Dragon Age II

[Tawmis]

So I have officially moved on to Act II.

Pros -
If I am going to be stuck in the city, for the most part; the "Quest Pointers" make this tolerable.

Chain Quests. Very much like an MMO, where some of the quests do "Chain Quests" - where it leads from one to another, all for the same quest. There were some good chain quests to be found.

The effects. While I am still not a fan of exploding body parts when I hit someone with a sword (leave that to Mortal Kombat, my favorite fighting game!) - the spell effects that are in the game are impressive. A fire storm LOOKS like a fire storm. Also some of the skills have nice effects. I could watch Isabella all day long. And not just because she's great eye candy!

I am warming up to the game. That said...

The Cons:
Exploding bodies with the sword. Still don't care for it. I always got a giggle out of when in Origins, you'd kill someone - and randomly - you'd severe their head. But exploding body parts seem to be almost every hit with this game.

Conversation. I have finished Act I and still don't feel like I have known my party very well. And considering that to unlock their special talents/skills, they need to be friend level with you - it seems far more difficult. And I drained EVERY quest possible out of Act I. I am VERY sure of it. To say I was thorough would be an understatement. (Although there may be more to unlock based on who is with you). One such disappointment came when if you go to visit the Airashok or however you spell it - and have Isabella in your party - she excuses herself and refuses to go. Yet I could get no conversation out of her, after it all, to explain why she left. Perhaps it will be revealed later, but... if so when? And if it was to be revealed later - that's unfortunate, considering when you move to Act II - well, if you don't select her...

The talent/skill tree. Words can never express how much I hate it. It's trivial. But I really hate it. I like that you can upgrade, but it seems so clunky.

More later, no doubt...

[AndreaDraco]

How can you be already at Act 2? What level are you? How many hours are you into?

I ask you this because I've just reached Act 2 and it took me nineteen hours to get here!

With that being said, now I'm liking the game. Really, really much. I find the story intriguing and some of the twists were incredibly emotional for me, like Carver becoming tainted and being sent away with the Wardens to join the order. And I'm really warming up to the companions that travel with me all the time, Anders, Varric and Carver. Guess now that Carver is gone I'll bring Aveline with me.

Tawmis, have you reached friendship or rivalry status with some companions? I'm friend with Anders and Varric.

Anyway, some quests were really great, like Act of Mercy, Wayward Son, Long Way Hom and The Unbidden Rescue, and I really like how they tie with the main story, even through the time gaps.

Oh, and Tawmis. Did you like the Rock Wraith? My battle against it lasted for 26 minutes

[Tawmis]

How can you be already at Act 2? What level are you? How many hours are you into?

No idea how many hours I am into the game... is there a way to check. I am Level 12 or 13.

With that being said, now I'm liking the game. Really, really much. I find the story intriguing and some of the twists were incredibly emotional for me, like Carver becoming tainted and being sent away with the Wardens to join the order. And I'm really warming up to the companions that travel with me all the time, Anders, Varric and Carver. Guess now that Carver is gone I'll bring Aveline with me.

Interesting!

Major Spoiler for those who have not yet reached Act II, so don't highlight unless done:

For me, Bethany gets tainted... and there is nothing that can be done. She is put to death.

End of Major Spoiler.

Tawmis, have you reached friendship or rivalry status with some companions? I'm friend with Anders and Varric.

Not yet. Varric and Isabela are close.

Oh, and Tawmis. Did you like the Rock Wraith? My battle against it lasted for 26 minutes

26 Minutes?! Holy! My first fight - I lost. I will ill prepared for him. Second fight - managed to take him down in about 15 minutes. I did find out that when he goes "Super Nova" - you can hide behind the rocks and avoid damage. You can also do this when he rolls and when he does the suction move thing.

I also liked The Monsterous spider - that thing scared the hell out of me when it first appeared!

The toughest fight for me - more so than the Stone Giant Golemn guy - was the room with like 20 shades and one golem - and several treasure chests. I had to run away from the shades, as they killed everyone else during the fight (forgot to take care of the injuries) - and let my healing potion time cool down - and had to run away twice (in a locked area).

Also - another cool thing. There's a room you walk into with anOgre waiting to attack you. I happened to be standing by the wall when he went to charge the second time - and moved - he actually IMPALED himself on the wall for several seconds - and there was damage to the wall! This was a nice touch!

[AndreaDraco]

No idea how many hours I am into the game... is there a way to check. I am Level 12 or 13.

Wow. You're fast...

Major Spoiler for those who have not yet reached Act II, so don't highlight unless done:

For me, Bethany gets tainted... and there is nothing that can be done. She is put to death.

Tawmis, it's because you didn't have Anders in your party. As a former Grey Warden, Anders knows where a group of Wardens can be found near the Ancient Thaig and Hawke has the option to save Carver (or Bethany in your case) by allowing them to become Grey Warden. But you must have Anders with you or you can't save them.

The toughest fight for me - more so than the Stone Giant Golemn guy - was the room with like 20 shades and one golem - and several treasure chests.

For me the toughest fight was the Monstruous Spider. I mean, the Rock Wraith was fairly predictable and, like you said, it's pretty easy to avoid some of his attacks by hiding behind the column. The Spider, on the other hand, was enormous and occupied almost the entire room he was in! Anyway, the Deep Roads were really a challenging segment.

[Tawmis]

No idea how many hours I am into the game... is there a way to check. I am Level 12 or 13.

Wow. You're fast...

Yeah, I know...

Oh! You mean in the game! Er... right.

Well, I played Sunday Night when I got home (around 6pm) till like Midnight or so... then Monday (yesterday) I was off - so I played the majority of Monday (since the wife is out of town).

Major Spoiler for those who have not yet reached Act II, so don't highlight unless done:
For me, Bethany gets tainted... and there is nothing that can be done. She is put to death.

Tawmis, it's because you didn't have Anders in your party. As a former Grey Warden, Anders knows where a group of Wardens can be found near the Ancient Thaig and Hawke has the option to save Carver (or Bethany in your case) by allowing them to become Grey Warden. But you must have Anders with you or you can't save them.

Aye, I heard that - when I went to the Bioware site, to see if there was a way to prevent that particular event.

But my party pretty much consists of: Myself, Varric (because he's the main story teller, so for my first play through, I thought it'd be logical to have him for the whole thing), Bethany (she is my sister, after all), and Isabella (because she's my eye candy... er, potential first romance I am going for). As such, Anders was not in the party (not to mention double mages seemed a bit repetitive)...

The toughest fight for me - more so than the Stone Giant Golemn guy - was the room with like 20 shades and one golem - and several treasure chests.

For me the toughest fight was the Monstruous Spider. I mean, the Rock Wraith was fairly predictable and, like you said, it's pretty easy to avoid some of his attacks by hiding behind the column. The Spider, on the other hand, was enormous and occupied almost the entire room he was in! Anyway, the Deep Roads were really a challenging segment.

When the Monsterous Spider first appeared, I let out a pretty girly scream!

[AndreaDraco]

It scared me too!

Act 2... I'm just at the beginning. But the story suddenly got extremely interesting and I love that in Hawke's mansion you can look at many things and click on them multiple times to elicit new responses. Anders' manifesto was wonderful!

[Tawmis]

[
Act 2... I'm just at the beginning. But the story suddenly got extremely interesting and I love that in Hawke's mansion you can look at many things and click on them multiple times to elicit new responses. Anders' manifesto was wonderful!

I too am at just the beginning of Act II.Only thing I have done is kick Dougal to the curb, and then go out and kill that bastard; and stopped there for now.

[AndreaDraco]

Who's Dougal?

[Tawmis]

Who's Dougal?

Oh. Hrm. So you didn't get Dougal before the Deep Roads? I got a message at the house saying someone wanted to meet me - you go and meet Dougal, who is a former business partner of Varric's brother (I can't remember how to spell Varric's brother's name - the one in charge of the Deep Roads expedition).

I can mention more, if you're interested.

[AndreaDraco]

Ah, yes!

I got the letter but since I already all the money I needed I turned down his request!

[Tawmis]

Ah, yes!

I got the letter but since I already all the money I needed I turned down his request!

I accepted just to see as much of the game as I can. But when he shows up the second time ... He pushed it. And there was only one thing left to do - kill him.

[AndreaDraco]

I've completed the first major quest of Act 2 and a couple of companions' quests. I really, really, really like how thought-provoking the whole Mages vs. Templars theme is. I can't wait for DPX, Maia and everyone to play the game because there's some reall great stuff to discuss there!

[Tawmis]

I've completed the first major quest of Act 2 and a couple of companions' quests. I really, really, really like how thought-provoking the whole Mages vs. Templars theme is. I can't wait for DPX, Maia and everyone to play the game because there's some reall great stuff to discuss there!

The whole Mage vs Templars theme is REALLY pushed in Dragon Age II.

And hey! What am I? Chopped liver?!?

[AndreaDraco]

And hey! What am I? Chopped liver?!?

You are already playing the game, and we're already discussing it

For example, let me know when you do the "Dissent" companion quest and what outcome do you choose. I found it really great.

[Tawmis]

WTF.

Andrea, have you done the quest with the abducted Quanari or however you spell it?