Dragon Age Countdown...

[sam16]

I don't mind DLC on day one, if the game itself has enough content, and DA seems this case. But their excuses of why they have dlc on day one are pathetic. They do DLC because they want to make money, more money, and that's about it. They enter in the discussion with the fans about this stuff (bad decision) and they enter in defensive mode with excuses and more excuses, and the impression that the fans recieve is even worse after the discussion and explanation with the devs than before, when they only had the official annoucement.

It's not really an excuse, though, is it? When they delayed the game to release simultaneously with the consoles they suddenly had a bunch of designers with nothing to do. So they put them onto making some DLC. If this happened in the past, the designers would have been working on a new product or an expansion. With my limited knowledge of game production, it seems very plausible that something like this would happen.

[HighPlainsDrifter]

I'd be very annoyed if they'd held back content to make an extra buck, like one of those situations where the data is already on the disc but isn't unlocked until you buy it. But in this case it genuinely appears to be *extra* so I'll give them a pass on it.

[peacedog]

It's obnoxious that Amazon seems unwilling to deliver the PC version to me on release day. Unsurprising, perhaps.

[Cormac]

game.co.uk .. ordered mine today ;)

Thanks for the tip, placed my order now!

[unbongwah]

The basic gist is that they had a lot of designers and writers doing nothing while they were bug testing and porting to the consoles.
And the reason they're not making the Warden's Keep DLC free like the Shale DLC is because...?

I understand the rationale behind putting those "surplus" employees to work on the first batch of DLC. I don't even expect all DLC to be free. I just think it looks bad if someone takes their brand-new $50 to $70 game (depending on which version you bought) home on release day and the first thing they see is "Hi! Would you like to buy the Warden's Keep DLC for XX Space Bucks?"

So is anyone offering a breakdown of who offers what special shit in their version of Dragon Age?
You can follow the links from here (http://dragonage.bioware.com/game/preorder/).

Amazon - Lion's Paw Boots (bonus to armor, dodge, and missile evasion) and $10 off future game purchase
EBX / Gamestop - Feral Wolf Charm (+armor & health regen) and Memory Ring (bonus to XP)
EA Store - Memory Ring and Band of Fire (+ to Stamina, fire resist, spirit resist)
D2D - Memory Ring and Dalish Ring (+ to health & regen, damage resistance to darkspawn)
Gamecrazy - Guildmaster's Belt (+ to money, dodge, Cunning)
Play - Feral Wolf Charm and Memory Ring
Gogamer - no bonuses mentioned, but regular PC version is currently $10 off
Yeah, not a fan of all this bonus in-game content being divvied up like that.

[Murbella]

With a single player game, wouldn't you just be able to console cheat to add the items though (like with those special feats in nwn2)?

[zengonzo]

Yeah, not a fan of all this bonus in-game content being divvied up like that.

That is insane .. Are we talking about stuff you'll never see if you don't have a code, or something? Or is this just, like, you'll get it right off the bat instead of having to find it?

[unbongwah]

As someone mentioned upthread, if some or all of that stuff is intended to be separate (possibly paid) DLC, then it probably won't be so easily added. The trouble is we won't know until the game is out (unless someone leaks), at which point it'll be too late to change which version you bought.

[Ben Sones]

I don't mind DLC on day one, if the game itself has enough content, and DA seems this case. But their excuses of why they have dlc on day one are pathetic.

Launch DLC doesn't bother me, either, but you are right--there is little cause to make excuses for it. It's just a way for them to sell something extra to make more money, period. It's not really any different from offering a higher priced collector's edition that comes with more stuff.

[Bahimiron]

You can follow the links from here (http://dragonage.bioware.com/game/preorder/).

Great rundown. Thanks!



Amazon - Lion's Paw Boots (bonus to armor, dodge, and missile evasion) and $10 off future game purchase

Keep in mind that the ten bucks off doesn't apply to the CE. Blaggards.

[LesJarvis]

Any idea how DLC is being handled for the PC release? GFWL?

[unbongwah]

Keep in mind that the ten bucks off doesn't apply to the CE. Blaggards.
Yeah, that annoys me too, since I have pre-ordered the CE off Amazon. :-(

Any idea how DLC is being handled for the PC release? GFWL?
Doesn't EA have its own PC DD system? I was presuming they'd use that. I don't recall any EA games using GfWL.

[Joe M.]

DLC on release day is probably smart. I will likely buy it immediately because it's there, but if they were to wait a month and I end up not liking and/or not finishing the base game? Why would I buy more stuff for it? Pushing for the impulse buy is a good business decision.

[ravenight]

And the reason they're not making the Warden's Keep DLC free like the Shale DLC is because...?

Because the "surplus employees" still have salaries? Look at it this way: this is what those people did, instead of being fired, so now they are still around to potentially work on post-launch DLC, too.

[unbongwah]

Yes, stuff costs money - I understand that. But to push paid DLC on release day to the people who just ponied up money to buy a brand-new game looks tacky and greedy, IMHO. Has anyone ever done that before?

[Stridergg]

DLC on release day is probably smart. I will likely buy it immediately because it's there, but if they were to wait a month and I end up not liking and/or not finishing the base game? Why would I buy more stuff for it? Pushing for the impulse buy is a good business decision.

+1

I don't replay games and don't buy DLC's for the games I finished or stopped playing. So the only chance to sell me a DLC is to make it available within a week or two.

[Talisker]

Yes, stuff costs money - I understand that. But to push paid DLC on release day to the people who just ponied up money to buy a brand-new game looks tacky and greedy, IMHO. Has anyone ever done that before?
You've never bought an EA game before? (example: Madden 10 had a massive, confusing list of microtransaction thingies you could buy, day one)

[stusser]

EA is greedy and evil. You're just learning this now? Or you're surprised that they aren't treating bioware any differently than any of their other acquisitions?

I'm not really that pissed off about the DLC, anyway. I'm pissed that they delayed the PC version for simultaneous release with the consoles. That was some bullshit.

[Derek French]

Any idea how DLC is being handled for the PC release? GFWL?
No, Dragon Age is not a GFW title. We are delivering it through our own downloader. I don't know if we have announced the purchase process yet.

I'd be very annoyed if they'd held back content to make an extra buck, like one of those situations where the data is already on the disc but isn't unlocked until you buy it. But in this case it genuinely appears to be *extra* so I'll give them a pass on it.
Correct. Nothing has been removed from the game to be sold as DLC. We have a dedicated team working on DLC content. None of the content is on the disk because some of it isn't finished yet, but it will be on launch day.

[Derek French]

I'm pissed that they delayed the PC version for simultaneous release with the consoles. That was some bullshit.
That is not quite true. We needed more time on the PC version. It was going to be delayed. At that point, why not delay it to the same date as the console releases so that we sim-ship and can pool our marketing resources.

[unbongwah]

You've never bought an EA game before? (example: Madden 10 had a massive, confusing list of microtransaction thingies you could buy, day one)

EA is greedy and evil. You're just learning this now? Or you're surprised that they aren't treating bioware any differently than any of their other acquisitions?
Evidently I've managed to avoid the best of the worst of EA's behavior, since the few EA games I have played in recent years have had little or no paid DLC (e.g., Mirror's Edge, Dead Space). Certainly nothing like the money pump that DA:O is apparently primed to become.

Yay. :-(

[stusser]

Not calling you a liar, but I look forward to getting the real story just before xmas eve 2011 when EA forces everybody to relocate to montreal or be fired, terminates half of those remaining just after they move, merges all employees into "EA Montreal", and retains the bioware name as branding only for their new line of iphone action adventures based on the escapades of the jonas brothers and britney spears' little sister in such wacky situations as a haunted house, goin' to the emmies, and a saturday night date at the carnival with the hottest boy in school.

I am bookmarking this thread and will quote myself when that inevitable day arrives.

[Imryll]

Yes, stuff costs money - I understand that. But to push paid DLC on release day to the people who just ponied up money to buy a brand-new game looks tacky and greedy, IMHO. Has anyone ever done that before?

I can't remember whether it was a pre-order bonus or a Collector's Edition item, but I remember getting a bonus merchant with Icewind Dale items in BG II. And unless something is designed to be enjoyed later in the game, I actually like bonus content being part of the gameworld from the beginning.

Personally, I only see it as an issue if the game itself looks a bit meagre, in which case I wouldn't want to buy the game much less DLC. The system may invite abuse, but I think it's a form of abuse the marketplace can take care of. If anything, issuing DLC on release day invites additional scrutiny and risks folks noticing that there isn't much game sooner than they would have otherwise.

[André Costa]

Not calling you a liar, but I look forward to getting the real story just before xmas eve 2011 when EA forces everybody to relocate to montreal or be fired, terminates half of those remaining just after they move, merges all employees into "EA Montreal", and retains the bioware name as branding only for their new line of iphone action adventures based on the escapades of the jonas brothers and britney spears' little sister in such wacky situations as a haunted house, goin' to the emmies, and a saturday night date at the carnival with the hottest boy in school.

I am bookmarking this thread and will quote myself when that inevitable day arrives.

You should join forces with HRose and write a blog to predict this stuff.

[stusser]

It doesn't take Nostradamus to predict future actions based upon past behavior. You just need to pay attention.

[Bahimiron]

Not calling you a liar, but I look forward to getting the real story just before xmas eve 2011 when EA forces everybody to relocate to montreal or be fired, terminates half of those remaining just after they move, merges all employees into "EA Montreal", and retains the bioware name as branding only for their new line of iphone action adventures based on the escapades of the jonas brothers and britney spears' little sister in such wacky situations as a haunted house, goin' to the emmies, and a saturday night date at the carnival with the hottest boy in school.

This is just silly.

Disney has their own company to make Jonas Bros games for the iPhone!

Warren Spector is working on one as we speak!

[Kunikos]

So, uh... back to Dragon Age, then. (Stop feeding the troll)

[zengonzo]

This is just silly.

Disney has their own company to make Jonas Bros games for the iPhone!

Warren Spector is working on one as we speak!

It's a dark, gritty version, however, where the long-neglected Hanson brothers come back to drain all the world of shitty tween music.

It is up to the Jonas Brothers to fill it back up again!

[stusser]

I can dig it as a post-apocalyptic bloody mortal kombat style battle to the death, hansons vs. jonases, over the one remaining fertile woman in the wasteland, the younger wide-hipped spears. Coming soon from EA montreal studios on the iphone 5XT! Touch the future!

[Kunikos]

Are you done derailing the thread yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eZMbp7pta8

Great news for console players!! It has been confirmed that user-created content from the PC toolset will go through an approval process via Bioware and those that pass will be released for free as DLC for the console version of the game.

[Wallapuctus]

Microsoft hates free DLC.

[DDB]

Are you done derailing the thread yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eZMbp7pta8

Great news for console players!! It has been confirmed that user-created content from the PC toolset will go through an approval process via Bioware and those that pass will be released for free as DLC for the console version of the game.

HOLY CRAP! That's extremely cool.

[Cubit]

Gameshark just posted Todd Brakke's interviews:

http://www.gameshark.com/features/635/Dragon-Age-Origins-Exclusive-Team-Interviews.htm

[Bahimiron]

It has been confirmed that user-created content from the PC toolset will go through an approval process via Bioware and those that pass will be released for free as DLC for the console version of the game.

...

I can't watch YouTube, so if you're fucking with us and that's a video of a fat guy laughing at a kid he just stole a moon pie from, I will be so angry that I will make flaccid internet threats!

[Desslock]

Gameshark just posted Todd Brakke's interviews:

http://www.gameshark.com/features/635/Dragon-Age-Origins-Exclusive-Team-Interviews.htm

Mispelled Greg Zeshuk's name...

[DragonPup]

Apparently Dragon Age will have bare boobs now. Link (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/brood-mother-dragon-age/57430).

[William Abner]

Mispelled Greg Zeshuk's name...

His name is Greg Zeschuk...correct?

[Angie Gallant]

Keeper of Secrets does multiboob better.

[Larinson]

Even though that was a fairly atmospheric trailer, the blood splatter at the end still made me grimace.

[mkozlows]

That is insane .. Are we talking about stuff you'll never see if you don't have a code, or something? Or is this just, like, you'll get it right off the bat instead of having to find it?

The items are usually in (in-game) stores, and you have to pay for them.

[Desslock]

His name is Greg Zeschuk...correct?

yes, that's what I meant to type, lol. Misspelled in the article though.

[zengonzo]

The items are usually in (in-game) stores, and you have to pay for them.

So these codes would just give you access to given items from the start, rather than having to buy them in the store?

If there are other ways to acquire them - apart from spacebuck spending - then I'm not really concerned.

[mkozlows]

So these codes would just give you access to given items from the start, rather than having to buy them in the store?

No, they put them in the store so you CAN buy them. In my experience with past games (BG2:CE, I think?), the exclusive items aren't so compelling that you'll even want to fork over the in-game gold for them, never mind real-world money. (The characters and quests are presumably more compelling.)

[Desslock]

Good magic items (or even ones you're interested in) are pretty rare in DA - it's not a monty-haul game. Worthwhile armor upgrades are particularly rare.

[zengonzo]

No, they put them in the store so you CAN buy them.

OK, then that sucks.

[Kunikos]

...

I can't watch YouTube, so if you're fucking with us and that's a video of a fat guy laughing at a kid he just stole a moon pie from, I will be so angry that I will make flaccid internet threats!

Nope, no joke. It's really him being interviewed with a big Dragon Age banner behind him. Link from: http://greywardens.com/2009/10/interview-dlc-for-console-dr-greg-zeschuk/

Update:


All I’d take this as is a confirmation that we’d like to and will try to make user made content available on consoles in some form. Technical or legal issues may make it impossible to do so. Ultimately Sony and MS have to approve everything that gets released on their platforms.

Based on past track record, it'll never happen on 360 but PS3 "maybe"? (LittleBigPlanet).

[stusser]

If you really want them from the very beginning, you can always cheat. I want to actually play the game at the intended challenge level, not starting out at level 1 with a vorpal sword.

[Kunikos]

Good magic items (or even ones you're interested in) are pretty rare in DA - it's not a monty-haul game. Worthwhile armor upgrades are particularly rare.

Until Dragon Age 2 comes along? I feel like this is akin to Baldur's Gate 1, which had some pretty low magic going on.

[garin]

The Flash game I've been working on in the Dragon Age setting was (finally) revealed today, you can see the trailer here (http://www.dragonagejourneys.com/). The video sells it as a bit of an action game but it's a legit RPG with turn-based combat. We will also have a few items you can unlock in DA:O by playing.

[stusser]

When can we play journeys? Looks neat.

[garin]

A short technical beta (accessed by signing up for a free EA account) starting this Tuesday. Wide release the following Tuesday.

[zengonzo]

If you really want them from the very beginning, you can always cheat. I want to actually play the game at the intended challenge level, not starting out at level 1 with a vorpal sword.


I think we might be talking at crossed purposes here, but I'm not interested in cheating or getting super items early, I'm just flicked by the notion of explicitly segregated content for cash.

Honestly, in these cases it doesn't seem to matter much as the items aren't particularly inspiring - but the notion still gets to me.

[Rock8man]

One thing you can do in EA Sports games nowadays, as well as racing games like Need For Speed Shift, is you can pay for items with in-game currency, or with Microsoft points (on the 360, obviously). I wonder if they'll allow that in Dragon Age. Not that I've ever used it, or plan on ever using it, but I always find it very amusing that the option is there.

[Sarkus]

Looks like Steam will be offering Dragon Age as well now, as that was officially revealed on the Bioware boards today. Supposedly it will show up in the Steam marketplace next week. There is also apparently a "digital deluxe" edition being offered by some services (no word on if Steam will also have this) where you get the first pay DLC at essentially a reduced rate.

[BleedTheFreak]

Looks like Steam will be offering Dragon Age as well now, as that was officially revealed on the Bioware boards today. Supposedly it will show up in the Steam marketplace next week. There is also apparently a "digital deluxe" edition being offered by some services (no word on if Steam will also have this) where you get the first pay DLC at essentially a reduced rate.

I had read that the first pay DLC (Warden's Keep) with the digital CE edition will be free, to make up for no cloth map or tin box.

[BigWeather]

So is the CE available for the 360? GameSpot doesn't list it at all (nor the CE for any other platform), Amazon has a "notify me when this becomes available" link, and BestBuy's entry is pretty sparse. I'd like to order the CE (loooove cloth maps!) but not sure where to try and get it from.

[peacedog]

Looks like Steam will be offering Dragon Age as well now, as that was officially revealed on the Bioware boards today. Supposedly it will show up in the Steam marketplace next week. There is also apparently a "digital deluxe" edition being offered by some services (no word on if Steam will also have this) where you get the first pay DLC at essentially a reduced rate.

Is it going to be offered launch day? I'm guessing no, but here's hoping.

[sam16]

So is the CE available for the 360? GameSpot doesn't list it at all (nor the CE for any other platform), Amazon has a "notify me when this becomes available" link, and BestBuy's entry is pretty sparse. I'd like to order the CE (loooove cloth maps!) but not sure where to try and get it from.

Unfortunately, it looks like the CE versions have been selling out for most retailers.

Edit: If you go to this link (http://dragonage.bioware.com/game/preordercollectors/), they have a list of stores you can try.

[Angie Gallant]

While I am a huge dork for cloth maps, I went with the regular version.

[Jazar]

Giantbomb quicklook:

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-dragon-age-origins/17-1477/

Looks great! Geez I want a new PC.

[Desslock]

While I am a huge dork for cloth maps, I went with the regular version.

I used to love the Ultima cloth maps, but have any actually been worthwhile since? The Neverwinter ones were pretty lame, and actually just blurrier than the cardboard ones. I'd love an Ultima IV-era type map though.

[Bahimiron]

Goddammit. This pre-order madness is killing me. To get any pre-order bonus, I need to decide which console I want it for, but we won't really know which version is better until after release. Having the same issue with Brutal Legend.

[Ben Sones]

I used to love the Ultima cloth maps, but have any actually been worthwhile since? The Neverwinter ones were pretty lame, and actually just blurrier than the cardboard ones. I'd love an Ultima IV-era type map though.

Hell, even Ultima IX (http://uxo.stratics.com/content/history/u9-100.jpg) had a decent cloth map. The only good semi-recent RPG map I can think of is the one that came with Morrowind (http://www.cyrodiil.net/assets/map-morr-large.jpg). Not cloth, but still a fantastic map. They just don't make them like they used to. :(

[Rock8man]

Agreed on the Morrowind map. Excellent map that I used constantly throughout my play-through.

The only other map I can remember that was really useful was the Asheron's Call map that came with that game. Again, not cloth, but very detailed and very useful.

[Spect]

I used to love the Ultima cloth maps, but have any actually been worthwhile since? The Neverwinter ones were pretty lame, and actually just blurrier than the cardboard ones. I'd love an Ultima IV-era type map though.

Back then, I loved those Ultima maps. I still have them all in a box somewhere. Nowadays though, to get a map scripted in some special game language, that requires translation or the learning of a new made up language would be a huge annoyance to me. I've become spoiled by detailed in-game maps and minimaps. Same goes for quest logs vs. taking my own notes while playing. I'm happy with the development of automated things like this.

[Derek French]

Is it going to be offered launch day? I'm guessing no, but here's hoping.

Should be on launch with all the other digital retailers.

[peacedog]

Should be on launch with all the other digital retailers.

Do we know when that is?

[Sarkus]

Do we know when that is?

November 3rd is the release date everyone is listing and what was officially announced . . . is that hard for you to find?

Unless you want a specific time when the digital downloads will unlock. That's still up in the air, though I gather that D2D has a countdown with that ends at about 10AM on the 3rd.

[peacedog]

November 3rd is the release date everyone is listing and what was officially announced . . . is that hard for you to find?

No, I haven't seen any mention of when the digitally distributed version will be available, and sometimes it comes out after the physical copies. I'm limited into where I can get that information from work.

[Kunikos]

Giantbomb quicklook:

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-dragon-age-origins/17-1477/

Looks great! Geez I want a new PC.

Thanks for the link. Great vid.

[Larinson]

Thank God the important questions (http://daforums.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=697375&forum=135&sp=30) have been answered by Bioware:


And yes, for those who asked, you can choose race as well as gender when hiring a prostitute. They come out in a group and line up, you select them from the line. Unless you pick "surprise me" when the madam asks what you'd like to see. Then all bets are off.

[stusser]

Never say "surprise me" to a prostitute. That just seems like common sense.

[Desslock]

Never say "surprise me" to a prostitute. That just seems like common sense.

I highly recommend you choose "surprise me" until you see all possible outcomes.

[Vesper]

Derek: Do you know how big the digital download is going to be? And any idea if services like Steam will have pre-loading of data? It's sad, but I'm debating time to download a huge game vs. getting a physical copy. (It doesn't help that I have the CE pre-ordered from Amazon, whom I can almost guarantee won't get it to me on release day.)

[Sarkus]

I'm going to be shocked if anyone does pre-loading. How often has that been done since Half-Life 2? I can't remember the last time I saw it as an option even on Steam.

[Vesper]

I'm going to be shocked if anyone does pre-loading. How often has that been done since Half-Life 2? I can't remember the last time I saw it as an option even on Steam.
I thought a few other games had it too? I thought I remember reading this game was huge (on the order of 15+ gig), so that's going to take a long time to download - especially on release day when the servers are hammered.

[Equisilus]

In terms of pre-loading off Steam, isn't that what all the "this game will unlock in approximately x weeks/days/hours" messages mean on coming soon games? I don't know much about how it works, but I assumed that "unlock" refers to having the files downloaded/installed but it wouldn't work until officially released. Is that not it?

[Derek French]

Derek: Do you know how big the digital download is going to be? And any idea if services like Steam will have pre-loading of data? It's sad, but I'm debating time to download a huge game vs. getting a physical copy. (It doesn't help that I have the CE pre-ordered from Amazon, whom I can almost guarantee won't get it to me on release day.)

Download should be about 15.5 Gig for English, last time I looked. 16 Gig would be a safe number.

I don't know about pre-loads for any of them at this time. I know it is something that we would like. Hopefully I can find out more next week.

[mono]

Have any non-Valve games been available for pre-load on Steam?

[Kool Moe Dee]

Giantbomb quicklook:

http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-dragon-age-origins/17-1477/

Looks great! Geez I want a new PC.

Were we watching the same video? I realize that the segment they showed must have been early in the game, but it looked painfully boring to me. The mage peashooter looked like a temp effect.

It seems like those who are actually playing the game are enjoying it, but every time a new video comes out, it looks terrible.

[Murbella]

Were we watching the same video? I realize that the segment they showed must have been early in the game, but it looked painfully boring to me. The mage peashooter looked like a temp effect.

It seems like those who are actually playing the game are enjoying it, but every time a new video comes out, it looks terrible.
I must have been watching the same version Jazar was because i thought it looked great. The mage peashooter looked like an auto attack type ability. Mages in D&D didn't even get an auto attack like that, they either casted a spell, used a physical weapon or did nothing. Mostly my mages would either use a stat stick and stand there or use a sling and plink away doing almost no damage.

[John Reynolds]

While I am a huge dork for cloth maps, I went with the regular version.

I pulled the trigger for the CE direct from EA, sweet-talked the wife into me buying it for myself for the, eeek, 45th b-day a week after its release. Kinda hoping the tin can is a full can and not a half-wrap like UT2004's CE, though. With so many games getting delayed into 2010 I'm really looking forward to this game.

[Desslock]

The mage peashooter looked like an auto attack type ability. Mages in D&D didn't even get an auto attack like that.

Yeah, Mages get an autoattack, which never misses but can't inflict a critical hit.

[wolfbane]

The EA online store here in Sweden offer pre-load but only for the Deluxe edition.

[Joe M.]

I must have been watching the same version Jazar was because i thought it looked great.

Agreed. I wish I hadn't clicked on the giantbomb link because I want it now, and it's 3 weeks away. :(

I thought the staff shooting thing looked goofy in early trailers but in context it's fine. An autoattack you can use between heals/other spells ensures you are never just standing around being useless.

And holy crap, you can tailor your party members actions to your style instead of wrestling with default AI settings? This is a major problem I have with most D&D type games (I like playing one character, not four or five). If I really can set up the AI -- sort of "fire and forget" -- and play my main character how I like, I'm going to be very very happy.

The only complaint I have is no co-op so far. I hope that Bioware understands they'll have a license to print money if they release a co-op expansion for DA. Given how tactical the combat seemed even at that low level, I think it'd be terrific if I could play through with a friend or two.

Also: official info on whether we will be able to 'pre-load' with Steam would be appreciated.

[Sarkus]

The only complaint I have is no co-op so far. I hope that Bioware understands they'll have a license to print money if they release a co-op expansion for DA. Given how tactical the combat seemed even at that low level, I think it'd be terrific if I could play through with a friend or two.


Let's not get carried away! :-) Co-op is nice but realistically it has little value among PC gamers. If they had built DA from the beginning as a console title I think co-op would have been included, but that was not the case.

There are small group of gamers who play co-op and want that feature, but a significant majority of PC RPGgers could not care any less about that option.

[malkav11]

Let's not get carried away! :-) Co-op is nice but realistically it has little value among PC gamers. If they had built DA from the beginning as a console title I think co-op would have been included, but that was not the case.

There are small group of gamers who play co-op and want that feature, but a significant majority of PC RPGgers could not care any less about that option.

Every one of Bioware's PC specific RPGs has had coop.

[notatiger]

I don't know what happened. Nothing about this game in particular appeals to me, but all of a sudden I want this game. It isn't really my sort of game at all, and I'm not sure what about it appeals to me. I loved Mass Effect though. Maybe I can get DA in the Toys R Us 2-for-1 sale if I ask my wife nicely.

[Vesper]

I don't know what happened. Nothing about this game in particular appeals to me, but all of a sudden I want this game. It isn't really my sort of game at all, and I'm not sure what about it appeals to me. I loved Mass Effect though. Maybe I can get DA in the Toys R Us 2-for-1 sale if I ask my wife nicely.
It's the word of mouth effect. Hearing your peers (here, other forums, enthusiast press) talking about this game in a positive light does wonders. Far superior marketing to any "new shit" million dollar corporate bullshit.

[JetLagger]

It's the word of mouth effect. Hearing your peers (here, other forums, enthusiast press) talking about this game in a positive light does wonders. Far superior marketing to any "new shit" million dollar corporate bullshit.

Watching the Giantbomb quick view has done wonders for my anticipation level for DA. Enough so that I may now pre-order. The "new shit" marketing campaign has just been awful.

Though I would really like to see more gameplay videos of the game playing on the consoles. I'm interested on how the console gameplay interface feels.

-Tim

[Murbella]

The party ui improvements showing you exactly what they were doing right next to their names was pretty cool.

The ai config screen looked nice. No more having to wade through menus deep in the party config.

The setting of the video looked cool, almost lord of the ring'ish.

Also looked quite hard, although most of the times he died were due to not paying attention.

my one concern at the moment is that if i want my main character to be a mage, i'm going to have also have him be the healer. This is an unfounded concern that i will wait on the character creator for though. I'd like to be able to be a nearly full offensive mage with a support'ish caster and a couple fighters maybe. Then there is a rogue/thief class, isn't there.

I don't think the other videos were that bad personally. Yeah, i cringed when the witch one said the comment about stamina, but it was only really a lame joke (Two men walk in to a bar... Ouch!), the rest of the video was good. The origin videos were very well done i thought with the elf one making me strongly think of braveheart. Blood magic also looked REALLY nice.

[unbongwah]

Every one of Bioware's PC specific RPGs has had coop.
And every one of their games since NWN has been SP-only - except, of course, for SW:TOR. Since DA:O is a cross-platform game, I guess technically their "PC-only RPGs have MP!" track record is unbroken.

I'd love some coop MP from them again, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

[Vesper]

Though I would really like to see more gameplay videos of the game playing on the consoles. I'm interested on how the console gameplay interface feels.
I didn't spend much time with the console one at Gencon, but it seemed to have quite a bit different feel. There is no zoomed back view, you are directly controlling the movement of characters (ala a 3rd person action game), and you map powers to buttons with 2 possible setups. It also seemed like you can ONLY control the main character, and the NPCs are only controlled through the behavior configuration. I might be wrong on that though.

[Spoit]

the bumpers switch between the characters on the console game. The right trigger lets you switch the 3 presets to a second set. And the left trigger pauses and brings up a radial wheel (think ME) to choose from all your abilities.

[Balasarius]

I must have been watching the same version Jazar was because i thought it looked great. The mage peashooter looked like an auto attack type ability. Mages in D&D didn't even get an auto attack like that, they either casted a spell, used a physical weapon or did nothing. Mostly my mages would either use a stat stick and stand there or use a sling and plink away doing almost no damage.

They changed that in 4th Ed., thankfully. Perhaps the only change of significant worth.

[Vesper]

the bumpers switch between the characters on the console game. The right trigger lets you switch the 3 presets to a second set. And the left trigger pauses and brings up a radial wheel (think ME) to choose from all your abilities.
Thanks for the clarification. My eyes started glazing over when I saw that it was direct control only. That's OK, but as soon as I learned that I knew the PC edition was for me.

[thurauh1]

I think Bioware's developers on the DA forums at the Bioware website said that your mage will always have a small amount of money he or she can use if his or her mana pool is empty? At least that's the way I have come understand this.

As for mages also being healers, you can do this, I think, by putting points into this with each level up? or is this done via the specializations in the game? You get to choose a specialization at level 7 and level 14 apparantly...

When I can afford buying the game, I'm torn between the CE of this game and the retail CE (if its still available then). Steam is, of course, also an option.

[John Reynolds]

When I can afford buying the game, I'm torn between the CE of this game and the retail CE (if its still available then).

Wait, there are two different CEs?

[Murbella]

I think Bioware's developers on the DA forums at the Bioware website said that your mage will always have a small amount of money he or she can use if his or her mana pool is empty? At least that's the way I have come understand this.

As for mages also being healers, you can do this, I think, by putting points into this with each level up? or is this done via the specializations in the game? You get to choose a specialization at level 7 and level 14 apparantly...

When I can afford buying the game, I'm torn between the CE of this game and the retail CE (if its still available then). Steam is, of course, also an option.
In the previous video the host's main character was a mage who primarily focused on offensive spells, but he said that he also took healing spells on him because there is no cleric class, just mages as far as magic goes. I just hope parties can be viable with two mages because obviously you need a healer and obviously if two mages is one too many, your only mage would have to be a healer at least partially.

Oh and i was kind of happy to hear there was a sub specialization/class/whatever he called it that made a mage in to a tank mage. Kensai/Mage here i come! Of course the mage in the video just crumpled when attacked in melee...

[garin]

I've put up some screenshots (http://www.biclopsgames.com/news.php?id=41) from Dragon Age Journeys. I know some people here enjoyed Monsters' Den, I hope you'll give this one a shot.

[Cubit]

GoGamer has this for $39.99 in their most recent sale.

http://www.gogamer.com/viewproduct.htm?productId=61665833&extid=Oct0909

[Murbella]

gogamer preorder doesn't get any goodies though!

[Nyx]

gogamer preorder doesn't get any goodies though!

Supposedly all pre-orders get the Stone Prisoner DLC, Formari memory ring, and the Blood Armor

[Spect]

I've put up some screenshots (http://www.biclopsgames.com/news.php?id=41) from Dragon Age Journeys. I know some people here enjoyed Monsters' Den, I hope you'll give this one a shot.

Wow, this is an EA supported spin-off flash game that's due out around the same time as DA:O? Looks a lot like Golden Axe from the trailer. Is it more of a side scroller or RPG?

[garin]

Wow, this is an EA supported spin-off flash game that's due out around the same time as DA:O? Looks a lot like Golden Axe from the trailer. Is it more of a side scroller or RPG?
EA is producing the game, yeah-- it's not a fan project. Official release date is October 20th.

It's unmistakably an RPG, there really are no action elements at all. The trailer is just sort of a sizzle-reel using assets from the game. The actual combat gameplay is turn-based on a hex grid, similar to Heroes of Might and Magic. (battle screenshot (http://biclopsgames.com/images/ss-battle.jpg))

[Jason Lutes]

Wow, garin, congrats on that gig. I was just wondering the other day what you were going to spring on us next, and the game looks great! Looking forward to checking it out.

[Angie Gallant]

Over on the Dragon Age forums they have a thread asking how Dragon Age will get away with not being banned in many countries given the sexual content. J. Random Netmoron chimed in with this winner:


It's more making love and less sex. So with an M rating and the scene being completely voluntary to initiate I would definately say it's perfectly fine, and it is certainly protected by the 4th amendment.

[Quitch]

Protected by the 4th amendment... in other countries? Or am I missing a joke (not being familiar with any amendment beyond the 1st and 5th).

[Equisilus]

It's unmistakably an RPG, there really are no action elements at all. The trailer is just sort of a sizzle-reel using assets from the game. The actual combat gameplay is turn-based on a hex grid, similar to Heroes of Might and Magic. (battle screenshot (http://biclopsgames.com/images/ss-battle.jpg))

That trailer is too bad for the game. I watched it and thought: "meh, an action flash game, not my thing" and moved on. Yet, a simple turn-based RPG IS interesting to me. I'd say it's exactly the opposite of what the trailer made it out to be.

Now I will have to check it out if/when I have the chance. Thanks for the screenshot.

On another note, the leaked new trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohOQ_9H45PI) for DA:O is actually pretty good in generating some excitement. Over-the-top stuff, sure, but it's entertaining and exactly what a lot of the other trailers should have been. And that Giantbomb gameplay vid was just pure fun to watch. Where was this stuff all of the previous months?

[Eightball]

Over on the Dragon Age forums they have a thread asking how Dragon Age will get away with not being banned in many countries given the sexual content. J. Random Netmoron chimed in with this winner:


It's more making love and less sex. So with an M rating and the scene being completely voluntary to initiate I would definately say it's perfectly fine, and it is certainly protected by the 4th amendment.

I'm ecstatic to hear that Dragon Age will be protected against random stop and frisks. That's important.

[forgeforsaken]

Yeah the Giant Bomb quick look got me interested where I really kind of wasn't before.

[Angie Gallant]

That trailer is too bad for the game. I watched it and thought: "meh, an action flash game, not my thing" and moved on. Yet, a simple turn-based RPG IS interesting to me. I'd say it's exactly the opposite of what the trailer made it out to be.

Now I will have to check it out if/when I have the chance. Thanks for the screenshot.

On another note, the leaked new trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohOQ_9H45PI) for DA:O is actually pretty good in generating some excitement. Over-the-top stuff, sure, but it's entertaining and exactly what a lot of the other trailers should have been. And that Giantbomb gameplay vid was just pure fun to watch. Where was this stuff all of the previous months?

I'm glad she's wearing her miniskirt during the blizzard, wouldn't want her crotch to overheat.

[Hugin]

I'm glad she's wearing her miniskirt during the blizzard, wouldn't want her crotch to overheat.

It just boggles the mind, nothing, nothing, can stand in the way of making female characters skin-baring eye candy for these people.

[Cubit]

Truly, it is the age of dragons.

[Talisker]

What fantasy artist / game / movie *doesn't* do that with their female characters?

(not that "but everyone does it that way!" is an acceptable defense; however, I can't think of any examples that go against the grain)

[Sam Jones]

What fantasy artist / game / movie *doesn't* do that with their female characters?

(not that "but everyone does it that way!" is an acceptable defense; however, I can't think of any examples that go against the grain)

http://www.geocities.com/licia_north/eowyn-07.jpeg

[Murbella]

Oh please, none of the characters even bare that much skin in the trailer. A plate mail bikini is ridiculous because lowering the protection area serves no purpose and breaks the sense of immersion generally. A skirt like that is almost like the stuff romans would wear. What boggles the mind is the ability to nitpick about everything and somehow make it sound like dragon ages is some Japanese sex game when everything i've seen makes it look way more tame than a game like GTA. Some people won't be happy until everyone is dressed like nuns, and even then they will nitpick that the nun dresses aren't stylish!

It would have been nice if the dragon had been stronger though as it did die only after being (deeply) slashed in the leg and then lightning something'ed in the mouth.

That witch was pretty damn good though. Hopefully that touch and explode thing is blood magic.

[Angie Gallant]

That touch and explode spell looked like Walking Bomb to me, which is not a blood magic spell. It's Spirit.

I also would be interested in hearing more about these Romans who wear miniskirts in deep snow.

[Joe M.]

To be fair it was probably lightning something, rank 3.

[Murbella]

It didn't look like anyone else changed their clothing to fit the climate either though. The only thing that i'd assume they added was the cloaks which for obvious reasons they threw away the second the fighting started.

This is a game, I don't think people expect their heroic party to start loading on the furs when it snows and take off their smoldering plate in the desert.

[BleedTheFreak]

To be fair it was probably lightning something, rank 3.

I'm guessing the dragon died easy so that the video didn't have to be a 19 min CGI trailer.... ;)

[Angie Gallant]

No, I don't expect it, but that doesn't mean I don't find it funny. Add to that the fact that this is CG and not gameplay and that means they made a series of decisions.

1) Let's keep the characters in their game-standard armor
2) Let's put that one in a mini-skirt
3) Let's put them in snow

Believe me, if they had a dude in a loincloth in the snow I'd be experiencing sympathetic shivers for him too, but DA seems sadly lacking in semi-nude beefcake.

[sam16]

Believe me, if they had a dude in a loincloth in the snow I'd be experiencing sympathetic shivers for him too, but DA seems sadly lacking in semi-nude beefcake.

You could always do what they did in this preview (http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/dragon-age-origins/preview/dragon-age-origins-blood-party/a-20091009101136409091/g-2007021318127502086/p-2) and have your party fight in their underwear.

[Ben Sones]

What fantasy artist / game / movie *doesn't* do that with their female characters?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/4001065665_165840b671.jpg



A skirt like that is almost like the stuff romans would wear.

Sure, in the same sense that underwear is almost like the stuff that I wear, except that I usually wear additional things along with it. I'd point out that A) the Romans came from the Mediterranean, and thus it was only natural that their clothing was designed for warm weather, B) even in Rome, the Romans typically wore that particular piece of armor over a tunic, and C) in cold regions, they replaced the tunic with wool pants.

Don't get me wrong--goofy, impractical armor doesn't bother me that much in games. And on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is realistic armor and 10 is chain mail bras and studded leather thongs and spaulders with spikes that stick up 20 inches over the top of the character's head, that outfit from the trailer rates maybe a 4. But it's still somewhat goofy.

[BigWeather]

It didn't look like anyone else changed their clothing to fit the climate either though. The only thing that i'd assume they added was the cloaks which for obvious reasons they threw away the second the fighting started.

This is a game, I don't think people expect their heroic party to start loading on the furs when it snows and take off their smoldering plate in the desert.

No, perhaps not, but I look forward to the first game that does do this correctly. One of my guilty pleasures about LotR movies is that they did dress up / down and they did show them hauling all their equipment with them.

[John Reynolds]

Only thing I noticed about that girl was the constant, "who took a shit in my breakfast this morning?," look on her face. It's the Raistlin effect, I guess mages must always be moody and brooding

[Hugin]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2455/4001065665_165840b671.jpg




Sure, in the same sense that underwear is almost like the stuff that I wear, except that I usually wear additional things along with it. I'd point out that A) the Romans came from the Mediterranean, and thus it was only natural that their clothing was designed for warm weather, B) even in Rome, the Romans typically wore that particular piece of armor over a tunic, and C) in cold regions, they replaced the tunic with wool pants.

Don't get me wrong--goofy, impractical armor doesn't bother me that much in games. And on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is realistic armor and 10 is chain mail bras and studded leather thongs and spaulders with spikes that stick up 20 inches over the top of the character's head, that outfit from the trailer rates maybe a 4. But it's still somewhat goofy.

I also just generally wish they didn't do a straight gender split of "Big male melee fighters in heavy metal armor vs female ranger and magic user in cloth of dubious combat practicality."

[Angie Gallant]

Only thing I noticed about that girl was the constant, "who took a shit in my breakfast this morning?," look on her face. It's the Raistlin effect, I guess mages must always be moody and brooding

I am looking forward to recruiting Wynne because she doesn't seem to be the moody, brooding stereotype. She's also not in her early twenties and dresses like a normal person.

[Joe M.]

Add to that the fact that this is CG and not gameplay and that means they made a series of decisions.


Like marketing to a younger demographic?

[Ex-S Woo]

I don't suppose this game is going to be available for digital distribution outside of Direct2Drive? Stupid region lockouts...

[Killzig]

Impulse and Gamersgate both have it listed, I think someone mentioned in this thread that it would be available via Steam too.

[Murbella]

Not sure if it is old news, but the dlc page is up.

Warden's keep: $7. It looked pretty involved from the video and it has some nice sounding features.

# New features - a base of operations with party storage. Inventory full? Stash new items as well as loot from the main Dragon Age: Origins campaign
# New items and abilities - talents and spells from the Power of Blood school, unique achievements, and powerful items including a set of Grey Warden Commander armor
I'm a sucker for the player bases thing. Hopefully it is like the one in nwn2 in that there are a lot of quests involved with having it instead of it just being a featureless bank.

$15 for the shale pack that comes with the game kind of removes the used market for people who care about that.

[John Reynolds]

Has anyone read the two Gaider DA novels? They're pretty TSR-ish in quality, but provide some limited backstory on the world and characters.

[awdougherty]

http://www.geocities.com/licia_north/eowyn-07.jpeg

Please get your unrealistic Ren Fair porn outta here and get back to me when you've found more realistic depictions of female battle attire from comic book conventions. KTHNXBYE!!!11!1

[jfletch]

http://www.geocities.com/licia_north/eowyn-07.jpeg

PROTECT THE QUEEN, MY LORD.

FREE FOREVER.

[Luke M]

Not sure if it is old news, but the dlc page is up.

Warden's keep: $7. It looked pretty involved from the video and it has some nice sounding features.


# New features - a base of operations with party storage. Inventory full? Stash new items as well as loot from the main Dragon Age: Origins campaign
# New items and abilities - talents and spells from the Power of Blood school, unique achievements, and powerful items including a set of Grey Warden Commander armor

$7 for a base of operations? Isn't something like that usually built in to Bioware RPGs? Is Dragon Age designed to not need a home base, or is Bioware charging us for something that really should be on the disc?

[Sarkus]

$7 for a base of operations? Isn't something like that usually built in to Bioware RPGs? Is Dragon Age designed to not need a home base, or is Bioware charging us for something that really should be on the disc?

See earlier posts on this debate. Bioware claims the DLC (well except the Shale thing which is basically a form of copy protection) is all stuff their designers came up with while they have been waiting for the console ports to be finished. So, it's not stuff that would have otherwise been included in the game.

That's the official line, anyway. I gather that in the main game there is some sort of base or camp where the NPCs you aren't using hang out so you'll still have that even if you opt not to get this DLC.

[Squee]

So, it's not stuff that would have otherwise been included in the game.
Except now it's done. Before the game is released. So they could include it in the game. Since it hasn't been released. Nnnnngh.

[Chris]

Except now it's done. Before the game is released. So they could include it in the game. Since it hasn't been released. Nnnnngh.

Nah, they have the DLC out of the way, that will leave free time to work on the inevitable patch.

[notatiger]

Except now it's done. Before the game is released. So they could include it in the game. Since it hasn't been released. Nnnnngh.

But then they would have to go back and re-test it, dragging back the approval process. These days you have to be done with the game so long before it releases that I am not surprised so many games have Day 1 dlc. I agree that it does totally suck, however.

[Murbella]

But then they would have to go back and re-test it, dragging back the approval process. These days you have to be done with the game so long before it releases that I am not surprised so many games have Day 1 dlc. I agree that it does totally suck, however.
There are already two "included" dlc's though. A third one wouldn't exactly be some new thing.

I don't know how i feel about it. It does kind of feel like a retail+$7 game in a way, especially since the dlc includes new powers and such. If anything, i'd say it has a negative feel to it, but not so much that i won't buy the game anyway.

I can't say i really support the shale/dragon armor code thing either, but since i don't buy used pc games, it doesn't really affect me. Honestly though if someone pirates the game, chances are they will be able to download the dlc too. So i can only see it as a move to combat the used console game market.

[Luke M]

Yeah, I read that stuff, Sarkus. I know Bioware's justification for their DLC. I'm asking if the DLC party-storage base is a nice little bonus, superfluous, even, or if it fills a void intentionally left in the base game. I should have directed the question at someone with lots of hands-on time, like Desslock.

Glad to hear there's at least some sort of base. I hope it has a chest for items!

[unbongwah]

As for mages also being healers, you can do this, I think, by putting points into this with each level up? or is this done via the specializations in the game? You get to choose a specialization at level 7 and level 14 apparantly...
DA's spells (http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Spells) are divided into four categories with 16 spells each: Primal (elemental), Creation (heals & buffs), Spirit, and Entropy (mostly debuffs). AFAIK mages can take spells from any and all four spell groups, but spells are grouped into four-spell chains and you need to take the lower-level spells in a chain before you can get the higher level ones (e.g., "Heal > Cure > Regeneration > Purify"). [Same thing with the talents of rogues & warriors.] I think you only gain one spell per level, so it probably makes sense to specialize in one or two schools rather than spread yourself too thin.

In addition, there are four specializations (http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Specializations) for each class, which give you stat boosts and access to a new chain of talents (rogues & warriors) or spells (mages). Like you said, you can gain one specialization at level 7 and another at level 14; I don't know if you can gain more than that.

[unbongwah]

That's one of the mage specializations.

[Murbella]

Yeah heh, i just noticed it was a specialization and not a spell school.

hmm i wonder if a blood mage, arcane warrior would work..

[Dan_Theman]

Yeah, I read that stuff, Sarkus. I know Bioware's justification for their DLC. I'm asking if the DLC party-storage base is a nice little bonus, superfluous, even, or if it fills a void intentionally left in the base game. I should have directed the question at someone with lots of hands-on time, like Desslock.

Glad to hear there's at least some sort of base. I hope it has a chest for items!
It reminds me of the Titan Quest expansion. While the added chapter was fantastic, perhaps the most commented on parts were the new mastery (taking the place of the added specialization) and the storage chest (taking the place of the base) because these were available immediately to players who hadn't finished the base game.

I'll admit with my playing style, being able to hoard as many items as I wish would be wonderful. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the inventory system in Gothic 3 so much because of its unlimited space that I played the game disproportionately more than I should have given its overall quality (however, I do have to give major respect to the community patch which made it much better). Having a base to go back to would help with the immersion factor while satisfying my hoarding needs.

Anyway, I've never been happy with the idea of exclusive in-game content. I don't mind paying for proverbial horse armor if it's something I want, but locking people out of it because they don't preorder doesn't strike me as quite right. Perhaps that's due to my completionist/hoarding personality, or perhaps it's due to my secret membership in the communist gamers party, but I really think everyone should be able to have the same game experience if they want to pay for it. Of course, I also recognize that such idealism would be squashed in a board room when people are bringing up ways to enhance a company's profit. Such is life.

[Equisilus]

The complete, slightly different, Sacred Ashes Trailer (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/dragonage/video/6232581/dragon-age-origins-sacred-ashes-trailer?hd=1) is up at GameSpot.

[PeterGinsberg]

The complete, slightly different, Sacred Ashes Trailer (http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/dragonage/video/6232581/dragon-age-origins-sacred-ashes-trailer?hd=1) is up at GameSpot.

That trailer would be way better (and a far better example of "dark" fantasy) if the dragon just ate them all at the end.

[Murbella]

SO is the blood specialization only available if you order the warden's keep dlc? The blurb on that dlc kind of sounds like that, but then blood magic has been shown in an official trailer for the game too...

[sam16]

SO is the blood specialization only available if you order the warden's keep dlc? The blurb on that dlc kind of sounds like that, but then blood magic has been shown in an official trailer for the game too...

Fron the official forums:


There are new blood based abilities but these are not the same as blood magic. The DLC abilities are a brand new ability chain.

http://www.dragonagecentral.com/single/1255194120

[Kael]

That trailer would be way better (and a far better example of "dark" fantasy) if the dragon just ate them all at the end.

Not that anyone really cares. But "dark fantasy" doesnt mean that it has to have a tragic ending. Only that the setting is halfway between typical fantasy (dragonlance, tolkien, etc) and horror (lovecraft, poe, etc).

In fantasy ghosts may hang out with students attending a magical school. In horror glimpses of the ghosts may be driving the students mad. In dark fantasy we get a little of both.

[Kunikos]

I have yet to see anything that resembles "horror" here in any sense. The darkest anything shown thus far is about on par with Tolkein stuff. Show me something on par with mindflayers, beholders, etc.

[Kunikos]

I'm looking at how the spell trees work and I have to say that I'm not a big fan of how you have to put in 3 spell points just to get to Animate Dead. I could care less about Walking Bomb and Virulent Walking Bomb, since they do AoE splash damage that can hurt your party's meleers. Some of the spell trees themselves are pretty haphazard too, mixing buff effects with debuffs, summons, or damage spells.

[PeterGinsberg]

Not that anyone really cares. But "dark fantasy" doesnt mean that it has to have a tragic ending. Only that the setting is halfway between typical fantasy (dragonlance, tolkien, etc) and horror (lovecraft, poe, etc).

Sure, sure, was just saying it's about the only thing that would have surprised me -- let's get a little George RR Martin in our RPGs eh?

An ending "think you can do any better?" with a nice smug dragon would be a better ad in my opinion, although probably out of line for the musty seriousness of recent Bioware titles.

[Angie Gallant]

At least there's no more "There's no dragons in Dragon Age" nonsense.

[Stridergg]

Sure, sure, was just saying it's about the only thing that would have surprised me -- let's get a little George RR Martin in our RPGs eh?

An ending "think you can do any better?" with a nice smug dragon would be a better ad in my opinion, although probably out of line for the musty seriousness of recent Bioware titles.

Judging by KD's spoiler in his latest preview, there is enough "dark" in this "dark fantasy".

BTW "think you can do better" would be so cheesy.

[PeterGinsberg]

Judging by KD's spoiler in his latest preview, there is enough "dark" in this "dark fantasy".

BTW "think you can do better" would be so cheesy.

I was aiming for campy, which is what all of Dragon Age's trailers have been already (just without realizing it).

Don't get me wrong, the gameplay vids make it look like it could be a pretty fantastic game, I'm only commenting on the marketing.

[Squee]

I have yet to see anything that resembles "horror" here in any sense. The darkest anything shown thus far is about on par with Tolkein stuff. Show me something on par with mindflayers, beholders, etc.
http://files.bioware.com/dragonage/assets/media/creatures/brood_mother/concept_art/previews/concept-preview-1.jpg

[Telefrog]

Enough with the beauty shots! Show me something really dark!

[Equisilus]

I've never felt any traditional fantasy RPG had done "horror" in a manner that exemplified what is generally meant by the term. The closest an RPG got to "horror" was the wonderfully creepy atmosphere of the mansion in Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, and that was more of a fun edge-of-your-seat tension than anything frightening. I don't think that developers try to make players feel fear through creature creations or atmosphere; they are more often just trying to make something different or cool or entertaining or grotesque and mix it up with the action and story.

I'd love to be pleasantly surprised by a fantasy RPG that can offer a truly unsettling and disturbing atmosphere. I've not seen anything about DA:O that suggests it'll have anything resembling "horror".

[Kunikos]

http://files.bioware.com/dragonage/assets/media/creatures/brood_mother/concept_art/previews/concept-preview-1.jpg

Well, that's closer. Is this one of the hunger demons or something? Is kind of monster that will evoke a real sense of dread for players if they see it? Is this one of Dragon Age's equivalent of the D&D "party killers" (mindflayers, drow, beholders, dragons, etc) ? (Aside from the dragons) In D&D a lot of players are familiar with the really nasty creatures, which is something that you don't get with a whole new system like DA:O. You have to re-familiarize yourself with everything.

Edit: The wikia doesn't really have any more info. http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Broodmother

[idrisz]

looks like one of the Fate sister from God of War 2.

[Kael]

I've never felt any traditional fantasy RPG had done "horror" in a manner that exemplified what is generally meant by the term. The closest an RPG got to "horror" was the wonderfully creepy atmosphere of the mansion in Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, and that was more of a fun edge-of-your-seat tension than anything frightening. I don't think that developers try to make players feel fear through creature creations or atmosphere; they are more often just trying to make something different or cool or entertaining or grotesque and mix it up with the action and story.

I'd love to be pleasantly surprised by a fantasy RPG that can offer a truly unsettling and disturbing atmosphere. I've not seen anything about DA:O that suggests it'll have anything resembling "horror".

In general I agree. The level of immersion required to pull off effective "horror" game play is very difficult to do. I would say several games attempt it, though not usually RPG's. Silent Hill and Fatal Frame being great examples.

RPG's tend to be so much about strategy and mechanics that its hard to really dig into the atmosphere. Players feel outside of the action taking care of their characters which is a difficult position to feel fear from.

But regardless of the effectiveness of fear component games can still have a horror setting. Diablo can be considered an RPG set in a Dark Fantasy world, but without any effective fear for the player.

For DA:O it will depend if the threats are psychological in nature, are they beyond human understanding, or if they tend toward piles of stats waiting to be defeated by the player. Not that either option is more fun than the other. But it will help decide if they mean "Dark Fantasy" in that they have horror aspects in their world, or if they mean it as a way of saying that they have lots of gothic architecture.

[Sarkus]

I guess I don't see "dark fantasy" as requiring much of a horror aspect. In my mind it's a way to alert that it is not a typical fantasy environment, a la a Tolkien clone. In fact, I'd argue that even LOTR has some "horror" aspects to it, from the trees that try and kill people to spending days underground in dark ruins to being attacked by a giant spider.

Instead, dark fantasy signals to me that the story is going to be more mature and that some real-life horrible things are going to happen. A more "gritty, real" fantasy world so to speak.

[Bahimiron]

I have yet to see anything that resembles "horror" here in any sense. The darkest anything shown thus far is about on par with Tolkein stuff. Show me something on par with mindflayers, beholders, etc.

Yeah. Dragon Age needs more stuff like this!

http://i37.tinypic.com/2la6352.png

[Shimarenda]

I sometimes wonder how many people have read Tolkien and paid attention.

[Pogue Mahone]

Yeah. Dragon Age needs more stuff like this!

http://i37.tinypic.com/2la6352.png

Awesome! If Jack Burton shows up, I'm in.

[Kael]

I sometimes wonder how many people have read Tolkien and paid attention.

The Lord of the Rings is a massive collection in which you can find examples to support just about any conclusion. But looking at it as a whole it is not Dark Fantasy (in my opinion). If you define dark fantasy as any fantasy with scary or tragic elements then it does (which I believe is a fairly common over-generalization).

But horror should expose us to evil beyond human understanding. It can be by taking us into the mind of a particuarly depraved serial killer, but it more typically exposes us to the supernatural. Those things unfathomable, from places we cannot go. The heroes are typically no more than normal men. The theme of dark fantasy is pessimistic while fantasy is dualastic.

The evil in the Lord of the Rings isn't any of these things. It is knowable, it is human. In fact it is its closeness to us that makes the LotR resonate so much with us. We understand gollum, we understand the ring-wraiths, we understand sauron and suramon. These are great villians, it is a great story. The main characters are heroes in every aspect. The tone is unforgivably dualastic. It is genre defining high fantasy, not dark fantasy.

Many people said Jackson's movies potrayed the LotR more as dark fantasy than the books by cutting things like Bombadil and playing up the psychological aspects of the books. Thats probably true, but the evil remains limited and defeatable, the heroes powerful. So I dont agree.

This is all my opinion of course. And I admit to spending to much time considering what it means to be dark fantasy, reading poe, lovecraft and tolkien. So I have an unusual interest in the subject and Im hopeful that DA:O really is dark fantasy.

[Shimarenda]

My apologies, Kael. I could have been clearer. I meant that one would be hard pressed to recognize Tolkien's work based on the contrasts usually made in these discussions. He often serves as a stand-in for his pale imitators. While I agree and disagree with parts of your description, I'm sure this isn't the place to debate it. I will say that I agree Lord of the Rings is not dark fantasy, which is a good thing for me as I've never found anything meaningful, useful, or entertaining in that genre.

[idrisz]

I think I don't agree with your saying of


which is a good thing for me as I've never found anything meaningful, useful, or entertaining in that genre.

because I consider Song of Ice and Fire series to be somewhat of Dark Fantasy and it's extremely good.

Also some of the best games comes from Dark fantasy genre.

[Desslock]

It would have been nice if the dragon had been stronger though.

....I don't think you have to worry about dragons not being strong enough in the actual game. They make BG2's dragons looking like overgrown iguanas -- this is an actual combat scene.


[/URL][URL="http://img101.imageshack.us/i/entropymage2.jpg/"]http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/443/entropymage2.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/entropymage2.jpg/) http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/entropymage2.jpg/1/w2560.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img101/entropymage2.jpg/1/)

[Murbella]

Nice job desslock, now we're going to get another 10 pages about how that outfit is unacceptable in a blizzard...

Nice picture though, but if you had just cast lightning something rank 4, that dragon would have died instantly!

Is that your party there? Can you go through the game being a mage with another mage companion without hurting yourself too much? That witch kind of forces you to be a healer though i suppose as it seems unlikely she can heal while shape shifting.

[Tim James]

Sideboob!

How is the flow of the combat compared to Mass Effect? From the Giant Bomb quicklook I was a little disappointed it had the same clear-the-room-to-revive gameplay, not because of realism but just from the feel of it. They make you stretch a little longer before you catch your breath but I never found it that thrilling in ME, despite enjoying the game overall.

[Talisker]

Yeah. Dragon Age needs more stuff like this!

http://i37.tinypic.com/2la6352.png
Those things eat photons and fart anti-gravity.

[Squee]

Nice job desslock, now we're going to get another 10 pages about how that outfit is unacceptable in a blizzard...
Nah, man. Look at how her arm is bending! Jesus!

[RepoMan]

That there, um, that there dragon, that's a mighty big dragon there Bob.
Yeap, yeap, dragon there darn big alright.

[Desslock]

Is that your party there? Can you go through the game being a mage with another mage companion without hurting yourself too much? That witch kind of forces you to be a healer though i suppose as it seems unlikely she can heal while shape shifting.

Any mage can acquire any spells, so you can transition them to any role you want. But there's so much variety that you'll want to try out different branches -- I mixed my party up a lot because I like a variety of challenges and wanted to see as many interactions as possible, but when I wanted to get shit done and deal with big battles, I generally had 2 mages (both of whom could provide healing but different offensive capabilities), a warrior and my main character Rogue.

I love magic in this game - like Dragon Age in general, it's essentially "freestyle D&D" --- without legacy baggage and billions of redundant spells that basically do the same thing. And you can't just spam your most powerful area of effect spells because they have cool-down periods that are very well-balanced to reflect their potency.

I much prefer BioWare's character development/magic systems to 4th Edition D&D, for instance, even though I think they had a lot of common goals for how to evolve a fantasy RPG beyond the limitations of older editions of D&D and similar games.

[Alistair]

...and playable at 2560x1600 apparently.

[BigWeather]

Sideboob!

Haha, that was my first thought from looking at that shot too.

[Desslock]

...and playable at 2560x1600 apparently.

Yeah, silky smooth too, but I do have a geforce 285xt. My CPU is three years old though - dual core. Performance seems very video card driven.

[Angie Gallant]

Unsurprisingly, the Dragon Age forums have shit themselves and stopped responding just as they were supposed to link the character generator.

[TheWombat]

So, is this going to be better on the 360 or the PC? I mean, if it's more like KOTOR or Mass Effect the Xbox seems like a good choice. If it's more like BG or something then the PC maybe?

[dtolman]

The PC based Character Creator is posted - but you need to create an account on their new social website first - http://social.bioware.com/charactercreator.php

[Bahimiron]

So, is this going to be better on the 360 or the PC? I mean, if it's more like KOTOR or Mass Effect the Xbox seems like a good choice. If it's more like BG or something then the PC maybe?

PC.

I'm stuck with the 360 version, but it's pretty much a gone thing that this is a PC game first.

[Rock8man]

PC.

I'm stuck with the 360 version, but it's pretty much a gone thing that this is a PC game first.

We don't know for sure about that though, do we? I always found BG/BG2 method of RTS control to be unsatisfying compared to personally controlling one character at a time manually. It's just more immersive, more personal. I just like it a lot more. And given that preference (which I'm assuming some people here share), it's still not clear which platform will be better at that particular scheme, right? Both platforms will offer that scheme, and I think NWN2 has shown me that the PC can really suck when it comes to that control method if not done right, whereas KOTOR 1/2 showed me that the 360 controller can be really good for that method of control.

What complicates matters though is that the 360 controller will probably be a perfectly viable option on the PC. So there's no reason why the PC version shouldn't also offer a great way to control one character at a time. So I'm still on the fence.

[sinfony]

The PC version is cheaper and will have mods. If you have the computer to run it, this is not a difficult choice.

[Desslock]

- PC has much better graphics, but you need a computer or at least video card from the past couple of years to appreciate it.

- PC has the additional top-down, Baldur's Gate-style perspective. Given the nature of the environments, you'll probably generally use the trailing camera perspective which is the console-default, because you can see further ahead, but the top-down perspective is incredibly useful for scouting areas around corners in dungeons, etc. It's also hugely advantageous for battles generally, to give you a more strategic perspective. I think it's a much worse game without the top-down perspective.

- PC has the construction kit, etc.

[sinfony]

How much power does one need to run the game reasonably well on PC? My laptop falls pretty neatly between the minimum and recommended system requirements (an older Core 2 Duo, 256MB 8600 M). I'm trying to convince the powers that be (e.g. fiance) to let me put together a cheapish gaming desktop, but it's not going well. Does my poor old laptop have a chance?

[garin]

How much power does one need to run the game reasonably well on PC? My laptop falls pretty neatly between the minimum and recommended system requirements (an older Core 2 Duo, 256MB 8600 M). I'm trying to convince the powers that be (e.g. fiance) to let me put together a cheapish gaming desktop, but it's not going well. Does my poor old laptop have a chance?It'll run acceptably well if you're not dead-set on maxing the graphics options or using a crazy resolution.

[Soldats]

The PC based Character Creator is posted - but you need to create an account on their new social website first - http://social.bioware.com/charactercreator.php

No registration needed on the Official Site. (http://files.bioware.com/dragonage_cc_dl/DragonAgeOriginsCharacterCreator_en.exe)

[Adam Sensoy]

- PC has much better graphics, but you need a computer or at least video card from the past couple of years to appreciate it.

- PC has the additional top-down, Baldur's Gate-style perspective. Given the nature of the environments, you'll probably generally use the trailing camera perspective which is the console-default, because you can see further ahead, but the top-down perspective is incredibly useful for scouting areas around corners in dungeons, etc. It's also hugely advantageous for battles generally, to give you a more strategic perspective. I think it's a much worse game without the top-down perspective.

- PC has the construction kit, etc.

This is one of the few games I really wish I had a PC still to play. Damnit.

[RepoMan]

Well, I couldn't resist, I tried the character creator, and am I totally missing the point, or does it only let you create a level 1 character? It's nice to get to mouse over all the skills and spells, and all, but it's not a mock-out-your-uber-endgame-character situation, is it? In fact, I couldn't even select any different skills or spells!

So I'm not entirely sure what the point is, except to let me get all the face-twiddling out of the way early -- and given how much time is usually spent on that after first install, I actually do appreciate that quite a bit :-) But still, me wanted to click uber spells nao, plz....

[Soldats]

Looks like if you sign up with their social networking site, you can save your premade character for use in the full game? I'm enjoying the character maker; I remember spending hours in the Baldur's Gate 2 character creator (sad, I know!).

[Matthew Gallant]

"I want to make a slutty dwarf."

"A whoref."

"Her miniskirt looks like it has bottles of minibar liquor hanging off of it."

[TheWombat]

Okies, looks like PC then. I'm looking forward to it.


- PC has much better graphics, but you need a computer or at least video card from the past couple of years to appreciate it.

- PC has the additional top-down, Baldur's Gate-style perspective. Given the nature of the environments, you'll probably generally use the trailing camera perspective which is the console-default, because you can see further ahead, but the top-down perspective is incredibly useful for scouting areas around corners in dungeons, etc. It's also hugely advantageous for battles generally, to give you a more strategic perspective. I think it's a much worse game without the top-down perspective.

- PC has the construction kit, etc.

[Balasarius]

The 12-year-old in me can't wait for the third-party nudie skins.

[ThornFalconeye]

Well, I couldn't resist, I tried the character creator, and am I totally missing the point, or does it only let you create a level 1 character? It's nice to get to mouse over all the skills and spells, and all, but it's not a mock-out-your-uber-endgame-character situation, is it? In fact, I couldn't even select any different skills or spells!


yes- I was expecting something more along the lines of a party generator, or something to explain the mechanics in more detail- but this is better than nothing.

Anyone else see the skills section as a bit lacking with only 8 total?
hopefully these mysterious tactics slots will offer a bit more- but Ill probably buy the game anyway, so it wont stop me.

[Angie Gallant]

Just for future reference, if you want to upload your character to the social site, you can't use the names "Killfuck" or "Whitey."


Stupid profanity filters.

[Wallapuctus]

The 12-year-old in me can't wait for the third-party nudie skins.

Neither can the 30 year old in me.

¬_¬

[stusser]

But I always name my characters Drizzt Q'fuckhole du Gandolfag! What happened to free speech?!?

Actually, I always name my main character after my old college roommate's little sister to mess with him, and I doubt her name is blocked. Guess I'll find out soon enough.

[zengonzo]

Just have to creative with the fantasy-world phonetics.

[Derek French]

Looks like if you sign up with their social networking site, you can save your premade character for use in the full game?

The characters are saved locally on your hard drive. When you run the full game, you will be given the option to import any found characters and finish tweaking them. You are not required to upload them to get this.

[Soldats]

The characters are saved locally on your hard drive. When you run the full game, you will be given the option to import any found characters and finish tweaking them. You are not required to upload them to get this.

Awesome, thanks for the clarification, Derek. Looking forward to trying to run the full game on my laptop come November.

[RepoMan]

Just have to creative with the fantasy-world phonetics.
Phuckingge Schluttiye Whorfe, here I come!

[ydejin]

I'm enjoying the character maker; I remember spending hours in the Baldur's Gate 2 character creator (sad, I know!).

I spent a huge time on that too. IIRC Icewind Dale was even worse, since I had to get good rolls on all my stats for 6 characters!

[thurauh1]

Well, that's closer. Is this one of the hunger demons or something? Is kind of monster that will evoke a real sense of dread for players if they see it? Is this one of Dragon Age's equivalent of the D&D "party killers" (mindflayers, drow, beholders, dragons, etc) ? (Aside from the dragons) In D&D a lot of players are familiar with the really nasty creatures, which is something that you don't get with a whole new system like DA:O. You have to re-familiarize yourself with everything.

Edit: The wikia doesn't really have any more info. http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Broodmother


The picture is of a brood mother, which, apparently, is the mother to something called nugs. (hairless thingies who dwell in the dark roads)

Anyway, the character is up, and it is really great :)

Bioware has really done a great job here :)

I hope that it means that my computer at least can play DA: Origins if I can use the character creator?

[Sarkus]

The character creator is fun. I like that you can mess around with the actual portrait used in-game, changing the angle of the shot as well as the expression on the face of your character. No more default "noble" pose crap. :-)

[Desslock]

Anyone else see the skills section as a bit lacking with only 8 total? hopefully these mysterious tactics slots will offer a bit more- but Ill probably buy the game anyway, so it wont stop me.

Tactics are just additional AI scripting commands you can give to that character, not additional abilities. Not very exciting, although the scripting is extremely customizable - i.e., cast a particular spell on the closest mage, or "use stonefist to shatter any frozen enemies", etc.

There are only a few skills, but at least they're all useful (although I've never maxed Survival) and not limited to particular classes as you might otherwise expect for skills like stealing/ traps not just for thieves, Herbalism (potion making) not just for mages etc

[Tim James]

Not very exciting, although the scripting is extremely customizable - i.e., cast a particular spell on the closest mage, or "use stonefist to shatter any frozen enemies", etc.Display sideboob upon dragon encounter.

[Anaxagoras]

Display sideboob upon dragon encounter.

This one's only available in DLC.

[Boinkology]

The picture is of a brood mother, which, apparently, is the mother to something called nugs. (hairless thingies who dwell in the dark roads)

Anyway, the character is up, and it is really great :)

Bioware has really done a great job here :)

I hope that it means that my computer at least can play DA: Origins if I can use the character creator?

I think the brood mother is what produces darkspawn, not nugs. Nugs are like large hairless rabbits, that dwarves eat like cattle among other things.

I think the broodmother is pretty cool looking too! :)

[ydejin]

Anyone else see the skills section as a bit lacking with only 8 total?

I agree. The skills seem pretty dull. Also I personally prefer a tree structure ala Diablo 2 vs. a straight line of skills with no interaction between skills families.

[Angie Gallant]

If anyone else is on the social site, you can see my characters here. (http://social.bioware.com/playerprofile.php?game=dragonage1_pc&nid=2263071980) For some reason it didn't save Elodie's facial expression correctly.

[Murbella]

why oh why did they just make me sit through an extremely long trailer that i've already seen before letting me mess around with the character creator?

[zengonzo]

Guess they figured registering for a site to download and install a tool whose only function is to create characters for the game was not a sufficient demonstration of interest.

[Lee Johnson]

Is that Colm Meaney voicing the Grey Warden on the Sacred Ashes trailer? It sure sounded like him.

[Lizard_King]

Is the DLC going to require the same song and dance as the Mass Effect DLC?

[Murbella]

Is the DLC going to require the same song and dance as the Mass Effect DLC?
You mean where the pc version is free? i hope so heh

[Lizard_King]

You mean where the pc version is free? i hope so heh

I would rather pay than go through the bullshit the steam version required. And as a general rule I don't want to be asked to register on a manufacturer's website.

[Ben Sones]

If anyone else is on the social site, you can see my characters here. (http://social.bioware.com/playerprofile.php?game=dragonage1_pc&nid=2263071980) For some reason it didn't save Elodie's facial expression correctly.

It's probably for the best. The only facial expression choice other than "none" seems to be varying degrees of goofy mugging. I made my first character (http://social.bioware.com/playerprofile.php?game=dragonage1_pc&nid=2298468385) to take full advantage of this slider. Then because I am a geek, I made Imoen.

[Royal Fool]

Then because I am a geek, I made Imoen.

Yes, the character creator seems eerily good at making Imoen clones.

[Murbella]

Yes, the character creator seems eerily good at making Imoen clones.
You say that like it isn't a wonderful feature.

[Squee]

Hell, one of the NPC party members looks suspiciously Imoenesque. Probably for all those creepy people that downloaded the Imoen romance mod for BG2. But will the love still be there when she isn't your half-sister? Tune in later to find out!
http://files.bioware.com/dragonage/assets/media/characters/leliana/screens/preview/screens-preview-3.jpg
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/forgottenrealms/images/thumb/b/b4/Imoen_-_Baldur%27s_Gate_2.jpg/200px-Imoen_-_Baldur%27s_Gate_2.jpg
Just as long as she doesn't say "Heya! It's me, Leliana!" I'll be alright.

[sam16]

There are only a few skills, but at least they're all useful (although I've never maxed Survival) and not limited to particular classes as you might otherwise expect for skills like stealing/ traps not just for thieves, Herbalism (potion making) not just for mages etc

That seems to be one of the design philosophies behind game mechanics in DA. Fewer choices than D&D, but each choice is more significant/useful.

[Murbella]

Am i the only one that strongly thinks braveheart when looking at the city elf origin?

[zengonzo]

Not at all. That's pretty much the story. Give them the Woad tats and you've got it.

I'm a little disappointed with the limited origin story detail. Though I got the impression some of that would be played out in the game itself. Is that right?

I admit I was recalling Mass Effect's branching origin concepts when I'd heard about them in DA.

[unbongwah]

"I want to make a slutty dwarf."

"A whoref."
"Her miniskirt looks like it has bottles of minibar liquor hanging off of it."

Just for future reference, if you want to upload your character to the social site, you can't use the names "Killfuck" or "Whitey."

But I always name my characters Drizzt Q'fuckhole du Gandolfag!

Phuckingge Schluttiye Whorfe, here I come!
Good to see folks are really getting into the spirit of the setting! Sir Smashy McCockangstion is in good company!

That seems to be one of the design philosophies behind game mechanics in DA. Fewer choices than D&D, but each choice is more significant/useful.
Since NWN 1, Bioware has been all about the streamlined mechanics.

[Angie Gallant]

I did make my slutty dwarf commoner. If you look at the profile for Amber (http://social.bioware.com/playerprofile.php?char_id=795&display=character&nid=2263071980&game=dragonage) you can even see her minibar liquor bottle skirt.

[Murbella]

Not at all. That's pretty much the story. Give them the Woad tats and you've got it.

I'm a little disappointed with the limited origin story detail. Though I got the impression some of that would be played out in the game itself. Is that right?

I admit I was recalling Mass Effect's branching origin concepts when I'd heard about them in DA.
Mass effect's origins were extremely limited in effect though. The dragon age origins seem to be much more detailed and affect more things.

[zengonzo]

I'm unaware of the impacts of origins in DA - have there been some hints about it?

[Bahimiron]

I'm unaware of the impacts of origins in DA - have there been some hints about it?

I'm assuming it's going to be a bit like Secret of Mana 2, where the different origins mean the story takes different directions at various points. Though I somehow doubt it means a different boss, hey, who knows?

If you haven't seen them, there are a series of 'origins' videos, which show the different backstories for the different characters.

[unbongwah]

Dumb question: are your initial abilities pre-set based on your class? I'm a little disappointed that I can make a bazillion different faces, yet I only get 3 attribute points to distribute to customize my character.

[Vesper]

Dumb question: are your initial abilities pre-set based on your class? I'm a little disappointed that I can make a bazillion different faces, yet I only get 3 attribute points to distribute to customize my character.
On the first screen, each choice adds modifiers to the base of 10. They're listed under the descriptions for race/class/origin.

[zengonzo]

If you haven't seen them, there are a series of 'origins' videos, which show the different backstories for the different characters.

I haven't - only just recently started paying attention to the game, so I have some catchup to do.

I'll have a look, thanks.

[unbongwah]

On the first screen, each choice adds modifiers to the base of 10. They're listed under the descriptions for race/class/origin.
I meant the skills, talents, and spells: AFAICT they're pre-set by class. I like being able to pick my own. Hardly a deal-breaker, just slightly annoying to me.

[SpookyKG]

I'm assuming it's going to be a bit like Secret of Mana 2, where the different origins mean the story takes different directions at various points. Though I somehow doubt it means a different boss, hey, who knows?

If you haven't seen them, there are a series of 'origins' videos, which show the different backstories for the different characters.

Never thought of it that way... Seiken Densetsu 3 (SOM 2) did that fabulously; it gave you a reason to play the game with all the different classes or characters while still having one main, overarching plot.

[Murbella]

I think it will be the same idea as mass effect, but more.

The videos shown so far point to an overarching main plot about fighting those darkfiends or whatever they are called. The difference seems to be in how you start (braveheart style wedding or hunting party finds old dark artifact, etc) and likely aspects along the way (i'd assume how people treat you will be a big thing).

[Larinson]

I just got an e-mail from Gameplay saying that Dragon Age is being released on 23/10... I'm guessing they got it wrong. Either that, or the last full weekend of October has suddenly become a write off...

[Angie Gallant]

Well, if you downloaded the character creator, you might as well sign up for the social site and upload a character. Doing so nets you some DLC:

The Lucky Stone
Description: This old stone, set in a golden ring, has been an aid and companion to dozens of adventurers across innumerable years. Its trip to Ferelden was long and convoluted. Some say it has a life of its own.
Item: Ring
Bonus: Adds +1 to all stats.

[VegasRobb]

Angie,

Is that PC-only?

[Tim James]

Might as well just let you win the game instantly if you sign up for their email newsletter or something.

[Angie Gallant]

Per Bioware, it will be for 360 too.

[thurauh1]

Angie,

Is that PC-only?

No, it is not. According the Fernando Melo (I think?) from BIoware, you can link? your EA/Bioware account to your Xbox Live account or your PSN account. It is for all versions, it seems.

On other news, apparently when you log into the social site Bioware created for this game, you will get an EA Master account?

[Angie Gallant]

Might as well just let you win the game instantly if you sign up for their email newsletter or something.

I've rarely seen a GM be so monty haul before the game even started.

But I don't think +1 to all stats is as uber in the Dragon Age system as it would be in other systems. I think main stats up in the high 30s is expected.

[Tim James]

Yeah I think someone mentioned that about the +3 hat earlier. I'm just waiting for the day when you get extra loot and gear for completing three surveys and purchase an additional game.

[peacedog]

I've rarely seen a GM be so monty haul before the game even started.

But I don't think +1 to all stats is as uber in the Dragon Age system as it would be in other systems. I think main stats up in the high 30s is expected.

SPECIAL is the only system I can think of off hand where +1 to all stats unequivocally rocks. Even in 3e d&d, it only immediately helps with odd numbered stats, and in the long run isn't worth much since at high levels great + stat gear is handed out like candy. 1e D&D? You'll only benefit from a couple of stats getting +1, and even then it's situational. I don't recall 19 dex or con being immediate improvements over 18 (that may be mistaken). It'd help for strength, if you are a fighter.

[Killzig]

Well, if you downloaded the character creator, you might as well sign up for the social site and upload a character. Doing so nets you some DLC:

The Lucky Stone
Description: This old stone, set in a golden ring, has been an aid and companion to dozens of adventurers across innumerable years. Its trip to Ferelden was long and convoluted. Some say it has a life of its own.
Item: Ring
Bonus: Adds +1 to all stats.
Between this and the book for preorders/CE I'm already at +4. Are all these items placed in a chest somewhere early in the game (like Fable 2) or are they just added to vendor inventories in game?

[sam16]

Between this and the book for preorders/CE I'm already at +4. Are all these items placed in a chest somewhere early in the game (like Fable 2) or are they just added to vendor inventories in game?

Some will go straight into your inventory, while some are placed at various locations in the game. Apparently, your journal will have instructions on where to find your items.

[Kunikos]

Played with the character creator quickly this morning and noticed a few things:

1) No beards or moustaches. Fail. Even NWN2 had this.

2) No way to select your hair type other than choosing the preset first. Annoying.

3) No randomize button?

4) Can't rename my last name?

[Killzig]

You can select beards for humans and dwarves. I didn't see any facial hair option for elves though. I believe the last name is tied into the origin story and that's why you can't change it. Like Shepard in ME.