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Dragon Age: Origins
Scout
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November 22, 2010 - 1:41 pm
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I remember that being a tough area, Helmut. I think I reloaded a save and came back later when I was stronger. Maybe get the Cone of Cold. That was my main go-to through much of the early and middle parts of the game. It really helps with the mob management. I didn't do Redcliffe until around level 15 I think. (Hmmm...not sure when I did now that I think about it.)

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Toger
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November 22, 2010 - 1:52 pm
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Helmut, have you been to the Mage's Circle Tower yet? If not, go there instead. Be aware, that's a long quest but well worth it as you'll meet a possible companion there. Granted, near the end of that quest it can be crazy hard, but by then you'll have levelled up quite a bit. I *think* all the marked doors are in Denerim, but some of the random encounters can be brutal.

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Helmut
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November 22, 2010 - 2:54 pm
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I haven't. Just the first town, Ostersomething, the second one, Lothersomething, and Redcliffe. I was following the ashes quest because I thought that was where the story went, but it's painful. Now that I'm in town, I don't think I can escape and will have to reload. Have I mentioned I don't like the, 'only way out is through' mantra of the game? Generally, I'm ok with a place being too hard for my current level, I just dislike discovering the fact when I'm half way through it. Still, though, I felt like I was incrementally bringing my char up to speed and having fun doing so. Seems like more coherent fun than Witcher  to me.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

Scout
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November 22, 2010 - 3:50 pm
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I think one of the main appeals of this game to me was its coherence story-wise. It had one of the better endings in memory and really the whole thing held together very nicely. Great characters and great story. You really feel it at the ending. Often I am so annoyed by the incoherence of the endgame (Gothic 3, Risen, Nehrim) I'll just abandon it at the final boss battle even though most of the game was fine. But with this game it all developed so organically I was sucked right in and out the other side.

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Helmut
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November 22, 2010 - 4:05 pm
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This mage circle quest, on the left side near Lake Calenhad? I can't get to the mage's tower but am diverted to the docks instead… is that the one?

 

Did all y'all buy your best gear or find it?

Edit: Ah I see, the dock lets you take a boat over to the spire on an island. Got it. Do some unravelling here, then do some travelling. So when you're taking quests from the boards, do you sign up for them all at once? Can the game keep them properly straight? It seems like there's a lot of long range running for each of them, so to do them one at a time seems... painful. You can see I'm not very familiar with this sort of thing.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Toger
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November 22, 2010 - 4:36 pm
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I signed up for all the board quests at once. It just seemed to make sense. And I updated/completed them as I happened upon them. I don't think it matters which order you complete them.

With the Circle quest, once you take on that quest you'll be locked in the tower until its completion. Bring what you need, although you will meet a healer there (and the Templars have a quartermaster located there as well).

With 99.9% of my gear, I found or looted it from the dead. Most of the stuff in locked chests wasn't worth my time (with the exception of herbs, gems, trinkets for companions, etc). Anything that you absolutely must have for a quest will be found in the open (non-locked).

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Jarrod
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November 23, 2010 - 6:38 am
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I looted or bought most of my best gear, and like Toger, I can't remember many great drops from chests.

 

And I signed up for all of the quests I could, then did them when I was in the area and handed them in.  I don't remember having a particularly bad time of the game, but then again I didn't too up-close-and-personal with the natives.  There were a couple of fights I had to reload for - but not many.

A man goes to knowledge as he goes to war, wide awake, with fear, with respect, and with absolute assurance. – The Teachings of Don Juan

Finkbug
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November 25, 2010 - 6:05 am
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There are a few potentially nasty fights in that tower Helmut. Some doorways are trapped which can work to your advantage. Save often and rotate two slots. [Image Can Not Be Found]

grooowrrrr! [menace menace] rrrrowwwr!

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Helmut
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November 25, 2010 - 11:54 am
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Had to revert to easy to get out of the tower. I got up to the four incarnation sloth demon before running out of potions and gas. Alistair isn't strong enough for the Templar armour yet, and I took Wynn along for the ride instead of Morrigan so she didn't level enough for cone of cold so I still lack large scale immobilization. I am currently digesting the post frenzy spoils, gifting where romance is a possibility and just generally getting along better after reading that talking is better done in camp than on the road. My rogue is now expert in poison making, and there are some nice paralyze chances in some of the poisons. The fire bombs are very nice too, but ingredients are difficult to find. Ditto freeze traps.

What next? I still need to level up at least two or three levels before getting to a decent ability.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Toger
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November 25, 2010 - 3:38 pm
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If you can help it, don't leave Morrigan behind. She is worth every eye-rolling, snide remark. For the vast majority of the game, I always had Wynne, Morrigan and Alistair in my party, unless the plot demanded otherwise. At this point, you can go just about anywhere. You can finish the Sacred Ashes quest or... Did you buy your game new? Did it come with any DLC? Most notably Stone Prisoner? If so, you should definitely do that quest and get Shale. Shale is awesome sauce.

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Helmut
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November 25, 2010 - 5:50 pm
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What's the secret to your ability to collect money? I pick up absolutely everything, yet am dirt poor and can't afford the basest recipes for my craft. I haven't quite got the levels for scout's money generating schemes. This potion making, trap setting, bomb making rogue isn't the easiest path through the forest. Alternating between normal and easy difficulty. I found the link from earlier in this topic showing the general difficulty expectations so I'm off to the Brecilian forest. I finally got cone of cold and have only managed to freeze my party  while the wolves run unchecked. Got the message that someone is really beginning to like me in the camp. Could be Alistair though, you spend that much time receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, you could get attached [Image Can Not Be Found]

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

Scout
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November 25, 2010 - 6:52 pm
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RE cone of cold friendly frost, sometimes I would let one of my party take a bit of a freeze if it meant stopping the bulk of the oncoming mob. I think I read that your guy will defrost first so you have a few seconds to regroup. Cone of Cold is especially great on the big monsters where you just can't miss. I usually moved Morrigan up fast, had her cast the cone and then backpedalled her behind my Elf and whoever else was swinging a sword.

I also read about a trick for the fire spell where you open a door, launch the spell into a room and slam the door, letting the other guys cook while you stand out in the hall giggling.

What Toger sez about Morrigan. Don't leave home without her. She is a bitch but she wipes the floor with the bad guys.

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Toger
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November 25, 2010 - 8:33 pm
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What Scout said about fire/fireball. That open door/loose fire/slam door and listen the critters frying is really, really special.

Hmmm, money... I honestly don't remember having a problem with money. I tended not to buy a lot of stuff. I usually found stuff then sold it along the way. Things that I wanted to try but didn't have the requirements to use I sold to the dwarf camp follower. That way, if/when I needed/wanted it I always knew where I could re-buy it if necessary. My Elf started out as a rogue, but I eventually went the way of a dual-wield warrior.  I didn't make any traps/bombs, etc. Especially once Morrigan had fire and cone of cold. She was my main damage dealer. The rest of us were simply the clean-up crew. I do remember making health potions (or whatever they're called) but the majority of the items necessary for those could be found. Bottles I found on the cheap in various places (I remember one in Redcliffe at the top of the hill as you come into the village and before you cross the bridge leading to the castle).

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Helmut
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November 29, 2010 - 12:37 pm
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Down in the root cellar of the werewolves lair in the forest, struggling with Morrigan's cone of own team loathing. Managed a glitch  (at least I think it's a glitch) somewhat similar to that in Planescape by moving a stealthy character across the map (to the lady of the forest dialog) thereby jumping the rest of the party safely ahead without combat.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Helmut
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November 10, 2011 - 11:34 pm
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Thinking of poking a stick back into these ashes. Tried to play a bit today.. I'm in a spot with Brother Genitivi, looking for some urn of ashes, but I'm getting roasted double quick on easy. Sure, my tactics are poor, but my main character is a weak and miserable thief or something. I'm going to start over, pretend I just opened a new game. What sorts of characters did all y'all have success and fun with? I'd like to finish this, but it's just such a slog. Maybe a tank to stand beside Alistair or another spell caster?

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Pokey
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November 11, 2011 - 2:37 am
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Helmut, I was a Dalish Elf Warrior who was able to use both a sword and bow in the beginning. I was quite happy with my choice. My companions were Morrigan, Wynne and Allistair. I also had a female thief who wasn't as useful.

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Helmut
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November 11, 2011 - 11:48 am
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Pokey that's no help at all! That's the character I was as well, and if, well,  you had good luck, that means, umm. sigh. 

 

I ran Red Faction: Guerilla the other day and encountered the dread GfWL update. Unfortunately, the patch was applied without any problems so I don't have anything to offer as far as your original problem goes.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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Pokey
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November 11, 2011 - 12:49 pm
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Helmut, sorry that was no help. [Image Can Not Be Found]  Maybe someone has a better suggestion. Keep trying. I really liked the game.

I'm going to avoid any GFWL games unless it is something I'm desperate to play. Batman AA wouldn't play with or without the patch. I read that many others had the same error message but no resolution.

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Toger
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November 11, 2011 - 2:19 pm
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I loved the game, but I can't help you either as I was a dual-wielding City Elf Warrior with the same companions as Pokey. I started a thief but never got further than the prologue as she didn't do enough damage for my liking. I know of several people who claim mage is the way to go as eventually all will tremble before you.

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Helmut
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November 13, 2011 - 10:38 am
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It's going much better so far. I had to hide from some of the battles in the very first village (Lotharin) in the first round, but with a little more muscle I can end things a lot quicker. The dual wield ability has a lot of insta-win talents and that helps bring the numbers down quickly.

My Dark Souls single player sensibilities are protected by a +10 GfWL Firewall of Ineptitude

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