26 réponses à ce sujet

[JaegerBane]

Well, I've unlocked all the specialisations I want, so on my new playthrough I'm a free agent, able to choose whatever area to visit first. I'm thinking Mage Tower to pick up Wynne and the stat boosts (and RP-wise it makes sense my Mage will first attempt to garner aid from those he knows).

I'm not sure what to do next. I'm thinking Orzammar to pick up Oghren and nab some of that sweet loot, but I also kind of wanted to have Spellweaver as early as possible. Brecilian I personally thought was not a good place for a low level char to do as some of the challenges get a bit hairy for anyone below level 10.

Has anyone found a good order of places to visit? Last time I did, in order, Brecilian, Mage Tower, Redcliffe and then Orzammar in order to get the Specialiations unlocked in the order I wanted, but I ended up getting Oghren rather late and I quite liked the guy. It also meant Sten didn't become bestest buds with me until near the end.

Thoughts? I'm currently thinking Mage Tower, Redcliffe, Orzammar, Brecilian.

[DAO Lemon]

I am still on my first playthrough and i have went this order so far,

[AW by the way]

Lothering [ Got Sten ]

Brecilian forest [ got spellweaver and AW specilization along with juggy armor ftw]

Orzammar [ Got Oghren and ageless weapon ]

then redcliffe :|

have yet to do the mage tower :[

[Cybercat999]

I use respec mod and I like Morrigan so Wynne is as good as dead. This game I went straight to Denerim after Lothering to gain few levels and now I am messing with elves, I just went to buy some elfroot but sorta stayed around for Juggernaut. I will probably head Orzammar next to pick Oghren, I want to see his nightmare in Fade.

[Fleshsucker]

Welp i usually go to the Tower first kill Wynne at the end... then do Redcliff (dont save the smithys lil girl.to get the elite bow.. then get shale..from there its just a matter of where the wind takes me

[BlackVader]

I have yet to use another order than this one:

1. Mage Tower - getting Wynne, stats bonus (especially for coercion)
2. Orzammar - getting Oghren, lots of quests and fights gains you some decent XP
3. Redcliff - By the time you reach the high dragon, you should be around level 18 and kill it easily. Probably would go here first or second if I was an AW.
4. Brecilian - Well, noting else's left...

Shale comes somewhere in between, usually after the mage tower or even before it if you want to use her much.
Oh, and I'm doing all kinds of side quests spread out over the game.

Modifié par BlackVader, 01 janvier 2010 - 03:18 .

[shaktiboy]

 There is absolutely an optimum order based on the designed upper and lower limits of challenge scaling that Bioware designed into each area. If you visit them out of order, some areas will seem far too hard and others will seem far too easy. (Shakes fist at Bioware for not making this important aspect of their game design more obvious.)

Challenge Scaling on the Wikia site

[IPerrin]

You could look at the optimum order from this angle also - optimum order to gather allies with the minimum amount of in game travel time. If I'm accepting the task of gathering armies, it makes no sense to me to spend weeks or months traveling back and forth between Redcliff and Denerim. From this RP point of view, I would see the optimum order as - Lothering - Brecilian forest - Denerim(possibly only to visit brother genitivi's house) - Mage Tower - Orzimmar - Haven - Redcliff. Should be able to call the landsmeet after that.

[swk3000]

My personal order runs something like this:



1. DLC. There's a lot of very useful stuff in these, so I try to pick it up early.



2. Denerim - Side-quests. I also stop by Orzammar to pick up the Key to the City, and since I side wiht Bhelen, I do his first task so I can finish off the Antivan Crows quests.



3. Broken Circle - It's all about the Fade Bonuses here.



4. Redcliffe - Several shops don't update their stock until you do Redcliffe, so I do this to get at the items they sell. Note that I include the Urn of Sacred Ashes as part of this quest.



5. Orzammar - I started it, I need to finish it. Now is as good a time as any.



6. Brecillian Forest - It's the only thing left.



It's not exactly optimal, but it works for me.

[JaegerBane]

shaktiboy wrote...

 There is absolutely an optimum order based on the designed upper and lower limits of challenge scaling that Bioware designed into each area. If you visit them out of order, some areas will seem far too hard and others will seem far too easy. (Shakes fist at Bioware for not making this important aspect of their game design more obvious.)

Challenge Scaling on the Wikia site

This is great. Cheers dude

The only thing I don't get is that apparently Brecilian is intended for around 7+. After some genuinely hairy fights against Revenants and that insane battle against Zathrian and his Sylvans I have to question that. I found it way harder then Redcliffe, to be sure.

Modifié par JaegerBane, 01 janvier 2010 - 04:13 .

[shaktiboy]

JaegerBane wrote...

shaktiboy wrote...

 There is absolutely an optimum order based on the designed upper and lower limits of challenge scaling that Bioware designed into each area. If you visit them out of order, some areas will seem far too hard and others will seem far too easy. (Shakes fist at Bioware for not making this important aspect of their game design more obvious.)

Challenge Scaling on the Wikia site

This is great. Cheers dude

The only thing I don't get is that apparently Brecilian is intended for around 7+. After some genuinely hairy fights against Revenants and that insane battle against Zathrian and his Sylvans I have to question that. I found it way harder then Redcliffe, to be sure.

Revenants are meant to be difficult for any party below level 10. After that, they're doable. There are some Revenant encounters in every zone, even Mage Tower. It's just easier to stumble across them in Brecilian forest, and the ones in Brecilian Forest have helpers.

Tip: Always take out all the helpers first and the Revenant last.

Also, certain fights will always be tough if you have a party composition that isn't "ideal" for that fight. In general, if you're having difficulty try running with a Tank (Alistair) and 2 mages (Morrigan for offense, Wynne for healing) plus a DPS class of some sort. Also be sure you've set up your tactics well (don't just use the defaults, they suck). Info on Tactics here at this Wikia article.

Modifié par shaktiboy, 01 janvier 2010 - 04:26 .

[Marso40]

I've altered the order on each successive playthrough and found that they are all generally doable in any order, although you may hit a few stumbling blocks with certain enemies until you reach a certain level. (10 seems to be the general consensus.)



With some characters I like to do a lot of side-questing mid-game, though, so this tends to bump the party level up a bit when resuming the core plotline.

[Sir Ulrich Von Lichenstien]

Least I now know why I was getting my butt handed to me when I first started playing on normal. Seems a bit of a shame that you can't really choose which one you would do first on the higher than easy levels.

I've had characters whom go to their 'home' origin (or closest to it in case of Dalish, City Elf and Human Noble) although I have one upcoming game where a mage is going to the Tower last as I am hoping I can level the place and so the character wants to ensure she is super powerful before doing so, so will be training/testing her powers in other locations first.

I was planning on trying 'normal' again at some point, so glad I looked at this topic as that wiki page really sounds smart and as I think about the enemies in the various locations can understand why it is set out that way.

I remember at one time when I was still trying to play on normal difficulty, I kind of meta-gamed because I figured if I could get my character to the gates of orzammar I could probably lose the aggro of the bounty hunters. I did, got into Orzammar, went down the route of going into the Aeducan Thaig and then got my butt handed to me by that first group of darkspawn in there. That was when I assumed normal was too hard for me

Funnily enough the first character I intend on attacking normal again with was going to go to Redcliffe first anyway as he is a human noble I'll then try taking him through the locations as per that wiki

[Cybercat999]

It very much depends on experience too. I made beeline to Denerim after Lothering, level 7-8, and I cleared all available quests there without much sweat really. Didnt even bother with DLC before that. But this is my 11th game, the only real threat to my party is my own PC when she gets into AoE frenzy.

[JaegerBane]

shaktiboy wrote...
Revenants are meant to be difficult for any party below level 10. After that, they're doable. There are some Revenant encounters in every zone, even Mage Tower. It's just easier to stumble across them in Brecilian forest, and the ones in Brecilian Forest have helpers.

Tip: Always take out all the helpers first and the Revenant last.

Also, certain fights will always be tough if you have a party composition that isn't "ideal" for that fight. In general, if you're having difficulty try running with a Tank (Alistair) and 2 mages (Morrigan for offense, Wynne for healing) plus a DPS class of some sort. Also be sure you've set up your tactics well (don't just use the defaults, they suck). Info on Tactics here at this Wikia article.

Indeed, that's my point - Revenants turn up in the odd place here and there, but in Brecilian it almost feels like you'd meeting them at every corner. The fact that the Juggernaut suit needs 38 strength meant that last time it was sitting in my inventory for ages as I levelled up stats for Alistair until he could use it. The whole area just felt like it was set up for high level chars.

I did beat them in the end, using combos of kiting, poisons, Glyphs and christ knows what else, plus burning through my entire stock of Elfroot and flasks, I was just wondering if the sheer number and the high level loot was intended for low level.

But cheers nonetheless.

Modifié par JaegerBane, 01 janvier 2010 - 06:18 .

[DragonRageGT]

Like some ppl, I tend to do random order after my first run. Another player has convinced me though that for RP purpose, the natural order would be Redcliffe right after Lothering and from there, Mage Tower and Brecilian Forest. I have to agree with that order for RP since in my first playthrough, a clueless Two Hander, that was indeed the natural order for me.

After that run, more expericenced with the game, actually any area is doable and even Revenants fall. Hard but doable even at level 8-9. Replayed the Two Hander in NM for the zero death achievement.

All runs past the second I went straight to Mage Tower and my current run is a 3-in-one! The Revenant there is quite hard and still doable in with 1-2 reloads, even none. My current Human Rogue DW, Dwarf DW Warrior and Elf Rogue Archer are at the very same spot in the game, about to enter the Fade and got there with different party setup too.

Even if you don't have play a rogue and Leliana is not high enough to open all chests there, after you finish the fade she will be. If you dismiss the whole party right after the Fade and select them back, they'll level up to catch up with your char and Leliana can then open all chests, if you built her for that end, like my Dwarf Warior has.

I'm enjoying this 3-some a lot since replaying the very same battle with different char/class/race widens even more the learning of combat tactics for me.

Modifié par RageGT, 01 janvier 2010 - 06:40 .

[JaegerBane]

RageGT wrote...

Like some ppl, I tend to do random order after my first run. Another player has convinced me though that for RP purpose, the natural order would be Redcliffe right after Lothering and from there, Mage Tower and Brecilian Forest. I have to agree with that order for RP since in my first playthrough, a clueless Two Hander, that was indeed the natural order for me.

A slight digression, but personally I would argue that the natural RP order of progression would be whatever area your character hails from first. For your character, yes, I'd say Redcliffe would be a logical place to start - Alistair seems to know Arl Eamon and a clueless warrior would obviously go to fellow humans first.

But if you're a Dalish Elf, would it really make sense to go straight to the Shem that you've guarded against all your life, for help? Or if you're a mage, does it make any sense that you would seek the assistance of total strangers who fear your powers over the help of your old master?

[DragonRageGT]

That's what the guys said about it after considering all dialogue lines in Lothering and I happen to agree with him, for a first play as human noble at least.

My dalish went to the dalish camp and my dwarf noble, to Orzammar... despite the kinda poor travel logistic. And they all meet with the human female noble whom went to the tower!

Modifié par RageGT, 01 janvier 2010 - 08:45 .

[tetracycloide]

Optimum doesn't really specify what is being optimized. For my own play the absolute first thing I do on every playthrough, after the lothring side quests, is the key to the city quest in Orzamar. After that it's straight to the stone prisoner DLC. If Shale is my intended end game tank I get shale, if she isn't and my PC or Alistar will fill that role there the items gathered, the harvest festival ring, key to the city, and the helm of hannolith, boost strength which will allow my tanking character to equip massive armor 2 levels sooner. As an added bonus after the armor is on the items can be removed and used on any character I wish.

[Mr_Raider]

Indeed, that's my point - Revenants turn up in the odd place here and there, but in Brecilian it almost feels like you'd meeting them at every corner. The fact that the Juggernaut suit needs 38 strength meant that last time it was sitting in my inventory for ages as I levelled up stats for Alistair until he could use it. The whole area just felt like it was set up for high level chars.

I did beat them in the end, using combos of kiting, poisons, Glyphs and christ knows what else, plus burning through my entire stock of Elfroot and flasks, I was just wondering if the sheer number and the high level loot was intended for low level.

But cheers nonetheless.

You can do the Brecilian area and leave the tombs for later levels. The glass vial inside the ruins is the easiest one since the revenant spawns alone and you can gang up on him.

[knownastherat]

I guess who asks about "optimum" does care little about RP.

Going first to Denerim, Wonders of Thedas, acquiring the belt increasing exp from codex is pretty close to being optimal. Key to the city, as it was mentioned, is a safe bet* for most players for its bonuses and no-cost. With the belt from Denerim it is possible to get good amount of free exp which at that level can make a difference in upcoming task which is: The Circle. The Fade bonuses are just huge and the sooner acquired the sooner they bring benefits. After the Circle anything is free game in my opinion and I would hardly look for any "optimal" route from there. Personally, I go for DLC as next.

edit:*safe bet - some fights on the road there can be emm complicated

Modifié par knownastherat, 01 janvier 2010 - 09:16 .

[keesio74]

JaegerBane wrote...

The only thing I don't get is that apparently Brecilian is intended for around 7+. After some genuinely hairy fights against Revenants and that insane battle against Zathrian and his Sylvans I have to question that. I found it way harder then Redcliffe, to be sure.

I did Brecilian last and I found it pretty easy. Remember that the Revenants are optional. You can alwasy come back for those later on. Just like with the High Dragon during the Urn quest. Just because they are there doesn't mean you have to fight them then and there.

I did Denerim right after Lothering. And I was getting my ass handed to me. I though the game was too hard (on hard diff). My first post on this forum was how hard the game was and I was actually getting a little discouraged! Little did I know I was not supposed to be doing Denerim that early!

Modifié par keesio74, 01 janvier 2010 - 09:14 .

[Zavrian]

I tend to go by Origin. If I'm a Dwarf, I do Orzammar first; If I'm a Human Noble, I do Redcliffe/Urn first. If I'm a Mage, I do the CIrcle first. If I'm Dalish, I do Brecilian first. The only hiccup is City Elf, since you can't really go back to the Alienage right away. That being so, my City Elf does Brecilian first just on general priciples.



If I'm using Shale, getting her is the first thing I do after Lothering. Warden's Keep I tend to do halfway between the "army" quests; I've done two, do WK and some of Denerim, then the other two and some more Denerim side quests before the Landsmeet. If possible, I will save Return to Ostagar for post-Landsmeet, pre-return to Redcliffe.



Mixing up the order is, to my mind, part of the replay value.

[ChaoticBroth]

My personal order is a bit strange, really.



Urn (Which you can do first, to hell with Redcliffe) -> Brecillian -> Mage Tower -> DLC -> Orzammar -> Redcliffe, so I can just get straight to Landsmeet.

[El Poncho Delgado]

I'm not sure about the other origins, but going straight to your home for help as a dwarf wouldn't make much sense to me. In one origin you're despised regardless of what you do, and in the other you aren't liked very much either.
When I'm in an RP-y mood, and am playing a dwarf, I justify my avoidance of Orzammar as my Warden wanting to put off asking for help from those who cast him out.
Of course, even though I say that, I end up going there right after The Tower/Honnleath just so I can have all the characters.

Modifié par El Poncho Delgado, 02 janvier 2010 - 01:43 .

[JaegerBane]

Mr_Raider wrote...
You can do the Brecilian area and leave
the tombs for later levels. The glass vial inside the ruins is the
easiest one since the revenant spawns alone and you can gang up on him.

I realise that, though I would point out that I hate metagaming - having to leave a challenge so I can come back later on never really sits all that well for me in a fantasy RPG. I'd rather wait until I'm ready before going somewhere to begin with.

knownastherat wrote...

I guess who asks about "optimum" does care little about RP.

Going first to Denerim, Wonders of Thedas, acquiring the belt increasing exp from codex is pretty close to being optimal. Key to the city, as it was mentioned, is a safe bet* for most players for its bonuses and no-cost. With the belt from Denerim it is possible to get good amount of free exp which at that level can make a difference in upcoming task which is: The Circle. The Fade bonuses are just huge and the sooner acquired the sooner they bring benefits. After the Circle anything is free game in my opinion and I would hardly look for any "optimal" route from there. Personally, I go for DLC as next.

edit:*safe bet - some fights on the road there can be emm complicated

I think it's a little unfair to assume that just because I'm asking for the most efficient route to take I must not have any interest in RP at all. There are some of us who actually want to do bit of both min-maxing and RP, you know.

Regarding your route, I was really getting at the areas where you have to collect allies rather than all the different areas in the game (hence the title of the thread). My reasoning for this is that I *always* go to Honnleath first due to Shale's awesomeness and I generally prefer to do Warden's Keep right after the first recruitment quest, as by that point I'll be need thick armour and a better staff and sword, if nothing else. It seems I hit Denerim at the right level entirely by accident in my last playthrough - this was primarily motivated by my Warden not wanting to head straight into Denerim while he was small potatoes, putting it off until he *needed* to go to Denerim to help Leliana and find Brother Gentivi.