I remember ages ago there was mention of avoiding low level enemies because they don't grant much XP and that low level areas would eventually stop giving you XP once you got too high a level. So it soulds like enemies do give xp and I think some grinding can be done but only to a point.
Thanks. Mobs giving xp coupled with the encouragement to roam might lead to rapid leveling early on. I hope I don't out-level many of the initial challenges due to my completionist tendencies.
Yeah, I get that, I'm just saying I'd rather know gameplay stuff then story stuff. Which they've been doing more of for DAI then any of there past games so that's been nice to see. Hopefully when they do the specialization stuff (this week?) we'll get a better look at skill tree structures and whatnot. I'm not expecting a showcase of each skill in the game, just a general 'this is what this tabs for' and a show of the tree overall layout.
Thanks. Mobs giving xp coupled with the encouragement to roam might lead to rapid leveling early on. I hope I don't out-level many of the initial challenges due to my completionist tendencies.
I doubt this will be an issue, it wan't in the previous two and the cap is like 25-30. To me that sounds like they don't even expect most players to hit 30.
Thanks. Mobs giving xp coupled with the encouragement to roam might lead to rapid leveling early on. I hope I don't out-level many of the initial challenges due to my completionist tendencies.
This will probably happen to me as well. I'll see the first quest marker and think 'So that's where I need to go! Straight ahead; seems simple enough. I'll just see what's to the left here....' *several hours later* 'and now to the right...'
Guest_IceQuinn_*
Fade Step: Nothing concrete or seen in these most recent videos to support this theory – just based off the notion it wasn’t just a cosmetic change: + range (waaay more) & + power ("leaves ice trail which timed properly can be used offensively to freeze enemies"). If merely a general sFX change to justify it being in Ice, all they had to do was “make it look icy”. So. To me, it suggests an upgrade and that we *might* (as in, I could be tripping balls) see two versions of this spell. Whether its own upgrade or a passive in Winter which would turn “regular” Fade Step into this new & improved icy version. Plus:
http://www.reddit.co..._me_anything/ …
” …and I think his escape move was the pseduo-teleporting without ice, but I'm not sure.”
Focus: I too am in the bandwagon that Focus skills have been given their own tab. Starting with Mark of the Rift, which might be our very first Focus talent (common to all classes) and acquired early in game, too. To date, the only skill seen depleting the Focus bar (Fallow Mire extended video). Aside from Haste, most of the icon markings and other things have been added just recently probably part of the polishing/finalizing process. That said, I believe Firestorm, Blizzard, Haste and Group Heal might be the mages Focus skills – and that they will be moved out to their own tab, but still linked to their parent tree: i.e X points in Winter to unlock Blizzard and so forth.
Why do I still think i.e Firestorm is a Focus spell? In the combat video, amidst pretty much (if not all) scenes w/ the Focus bar very much present; a scene where Viv is casting Fire Storm, what do you know, Focus bar isn’t there – almost as though it had just been depleted! Hmm. Also: Focus skills use (well, Focus) and not Mana/Stamina. Vivienne’s mana bar was full. And her Focus bar was gone. Could she have cast such a high-tier spell without cost? Yet another + to this theory: most of her mapped skills were Fire-based (meaning, X points in a tree to gain its Focus skill). In trying to put two & two together with this, a number of things seem to point that way.
Starting Skills: I’d say that both “Seeker’s Swarm” & Fade Step could be starting skills common to all mages.
- Character/class selection screen, CC twitch stream video (2 tarot card for Warriors & Rogues - 2H & W&S; DW & Archer - and *one* for mages). Though they did mention something like not having to worry about that initial selection being permanent/locking stuff down – it pointed to starting talents. (The same theory might apply to Warriors & Rogues, if a little more varied 'cause 2 cards).
- Why “Seeker’s Swarm”? Being a “versatile” adapts-to-your-staff type spell. And I’d say it’ll end up in Spirit - was a perfect color match to the icons in the Spirit tree (such as Mind Blast, Dispel & Barrier – even though Barrier’s been recently, apparently changed to green). Why Fade Step? It being an evasion move. And trying to make sense out of these skill numbers & put this puzzle together:
We might be looking at: (5 actives each + 4 passives + Focus = 10 talents per base tree)
-Inferno: Flashfire, Fire Mine, Wall of Fire, Flame Burst + *Unnamed*. Focus: Fire Storm.
*Unnamed: Since this little guy became an active, apparently! 
(Crafting & Customization video)
-Winter: Winter’s Grasp, Fade Step, Wall of Ice, Glyph of Frost & Ice Burst. Focus: “Blizzard”.
-Spirit: Dispel, Barrier, Mind Blast, “Revive” & "Seeker’s Swarm". Focus: “Group Heal”.
-“Primal”: Chain Lightning, Stonefist, Lightning Bolt, Static Cage +*Unnamed*. Focus: Haste.
*Un-known/named: Probably this guy 
(and I’d say an Earth-themed spell, to go w/ Stonefist).
PS: Are we sure the hand icon in Spirit with a cross in the middle, stands for Group Heal (because it might look the part)? One: it’s got an upgrade, which Focus talents do not. Second: it’s not in the bottom, the supposed “Revive” is. Could it be a “regeneration” spell which was rumored/talked about? Except that we have confirmation for a Focus Group Heal; something there, about those two icons is a bit… iffy (as if speculating like a crazy person wasn’t hard enough xD), doesn’t quite add up & would maybe take “Seeker’s Swarm” out of the equation, then (or at least for it being in Spirit?). O.o Who knows.. 
I was pretty sure focus skills used focus in combination with your other resource (such as mana). The most recent combat video you mentioned, btw, doesn't show the focus brackets on Firestorm at all. And if they moved firestorm to not the fire skill tab I really hope they put in a 5th spell otherwise theres only 4 actives in that tab which is going to be an extra bummer for mages.
All we really know at this point is every character has there own focus bar. So if there is a separate tree just for all the focus skills (which, again, I think is extremely odd), the inquiz would have an extra skill or 2 in there class specific focus tree. That just feels kinda off to me all together. And if that means theres 5 base trees, 1 for all these focus abilities that ultimately belong in the other 4 trees they would have 24 skill trees not 21.
Shits weird, I think it's more likely they changed the little iron flair that lets you know its a focus skill away from being brackets but... who knows. Maybe there isn't even a tree and you unlock the ability to train all the the chars of same class how to use Focus as long as 1 of them gets to the end point in a tree or something and its just there as a skill to select from but not represented in a tree. That just sounds like something that'll confuse a lot of players though.
Guest_IceQuinn_*
I was pretty sure focus skills used focus in combination with your other resource (such as mana). The most recent combat video you mentioned, btw, doesn't show the focus brackets on Firestorm at all. And if they moved firestorm to not the fire skill tab I really hope they put in a 5th spell otherwise theres only 4 actives in that tab which is going to be an extra bummer for mages.
All we really know at this point is every character has there own focus bar. So if there is a separate tree just for all the focus skills (which, again, I think is extremely odd), the inquiz would have an extra skill or 2 in there class specific focus tree. That just feels kinda off to me all together. And if that means theres 5 base trees, 1 for all these focus abilities that ultimately belong in the other 4 trees they would have 24 skill trees not 21.
Shits weird, I think it's more likely they changed the little iron flair that lets you know its a focus skill away from being brackets but... who knows. Maybe there isn't even a tree and you unlock the ability to train all the the chars of same class how to use Focus as long as 1 of them gets to the end point in a tree or something and its just there as a skill to select from but not represented in a tree. That just sounds like something that'll confuse a lot of players though.
Nah, Focus skills don’t utilize Mana/Stamina, they rely (or used to, anyways) on the focus pool-bar being filled up. Can’t really remember where or when unfortunately, but I vaguely recall something along the lines being mentioned - although sure, that too could have changed. For one, that freakin’ bar! (lol) is nowhere to be seen in these more recent videos (like the twitch stream). So… can’t say right now what’s become of that or how it might work if such a change took place. But, if nothing else it has helped to detect/decipher/speculate this sorta pattern (or, whatever lol) w/ Mark of the Rift and these other Focus skills, and there possibly being a move & change on those older skill trees and etc.
As far as there being multiple trees for Focus: I’m not sure that’s how it works (well, I can’t be sure of anything xD) but I don’t think it goes like a regular tree (which is why I’m referring to it as “tab” atm – just to disambiguate). I mean, we don't know what it looks like (except that, Mark of the Rift would have been separate anyways) so maybe, it’d be Mark of the Rift + 4 others (one per base tree) for a total of 5 active skills; which matches the number of active skills in the base trees (again, as a non-conventional skill tree, there would be no passives). I imagine they’ll be there (prolly greyed out) and unlocked once you meet that certain criteria. Mark of the Rift, which is a given, so to speak; it might even be the way to introduce us players, to the mechanics of Focus...
The 4 brackets/arrows. Either: not yet marked on all the Focus skills (unlikely at this point!) or (I’m thinking), were removed altogether, perhaps deemed unnecessary with this “move” (no longer together with the other skills) and/or possibly could get a bit messy with the addition of those other markings on the regular active skills (two arrows, diamond=combo, & etc). Also, if Mark of the Rift didn’t get a marking. It’s a sign (to me) these others wouldn’t either.
Five active skills per each of these base trees (see the new one for Inferno), I’m sure of it! Plus four passives for a total of nine – which also matches the number on the new image for Two-Handed. This whole theory would explain the absence of its former Focus “Berserk” talent.
I can almost picture a couple of these trees and how they’d sorta go: (just for kicks 
)
-i.e Inferno: For sure, this new active would be moved to the bottom replacing Fire Storm.
-“Primal”: 2 Electricity on one side, 2 Earth on the other, Static Cage being moved to the bottom as its highest tier. You’d choose “which path” – so that you wouldn’t have to go through a passive, for example, which wouldn’t benefit you. It makes even more sense that way, i.e Static Charge (passive) would give *that* expected result to Static Cage (active). While the passive on the opposite side (more earth-y?) affects it in a different way (or not at all, who knows).
-Another one. Spirit (if like I’m imagining it): Barrier & Mind Blast on one side, “Seeker’s Swarm” and Dispel on the other (both being more DPS/”arcane-y”)? Or a different configuration. “Revive” being on the bottom. And so forth…
Again, wild speculation. I could be so off, it’s ridiculous. But, y’know, I can… *feel* this coming together & rather nicely might I add...
This is gonna be good! 
Yeah like I said I just think that'll be confusing for a lot of people (like my friends... some of em are a bit slow). Meh, I dunno, hopefully they explain what the focus skill/system is like. Cause all we've known is 'it's the last skills in trees' and now its not looking that way, but then still might be? ...but might not be. Stuffs weird.
I'm with Adhin. I think people jumped to the wrong conclusion regarding the focuses.
The reason we thought that focus got it's own tab is because with our limited knowledge, what did we see?
We saw an old iron bull focus in the 2-hander tree and then a lot later, we saw a 2-hander tree from blackwall, which did not contain this focus.
There are 2 options:
A) Focus is indeed all put into one tree for each character. But this really seems like a messy option to me, how would the tree even look? We'd have to have simple unneeded focuses first?
Every character has different focuses. Meaning, Blackwall may have a focus in sword and shield, whereas iron bull has a focus in 2-handers. Bioware salready mentioned some character will have weapon PREFERENCES. So this can only mean that they have focus preferences, just like specialization preferences as well. THAT is why, according to me, Blackwall's 2hander tree looked different. Because he didn't have the focus ability there, and that's why the tree needed to be redisigned.
This means that the inquisitor's trees SHOULD have all the focuses available to him/her.
Now that's an interesting take on it, though they've also stated all characters will have access to all there class skills. This is just another one of those things I wish a Dev would show up and just be all 'yo this is how focus skills work'. And instead that wont happen, we'll get a video half-showcasing specializations with no real look at the skill trees aaand more confusion will ensue.
I agree with IceQuinn, that was a superb effort you made posting everything. I more or less agree with everything.
I am part of the "they removed focus abilities from the skill trees" wagon, but that does not mean they will not put them again.
The tree with 5 actives, no focus, makes sense. It is clear, clean, and it works. I think they removed the focus abilities to make room for others, and to still have clear and homogeinity across the skill trees. The more we see of the trees, the more homogeity we see, and I have the impression that they do want to end up with a clear layout of 5 actives, 4 passives.
If that is the case, focus does not need a skill tree, but just a list. They can be in some skill trees but not connected, and with a requisite. Or in a different list.
About Focus Meter not being in the latest demo:
I think it is just because that Inquisitor has not been introduced to focus yet. I guess we will be introduced to that mechanic later in the game, not from the start, and then given automatically the "Mark of the Rift" focus ability, since it does not belong anywhere. That was their idea all along, it is a story-driven ability.
One thing that could be super cool, would be if the focus abilities were learned through a quest of the WAR TABLE, that will only show up if you have enough investment in a particular tree. That would be awesomeeeee... But very unlikely, since we can respec. 
Cant a dev just tell us about dem focus abilities????? 
Heh yeah I'm kinda curious when we get the rift focus. If the inquisitor was the only one capable of using focus I could see it being story driven entirely, or quest related. It seems odd it would be keep related too but it could be research related, I guess? While 1 new trailer-ish video isn't enough to make me just assume its all gone (though Icy was pretty convincing) where would we see the skills? Would we still buy them with skill points? It wont be via a 5th skill tab I doubt, and if it was definitely wouldn't be a skill 'tree'. Would end up just being a list with requirements. From my own personal experience with TC mods, that kinda thing just confuses people, even if you list out the requirements planely. If they have to go to 'another' tree, just to see what they have to do to figure out how to get something in something else... frustration ensues.
To me, that means if it's not in a skill tree, and is unlocked later it would have to be keep research related. But it would still take up a active skill slot. For a mage this kinda makes sense to me, research bigger and better spells. A Rogue? Maybe a potion that... requires focus? Honestly no idea what a rogue focus ability would look like outa some kinda perm-10 second stealth with bonus dmg letting you stab with impunity (that'd be kinda snazzy actually). Rage like thing would work nice for warrior... honestly, at this point I just kinda wanna know what Rogue and Warrior focus related skills are more then if they're still in normal skill trees or not.
Hell it's possible they decided only the non-weapon trees will have focus abilities, which means (just in general) that Ice/Fire wouldn't get a focus skill and it's just 2 focus skills per class. Would specializations have a focus? Maybe only specializations have focus but then where would the group heal fit in, that wouldn't really work with the mages specializations currently in. Personally, I'm hoping each specialization has it's own Focus related thing as well as class skills but I... meh.
Here's hoping for more on all this when they do the specializations stuff cause from what little we know its super, super confusing.
-edit-
Oh and... the 5/4 thing definitely makes sense. 2 paths to the end skill and all that. Kinda disappointed that 2H skill tree didn't have cross lines to let us jump across. I was hoping to ignore 1 side of the 2H tab and get all the passives... which is probably why they removed them lol. Makin' me get all the junk I wont use as requirements for them sexeh passives.
At this point I'm reluctant to speculate, but I too was considering that Focus might be tied to specializations now... the only problem with that is that it would mean that only one of the mage cmpanions would have Group Heal, which would make them the new Anders of the team... I think they are trying to avoid that, but it might just be that I prefer the idea of choosing the Focus abilities for each companion rather than having them forced upon us (and thereby forcing the companions into specific roles). It gets even messier when we are talking about elemental damage Focus powers like Firestorm. What if I wanted to spec that char into Ice instead? Wouldn't Blizzard be more appropriate? That's kind of why I hope we get to choose for ourselves...
Yeah I don't think it'll be forced like that, would kinda ruin all this choice they're trying to give us, or at least sour it. Also what warrior skill do we know was, or is, a focus skill? Just that rage icon that may very well not of had anything to do with Rage? I don't see why they would put rage in the 2H skill tree, that just seems bizar. Pretty sure that was just a placeholder or just thrown there for the sake of being there with testing or whatever. Far as I know, we have no idea what any warrior or rogue focus skills look like atm, and Rage was just a rampant speculation.
Anyway, I really hope it's not pre-destined 'this char has this focus' and the quizzy can learn 1 of... those... hmm. See now 'that' sounds like Mass Effect. Each companion having 1 unique skill the player has no access to at base (or other companions) and you can, eventually pick 1 of them to learn for your self. I would both hate and like that at the same time... Yeah really hope they haven't gone that route.
I just hope there's at least one Lightning Spell we shoot from our hands instead of our staff. Force Lightning attack FTW!! 
Yeah I don't think it'll be forced like that, would kinda ruin all this choice they're trying to give us, or at least sour it. Also what warrior skill do we know was, or is, a focus skill? Just that rage icon that may very well not of had anything to do with Rage? I don't see why they would put rage in the 2H skill tree, that just seems bizar. Pretty sure that was just a placeholder or just thrown there for the sake of being there with testing or whatever. Far as I know, we have no idea what any warrior or rogue focus skills look like atm, and Rage was just a rampant speculation.
Anyway, I really hope it's not pre-destined 'this char has this focus' and the quizzy can learn 1 of... those... hmm. See now 'that' sounds like Mass Effect. Each companion having 1 unique skill the player has no access to at base (or other companions) and you can, eventually pick 1 of them to learn for your self. I would both hate and like that at the same time... Yeah really hope they haven't gone that route.
Well, it fit the pattern of having the same border as Haste and it was at the end of the skill tree, so I don't know if I'd call the speculation "rampant"... I mean, there's no way we could have anticipated that the tree would be significantly altered the way it was (the paths between passive skills were also removed). Berserk fit the pattern, so it was a solid theory at the time. As for what it did, it could have been a speed/damage boost that slowly drained stamina... does that not fit into the idea of two handed warriors filling a DPS role?
Not really saying it doesn't fit, just that it seems odd they would align that with only 2H. Not that our worlds historical nonsense matters at all but most berserkr used shields. Smashing and howling and all that. If I was gonna put it anywhere, it would be in Vanguard or Reaver (almost definitely Reaver). But yeah it fits with 2H well enough, just meant it makes more sense to me to be open regardless of weapon style.
Also, I just like using the word rampant with speculation, it wasn't a dig on any of it.
Not really saying it doesn't fit, just that it seems odd they would align that with only 2H. Not that our worlds historical nonsense matters at all but most berserkr used shields. Smashing and howling and all that. If I was gonna put it anywhere, it would be in Vanguard or Reaver (almost definitely Reaver). But yeah it fits with 2H well enough, just meant it makes more sense to me to be open regardless of weapon style.
Also, I just like using the word rampant with speculation, it wasn't a dig on any of it.
Oh, well np then... for the record, I agree that Vanguard probably would have been a good place for such a skill. I guess we'll have to wait until November to know for sure... too bad they won't just tell us. I would rather have some idea of how I'm going to build my characters before I start the game...
You and me both man, It's the only thing I really want to know prior to a games launch like this and it's the 1 thing I almost never know prior to said launch. DA2 was the only exception and that was cause of the demo, folks had it all up a week ahead of time.
Guest_IceQuinn_*
Excerpts from the Fallow Mire video, in which we are introduced to Mark of the Rift:
“At the beginning of the game, you are exposed to this massive explosion and that gives you the ability to manipulate these rifts in some way”.
“The Inquisitor has this special ability Mark of the Rift, she’s essentially using her connection to the Fade to banish all the demons in the AoE… but you can’t use it all the time, so…”
Add to that: Mark of the Rift consuming the Focus bar.
-Mark of the Rift is and has always been, IMO, a Focus ability.
- Mark of the Rift was always something apart from the other trees. Was it supposed to be just that, one ability separated from the others (& basically making three different types of skills: regular, Focus & “Rift abilities”- now, THAT could be confusing). Let’s entertain for a moment that we’d gain more Mark of the Rift-type skills throughout the game – on top of, again, over complicating things, it’d make i.e the Mage Rift spec (thematically) almost… just, unnecessary or less special.
- Companions also have access to Focus abilities, even building their bars separately – with the exception of Mark of The Rift, obviously, as that is unique to the Inquisitor for story reasons. On that note also, I don’t see how specializing has anything to do with it, or how 2-Handed for Blackwall might differ from the Inquisitor’s. It’s simpler than that. Those 4 base trees are the same for everyone, Inquisitor or Companion. The only differences: specs *might* differ slightly for Companions to suit background/personality etc (but we don’t know that, what we know is that they will match the ones available to the Inquisitor). And: the Inquisitor gets Mark of the Rift.
- 5 actives, 4 passives. Clean & simple. Also in line with what I’ve been saying, I totally agree with @Kage: Focus might as well be a list, for all we know. Except that the other Focus spells are linked to “a parent tree” (i.e Fire Storm to Inferno – and we’re likely to be introduced to that, as well, how/where those are available, how the whole thing works) – aside from that, it’s its own thing. And it’d perhaps be a mistake to think of it like a regular skill tree.
And why put Focus spells back on the base trees simply as their highest tier skill, when they’re an entirely different mechanic (same as Mark of the Rift!)? The only remaining connection being, they’re theme-linked to these based trees. They way I see it, it’s simplifying things. That being said, again: I believe this “link/connection” will be very much present & made perfectly clear. Plus: Look at “new” 2H. The structure/design is so much better than the old one, IMO. I’m almost positive that all the other base, non-spec trees will share the same model – numbers and structure even, just as clean & straightforward.
Conclusion: In my opinion. This was always the plan. Once they got everything down: which skills and where: they “made the move”, as a result those trees would of course look different. It was no big change or decision. It’s just a matter of rearranging as part of this being finalized.
We have to remember that most of the shots in the OP are very old, if something might strike us as “odd” now, it’s maybe because we’ve gotten used to thinking with those in mind & how they were arranged – when that was due to change, skills were missing, etc & all of these things...
NEW VIDEO PEOPLES!!!! Plus, Solas has a green shield spell equipped as well.
We also see some of what looks like Artificer trap skills.
I love this ability icon (I think it's Fire Mine).
NEW VIDEO PEOPLES!!!! Plus, Solas has a green shield spell equipped as well.
We also see some of what looks like Artificer trap skills.
Spoiler
I'm pretty sure that green shield you're referring to is just Barrier with a new icon. It was in the Twitch stream as well.
Edit: Sorry about this double post, but I did something weird with the multi-quote thing and cannot go back lol.
Retour en haut