614 réponses à ce sujet

[JeffZero]

Ha! Actually, maybe, maybe not! Garrett's daydreaming is really just him keeping his options open. For some reason I have it in my head that he's a lady's man right now, one who may just settle down as the story progresses. Probably comes from that dashingly sarcastic tone I keep enshrining him with.

[JeffZero]

EDIT: Blasted phone doubled my post. As if I need any help being wordy!

[Ozzy]

*_* pretty much describes Merrill accurately. Dat accent. Eve Myles could read a phonebook and I'd swoon.

[CuriousArtemis]

Ha! Actually, maybe, maybe not! Garrett's daydreaming is really just him keeping his options open. For some reason I have it in my head that he's a lady's man right now, one who may just settle down as the story progresses. Probably comes from that dashingly sarcastic tone I keep enshrining him with.

 

I had a Hawke like that once. Had quite a bit of fun at the Blooming Rose. Also had some fun with Isabela before finally settling with Anders. Those sarcastic Hawke's just can't be stopped 

[CuriousArtemis]

Btw don't know if you'd be interested in a build guide, but I've found this one handy: http://social.biowar...99754/1#6703572

 

I'm also on a rather odd current playthrough that consists of rogue Hawke and Fenris only on hard. I've made Fenris a tank... hey, after 10+ playthroughs, I needed a challenge 

[caradoc2000]

You seem to be well on your way to complete act 1. Note that any crafting ingredients not picked up will vanish between the acts (every act has its own set of ingredients). You can also go talk to Feynriel at the Dalish camp - you'll even get money for this.
 

Hey, great idea. I had noticed that about her skill tree, aye. I suppose now's a beautiful moment to ask for some vague little advice on companion development choices. Maybe just a touch of insight, a sprinkling of sagely wisdom.

All the companions personal talent trees have useful abilities. For example, Isabela's Experienced Hand and Sea Legs passives give her stats a tremendous boost while the All Hands on Deck is a mass murder. Similarly, Aveline's Thick Skin and Indomitable increase her resilience.
 
Also, take some time to peruse through the ability descriptions to see what abilities can be use to set up and trigger cross-class combos.
 

Made a quick trip to the Chantry to inform Sebastian the deed was done. He's thankful and he paid me handsomely and then he was off. Well, see ya, buddy. I think I'm supposed to like... have you in my party at some point though. So uh. Just... try to remember that, m'kay?

Sebastian joins you for his act 2 quest and permanently thereafter.

[Jaison1986]

You are using the Vanguard skill tree, nice. As for specializations, believe me or not, I like templar. Berserker consumes too much stamina for my taste, while reaver will sacrifice all your health in contrast. It also makes you an anti mage tank.

 

Like other said, ignore Merrill mana and upgrade her magic and health stats. She is an nearly unstopable blood mage. I also like to use primal spells for Merrill. The Walking bomb spell is also great. Any enemy that dies while under it explodes, and the higher thier health, the more powerful the explosion.

 

For Bethany and Anders, I fully upgrade their elemental tree. In the creation tree make sure to unlock haste. Anders spirit healer skills are useful, but don't upgrade the bottom skills under the vengeace tag. They just make Anders die faster.

 

For Varric, I fully upgrade his archer and personal tree. Then I upgrade whatever else I want with the leftover points.

[Corker]

Now Merrill is tagging along. Groovy. Mage tag-alongs are delicious. That's another food reference. I wonder if I'm hungry. Heh. "Dalish scout cookies." They come around but once a year, all-natural and simply magical. Well, some of them are. Many of them are stale now, thanks to human meddling. Bastards. I need to focus here! Where was I?

 

 

Try these.  I understand the manufacturer is under new management, and old problems with quality control are behind handled.

 

[JeffZero]

*_* pretty much describes Merrill accurately. Dat accent. Eve Myles could read a phonebook and I'd swoon.

 

:3

 

Btw don't know if you'd be interested in a build guide, but I've found this one handy: http://social.biowar...99754/1#6703572

 

I'm also on a rather odd current playthrough that consists of rogue Hawke and Fenris only on hard. I've made Fenris a tank... hey, after 10+ playthroughs, I needed a challenge 

 

Nifty! I only loosely browsed it because I'd actually rather not fall into feeling like I have to check my phone at every level up my first run, heh heh. But the momentary loose browsing offered some great vague advice especially for tactics.

 

That sounds like fun! Kinda.

 

You seem to be well on your way to complete act 1. Note that any crafting ingredients not picked up will vanish between the acts (every act has its own set of ingredients). You can also go talk to Feynriel at the Dalish camp - you'll even get money for this.
 

All the companions personal talent trees have useful abilities. For example, Isabela's Experienced Hand and Sea Legs passives give her stats a tremendous boost while the All Hands on Deck is a mass murder. Similarly, Aveline's Thick Skin and Indomitable increase her resilience.
 
Also, take some time to peruse through the ability descriptions to see what abilities can be use to set up and trigger cross-class combos.
 

Sebastian joins you for his act 2 quest and permanently thereafter.

 

Hey, this is great advice. I'm researching the cross-class thing now. I think I actually saw something similar occur last night. I got a trophy for it, either way. I have zero interest in such things but I can't help admiring their pleasing little dings when the PS3 registers them. (Or the 360 in Mass Effect's case.)

 

Went ahead and grabbed that cash from Feynriel at your behest. Poor kid's having nightmares though. 

 

You are using the Vanguard skill tree, nice. As for specializations, believe me or not, I like templar. Berserker consumes too much stamina for my taste, while reaver will sacrifice all your health in contrast. It also makes you an anti mage tank.

 

Like other said, ignore Merrill mana and upgrade her magic and health stats. She is an nearly unstopable blood mage. I also like to use primal spells for Merrill. The Walking bomb spell is also great. Any enemy that dies while under it explodes, and the higher thier health, the more powerful the explosion.

 

For Bethany and Anders, I fully upgrade their elemental tree. In the creation tree make sure to unlock haste. Anders spirit healer skills are useful, but don't upgrade the bottom skills under the vengeace tag. They just make Anders die faster.

 

For Varric, I fully upgrade his archer and personal tree. Then I upgrade whatever else I want with the leftover points.

 

*takes notes; knows this will all be on the quiz: and by quiz, I mean tough boss battles* Gratzi, senor!

 

Yeah, Vengeance didn't seem like the route I wanted to take Anders. At least not right now. His ability to revive is a huge deal. Which reminds me. One of the loading screen tips mentions the injuries system in DA2 and states that "the maximum number of injuries varies by difficulty." Only... I don't get that. The maximum number? What does that even mean? Like... before they just croak for good until I leave an area or something? Or... wait, I think I might get it. Does it regard how much damage they take between falls? No.. I... I don't get it.

 

Try these.  I understand the manufacturer is under new management, and old problems with quality control are behind handled.

 

 

Bahahahahahaha omg. I had no idea. This is incredible.

 

Got some more work done around the City-State between schoolwork, cardio and sword practice (and cat petting and feeding and occasionally even feeding myself) today. Expect an update posthaste!

[JeffZero]

I start tonight's lecture with a question. You see, I never did update Bartrand on my progress out of warped fear I'd get tossed into the Deep Roads unceremoniously. Granted I could always reload but I'm really OCD about not seeing lines of dialogue before I'm "supposed" to so I was silly. So here's the question: can you commence with the Deep Roads Expedition without finishing any of the quests located in the "Main" section? Just wondering if that could have inadvertently happened. Because sure enough, as I was assured, each and every last one of Varric's pro tips turned into Main Quests. And now they're done.

 

Where does that take the Hawke Flawk? Firstly to Lowtown in the heat of the night, where a hot offer brought Garrett into saving sweet innocent Maker-loving Sister Petrice from some bad men in a back alley. After scolding her for her Maker-loving sweet innocence, the team came to the point of business, at which point the kindhearted priest of Andraste's good graces tasked us with leading a shackled qunari mage to freedom. A shackled qunari mage who looks kind of like a certain female krogan, were she located on the abomination aisle of your local BioWare grocery store. Immediately things seemed awry, and not just because goodsister Petrice has facial curves like a hawk. Without the "e", obviously. Or maybe with it. You know Hawke can look like anything if you put your mind to it. But we took her offer and went "downstairs" and bumped into some meddlers and man-sarcastic-Hawke-so-good and then suddenly fire and the fellow gurgled and Isabela suggested he just wants to wag his tail and get a bellyrub and I think this is one of my favorite quests in the game already, this is so good.

 

Then we got outside and what do you know, the qunari are super-suspicious of everything that moves, so it's nice to know the more things change the more they stay the same. And apparently there's a trail and that makes us even more dubious. Oh, I have some thoughts on that matter. But for now, let's talk it out, alright fellas? "See, Bethany here is a mage," Garrett blurted, all smiles and cordiality. 

 

"IS SHE NOW?"

 

Oops. Well they're dead now. Now it's all on you, qunarimagefriendbuddypal of mine. Aw gee, what followed was a really touching conversation. I think I wouldn't be surprised if there's a group of fans out there who really dislike this qunari stuff (well technically of course I wouldn't be surprised because there's a group of fans out there to hate everything) but the anthropology major in me sees which real-world wellsprings this information flows from and really appreciates it and its fantasy bend and oh-he's-on-fire-dammit-he's-dead.

 

Garrett had some unfinished business, so he Free Marched his way on down to Lowtown, and he snapped his fingers like, "ooh girl, you be tryin' a busta, but you ain't even know, a busta friend had blown himself up, that's real-talk baby," and Petrice was like "lol qunari mirite" and walked away. And her friend smells like death too. Fenris thinks that won't be the last we see of her. I hope he's right, she cray-cray and someone needs to cut her weave.

 

It had been a long, hard day, so Garrett decided to visit the Blooming Rose before calling it a night. He detested the anti-Fereldan stereotyping, so he played right into the mistress' hands and coughed up two sovereigns. There, he picked the most stunning elven beauty and... had sex with a man. Oh. Well, all's fair in love and brothels. Hope he was good, buddy.

 

The next day a small group ventured forth to finish off acquisition of various herbalist's tasks and slew a bunch of darkspawn along the way. And Garrett saw an ogre and had Lothering-nam flashbacks and killed it in like five seconds. He really carved it up. Get it? Because... uh... I'm so sorry.

 

"Dear Garrett Hawke,

 

I know you and you know me but I'm not gonna say who I am, teehee. Please meet me for some fun time.

 

Yours truly,

Secret vibrant orange-headed admirer Templar Traske

 

PS

Confound it all, how could I be so daft? Curse Tevinter, I've inadvertently spoiled my cover. Alas, it cannot be helped. Blast."

 

Yeah, that's right Gamlen, you are Garrett's servant. Now make him a year-old block-of-cheese sandwich. And buy your sister a golden ring too while you're at it. And stop making fun of my dog. Wrex is brutal.

 

Hmm, weird letter. Time to go check it out. Oh look, it's Trask. Hi Trask. What? Mages are locked up and templar reinforcements are en route to kill them all? Good thing I brought Anders, Bethany and Fenris. Turns out the only thing that would have made it better is if I had replaced someone with Merrill, because smile, you're on blood mage camera. And sheesh louish, that Decimus must have had etymological roots in the classic Tevinter "decimate", or to obliterate unceremoniously and probably make sterile too, because he absolutely nuked Anders. The poor sod went down like a golem from the top of Sundermount, leaving things rather tense going forward. Garrett quickly Scythe'd through the bearded cultist (because of course he's bearded, he's kind of a cultist) and then it was much ado about survivors wanting to escape. Well I have to say, I don't often harbor sympathy toward folks who are in the business of using WMDs against my countrymen, but Garrett is willing to make an exception for mages hoping to escape the system and find small comfort in lives of obscurity. Because he loves his sister and... you know the drill.

 

Fenris: "This ought to be good."

 

I got this, mang. You's a busta, Fenris. Garrett's gonna smooth talk his way outta this shizz, you'll see, you'll see. So he walks out all arms crossed, then outstretched, a brisk yawn from the setting sun. All in a day's work. I killed your freaks. Why don't y'all go grab a bite in Darktown, the deed is done. (They're not going to fall for this, are they?) Wow, they fell for it. Good, because we weren't about to kill Trask. He's got a weird crush on Garrett (clearly) but other than that he's alright. A bunch of relative unknowns weren't going to get away if it meant he had to kick the bucket, even though his companion is kind of a schmuck.

 

Other exploits today included failing to spy on ship captains for bonus loot (I took control of Isabela [as an aside I did this for the first time and wow she's really fun, might have to look into this whole running a rogue thing, and why yes, I am using brackets within parentheses, that's how I roll] and tried to Stealth with her but it ran out after ten seconds and I barely got a sentence out of them) and... man, why did I make that sentence so complicated, now I don't even know what I was on about. Oh yeah. Nice Crime You Have Around Here! Merrill's a doll, ain't she? Well, don't answer that, peeps who have already indicated they feel otherwise. But I think she is, anyway! Funny lass. Just earlier she was asking Aveline very matter-of-fact questions which led to her very matter-of-factly explaining she intends to steal and such. And then she told Varric it's perfectly safe wandering the alleys at night and Varric was iike, "yeah, you're welcome" and I giggled. 

 

Well, long and short of it (ha, like there's ever a "short" in this thread) is that I'm ready for the Deep Roads. I tossed Bartrand the 50 sovereigns and the maps, and then I spent some of my remaining dough on some upgrades and a second backpack and I donated five sovereigns to the Fereldan refugees and got 200 experience for it, nice! And that's that.

 

I can hear Lonely Mountain humming in the back of my head now...

[Jaison1986]

I don't really understand the injury system either, I usually just drink an potion and keep rolling.

 

The vengeance ability for Anders does have uses. But it's kind of like a bet you know? You deal considerable more damage with him, but at the expense of him dying easier. Maybe I should try this spec with him and see if it's worth it.

 

Make sure to go to the black emporium and buy some maker sigh potions to change yours builds in case they don't please you.

 

There are also a couple of potions for sale that grant you a single skill talent to level up. Might be worth checking it.

[JeffZero]

Those Maker's Sigh potions don't suddenly become unavailable in Act 2, do they? I can grab 'em after the Deep Roads, right? Just wanna make sure. I'll stock up now if so.

[caradoc2000]

Hey, this is great advice. I'm researching the cross-class thing now. I think I actually saw something similar occur last night. I got a trophy for it, either way. I have zero interest in such things but I can't help admiring their pleasing little dings when the PS3 registers them. (Or the 360 in Mass Effect's case.)
 
Went ahead and grabbed that cash from Feynriel at your behest. Poor kid's having nightmares though.

If you have any and all doubts for CCCs (cross-class-combos), this is the time to cast them aside.

[JeffZero]

Kind of foreboding...

 

EDIT: Better yet, my avatar

[caradoc2000]

Makers' Sigh pots will remain in all acts.
 

Kind of foreboding...

Foreboding, better yet:
"For cryin´ out loud - just kill the Golem"
-paraphrasing Jade Empire
  
Edit: looking forward to seeing your future actions, especially the Deep Roads.
 

Hmm, weird letter. Time to go check it out. Oh look, it's Trask. Hi Trask. What? Mages are locked up and templar reinforcements are en route to kill them all? Good thing I brought Anders, Bethany and Fenris. Turns out the only thing that would have made it better is if I had replaced someone with Merrill, because smile, you're on blood mage camera.

For fun, get Varric to do the talking with the end Templar.

here's the question: can you commence with the Deep Roads Expedition without finishing any of the quests located in the "Main" section?

No, you can't.

[CuriousArtemis]

Ah, so you've met Petrice. Sigh. Petrice. *shakes head*

 

You lied to Karras and his buddies! Yipes. Personally I always enjoy putting the pig out of his misery. Also, it's funny you joked about Thrask having a crush on Hawke because I wrote a fic where all the companions were kind of teasing Hawke about that. Because yeah that letter is a bit... yeah lol

 

Poor Anders 

 

Isn't that just such a sad moment with the Sarebaas? (I'm terrible at spelling Qunari stuff.) 

 

Just out of curiosity, what team did you bring into the Deep Roads?

[Kaidan Fan]

I just stumbled on your origins version of this a few days ago and found this one today.  I'm glad you continued your adventures here for us to follow because I quite enjoy reading them.

[Ozzy]

Ah, Petrice. I could just pinch her perpetually scrunched up face. Don't you love the smell of religious zealotry in the morning?

Glad to see you're almost done with the first act . I suspect that many of us are the same way in that we compulsively have to finish every quest before moving on , lol.

[The Elder King]

Those Maker's Sigh potions don't suddenly become unavailable in Act 2, do they? I can grab 'em after the Deep Roads, right? Just wanna make sure. I'll stock up now if so.

They're available in every Acts.

[Dean_the_Young]

This is an interesting read, mate, and I'm glad you picked it up. Coincidentally, I just restarted my own game as well.

 

I'm still reading through this, but I saw one suggestion raised that I want to counter-suggest (or at least elevate the alternative): a Merril rival romance. Both have their merits, but having seen your views on themes of responsibility, I suspect you would particularly appreciate the rival path for her (or, honestly, Isabella).

 

 

Also, the Deep Roads is one of my more appreciated parts of DA2. I think you'll enjoy it- but don't let anyone, even myself, tell you which party members to bring. And if someone does... do the opposite, or just roll dice for which party members you'll take. If/when you play DA2 again, this is definately a good place in the game to hook yourself in different ways.

[Lulupab]

I don't really understand the injury system either, I usually just drink an potion and keep rolling.

 

The vengeance ability for Anders does have uses. But it's kind of like a bet you know? You deal considerable more damage with him, but at the expense of him dying easier. Maybe I should try this spec with him and see if it's worth it.

 

Make sure to go to the black emporium and buy some maker sigh potions to change yours builds in case they don't please you.

 

There are also a couple of potions for sale that grant you a single skill talent to level up. Might be worth checking it.

I see people disagreeing with me sometimes but I have tested this personally.

 

Vengeance Anders deals more damage than mage hawke but at expense of dying really quickly. Its really not too hard to see , he deals more damage with everything and has extensive cooldown reduction in opposed to Hawke's specs (blood magic, force mage) that do not grant much damage but grant great utility and crowd control. For example Anders can cast 3 chain lighting with proper use of "martyr" and "blood of my enemy" while Hawke is waiting for first cast cooldown to finish. Protected and given proper stats and talents Anders can be devastating. The important factor here is his cooldown reduction applies to his supporting skills as well, meaning he can permanently keep the haste buff on party and heal much quicker, the downside is he cannot heal himself while Vengeance is active.

 

Spirit Healer Hawke, Vengeance Anders, Aveline, Varric. I went through nightmare with such ease it bored me I never reloaded lol. Casting double Tempest and raining fire spell (forgot its name) on enemies with Anders was fun (spammed martyer and made them ready again). Also as I said earlier permanent haste is uber overpowered to no end. Malvernis went down in less than 30 seconds.

[The Elder King]

 
Also, the Deep Roads is one of my more appreciated parts of DA2. I think you'll enjoy it- but don't let anyone, even myself, tell you which party members to bring. And if someone does... do the opposite, or just roll dice for which party members you'll take. If/when you play DA2 again, this is definately a good place in the game to hook yourself in different ways.

Agreed.

[Jaison1986]

Well... if I were you, I would make an save right before talking to Bartrand that you are ready. You might want to reload it in case the outcome of the expedition is too much for you to bare.

[JeffZero]

Ah, so you've met Petrice. Sigh. Petrice. *shakes head*

 

You lied to Karras and his buddies! Yipes. Personally I always enjoy putting the pig out of his misery. Also, it's funny you joked about Thrask having a crush on Hawke because I wrote a fic where all the companions were kind of teasing Hawke about that. Because yeah that letter is a bit... yeah lol

 

Poor Anders 

 

Isn't that just such a sad moment with the Sarebaas? (I'm terrible at spelling Qunari stuff.) 

 

Just out of curiosity, what team did you bring into the Deep Roads?

 

Ha! You did? So it's not just me! Sometimes I think I make those kinds of jokes and I'm off completely alone on my own little planet of weirdness. Well I probably still almost am, but it's nice to have visitors.

 

Yeah, the Sarebaas (I'm bad at it too, first time in Thedas) bit really tugged at my heartstrings. I'm loving what DA2 is doing with the qunari. So many profound emotional moments in BioWare games these days. And it really struck a chord with me because I've conducted research on societies like these. Minus the horns.

 

Who did I take, indeed? Well as I've concluded my business there, I am now in the loop enough to at least know why that's so pressing a question. I promise to sate your curiosity in just a little bit...!

 

I just stumbled on your origins version of this a few days ago and found this one today.  I'm glad you continued your adventures here for us to follow because I quite enjoy reading them.

 

Thanks! Hopefully I'll continue to provide enjoyment!

 

Ah, Petrice. I could just pinch her perpetually scrunched up face. Don't you love the smell of religious zealotry in the morning?

Glad to see you're almost done with the first act . I suspect that many of us are the same way in that we compulsively have to finish every quest before moving on , lol.

 

Ha, yeah, you don't want to see me play ME1. Well, specifically the first 75% of my playtime in ME1. I do everything everywhere before proceeding to the next plot worlds. And of course I have to pause to admire the vistas. Oh man, 30 hours of assignments.

 

I'm kind of a funny guy. I don't care about achievements/trophies, min/maxing, reading super in-depth mathematically-inclined gameplay concepts, anything of the sort. But boy oh boy do I go everywhere pretty posthaste even if the pay's a penny.

 

This is an interesting read, mate, and I'm glad you picked it up. Coincidentally, I just restarted my own game as well.

 

I'm still reading through this, but I saw one suggestion raised that I want to counter-suggest (or at least elevate the alternative): a Merril rival romance. Both have their merits, but having seen your views on themes of responsibility, I suspect you would particularly appreciate the rival path for her (or, honestly, Isabella).

 

 

Also, the Deep Roads is one of my more appreciated parts of DA2. I think you'll enjoy it- but don't let anyone, even myself, tell you which party members to bring. And if someone does... do the opposite, or just roll dice for which party members you'll take. If/when you play DA2 again, this is definately a good place in the game to hook yourself in different ways.

 

Hey Dean, I'm glad you could make it! I'm loving all the interaction with wonderful people new to my BioWare lifestyle, but it's great to see an old familiar face around these parts all the same. And as always you're bringing thought food to the lunch table. I'll take that under advisement but this first time in Garrett's going to respond as Garrett responds -- that said, it's good to know someone thinks I'd enjoy the rival paths, because if that's where things go, well, nifty.

 

As for the Deep Roads... that die was cast before I read anything on not listening to anyone who suggested methods for rolling it, thankfully. 

 

In fact, I've returned from the expedition. And it was an eventful one. Oh yes... quite so. Update pending.

[JeffZero]

Well... if I were you, I would make an save right before talking to Bartrand that you are ready. You might want to reload it in case the outcome of the expedition is too much for you to bare.

 

Heh heh, I appreciate the suggestion but I am very much a "you're going to carry that weight" style philosopher when it comes to this stuff. If I've made a bed for myself, I'll be lying in it.