Let's Play: Dragon Age!

To further flood the Codex with inane and unfinshed LP's, I've decided to let's play Dragon Age.

Please note it's my first LP, so if anyone has any hints/suggestions/whatever, feel free to shout.
Note to self: back up your posts often, or you'll lose 20 minutes worth of typing/finding the screenshots because Photobucket crashes your browser. Ah well, second time's the charm.

Let's Play: Dragon Age: Origins


Part 1: In which we watch the intro, create a character and watch another movie.







They were cast out, twisted and cursed by their own corruption.







Then, the Grey Wardens came.



Here we see the Grey Wardens. (all 5 of them.) Besides their superhuman strength, they also have great tactical knowledge. This is demonstrated by running downhill at a horde of baddies while they're heavily outnumbered. Please note the elf on the left charging in with a bow.









Technically, that isn't the horizon. It also doesn't look that terrifying, unless you're afraid of forest fires.

Finally, the game let's us create a character. We end up with this sympathetic looking fellow.



Meet Drizscht Surana, the elven Mage that will guide us through our adventure.

I've skipped the screenshots of the origins, since I assume most of you are falliliar with them.

Here are our stats...

... and our spells. These two look evil enough for Drizscht, for now.


We're playing this on nightmare, but I'll spare you the screenshots of me choosing the difficulty.

Now, we're treated to another cinematic. Yay.


This tower is the only place in Ferelden where mages may study their art among others of their kind.
Within the high stone walls, the circle practices its magic and trains apprentices in the proper use of their powers.
But the circle tower is as much a prison as a refuge; the ever-vigilant templars of the Chantry watch over all mages, constantly alert for any sign of corruption.



Now that apprenticeship is over and all that remains is the final test: the Harrowing.



Thus spoke the prophet Andraste as she cast down the Tevinter Imperium, ruled by mages who had brought the world to the edge of ruin.

Your magic is a gift, but it's also a curse, for demons of the dream realm--the fade--are drawn to you, and seek to use you as a gateway into this world.



I am ready.

Know this, apprentice: if you fail, we templars will perform our duty. You will die.



///This line had me puzzled the first time I played it. What's Lyrium? What's up with all the gateways? Ah well.

The Harrowing is a secret out of necessity, child.

Every mage must go through this trial by fire. As we succeeded, so shall you.

Keep your wits about you and remember the Fade is a realm of dreams. The spirit may rule it, but your own will is real.

The apprentice must go through this test alone, first Enchanter.
You are ready.

We reach into the pond with lyrium.


My hand is glowing. Why is my hand glowing? WHAT IS THIS SHIT?



An explosion of light. This is the new shit.

Up next: The fade.

He is perfect.

40k immaterium ripoff, and that dude's armor is serious fuck up man.

Man those painted images in the intro look good. Kick ass art style.

Emotional Vampire said:

40k immaterium ripoff

Click to expand...

my thoughts exactly

Nice start... Bring it on! BTW this game is full of ripoffs from many sources...

Part 2

Part 2: In which we enter the fade and encounter some demons. And then some more demons.

Finally the game let's us control our character. We're in the fade, and there's a test-thingie going on here. Yay, let's do this.


This is the fade. Please note the annoying filter that's bound to make your eyes explode. Also note the statue. Clicking it will add a journal entry about demons and spirits.

In a jar we find our first loot. It's about here I noticed my inventory is already full of loot, probably due to the DLC I downloaded earlier. We'll try not to use it, since we're doing this the hard way. It'll all be sold at the first vendor we encounter (in 2090)

It is here we meet our first enemy, a wisp. They take 2 spells to die on nightmare, but are relatively harmless. We use our living bomb spell, which makes the wisp explode in an orgy of blood. Seriously, wisps with blood?

The red mist was a wisp. I've got a better screenshot of the blood fountain-wisp later on, this one surprised me so I didn't have my finger on the screencap button.

We move on and encounter a rat.

"Someone else thrown to the wolves. As fresh and unprepared as ever."

Ignoring the fact that there's a rat talking to us, we'll just tell him how awesome we are.



"You say that now. So have many others before you. Look at me, look at what can happen."

(sigh) "It's always the same. But it's not your fault. You're in the same boat I was, aren't you?"


The face behind the mouse. This is mouse, and he'll follow us around. We can't get rid of him, so we'll try our best to ignore him. Seriously, which evil elf listens to mice?

"No. I don't remember anything from... before."

"The templars kill you if you take too long, you see. They figure you failed, and they don't want something getting out."


Yeah! No way that's going to happen to me! I'm hardcore! I make wisps explode, what danger could a demon possibly pose?

There's something here, contained, just for an apprentice like you. You have to face the creature, a demon, and resist it, if you can.

"That's your way out. Or your opponent's, if the templars wouldn't kill you. A test for you, a tease for the creatures fo the Fade."

"Anything can die. I doubt it's as simple as that."

"You would be a fool to just attack everything you see. What you race is powerful, cunning."

"There are others here, other spirits. They will tell you more, maybe help. If you can believe everything you see."

(Oeh, other spirits? Like, ferrets and raccoons and weasels? BRING ON THE RODENT ARMY!)

"I'll follow you if that's all right. My chance was long ago, but you... you may have a way out."


Actually, no. I'd prefer you wouldn't follow me, I don't like mice. Seriously, get off my back.

"..."

"... You're just gonna follow me no matter what I say, then?"

"Yup."

"Damn you. Let me guess, I can't be rude to you either?"

"Nope."

"Ah well, let's move on then."


Mouse occasionally says something outside of the dialogue interface. This is rather annoying to screenshot, since you'll have to look around and quickly take a screenshot before the text disappears. Anyway, we move deeper into the fade.

We encounter another wisp...

...which shows us just how much blood it contains several seconds later.



Oeh, look. It's a spirit-paladin. Let's talk to him. Mouse has something to say about him, however.
"Another spirit this way. It never seemed equal to his name, to me."

Before we talk to the spirit-paladin 'Spirit of Valor', We look at the view from inside the fade.
... Wait. A floating city? In a spirit realm? It's always in the distance no matter how close you try to get? Zomg, It's Sigil. Well, sort of. That is the golden city the first picture in the intro talks about. It's kinda black now, but we'll get into the how and why of that later.

"Indeed, the choice, and the fault, lies with the mages who sent you here."

"That you remain means you have not yet defeated your hunter. I wish you a glorious battle to come."
"I need your help."

(Yes, we're not too cool to admit we need help sometimes.)

"I am not here to assist you, however. My purpose is to seek perfection, creating the ultimate weapon for the pursuit of valor."

"Would one of these weapons affect the demon?"

"Without a doubt. In this realm, everything that exists is the expression of a thought.
Do you think these blades be steel? The staves be wood? Do you believe they draw blood? A weapon is a single need for battle, and my will makes that need reality."


Hey, look. It's a stat-based dialogue choice. I didn't put any points in willpower at the start though, so I suppose this is a fake one to make new people familiar with the concept.

"How dare you accuse me! I am no demon, preying upon helpless mortals to steal their essence! I am a being of honor and valor! I am a warrior!"

"So you challenge helpless mortals to duels?"

"You are insolent... but your will is unquestionably strong."

"Very well, mortal. You prove to me that you possess the strength to resist this demon."



We move on, but we equip our shiny new staff first.


A new kind of enemy, a spirit wolf. These also die in 2 hits, but they show up in small packs. We kill them without too much effort. These, unfortunately, don't explode.


"Be cautious. There is... another spirit, here. Not the one hunting you, but still."

We see a sloth demon in the distance.




"I don't like this. He's not going to help us. We should go..."

(sniffs) "No matter. The demon will get you eventually, and perhaps there will even be scraps left."

Why wait for scraps? Come get some now."

(yawns) "You'll just run away. I'll not waste time for a chase, not even for a meal."

"Begone! Surely you have better things to do than bother Sloth, mortal! I tire of you already."

- My guess is I missed a screenshot here, since the dialogue doesn't really connect. We'll just fill in what could have been said, and continue from there -

"I go where I wish, bear-demon. What manner of creature are you?"

"I am a spirit of Sloth, a creature of the Fade... unlike yourself. Mortals are ever the visitors here."

"Still, you serve your function. Only the mortals like yourself are truly annoying."



"Then leave me be. You and your ilk are irritating to no end."
- Missed a screenshot here again, I'm still new to the - spam print-screen as often as possible-part -
"I might be inclined for such a meal myself. It would be interesting to see the mortal world through your eyes, live inside your form... but I am disinclined to begin such a struggle."
Just try it.


"You have a very nice staff." (Yawns) "Why would you need me? Go, use your weapon since you have earned it. Be valorous."
"He looks powerful. It might be possible that he could... teach you to be like him."

"Like me? You mean teach the mortal to take my form? Why? Most mortals are too attached to their forms to learn to change."

"Nah, I'm cool. Teach me to be a bear, if you please."

"You, on the other hand, little one, might be a better student. You let go of the human form years ago."

"... Why are you ignoring my wishes? I want to be a bear! RAAAAARGH!"



"A coward could not have endured as I have. The time I have spent waiting for... for some possibility of release."
"But you are right. Hiding doesn't help. I'm sorry, it's the fade. It changes you."

"I'll try. I'll try to be a bear. If you'll teach me."

"That's nice. But teaching is so exhausting. Away with you now."

- I like this bear. He reminds me of myself. -



"You wish to learn my form, little one? Then I have a challenge for your friend. Answer three riddles correctly, and I will teach you."

Ahhw, come on! A riddle game?! What are you, a hobbit?"



"Foolish mortal. Do you really wish to anger me? I may be slothful, but I can be roused."



Yay. We now get to fight this bear. Let's kill him, since the bugger didn't want to help us without some silly riddle game.



We attack the bear and kill him, while kiting him with my living bomb-DoT.


Ahhw, come on! I KILLED YOU! Ah well. Teach the mouse then, if you want to.


- Why do I have a normal bear? I want a demon-bear as well. This makes me a sad panda -


"Go then, and defeat your demon... or whatever you intend to do. I grow weary of your mortal prattling."

We now run back to where we'll encounter the demon. We go past the spirit of valor...

... past some spirit wolves...

... and we run into the fire elemental. Ehhm, demon.

"Soon I shall see the land of the living with your eyes, creature. You shall be mine, body and soul."
"It's two against one. You really want to fight us both."
"Amusing. Have you not told it of our... arrangement, mouse?"
"We don't have an arrangement! Not anymore!"
"Aww. And after all those wonderful meals we have shared? Now suddenly the mouse has changed the rules?"
"I'm not a mouse now! And soon I won't have to hide! I don't need to bargain with you!"
"We shall see."
And after an uneventful fight, we kill the demon. Yay.


"That is because you are a true mage. One of the few."
"The others, they never had a chance. The templars set them up to fail, like they tried with you."

Yeah! I understand necessity! I'm totally down with it, yo.

"You defeated a demon, you completed your test. With time, you will be a master enchanter with no equal."
"And maybe there's hope in that for someone as small and as... forgotten as me. If you want to help."



"No, no, no! It must be your choice. Quickly now, the templars are going to kill you."

"What? Yes! Of course! I mean, I think I was. Isn't that enough? It should be enough! For you."

Oeh, how scary, he's opened his eyes completely and talk with a different voice here.



Betrayed by our dear friend Mouse, who revealed himself to be more than a mouse, we leave the fade.


Up next: Hogwart's School of Magic and Wizardry, the dark version.

NB: This is a shitload of work. What have I gotten myself into?

:shock:

You going for a lightside or darkside run?

'Darkside', although I doubt I'll be able to stand Bioware-evil dialogue options. But we'll see.
The plan is to betray everyone we can possibly betray, killing people for "muahahahah-Look-at-me-I-just-fireballed-a-puppy-so-I'm-evil" is not.

Looking pretty good so far.

Here we see the Grey Wardens. (all 5 of them.) Besides their superhuman strength, they also have great tactical knowledge. This is demonstrated by running downhill at a horde of baddies while they're heavily outnumbered. Please note the elf on the left charging in with a bow.

Click to expand...

That bit made me smile :D

For your own sake, drop the difficulty to Hard. The game will get frustrating otherwise.

Mages already start with a pretty high Willpower by default, so it was probably more than enough to activate [Willpower] option in the conversation.

Elven Mages=16

Dwarf Commoner=12


Without adding points, or anything.

Korgan said:

For your own sake, drop the difficulty to Hard. The game will get frustrating otherwise.

Click to expand...

I'll see how it ends up, I'm planning on filling my party to the brim with mages, and if that doesn't work out I'll drop the difficulty.

Genma:TheDestroyer said:

Mages already start with a pretty high Willpower by default, so it was probably more than enough to activate [Willpower] option in the conversation.

Elven Mages=16

Dwarf Commoner=12


Without adding points, or anything.

Click to expand...

I know, but I reckon Bioware knows that as well. And most dwarf commoners don't play through the fade-opening, as far as I know. So If your character gets enough willpower at the start to activate the option that only mages will see, I think it's safe to say it's a fake option.

Anyway, Will try to do the rest of the mage tower tomorrow.

As far as I know there are no important choices until you get to the world map, unless one of the minor and seemingly insignificant ones has an influence on the very ending. Someone reported that the ending slides depend on many small things you've done earlier.

I consider the mage origin to be the most boring one. If you find yourself wasted try to force yourself through, it gets much better after leaving the circle tower.

Origin chocies do seem to matter at leats some of the dwarven noble ones do. Nothing major yet, but it's there.

Origin choice definitely matters if you choose mage. First of all because many will recognize you as one and have different dialogue, but also because you can sometimes use it to influence or intimidate people. And then there's the matter of a pretty important character whom you meet during the mage origin story who also returns later...

@ Darth Roxor

"(Oeh, other spirits? Like, ferrets and raccoons and weasels? BRING ON THE RODENT ARMY!) "

None of those you mentioned are actually rodents...

So... you CAN negotiate with the rats in DA?

Black Cat said:

@ Darth Roxor

Click to expand...

wat

Black Cat said:

@ Darth Roxor (sic)

"(Oeh, other spirits? Like, ferrets and raccoons and weasels? BRING ON THE RODENT ARMY!) "

None of those you mentioned are actually rodents...

Click to expand...

Ah well, that's pretty stupid of me then I suppose. Note to self: don't assume anything small and toothy is automatically a rodent.

And yes, you can negotiate with rats in DA, proving once and for all that DA > Fallout.

Also, should I try to put in more humour? I've got the feeling it's all a bit too documentation-ish at the moment.

What? Still no sex scene? Anyway, nice LP. Not as funny as I expected but who said a LP thread had to be funny.

Sulimo said:

Also, should I try to put in more humour?

Click to expand...

Nah, it's fine.

Why is everything blurred in the screenshots ? Have you got depth of field enabled ? In this game DOF looks really wrong.

ghostdog said:

Why is everything blurred in the screenshots ? Have you got depth of field enabled ? In this game DOF looks really wrong.

Click to expand...

The blur effect is in the fade, to show it's a dream-world or something. It's bloody annoying, but the rest of the game world doesn't suffer from migraine-o-view.

Playing EU3 atm, will update it sometime after dinner.