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Dragon Age: Origins
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Pokey
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December 15, 2009 - 3:27 pm
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We are still slogging through Deep Roads. I thought we were doing pretty good until we hit the Broodmother. The first two attacks resulted in disaster. Wynne dies in the first minute. Going in today with better strategy and I hope better results. Our group is the two mages and Shale plus me, the warrior. I haven't done anything with the tactics menu. I just manage each of my characters as I need to. I do have an occasional problem sometimes when Wynne is not healing as she should, but usually she does fine.

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Toger
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December 15, 2009 - 3:53 pm
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Just a general hint: do not leave Lotharing without completing its quests. You'll understand why later on.

Tactics: I finally figured out tactics with help from the DA:O thread at Gamers with Jobs (midway down page 61). If I'd spent a little time actually looking at/thinking about them, I would have realized on my own that they're just one long nested IF statement (if this, do this thing, otherwise do this other thing):

The tactics script reads like an algorithm line. As long as the first IF condition is true, Alistair will continue executing the applicable THEN command if it's available.

For this reason, the top line command in any tactics slot should be "If Health < 25%, drink Least Powerful Health Potion."

Second slot should be "Nearest Visible Enemy - Shield Bash." There is no need to focus on Elites, especially as they'll likely resist the power anyway. You want to reduce enemy DPS ASAP, and the fastest way to do that is to get rid or stun enemy mooks as soon as you meet them.

Third slot would be "Self: Any - Shield Wall" or "Self: Any - Shield Defense" depending on which enemies you're engaging. High damage enemies, use Defense, high attack enemies, use Shield Wall.

If you want him to focus on charging the Mages for a fight use "Nearest Mage Visible - Attack." That would bring him in proximity to the casters. Bring it up or down the command line as you see fit. You CAN change the tactics on the fly, you know. It's simpler to do this rather than coding specific moves for anti-mage, since you should be doing those manually anyway.

And finally, as you know, last line is always "Nearest Enemy - Attack," so he doesn't stand around looking like an idiot when you're not paying attention.

Additional helpful lines would be "Any Ally targeted by melee attack - Threaten or Taunt."

Once I understood how it worked, I was able to tweak my other companions tactics as needed: When I did Morrigan's personal quest, I was able to use Wynne as my healer and AoE/crowd control. It was rare for me to have to intercede on anyone's behalf... unless I was stupid and rushed combat.

Also, you may want to check your companion's behaviour (at the top of the tactics screen) as some are pre-programmed to rush into the fray without any regard for what you want. I changed everyone to "default" which meant they had to wait for me to engage an enemy. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it worked although Morrigan had a horrid habit of running off to fight something I wasn't fighting. Most times I let her fend for herself as she was fairly well protected with her attacks (cone of cold is your friend).

I sound like I know what I'm talking about, don't I? [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Scout
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December 15, 2009 - 3:54 pm
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I finally got the top of the tower and the big, nasty Ogre. I've only taken a couple of runs at him, both disasterous, though the second time I almost got him. I've got to try something different than my three warriors rushing in to get crushed and stomped. Maybe see if Alastier can tank while me and the generic warrior dude use our bows and the mage fire stuff. Boy I could use a healer. Not to be with this battle though.

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Pokey
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December 15, 2009 - 4:20 pm
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The fight against the first Ogre is a tough one. I don't think you can win it with melee, and when he crushes the warriors, he goes after the range fighters. Alistair's taunt is handy and then run.[Image Can Not Be Found]

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Toger
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December 15, 2009 - 4:38 pm
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For the Ogre, I parked my elf in a corner with a bow and left her to plinking away with arrows while I controlled Alistair. I used him to keep the Ogre occupied so what my archer and mage could wail on the Ogre from across the room. Of course, watching the Ogre pick up and punch the other warrior was entertaining in an OMG! way. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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kaythomas
Somewhere in the frozen tundra
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December 15, 2009 - 6:07 pm
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Well, you may have heard me wimpering [Image Can Not Be Found] and whining [Image Can Not Be Found] and kvetching [Image Can Not Be Found]   about Chapter 4 in Risen.   I will probably keep playing it right up to the big battle and then I will be out of there. 

But since I already had Dragon Age Origins lined up as my next game (since there are a lot of people here playing and enjoying it)  I loaded it today and started to play.   I tentatively started as a female, city elf, rogue.  And I immediately got sucked into it and have now been through the nasty stuff with the nobles and have been taken off to become a Gray Warden.   Life is moving faster than I expected.   So I guess I will just stay with this character and see where she goes.  At least I didn't fall into my usual trap of being a mage (which I do not do well).

So I will be back here sooner or later.

kay  

Imagine life with no hypothetical situations. 

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Toger
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December 15, 2009 - 6:20 pm
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Way to go, kay! You'll totally enjoy the game. And we'll be here if you need us! [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Pokey
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December 15, 2009 - 8:25 pm
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Glad to hear you are joining us, Kay. You will like the game, I believe.

Got the Broodmother on the next try. It was thrilling to see my warrior jump on her and apply the finishing kill. We need to head back to Orzammer to dump stuff from our full inventory.

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Steerpike
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December 15, 2009 - 9:36 pm
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I'm continuously impressed by how much this game, ah, pays homage (a polite way of saying "blatantly rips off") George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire novels. From "Ser" to important bastards, you can tell who Bioware's been reading.

Of course, if you're going to pay some homage, you might as well homage the best, eh?

Just got to Redcliffe Village. I worry that I'm not high enough level. Stay tuned.

Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.

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Pokey
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December 16, 2009 - 4:24 am
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The Anvil of the Void quest is finished. We managed it on the first try, though my warrior was the only survivor battling three wounded golems and a healthy Branka. It took a few potions but we were finally victorious. Orzammer has a new king and the cermony was impressive. Our crew needs a break, so back Denerim to see about a sword and then maybe try the Revenant in the forest again.

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Toger
Somewhere, out there...
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December 16, 2009 - 10:11 am
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I love the Ice and Fire series - I'm currently waiting for GRRM to finish the second half of volume 4 (or is it 5) before continuing on (starting over because I've forgotten so much).

Pokey, were the Dwarves your final recruits?

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Steerpike
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December 16, 2009 - 10:44 am
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I reread them every year or so, and am eagerly awaiting the next installment. I hate waiting!

Toger, your tactics advice was very helpful. I think I've finally gotten the system beaten down to where I can work with it. Last night I did various errands in Redcliffe Village and am now headed through the windmill and into the castle. Morrigan is very angry with me for my do-gooderness. Chances of seeing her naked are rapidly approaching zero, though that ridiculous top she wears leaves so little to the imagination that it hardly matters.

I need more money!

Life is the misery we endure between disappointments.

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Pokey
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December 16, 2009 - 12:21 pm
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Toger, yep, the dwarves were my final recruits. I finally got Sten's story and we are off to find his sword and then get some armor made.

Steerpike, a certain shady character in Orzammer will offer you a deal you don't want to turn down. I picked up a lot of money with that easy quest.

There's a quest in Orzammer that I couldn't finish. I have a medal or something and need to do something with memories at the Sharper. I can't find anything that is interactive that works with it.

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Toger
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December 16, 2009 - 1:42 pm
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YAY! I'm glad the tactics info helped Steerpike. It definitely makes the game more enjoyable once it starts working. Morrigan likes the bright & shiny more than she disapproves of do-gooders.

By the end of the game, I was rolling in gold coins – well, much more so than I'd started out. There were several times I had well over 100 gold.

I'm trying to remember the Shaper quest… if it's the one I think:

did you look at the memorial in the room where you met Caridin?

Is that the one? I don't remember a medal but that doesn't mean anything.

Interesting linkage re: scaling of enemies As always, I do things backwards. I did Orzammar before the Brecilian Forest and Haven.

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Pokey
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December 16, 2009 - 2:31 pm
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There was a memorial on the wall in the Shaperate, but it is not interactive anymore.

The quest is Dead Caste. There is a symbol I found and it is to be entered into the memories at the Shaperate.

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Toger
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December 16, 2009 - 3:36 pm
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I checked the wiki and I remember the armor pieces in the shrine, but I don't remember if I actually did this quest or not. Some things appeared in my Codex as completed without my ever being fully aware of what all I did to get there. Classic case of pick up everything and doing things out of order. Now I'm curious. I'll have to check my save files. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Pokey
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December 16, 2009 - 4:49 pm
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The picture in the Wiki helped a lot. I found the book stand in an alcove. It had what looked like globes next to it. I was able to enter the memory. Thanks.[Image Can Not Be Found]

I never would have found it without that.

Scout
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December 16, 2009 - 5:08 pm
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Ah, Ogre plinking worked great. Also I had my tactics pretty messed probably working against myself by drinking the big health potions first and near the end of health. Switching to a small potion at 75% health helped.

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Toger
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December 16, 2009 - 8:40 pm
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Scout said:

Ah, Ogre plinking worked great. Also I had my tactics pretty messed probably working against myself by drinking the big health potions first and near the end of health. Switching to a small potion at 75% health helped.


We are here but to serve. [Image Can Not Be Found]

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Pokey
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December 16, 2009 - 11:44 pm
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I found Sten's sword and returned it to him and then we went back to Shale's home in Deep Roads and found her memories. I'm waiting for the improved set of armor to be finished and then we will be heading to the castle and prepare for the big battle.

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