Dragon Age: Origins.

[Maiandra]

I'm actually playing through the game again. This time as an elven mage. I don't replay games that often anymore, so that's saying something.

It's a different experience being an elf, a mage, and playing with different party members. This time I have Wynne, Zevran, and Leliana with me most of the time. Later on, I plan to ditch Leliana for Shale (since I also like Shale and I had Leliana with me in the second half of the game with my first character). I tried to take Sten with me, but he seems to disapprove of what I do too often, so I have to leave him in camp.

It is SO much easier as a mage. I just can't get over it. I think it will be quicker this time, since the only conversations that I try over are the ones I didn't encounter in my first playthrough.

[DeadPoolX]

It is SO much easier as a mage. I just can't get over it.

Near the end of the game, my Arcane Warrior was damn near unbeatable. The only attack that gave me a lot of trouble was scattershot.

[AndreaDraco]

It's true. Playing as a Mage is way easier than with a warrior or a thief. Certain battles - like the one with the Spirit Apparatus in the Deep Roads or almost every Revenant encounter or even Gaxkang - play out very differently between the classes, but the Mages always have the upper hand.

[DeadPoolX]

Although I enjoyed being a Mage, I think that class may be a bit overpowered. The Warrior and the Rogue don't have anywhere near the overall destructive or supportive power that a Mage does.

The funny part about that is BioWare originally promised a "low magic world" in DA. I guess that was too difficult to implement correctly.

How do you regulate magic anyway? I mean in a designing sense, not actual in-game settings. Either you have a Mage that's too powerful or too handicapped. Honestly, I can't think of one game where fantasy-style magic was placed on an equal footing with other skills and abilities.

Look at Arcanum for instance. That game was supposed to give equal weight to both Magic and Technology. However, anyone who's actually played the game knows that Magic worked a lot better than technology.

Mass Effect might be an exception where biotics act as a sci-fi version of magic. In ME, biotic and tech skills are evenly matched; in fact, I sometimes think the tech skills are better (or at least more versatile) than the biotic ones.

[Tawmis]

In the event you have not heard yet, new DLC for Dragon Age announced...

And I am kinda, "Meh."

http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon/#darkspawnchronicles

"You now fight as the Darkspawn! The city of Denerim, jewel of Ferelden, girds itself for war. As a hurlock vanguard, you alone hold the power to make thralls of your fellow darkspawn and drive them into the heat of battle. Heed the archdemon's call--Denerim must burn!"

* A look at an alternate history: what if your character had died in the Joining ceremony, and the Grey Wardens marched under Alistair's command instead?
* A standalone adventure in which you command genlocks, hurlocks, shrieks, and even the mighty ogres.
* Complete the module and unlock an epic Darkspawn item in DA:O and Awakening.

Anyone get and play this? I haven't touched DA in quite some time.

As for mages - yes, they're insanely more powerful. I use my mage when in the tower to cast the big frost storm spell thing in a room I know creatures are in. Then I do the fire one. So the frost one does damage, and knocks them down, then the fire one does damage. And that's before I even open the door into the room. And as they come out, I have the warriors attack them or drop traps in front of the door.

[AndreaDraco]

Anyone get and play this? I haven't touched DA in quite some time.

The fact that I bought it, played it for about an hour and then dropped it should speak for the quality of the DLC, at least for me. There's only tedious combat with no sign of new insight on Darkspawn or anything. I found it rather boring and uninspired.

[Tawmis]

Bioware is having a sale on their online store...

Andrea, how can you pass up this shirt????

http://biowarestore.com/dragon-age/drag ... proves-tee

[AndreaDraco]

It's nice, but the color is really off. I would like it black, or red, or even white

I'll check out the store, thank you!

[AndreaDraco]

The announced another DLC, based on Leliana's backstory!

It sounds really interesting, especially if we get ot see Orlais for the first time. And then there's the hope that they will subsequently release other character-based DLCs.

[Tawmis]

The announced another DLC, based on Leliana's backstory!

It sounds really interesting, especially if we get ot see Orlais for the first time. And then there's the hope that they will subsequently release other character-based DLCs.

Knew this one would interest you because of the political stuff that ties into this one apparently. Curious how the DLC will be... I can't imagine it'd be too long, right? I mean RtO wasn't that long, over all. So I am curious how they're going to do this...

[DeadPoolX]

Well, the first three DLC games were simply additions to DA:O. They were side quests, more or less, for your character.

This stand-alone DLC has you playing Leliana, so the game might be longer. Since it involves a story (unlike TDC), I have a feeling this will be the most extensive DLC yet.

By the way... have either of you played TDC? The idea of playing a Darkspawn Vanguard is interesting. I think it'd be fun to crush my former allies. But if it's just hack-and-slash, I doubt I'd bother getting it.

[AndreaDraco]

I found it rather boring. And yes, it's pretty much only hack-and-slash without any real role-playing aspect to it: no dialogue, no character interaction, no building up your skills. The combat is pretty tough, though, and requires good strategy.

[Maiandra]

Leliana is one of my favourite characters in the game! I'm totally going to have to get that add-on!

[DeadPoolX]

If given the chance, I'm going to turn Leliana into a major slut.

Wait a sec... she's my character's love interest. I probably shouldn't do that then.

[AndreaDraco]

I finished today Golems of Amgarrak and, boy, they weren't kidding about the difficulty level! There is one particular fight* in which I had to turn down the difficulty because it was simply too much. And the boss fight is nightmarish too: my Mage (pure caster, heavy damage dealer) remained alone for most of the fight, since the other party members fell pretty quickly, and only after fifteen minutes or so I was able to Revive them to aid me. I used dozens of potions, and thank the Gods for the Time Spiral spell, which saved the day not one, but two times!

Now, I've just started Witch Hunt, which supposedly wraps up Morrigan's story, and, even if I'm just at the beginning (I've explored two locations and that's it), I have no doubt in saying that it is the finest DA's DLC ever. It's filled to the brim with easter eggs, nods to the previous game (and the expansion) and even hints at the sequel. And the writing is very solid, even better than Leliana's Song.

* 3 Golem Bosses + 2 Golem Lieutenants