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Dragon Age III: InquisitionFollow

#427 Dec 10 2014 at 6:11 PM Rating: Excellent
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Speaking of, when you go through the elf ruins (spoiler alert! There's elf ruins!) and can either go the short way chasing after some dudes or go the long way with some song & dance to make the ancient elf spirits happy or some crap, did anyone take the short route? Because I'm sorely tempted to this time around and avoid the "light up the dance floor" game.
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#428 Dec 10 2014 at 6:43 PM Rating: Good
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Jophiel wrote:
Speaking of, when you go through the elf ruins (spoiler alert! There's elf ruins!) and can either go the short way chasing after some dudes or go the long way with some song & dance to make the ancient elf spirits happy or some crap, did anyone take the short route? Because I'm sorely tempted to this time around and avoid the "light up the dance floor" game.

"Dance Dance: Inquisition"?
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#429 Dec 10 2014 at 7:06 PM Rating: Good
I plan on going the short route and Having someone else drink from the primordial soup. If not me someone else if possible. I have a feeling Solas or Vivienne would volunteer!
#430 Dec 10 2014 at 9:04 PM Rating: Good
Short route after the second floor lights thing annoyed me. Said "Welp through the floor, off we go lads" Made Solas a bit grumpy that. Go figure.

I let Morrigan get her drink on. *Gave her the ability to turn into a dragon and fight the lyrium dragon last fight. Pointless from a tactical perspective but looked cool.

*Yay hotfix fixed my shine.

Edited, Dec 10th 2014 7:10pm by Shojindo
#431 Dec 11 2014 at 7:20 AM Rating: Excellent
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Laxedrane wrote:
I am surprised that no one brought up whatever spirit came out of the well and into the eluvian after your hero and morrigan but before our main baddy can get to it. The crap is that thing? Maybe the third spirit in our little story?

From what I've read, it is Flemeth's model, but younger, wetter, nuder, and blonder. So... Mythal. Which sorta makes sense, as the Well of Sorrows invokes her "curse"
#432 Dec 11 2014 at 2:25 PM Rating: Good
Quote:
younger, wetter, nuder, and blonder
How the hell did I miss that?

I had fun siding with the mages instead of the templars last night. Interesting concept to their side of the story. I also unlocked KE at level 9 on my mage. Not sure I see all the fuss, it probably get stronger later. I know they nerfed the combo detonators but still I was expecting more oomph. With a t2 crafted staff I'm still only hitting for 300-400 a swipe with Spiritblade. It's kind of high for level 9-10 but not that crazy.

Also my barrier decays pretty fast if I don't have a group to swing at. In fact I got tired of being party barrier b*tch so I swapped out Bull for Dorian and set him to priority barrier. Also I was having too many melee up front with Bull, tank, and KE.

I miss the dash strike from my War. Fade step is spiffy but it does not know when I want to stop and stab as easy. I do however like playing a toon that can effortlessly swap from melee swinging a giant spirit sword to ranged staff/casting an annoying wisp left on the other side of the rift without moving.

*edit to say guard seems more OP than barrier to me. Since it keeps building and does not decay. I imagine you could make a 2h warrior that hits as hard as a KE but instead uses shouts to regen guard while dishing it out.



Edited, Dec 11th 2014 12:44pm by Shojindo
#433 Dec 11 2014 at 4:58 PM Rating: Decent
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It's not that KE does stupid high damage, though it does respectable numbers (especially when paired with a Champion using To the Death), it's that a KE is damn near unkillable.
#434 Dec 11 2014 at 6:07 PM Rating: Good
Shojindo wrote:
Quote:
younger, wetter, nuder, and blonder
How the **** did I miss that?

I had fun siding with the mages instead of the templars last night. Interesting concept to their side of the story. I also unlocked KE at level 9 on my mage. Not sure I see all the fuss, it probably get stronger later. I know they nerfed the combo detonators but still I was expecting more oomph. With a t2 crafted staff I'm still only hitting for 300-400 a swipe with Spiritblade. It's kind of high for level 9-10 but not that crazy.

Also my barrier decays pretty fast if I don't have a group to swing at. In fact I got tired of being party barrier b*tch so I swapped out Bull for Dorian and set him to priority barrier. Also I was having too many melee up front with Bull, tank, and KE.

I miss the dash strike from my War. Fade step is spiffy but it does not know when I want to stop and stab as easy. I do however like playing a toon that can effortlessly swap from melee swinging a giant spirit sword to ranged staff/casting an annoying wisp left on the other side of the rift without moving.

*edit to say guard seems more OP than barrier to me. Since it keeps building and does not decay. I imagine you could make a 2h warrior that hits as hard as a KE but instead uses shouts to regen guard while dishing it out.



Edited, Dec 11th 2014 12:44pm by Shojindo



When you get the passive later on in the tree that recovers the barrier based on the damage you deal. What the description DOESN'T say is that if you have no barrier dealing any damage will give you whatever damage you did in barrier irregardless. If you stack that with other buffs like decay decreases in the tree and especially buffs from the spirit tree. You have a mage that nearly impossible to kill.

The spirit blade deals decent damage on it's own can be spammed way too easily, deflects projectiles and for some reason SHREDS armor and barriers. The fade ability can be used both defensively and offensively.

The only draw back I would say is that it requires a lot of work to deal as much damage as any other specialization so if your not controlling your KE it will suffer to other mages damage when controlled by AI.

also edit: All I saw was a blue ghost how the heck did anyone notice what she look liked?

Edited, Dec 11th 2014 7:09pm by Laxedrane
#435 Dec 11 2014 at 7:24 PM Rating: Good
Yeah I have all those passives for shield rate decay, increased shield , 30% damage etc. I'm telling you guard is still flat out better. My champ soloed the crestwood dragon on level and was never in any real danger. With to the death I hit some 7k shield bash combos towards the end of the game.

I'm just amused that everyone got all crazy for KE and honestly I think champs or even just SnB + Vanguard are equally strong.

I'll probably eat those words once I get to level 15+ and my KE starts going crazy though. I'm setting myself up aren't I? Smiley: nod

I need some guard on hit for my KE with guard + barrier I think things could get spiffy. I never bothered to craft much of that first run. I'm going to try and really break things more on this one for shiggles.
#436 Dec 11 2014 at 10:13 PM Rating: Good
Shojindo wrote:
Yeah I have all those passives for shield rate decay, increased shield , 30% damage etc. I'm telling you guard is still flat out better. My champ soloed the crestwood dragon on level and was never in any real danger. With to the death I hit some 7k shield bash combos towards the end of the game.

I'm just amused that everyone got all crazy for KE and honestly I think champs or even just SnB + Vanguard are equally strong.

I'll probably eat those words once I get to level 15+ and my KE starts going crazy though. I'm setting myself up aren't I? Smiley: nod

I need some guard on hit for my KE with guard + barrier I think things could get spiffy. I never bothered to craft much of that first run. I'm going to try and really break things more on this one for shiggles.



I can't say for sure how they compared because I haven't used Champion as much as other's have. The only OP thing I say other than you can't really kill the nug lovers unless things go horrible wrong which you can argue one way or another if it's too op. Is that they can literally rip off armor and barriers. Your damage at least doubles against someone foolish enough to put up defenses like that.
#437 Dec 12 2014 at 6:04 AM Rating: Excellent
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Yeah, my KE never hit like a truck, but he also never died (ok, he died once when I was stunlocked, didn't have guard, and was late with a barrier). I think a well-played SnB warrior probably survives just as well. In most boss fights it would end up being me and Blackwall left at the end; him usually in worse shape.

Ke gets stronger defensively when you take some of Spirit's abilities that boost barrier (Strength of Spirits and Rejuvenating Barrier) and stronger offensively when you take some Inferno abilities (Fire Mine/Searing Glyph, Clean Burn, Flash Point, and especially Chaotic Focus. Immolate for filler/AoE). Also, if you craft a masterwork with +Guard on hit, you can get a fully guarded mage.

But you never do a ton of damage. I think the highest my mage would pop off would be about 4.5k with Fire Mine. Most of my lightsaber swings would be about 600 damage at the end game, maybe a bit more. Veiled Blast would add a few thousand every few seconds.

The only thing I haven't learned for sure about Guard is the maximum value. I recall reading it's normally only 200 at its normal highest. While that means it is 200 with your defensive stats backing it up (unlike barrier), that's still not much.
#438 Dec 13 2014 at 4:18 PM Rating: Good
I thought the prom might suck less the second time around. I'm patient now I know what's what and I am in no hurry. Plus I kind of know where to go and such.

It still sucks. I did finish with 92% approval this time as I was determined to beat their game rather than send two fingers to the face. It still sucked.
#439 Dec 13 2014 at 6:19 PM Rating: Good
Dorian is ******* awesome. Glad I got to know him and his personal quest on this second run.
#440 Dec 13 2014 at 11:27 PM Rating: Excellent
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Couple technical/mechanics questions:

Do skills work outside their respective weapon group? For instance, does Bloodied Prey (+10% Damage to opponent with lower health than you) from the Dagger tree work if you're using a bow?

Do +Effect rings stack? Is there a benefit to wearing two +Parry Rings?

Do +Effect rings work with procs? For example, does a ring of +30% Duration for War Horn work with a shield that procs War Horn?
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#441 Dec 14 2014 at 8:38 AM Rating: Good
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I've been working on the assumption that passives are universal unless stated otherwise. Mage ones definitely specify if they apply only for one element.

And I figure they'd largely HAVE to be universal, just because of the sheer number of points you get vs. the limited ability slot options and weapon specialization.
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#442 Dec 14 2014 at 8:38 AM Rating: Good
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I've been working on the assumption that passives are universal unless stated otherwise. Mage ones definitely specify if they apply only for one element.

And I figure they'd largely HAVE to be universal, just because of the sheer number of points you get vs. the limited ability slot options and weapon specialization.
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#443 Dec 14 2014 at 1:49 PM Rating: Good
Jophiel wrote:
Couple technical/mechanics questions:

Do skills work outside their respective weapon group? For instance, does Bloodied Prey (+10% Damage to opponent with lower health than you) from the Dagger tree work if you're using a bow?

Do +Effect rings stack? Is there a benefit to wearing two +Parry Rings?

Do +Effect rings work with procs? For example, does a ring of +30% Duration for War Horn work with a shield that procs War Horn?


Good questions. I don't know the answer but good questions. I've been letting Sera autolevel on a whim while controlling everyone else skills. She picked up some stealth attacks and seems to be able to use them even with a bow. I have seen her zip in and strike as if melee. So my assumption is that they work outside of respective weapons groups.

A large portion of the accessories don't even work. Like they add nothing to nothing. No idea if they stack or proc.
#444 Dec 14 2014 at 2:43 PM Rating: Good
Despite what I said about relative power KE is really a lot of fun. Also Locke was right Fire Mine freakin rocks. Luvs it. Also Lax was right it seems to hit way harder on armor or barriers, that's when I get to enjoy my BNS (Big number syndrome).

Level 15 now on the KE and just enjoying the ride.

*edit right after I posted this I hit a 7k fire mine on one of those annoying ice beam teleport away non stop fade rift guys. He dead. Smiley: nod

Edited, Dec 14th 2014 12:46pm by Shojindo
#445 Dec 14 2014 at 3:38 PM Rating: Excellent
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My second run is on a female elf rogue on Nightmare. It's definitely tougher than my last run (which was on Normal), but not impossibly so. The main difference is that I can't take on enemies 3+ levels than me, and Terror demons are even worse when they come in groups.

However, I decided to break this run with some glitches specifically, the item duplication glitch. If you open a chest with multiple items and leave at least one, exiting and reentering the zone will refill/reroll the chest. For random chests this means you can farm schematics or weapons; for static chests, this means finding as many Amulets of Power as you want. The trick is knowing which chests are worth it; the vault in Valammar (in the Hinterlands) has a chest with an Amulet of Power for Varric, and another chest that has tier 3 items/schematics. Later on, once you find enough shards to unlock the entire Cold path through the shard temple, the last treasure room contains a chest with an Inquisitor Amulet of Power and another chest with tier 3 items. This means you can get tier 3 items before Skyhold... but your choice of materials is quite limited. Paragon's Luster can be found in some places of the Hidden Oasis, and Obsidian can be found in the dragon area of the Hinterlands; both are tier 2 metals. And bears in the Hinterlands drop tier 2 leather bear hides. That's the best I've found outside of random drops..

This has resulted in me taking 25 hours to get to Skyhold (well, to the attack on Haven so far), but unlike my last run where it took the same amount of time, now I am decked out with mostly tier 3 schematics, and my main character has every rogue ability in the game. And I have 70,000 gold. Yeah, pretty ridiculous Smiley: laugh

I'm still getting the hang of my rogue; especially combining the archery part with the subterfuge parts. My abilities line-up is:

Long Shot
Explosive Shot
Full Draw
Leaping Shot
Poisoned Weapons
Stealth
Evade
Shadowstrike

Shadowstrike works with a bow, but requires you to be in melee range; I decided it would be better than, say, knockout-powder. Though that may change if I take another mage (currently using Cass, Sera, and Solas) so I can proc some Nightmares. My rogue definitely hits harder than my mage, but I feel very squishy; I'm probably tied with Sera for most deaths so far. So... any other tips before I pick up Tempest and continue on my merry way breaking the game?
#446 Dec 14 2014 at 3:38 PM Rating: Excellent
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If Sera is autoleveling, she's probably using Shadow Strike or Quick Blade from the subterfuge tree and that's what you're seeing rather than her using skills from the Double Daggers tree.

Rogues are indeed pretty squishy, especially since you lack both Guard or Barrier (unless cast on you of course) but with the right playing and decent warriors, you shouldn't be getting hit that much. I have Cassandra and Blackwall both heavily invested in guard/taunt skills even over the attacks and just let them take the hits while I happily Twin Fangs/Flank Attack 'em down. A +Heal On Kill ring helps top off what hits I do take. I haven't used Iron Bull much at all this time. Maybe I'll trying switching him in for a ranged DPS class but I have a feeling he'll take more hits than he'll be worth.

I haven't glitched anything but the game is considerably easier the second time around just through experience. Knowing where to find Tier 2 metals at level five and stuff like that.

Edited, Dec 14th 2014 3:50pm by Jophiel
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#447 Dec 14 2014 at 4:27 PM Rating: Good
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I haven't crafted at all, beyond parts for Varric, really. I should probably pay some more attention to that.

I'm just now getting the mission to the arbor woods or whatever it's called. I think I'm level... 19? At least 18.

This game is infuriatingly large. I know I still have a lot to see, and I don't want to just... leave it.
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#448 Dec 14 2014 at 4:53 PM Rating: Excellent
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It would be nicer if the game was better balanced against its size. For instance, yeah I know the whole "Leave the Hinterlands!" thing and having played through it I know that much of it isn't essential. But, all those dumb little quests are what earns you influence for the Inquisition Perks. Want Deft Hands, Fine Tools sometime before level 17? Then you'd better be delivering flowers and finding lost wedding rings and telling people their girlfriend died. But in the process of that, you find yourself at level 12 and still doing pre-Skyhold stuff. The game is frontloaded with a ton of content. I've actually skipped the +XP perks just because I don't want to outlevel the game so much this time.
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Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#449 Dec 14 2014 at 6:31 PM Rating: Good
Jophiel wrote:
It would be nicer if the game was better balanced against its size. For instance, yeah I know the whole "Leave the Hinterlands!" thing and having played through it I know that much of it isn't essential. But, all those dumb little quests are what earns you influence for the Inquisition Perks. Want Deft Hands, Fine Tools sometime before level 17? Then you'd better be delivering flowers and finding lost wedding rings and telling people their girlfriend died. But in the process of that, you find yourself at level 12 and still doing pre-Skyhold stuff. The game is frontloaded with a ton of content. I've actually skipped the +XP perks just because I don't want to outlevel the game so much this time.


Well everyone complains about having to much money. Why not just go the shop that literally sells your power for perks.

Edit: also I really like to know where all the Agents are becuase on my second play through I think I already found 2 or 3 I missed the first time round hahaha. I never could find much for poor Liliana though.

Edited, Dec 14th 2014 7:32pm by Laxedrane
#450 Dec 14 2014 at 7:44 PM Rating: Excellent
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I really hate my Starfleet pajamas when I'm in Skyhold. I look about one gorillion times cooler in my armor, people.
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#451 Dec 14 2014 at 9:21 PM Rating: Good
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Yeah, that's very true. And there's really no mechanism to even encourage you to move the main story forward.

I feel like I'm in the minority, but I'm actually really disappointed in the game so far. Which isn't to say I'm not enjoying it, but I'm not enjoying it nearly as much as I should.

A bunch of complaints below. SHOCKINGLY most of them center on writing, or content delivery systems. Though there's a special place of hatred in my heart for the freaking tactical camera.

I'm so freaking annoyed that they decided to use such lazy writing as including the archdemon. It's ******* awful, and I'm so disappointed in them.

They also fall prey to the horrible "YOU'RE A HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" sinkhole that made me hate WoW: Cataclysm so much. It's NOT interesting to be lauded all the time. That makes everything feel stale - you lose the context to evaluate your successes. In DAO, your successes were tempered by how horrible the situation was, and the gratitude extended to you was actually sort of linked to how much energy, desire, and time people had to express it. And people weren't falling over themselves to tell you how great you were. They acknowledged your successes, and your failings, and how much more ****** stuff was left to handle (or couldn't be handled). But that actually helped create a benchmark between ****** state A, *********** state B, and **************** state C.

I hate that the approval system was so reduced (particularly away from the friendship/rivalry system). And even worse, I hate that there are so few approval triggers, and that those almost completely depend on final quest decisions, with nearly no regard to your personalities or how you get along (though some companions remedy that a bit in their personal conversations, though out in the field its still pathetic).

I HATE the effect of the dialogue wheel. Essentially every conversation is so formulaic - you select the "?" options until you run out of questions, and then you give a value judgement. That makes every conversation feel forced, and it keeps me from feeling like any of the companions actually have any kind of personal connection to the Inquisitor.

In DAO, the conversation trees weren't designed to let you ask every question, your companions would counter with questions of their own (that weren't just yes/no approval questions), you'd get lost in tangents about shoes and pigeons, they'd disapprove of you in ways that stated fights (or they'd start angry, and then move towards forgiveness). It was so much more like a real conversation - like they were part of it. Instead, it feels like the Inquisitor forces every conversation that isn't a cutscene.

I really, really hate whatever it is they gave us instead of the isometric camera. It's AWFUL. I will go to great lengths to avoid using it, and I was CONSTANTLY using DAO's isometric camera.

I'm really unhappy with the character building systems. I miss stats. I miss needing to decide between wanting a more persuasive character or one who could pick locks or one stronger in combat. I miss thinking about stats I wanted - about whether or not I needed more mana, or more firepower, or how much dexterity/con my Arcane Warrior needed, etc. I'm also really unhappy with the ability bloat, particularly considering how many ability points you get. I miss having two specializations - it so drastically increased your build potential.

I already mentioned being dissatisfied with how little party banter there was, but seriously.


And lets just say this one - the game isn't Skyrim, and how much it's trying to be Skyrim hurts it. Why? Because Bethesda put all of their energy into the immersive ambiance of Skyrim. DAI isn't designed to be so immersive, and that makes the huge geography really. freaking. annoying.

Running from city to city in Skyrim was fun. Running from the Crossroads to Orgrimmar in WoW was not fun. DAI feels like the latter, not the former.

It's just sad, because I feel like BioWare could have done so much better. Their writing department IS better than that archdemon ******** (which you can tell from the characters, if you aggressively repair the damage the dialogue system causes). And it's better than letting the game just be nonstop hero moments. If it wasn't for the fact that I was interested in seeing some of the character story lines play out, I honestly might consider just dropping the game.
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