerim for awhile. While the map opens up and you can, theoretically, go wherever you want in whatever order you want, the various areas are level-gated. Denerim and Orzammar are the areas with the highest level enemies. Both of them have encounters you run into on the way that are really tough, that are meant to sort of scare you off until you are higher level.
If you want to go in order of difficulty (starting with easiest and then moving on toward hardest), the ideal path is Circle Tower, Redcliffe, Brecilian Forest, Haven, Denerim, Orzammar. (I know the narrative makes it seem like Redcliffe should come first, but I find the Circle Tower a bit easier and you get a new companion there, a healer, and it really helps make things easier to get her as early as you can.)
The DLC stuff (The Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep, Return to Ostagar) can all be done immediately after Lothering, too, without any real issue. You can get a new companion in The Stone Prisoner, and you get another chance to grab the dog in Return to Ostagar.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 22, 2020 5:35:15 GMT -8
I don't think that worked out very well. My encounter on the way to Denerim was a dwarf selling stuff at a discount.
But anyway, thank you for letting me know! Now, I feel no shame in turning the difficulty down to get past the quest fight I'm stuck in before I can leave town.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 22, 2020 13:20:39 GMT -8
Anyway, I done some more, and now have some time to deliver the whole story, rather than the abridged version.
Coriander left the party with her two new companions, Sten and Leiliana, and two new non-companion friends: Bodhan[?] and his son, who's either lyrium-addled or has severe almost non-verbal autism. We also met a descendent of one of the old Gray Wardens, seeking to take back Soldier's Peak. The first step to rebuilding the wardens is establishing a base, so I decided to start there (after a brief trip to Denerim to beat up some mercenaries in the Pearl). The battles did not prove exceedingly difficult, even on normal, which means I'm getting the hang of this! Thanks to the power of Coercion, we were able to seal the veil, leave the old Warden mage alive, and slay the demon possessing Sophia! And, we now have a base! Hypothetically? I'm still not sure whether we actually get to see it grow as a headquarters, or if the base thing is just an interesting story reason to clear out a spooky haunted keep.
Next was, as Daos recommended, the Circle Tower. Since Alistair had accompanied us through the DLC, I gave Sten a chance to fight--perhaps a poor one, because of his Templar abilities working well against the mage...but, oh well! The other two party members were Leiliana (for those sweet, sweet, relationship points!) and Morrigan (for magic). We soon came across Wynne, who was apparently at Ostagar. I didn't notice her. She asked for our assistance in dealing with all the abominations, which I was glad to provide. Morrigan tried to tell us that it's the mage's own fault for being part of the Circle, and we should let them die. Coriander called her a harpy and replaced her with Wynne, because, seriously. I'm not fond of the organization either, but you can't tell me that they carry more blame then the Templars.
Once I had a dedicated healer/support mage in the party, things became much easier. We fought our way through the first few towers without much difficulty, minus a few minutes where I was annoyed at my party for not following me, ignoring that I had told them to hold position. I spared the blood mage who surrendered, out of sympathy for, you know, not liking the order for some reason, and ended up letting the creepy Desire Demon go, as well. A bad choice? Maybe. But Leiliana liked me more for it, so it's all good. Next, the Sloth Demon trapped the party in the Fade, which does not bode well for anyone involved. But I'm eager to see what sort of lotus-eater paradise the companions have, if the game is doing that.
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Post by Daos on Dec 22, 2020 15:14:14 GMT -8
I don't think that worked out very well. My encounter on the way to Denerim was a dwarf selling stuff at a discount. Ah, okay, I looked it up and misremembered slightly. The Denerim encounter is in the city, not on the way to it. Bodhan[?] and his son, who's either lyrium-addled or has severe almost non-verbal autism. Enchantment! Fun fact: Sandal is the most important character in the entire Dragon Age universe. I'm not exactly sure how, but I trust one day I will be vindicated in some future game. I'm still not sure whether we actually get to see it grow as a headquarters, or if the base thing is just an interesting story reason to clear out a spooky haunted keep. I'm actually not sure myself. I never got that DLC, so I've never played it before. We soon came across Wynne, who was apparently at Ostagar. I didn't notice her. For the Wynne! And yes, she was at Ostagar. In the camp, near the mages' tents. You probably just missed her. Morrigan tried to tell us that it's the mage's own fault for being part of the Circle, and we should let them die. Coriander called her a harpy and replaced her with Wynne, because, seriously. I'm not fond of the organization either, but you can't tell me that they carry more blame then the Templars. Yes, this was the point where Morrigan started to annoy me, and after I recruited Wynne, I found I didn't have much use for her anymore, and so just left her at camp from this point on. My party from that point on was my main, Alistair, Leliana and Wynne. This is basically the 'Good' aligned group. Anyway, Morrigan's world view makes more sense when you remember who raised her. She has a very 'might makes right' outlook of the world. Which means, in her mind, anyone who is suffering must deserve it for not being stronger. She's pretty victim-blamey that way. It's also why she complains whenever you help someone. In her mind, you are making it more difficult for people to grow stronger by not letting them fix their own problems. Next, the Sloth Demon trapped the party in the Fade, which does not bode well for anyone involved. But I'm eager to see what sort of lotus-eater paradise the companions have, if the game is doing that. Ah, yes, the Fade. The second most disliked portion of the game by most fans, but usually due to having to go through it every single playthrough. It's not so bad on your first time. Mostly because it's very puzzled-based, I think. Once you know all of the solutions, though, in subsequent playthroughs it can be a bit of a chore. Personally, I enjoy it, though. It's so surreal and weird and offers some interesting insights into your companions.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 23, 2020 12:58:43 GMT -8
The Fade was made through way. Made the way through? Through the may way? ...it was completed. Frankly, I get how everyone dislikes it. Perhaps if it was a bit shorter, or you started out by rescuing your companions, and they joined you through the other nightmare worlds.
Anyway, having a dedicated healing mage exponentially decreased the difficulty, and Wynne's an altogether pleasant person to boot! Sorry Morrigan, but just because your behavior stems from a less than ideal upbringing doesn't mean anyone will tolerate it!
The Sloth Demon. So. Many. Phases. But thankfully, each phase was less powerful than the one before. Or maybe that was just me. But after a long, intense fight, victory was achieved! Then I died in the real world and had to go back and do it again, because it doesn't autosave after you leave the Fade. Ugh. I turned the difficulty down and did it all over again, thankfully quicker this time. After another rousing fight that I was also surprised I beat on the first try, Magic Steve Blum was rescued, and the cooperation of what was left of the Circle Mages was clenched. And Wynne, of course, decided to join into the party.
Next stop: Redcliffe, where Arl Eamon is apparently suffering some sort of mysterious illness? Which, in a fantasy game, could be anything.
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Post by Daos on Dec 23, 2020 15:35:49 GMT -8
Oh, yeah, the Sloth Demon fight was a tough one. You'd think being a sloth demon and all, it would be a lot easier. Also, Irwin isn't even the Steve Blum-iest character Steve Blum voices in this game. Just wait until you meet Oghren!
Anyway, congrats on recruiting your first army to fight the Blight. Also on making your first big moral decision. I also sided with the mages. So did pretty much everyone. I think Bioware wanted the Mage vs. Templar debate to be a little less one-sided, and were upset when the vast majority of their players were all, "ATAB! Mages forever!" That's my theory, anyway, on why in the second game nearly every single mage you encounter is either a blood mage or turns into an abomination (or both). It was like they were trying to add more nuance or something. But even if you don't sympathize with the mages over the templars, if you are building an army, mages just seem like the better pick. Yes, I'd like my army to have people who can fling fireballs and lightning bolts and using healing magic, please.
In any case, if you had sided with the templars, you'd have to kill all the mages (except Irwin), which would have been a bummer, but it was the only way that it would free up the templars to join your army (since they wouldn't have any mages left to watch over).
Anyway, I enjoyed the Circle adventure and I rather liked the Redcliffe one, too. You learn some interesting stuff about Alistair and get another interesting 'big' choice. As for the arl's disease, it must be pretty bad. Did you speak to the Redcliffe Knight in the chantry back in Lothering? If you did, he would have told you he and some other knights are searching for Andraste's Ashes, which are said to have the power to cure any ailment. In other words, they are looking for the equivalent of the holy grail; so that's pretty desperate, I'd say.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 23, 2020 17:10:59 GMT -8
Oh, yeah, the Sloth Demon fight was a tough one. You'd think being a sloth demon and all, it would be a lot easier. Also, Irwin isn't even the Steve Blum-iest character Steve Blum voices in this game. Just wait until you meet Oghren! Anyway, congrats on recruiting your first army to fight the Blight. Also on making your first big moral decision. I also sided with the mages. So did pretty much everyone. I think Bioware wanted the Mage vs. Templar debate to be a little less one-sided, and were upset when the vast majority of their players were all, "ATAB! Mages forever!" That's my theory, anyway, on why in the second game nearly every single mage you encounter is either a blood mage or turns into an abomination (or both). It was like they were trying to add more nuance or something. But even if you don't sympathize with the mages over the templars, if you are building an army, mages just seem like the better pick. Yes, I'd like my army to have people who can fling fireballs and lightning bolts and using healing magic, please. In any case, if you had sided with the templars, you'd have to kill all the mages (except Irwin), which would have been a bummer, but it was the only way that it would free up the templars to join your army (since they wouldn't have any mages left to watch over). Anyway, I enjoyed the Circle adventure and I rather liked the Redcliffe one, too. You learn some interesting stuff about Alistair and get another interesting 'big' choice. As for the arl's disease, it must be pretty bad. Did you speak to the Redcliffe Knight in the chantry back in Lothering? If you did, he would have told you he and some other knights are searching for Andraste's Ashes, which are said to have the power to cure any ailment. In other words, they are looking for the equivalent of the holy grail; so that's pretty desperate, I'd say. The Sloth Demon wasn't even that hard, at least, comparatively. Nobody even died, unlike a lot of smaller encounters. But it was very engaging; a satisfying boss for a rather unsatisfying quest. ...yeah, they really goofed on that. In fact, I didn't even realize I was making a big moral decision. I picked the mages without even realizing I had a choice. Yeah...the only Templar I need is Alistair, who I'm liking more with every line of dialogue. Including the one where he says he's the illegitimate child of the King Caelin's dad! Which is cool. I also, through the power of looking up determining which gifts which companions like, I was able to get Sten to open up a bit: talk about Qunari culture, discuss his lost sword, etc. Fun fact: I misunderstood and thought his sword was at the docks where you sail to the Circle Tower, which led to encountering Zevran way before I was ready. And, of course, getting stomped. Oh, well! I have a whole Redcliffe to level up before I fight him again.
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Post by Daos on Dec 23, 2020 22:00:58 GMT -8
Yep, now you know Alistair's secret. He has an actual claim, weak though it is, to the throne. Something that might be important, now that Caelin is dead. (Also, you can only learn this if you read the books, but he's also a half-elf. His mother was an elven mage. In this setting, human/elf offspring just results in regular humans.)
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Post by GravityEmblem on Dec 24, 2020 13:02:40 GMT -8
Yep, now you know Alistair's secret. He has an actual claim, weak though it is, to the throne. Something that might be important, now that Caelin is dead. (Also, you can only learn this if you read the books, but he's also a half-elf. His mother was an elven mage. In this setting, human/elf offspring just results in regular humans.) Yeah, if Eamon succumbs to his plot illness and Grumpy Hypocrite Man is ousted as a villainous dude, Alistair's next. Not that he has any interest in being king--as he mentioned to Leiliana, he has trouble putting on his shoes in the morning. But as Leiliana said back, that's what Advisors are for. (Which is hilarious. Leiliana rocks.) Redcliffe was, as you said, fun and interesting! Through the power of coercion, the townspeople were told to maybe die later instead of dying now (which I must say, WOW, Coriander. That's a bit intense). The fight against the zombie apocalypse was also fun and engaging. Though the first part was a bit frustrating. On an unrelated note, is "don't walk in fire" an available tactic for Companions? After the fight, in which...all the NPCs died, really (poor Murdock... ), Alistairs evil stepmother, Isolde, came in acting very suspicious. Teagen agreed to come into the castle alone, but gave us his signet ring to follow him through the secret entrance. There, we met the blood mage, who explained the situation and asked to be let out, to make amends. I decided that was fine, though time will tell if this has more consequences than a -5 opinions with Alistair. Though I must say, I laughed at "I wasn't responsible for this! All I did was poison Arl Eamon!"
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