22 réponses à ce sujet

[ElementalFury106]

Hey all.

 

If you've seen my other thread recently, you know that I'm putting the finishing touches on my world states before moving on from Inquisition, as Trespasser concludes the Inquisition journey.

 

So I reloaded my canon playthrough (completed What Pride Had Wrought but did not defeat Corypheus) and completed Jaws of Hakkon. I am surprised how much I enjoyed it, despite the fact that the majority of the DLC had a very big MMO feel to it. The team I took with me is: Cassandra, Solas, Cole. <-- This is among one of my favorite team combinations.

 

Anyway I was originally planning doing Descent after defeating Corypheus, which would mean Solas wouldn't be in my party, hence I take Dorian as my secondary Mage (my Inquisitor is a Mage: Knight Enchanter). I figured Dorian would be a great addition for the Descent, considering his people's connection the creation/unleashing of Darkspawn.

 

From a combat perspective, Dorian has Walking Bomb which when coupled with Static Cage from my Inquisitor, will absolutely wreck those Darkspawn trash mobs like it's nothing.

 

However...I really really like Solas. Solas has been a favorite since the release of the game last November, and my meta-knowledge of him being such a powerful ancient being makes me love having him in my party that much more. Also, we kicked SOOOO much ass in Jaws of Hakkon. While my whole party contributed to the ass kickery of the Hakkonites, Solas and my Inquisitor totally stole the show. Such good team work between the two of them.

 

Also, Mark of the Rift/Static Cage + Firestorm is an unbeatable combo.

 

So yeah...I'm really torn. If I choose Solas, I obviously have to play Descent before defeating Corypheus. I feel that both Dorian and Solas would have a lot to offer both story/combat wise to the Descent DLC.

 

Solas Pros:

-Always has great and intruiging things to say involving lore and current events

-Great crowd control (Rift Mage) abilities, ideal for dealing with big mobs

-Firestorm is amazing

-He's the f**king Dread Wolf

 

Dorian Pros:

-Great personality

-Walking Bomb is ideal for dealing with big mobs

-Dorian's awesome and very well written

 

Ugh. Thoughts/opinions?

[Ashaantha]

I found Dorian's few comments rather entertaining, I only took Solas once and don't remember much at all of what he does so didn't make as much of an impact for me I guess.

 

Honestly, there isn't much said by companions overall in Descent as it is more focused on your tag-alongs, and I know some Solas fans who were disappointed in the lack of stuff from Solas in Descent. Up to you over-all though, I always take Dorian personally.

[Evamitchelle]

From a story perspective it really doesn't matter who you take with you, as neither of the companions make many comments about the situation. I've taken both Solas and Dorian in the Descent and they were pretty much interchangeable.

Combat wise both were good in different ways. Some of the enemies you meet in the lower levels are really tricky, and Solas' crowd control abilities are great at debilitating them. But Static Cage + upgraded Aegis of the Rift to cause damage is also a great way to deal with them.

In the end if you feel like Descent is better played post-game you should just go with Dorian. Story wise it doesn't change anything, and they're both viable options gameplay wise.

[ElementalFury106]

I found Dorian's few comments rather entertaining, I only took Solas once and don't remember much at all of what he does so didn't make as much of an impact for me I guess.

 

Honestly, there isn't much said by companions overall in Descent as it is more focused on your tag-alongs, and I know some Solas fans who were disappointed in the lack of stuff from Solas in Descent. Up to you over-all though, I always take Dorian personally.

 

Hmm, I see. I remember watching in a video Solas making an intriguing comment regarding Dwarven history on the elevator ride down. I'm sorry to hear that's where the intriguing comments end.

 

I'll consider this a vote for Dorian. Thanks!

 

 

From a story perspective it really doesn't matter who you take with you, as neither of the companions make many comments about the situation. I've taken both Solas and Dorian in the Descent and they were pretty much interchangeable.

Combat wise both were good in different ways. Some of the enemies you meet in the lower levels are really tricky, and Solas' crowd control abilities are great at debilitating them. But Static Cage + upgraded Aegis of the Rift to cause damage is also a great way to deal with them.

In the end if you feel like Descent is better played post-game you should just go with Dorian. Story wise it doesn't change anything, and they're both viable options gameplay wise.

 

Well then, did you feel playing the DLC was better post-game? I'm already maxed out at level 27.

[Evamitchelle]

I've played it both ways, once before What Pride Had Wrought and once post-game. I don't have strong feelings either way, though I do think it makes a bit more sense to secure the lyrium before the final fight with Corypheus. The Descent scales to your level, and I still found it challenging at lvl 27.

[ElementalFury106]

I've played it both ways, once before What Pride Had Wrought and once post-game. I don't have strong feelings either way, though I do think it makes a bit more sense to secure the lyrium before the final fight with Corypheus. The Descent scales to your level, and I still found it challenging at lvl 27.

 

Would you mind explaining why you think it makes more sense? I'm just trying to get as much perspective as possible so I can make a decision. I hope my indecisiveness isn't irritating you. 

[devSin]

It really doesn't matter for the Descent (the companions have some small reactive lines, but nothing important).

I'll just say that virulent walking bomb is the bomb in Descent. Mob density can get really high in places, and there's nothing more satisfying than having a large group of enemies all get blown around and killed by the explosions. Static cage can be useful, but genlocks are immune to it (also, alphas will be immune to all of Solas' tricks, though pull of the abyss and veilstrike do come in handy with the trash mobs); they tend to group up anyway, though, as long as your tank does its job.

[Evamitchelle]

Would you mind explaining why you think it makes more sense? I'm just trying to get as much perspective as possible so I can make a decision. I hope my indecisiveness isn't irritating you.

It isn't, I also had trouble settling on DLC order for my canon playthrough. Basically I like doing Descent before the end game because it pads out the third act, which I felt was a bit short. It makes it feel like the Inquisitor has more to do to defeat Corypheus: you got the mages/Templars in the first act, now it's time to make sure they're as efficient as possible by making sure you have a secure supply of lyrium. But it's easy enough to say that the earthquakes only started after Corypheus was defeated, and since they are still a lot of ex-Templars in the Inquisition you still need lyrium.

[Ashaantha]

As for when to play it. I personally played all DLC's post-game as a preference, and rarely change this in any playthrough. However, that being said,Descent does give some incentives to play late game at the least.

 

- Earthquakes. Dialogue, and the war table op, will say that the surface is being hit by destructive earthquakes all of a sudden so gives the Inquisitor a push to go investigate and stop it if possible as they seem unnatural.

 

- Lyrium from the dwarves. Lyrium mines are being destroyed by the earthquakes and dialogue comments at the start of the DLC suggest that the Inquisition is a huge buyer of lyrium so it's in their interest to help out Orzammer with this. This also gives a possible timeline to play it just before the Arbor Wilds as if the Inquisition needs so much lyrium, it would make sense for it to be for that battle. Another thing this points to is doing it after completing the Orzammer alliance war table operation.

[themikefest]

I haven't played the dlc, but I would choose Dorian.

[JD Buzz]

My vote's on Dorian. I had him fire/lighting specked when I played Descent. He's awesome handling those mobs.

[ElementalFury106]

It really doesn't matter for the Descent (the companions have some small reactive lines, but nothing important).

I'll just say that virulent walking bomb is the bomb in Descent. Mob density can get really high in places, and there's nothing more satisfying than having a large group of enemies all get blown around and killed by the explosions. Static cage can be useful, but genlocks are immune to it (also, alphas will be immune to all of Solas' tricks, though pull of the abyss and veilstrike do come in handy with the trash mobs); they tend to group up anyway, though, as long as your tank does its job.

 

This was very helpful. May I ask what element the Darkspawn tend to be weak to? I know Emissaries are weak against fire.

[Evamitchelle]

Ogre Alphas have Greater Spirit Resistance. I'm not sure about the rest. What do you have Solas and Dorian specced as ?

[ElementalFury106]

Ogre Alphas have Greater Spirit Resistance. I'm not sure about the rest. What do you have Solas and Dorian specced as ?

 

I spec all my companion Mages relatively the same. A bit of everything: damage, CC, and support. The only thing that distinguishes them is which of their specializations abilities I hotkey.

 

Solas;

-Immolate (Wildfire Upgrade)

-Fade Step (Mana recovery upgrade)

-Energy Barrage

-Barrier (Decay-delay upgrade)

-Veilstrike (Weaken upgrade)

-Static Cage (Lightning Cage upgrade)

-Dispel

-Firestorm

 

Dorian;

-Immolate (Wildfire upgrade)

-Fade Step (Mana recovery upgrade)

-Energy Barrage

-Barrier (Decay-delay upgrade)

-Walking Bomb (Virulent Bomb upgrade)

-Static Cage (Lightning Cage upgrade)

-Dispel

-Haste//Winter's Grasp (frequently switch between the two)

 

I also switch up their staves depending on what my Inquisitor is currently rocking. I have a wide arsenal of crafted Staves that have different themes to them and I like to rotate them. I plan on giving my Inquisitor a crafted Hakkon's Wisdom staff that deals Cold damage for Descent. So either Solas/Dorian will either be rocking a Fire or Lightning staff. I'm leaning towards Lightning for them.

[Evamitchelle]

According to the wiki enemies in the Deep Roads tend to be weaker to lightning, though I don't remember that making much of a difference for me (I usually stick to one element + spirit for my mages, so Dorian is lightning, Solas is ice, Viv is fire). I do seem to remember some enemies being resistant to ice but I'm not sure.

[devSin]

I know Emissaries are weak against fire.

Actually, they're weak against ice and resistant to fire (at least the alpha is; I think the others are too, but they're so easy to stagger for some reason that it really doesn't matter). Genlock alphas are weak against lightning, though their shields will block most direct attacks (this makes energy barrage a bit hit-or-miss, but you can still use static cage for the extra damage, as well as chain lightning).

I don't think the other darkspawn have any special elemental resistances (if they do, it's not enough to make much of a difference), at least on normal difficulty (I'm not sure what difficulty you're playing on), but they do sometimes have immunity to a bunch of status effects.

Dorian will probably be better for you, because the most challenging enemies (the ogres and alphas) don't give a crap about veilstrike. (Also, the new spirit mark upgrade is kind of cool in larger fights, since he can build up quite a few wisps that attack with him.)

[ottffsse]

first phase (darkspawn) cold is useful as the toughest enemies do not resist it and are actually weak to it.

 

second phase deeper in the roads lightning and spirit. in general fire not really recommended except against ogres but you can take them out with cold or lightning too, just not spirit. some of the toughest enemies resist fire. 

[ModernAcademic]

Doesn anyone have a video or transcript of what Solas says in the end of Descent?

[FemShem]

I do like Dorian's specs better.  I've played all mage types.  Necromancer is awesomeness to switch in and out of (and I do love walking bomb and the additional choice you can make to it with tres).

Solas is DW, and that is fab, but it doesn't effect play thru as I recall.

Knight Enchanter is fun if your a mage (OP), but fun.

[ElementalFury106]

Actually, they're weak against ice and resistant to fire (at least the alpha is; I think the others are too, but they're so easy to stagger for some reason that it really doesn't matter). Genlock alphas are weak against lightning, though their shields will block most direct attacks (this makes energy barrage a bit hit-or-miss, but you can still use static cage for the extra damage, as well as chain lightning).

I don't think the other darkspawn have any special elemental resistances (if they do, it's not enough to make much of a difference), at least on normal difficulty (I'm not sure what difficulty you're playing on), but they do sometimes have immunity to a bunch of status effects.

Dorian will probably be better for you, because the most challenging enemies (the ogres and alphas) don't give a crap about veilstrike. (Also, the new spirit mark upgrade is kind of cool in larger fights, since he can build up quite a few wisps that attack with him.)

 

Silly me. Thank you very much, this was quite helpful. Well, according to the responses I've been getting, I've decided to go with Dorian.

 

 

first phase (darkspawn) cold is useful as the toughest enemies do not resist it and are actually weak to it.

 

second phase deeper in the roads lightning and spirit. in general fire not really recommended except against ogres but you can take them out with cold or lightning too, just not spirit. some of the toughest enemies resist fire. 

 

Good to know, thanks!

[Evamitchelle]

Just checked my game - in the lower levels there are some enemies who are vulnerable to electricty, and others who are resistant to both cold and fire. 

 

Doesn anyone have a video or transcript of what Solas says in the end of Descent?

 

He doesn't have one actually. 

[Elhanan]

I prefer Dorian for Descent. This also allows me the possibility to have more info on the Children of the Stone if and when one meets Solas again.

P.S. Recommend deactivating Fade Step on any Mage when close to ledges and on bridges.

[almasy87]

Consider that this is the last adventure you have with Solas.. so take him :-P you can take Dorian in Trespasser. At least that's what I did.