Dragon Age Options

[fistandantilus4....]

The best thing about this game (though don't get me wrong, I loved it) is that it has distracted my wife for many hours, allowing me to play World of Warcraft uninterrupted.

In all seriousness though, I found the story to be very compelling and the world to be very interesting. I can't wait for the sequel. Also if you're interested in more DA lore, there are a couple of novels out which are also quite good.

I know exactly what you mean (with the exception of Wow. I still won't play that). My wife is addicted to this game, and has only stopped playing because she's done the game through with all the classes she was interested in. I read her your post.

Wait, read that part again! There's books!?

I'd seen the books but had been leery of them, as I don't tend to enjoy books that intertwine with computer games (I read the books based off of DOOM back in ...'95?) . Maybe I'll give these a shot.

[Zyerne]

Should be getting a copy of this tomorrow. Well, me and the kid jointly and I don't think I'll be getting much time with for a few days that doesn't involve watching over his shoulder.

Opinions from both of us to come (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[fistandantilus4....]

Depending on how old the kid is, you might want to check it out yourself first. First, there's a setting for "Persistent Gore". Basically the fights are bloody, and the characters end up covered in blood , that remains even through conversations. You can have the Dog clean you up. Or you can turn it off in the options menu.

There's also some more serious things in the game, like mercy killings, possessions, torture, and off screen rape in one of the origins (alluded to strongly, but not direct). So it is a more adult game in some parts. Over all though it's not bad. Most of the game I don't have a problem with my kids seeing.

Merry Christmas!:D

[Critias]

Finished up my "good guy who basically acts like he's worried about losing his Paladin abilities" playthrough last night (Sword and Board, going Champion/Templar), and started up a power-hungry elf (Arcane Warrior/Blood Mage)...having a lot of fun, so far.

[fistandantilus4....]

That combo is pretty great. I never used Arcane Warrior for anything more than better equipment, putting levels into spells instead. Blood magic is great at the higher levels though. Especially when you can take control of ogres and turn them on others.

Two handed combat is pretty good to for dealing massive amounts of damage.

[Zyerne]

Depending on how old the kid is, you might want to check it out yourself first. First, there's a setting for "Persistent Gore". Basically the fights are bloody, and the characters end up covered in blood , that remains even through conversations. You can have the Dog clean you up. Or you can turn it off in the options menu.

There's also some more serious things in the game, like mercy killings, possessions, torture, and off screen rape in one of the origins (alluded to strongly, but not direct). So it is a more adult game in some parts. Over all though it's not bad. Most of the game I don't have a problem with my kids seeing.

Merry Christmas!:D

He's 15 in 10 days or so. I don't imagine it'll be the worst thing he's played, anything his stepdad buys he gets to play so....

[KarmaInferno]

Remember to remind him there's "nudity" in the game, then make sure to watch his expression when he sees the Broodmother.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)




-k

[Thanee]

Should be getting a copy of this tomorrow.

I hope you ordered the Ultimate Edition. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Bye
Thanee

[fistandantilus4....]

He's 15 in 10 days or so. I don't imagine it'll be the worst thing he's played, anything his stepdad buys he gets to play so....

Ohhh yeah. Know how that one goes. Well enjoy then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[StealthSigma]

There's also some more serious things in the game, like mercy killings, possessions, torture, and off screen rape in one of the origins (alluded to strongly, but not direct). So it is a more adult game in some parts. Over all though it's not bad. Most of the game I don't have a problem with my kids seeing.

City elf?

I've played the Dalish, Mage, and Human Noble origins and I can't think of any part where rape was implied in those three. Rape doesn't seem to go along with either Dwarf origin. Probably because I don't want to think of an Oghren forcing himself on a Sigrun in order to make little blue and pink rocks.

*shudder*

[Doc Chase]

City elf?

I've played the Dalish, Mage, and Human Noble origins and I can't think of any part where rape was implied in those three. Rape doesn't seem to go along with either Dwarf origin. Probably because I don't want to think of an Oghren forcing himself on a Sigrun in order to make little blue and pink rocks.

*shudder*

City Elf, yes.

[ Spoiler ]

You're getting married, and your cousin - along with the rest of the wedding party (including you if your elf is female) - is taken to the local lord's castle against their will to 'entertain' at a fete he's throwing. You go on a bloody rampage, your betrothed dies in the castle/rescue, and your cousin is raped by the lord whom you then execute with glee.

[Abschalten]

I'm playing back through this again as a dwarf sword-and-shield fighter. I have to say, I enjoy it everytime my character does one of those spinning reverse sword decapitations upon finishing off the monster.

[Critias]

Mrs. Crit snagged me Assassin's Creed II for Christmas (nice and cheap!), so I've been playing that for the last day or so. Just found out the new semester doesn't start for a good, long, time, though...so I'm sure I'll be back to stabbing and burning my way across Denerim before too long.

[Adarael]

Finished up my "good guy who basically acts like he's worried about losing his Paladin abilities" playthrough last night (Sword and Board, going Champion/Templar), and started up a power-hungry elf (Arcane Warrior/Blood Mage)...having a lot of fun, so far.

Jesus, you played the game *exactly* the way I did.

[fistandantilus4....]

Mrs. Crit snagged me Assassin's Creed II for Christmas (nice and cheap!), so I've been playing that for the last day or so. Just found out the new semester doesn't start for a good, long, time, though...so I'm sure I'll be back to stabbing and burning my way across Denerim before too long.

Quitter. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ Spoiler ]

Randomly I started tangenting about my own x-mas gift from the wife - a Darksun game - awesome , and what I got her - Bag of Holding from ThinkGeek.com, then started thinking that we may be a lot geekier than I thought. Then I tangeted to thinking about the F4.0 equivelant of Mrs. Crit ... Mrs. Fisty .... doesn't sound so good.... I need a new handle.

[StealthSigma]

Mrs. Crit snagged me Assassin's Creed II for Christmas (nice and cheap!), so I've been playing that for the last day or so. Just found out the new semester doesn't start for a good, long, time, though...so I'm sure I'll be back to stabbing and burning my way across Denerim before too long.

Compared to Altair, you will fall in love with Ezio. You will want to have little Ezio babies. Plus Ezio can swim. Damn Altair.

[Grinder]

Randomly I started tangenting about my own x-mas gift from the wife - a Darksun game - awesome , and what I got her - Bag of Holding from ThinkGeek.com, then started thinking that we may be a lot geekier than I thought. Then I tangeted to thinking about the F4.0 equivelant of Mrs. Crit ... Mrs. Fisty .... doesn't sound so good.... I need a new handle.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotfl.gif)

[Zyerne]

Doesn't Mrs 4.0 already have her own handle?

[Critias]

When you say "Dark Sun Game," Fisty, you mean the 4e boxed set? Or is there some video game or something I haven't heard about?

Compared to Altair, you will fall in love with Ezio. You will want to have little Ezio babies. Plus Ezio can swim. Damn Altair.

I'll be honest, but the main character actually being...well...a character...really helped draw me in, and early in the game. I'm a fan of the brooding silent type of badass as much as the next fan of badassery in general, but yeah. Ezio actually having something like a personality, a family, etc, etc, went a long way towards making the early stages of the game fun.

Just as important, of course, were the actual gameplay upgrades. I never finished AC1 because I was just bored with the repetitive missions, the uselessness of the pre-mission scouting stuff, etc, etc. The way you can meld with a crowd in AC2, the side jobs just to get money (the fact there IS money), picking pockets, the organic way you blend with crowds...I'm definitely diggin' it so far. They really did fix what issues I had with the first one, and made a sequel that's all around better than the original.

So, sure, I hopped on the bandwagon late, but I also got it for $15. I'm calling it a reasonable trade-ff. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[StealthSigma]

When you say "Dark Sun Game," Fisty, you mean the 4e boxed set? Or is there some video game or something I haven't heard about?


I'll be honest, but the main character actually being...well...a character...really helped draw me in, and early in the game. I'm a fan of the brooding silent type of badass as much as the next fan of badassery in general, but yeah. Ezio actually having something like a personality, a family, etc, etc, went a long way towards making the early stages of the game fun.

Just as important, of course, were the actual gameplay upgrades. I never finished AC1 because I was just bored with the repetitive missions, the uselessness of the pre-mission scouting stuff, etc, etc. The way you can meld with a crowd in AC2, the side jobs just to get money (the fact there IS money), picking pockets, the organic way you blend with crowds...I'm definitely diggin' it so far. They really did fix what issues I had with the first one, and made a sequel that's all around better than the original.

So, sure, I hopped on the bandwagon late, but I also got it for $15. I'm calling it a reasonable trade-ff. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I've been bugging my friends to just play AC2 already so I can friggin talk to them about the game. I hate having a game which engages my mind and having no one to talk to about it. It helps drive me mad(der). They're two games behind me in the series!

[fistandantilus4....]

When you say "Dark Sun Game," Fisty, you mean the 4e boxed set? Or is there some video game or something I haven't heard about?

SO many ways to answer this...
I hate 4th edition. Hate it. I still bought the 4th edition book. It was just nice to see Darksun printed again. Nice to see new art as well, although there's a good amount of it that's rather cartoony. There were also some things added to the setting that were nice additions.

If I could, I'd play Darksun 2nd edt. But the wife prefers/knows 3.5. It's not bad, works well. Just ... the lack of psionics... dissapointing.

There are Darksun games, but not since DOS (Shattered Lands and Wake of the Ravager). Classics but very outdated. There is a new novel out. As much as I hate to spend money on things I'm not thrilled about, I like Darksun enough to buy them anyway.

BTW, if you're digging more character to the characters, might want to look at DragonAge 2 when it comes out in March. The main character is supposed to have dialog added. Wow. Such a huge leap forward. It's such an obvious thing and so very lacking from the last one. I don't know what that means about different character options though.

[Grinder]

We've used Complete Psionics in our Eberron 3.5 campain back in the days. Why don't you use it in a Dark Suns 3.5 game?

[fistandantilus4....]

I do. And the Expanded Psionics Handbook. What I'm missing is mental combat, brain to brain, construct to construct, the way it used to be. It was one of my favorite parts of Darksun, something so unique. I have a house rule system for it, but it just isn't the same, since the old Attacks/Defenses are now powers that do different things.

Essentially similar to an old version that was IIRC in the Skills & Powers book forever ago.If power costs X, (we'll say x is 3) then it can deal up to 2x in damage (so a power costing 3 psps deals 1d6 psp damage). Unfortunately it makes psionic combat very short at lower levels. And I hated the way they did it before , where it knocked points off of attributes. Still looking for a good system.

The powers themselves are good, and fun. I love Augmenting for one thing. The Mental Combat is hard to get over.

[Thanee]

Do you have the D&D 3.0 Psionics Handbook... I think it still had the mental combat stuff.

Bye
Thanee

[Critias]

SO many ways to answer this...

I have yet to make it through more than one session of D&D 4e, myself. It just doesn't...feel right. I tried to make a Dark Sun character, but just can't manage to wade through it all. I guess maybe I'm not giving it a fair shake, or whatever, but I just don't want to.

More specifically, though, I was just trying to ask what the heck you got for Christmas. You said she got you a Dark Sun game, and I wasn't sure what you meant (if it was the recent Dark Sun stuff, or something else that I hadn't heard about).

BTW, if you're digging more character to the characters, might want to look at DragonAge 2 when it comes out in March. The main character is supposed to have dialog added. Wow. Such a huge leap forward. It's such an obvious thing and so very lacking from the last one. I don't know what that means about different character options though.

Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Especially after having played Mass Effect, the lack of main-character dialogue being spoken in Dragon Age was really jarring. It's still an amazing game, etc, etc, and I can understand that having voice actors for every possible character build would've been a lot of work...but the way you just vacantly stare at everyone that talks to you, it really takes away from the experience somewhat.

From what I've seen of DA 2, character creation (at the start) is pretty simple. Fighter, Rogue, or Wizard, and then Male or Female...and that's it.