Dragon Age: Origins fly-by posting

[lexin]

Even on 'easy' (or 'casual' as the PS3 version calls it) some of the Dark creatures are hard. I just spent the best part of an hour beating up an ancient Darkspawn over and over again. I really began to think I'd never win. Bloody things.

There was a spider queen earlier, too, which was more of a problem than it should have been if casual was actually casual. I hate to think what it would be like on 'normal'. As someone on my flist said, I'm in it for the plot not to keep dying all over the place.

Comments

[telesilla]

I'm playing on a PC and I accidentally messed with my settings and switched from "easy" to "normal" and I was dying all the damn time. I hate to think about "nightmare" or even hard.

[lexin]

Are mages hard or is it just me? My mage character got ambushed in a back alley, Zevran turned on him and I just can't beat those assassins. I've tried every trick I can think of, but they get him every time.

PS - I love the icon, it's for the win!

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Been to the Fade yet? One word: OMG!BORING.

That from the girl who plays the PC version and cheats the hell out of the game. And has spent the last five months writing and reading DA:O fanfiction. ;)

[lexin.livejournal.com]

Yes, and yes. I went to it during that period when you have to go to the Tower of the Circle and get caught up Doing Stuff to get rid of that sloth demon. You're right: OMG boring! It wouldn't be so bad if you could keep the handy-dandy shapeshifter cool powers in the Real World, but you can't.

I wish it were possible to cheat the hard fights on the PS3. I would so be there after the third try at anything.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Right with you on the shapeshifting. The way the mouse's hindquarters bounce is *so cute*. Ahem. Also, I wouldn't need Shale if I could golem-ise. ;)

[lexin.livejournal.com]

Have you been to the brothel in...that place beginning with a D? That town? Never found a game before where you can hire a whore...no XP for it, though. You just get robbed.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Denerim, the capital of Ferelden! (http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Age_Wiki ) I did say I've been reading and writing a *lot* of DA:O fanfic lately. ;)

The best place in the brothel is the surprise option. Where, for instance, the nug won't look you in the eye afterwards.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

oK - that's decided me! I won't be getting it - I suck HARD at fighting.

:)

Good luck, dear!

[lexin.livejournal.com]

People tell me it's easier on the PC than the PS3...there are cheats for the PC.

Having said that, it's a really good game, but if you don't like Oblivion, you probably won't get on with it.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

The fighting isn't actually too bad in DA:O, and you can save frequently. What I haven't managed yet is playing a mage without dying, but my warriors and rogues thrive. Plus, the game's rich in lore and has some very lovely character interactions.

And, yes. PC version all the way for the cheats. ;)

/opinion of a random person you've never heard of

[lexin.livejournal.com]

That would explain why I keep dying by inches...I would choose a mage for my first time out!

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Try a warrior, they're hardy. Or a rogue, and get Sten or Alistair to tank you by changing their tactics to "defender" and specifically protecting you. The tactics menu is incredibly versatile; I'm only slowly getting the full extent of what it can do.

My best fandom friend, on the other hand, plays only mages, and enjoys it. Takes all kinds. My own attempt at mage died *everytwhere*, starting with bloody Ostagar.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I tend to play mages and I do normally enjoy it. But now I'm dying by inches in the Wyrmling lair, not from the worm, which we haven't met yet, but from the mad bloke who thinks Adraste is still alive. I'm beginning to really hate him.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Just wait till you get to the bridge puzzle. Though I hear it's easier on the console version than on the PC.

Mind you, the Landsmeet questline later on is magnificent. I'm very deeply in love with Loghain, and you get to see a lot of him in that, and make some tough choices at the end.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

That bridge puzzle...very odd indeed. I did it eventually, but kept on having to move the dog around. Why did I have the dog in my party? Your guess is as good as mine, but he's more use than Lalania(sp?).

I'd just about reached the Landsmeet questline when Zavren turned on me. Bastard! Obviously I've saved at that point and will return to it at intervals to see if there are any fewer assassins/more ooomph in my party. It should not be impossible to beat anything at 'casual', it really shouldn't.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I've given up on the mage for the time being - when Zevren turned on me, I just couldn't beat the group of assassins. Not nohow. So I'm going to try a warrior for a bit and see if that works out better.

Meanwhile, I've got to go to bed and then go to work. Which is a pity.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Despite it being Easter, my bread didn't rise. :(

Also, while I'm utterly unfond of Zevran (look, ma, I'm inventing words!), I always get his approval to 50 at least, so he won't stab me in the back. Smarmy bastard.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! I didn't make bread this Easter, I bought it - and lived yesterday on toast and honey. Which was nice.

I'm still feeling my way with this approval thing. So far Wynne and Alistair think my mage character is the bees knees - but Morrigan isn't so sure, and obviously Zevren didn't like him. Not that it matters either way given the stuck-in-assassin-attack situation.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

Alistair is incredibly easy to become friends with; the problem is just avoiding him falling in love with you if you play a female. Morrigan can be won over with gifts and her personal quest (there's a handy gift guide at http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Gifts ). Zevran has two gifts that *really* matter, and a bit of flirting and sympathy go a long way (only then he'll try to get you into bed, male and female both). Sten responds nicely to firmness and all but outright insults, and Shale is... very odd. Better just give her the shinies to shut her up. Her personal quest gives quite a lot of approval, too. Oghren likes his drinks. A lot. Like, really a lot.

If you're planning on getting Awakening after, Oghren might be a disappointment. They've Al Bundy'd him even more in that one. But there's a *lovely* female dwarf companion in Awakening, to make up for it.

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've really got to grips yet with the amount of chatting you have to do to the other characters. Maybe I'll get that right with the new character. I can see both of my characters giving in to Zevran if he tries to bed them!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I love random! I have a PS3 and a machine that will never machine it, so it wil have to be PS3 if i do try it. I'm very tempted. I'll think again when the price comes down...thank you!!

[lexin.livejournal.com]

I noticed this morning that the price is down on Amazon.co.uk to £16 and some pennies, which is about £10 less than what I paid.

I'll try not to whine to much about that!