59 réponses à ce sujet

[Squidmaster]

Do you know if it is compatible with Dragon Age Rules Fixpack we have mentioned on here? I have that one running already and I notice a few things overlap. I don't know how that would work out.

I also wonder if there is a mod to increase the health of higher level enemies or something along those lines. With the changes that this combat mod adds, wouldn't stuff die in one to two hits even to a dual wielder? In my current game without this mod I find myself running through fights in under 10 seconds. You mention a caster enemy having access to the same spell modifications, but that only does something if the caster isn't a 2 shot kill, or is inaccessible for a while. I can only think of a handful of fights where that happens (such as Leliana's world encounter if things go a certain way, or in the elven temple ruin.)

[10cents]

Yes it works with the fixpack.

If you use the creature scaling optional file from combat tweaks, you can adjust their resistances and the amount of damage you can deal to them. Imho it is better than the other difficulty enhancing mods I could find...

[Squidmaster]

That is awesome. I will install that for my next playthrough. In my current one I am half a dungeon away from curing the Arl and moving to the Landsmeet, so it shouldn't be too long now.

I ran into a weird situation just now fighting the high dragon. I stacked up my Duncan's Dagger with a ton of physical resistance, so that I was capped at 100. It didn't stop the dragon from knocking me down over and over and over again. This is the first fight where I felt the difficulty change in a meaningful way, but I didn't expect it would be because of this. Are the wing buffets and tail sweeps targeting mental resistance instead for some wonky reason, because I thought I was totally prepared.

Is there a built in recommendation for the scaling mod that can help me pick good numbers? What would you recommend? My only concern is the early game, especially without a dedicated healer. With the changes to health poultices, I could see it getting insane. Past level 10 or so I absolutely see the value, however.

[10cents]

Some abilities simply cannot be resisted, best example would be overwhelm. You'll need complete immunity against those.

Yes, the scaling file comes with a jpg that shows you what each setting changes; I for one use the "Tweak2" setting. You can always remove the scaling mod by deleting the single .gda file, if you dont feel comfortable or are starting a new game.
But dont expect miracles... DA:O isnt complex enough to become challenging other than by gimping your characters yourself or giving the enemy unreasonable resistances.

[Squidmaster]

Can you delete the scaling file and reapply it with another setting midway through a game?

I think this game is awesome, but it suffers from exactly the same problem that afflicts Elder Scrolls: Morrowind. Health scaling just doesn't keep up with damage scaling. I bet if they tripled target health later in the game it would make a pretty solid difference right there, simply because mana/stamina would be more likely to dry out, requiring strategy and the like. Enemy casters would survive long enough to be dangerous as well. In my current game my main character can keep any non-boss caster from casting anything, barring a resist of a stun. It's fun in one sense but lame in another. Yes, I built this guy to be able to take out casters, but it shouldn't be as fast as, "stealth crit, riposte, dead," either, right?  I also feel like physical damage with the right caster support (haste and other buffs in that line primarily) is a lot stronger than magic in general, but that could just be experience with the game after my first caster play.

The weird experience I had on the high dragon was that my guy would clearly resist a few effects (by being knocked back slightly but remaining standing and active), but get knocked on his butt a ton of other times while Oghren with his Indomitable talent would remain standing. I checked several times over to make sure my physical resistance was at 100, which it was. We're not talking about the biting grab attack, mind you. I know that can happen. I'm talking tail/wing stuff.

Modifié par Squidmaster, 19 novembre 2011 - 05:43 .

[10cents]

Squidmaster wrote...

Can you delete the scaling file and reapply it with another setting midway through a game?

Yes.

I think this game is awesome, but it suffers from exactly the same problem that afflicts Elder Scrolls: Morrowind. Health scaling just doesn't keep up with damage scaling. I bet if they tripled target health later in the game it would make a pretty solid difference right there, simply because mana/stamina would be more likely to dry out, requiring strategy and the like. Enemy casters would survive long enough to be dangerous as well. In my current game my main character can keep any non-boss caster from casting anything, barring a resist of a stun. It's fun in one sense but lame in another. Yes, I built this guy to be able to take out casters, but it shouldn't be as fast as, "stealth crit, riposte, dead," either, right?  I also feel like physical damage with the right caster support (haste and other buffs in that line primarily) is a lot stronger than magic in general, but that could just be experience with the game after my first caster play.

As I said, the balancing in this game is rather poor. If you want a difficult game, you are looking into the wrong generation of games. Baldur's Gate 2 for example offered challenges throughout the whole game - the new games nowadays are more streamlined to a more casual type of gamers and are more about shiny spell effects and action. It's the one flaw DA:O has: it is too easy.

[Sometimes this can lead to unsual suprises... I remember fighting the dragon in Orzammar and he totally wiped the floor with my party that was about to proceed to the Landsmeet. I dont know how that could happen with a fully equipped high level team, but there you have the awkward scaling...I ended up running around like a frightened schoolgirl although we just beat the crap out of its 'mother' at Haven.]

The game mechanics also do not allow mages to protect themselves all that much. They usually rely on standing in the back and throwing spells at you - if you circumvent that by stealthing through the enemies, you can deal with them in any way you please. Arcane Shield and Stoneskin are pathetic abilities if you do not focus the rest of your gear towards it. 
As for the usefulness of mages...well, they are primarily for AoE damage and disables since there are no single target high damage spells apart from mana clash and the death cloud + death hex combo (and VWB to some extent). So you are doing it right by utilizing them for support. The main problem with going full damage with a caster is that the AoEs damage your party as well which usually leads to the casters doing all the damage with inferno+blizzard+tempest (or the cones) while any other teammember other than archers can not add to the damage without being hurt themselves. Having all 3 of the big AoEs up is a TON damage but you only encounter large enough groups to justify the use in the Dead Trenches and the Battle for Denerim. It's sad really, since fireballing the hell out of everyone is so much fun unless the rest of your party dies in the process.

The weird experience I had on the high dragon was that my guy would clearly resist a few effects (by being knocked back slightly but remaining standing and active), but get knocked on his butt a ton of other times while Oghren with his Indomitable talent would remain standing. I checked several times over to make sure my physical resistance was at 100, which it was. We're not talking about the biting grab attack, mind you. I know that can happen. I'm talking tail/wing stuff.

100 phys res does not mean immunity. I havent read into it or ever bothered to check since I dont let anyone without knockdown immunity near a dragon (you might as well just equip them with a bow, they will deal more damage this way over time instead of lying on the floor constantly), but I think you'll have to make a check against the dragon's strength to resist it's abilities - and I bet they have a lot of strength.

[Squidmaster]

Well said. The BG games are a lot more challenging, but to be fair some of that challenge is very spikey on account of some shaky rules implementations and a less evolved D&D game system. Still awesome games though. I played both earlier in the year again. I think the most challenging games from end to end are the old Wizardry games. Those suckers could kick your butt!   I would refine your point a bit by speculating that the games that have become easier are the ones that are available both on PC and on some console system.

I have a few mod questions since there isn't a great place to post them. Is there a catch-all mod for item fixes? For example, I have 2 different ones (1 installed) for the elven boots, but then had issues with sword sockets that could be corrected probably by some other mod. It would be nice if there was one mod that fixed all items in general or something like that.

Is there a mod to allow you to not be a moneygrubbing opportunist to get quest rewards? I really love the roleplay value of this game, but not when it costs me a hundred plus gold and a bunch of experience to not be a jerk character. It would be nice to have a mod that would allow the NPCs to grant the rewards when being a "good guy".

Does the Combat Tweaks mod fix the Shapeshifter class and Dog to an appropriate level that they are good choices again? If not, is there a mod that fixes them without going crazy with new stuff or overdoing it on power?  If Combat Tweaks is enough, does it work with Awakening as well?

Finally, I am thinking about buying the expansion to this game. Am I better off going in with as much cash as possible, or should I buy up a few things to replace items like Starfang, which won't port over, or to simply sell or give to a character to use on the other side?

Modifié par Squidmaster, 21 novembre 2011 - 04:20 .

[10cents]

I would refine your point a bit by speculating that the games that have become easier are the ones that are available both on PC and on some console system.

Thats true... and sadly as of late this accounts for most of the big games.

I have a few mod questions since there isn't a great place to post them. Is there a catch-all mod for item fixes? For example, I have 2 different ones (1 installed) for the elven boots, but then had issues with sword sockets that could be corrected probably by some other mod. It would be nice if there was one mod that fixed all items in general or something like that.

Is there a mod to allow you to not be a moneygrubbing opportunist to get quest rewards? I really love the roleplay value of this game, but not when it costs me a hundred plus gold and a bunch of experience to not be a jerk character. It would be nice to have a mod that would allow the NPCs to grant the rewards when being a "good guy".

I havent found a mod yet that fixes all the items.
If you are a good guy you can most certainly do without the money you would get and nicely ask people to help you, no? (In other words: no there is no such mod that I know of)

Does the Combat Tweaks mod fix the Shapeshifter class and Dog to an appropriate level that they are good choices again? If not, is there a mod that fixes them without going crazy with new stuff or overdoing it on power?  If Combat Tweaks is enough, does it work with Awakening as well?

Finally, I am thinking about buying the expansion to this game. Am I better off going in with as much cash as possible, or should I buy up a few things to replace items like Starfang, which won't port over, or to simply sell or give to a character to use on the other side?

First off: I do not own any other DLCs/Expansions other than Stone Prisoner, so I cant give you advice on that.

Combat Tweaks allows for shapeshifters to keep their sustainable spells on regardless of shape  - this can be very game breaking if used improperly (arcane warrior + all sustainable defensive spells + bearshape = unbreakable damage monster). If you can restrain yourself to only use spells like frost weapons, it allows the shapeshifter to add some melee damage while still maintaining support for the party. The shifting is almost instantaneous which greatly adds to the fun playing the spec. I havent played any other shapeshifter mods as I am completely satisfied with what CT adds to the spec.

There is a mod called "Extra Dog Slot" that lets you 'summon' dog like a ranger pet while still being a full fletched party member with tactics screen and all. The mod behaves kind of oddly if you want to change your party on the fly as it will automatically try to add Dog to your party even if you havent selected him - this can be easily rectified by using the dog whistle that comes with the mod (sort of an on/off item for the mod). Seeing as Dog is less usefull than another companion but still way more powerfull than any other summon, the mod is a double edged sword: it allows you to keep that cute puppy while making the game easier. CT itself does not alter Dog iirc.

[Ferretinabun]

Squidmaster wrote...

Finally, I am thinking about buying the expansion to this game. Am I better off going in with as much cash as possible, or should I buy up a few things to replace items like Starfang, which won't port over, or to simply sell or give to a character to use on the other side?

Sadly if you think Origins is easy, Awakenings is a walk in the park. The difficulty did drop quite noticably for the expansion. In terms of money, everything becomes a lot more expensive, but then money is also a lot more readily available, so in real terms that shouldn't be too much of an issue either.

All in all, I suppose money will be of more use than any except the very tastiest Origins equipment. However, it won't go quite as far as it would have in Origins far either.

Modifié par Ferretinabun, 21 novembre 2011 - 12:26 .

[Squidmaster]

The CT text file says that dog's abilities are "greatly improved" or some such, and then explains how. Since I haven't used Dog for more than brief intervals I can't really speak to the improvements in a meaningful way.

A lot of games suffer from difficulty problems, either at the beginning or later. I think the concept of leveling confounds game designers of all kinds.

I have another 2 or 3 total phases left in my current game and I think I'm going to make a human warrior archer afterwards. The game may not be superbly balanced but it's still pretty great. Does CT alter the way I will build characters? From a cursory reading one thing that comes to mind is that I would have to be very wary of using haste or momentum until a lot later on. Probably a good thing.