27 réponses à ce sujet

[Ace Palarum]

Okay, silly question here, but before I give into my instincts and say "to hell with the Orlesians", can someone tell me what the consequences are of either

 

A - Losing enough court approval to get yourself kicked out of the ball; or

 

B - Just never doing the stupid quest at all.

 

Honestly, this quest feels like a piece of a completely different game just shoehorned in out of nowhere. The type of gameplay is radically different from everything else I've done up to this point, the pacing is downright abysmal, and quite frankly I think the only reason the game takes away your equipment is so after five minutes you don't just start hacking down everything in sight as a catharsis.

 

After less than an hour of trying to navigate the whole mess, I really think the best solution if you have to do the quest is to immediately be rude enough to get yourself kicked out and then get on with your life. And given the choice, I'd rather not even bother with that much. But before I go to that extent, I want to know if there will be long-lasting consequences. Because as far as I can tell, in-game there's just no hint.

[Feranel]

If you truly detest it, your best bet is to probably just speed through it towards only the quest objectives, and go for a bare bones resolution that allows you to murder-knife whichever politician you hate the most.

[caradoc2000]

Neither A nor B is an option since it is a main quest. You have to complete it. Disregarding the timed sections, it is actually a pretty fun quest - quite unlike the others.

[Ace Palarum]

... Terrific.

 

Well thanks for the responses. I should send the devs an appropriate thank-you gift for this quest, but I'm not sure how to mail a punch in the nose.

[DarkAmaranth1966]

First it isn't hard, find the ring, choose the middle option when talking to nobles. Grab halla statues, head for markers. Don't use a halla statue unless you must to get to a marker. ignore the puzzles and storage area key things, not worth it. Decide who rules, then decide if you want to fight Florienne or judge her later. Done in 10 mins with 100 court approval, even on an elven or qunari mage.

[sch1986]

Honestly I *think* if you hate it that much- you can go into the timed area and wait until your approval reaches less than 30. Then I think you do get kicked out and celene gets assassinated.

I have not tried this for myself. But I remember reading something about approval dipping below 30 being a big issue in the "tutorial boxes".

I like this quest so I never tried to see what happens. Also if you are romancing someone you get a dance with them at the end of the quest assuming you brought them along. If you do go this route you should post the result in here. I'm now kind of curious to see how that would play out if possible.

[Ace Palarum]

First it isn't hard, find the ring, choose the middle option when talking to nobles. Grab halla statues, head for markers. Don't use a halla statue unless you must to get to a marker. ignore the puzzles and storage area key things, not worth it. Decide who rules, then decide if you want to fight Florienne or judge her later. Done in 10 mins with 100 court approval, even on an elven or qunari mage.

 

I've only seen a handful of nobles to talk to, and half of them don't trigger an actual conversation. The existence of the halla statues I am taking on faith, as I haven't seen any sign of them anywhere.

 

To be honest, I am a storyline junkie, and I really want to explore the options in this part. But half an hour of "what the hell an I supposed to even do?!?" was enough to make even me say "screw this", load an earlier save, and forget about this crap as long as humanly possible. That says something to me about the structure of the whole mission.

[Gandalf.nho]

Apparently if you get kicked from the ball, the result is a game over.

 

 

And for the quest, try to use a walkthrough if you are stuck, I checked this one trying to get all collectibles of the area: http://game-maps.com...nter-Palace.asp

[Fredward]

I loved this quest and you're an objectively bad person for disliking it.

[Aggie Punbot]

Honestly I *think* if you hate it that much- you can go into the timed area and wait until your approval reaches less than 30. Then I think you do get kicked out and celene gets assassinated.

I have not tried this for myself. But I remember reading something about approval dipping below 30 being a big issue in the "tutorial boxes".

Not sure if that's true or not, since my first playthrough resulted in me getting as low as 3 approval before I started to come back around. That's not a typo; my approval was literally at 3.

[rda]

If you're a completionist who hates this quest, you have 2 choices:

1) get over it just for this one quest. You can power through it and never collect anything. Protip: answer Florianne's questions with questions, and you'll have like 100 approval. The only thing you lock yourself out of are some of the more esoteric options for ruler, like having all 3 work together. This will take you 30 minutes, tops.

2) sit down with a walkthrough so you can do everything. This will take you about 5 hours.

[Fiery Phoenix]

I wasn't a fan of that quest myself. The idea behind it is pretty cool, but the execution was poor IMHO.

 

Regardless, as suggested, use a walkthrough and you should be fine.

[hong]

Initially I didn't like it, probably because I didn't know wtf I was doing.
 
But after I figured out what to do I found myself enjoying it, it was different to other plot quests, makes a nice change. If you have trouble with finding the statues, just hit your search button like mad until you find them, they're handy if you like good loot.

This. It's pretty much Kasumi's DLC turned into a full-blown storyline quest.

[Ace Palarum]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. Hopefully when I feel like trying this quest again, this will help me to just bull through it and get to the other side.

 

I do have to say that if getting kicked out of the ball is a game over, that's idiotic. I have no problem with "fail this complicated quest and get negative consequences", but "fail this complicated quest and you lose ha ha" is pretty much a slap in the face from the devs.

[hong]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. Hopefully when I feel like trying this quest again, this will help me to just bull through it and get to the other side.
 
I do have to say that if getting kicked out of the ball is a game over, that's idiotic. I have no problem with "fail this complicated quest and get negative consequences", but "fail this complicated quest and you lose ha ha" is pretty much a slap in the face from the devs.

Eh. It's no different to getting your entire party killed in combat; both situations require a reload. People just aren't used to nonviolent interaction potentially leading to a hard fail state.

[SpiritMuse]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. Hopefully when I feel like trying this quest again, this will help me to just bull through it and get to the other side.

I do have to say that if getting kicked out of the ball is a game over, that's idiotic. I have no problem with "fail this complicated quest and get negative consequences", but "fail this complicated quest and you lose ha ha" is pretty much a slap in the face from the devs.

The negative consequences for failing this quest is you don't get the Orlesian army support for the Inquisition which means you won't be strong enough to beat Cory when the time comes. And it's not unlikely that the Orlesians, through Florianne, fall into Cory's hands instead, making the whole thing even worse. Hence the game over.

[ShadowWeaver2012]

Apparently if you get kicked from the ball, the result is a game over.

 

 

And for the quest, try to use a walkthrough if you are stuck, I checked this one trying to get all collectibles of the area: http://game-maps.com...nter-Palace.asp

 

YES... use a walkthrough.

 

I agree with you, OP, that this is a crazy quest that is completely draining. I made the mistake of trying to finish it before going to bed during a work week...meanwhile, 2 am, and I'm feeling homicidal at that point. 

 

It does have some large ramifications later on, so I do recommend getting through it. Don't bother trying to wing it, just follow a walk-through, and it will be a lot easier. That's what I'm doing my second- time around.

[Ace Palarum]

<teeth grinding>

 

Can someone point me to a list of where all the stupid halla statuettes are? So far I have found one, upstairs near the entrance to the library. As far as I can tell, the door to the guest wing that I am supposed(???) to open requires 3 (and I'm not even convinced that's the next step). I've walked all over the entire area to which I have access and no more hallas.

 

I hate this. It is blindingly stupid to have a quest that basically requires switching back and forth between the game and online walkthroughs just to get through it AT ALL. And quite frankly, I haven't found a walkthrough that's all that helpful. So if someone could point me to a walkthrough that basically lists out step by step the way to get through the main objectives, I'd sure appreciate that as well. At this point, there is no way I'm going to draw much enjoyment from this quest, so I'm not losing anything by reducing it to a checklist.

[DarkAmaranth1966]

Yes there are only a few. An Elf mage begins at 30 approval, the noble talks you can do, get you to 68, then climb the trellace in the garden (you will have found a Halla statue by then so, open that door, grab documents, loot if you like, open secret book case door, grab docs and loot again if you like, open locked doors to get out of library - go fast, bell will ring about the time you grab the docs off the table the second time. Wait for second bell so you are fashionably late to enter ballroom. Talk to Dowager, she will talk now, ask her opinion of the evening. Okay, good to go to servants quarters, slash and grab again, and that includes Hallas when they come easy (just 2 in easy grab there.)

 

Back to ballroom, be fashionably late again, and accept the dance, all middle responses. BINGO 100+ approval (it starts saying court approval 0 when you top 100) Off to Royal wing, and relax, you won't loose that 100 approval anytime soon, run that area (not going to spoil it all.) Back to ballroom, make your choice, end the ball with or without further violence, that's up to you, and of course, decide the ruler of Orlais. Back to Skyhold with the spoils and, to judge either a dutchess or a box of remains.

 

There are more places you can get to, guards you can trick (loose 26 approval for that) a puzzle you can solve for moor loot, but you don't need to do any of that, or gather any secrets for the storyline to proceed, that, caprice coins and all are bonus content. If I run it all, I can still run it in about an hour and have my 100+ approval on any race and class. Just depends if I feel like dinking around at a royal party for a while or, if I just want to get it over with. It can be fun to chat with your people and, there is some okay loot if you want it but a quick chat, slash and grab, chat, slash and grab, dance, slash and grab will get the job done.

[Gandalf.nho]

<teeth grinding>

 

Can someone point me to a list of where all the stupid halla statuettes are? So far I have found one, upstairs near the entrance to the library. As far as I can tell, the door to the guest wing that I am supposed(???) to open requires 3 (and I'm not even convinced that's the next step). I've walked all over the entire area to which I have access and no more hallas.

 

I hate this. It is blindingly stupid to have a quest that basically requires switching back and forth between the game and online walkthroughs just to get through it AT ALL. And quite frankly, I haven't found a walkthrough that's all that helpful. So if someone could point me to a walkthrough that basically lists out step by step the way to get through the main objectives, I'd sure appreciate that as well. At this point, there is no way I'm going to draw much enjoyment from this quest, so I'm not losing anything by reducing it to a checklist.

The map/walkthrough I suggested some posts above have the location of statues and the other collectibles of this quest, and a suggested flow to follow: http://game-maps.com...nter-Palace.asp

[XMissWooX]

There are 11 Halla statues throughout the level:
1) In the garden, before entering the palace, go up the stairs to your right to find it on the floor by the bench.
2) Follow the balcony to your right after you climb the trellis to find the statue sitting on the bannister.
3) In the servants' quarters go straight forward from where you entered, into the kitchen area and look up at the rafters. Climb onto the table to get the statue.
4) In the Servants' quarters, through the door to your left as as you enter, and again to the left before dropping down to the area with the fountain.
5) In the servants quarters, in the hallway where you meet Briala for the first time, to right of where you spoke.
6) In the servants quarters when you first see the Venatori at the fountain, turn right and go all the way to the end. Climb the stairs to the right, then the ladder and into the room. The statue is to your right.
7) On the desk in the Trophy Room, next to Gaspard's orders.
8) In the Royal Wing, in the westernmost room, on the table in the middle of the room.
9) In the Royal Wing, in the easternmost room, on a table in the far left corner as you enter.
10) In the Royal Wing, before you go through the door to the fade rift. Go past the door and down the stairs. The statue is to your right.
11) In the Royal Wing, before you go through the door to the fade rift. Go through the door on your right, turn right and follow the balcony and jump through the open window. The statue is to your left.

And as for which doors to use these statues on, it depends on what outcome you want. You can find a detailed explanation here: http://forum.bioware...s-ending-guide/

[Cell1e]

I just dread this quest too. I always go through it as best and as quickly as I can just to get to the dance at the end. The outfits offend me no end, no pretty ball gown for my female inquisitor. Meh! 

[Ace Palarum]

Okay, apparently I had a slight bug where all the doors requiring halla statuettes said "0/3" when attempted with no statuettes on hand. The guest wing door just requires one to open. Definitely not helping the teeth-grinding aspect of it all.

 

However, to be fair, once I got past that hurdle, the quest became more tolerable. (Not entirely pleasant, mind you, but more tolerable.) So I will revise my opinion of this quest from "godawful" to just "awkwardly designed". I will concede that a lot of the incidental background things are quite entertaining (Cullen's reaction to getting his butt grabbed comes to mind); however, I do maintain that the feel of this quest is so different from the rest that it creates a serious hiccup in the flow of the overall storyline.

 

And on that topic ...

 

<rant>

 

The biggest problem I have with this quest - specifically, the "kicked out = game over" aspect - is that it forces a certain type of behavior on the Inquisitor, which may not mesh well with the way you have played your character to this point. An unfailingly blunt, direct, cut-to-the-chase type of Inquisitor can either have a sudden jarring change of personality, or get a nonstandard game over. No other options. It shatters the story immersion, which for a game this richly detailed is sad.

 

One of the greatest appeals of Dragon Age is the depth and robustness of the setting and the story. There are plenty of negative consequences that could be imposed in-story that would allow the player to play the Inquisitor however they like (sow the wind, reap the whirlwind). You were rude and got kicked out of the ball? Okay, but now Orlais has completely collapsed, certain areas/war table missions might be closed off now (can't get across Orlais to get to the Western Approach and nearby zones), Corypheus now has new red-lyrium freaks to throw at you, and the endgame gets that much harder. That kind of path would be much more satisfying - and would feel more appropriate to the general feel of the DA games in my opinion - than just "nope, sorry, you lose."

 

Consequences for your actions are a fine thing in RPGs. But dealing with those consequences is much more interesting if it's done in-game - "well, this is gonna be a lot harder now" rather than "load an earlier save and try again".

 

</rant>