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2. Use V and follow the glow. When you'll be in the exact spot, you'll find what you're looking for.

3. Well, there's not much to say, really. You haven't explored well enough because there's always a path! Sometimes it can be challenging to find, but there's always one.

Rath Darkblade wrote:Hmm... would this be recovering the notes for the apothecary? I have done that, but still I haven't gotten anywhere (except for the option to craft lyrium potions - which, for some reason, I still can't craft despite having the right ingredients, and I'm not sure why). Any ideas about this? Spoilers welcome.

There will be a lot of things you won't be able to immediately make because you don't have the right plants, metal, cloth, etc. Some of it is not available until certain areas and acts are unlocked.

Rath Darkblade wrote: Incidentally, some other questions:
1. Can warriors use bows? If so, how? I'd like my warrior to try using a bow to bring down some of the rams in the Hinterlands (for the subquest to bring meat to the refugees), but whenever the rams see my warrior, they run away. (I know I can use my thief and/or mage for this, but a bow-using warrior would be useful in another ways - challenging dragons, for instance!)

I don't think Warriors can use bows? I think bows are exclusive to Rogues. So I'd recommend just changing to your Mage. What I do (when I form the party) is make the Mage last; so it's just a button down to switch to him (on the console). Then button up to go back to "me"

Rath Darkblade wrote: 2. I found Blackwall, and I know that I can try looking for missing Wardens in another location (hmm, I'd forgotten its name - but it's in Ferelden, it's not the Hinterlands or the swamps, and it features forests and grasslands and high plateaus). At any rate, I cannot find anything despite having the markers on the map... I get to the right spot, but there is nothing there. What's going on?

You need to keep looking. Specific areas will tell you how many landmarks, camps, etc there are. You may think you covered the whole map, but there's probably something you're missing. And if it's the swamp area with the undead - it's behind a locked door, which won't won't be able to get until other events are triggered.

Rath Darkblade wrote: 3. Some other miscellaneous quests in the Hinterlands tell me to find certain spots to find warm blankets for the refugees. I try to do so, but it seems to be a climb up a sheer rock-face - so I can't get there, despite running around the mountain to find a path up. Any ideas?
Thanks...

Keep searching. Sometimes jumping up on stones is the answer.

Out of interest, couldn't you have just tried giving your warrior a bow in order to see if he could or couldn't use it?

DeadPoolX wrote:Out of interest, couldn't you have just tried giving your warrior a bow in order to see if he could or couldn't use it?

I did try, but all the bows I've found so far told me that they were restricted to rogues - and when I tried giving my warrior a bow, the game won't accept it. *shrug* So I was wondering if anyone else found a bow that warriors can use.

AndreaDraco wrote:2. Use V and follow the glow. When you'll be in the exact spot, you'll find what you're looking for.

OK, I wasn't aware that the glow could be followed! I thought that once I used V, then if there was anything to interact with, it would light up (as it usually does). I'll give it a try. Thanks Andrea!

When the round minimap in the corner radiates, it means you're in an area you can actively scour for hidden spot. In these case, pressing V will show a glowing arc that points you in the right direction.

OK, I did not know this either. Thank you again, Andrea.

Hunting for those shards is giving me a particular headache - especially in the desert area where they seem to be so well hidden... ugh. (I need some shards in order to enter that "forbidden temple" in the desert).

I'm sure I shouldn't be asking this, but here goes: is there a way to get a few shards without hunting for them (i.e. gratis, for nothing, etc.)? I've gone up hill and down dale and up ladders and down sand dunes more times than I can count, and I still cannot find enough shards for that damned temple. Ugh.

Rath Darkblade wrote:OK, I did not know this either. Thank you again, Andrea.

Hunting for those shards is giving me a particular headache - especially in the desert area where they seem to be so well hidden... ugh. (I need some shards in order to enter that "forbidden temple" in the desert).

I'm sure I shouldn't be asking this, but here goes: is there a way to get a few shards without hunting for them (i.e. gratis, for nothing, etc.)? I've gone up hill and down dale and up ladders and down sand dunes more times than I can count, and I still cannot find enough shards for that damned temple. Ugh.

You will find shards on other maps that... unlock, later. There's shards literally on EVERY map except for a few.

There are also many shards in the Hinterlands and on the Storm Coast. Securing the most easy ones should be enough to open the Temple door.

Ah, well... I have now finished DAI. Huzzah! Here are some impressions (warning, SPOILERS GALORE):

1. I knew that Morrigan would be back. That's pretty obvious from the trailers. But why is Flemeth back? All right, I understand that given her popularity and all, it was pretty inevitable - but then to retcon her as Mythal, and to retcon Solas as "the Dread Wolf" (i.e. Fen'Harel?) So what was Solas doing all this time - just following me around, hoping that I'd eventually stumble on Flemeth? And why? I'm a bit... confused.

2. Regarding the big battle scene with Corypheus at the end. I understand that detaching the castle (or whatever) from the ground and forming a floating battle-ground was very dramatic and all, but part of me was screaming "It's waaaaaayyyyy up in the air!!! How the hell do you get down to terra firma from there?" Not to mention that the whole thing collapses on top of you at the end... and you still get up without a bruise... and Morrigan-as-dragon falls out the sky... and all she has is bruised rib. I understand what dramatic necessity is, but there's dramatic necessity and there's just stupid-impossible.

3. I already mentioned the impossibly high number of side-quests that this game gives you. I could never finish them all, and it irritated me that I could have - say - a half-done or nearly-almost-done side-quest, but I could not find a way through the confusing landscape to the end. The camera view didn't help - I kept having to switch to overhead-view and back to behind-the-party-view, just to see what was going on and where I should click. There were also moments when the party was completely concealed from view by treetops, or mountains, or (at one point) by a canopy over one of the resting camps. It looks very pretty and all, but it's not very enjoyable to play, if you can't see where you are and what you're doing!

4. I must say that I thought the crafting system - although generally well-done and very realistic - also a little confusing. It was a step back on DAO, I thought - particularly finding enough materials to craft runes, as well as switching runes from one weapon/armour to another weapon/armour. Also, does anyone know... is it possible to craft fire/cold/lightning runes like you could in DAO? The game gives you more than enough fire elements (e.g. after killing a rage demon) or lightning elements (e.g. after killing a pride demon), and yet you can never use them for anything other than getting a small bonus against those types of demons (or selling them for cash). If it's possible to craft fire runes (or cold runes etc.), then how is it done, please?

All right, I've ranted enough about the not-so-good in this game. Here about the good stuff...

Generally, this game is pretty well done. The graphics are a big improvement over DAO and DA2, obviously, and the story is miles ahead of DA2 (though not as good as DAO). The new enemies and followers are also very well done - though I was frustrated by the fact that I could never see how their vital stats were doing, or how their like/dislike towards you was. This is another element where DAO scores favourably. Or maybe I just missed it? Or wasn't clever enough to find it?

The NPCs in this game are all well-done (as opposed to rare ), and the Big Boss(TM) - Corypheus - is VERY threatening (and his origins and back-story are suitably mysterious). Nicely done.

The dragons in this game were waaaayyyyy too powerful for me to even take on - I only ever found one (in the Hinterlands) - but perhaps this is my party's stupid fault. I read that if a dragon lands (which is never did for me!), your NPCs would like up for a front-up fight with it. This is obviously a stupid thing to do when an enemy has a powerful breath weapon! However, I did manage to beat Corypheus's dragon on the first go. *waves a little flag*

Some of the other monsters - particularly demons (e.g. the rage/fire demon and the pride/lightning demon) were far too powerful for my party to start with, but got easier as my party gained more experience - plus, I got a demon-fighting rune for my weapon... yay.

Anyway, I've ranted enough. So what's your take on DAI, hmm?

I've not yet finished it. I am pretty crazy about mapping out the entire area, making sure there's no fog of war. I have been doing all the "missions" at the War Table as well (always saving the big ones until there's no more missions on the War Table). On the main map - I have only three quests left (Find the Knight's Tomb, kill two of the three Dragons in the one area - where you fix the shattered bridge, and secure the third gate or whatever it's called, in the same area) plus the Abyss one (which I am sure, will then open up the next segment - but I do this so I don't lose out any other quests, that may disappear if I trigger certain events).

Initially, when I first started DA:I, I was not impressed. Felt like a single player MMO. "I need 16 goat furs to keep the citizens warm" type quests. But as the game progressed, I found myself invested in the game, the story and the characters. Something I never felt with Dragon Age 2. Not even once.

I like the analogy to a single-player MMO. I have some questions:

1. Does anyone know if I can craft a fire-rune (or a cold rune, or a lightning rune etc.), a la DAO? The game gives you enough fire/cold/lightning elements (dropped off various demons) that it should be possible to create runes with those elements. That would make the fight scenes much easier. Unfortunately, all of the rune recipes I've been able to find only gave me bonuses vs. specific enemies - demons, dragons, humanoids, etc. This is fine, but if you suddenly get into a fight with templars, then your fancy anti-demon sword obviously won't do you much good. Also, the graphic on the dratted box shows a warrior with a flaming sword. It's there on the box... but yet there's no way for me to create one?

2. I also could never find how to create a lyrium potion. Does anyone know how I can do this? I had a recipe, I have the ingredients... but the game never allowed me to craft one!

3. OK, last question... the dragons. I can never find them, and the one I did find - in the Hinterlands - just flies overhead and flames my party. How can I force them to land, and once I do, how can I defeat them? All the dragon in the Hinterlands needs to do is breathe on my party, and they're half-dead.

Is there some secret to this? I noticed that when Corypheus's big scary dragon landed, I was able to eventually defeat it (though it was a really hard fight). So why not the other dragons? Does anyone know?

Thanks!

Rath Darkblade wrote: 1. Does anyone know if I can craft a fire-rune (or a cold rune, or a lightning rune etc.), a la DAO? The game gives you enough fire/cold/lightning elements (dropped off various demons) that it should be possible to create runes with those elements. That would make the fight scenes much easier. Unfortunately, all of the rune recipes I've been able to find only gave me bonuses vs. specific enemies - demons, dragons, humanoids, etc. This is fine, but if you suddenly get into a fight with templars, then your fancy anti-demon sword obviously won't do you much good. Also, the graphic on the dratted box shows a warrior with a flaming sword. It's there on the box... but yet there's no way for me to create one?

I think in order to create runes, you need the Empty ... Argh! Forgot the name. But there's something you need, to put the element in. I have not tried it yet, because I have found more runes than I know what to do with. Most of the weapons I have that CAN have runes in them! But I know in Skyhold there's a empty thingie you can purchase.

Rath Darkblade wrote: 2. I also could never find how to create a lyrium potion. Does anyone know how I can do this? I had a recipe, I have the ingredients... but the game never allowed me to craft one!

You have to do it at those tables for crafting potions. There's one in Haven (next to Solaris). There's also one in Skyhold, I believe, I just can't remember where it is. I know you can, because I have created Lyrium potions.

Rath Darkblade wrote: 3. OK, last question... the dragons. I can never find them, and the one I did find - in the Hinterlands - just flies overhead and flames my party. How can I force them to land, and once I do, how can I defeat them? All the dragon in the Hinterlands needs to do is breathe on my party, and they're half-dead.

You did not go all the way through then. In the land where he's burning you as soon as you enter - follow the right wall - it will lead to an opening where the dragon will land and you can engage in a fun fight.

The other dragons are scattered about. I have killed 7 out of the 10. The one I have left is currently the hardest dragon I have fought (all the others eventually fell to my blade, once I levelled up! I tired to take on the Hinterlands dragon when I was level 7... that was a fun exercise is futility, though the battle lasted 20 minutes). Some of the dragons are at the tops of towers (in a specific land), others have to be lured out (done through a quest), others you have to open areas through the War Table that will grant you access to the area; some you just have to wander around the map until you find their nested area (as in they might be off in an area of the map that there's no real reason to go to, other than to find the dragon).

Tawmis wrote:

Rath Darkblade wrote: 1. Does anyone know if I can craft a fire-rune (or a cold rune, or a lightning rune etc.), a la DAO? The game gives you enough fire/cold/lightning elements (dropped off various demons) that it should be possible to create runes with those elements. That would make the fight scenes much easier. Unfortunately, all of the rune recipes I've been able to find only gave me bonuses vs. specific enemies - demons, dragons, humanoids, etc. This is fine, but if you suddenly get into a fight with templars, then your fancy anti-demon sword obviously won't do you much good. Also, the graphic on the dratted box shows a warrior with a flaming sword. It's there on the box... but yet there's no way for me to create one?

I think in order to create runes, you need the Empty ... Argh! Forgot the name. But there's something you need, to put the element in. I have not tried it yet, because I have found more runes than I know what to do with. Most of the weapons I have that CAN have runes in them! But I know in Skyhold there's a empty thingie you can purchase.

Empty Rune-stone, I think? Something like that (i.e. stones without any enchantment)? Yep, I've purchased those. Is that what you mean?

(By the way - I miss Sandal. "Enchantment?")

Rath Darkblade wrote: 2. I also could never find how to create a lyrium potion. Does anyone know how I can do this? I had a recipe, I have the ingredients... but the game never allowed me to craft one!

You have to do it at those tables for crafting potions. There's one in Haven (next to Solaris). There's also one in Skyhold, I believe, I just can't remember where it is. I know you can, because I have created Lyrium potions.[/quote]

I know that I can do it at the potion table - I just don't know how. I tried and tried, and I can't work it out - even though I can craft healing potion, regen potions, grenades etc. Spoilers welcome...

Tawmis wrote: You did not go all the way through then. In the land where he's burning you as soon as you enter - follow the right wall - it will lead to an opening where the dragon will land and you can engage in a fun fight.

The other dragons are scattered about. I have killed 7 out of the 10. The one I have left is currently the hardest dragon I have fought (all the others eventually fell to my blade, once I levelled up! I tired to take on the Hinterlands dragon when I was level 7... that was a fun exercise is futility, though the battle lasted 20 minutes). Some of the dragons are at the tops of towers (in a specific land), others have to be lured out (done through a quest), others you have to open areas through the War Table that will grant you access to the area; some you just have to wander around the map until you find their nested area (as in they might be off in an area of the map that there's no real reason to go to, other than to find the dragon).

Thanks! I"ll give that a try.

Rath Darkblade wrote: Empty Rune-stone, I think? Something like that (i.e. stones without any enchantment)? Yep, I've purchased those. Is that what you mean?

Yes, I believe that may be it. But like I said, I have never tried it because I have so many runes that I have found.

Rath Darkblade wrote:

Tawmis wrote:

Rath Darkblade wrote: 2. I also could never find how to create a lyrium potion. Does anyone know how I can do this? I had a recipe, I have the ingredients... but the game never allowed me to craft one!

You have to do it at those tables for crafting potions. There's one in Haven (next to Solaris). There's also one in Skyhold, I believe, I just can't remember where it is. I know you can, because I have created Lyrium potions.

I know that I can do it at the potion table - I just don't know how. I tried and tried, and I can't work it out - even though I can craft healing potion, regen potions, grenades etc. Spoilers welcome...

If you're in Skyhold, in the room where you forge your weapons and such - there's a Potion, Grenade and Tonic crafting table to the right (if you just walked in) close to the edge (where the waterfall is). If you go in there - you should be able to create Lyrium potions if you have what's needed. If you're missing something, it will tell you (in red) what you might be missing. Does the option even show up there to create a Lyrium potion? Because it should be a matter of clicking on it to research it. It will also tell you if there's a previous requirement before you can craft it (which may be what you're running into, but I don't recall the first Lyrium potion needing any requirement other that the ingredients...)

Rath Darkblade wrote:

Tawmis wrote: You did not go all the way through then. In the land where he's burning you as soon as you enter - follow the right wall - it will lead to an opening where the dragon will land and you can engage in a fun fight.

The other dragons are scattered about. I have killed 7 out of the 10. The one I have left is currently the hardest dragon I have fought (all the others eventually fell to my blade, once I levelled up! I tired to take on the Hinterlands dragon when I was level 7... that was a fun exercise is futility, though the battle lasted 20 minutes). Some of the dragons are at the tops of towers (in a specific land), others have to be lured out (done through a quest), others you have to open areas through the War Table that will grant you access to the area; some you just have to wander around the map until you find their nested area (as in they might be off in an area of the map that there's no real reason to go to, other than to find the dragon).

Thanks! I"ll give that a try.

I have officially killed all 10 dragons now.

Tawmis wrote:

Rath Darkblade wrote: Empty Rune-stone, I think? Something like that (i.e. stones without any enchantment)? Yep, I've purchased those. Is that what you mean?

Yes, I believe that may be it. But like I said, I have never tried it because I have so many runes that I have found.

Hmm... I think I found only four or five runes. Maybe I'd find more if I tackle some of the dragons...? Would runes be in the dragons' treasure hordes?

Rath Darkblade wrote:

Tawmis wrote:

Rath Darkblade wrote: 2. I also could never find how to create a lyrium potion. Does anyone know how I can do this? I had a recipe, I have the ingredients... but the game never allowed me to craft one!

You have to do it at those tables for crafting potions. There's one in Haven (next to Solaris). There's also one in Skyhold, I believe, I just can't remember where it is. I know you can, because I have created Lyrium potions.

I know that I can do it at the potion table - I just don't know how. I tried and tried, and I can't work it out - even though I can craft healing potion, regen potions, grenades etc. Spoilers welcome...

If you're in Skyhold, in the room where you forge your weapons and such - there's a Potion, Grenade and Tonic crafting table to the right (if you just walked in) close to the edge (where the waterfall is). If you go in there - you should be able to create Lyrium potions if you have what's needed. If you're missing something, it will tell you (in red) what you might be missing. Does the option even show up there to create a Lyrium potion? Because it should be a matter of clicking on it to research it. It will also tell you if there's a previous requirement before you can craft it (which may be what you're running into, but I don't recall the first Lyrium potion needing any requirement other that the ingredients...) [/quote]

Well... that's very odd. I know about those potion crafting tables - there's one in Haven too, and I created healing potions, regen potions, and grenades - but I could never create lyrium potions. I had all the right ingredients, and there was an option to create one, but it was still in red - meaning that the game wouldn't let me create one.

I thought that maybe I hadn't researched it, but do I even need to "research" the first lyrium potion? I'm confused.

Rath Darkblade wrote:

Tawmis wrote: You did not go all the way through then. In the land where he's burning you as soon as you enter - follow the right wall - it will lead to an opening where the dragon will land and you can engage in a fun fight.

The other dragons are scattered about. I have killed 7 out of the 10. The one I have left is currently the hardest dragon I have fought (all the others eventually fell to my blade, once I levelled up! I tired to take on the Hinterlands dragon when I was level 7... that was a fun exercise is futility, though the battle lasted 20 minutes). Some of the dragons are at the tops of towers (in a specific land), others have to be lured out (done through a quest), others you have to open areas through the War Table that will grant you access to the area; some you just have to wander around the map until you find their nested area (as in they might be off in an area of the map that there's no real reason to go to, other than to find the dragon).

Thanks! I"ll give that a try.

I have officially killed all 10 dragons now. [/quote]

Congratulations! *awards Tawmis the "Dragonslayer" medal*