334 réponses à ce sujet

[Upper_Krust]

Realmzmaster wrote...

There are codex entries that expalin most if not all the controls and gameplay. Also if you keep the tips on they will popup explaining anything new.

There is a wise old saying "Show, don't tell".

[Zeleen]

I played LO - Loved it!! I played DA-O/awakening- Love them! they are different and I like that too!!!

[Tirigon]

Upper_Krust wrote...

No Ogre in the game ever killed any of your characters - even the one in the Tower of Ishal?

Well, I admit, on my nightmare playthrough I did it 3 times. First time 1 died, then I reloaded and tried the cheatkill, then I felt bad for that and reloaded again and killed him without losses.

Some of my party die often, though (looks angrily at Morrigan and Leliana). Usually because they are 3hitted by assassins or 1hitted by overwhelm / cp. But at least they didn´t die to ogres yet. And anyways they aren´t grey wardens. They didnt drink the secret blood.

[uberdowzen]

Upper_Krust wrote...

Tirigon wrote...

Yes, because killing is much more effective.

Thats weird because you have no fear of death Warden, but you fear having your trinkets stolen. Ha ha ha - the tables are turned, we genlocks will steal your loot! Fear us now! 

Tirigon wrote...

I mean, come on - Wardens are the darkspawns worst enemies - if they come close enough to open your backpack, they´d rather shove their knives up your ass instead.

Then steal something and run away before they get sliced to ribbons in melee.

That's not actually a bad point. Why would you steal something from the warden and then run off just to be slaughtered later? Also what if the enemy ran off to an area which gets closed off by a quest? And what if they stole one of the many enchanted weapons you need to carry around with you to beat the now uber-tough enemies who can only be beaten by runes?

[Realmzmaster]

Upper_Krust wrote...

Realmzmaster wrote...

There are codex entries that expalin most if not all the controls and gameplay. Also if you keep the tips on they will popup explaining anything new.

There is a wise old saying "Show, don't tell".

Well if that is true it is ignored by a great many of the CRPGs  including some of the best ones. NWN tried to do it with your character in the Academy. But most of the tutorials are weak and barely cover the basics.
Most of the CRPgs require a read of the combat portion of the  manual or a look at the quick start sheet.

Visuals are good, but for me a quick read of the manual gives me far more than I can gather from a visual tutorial. But this is me, YMMV.

[uberdowzen]

Upper_Krust wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

OK, I'm willing to believe you are right. What's your roster for the new Darkspawn?

Only the Darkspawn?

Depends on whether you mean by roster. Do you mean using only the current existing resources and monster models (though allowing for variants)? Or do you mean if I was given a free hand to completely design new types of Darkspawn (or other monsters) - albeit not going too crazy on new monster models?

List how they fight, the tactics they use how they look etc. This includes a list of all variants of each type and how they differ. And it has to fit into the lore.

LOL! You know whats funny - I already did this in another thread on these forums about 2 months ago...where I not only completely revised the Darkspawn...but also the demons...and the animals...and the golems...and the humanoids...basically every enemy type in the game with multiple variants and boss versions of each monster just for good measure. I'll hunt that link down and post it later.

Since then of course, I have brainstormed up about another thousand ideas including completely new monster types (for DAO) Chantry Angels, Oozes, Antivan Genies, Tevinter Spellguards, Thedasian Monsters of Legend (summoned by the Beastlords of Anderfels), The Orlaisian Clockwork Keepers, Immortals, Lunar Prisoners, Qunari Mirror Masters, Archdemon Remnants, Neverliving Miscreations...oh, and many of those with multiple types and variants.

Most of the ideas I'll probably cannibalise into my future RPG books, its not like Bioware would be that interested in seeing them.
 
...what wonders I could do for Dragon Age's monster roster *wanders off daydreaming*

Firstly, you said that the Darkspawn are the enemies you fight the majority of the time, so "fixing" them seems like a good starting point. By Roster I mean a list of every Darkspawn enemy in the game with details. You can be as crazy as you want, but bearing in mind that I then might dismiss them because they'd take too long to do. Use common sense. If a new model doesn't add anything to a new creature design, don't make a new model.

Your second to last line makes me wonder...are you trying to get employed by Bioware? If so going on to their forums and critisicing their games might not be the best approach.

[Realmzmaster]

Can the tutorials in Lost Odyssey be skipped? I would find it very annoying if I have to sit through the tutorial on subsequent playthroughs. Can the tutorial be turned off?
In a game like Dragon Age would the tutorial be separate from the main game or part of the origin,. BioWare would have to incorporate the tutorial into all the origins. Would that be worth it? If I replay the game with a different origin Iwould I have to go through the tutorial again?

Or would there be a generic tutorial where you create the character first, go through the tutorial and then to the origin, but the option to skip the tutorial and go straight to the origin is given.

Modifié par Realmzmaster, 15 avril 2010 - 08:55 .

[uberdowzen]

Actually, having thought about it for a bit, runes aren't really equivalent to rings. I'm assuming the rings in LO are rings like in DAO that you can at will swap out depending on the kind of damage you want to do. You need an enchanter to change runes. Also, many weapons can take multiple runes, so it doesn't really add to gameplay, you just need 1 of every kind of rune into all of your weapons. Also, the inventory in DAO is more meant to be of the kind where you just equip all the items you want and then don't really have to deal with it during combat.

[soteria]

Tirigon wrote...

soteria wrote...

It's definitely possible.  Follow the link in my signature--it includes pretty much every difficult boss/encounter in Origins.  In some of them I point out ways you can "cheat," but it's never the primary strategy.  The one fight I sometimes get flak for is one that I pre-cast a glyph into a room with a bunch of archers and a boss, but seeing as how I've done it without mages and I've even seen it soloed (without potions), uh, yeah.

Well I just watched the high dragon fight. That´s not nightmare.......

Well, I guess this is actually the first time someone has straight up accused me of lying about it.  The really dumb thing is, I edited out half that fight, so a more logical argument would be that I edited out the part where I was chain-chugging potions like a madman.  At this point, you can believe whatever you want, though.  It's impossible to prove that I'm playing on nightmare by any means.  Unless you can actually point out what it is that makes you think I'm not playing on nightmare, I'm going to conclude that you're just being obtuse.  I'd point out, though, that 50%+ of my spells are getting resisted...  do you think that happens on Easy?  I'm really at a loss for why you would think it's not on nightmare, other than having to rethink some of your claims about what is and isn't possible..

Also, you keep on saying that Wardens are "the best."  Why?  Neither Alistair nor yourself are particularly exceptional.  You get a few bonus abilities at key plot points, and that's it.  Grey Wardens are rare in Ferelden, and legendary because of their accomplishments, and people regard you as elite warriors, but there's not a heck of a lot in-game that actually bears that out.

[soteria]

Realmzmaster wrote...

Upper_Krust wrote...

Realmzmaster wrote...

There are codex entries that expalin most if not all the controls and gameplay. Also if you keep the tips on they will popup explaining anything new.

There is a wise old saying "Show, don't tell".

Well if that is true it is ignored by a great many of the CRPGs  including some of the best ones. NWN tried to do it with your character in the Academy. But most of the tutorials are weak and barely cover the basics.
Most of the CRPgs require a read of the combat portion of the  manual or a look at the quick start sheet.

Visuals are good, but for me a quick read of the manual gives me far more than I can gather from a visual tutorial. But this is me, YMMV.

I always did the academy for that free infinite-use rod of frost, but otherwise, I agree, it wasn't very valuable.  I think the problem is, many games with an academy/tutorial right at the beginning are choosing the worst time to try to teach you how things work.  They stick the bulk of the instruction at the point where most players just want to get into the game and the story.  I don't know a lot of people with the patience/discipline to sit through a tutorial at the beginning of the game, especially when it's not going to teach you much.

A better way to do it, I think, is to periodically put lessons throughout the game at key points.  Assassin's Creed gave you an (optional) short lesson every time you gained a new ability or weapon.  Anytime you wanted you could visit the training grounds and get a refresher on whatever techniques you had.  By contrast, NWN had the academy at a point when you had hardly any abilities at all, and were more interested in seeing what the game was about than trying to learn it.

[uberdowzen]

soteria wrote...

Tirigon wrote...

soteria wrote...

It's definitely possible.  Follow the link in my signature--it includes pretty much every difficult boss/encounter in Origins.  In some of them I point out ways you can "cheat," but it's never the primary strategy.  The one fight I sometimes get flak for is one that I pre-cast a glyph into a room with a bunch of archers and a boss, but seeing as how I've done it without mages and I've even seen it soloed (without potions), uh, yeah.

Well I just watched the high dragon fight. That´s not nightmare.......

Well, I guess this is actually the first time someone has straight up accused me of lying about it.  The really dumb thing is, I edited out half that fight, so a more logical argument would be that I edited out the part where I was chain-chugging potions like a madman.  At this point, you can believe whatever you want, though.  It's impossible to prove that I'm playing on nightmare by any means.  Unless you can actually point out what it is that makes you think I'm not playing on nightmare, I'm going to conclude that you're just being obtuse.  I'd point out, though, that 50%+ of my spells are getting resisted...  do you think that happens on Easy?  I'm really at a loss for why you would think it's not on nightmare, other than having to rethink some of your claims about what is and isn't possible..

Also, you keep on saying that Wardens are "the best."  Why?  Neither Alistair nor yourself are particularly exceptional.  You get a few bonus abilities at key plot points, and that's it.  Grey Wardens are rare in Ferelden, and legendary because of their accomplishments, and people regard you as elite warriors, but there's not a heck of a lot in-game that actually bears that out.

I don't believe you're lying, but if people are doubting it you could prove it by starting the video with you in the options menu showing the difficulty and then not cutting the video at all. Doesn't matter though, I watched the video and that definetly looks like Nightmare, you're hardly causing any damage with each attack.

[Upper_Krust]

uberdowzen wrote...

That's not actually a bad point. Why would you steal something from the warden and then run off just to be slaughtered later?

Well heres one possible scenario. Genlock Thief steals Players Uber-weapon which is then confiscated by the Hurlock General who uses it against  the heroes.

Also what if the enemy ran off to an area which gets closed off by a quest?

 
I think we can easily dictate where the game places certain enemies. Dragon Age has 'must-visit' areas. Those areas have certain unavoidable encounters. Therefore we can easily keep the Genlock Thieves in those areas and IF they escape holding a given weapon (or item), we can easily have them appear in one of the unavoidable encounters. At the end of a dungeon (for example) any genlock thieves who have escaped would have to make their stand with the Dungeon Boss...on pain of death.

And what if they stole one of the many enchanted weapons you need to carry around with you to beat the now uber-tough enemies who can only be beaten by runes?

At no point have I suggested absolutes as the solution - I'm simply saying choices should have greater consequences. So no given weapon should be the only means of success, but we can make them more important without being critical.

If we played out the above scenario under the current ruleset, the players would just switch to an alternate weapon and maybe be 90+% as effective against a given enemy. Thats simply not enough of a difference to actually MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

Whereas if we make the value and importance of choices stronger then they become actual obstacles we have to consider and adapt to.

[soteria]

I don't believe you're lying, but if people are doubting it you could prove it by starting the video with you in the options menu showing the difficulty and then not cutting the video at all. Doesn't matter though, I watched the video and that definetly looks like Nightmare, you're hardly causing any damage with each attack.

It would be easy enough to pause the game at any time, change the difficulty, unpause the game, and edit that segment out without anyone being able to tell. That doesn't take any skill in editing, and since I do a voiceover, you'd never hear the skip in the soundtrack. It's impossible to prove, though anyone can make a similar group and try it and call BS if they can't reliably reproduce what I'm doing. I considered doing what you suggest in the past, but decided that people can believe me, or not. I didn't make them to prove a point; I made them to teach people.

[uberdowzen]

Upper_Krust wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

That's not actually a bad point. Why would you steal something from the warden and then run off just to be slaughtered later?

Well heres one possible scenario. Genlock Thief steals Players Uber-weapon which is then confiscated by the Hurlock General who uses it against  the heroes.

Also what if the enemy ran off to an area which gets closed off by a quest?

 
I think we can easily dictate where the game places certain enemies. Dragon Age has 'must-visit' areas. Those areas have certain unavoidable encounters. Therefore we can easily keep the Genlock Thieves in those areas and IF they escape holding a given weapon (or item), we can easily have them appear in one of the unavoidable encounters. At the end of a dungeon (for example) any genlock thieves who have escaped would have to make their stand with the Dungeon Boss...on pain of death.

And what if they stole one of the many enchanted weapons you need to carry around with you to beat the now uber-tough enemies who can only be beaten by runes?

At no point have I suggested absolutes as the solution - I'm simply saying choices should have greater consequences. So no given weapon should be the only means of success, but we can make them more important without being critical.

If we played out the above scenario under the current ruleset, the players would just switch to an alternate weapon and maybe be 90+% as effective against a given enemy. Thats simply not enough of a difference to actually MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

Whereas if we make the value and importance of choices stronger then they become actual obstacles we have to consider and adapt to.

Yeah, but if you can just have that weapon stolen, then the choice loses it purpose, because then you still have to be able to beat the enemies in question without it. So all the choice of weapons would make would make it easier to beat an enemy which the current system does anyway.

[Upper_Krust]

I posted a number of ideas in this thread:

http://social.biowar...index/579465/13
http://social.biowar...index/579465/14
http://social.biowar...index/579465/15

However, I did also post in a more recent thread a longer breakdown of Darkspawn including behaviours, tactics, morale and so forth. I'll have to hunt through my posts to find it though.

So the above is a starter, but really just the bare bones. If I can't find the more in depth post tomorrow I'll just retype up the Darkspawn ideas with all the new stuff.

uberdowzen wrote...

Firstly, you said that the Darkspawn are the enemies you fight the majority of the time, so "fixing" them seems like a good starting point.

Well let me just add that you probably fight them a bit too often, even considering the meagre Bestiary in the game. Although in fairness they are undoubtedly the most fleshed out enemy type in the game, and the backbone of the story. However (if you'll pardon the flip-flopping on the issue), there are far too many cases where you just fight basically the same encounter back-to-back-to-back. So its not just enemy variety, its also encounter variety.

I mean there is one (unintentionally) hilarious bit in the Dragon Age Guide book where it lists the encounters you face (off the top of my head it's somewhere in the Deep Roads) where you consecutively face:

- Deepstalkers
- Deepstalkers
- Deepstalkers
- Deepstalkers
- Deepstalkers
- Deepstalkers
- Deepstalkers

Now even avoiding for a moment that Deepstalkers are not the interesting enemy type in the game. Lets put that into context. Thats for all practical purposes approx. 1.5% (7 encounters) of the ENTIRE games encounters EXACTLY the same back to back.

By Roster I mean a list of every Darkspawn enemy in the game with details. You can be as crazy as you want, but bearing in mind that I then might dismiss them because they'd take too long to do. Use common sense. If a new model doesn't add anything to a new creature design, don't make a new model.

One change I have recently been mulling over (in my head) is the similarities between The Children and Shrieks. They seem to be encroaching on the same territory.

I'll post an up to date and full revision/treatment of the Darkspawn over the next day or so.

Your second to last line makes me wonder...are you trying to get employed by Bioware? If so going on to their forums and critisicing their games might not be the best approach.

I already have two jobs so I'm not looking for another. If Bioware are in any way credible (and I am sure they are), they are not going to employ some (potential) goofball (as I may be - even though I know I'm not) on the basis of a few posts on the internet.

Secondly, I am sure Bioware are thick-skinned and savvy enough to recognise some constructive criticism from one of their fans (no less) for what it is - simply wanting future Bioware games to be the best they can be. I'm sure all of us here wish that.

For the most part I am happy to post ideas on the forums at my leisure here for free and if someone from Bioware takes the ideas and runs with them, then I am happy enough. If they wanted to hire me for maybe a week or two as a Monster Consultant* and maybe pick my brains in detail then maybe we could work something out.  

*That would be a fun title in the credits.

[Upper_Krust]

uberdowzen wrote...

Yeah, but if you can just have that weapon stolen, then the choice loses it purpose, because then you still have to be able to beat the enemies in question without it. So all the choice of weapons would make would make it easier to beat an enemy which the current system does anyway.

Yes but what we are talking about from the start is that the consequences of actions/choices matter more. So while, yes the battle would still have to be winnable even bereft of your best weapon, it could make the chances of losing greater. Also remember that the loss of the weapon could mean you are at a disadvantage for several fights before you reclaim it.

So if the difference between losing with the item and losing without it are 25% and you have to face 4 combats without it, then thats potentially one defeat (on average) you'll suffer because of the loss.

The player will curse the genlock thieves and next time they encounter them not treat them so lightly.

Weirdly I have had this idea that although the genlocks would use stealth at the start of the battle, you might still be able to hear an evil giggle from time to time. Then I'd introduce a monster such as the Crocotta* (which can mimic sounds) and have it mimic the evil giggle making players think genlock thieves were around.

*Which is a bit like a Mabari, so it could be a variant.

[Blackbaron15]

Lost oddessy was the only JRPG i ever played but it was pretty damn good in terms of story.

[uberdowzen]

Oh yeah, I agree, when it comes down to it all we really want if DA2 to be even better than DAO. I do kind of think that complaining about all the enemies using the same abilities as you is kinda like complaining in ME2 that all the enemies have guns and shoot you, just like you do.

[AlanC9]

Upper_Krust wrote...

Realmzmaster wrote...

There are codex entries that expalin most if not all the controls and gameplay. Also if you keep the tips on they will popup explaining anything new.

There is a wise old saying "Show, don't tell".

Were there really a lot of players who didn't learn that they could switch characters from what's in the game already? Or is it just you?

[AlanC9]

soteria wrote...
 Neither Alistair nor yourself are particularly exceptional.  You get a few bonus abilities at key plot points, and that's it.  Grey Wardens are rare in Ferelden, and legendary because of their accomplishments, and people regard you as elite warriors, but there's not a heck of a lot in-game that actually bears that out.

Well,  the Warden is believed to show exceptional promise in some of the origins, Mage and Dwarf Commoner,at least. But that doesn't make either of them "the best" now.

[soteria]

AlanC9 wrote...

soteria wrote...
 Neither Alistair nor yourself are particularly exceptional.  You get a few bonus abilities at key plot points, and that's it.  Grey Wardens are rare in Ferelden, and legendary because of their accomplishments, and people regard you as elite warriors, but there's not a heck of a lot in-game that actually bears that out.

Well,  the Warden is believed to show exceptional promise in some of the origins, Mage and Dwarf Commoner,at least. But that doesn't make either of them "the best" now.

And the city elf and dwarf noble display remarkable prowess in their origins, but that's actually just showing that you were already a great fighter before becoming a Warden.  I point that out just to say that if someone wants to argue that your achievements prove that Grey Wardens are the best of the best elite warriors, well, your character is exceptional, Grey Warden or no.

[AlanC9]

Oh, absolutely. You're not good because you're a Grey Warden, you're a Grey Warden because you're good.

[Vaeliorin]

AlanC9 wrote...
Oh, absolutely. You're not good because you're a Grey Warden, you're a Grey Warden because you're good.

Which is entirely the nature of the Wardens.

It does make me wonder how on earth Duncan picked up Jory, however.

[Tirigon]

soteria wrote...

Tirigon wrote...

soteria wrote...

It's definitely possible.  Follow the link in my signature--it includes pretty much every difficult boss/encounter in Origins.  In some of them I point out ways you can "cheat," but it's never the primary strategy.  The one fight I sometimes get flak for is one that I pre-cast a glyph into a room with a bunch of archers and a boss, but seeing as how I've done it without mages and I've even seen it soloed (without potions), uh, yeah.

Well I just watched the high dragon fight. That´s not nightmare.......

Well, I guess this is actually the first time someone has straight up accused me of lying about it.  The really dumb thing is, I edited out half that fight, so a more logical argument would be that I edited out the part where I was chain-chugging potions like a madman.  At this point, you can believe whatever you want, though.  It's impossible to prove that I'm playing on nightmare by any means.  Unless you can actually point out what it is that makes you think I'm not playing on nightmare, I'm going to conclude that you're just being obtuse.  I'd point out, though, that 50%+ of my spells are getting resisted...  do you think that happens on Easy?  I'm really at a loss for why you would think it's not on nightmare, other than having to rethink some of your claims about what is and isn't possible..

I doubt it´s nightmare because the dragon seems to do no damage at all and I know that doesnt happen on nightmare, considering I fought him shortly before watching and he did about 80 to 100 damage against a warrior with 35 armor......

Also, you keep on saying that Wardens are "the best."  Why?  Neither Alistair nor yourself are particularly exceptional.  You get a few bonus abilities at key plot points, and that's it.  Grey Wardens are rare in Ferelden, and legendary because of their accomplishments, and people regard you as elite warriors, but there's not a heck of a lot in-game that actually bears that out.

Well, except for the fact that it´s a Warden who defeats the Archdemon, a High dragon, the most powerful elf in Thedas, whole lots of demons, the most powerful golem in the whole of Thedas - what is even more spectacular s the codex says that a golem is worth as much as a dozen of the best warriors...

Sounds like the best to me.

[Tirigon]

Upper_Krust wrote...

uberdowzen wrote...

That's not actually a bad point. Why would you steal something from the warden and then run off just to be slaughtered later?

Well heres one possible scenario. Genlock Thief steals Players Uber-weapon which is then confiscated by the Hurlock General who uses it against  the heroes.

There´s one big hole in that argumentation: The Wardens can SENSE the Darkspawn.... No Darkspawn, no matter how skilled at sneaking, can come close to a Warden without being noticed, and vice versa.
Also, it´s ****ing unrealistical that you can sneak right up to someone if that someone knows everyone within the next few miles is either 1 of his 3 companions or a guy who wants him dead.

Did I ever mention that sneaking in DAO is the most ridiculous sh!t I´ve ever seen anyways? Well, now´s the time then.