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I HAVE THIS GAME FINALLY after years of waiting. Cept now I have exams, so its stored in the dank dark shadows of by closet until then.

No multiplayer? Wonderful!

I've played about 16 hours so far. My thoughts:

1. I really recommend playing on Normal. I'm playing on Hard and it's frustrating. Virtually every battle results in my party getting wiped out. Even things like random encounters when traveling. Sometimes I'll get lucky and it's just a few spiders, other times it's a group of 6-7 darkspawn and even my tanks (Sten & Alistair) go down hard. It's especially jarring after recently playing Mass Effect (really easy) or being accustomed to KOTOR/KOTOR2 where a Sith Lord can win most battles in seconds by simply casting Force Storm twice. Boss battles are a real chore. I fought the Whitefang battle (Brecelian Forest) at least a dozen times today before I quit in frustration (which is why I'm here posting instead of playing).

2. Character specialization and party diversity are essential. I have no one who can heal my party, and having my fighters stop to drink potions only delays their deaths for another 15 seconds or so. In BG2, you could run a larger party, and found diverse characters rather quickly (IMO), so you always had each role covered. In DAO your party is small, and you gain little from leveling. Each character's levels must be carefully planned. Picked a sub-optimum spell @ level 4? You'll probably realize it @ level 7 when you're getting your teeth kicked in.

3. Whenever you can afford a backpack, buy it. You'll accumulate lots of trinkets that you don't want to sell. Unlike in BG2, you don't have a nice castle where you can store stuff.

4. Get your mages ranged area of effect spells ASAP. You are almost always greatly outnumbered, against opponents that are a match for your characters 1:1. see #2


I've been really enjoying the game though, I'm just a bit frustrated right now. I think yesterday I played from 0900hrs to 0130hrs this morning. I'm thinking of starting a new character, just not sure if I want to play on Hard again or Normal...

Noble713 wrote:
3. Whenever you can afford a backpack, buy it. You'll accumulate lots of trinkets that you don't want to sell. Unlike in BG2, you don't have a nice castle where you can store stuff.

You can buy a castle for $7 via DLC, or 'free' with the CE. No idea how far into the game you have to be in order to actually acquire it (its a quest reward).

I gotta say, the fact that launch DLC requires an extra investment annoys me. Though I'll probably buy it anyway.

I'd pretty much agree with Noble's assessment except for I'd recommend playing it on hard. It's definitely harder than Mass Effect or KotOR but normal is way too easy.

dogma wrote:

Noble713 wrote:
3. Whenever you can afford a backpack, buy it. You'll accumulate lots of trinkets that you don't want to sell. Unlike in BG2, you don't have a nice castle where you can store stuff.

You can buy a castle for $7 via DLC, or 'free' with the CE. No idea how far into the game you have to be in order to actually acquire it (its a quest reward).

I gotta say, the fact that launch DLC requires an extra investment annoys me. Though I'll probably buy it anyway.

I had not heard about the microtrasnactions yet. This somewhat sours me on the game a bit.

Just found this on Youtube. I really want this game, but I don't want every game session to start out with a hunt for the latest patch.

Ok, put about 20 hours into a second character. Like the first, I'm playing as a Mage on Hard. This time, however, it is MUCH easier.

I made a beeline for Fireball, getting it at Lvl 3 just when I started the Korcari Wilds. It's been a godsend. Now my mage dishes out so much damage that very few fights are nail-biters. My basic tactic is:

Fireball (damage + knockdown)
Earthquake (repeated knockdowns keep them from approaching)
Petrify (toughest target)
Stonefist (to shatter petrified target)

The rest of the party mops up. I still crap my pants whenever I encounter a Revenant though...

Now the only other frustration is having two Rogues, both of which suck at unlocking chests. One is understandable, being an assassin with no skill points in lockpicking, but the other has 3 levels of lockpicking and feels like she STILL can't open half of the chests I encounter. It's pretty much the only reason why I bring her along and she can't even do her job properly....

I have now spent approximately 38% of the past 4 days playing DAO. Nothing like sitting around waiting to receive orders so you can start working...

I got a chance to play this at a mates house, and I have to say, it's actually very good.

However, I won't be buying it because of the forced DLC purchases to make the game enjoyable. I mean, you have to pay extra for launch DLC?

No thanks.

Oh just a friendly warning, turns out if you get the bonus items (like the luck stone etc) and start a game as


Yay for bioware gypping you out of stuff you paid for!

Noble713 wrote:Ok, put about 20 hours into a second character. Like the first, I'm playing as a Mage on Hard. This time, however, it is MUCH easier.

I made a beeline for Fireball, getting it at Lvl 3 just when I started the Korcari Wilds. It's been a godsend. Now my mage dishes out so much damage that very few fights are nail-biters. My basic tactic is:

Fireball (damage + knockdown)
Earthquake (repeated knockdowns keep them from approaching)
Petrify (toughest target)
Stonefist (to shatter petrified target)

The rest of the party mops up. I still crap my pants whenever I encounter a Revenant though...

Now the only other frustration is having two Rogues, both of which suck at unlocking chests. One is understandable, being an assassin with no skill points in lockpicking, but the other has 3 levels of lockpicking and feels like she STILL can't open half of the chests I encounter. It's pretty much the only reason why I bring her along and she can't even do her job properly....

I have now spent approximately 38% of the past 4 days playing DAO. Nothing like sitting around waiting to receive orders so you can start working...

Been playing through this. As normal, I'm playing my first run through as a tank (Human noble sword&shield fighter). The game is definately harder than the more recent rpg fluff fests, and I think one of the keys is the order you visit the towns. I went to Brecilian forest after leaving the wilds first, and struggeled significantly through the game. Then did Redcliff, picked up a rogue there, and then trotted off to the circle of mages where, gods be praised, I found a healer. The game is much easier now, which is not to say I don't have a character drop every now and then, even in massive armor and shield expertise with shield wall up, there are times my main character is getting his face smashed in by physical damage.

Ahtman wrote:
I had not heard about the microtrasnactions yet. This somewhat sours me on the game a bit.

Having played for a bit I think its worth adding that these microtransactions are advertised in game. Basically, you can talk to the quest-giver and there will be a dialogue option which allows you to purchase the content.

dogma wrote:

Ahtman wrote:I had not heard about the microtrasnactions yet. This somewhat sours me on the game a bit.

Having played for a bit I think its worth adding that these microtransactions are advertised in game. Basically, you can talk to the quest-giver and there will be a dialogue option which allows you to purchase the content.

Wow, that is just shameful...

Yeah, the game is kind of pissing me off. The gameplay has been fairly mediocre so far (completed first part of Redcliffe and the Circle quest) and the writing isn't up to Bioware's standards. The Dwarf noble beginning has been the only one that I think is very compelling. I don't see why a game can't have a decent level of difficulty and be a fluff fest. This game is doing neither.

I'm okay with it.

It's better than the way they did it for Mass Effect(constantly check for content, then buy it and have to either A) start a new game just to play it or B) play it on a completed save and end up having to deal with content far below your level or so far above you that it's frustrated).

I don't really see how they can win with these microtransactions though. They can't just sneak them in on you.

But they have to let you know the content is there, somehow.

But man, I'm having a blast just fooling around in the first few levels. My Rogue has Improved Stealth and Improved Trap Making, and I must say...
Luring zombies in Castle Redcliff by making them walk over Large Shrapnel Traps and Large Caltrop?

EXPLODING ZOMBIES! Woohoo!

The first character I started up was a sword-and-board warrior. Then I realized that your first real NPC is a sword-and-board dude, and that you can pick up another warrior within the first couple hours of play. Re-rolled as a rogue set up to become an assassin/duelist. The backstab has been invaluable when combined with the warrior's taunt talents.

Gwar! wrote:I got a chance to play this at a mates house, and I have to say, it's actually very good.

However, I won't be buying it because of the forced DLC purchases to make the game enjoyable. I mean, you have to pay extra for launch DLC?

No thanks.

Aye, I can dig that.

Hell one of the reasons I've played Sims 3 only a few times is I'm still ticked off about the ammount of stuff they had the cheek to put in the 'store' on day one.


Still pondering on this game, I might pick it up, but I'm hearing bad things about the 360 version, and I never buy PC games unless its a MMO.

Save your money for ME2. I have a feeling that DA does not indicate anything about ME2's quality. DA feels more like the last dregs of ME1.

ME was useless too!

But I found the story compelling at least.

Gwar! wrote:However, I won't be buying it because of the forced DLC purchases to make the game enjoyable. I mean, you have to pay extra for launch DLC?

If you buy it new, it includes one of the DLCs, and the missing one is $7. Some bonus items you can still get for free from Journeys.

Buying the CE gives you both but costs $10 more.

I am still having a blast, playing as an elven mage - the hardest part was unlocking Spirit Healer so I need no other mage in the party.
The dialogue still makes me laugh.

You only get both in the electronic CE. The physical CE comes with a metal case, and cloth map.

Ah. I did not get either, a friend got the E-CE and was talking about it.

Interesting.

I still think it is easily worth it.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/11/6/

I still can't believe the quests are labeled 'premium content' in the journal.

So, unexpectedly I ran into a dragon.

Protip:
Assassin+Assassin+Mage+Templar != the best combination for fighting a dragon.

But two Marked for Deaths does make up for it.
As does my Assassin's shiny new drakeskin cap. And drakeskin armor.

Bwhahaha, that's right. I made clothes from you dragon! AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!

dogma wrote:Having played for a bit I think its worth adding that these microtransactions are advertised in game. Basically, you can talk to the quest-giver and there will be a dialogue option which allows you to purchase the content.

Yeah, I didn't like the idea of being charged for DLC available at launch, but I figured I paid for the main game, I'll play that and then look at the DLC afterwards. Then a fellow starts talking to me about how I can go on a quest for this and that, if I download this new content. That's gone way past the limit.

I am really enjoying the game, though. It's a decent little tactical system, and there are some challenging fights. I've enjoyed the story too, as well as the interplay between the characters.

But there's no way I'll pay for any DLC after that effort.

I might give this a look as a break from my usual games... though I already have Viva Piniata* for that



* Which I bought for my wife... or did I? [bwahaha]

sebster wrote:I've enjoyed the story too, as well as the interplay between the characters.

I like most of the characters, though a couple are disappointing thus far. One in particular is selfish to the point being a detriment to her own well-being. I'm sure that's the point of character, particularly when laid against another early companion, but it still annoys me.

I can see downsides to it, but so far it is the only game that's that I've played for 9 hours straight in a very long time. I personally find it more compelling than either Oblivion or Fallout 3.

I don't like the idea of microtransactions, and especially don't like that they are labeled as 'premium content' IN GAME, but otherwise I get a little chubby every time I play so far.