Dragon Age 2 Incoming. - Part 1

[Drz]

Yeah, look at the comics forums here.

It's funny because it's true.

 

[El Bastardo]

Yes, yes, it is hard being so ridiculously awesome as I. (And Zevran!)

 

[Wolfwood]

Having finished the game, it's really interesting going back to the beginning of the game and hearing some of the foreshadowing done in ACT 1 that I didn't pay attention too before.

In particular I like

Spoiler

dragging Isabella to the Qunari compound. I love hearing her excuses for not going in. "I think I need a stiff one...and a drink."

 

[Soapy]

I got rid of her early on.

 

[Drz]

Also apparently the big patch should come sometime next week!

 

[Soapy]

Pinkie Pie!

 

[X Knight]

what is this patch I hear of??

is it for the consoles?

 

[Drz]

It's for PC and Consoles. It fixes issues from gameplay to story, consoles will finally receive the autoattack thing too.

 

[El Bastardo]

It's for PC and Consoles. It fixes issues from gameplay to story, consoles will finally receive the autoattack thing too.

But then no one can claim it's a button-masher!

 

[Drz]

Man you know what would rock? I've said this before but this game really could use a custom-origin maker because DAO just takes too long to finish to make rush-saves for DA2. Dragon Age Nexus now actually has full saves for DA2 but noone of the characters there intriqued me.

 

[Drz]

Official survey for DA2, answer it if you care: http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=ILLLOI_d4357690

Sauce: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/141/index/6936405

 

[El Bastardo]

Man you know what would rock? I've said this before but this game really could use a custom-origin maker because DAO just takes too long to finish to make rush-saves for DA2. Dragon Age Nexus now actually has full saves for DA2 but noone of the characters there intriqued me.

There's an editor somewhere that lets you set up full DAO saves for import into DA2. I've seen it talked about over on the BioWare forums.

 

[El Bastardo]

My answers:
1. Loved it, great game.
2. Misleading question, but yes, I would like to see DLC.
3. Enjoyed both DAO and DA2, both have their merits.
4. Preference goes to voiced character.
5. No preference to class or species selection.
6. Fine with either direction for the next game, assuming both are done well.
7. Fine with the changes made to elven appearance and voice - I liked them.
8. Liked the changes made to the Qunari.
9. Location interests: Orlais, Anderfels, Ferelden, Free Marches.

 

[Drz]

There's an editor somewhere that lets you set up full DAO saves for import into DA2. I've seen it talked about over on the BioWare forums.

Must find this! Also my survey answers we're kinda the same except i prefer the fact to choose species and i really just wanna see Tevinter Imperium right now, thats due to my demands/love for more Qunari.

 

[Benstamania]

I seriously hope they don't make the next character a mute again. I know there was a LOT of cry babying about a voiced character... I mean... if they want to put the option in to turn the voice off... fine, but don't bend on that.

1. Loved it, great game.
2. Agreed that the question was a bit misleading, but I answered yes.
3. Enjoyed both DAO and DA2 (Shocking! You can enjoy both!
4. Keep the character voiced!
5. No preference to class or species selection.
6. Cool with whatever they go with.
7. Elven looked great, less like pointy eared humans...
8. Liked the changes made to the Qunari.
9. Location interests: Orlais, Anderfels, Ferelden, Free Marches, Tevinter Imperium.

 

[Wolfwood]

I don't mind being forced to be a human, but I think if they went back to being able to choose your race, I'd loooove to be a bad ass Qunari warrior.

 

[Wolfwood]

I just noticed that after three playthroughs I still haven't unlocked the Epic Trophy (Beat the game twice or with a DA file). Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Benstamania]

Nope. I got it after my first playthrough. Weird.

 

[Drz]

Nope. I got it after my first playthrough. Weird.

That's because you imported a save game from DAO. =)

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/300/index/6993445&lf=8

CONSOLES:
- The options menu now includes auto-attack.
- Armor values now adjust correctly when changing shields.
- Choosing a target at close range is now easier.
- Cinematics are no longer distorted on certain standard-definition televisions.
- Hawke no longer gains excessive coin and experience from rapidly and repeatedly completing a single sidequest.
- Various technical changes should improve performance, limit crashes, and address memory-related issues.

PC & MAC:
- Various issues specific to DirectX 11 no longer occur.
- It is now easier to select party members by clicking on their portraits when the level-up arrow is displayed.
- The game now functions correctly across different desktop sizes.
- The video options menu now allows a wider full-screen gamma range.
- Various technical changes should improve performance and limit crashes.
- We’ve improved our crash reporting and our ability to analyze those reports. If you’re still experiencing crashes, we encourage you to play logged in so we can identify and resolve your issues in the future.

CONSOLES:
- The options menu now includes auto-attack.
- Armor values now adjust correctly when changing shields.
- Choosing a target at close range is now easier.
- Cinematics are no longer distorted on certain standard-definition televisions.
- Hawke no longer gains excessive coin and experience from rapidly and repeatedly completing a single sidequest.
- Various technical changes should improve performance, limit crashes, and address memory-related issues.

PC & MAC:
- Various issues specific to DirectX 11 no longer occur.
- It is now easier to select party members by clicking on their portraits when the level-up arrow is displayed.
- The game now functions correctly across different desktop sizes.
- The video options menu now allows a wider full-screen gamma range.
- Various technical changes should improve performance and limit crashes.
- We’ve improved our crash reporting and our ability to analyze those reports. If you’re still experiencing crashes, we encourage you to play logged in so we can identify and resolve your issues in the future.

This patch should address the bulk of the major issues that people are experiencing. We’re already hard at work on addressing further issues with our next patch and we’ll be setting up some specific threads in the various tech support forums to help capture any major issues that you’re still facing after these patches go live.

 

[Drz]

http://social.bioware.com/page/da2-patches

------------------------
Dragon Age II 1.02
------------------------

AMD and NVIDIA have recently released new graphics-card drivers. Using old
drivers may cause Dragon Age II to crash, run poorly, or display graphics
incorrectly. Please visit your hardware vendor's website for further
information on obtaining new drivers:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us
http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/Catalyst114earlypreview.aspx

NOTE: Some plot fixes are retroactive, but not all. Players with plot-breaking
bugs may need to revert to an earlier save, particularly a save prior to
visiting the affected area during the current year in the game.

GAMEPLAY
- The effects of various follower talents and item properties are now being
properly removed and re-applied when loading and saving.
- Anders's default set of tactics will now activate Haste when appropriate.
- Aveline's final armor upgrade is now available during "Favor and Fault."
- Aveline's Retaliation talent no longer imposes a delay when activated.
- The warrior's Rally talent now functions as described.
- The rogue's Lacerate talent now functions as described.
- Party members who are resurrected during a fight now rejoin combat properly.
- Hawke no longer gains random spells or talents after using the Maker's Sigh
potion, then saving and reloading.
- Potions, poisons, grenades, and runes can now still be ordered from the Hawke
estate after the main campaign is complete.
- Various minor gameplay issues no longer occur.

QUESTS (SPOILER WARNING)
- "Duty" will now appear on the Chanter's Board even if the player accepted
all of the board's quests before installing the Exiled Prince premium content.
- The journal for "Duty" will now update if the player left the Docks (Night)
area immediately after killing the Flint Company mercenaries.
- In "Finders Keepers," the door to Woodrow's Warehouse will now open if the
player steals the location to the warehouse from the harbormaster's office.
- In "Finders Keepers," if the player leaves Woodrow's Warehouse before finding
the crate, it is now possible to return to the warehouse to complete the quest.
- In "Herbalist's Tasks," the varterral's heart is now available even if
the player killed the varterral before receiving the quest.
- Merrill no longer refers to the aftermath of "A New Path" before the plot
has been completed.
- Varric is no longer confused about which character Hawke has been romancing.
- Various minor story-scripting issues no longer occur.

PC/MAC-SPECIFIC FUNCTIONALITY
- Varric's Embellishment talent no longer incorrectly refers to movement speed.
- It is now easier to select party members by clicking on their portraits when
the level-up arrow is displayed.
- The game now functions correctly if the Windows desktop is set to 150% size.
- The video options menu now allows a wider full-screen gamma range.
- Various issues specific to DirectX 11 no longer occur.
- Various technical changes should improve performance and limit crashes.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV97ozaD4vs

 

[Drz]

First DLC is class pack stuff, waiting on story DLC and more bug fix patches please!:
http://dragonage.bioware.com/da2/addon/

 

[iamlegend]

First DLC is class pack stuff, waiting on story DLC and more bug fix patches please!:
http://dragonage.bioware.com/da2/addon/

I feel like they'll work the DA2 DLC for quite awhile, so story stuff shouldn't be too far behind. I don't know that they'll try another expansion, but there's a lot they can do to follow up Hawke's tale (and I'm sure we'll get another "ending" DLC that "concludes" Hawke's story like Witch Hunt did for surviving Wardens).

They're kind of in that weird middle ground with continuing the series wholeheartedly - DA3 is probably a sure thing, but we're in that era of new console stirrings...

 

[Soapy]

From Nintendo. Microsoft and Sony probably won't have another console ready for another two to three years. Unless Nintendo's new thing turns out to be super popular like the Wii and starts to severely cut into their sales, then it might force their hands. Anyway, point is, there's still plenty of time for Bioware to put out a Dragon Age III, though after II I'm significantly less interested in any future games.

 

[iamlegend]

From Nintendo. Microsoft and Sony probably won't have another console ready for another two to three years. Unless Nintendo's new thing turns out to be super popular like the Wii and starts to severely cut into their sales, then it might force their hands. Anyway, point is, there's still plenty of time for Bioware to put out a Dragon Age III, though after II I'm significantly less interested in any future games.

We'll agree to disagree there, as I'm still quite interested in where the story and world are going. I didn't enjoy DA2 as much as DA, but I was still thoroughly entertained.

That said, they haven't made any progress on a DA3 (which hasn't even been announced, by their own admission), and even if it was a rush job like DA2 there's at least a decent chance it'd be looking at an arrival time at the very, very end of the current gen.

I expect to see a DA3 sneak out before PS3 and 360 are shelved, but I was just pointing out that it's definitely in the grey area.