11 réponses à ce sujet

[Cyclone Prime]

(I apoligize if the thread name is misinterpruted Its my fault for that)

There are three points that mainly "bug" me

• Interaction
  
• Armor & Weaponization
  
• Specialization 

 Interaction
In DA:O we were allowed to speak to our companions whenever outside of battle in order to get their opinion or just have a friendly conversation.However in DA2 that option is stripped away and replaced with completing unrelated quests in order to interacte with said companion later. IMO, I found it much more meaningful and emotional when I could speak with Alistair enough for him to tell me of his past and his own inner conflict. Rather than deliever a qunari to the the shore and afterwards Merill wants to cry suddenly and smash a mirror

Armor & Weaponization
In DA:O companions weapons and armor were interchangable as well as the playable character. However in DA2 the only armor that can be changed is Hawkes. Now it understandable that the UI was a bit clunky in DA:O, but the entire nuking of amor system isn't. Throughout all of my playthroughs of DA:2 I found myself find as much armor and loot as in DA:O, however had no use for them because most of them was geared to other classes. (i.e. I find I decent armor set, but its requirements are 31 STR and  31 CON,well better sell it or destroy it) It seemed almost a step backwards to do this in order to make a cleaner UI, but in reality i had just as much stuff but now with no other use. And from a role playing perspective I found it rather impowering to start of the game with murky brown junk for everybody, but at the end my party had the best and brightest armor looking like true combatants ready for battle. Instead my team wheres the same old clothes, and I get the impression, were still as week as we were 10 years ago vibe. As, for weaponization its relatively the same. To be running thru a dungeon As a mage team with Isabela as my rouge but if I wanted her to pick up a crossbow and use it from a distance I was **** out of luck. This seemed kind of redundent as well if Fenris could zip around with a giant greatsword with ease, but if I needed him to pick up a sword and shield he apparently couldn't wrap his hands around it.

Specialization
In DA:O I was able to have to chose which teammates I wanted by my side without worrying about having a specific healer in my party (Anders). If I wanted to enjoy morrigans company without having to bring Wynne because she was the healer I could. I could specialize Morrigans talents in order to have her as a suitable healer, instead of just tossing her aside to bring another companion along just because oft in  combat practicallity. Being able to specialize my companions made it easier to enjoy their company and bond with them better as characters. But in DA2 thats all kicked to the curb, so I have to bring Anders along if I want a decent chance of staying in the fight even though I enjoyed being with Merrill.

I know this may seem like an unnceseary rant, but I am simply trying to express my opinion of the changes bioware has made and URGE them not to keep these changes for the long run.

If you Agree,Disagree, or even have justification for why I'm wrong I'd love to hear it.

As a side note Their is a reviewer whose oppions align with mine and he presents them in a better fashion. However his expressions and overthetop dramatics make him something to get used to, he's known as Angry Joe, I may think he acts like a bafoon but his opinion, IMO, outline what many of the average DA fans felt about Origins, and the drastic changes in DA2

Dragon Age Origins Review

Dragon Age 2 

Modifié par Cyclone Prime, 12 avril 2011 - 05:35 .

[Chaota Vos]

TBH, I prefered DA:O for pretty much everything to do with companions

[TheBlackBaron]

Interaction wise, DA2 had the potential to be much better than Origins in that regard. I might be alone here, but I actually didn't mind the Awakening dialog system at all, and DA2 certainly looked like it would be an improvement. Unfortunately, like so much of this game, that's all it is - potential. The actual execution, not the least of which is the distressing lack of content, was uneven.

As for armor and weapons, I think pretty much everybody but Laidlaw hates the system. Would much rather have the Origins system back.

Specs I'm going to disagree on. I'm normally the first person to preach about gameplay and story segregation and that not everything is a goddamn plothole (I'm looking at you, ME2 forums), but it's still very jarring to be able to, say, make Wynne a Blood Mage or Alistair a Reaver, or whatever other nonsensical combinations you can think of. Each companion having their own unique specialization also helps to differentiate them, encourages mixing up groups a bit, and sometimes also opens up some pretty unique powers (I hate Fenris, but damn I'd love to have his skill tree).

Not to mention that the combat in this game isn't nearly hard enough that you need to have the holy trinity in the party to succeed, like you would in WoW or whatever. I got through the first time easily enough with an "A-Team" of 2H Warrior FemHawke, Merrill, Varric, and either Isabela or Sebastian (or Beth when she's available).

[Foolsfolly]

I prefer DA2 companion everything over DA:O, the only exception is that I wish we talked to the companions more. Which is kind of a positive negative, you know? I liked the characters enough to want more interactions with them.

I liked the new friend system, I liked how Aveline dates and marries an NPC, I liked how all four love interests are open to any gender, I liked pretty much everything about companions better this time.

Each companion having their own unique specialization also helps to differentiate them, encourages mixing up groups a bit, and sometimes also opens up some pretty unique powers (I hate Fenris, but damn I'd love to have his skill tree).

That. I really liked each companion having their own unique skillset. It makes them unique, duh. I also like the smaller team this time around. I never used Zevran or Sten last game (rarely used Morrigan, and probably only did because I like her character so much). This time around I used all characters about the same. My least used would probably be Isabela but that's mostly because of her terrible Friendship bug....and she draws a lot of agro for some reason and cannot take too many heavy hits.

.....kinda related note, Aveline needs to tank better. She can't hold aggro for some reason.

EDIT:

Oh, and I hate the lack of companion armor. But I don't blame that on the companions, that seems to be a mechanic problem, ya know?

Modifié par Foolsfolly, 12 avril 2011 - 05:49 .

[TheBlackBaron]

Foolsfolly wrote...
That. I really liked each companion having their own unique skillset. It makes them unique, duh. I also like the smaller team this time around. I never used Zevran or Sten last game (rarely used Morrigan, and probably only did because I like her character so much). This time around I used all characters about the same. My least used would probably be Isabela but that's mostly because of her terrible Friendship bug....and she draws a lot of agro for some reason and cannot take too many heavy hits.

The smaller team was definitely a plus - ME2 has similar complaints about how you're never able to have enough conversations with the crew, because they had to divide the resources over so many. It's particularly annoying for me since Garrus gets all of three if you don't romance him, and Tali has, like...four? I suppose it's all well and good if you really liked Thane and Miranda and Samara, who had metric tons of conversations by comparison. 

That's not even getting into actually using them on missions. Switching to DA:O here, each game there were always a couple characters that I almost never used, and I never used Dog either since he simply wasn't worth taking up a party slot. 

.....kinda related note, Aveline needs to tank better. She can't hold aggro for some reason.

It helps if you grab the sustained ability from the Battlemaster tree - Teamwork or whatever it's called. 25% of the damage and 50% of the threat generated by the other party members gets transferred to her, and Aveline is nigh-unkillable once you get passed a certain point. 

About the only issue I had with her not holding aggro is when Anders was around, who'd usually **** things up by standing outside the sustained's range and then laying down some enormous heal. 

Modifié par TheBlackBaron, 12 avril 2011 - 06:02 .

[Raiil]

Personally, I thought that in DA:O, certain specs should have been locked from other characters. Alistair being a Reaver or either Wynne or Morrigan becoming blood mages seemed out of place, Wynne for moral reasons, Morrigan simply as a matter of common sense and survival, Alistair because, well- just no. Oghren being able to become a templar was a bit much at times, as well.


Overall, I preferred the Origins system. As cool as a voiced Hawke was- I really did enjoy it- I'd take a silent/only occasionally voiced protagonist if it meant more conversations. I wouldn't mind a varied system where some characters could change armour and some couldn't, but only if the right reasons were given- Aveline needs to be in her guard captain armour because, well, she's guard captain and she's meant to be conspicuous. Merrill, on the other hand, has no reason to be wearing the same damn stuff all the time.

[Foolsfolly]

The smaller team was definitely a plus - ME2 has similar complaints about how you're never able to have enough conversations with the crew, because they had to divide the resources over so many. It's particularly annoying for me since Garrus gets all of three if you don't romance him, and Tali has, like...four? I suppose it's all well and good if you really liked Thane and Samara, who had metric tons of conversations by comparison.

I hated that about ME2. I love ME2 so much and I love that team so much....but we rarely talk to those guys. Legion has a lot to say too....but...ya know....plot's nearly up when you get Legion. That said, I'm one of those dreamers who wants the whole crew back and more dialogue with them. I know...I know it's impossible....but I love them all. Even the DLC characters (Zaeed obviously being one of my favorites).

That's not even getting into actually using them on missions. Switching to DA:O here, each game there were always a couple characters that I almost never used, and I never used Dog either since he simply wasn't worth taking up a party slot.

I totally forgot about Dog. I liked Dog well enough early on...Dread Howl is amazing. But yeah, as soon as I got Leliana Dog was put up and never brought out again...until I wanted to see what Dog's Fade Dream was like.

If I didn't play Rogue then Leliana was always in my team. Always. Alistair was usually there too because the man's a great tank. Wynne was the best mage in the game and was always my healer. And the last person would switch out between Shale, Oghren, and Morrigan.

I think the companions are better balanced in this game. And I'd definitely use Isabela more when the patch comes out to fix that bug. Sebastien's bug does nothing to me since I'm always Rival with him. And I thought I wouldn't like Dog as a sustainable.....but I actually like him more like this. And it helps that there's more dialogue with the Dog this time.

It helps if you grab the sustained ability from the Battlemaster tree - Teamwork or whatever it's called. 25% of the damage and 50% of the threat generated by the other party members gets transferred to her, and Aveline is nigh-unkillable once you get passed a certain point.

I could slap myself for not noticing this ability. My previous comment on her not holding Aggro may have been in ignorance.

Personally, I thought that in DA:O, certain specs should have been locked from other characters. Alistair being a Reaver or either Wynne or Morrigan becoming blood mages seemed out of place, Wynne for moral reasons, Morrigan simply as a matter of common sense and survival, Alistair because, well- just no. Oghren being able to become a templar was a bit much at times, as well.

But Wynne as a Blood Mage was so great! It took me three playthroughs until I found the Wynne/Blood Mage build that I loved. She's neigh unstoppable. And with Alistair or Shale around she can constantly refill her health meter (and then heal Ali or Shale).

Sure, character-wise, it doesn't make sense....but my god it's too useful to ignore!

[TheBlackBaron]

Foolsfolly wrote...

I hated that about ME2. I love ME2 so much and I love that team so much....but we rarely talk to those guys. Legion has a lot to say too....but...ya know....plot's nearly up when you get Legion. That said, I'm one of those dreamers who wants the whole crew back and more dialogue with them. I know...I know it's impossible....but I love them all. Even the DLC characters (Zaeed obviously being one of my favorites).

****, I'd be happy just to get Garrus and Tali back, plus Ashley. Then Mordin, Zaeed, and Kasumi if I'm feeling greedy. 

I totally forgot about Dog. I liked Dog well enough early on...Dread Howl is amazing. But yeah, as soon as I got Leliana Dog was put up and never brought out again...until I wanted to see what Dog's Fade Dream was like.

If I didn't play Rogue then Leliana was always in my team. Always. Alistair was usually there too because the man's a great tank. Wynne was the best mage in the game and was always my healer. And the last person would switch out between Shale, Oghren, and Morrigan.

My first time through I had Leliana with me a lot, but it gradually got to the point where I stopped taking a rogue just as a matter of course. Wynne I think I only took out when I was fighting dragons, since healing was never a necessity otherwise and her preaching grates on me after a while. 

"A-Team" wound up being Morrigan, Alistair, and Sten, with occassional guest appearances from Leliana for the sake of the banter. Gotta love romancing her and Morrigan at the same time. 

Modifié par TheBlackBaron, 12 avril 2011 - 06:23 .

[Foolsfolly]

Sten really?

I couldn't find a place for Sten. His lack of a secondary specialization really hurt him. There was nothing he could do that the other warriors couldn't do better. I spent a whole playthrough with him once, because I found him fascinating and I liked his dialogue. He should have had a unique Qunari specialization. Those guys have to have some unique fighting capabilities. They're so ordered and efficient they have to be the race with a dedicated warrior style.

[PantheraOnca]

I liked the inter-party banter more in DA2, but I would like some non-quest related chat options with your companions. That Merrill thing I think is a bug playing that scene out of order.

I liked not having to worry about companion armor. I would like it if they had visual updates for each of the 4 upgrades you could get. I would have liked it if Isabella could have kept her dagger models regardless of what daggers she was using. Really, i wanted her daggers to level up with her (stupid bia... I can't call bianca stupid).

Each class companion should be able to perform the rolls of that class. Aka merrill should be able to heal. I did like the personalized specializations though. So get working on increasing both specialization and interchangeability of capabilities of each companion bioware! Also, a heal-over-time spell again please.

[Rockpopple]

I liked how my companions in DA II had lives of their own. Their lives didn't revolve around Hawke. Sometimes they hung out with each other. You couldn't just poke them enough times for them to spill their guts and life story to you. They'd come to you if they needed something. I thought that was brilliantly done.

I'll give you *some* armor customization from DA:O (I like the idea of the DA II companions having distinct looks) and *some* of how DA:O handled companion specialization, but all-in-all I greatly prefer how they handled companions in DA II. They're not dress-up dolls that one can manipulate to your whim, they're their own characters with their own tastes.

[TheBlackBaron]

Foolsfolly wrote...

Sten really?

I couldn't find a place for Sten. His lack of a secondary specialization really hurt him.  There was nothing he could do that the other warriors couldn't do better. I spent a whole playthrough with him once, because I found him fascinating and I liked his dialogue. He should have had a unique Qunari specialization. Those guys have to have some unique fighting capabilities. They're so ordered and efficient they have to be the race with a dedicated warrior style. 

I grabbed the "Sten the Reaver" mod off the Nexus, which solved that problem. Oghren kind of bores me so I rarely took him along, and I like Sten's dialogue better than Shale's. My Cousland and him get along pretty splendidly, actually, except for that crack about going all the way around the world and attacking the Archdemon from behind in Haven. 

Honestly, part of it was out of a lack of other characters. Dog doesn't bring enough to the table for me, I'm not a big fan of Wynne either. Leliana and Zevran subbed in occasionally, though, Leliana more so than Zevran. 

Morrigan and Alistair are pretty much fixtures no matter what character I'm playing. 

Modifié par TheBlackBaron, 12 avril 2011 - 06:55 .