Dragon Age 2 Incoming. - Part 1

[Upset Spideyfan]

Hah, the elf gigolo in the Blooming Rose is voiced by Shepard!

 

[Benstamania]

LOL! That was me when I was playing as Mage... Thankfully I had my preorder "call my dog spell" that brought forth my trusty war hound to bite his heels, lol. I just got past this part again with my Rogue and I'd wait for him to do those charges and then cut the crap out of him. Long battle.

Hopefully it's not as crazy with warrior.

 

[El Bastardo]

I stuck him in a gravity well and then kept pew-pewing him in the face. Upgraded Hex Torment + 2000 Winter's Grasp makes for a short battle, hee.

It looks like the Finding Nathaniel quest might be dependent on whether you've done the Fool's Gold quest in Act 2 - as in doing Fool's Gold prevents Finding Nathaniel from popping up in Act 3. I'll be doing a test with my new playthrough, but it'll be some days before I have an answer.

For anyone with DA2 on the PC, Sunnie has been pumping out some really neat mods, and did an entire item pack based on my recommendations. Also, to avoid the Isabela/Sebastian friendship bugs, I just came across a mod on Dragon Age Nexus that mods their friendship bonuses so they don't affect Hawke. It won't fix any character affected currently, but will prevent it from happening on new characters.

 

[iamlegend]

LOL! That was me when I was playing as Mage... Thankfully I had my preorder "call my dog spell" that brought forth my trusty war hound to bite his heels, lol. I just got past this part again with my Rogue and I'd wait for him to do those charges and then cut the crap out of him. Long battle.

Hopefully it's not as crazy with warrior.

Warrior is supposedly the most difficult of the three, if only because you have to get so close to him to do damage (and have none of the Rogue's nifty little talents). My first play through was warrior, and it took me ages to bring the beast down.

I'm almost through with Act I in my second go through (this time as a Mage), and I'm actually really, really impressed. I'm typically a warrior class in any RPG I play (I've got this thing for just wanting to gear up and charge right at the horde of whatever's attacking me), so I didn't think the Mage class would thrill me... But I've been having a great time with it so far. A lot more enjoyable than playing a mage in Origins.

 

[El Bastardo]

Go Blood Mage and never look back.

 

[Benstamania]

Based on my Mage vs Rogue play through I'd say Mage was more fun. I mean, the crazy amounts of damage you can do is nuts.

 

[iamlegend]

Go Blood Mage and never look back.

So far I've mainly looked at Force Mage stuff... Blood may be the next specialization.

My only complaint about being a mage is that so many of the robes you're stuck wearing while you basically wait around for the signature Champion gear look... well, downright goofy.

 

[Benstamania]

Yeah, there's a pirate mage robe or whatever you get that's THE best one (stats and looks) you get until you get the champion gear.

 

[El Bastardo]

Actually, THE best is sold at the Black Emporium in Act 2 or 3 for a ton of gold.

I gave myself evolving Champion gear.

Also, by stacking some Blood Mage gear, the amount of "mana" you can have is amazing.

 

[Benstamania]

Wait... wha!? The Black Emporium gets new stuffs?!

 

[El Bastardo]

Yep, in both Act 2 and Act 3. There's also the guy up in the Wounded Coast who sells crap in Act 2 and Act 3, and then there's the Nexus Golem in the cave off of Sundermount where you find one of the tomes who sells stuff in Act 2 and Act 3.

 

[Drz]

So i heard Fenris/Isabela/Varric party has tons of good humour, but is this setup really worth it? I guess i sucked at Melee Rogue Isabela on my 1st playthru since she's a defensive duelist, but i rather wanted to give Merril/Varric/Fenris run a try. Playing a Mage!

 

[Benstamania]

Fenris is an absolute PRICK to Merril. Seriously.

 

[Wolfwood]

So is Anders. I think Varric is the only guy who doesn't crap all over Merril.

 

[Wolfwood]

Spoiler

Yup, that's pretty much how my playthrough went. Can't wait to try it out with my rogue.

I beat the game with my mage and wow, what an epic final battle.

Spoiler

I loved how people were showing up to help fight Meredith, like Donnic and Zevran. I wonder if Zevran had just been stalking me throughout the game, waiting to help me. Kinda creepy.

For my Rogue playthrough, I'm going lesbian with Isabella and rolling with Bethany, Aveline and Isabella. I kinda feel like we're Charlies Angels and Varric is Bosely.

 

[Benstamania]

Yeah, I think you're right... well, other than my Hawke.

I think it's funny that Aveline treats her as if she's a child due to Merril being so spacey.. lol.

 

[Wolfwood]

Yeah, I think you're right... well, other than my Hawke.

I think it's funny that Aveline treats her as if she's a child due to Merril being so spacey.. lol.

Haha, I think I *****ed her out quite a bit with my Gay Hawke. Damn Blood Mage, ruining it for the rest of us.

 

[Wolfwood]

The one thing though that I do feel a bit disappointed about is how the conversations and interactions with your crew are limited to when they have a quest. I hate how they talk about hanging out, playing cards and drinking and I'm like "WTF, you guy didn't invite me?" It'd be awesome if you could go to the Hangman and see Isabella and Varric sitting at a table and choose to join them, then be able to talk to them and ask them questions. Or maybe a card game in which you can invite other party members to come play with you and it'll start some banter.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/2978-Dragon-Age-II

 

[Wolfwood]

Yeah, I think you're right... well, other than my Hawke.

I think it's funny that Aveline treats her as if she's a child due to Merril being so spacey.. lol.

I was reading through some Bioware forum posts and I was reminded that Anders probably had one of the most brutal lines to Merril

Spoiler

When Merril is on her quest to fix the mirror and you have to kill the Dalish Keeper because of the demon inside of her, Anders turns to Merril and says "That is the noblest thing I have ever seen anyone do. The world is poorer with her out of it... and you still in it."

I didn't even like Merril and I was like Daaaaamn Anders!

 

[Benstamania]

I don't care for Anders in this game AT ALL. I may go back to an earlier save from my Mage quest and put him down for pretty much being a terrorist.

 

[Wolfwood]

I don't care for Anders in this game AT ALL. I may go back to an earlier save from my Mage quest and put him down for pretty much being a terrorist.

Spoiler

When they gave me the option to kill him, I gladly took it. But then he said something about "Good, now I'll be a Martyr!" And it was like "Damn it Anders, you're spoiling the moment!" I wish I could've made him a Tranquil.

 

[Benstamania]

Curses!

Meh, I'll still do it.

 

[Drz]

Regarding Anders:

Spoiler

If you have him on full rivalry (and only if full rivalry) you can convince him he's wrong and make him help you fight againts the Mages.

 

[Wolfwood]

Really? On full rivalry? That's weird, you think it would be full friendship.