52 réponses à ce sujet

[Janni-in-VA]

Let me say right up front that this thread is not the place to bash those who use mods or to lament the fact that as a console player you don't have access to them.  My question is twofold -- Do you use mods or not?  If you do, when do you make that decision?  After you've played a few times?  After you've read the forums?  As soon as you buy the game?

Personally, I use mods.  I generally play a game through a couple of times in plain vanilla mode.  Then, the first mods I download are often those that fix some issue in the game that a game patch doesn't address OR the mods which add something I'd like to see, but didn't.  I prefer not to use mods which add uber weapons or armor to the game, and I'm all for mods that give the player greater choice in character creation (head morphs, hair mods, etc).  I'm also very likely to use mods which make cosmetic changes such as whiter teeth, a new look for your companions or dying your gear different colors.

[Avilia]

Yes, I use them. A lot of them. Its not something I thougt about before playing or even on my first play through. DA was probably my first 'proper' rpg that had mods available. I found out about them on the forums (the Alistair gush thread if memory serves me).

Initially I hunted down mods to fix things that annoy me about the game.

From memory my first mod was the respec mod. I found those origin based pre assigned skill points really annoying ;-) After that cosmetic mods for char creation (see my avatar for instance). The whiter teeth one is a favourite as well. I use Improved Atmosphere (without char changes), oh lots I'm sure I'm forgetting.

Then I discovered the toolset...mmm... toolset.

Mods and the toolset extended my enjoyment of the game. Tweaking and playing with appearances, difficulty levels and dialogue (ooh I forgot the dialogue tweaks mods - best of the lot imho) - its all great fun.

Modifié par Avilia, 04 décembre 2010 - 10:13 .

[Marvin_Arnold]

What I always recommend is doing one playthrough without mods, to see how the game was intended. Maybe install basic bugfixes like Qwinn's fixpack. Then, after the first playthrough, you decide what you didn't like and fill in the gaps with mods. But give the game a chance first.



I'm a "casual" gamer and have beaten the game four times so far. I never used a respec mod. Never needed one. Where's the challenge in that? "OK, Sten, I'll brainwash you now because now I need another dual-wielding warrior. OK, Morrigan, forget all your spells, for our next mission you'll be a pure Primal mage." Breaks immersion quite a bit, IMO. I have been able to use every preset ability to my advantage and develop my companions' characters in a meaningful way.

[ejoslin]

edit: Gah, I should not advertise for myself here

i'll just say I use my own bugfix mod, dialog tweaks, and of course ZevranASAP and ZevRing.  sometimes i use modded armor, but that's basically for the looks.  Combat itself, I don't have an issue with, even naked, so god gear doesn't bother me!

Modifié par ejoslin, 04 décembre 2010 - 10:43 .

[Reika]

I didn't really know about the mods until I hit the boards. It started off with a few romance mods for Alistair. Then Skip the Fade. Then more hairstyles because I couldn't stand the vanilla hair. And on and on.



I really do believe that the mods are why I can keep replaying DAO, because just as I'm getting bored, something new comes out (like Dahlia's Wedding for Alistair and the HNF), or Slinks Ravage, or Dark Times.

[errant_knight]

I use quest mods, mods that make the game harder, and one's to remove things like the giant circle around selected characters. I don't like to mod the NPCs, especially the companions, and I rarely use armor mods or the like as I find them far too powerful. I do make my own, keeping them in line with most of the game armors (ie similar stats as Cailan's armor or less), scaling their power down for lower tiers. I also use mods that fix errors (but not rewrite the game), and ones that add new scenes, when they fit with game lore/canon.

[mousestalker]

I use mods. I use them for other Bioware games. Part of Bioware's appeal is that the modding community is so diverse and talented.



With DAO, I played twice without mods. The mods I've installed are mostly dialogue/bug fixes and cosmetic changes. the Zev fixes that ejoslin made, Qwinn's, Pineappletree's, Natural Bodies, and tmp fixes are my current must haves. I've played around with the various armours and such, but they are typically over powered. I do have 'Skip the Fade' installed which could be considered cheating, but I do not like the Fade. Been there, done that, don't wanna do it again.

[Janni-in-VA]

ejoslin wrote...

edit: Gah, I should not advertise for myself here

i'll just say I use my own bugfix mod, dialog tweaks, and of course ZevranASAP and ZevRing.  sometimes i use modded armor, but that's basically for the looks.  Combat itself, I don't have an issue with, even naked, so god gear doesn't bother me!

Go ahead, advertise.  I use all your mods.  <3

[Addai]

I wouldn't even recognize the game any more without mods. I use armor and weapon mods, ones that improve the appearance of female models and take care of annoying problems like sustainable haze, and those that fix dialogue or quest bugs. Mods really extend the variety and life of the game.  I also use DA Face Replacer a lot to tweak the appearance of characters.

I haven't used any quest mods, but mainly because none have really interested me yet.

I do, however, avoid large, world-changing mods like Improved Atmosphere, Dragon Age Redesigned or the Winter Forge. Not to knock those mods, but I have heard of too many problems with them and in the case of Winter Forge experienced problems when I tried it because it wouldn't de-install cleanly. As a result of staying small, I've never had a mod break a game or any important aspect of the game, with the exception of the shapeshifter bug that occurs if you morph your character. That one led to some pretty entertaining flubs. I was able to fix the problem using the re-spec mod, though.  (changing my mage from shapeshifter to a different spec)

Modifié par Addai67, 04 décembre 2010 - 11:00 .

[Janni-in-VA]

Marvin_Arnold wrote...

What I always recommend is doing one playthrough without mods, to see how the game was intended. Maybe install basic bugfixes like Qwinn's fixpack. Then, after the first playthrough, you decide what you didn't like and fill in the gaps with mods. But give the game a chance first.

I'm a "casual" gamer and have beaten the game four times so far. I never used a respec mod. Never needed one. Where's the challenge in that? "OK, Sten, I'll brainwash you now because now I need another dual-wielding warrior. OK, Morrigan, forget all your spells, for our next mission you'll be a pure Primal mage." Breaks immersion quite a bit, IMO. I have been able to use every preset ability to my advantage and develop my companions' characters in a meaningful way.

I also like to play through a few times before I decide what to mod, and when.  I don't use the respec mods either, although I do use the one which adds a second specialty for Sten.  To me, that falls more under the category of a game fix rather than a strict mod.

I was introduced to mods with The Elder Scrolls III:  Morrowind.  I also built mods for that game, as I found the Construction Set pretty easy to use.  I must admit that I'm totally frustrated by the DA Toolset.  The only thing I've been able to use it for is checking dialogue or character notes.  <_<

[Marvin_Arnold]

Unfortunately, I don't have the toolset since my elitist OS doesn't support it, but there is a thread called "the Toolset explained" or "doesn't need to be difficult" or something like that as a sticky in the General Discussion forum.



If you like appearance mods, try Alternative Armor tints, which make your armor look like the material they're actually made of. Cheaper armor looks dull, and more precious armor looks shiny and bright.

[DahliaLynn]

Janni-in-VA wrote...


I also like to play through a few times before I decide what to mod, and when.  I don't use the respec mods either, although I do use the one which adds a second specialty for Sten.  To me, that falls more under the category of a game fix rather than a strict mod.

I was introduced to mods with The Elder Scrolls III:  Morrowind.  I also built mods for that game, as I found the Construction Set pretty easy to use.  I must admit that I'm totally frustrated by the DA Toolset.  The only thing I've been able to use it for is checking dialogue or character notes.  <_<

There is a new group which has gotten together to try and make the toolset more friendly. If you would like to express your frustrations there, it will help them get a better perspective on the problems you face and help them improve the current help resources.

Dragon Age Friendly Toolset Initiative

Modifié par DahliaLynn, 04 décembre 2010 - 11:13 .

[Janni-in-VA]

@Marvin -- thanks for the recommendation. I'll check it out.



@Dahlia -- I'll head over in that direction. I'd like to get at least a working understanding of using the toolset, even if I never build a mod.

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

Yep, I use mods. Started out only using mods that fixed bugs/gameplay issues, such as Alistair Dialogue patch (so he'd stop believing he was king when I spared him that fate) and later, Qwinn's fixpack. That constitutes the majority of my mods, the rest being appearance and gear-related mods, because the in-game vanilla gear is pretty lackluster, tacky, and rather out of place in some situations. The only companion's appearance I mod is leliana: her sacred ashes look is far more attractive, and suitable, than her in game vanilla morph.



My love scenes have remained vanilla, as have the rest of my companion morphs. The storyline/plotline as a whole remains unmodded. I've experimented with different mods, such as natural bodies, and while amusing and well done, I think I'll stick with modded underwear (solid black, though, no tan granny panties) since I am still traumatized by discovering Cailan's corpse sporting a rather large and disturbing erection.



But I am happy to admit I use mods. I did my first two playthroughs totally vanilla, which was great, but I wouldn't go vanilla ever again, at least as far as certain things go.



The Winter Forge really made a major impact in alot of ways.

[Giggles_Manically]

@Skadi:

When I walked in on Cailan with Natural Bodies installed my face looked like this:





Lets just say I deleted that mod right away.

[Reika]

@ Giggles - RagingCyclone made a mod for the NB mod to clothe naked prisoners and Cailan.

[Giggles_Manically]

Reika wrote...

@ Giggles - RagingCyclone made a mod for the NB mod to clothe naked prisoners and Cailan.

That is ok but I will just stick with the Better Underwear mod. 

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

Reika wrote...

@ Giggles - RagingCyclone made a mod for the NB mod to clothe naked prisoners and Cailan.

I would prefer they integrated underwear options into the mod, so you could switch to underwear without the messy process of uninstalling the mod. A more modest choice., so to speak.

but like giggles, I just stick with the underwear mods. I was never that bothered by underwear in the sex scenes, and I do prefer Alistair's Chantry Cherry safely packaged and protected in his deerskin thong.:wub:

The NB mod is good for some serious laughs though, especially in FT. Drakon.

[Ryzaki]

^Ah that it is. I guess Alistair is very happy to see the Warden up and about XD

Modifié par Ryzaki, 05 décembre 2010 - 01:25 .

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

Ryzaki wrote...

^Ah that it is. I guess Alistair is very happy to see the Warden up and about XD

Yes....I don't think I've ever seen anyone so happy about waking up in a maximum security prison after recieving the beatdown of their lives....

Or the guardsman, who, after falling for the whole "I'm lonely" song and dance and getting killed by my bare hands, was still "flying the flag at full mast" as I pilfered his corpse for the key...

[Janni-in-VA]

Skadi_the_Evil_Elf wrote...

Ryzaki wrote...

^Ah that it is. I guess Alistair is very happy to see the Warden up and about XD

Yes....I don't think I've ever seen anyone so happy about waking up in a maximum security prison after recieving the beatdown of their lives....

Or the guardsman, who, after falling for the whole "I'm lonely" song and dance and getting killed by my bare hands, was still "flying the flag at full mast" as I pilfered his corpse for the key...

I created two folders that I swap in and out -- one is with the flag at full mast, the other with the flag at half mast.  That being said, I'll leave the NB mod on until I'm heading into a situation where I know folks are going to be nekkid such as Fort Drakon or at the end of the Sacred Ashes quest.  Then, I'll pop out and swap in a folder with a nice underwear mod.  Finish that scene and swap the folder with the nekkid bodies back in.  Truthfully, I nearly fell off the couch laughing the first time I came to the Urn of Sacred Ashes with the full nude mod.  Sten, Alistair and Zevran were soooooo happy to see Andraste's remains.  

I should add that I use the better sex scenes mod, and since I spend more time in camp than I do in the aforementioned scenes, I leave the flag at full mast folder in place most of the time.  I could probably delete the other folder since I never use it.

Modifié par Janni-in-VA, 05 décembre 2010 - 01:59 .

[berelinde]

I played through the first time without mods, but my collection is steadily growing. Now, I've got a fair number.



For those of you that use Natural Bodies, you might want to consider NB All in One. That lets you configure your settings with just a few mouse clicks, no need to move folders.

[Skadi_the_Evil_Elf]

@Janni: Yeah, the Sacred ashes was funny. Alistair was the only male in the party, but yeah...he was very happy to be set on fire. Another WTF?LMAO! moment was in Howe's dungeon when you run into the templar, Imric. I had the "huge" mode on, and I'm like "Whoa, buddy, lay off the lyruim!" As well as the torture rack kid and the gibbering nutcase. For ****s and giggles, I even switched the female body type for humans to she-male right before I had Loghain do the DR with Morrigan. Gave that horrified expression he always gets when Morrigan comes swaying in a while new meaning!



@berelinde: Yeah, I have the all-in-one version, which is good, when you remember to switch. But alot of times, I'll end up finished for the night, and forget the next day when I play to reset the settings. They have underwear options for males, but none for females. Something I hope they might include in the future.