Dragon Age - Origins

[Henry Blewer]

 I just battled my way through the first quest, getting out of the castle. The graphics are great, though I had to turn them way down. My machine can just handle this game. It's taking me some time to get used to the controls. Combat is not too hard, but takes getting used to.
It is recommended by the game to start combat paused. It does this automatically so far. This gives you a chance to issue the commands to the party. I am playing the easy mode until I get used to things. There are options to set up the NPC's so they work without telling them what to do. I have not quite mastered this aspect. (Actually I barely understand this right now.)
The camera takes getting used to. The 'A' and 'D' keys rotate the camera. 'W' moves forward. You can right click on a spot to get the character or party to move there. I am used to Oblivion and Morrowwind. This is a little strange to me.
There are lots of 'movies' where you interact with the characters. There are choices which vary from 'nice' to 'rude and snotty'. The movies take a while to get through. So be prepared to not be doing much combat. The story is compelling enough so this is not overly tiresome. I imagine that it will be after the third or fourth restart of the game.
Overall, I like it. Since I have only played about three hours (much of this in 'movie' mode), I don't have much else to report. If you smoke, be prepared with lots of cigarettes. 

[neuspadrin]

I'm loving the game.  So far I've dumped a little over 50 hours into it since release and currently only have one more army to recruit (i've been side quest happy too hehe )

If you ever played NWN the controls and combat are much closer to it.  And yeh, theres a lot of cutscenes but this happens a lot more in the beginning origin stories, and once you start getting in the game combat happens more then story (but still a lot of story ). 

As for combat its a little harder then most games I've found.  I'm playing normal and its more like most games "hard" mode.  As njeneb mentioned, pausing and picking actions becomes very important at times as quite a few battles require planning on how to get everything down.

Theres a whole "tactics" system you can set up where the characters basically will automatically use skills based off certain things.  It's like a customizable ai to run your characters.  For example you can go "if surrounded by >3 enemies" => "user whirlwind".  I don't really every use them and have turned off everyones tactics and do it manually.  This takes more time, but also I know how to control my characters better then then some ai. 

The DLC is pretty good.  The Stone Prisioner (free with the game if you purchase it) is almost a must as Shale is my favorite character probably.  The Wardens Keep is quite cool too, and has a nice set of armor thats nice to use until you can wear the dragon blood armor (if you have it).  Also wardens keep adds the random encounter which enables you to get the best weapon in the game.  The warden armor is also upgradeable if you sell it to the smith at at the keep once you beat it, and then leave and come to buy it back (he upgrades it to dragonbone).

The story is great though.  Some pretty dang tough decisions that all fall into morally grey areas.  Theres no real "moral" system of good/evil in the game or any way of tracking it.  You more worry about each individual party members preferences and reactions to your choices (as some critical choices will cause party members to try to kill you ).

Also, a small hints (not really game story ruining just helpful highlight below):
So far I've essentially done: Shale => Wardens Keep => Redcliffe/Denerim => Circle of Magi => Orzimmar => and now about to head to dwarfs.  If I were to redo I'd go to shale=>wardens keep=> circle of magi => redcliffe => orzimmar  so far... circle of magi just had some things a little more useful.

Save up all your gems, elfroot, runes.  It helps later on.  Also save up some gold.

The toolset is pretty cool, but I havn't played much around with it.  Bioware has stated they will be doing more DLC later, and you can expect a great mod community. 

I highly suggest this addon made by a bioware developer:
http://social.bioware.com/project/463/
It is a chest for your campsite.  If your like me and like storing a lot of things for later, very useful.


anyways, off to play it more

[Henry Blewer]

Nice tip, the storage chest. Inventory never has enough room, or allows enough weight.

[folder]

yes great game, I am currently fighing the zombies in redcliffe.

very tough so far. its nice to finally have a good rpg play again

folder

[neuspadrin]

Make sure every vendor you hit to scroll to the veryyyy bottom where they have bag upgrades.  By now mine is at 120ish which helps A LOT.  Just a pain that its hidden so far down you miss it on some vendors if you dont check. 

For today, finished the elf area, moved on to the landsmeet... and to the final epic battle.. and im like 1 zone away from the boss, but i told myself at 11 i would get off go to bed for work. ughhh!!! haha.  As I know it will take awhile to strategize and figure out a good way to win.  Not to mention every inch of the way its filled with insanely hard fights massively over numbered.

For the end... aoe + heals ftw.

and story wise... CRAZY stuff and choices.... ill leave it at that.

Also, I've now put 63 hours into the game (for those of you who did the math.. yes i spent all day playing ), I'm lvl 22, and I got the "easily sidetracked" achievement .  Also I play out every battle without tactics doing every choice for each character (well, usually i can just bang the easy stuff without skills, then manual on hard fights/bosses).  Also for the longest time through the game I would instantly reload and redo the battle if my guy fell in combat (old habits from baldurs gate to keep the main character alive at all costs)... also just attached .  But I gave up on that today basically as I got tired of redoing some of the more difficult battles.  Earlier it usually meant everyone would die if I died (being the best warrior), but once I had wynne and her rez ability, it became a bit more acceptable to fall then get back in seconds later.

[neuspadrin]

Finished it today, then started a new character .  Playing mage this time.

Also, super tip:
Dont press F9 accidently when the final boss is at like <1% health ...  Had to go back and redo it even though I was going to beat it first try with everyone alive.  Stupid fast load should at least have a "are you sure?".  As ive hit it before when my had was offset wrong, and would hit it instead of f5 for quick save.

I did successfully do much better/faster the second time around knowing what was happening

And as for using armies, i used all my redcliffe army during the various general battles and getting to castle.  I then used mages in the final battle.  Leaving my dwarfs and elves just not used at all.  And in a way i found the battles with the generals to be harder then the last fight :/.  hah.