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So Dragon Age II was officially released today in the US and I thought we should share what class we are playing first time through and initial thoughts about the game while we play.

Also feel free to post any questions about the game here while playing.

Ill be starting a male Mage today and after good impressions on the Demo I can't wait to get into the game.

gonna grab it tonight, will be starting out as a male rogue since that was the most fun for me in the demo. I liked the girl character, but I don't wanna have guys hitting on me. Dunno why they need to have the whole romance thing anyway.. I'd rather just kill stuff.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also .... what's with all the bonus items? I mean, yeah, they're cool but there's like 20 of em listed on their site.. they had that contest for if there's a million demo downloads, everyone gets a special book. They had 2 million, and now they changed it to you have to like them on facebook.

Then there's the "buy it here for this item, buy it there for that item..." what ever happened to earning our phat lewt in the game? or is the lewt in the game even phatter?

Still gotta wait two more days.

Is there any word of more of that bothersome "Day One" DLC like Warden's Keep from the first game?

BrookM wrote:Still gotta wait two more days.

Is there any word of more of that bothersome "Day One" DLC like Warden's Keep from the first game?[/quote

I'll be pissed if there is. They should at least have the curtesy to wait 2 months or so. I mean if it's released day one then they might as well have put it in the game.

It is in the game. It's a single character+location(The Black Emporium), who as long as you preordered and/or bought the 'Signature' edition(aka: the one that comes with an online pass)--is free.

As for the bonus items...

Most of them you will have to earn your way towards. The Blood Dragon gear, for example, requires 19 Strength+Constitution to wear the entire set.

When I finally get the money to get it, I plan on running female warrior. The warrior class was such fun for me.

Only just got it in the post today.

Got the signature edition.

Will install it tonight after work

Already?

...too soon.

Don't be surprised if it's essentially the exact same game you got a year or two ago. I hate when companies are this quick to cash in on their successful franchises.

Oh, it's not, that much has already been established.

Out of all of the reviews I've read since my previous post in this thread (which is quite a few), it actually seems like Dragon Age II is worse in nearly every way (excluding the soundtrack and graphics).

What's up with Bioware feeling the need to streamline every one of their franchises? I understood, to an extent, why they did so with Mass Effect, but is there really a reason to cut out so many elements from Dragon Age? Really?

I actually had my fingers crossed for this one (I thought the release date was way further off than this). I hated the first Dragon Age with a passion, and I felt this might've been a shot for the series to redeem itself. Instead, it ended up taking a few huge steps backwards without resulting in any payoff whatsoever.

I should've seen this coming.

I dunno about worse, I think it's a heluva lot more fun than the first one. Graphics and all are awesome, I like the character building and the way the skills and laid out in trees. As a rogue anyway combat is tons of fun, and I can fight battles the same as I did in Origins... I just do my thing and know the rest of my group will hold their own too. I don't want to micromanage every part of the fight, but I guess you can do it that way too if you want.

So far I think it's a great sequel.

I did get the free black emporium and I also downloaded the other DLC they had with the elf character just because.

I also spent too much money and got the hardback hint book too. I can never say no when they try to upsell. I suck at haggling for cars too :(

All of my friends who actually own the game on Steam have said it's great, so meh, I trust them more than some random douchebag who focuses too much on numbers and not enough on content, IE. most reviewers.

Oh those silly melon-fethers, they sell me a game and tell me to install it quick-quick, but secu-rom wont let me play it until midnight.

I noticed I didn't get the other bonus items, the sword and lion shield.. I preordered the game, followed the instructions on how to get it... not something I need as a rogue, but still.

And one thing I do miss from origins was being able to equip your companions.. Now all you can really give em is rings and stuff. I'm guessing later on you'll be able to unlock different outfits though like in ME2. I guess they just wanna make sure the ladies can't cover up their huge tracks of land.

Necros wrote:I noticed I didn't get the other bonus items, the sword and lion shield.. I preordered the game, followed the instructions on how to get it... not something I need as a rogue, but still.

And one thing I do miss from origins was being able to equip your companions.. Now all you can really give em is rings and stuff. I'm guessing later on you'll be able to unlock different outfits though like in ME2. I guess they just wanna make sure the ladies can't cover up their huge tracks of land.

If you got the signature edition, the sword/lion shield were actually included in that so your preorder code pretty much got bupkiss

I am enjoying it quite a bit. I wouldn't put too much stock in the fan boy rants on some websites (most notably Amazon at this point).

The biggest difference is that the game was given more of a Mass Effect 2 vibe (that is the only way that I can describe it). Dialogue has the infamous chat wheel (which I don't mind especially since it is entirely voice acted now), combat is much quicker and makes you act and react faster, companion inventory is minimal, and the action flows smoother making it much more fun and cinematic. Additionally, like any other Bioware game, the story so far (3hours in) has me interested and excited to see what happens! A lot of people are ticked that you semi-know what is going to happen before you play (the game starts wtih one of your companions getting interrogated about you), but that is part of the style of storytelling they were going for, and to be frank, it works.

Mini review aside, I am playing a mage first go through, focusing on elemental dmg.

Kinda like how you knew that king was going to die in DA:O, or in TES:Oblivion

Chrysaor686 wrote:Out of all of the reviews I've read since my previous post in this thread (which is quite a few), it actually seems like Dragon Age II is worse in nearly every way (excluding the soundtrack and graphics).

What's up with Bioware feeling the need to streamline every one of their franchises? I understood, to an extent, why they did so with Mass Effect, but is there really a reason to cut out so many elements from Dragon Age? Really?

I actually had my fingers crossed for this one (I thought the release date was way further off than this). I hated the first Dragon Age with a passion, and I felt this might've been a shot for the series to redeem itself. Instead, it ended up taking a few huge steps backwards without resulting in any payoff whatsoever.

I should've seen this coming.

I simply find these comments hilarious.

"Here, let me put in some gossip about the game that says its bad, and then talk gak because I didn't like the first one. I have done no research about this game, because If I did, I wouldn't be so ignorant as to post this. Regardless if the vast majority of people game Dragon Age Origins positive reviews, I think its bad. So everyone has to think like me because I think its bad. Because I thought the first one was bad, I will say this is bad as well, because I am ignorant."

I added that second part to explain it more.

If I hadn't done any research, I wouldn't have posted that. Most of the negative information I've gained from reviews is objective (as a comparison to the content of Dragon Age: Origins).

There are no races to choose from (The origins were one of the high points of the first one, in my opinion), there is no driving motive or central thread behind the narrative (which I should've seen coming as soon as Bioware strayed from the framework that they use for every single one of their games), Many skills and abilities have been removed or simplified, There is hardly any party inventory management, The tactical camera has been removed from the PC version, and party interaction (I.E. - Gift giving) has been stripped down.

Nearly every review I've read has been unanimous on these points, despite generally giving high scores. Since the first one also received unanimously high scores, I can deduce that these high scores don't mean gak based on my subpar experience with the first game.

I don't expect everyone to share my opinion, but I am giving an honest query as to why people would enjoy this game (given the fact that Bioware has stripped the series of many elements), because I am genuinely curious.

Nice paraphrasing. It seems like you're the only one who exhibits ignorance. There's no need to place words in my mouth; you can simply take my comment for exactly what it is.

Chrysaor686 wrote:...there is no driving motive or central thread behind the narrative...

If you haven't played the game, then how can you know this?

Is it possible that you're merely phrasing the opinions of others as fact? Because that's what it seems like you're doing.

Chrysaor686 wrote:
...(which I should've seen coming as soon as Bioware strayed from the framework that they use for every single one of their games), Many skills and abilities have been removed or simplified, There is hardly any party inventory management, The tactical camera has been removed from the PC version, and party interaction (I.E. - Gift giving) has been stripped down.

These are all factual statements, and the only sort of statements that should be treated as such.

Chrysaor686 wrote:
Nearly every review I've read has been unanimous on these points, despite generally giving high scores. Since the first one also received unanimously high scores, I can deduce that these high scores don't mean gak based on my subpar experience with the first game.

I don't expect everyone to share my opinion, but I am giving an honest query as to why people would enjoy this game (given the fact that Bioware has stripped the series of many elements), because I am genuinely curious.

You're basing your opinion on a flawed understanding of deduction. Simply because a particular pair of games received a particularly high series of scores does not indicate that the scores mean nothing, it merely indicates that they are not in agreement with your opinion (at least in one case, as you're not capable of forming a legitimate opinion on the other). Seeing as you're already tried to defend your earlier statements by clinging to that rationale, one would think this should have been obvious.

In any case, given that all the reviews you've read have apparently given the game high scores, then perhaps you should revisit them in order to find the answer to your question.

Chrysaor686 wrote:If I hadn't done any research, I wouldn't have posted that. Most of the negative information I've gained from reviews is objective (as a comparison to the content of Dragon Age: Origins).

There are no races to choose from (The origins were one of the high points of the first one, in my opinion), there is no driving motive or central thread behind the narrative (which I should've seen coming as soon as Bioware strayed from the framework that they use for every single one of their games), Many skills and abilities have been removed or simplified, There is hardly any party inventory management, The tactical camera has been removed from the PC version, and party interaction (I.E. - Gift giving) has been stripped down.

Nearly every review I've read has been unanimous on these points, despite generally giving high scores. Since the first one also received unanimously high scores, I can deduce that these high scores don't mean gak based on my subpar experience with the first game.

I don't expect everyone to share my opinion, but I am giving an honest query as to why people would enjoy this game (given the fact that Bioware has stripped the series of many elements), because I am genuinely curious.

Nice paraphrasing. It seems like you're the only one who exhibits ignorance. There's no need to place words in my mouth; you can simply take my comment for exactly what it is.

There is only one Origin because the main character is actually voiced, which is a huge improvement.

The driving motive changes as you play. At first it was to get out of Ferelden, then survive in Kirkwall, and so on (haven't been far enough yet).

Abilities have been improved. Many abilities have been added as well.

Inventory management matters that much to you? I don't really see how this is a point they should have focused on.

The camera is still fine, its not a big deal.

Gift giving, though, I am still figuring out. I don't think I've even found a gift yet, lol.

In general, I think the game was a vast improvement overall. Some minor aspects of the game suffered, yes, but are overshadowed by the improvements in graphics and character models.

Personally, I like the story better too. A much less restricted feel.

I really struggle to see where people are coming on board saying the abilities have been simplified and stripped! As a mage there are 9 trees of skills that I can go into, most with 10+ abilities/improvements that can be obtained in a single tree! That's 90+ abilities!!! The customization isn't gone by any means, it is just a new game with a slightly new presentation of skills and leveling.

As far as the story, I am more interested in this story than I was at any point in DA:O, DA:O was a good game, but I just knew what was going to happen with every turn. The voice acting is a vast improvement if you ask me, having the entire game acted is will make you (it has for me at least) get way more into the story, identify with the character, and care more.

You still have complete control of the camera. I am not sure where people are getting this complaint.

To Karon: There is still gift giving, but they did it in a different way. I found a piece of armor for Hawke's brother and gave it to him. It gave him a permanent armor upgrade and gave me a big rep boost (I think this is the new gifting system).

I pretty much never listen to reviewers, "official" ones anyway. I'd pay more attention to other gamers who rate stuff like how Gamespot shows their review score and then also how what all their users rate it.

IMO DA2 is a vast improvement over DAO. The difference in graphics to me is like night an day, gameplay is smooth and combat is fun.. and there's SO much more content, at least in this early stage of the game. I'm following along with the walkthrough in the hint book.. I'm still on page 1 after 2 nights. All these new side quests keep popping up left and right, and it's a lot easier to see what areas you need to get to for your quests.

If you're scared it will suck, download the demo. It takes you through the beginning of the prologue and another mission later on in life so you get to play as a high level character, low level and mid level. It's a good taste of what you'll get so it's prolly safe to say if you don't like the demo you won't like the rest of the game.

I'm mainly hoping the Chatting between your character and npc's will be more interesting now.

After playing both ME and ME2 before getting DA:O, I was mightily disappointed that your character did not actually talk.

It's made me stutter on the game, barely played DA:O, just gone back to playing ME a second time, and then probably ME2 again.

I am seriously considering getting DA 2 in the next month or so though.

I would say go for it!

It got ME2'ed big time. I thought DA:O was just OK and that ME2 was one of the best games I have ever played. I like DA2 much much much better than the original.

I love it so far -- and I am not a fan (at all) of DA:O. This game is truly a vast improvement.

As is my custom, I'm playing through the story missions with minimal attention to side quests on the first go. All I can say is that...

Is there any connection to the first game btw, as in can you import a save for bonus cash etc ala ME2?

You can import the events of DA:O so that the world knows of the major decisions you made, but Hawke is completely independant of the Grey Warden Champion of DA:O.

It is pretty neat how they decided to continue the stories in the DA universe. You are another guy responding and reacting to the events of the Archdemon's attack and his events post the Grey Warden saving the world.

I'm doing all the side quests that pop up, so I'm still barely even half way through act 1. So far I'm mostly using Aveline, Bethany as a healer & nuker and Merrin as a put everyone to sleep mage and me as a rogue, and my dog too. We tear through most fights without even breaking a sweat. I tried using Isabella instead of Merrin, but she pretty much just dies all the time, and I even gave her skills that reduce threat.

In the hint book it lists the gifts, they're like the gifts in DA:O but I think most don't show up till act 2. I forget. There aren't too many though, just 1 or 2 for each companion. You can buy armor upgrades for people at some shops, just check each shop you visit, they're under the gift section if they have anything. I need some help with Aveline, seems like she's always getting mad at me.

I wonder what kind of DLCs they have planned. I think I preferred ME2 where it adds new mission to the regular game, instead of DA:O where they had whole new add ons that take place afterwards.