What's this?
It mention's it comes with 3 in game digital items, What are they?
How do they get strategy guides formed for games that aren't even finished yet?
I'm skittish on buying this, i tend to like to find things on my own, i love accidental discoveries, and im worried using a guide is just making it so that i am less likely to replay to see what i missed if i know where everything is.
As xyzmkrysvr said, no one seems to know, which is more than a little disappointing a month out from release. But I'd be on board with more Skyhold options!
It must be the case that Prima (and other guide writers) make agreements with the companies that make and produce these games whereby they get insider access from an early date. I'm not even talking about a month's worth of early access but being in on the process from beta and even alpha builds. I also imagine that the game company forks over a toolkit or similar data so that the guide writers can take a look at the internal mechanics. (That would be how such guides can give us so many behind-the-scenes stats, especially leveled lists.) Not to mention official art and perhaps screen images, especially for the hard copy of the guide. I can't even begin to guess at who pays whom how much or other specifics regarding such deals, but I do know that some official agreement has to happen between game makers and guide writers, otherwise the guides that make money would be in violation of copyright for commercializing another company's intellectual property. (This is why an ordinary fan/gamer can't just self-publish a guide using official images and make money off of it; fan-sites like wikis are legal so long as they don't make money.)
I have to admit that the bonus items got me to bite on buying the guide, but I did have other reasons as well. For one, it will almost certainly have artwork and possibly maps that are hard to reproduce without straight-up scanning them and thereby violating copyright. The wikis may (eventually) include an almost comprehensive amount of information, and they do sometimes correct official guides (for which I am very grateful), but they're entirely digital. Since the guide is both physical and digital, I can have the book open while using a wiki or using my computer for other things. So in my case I just had to decide whether the Prima guide was worth $25 or whatever it is online now, and the bonus items (despite the fact that they're still unknowns) just pushed me off the fence in the direction of yes (or more accurately, "why not?").
That said, I'm the sort of person who can't get enough information, whether it's playing games or anything else. I will read and watch everything I possibly can (within reason) before I start because it's much more enjoyable for me to have the feeling of knowing what I'm doing, where I'm going, and even what outcomes I want in advance. However, based on what you've said above, OP, you seem like the complete opposite. (Not that that's a bad thing, of course! Far from it.) I completely understand that desire to take the trial-and-error approach, but then the information in the guide might actually be spoilers for you. If that's the case, my advice would be to hold off on the guide (either buying it or just reading it) until you've had a chance to experiment with the game. If you're not certain the guide is worthwhile for you, you might also wait until reviews (and perhaps some excerpts) begin showing up online after it's released. Amazon, for example, might put up sample pages after the release date. Alternatively, you could have a look at Prima guides for other games you've played. That way you could get a sense of what the guides are like without spoiling yourself.
(Apologies for the massive walls of text!)
Also, a caveat for anyone interested specifically in these in-game items:
Be very careful about which edition of the guide you're getting! The hardcover ("Collector's Edition") gets the bonus items, but the paperback ("Standard") version does not. This is especially confusing on sites like Amazon because both hardcover and paperback look like they're on the same page. There is a price differential, of course, with the hardcover's MSRP at $40* and the paperback's at $25, but several retailers are offering decent discounts right now. So it seems that the digital items are included as part of the "upgrade" from paperback to hardcover, among other things listed on Prima's site (here).
*All prices USD.
Actually, even if read the guide and learned where everything is and what the choices are, replayability will still be good for me. DAO, played it 6 times through, knew everything before I got to 6th. DA2, played it same amount of times. DAI, plan to play at minimum three times. I will know where everything is by then.
So, how is this a factor of not replaying a game, is beyond me. There are so many choices and alterations to go through that makes them replayable. Dependent also on couple factors as well. 
Already paid off the CE of the guidebook along time ago.
I dislike guides, if it comes with one I won't use it.
I don't think you'll have to worry, then, since the game itself won't come with an additional guide of any sort -- except perhaps those tiny leaflets on how to use your console or PC. (Totally OT: has anyone actually found a use for those things? I'd probably use them as lining for a hamster cage or something, if I had one. 
) Anyhow, we're discussing the separate guide put together by Prima.
Happy adventuring!
Actually, even if read the guide and learned where everything is and what the choices are, replayability will still be good for me. DAO, played it 6 times through, knew everything before I got to 6th. DA2, played it same amount of times. DAI, plan to play at minimum three times. I will know where everything is by then.
So, how is this a factor of not replaying a game, is beyond me. There are so many choices and alterations to go through that makes them replayable. Dependent also on couple factors as well.
Already paid off the CE of the guidebook along time ago.
it's not just knowing where the cool loot is, it also sounds like it tells you all the best outcomes for every possible decision, which means by contrast it also tells you the other outcomes for what it deems bad decisions.. i dont want that kind of knowledge, it also tells you what happens later on based on those decisions, that kind of knowledge kills replay for me, or even curiosity.
it's not just knowing where the cool loot is, it also sounds like it tells you all the best outcomes for every possible decision, which means by contrast it also tells you the other outcomes for what it deems bad decisions.. i dont want that kind of knowledge, it also tells you what happens later on based on those decisions, that kind of knowledge kills replay for me, or even curiosity.
Yep, if you read ahead from first play through or second, depending when. I usually dont read ahead with most.
I'm buying the guide it has useful info ; but you still must LEAD THEM OR FALL!
i put in the preorder for the collectors edition, but im doing it for the items i guess.
Interestingly enough it seems like the Prima guide is being sent early, I have a package coming this Friday. O_o
Interestingly enough it seems like the Prima guide is being sent early, I have a package coming this Friday. O_o
What's this?
It mention's it comes with 3 in game digital items, What are they?
How do they get strategy guides formed for games that aren't even finished yet?
I'm skittish on buying this, i tend to like to find things on my own, i love accidental discoveries, and im worried using a guide is just making it so that i am less likely to replay to see what i missed if i know where everything is.
The people who right and produce game guides like BradyGames (can't remember how it's spelt) work closely with the developers so that they can release the guide alongside the game. Effectively, similar to say IGN wikiguides which require people to play the game and then add the information, the people producing the guide you purchase are actually given the information straight from the developers who sometimes add there own input as well.
Also, not all guides contain every scrap of information. For example, the Destiny guide - which I own - has the locations for the golden chests but for the dead ghosts, it only has riddles which you have to work out for yourself; there is no answer sheet at the back of the book or anything. Unlike the Skyrim guide which has nearly everything in there from the vanilla game that you could possibly want to know except lore, I can't remember how much lore there is in the guide.
Honestly though, game guides are there for anyone who wants them. You don't need them, they don't really give you any edge over anyone else. It's just there for people who, like me, are completionists. I like to make sure I have completed everything possible in a game. Every side quest, every possible encounter that might spring up. But some people prefer to find all that stuff out on there own. It's a purely optional decision whether you purchase it or not.
Interestingly enough it seems like the Prima guide is being sent early, I have a package coming this Friday. O_o
Lucky! I guess that's to make up for the fact that as of yesterday Amazon was estimating a delivery date of December 4 for mine, despite 2-day shipping. (Because Nov. 18 + 2 business days = Dec. 4. I'm not a math whiz, and I know there's a holiday in there, but that sounds a little strange to me...) Now they seem to be back to saying "we don't have any idea when you'll get it."
Lucky! I guess that's to make up for the fact that as of yesterday Amazon was estimating a delivery date of December 4 for mine, despite 2-day shipping. (Because Nov. 18 + 2 business days = Dec. 4. I'm not a math whiz, and I know there's a holiday in there, but that sounds a little strange to me...) Now they seem to be back to saying "we don't have any idea when you'll get it."
Trust in the system... the system is your friend.
Bonus items? You'll most likely get Oghren as the court jester.
Interestingly enough it seems like the Prima guide is being sent early, I have a package coming this Friday. O_o
Trust in the system... the system is your friend.
Haha! I'll try. 
Bonus items? You'll most likely get Oghren as the court jester.
I wish! (Seriously -- put that at the top of the requests for mods, whenever modders manage to figure out this new engine.) Since a BioWare employee on one of the other threads has identified the bonus content for the deluxe edition (listed as "additional bonus content to be announced," vel sim.) as a multiplayer chest, I'm afraid there's a chance at least some of the 3 in-game items that come with the hardcover and inquisitor editions of the guide may be MP as well.
I'm not against MP per se, but I don't participate in it at all (especially not with these console paywalls), so I much prefer SP goodies. Now I definitely wouldn't object to substantial bonuses, but I understand objections to story/plot-driven Day 1 DLC (even if I don't necessarily agree with them), and I certainly don't expect it, especially not with an auxiliary item like a guide. Instead, I'd really go in for little things like extra mounts, decor, and weapon/armor pieces. While there are already several of those available as the pre-order and deluxe edition bonuses, I'm very acquisitive and can't really get enough of them. I'd also be happy with a consumable that has a permanent effect, like a +1 talent/spell tome or an extra Inquisition perk.
Similar things were included with the DA:O collector's edition and DAII signature edition as in-game bonuses (which were 3-item and 5-item sets, respectively, IIRC). The difference is that DA:I has many more options for customization, so it's not limited to weapons and personal accessories. If the guide bonus items turn out to be MP instead, I guess I'll just have to be content with the gorgeous-looking book that comes with them.
weird, i checked the weight of the package on ups and it says 1.70 lbs, the hard cover is over 2lbs, however the softcover is exactly 1.70 lbs, not to mention Amazon still says my hardcover is on pre-order still due to ship nov 18.
weird, i checked the weight of the package on ups and it says 1.70 lbs, the hard cover is over 2lbs, however the softcover is exactly 1.70 lbs, not to mention Amazon still says my hardcover is on pre-order still due to ship nov 18.
That makes me think your UPS package is something else. Even if it were somehow the paperback, the shipping weight of a package is almost always heavier than the gross weight of the contents. (I don't know whether the shippers include packaging weight or what, but all of my packages that I've checked the weight on are heavier than the product weight as stated on Amazon.)
perhaps you're right, but i don't recall order anything else. I guess we'll have to wait until friday and find out.
How do they get strategy guides formed for games that aren't even finished yet?
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