Official Dragon Age: Origins thread

[noonan4224]

Could someone explain how the Origin stories work? I've read that there are six of them. Do they all converge at some point so the game story is the same for everyone or is the whole game different depending what race/class you pick? I started as a Dalish Elf. Is there a site that has a write-up of each of the stories for people who may not play multiple characters? Love the game so far.

Sorry if this has been covered before. I usually read up a lot about a RPG before playing it but I'm going into this one blind.

[RichC2]

Originally Posted by Setzer

GameSpot gave it a 9.5/10 for the PC version, 8.5/10 for the 360, and 9/10 for PS3. Here's a link to the video review.

LINK

The reviewer explains why the PC version is preferred over the console versions and why it scored higher.

He overdid it in terms of score. This is why the .5 system Gamespot switched to doesn't work. While there is a noticeable difference between the 3 (the PC version is overall the best, the PS3 version looks better but runs worse than the 360 version) it isn't a .5 difference between the 3 of them and it isn't a full point difference between the 360 and PC. IMHO at least. At worst it should have been something akin to an 9.0, 9.1 and 9.2 for the three versions

[Nifty03]

Originally Posted by noonan4224

Could someone explain how the Origin stories work? I've read that there are six of them. Do they all converge at some point so the game story is the same for everyone or is the whole game different depending what race/class you pick? I started as a Dalish Elf. Is there a site that has a write-up of each of the stories for people who may not play multiple characters? Love the game so far.

Sorry if this has been covered before. I usually read up a lot about a RPG before playing it but I'm going into this one blind.

This is from the PCGamer review

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=226557

This is not a game that can be simply explained. How does it begin? It begins in six completely different ways, and each of these can be met with a wildly different approach. An excellent portion of the game to relate would be my adventures in the dwarven city of Orzammar, except there's little chance that you will experience the same events in the same way when you get there. The relationships you have, your allies and enemies, your party - they all form an experience unique to you.

Back to those six possible beginnings. Humans are the dominant race in Ferelden. Dominant in some extremely unpleasant ways. Until a few hundred years ago elves were the slaves of humans. In theory they have been freed, but those who live in cities remain second-class citizens, forced to live in slums, either begging or finding menial work in human houses. A small number of elves broke away to live in the Dales; these 'Dalish' elves are attempting to recover their lost culture. Bitter and vengeful, they kill all humans who wander into their territory.

The dwarves live in the Frostback Mountains, fiercely independent and embroiled in their own complex politics and caste system. The treatment of the elves by humans is (if you'll pardon the pun) dwarfed by the attitude this underground race show to their own casteless kin.

Mages are feared and loathed by all. Those demonstrating magical skills are separated from their families as children and sent to a Mages' Circle. A mage is vulnerable to possession by demons, or to the allure of deadly Blood Magic. They must live under the control of the soldiers of the Chantry, the presiding human and city-elf religion, serving in the army.

It is from this cauldron of tension and hostility that you select your character.
Your first two hours playing as a human noble have almost nothing in common with those of a dwarf commoner or Dalish elf. While you're taught the basics of combat, and introduced to party mechanics, the rest is unique. Select a mage (either human or elf - dwarves have no affinity with mana) and you must go through the Harrowing - the test all mages must face before leaving their apprenticeship. This involves entering the spirit world of the Fade to do battle with dreams and demons. Select a city elf (either rogue or warrior) and you play through a tale of wedding-day excitement, terrifying attacks, and rape. A human noble faces terrible loss, while a Dalish elf gets hands-on experience with the Darkspawn. Play as a casteless dwarf, or the son or daughter of the dwarven king, and the contrast is dramatic.

What each opening eventually has in common is the arrival of Duncan, a Grey Warden attempting to recruit armies to join the fight against the Blight. Hundreds of years ago each race signed an accord to provide armies on demand should the Darkspawn rise again, and Duncan is asking people to make good on that promise. Along the way, a promising candidate for the Wardens themselves catches his eye. Which would be you.

There is more about the story in this review.

[noonan4224]

Great info Nifty. Thanks.

[Ovid]

Does your character start talking at some point? Because I picked a voice during character creation, but he never says any of the lines that I choose.

[rabbit77]

Mine doesn't talk during cutscenes, but only during battle or when I'm running around and not allowed to do something.

[Tscott]

So far the character only seems to talk while performing commands or while in battle. Stuff like "Ok" "Yes" "Die you pig". The dialog options that you pick while roleplaying are mute.

[nickdawgy]

I wish they talked as much as Neverwinter Nights.

"No Quarter!!"

I am liking the game alot. I am a female noble Dwarf Rogue. I find it funny how many of the conversation options are something a spoiled noble would say or do.

"He bores me, kill him." or "Tell this merchant I tire of his games."

[Ghym]

I played as the son of the dwarven king. I bought the deluxe edition on Steam, so I have the extra items. Problem is, in the origin story for my character, he loses everything at the end. I no longer have my special items. Is it that way for the other origin stories, or just this one?

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by TLwizard

www.dragonagejourneys.com

Flash game that allows you to unlock three exclusive items to use in Dragon Age Origins when you get the game.

I've got the full game installed and set up, but I don't think I'm going to play it until I unlock everything here.

But be forewarned -- this is not a quick game to play. It's an actual mini-rpg and it takes a few hours to play through it. Plus, you have to go through it THREE TIMES in order to unlock everything.

[Quake1028]

PS3 version has shit framerate. Played 2.5 hours last night, can't wait to hit a few more hours after lunch.

[Quake1028]

Originally Posted by dizzlle01

This game will be 39.99 on black friday at sears. Just a heads up for anyone willing to wait a bit with all the great games that recently came out and are about to come out.

If Amazon matches (they should), I will buy from Amazon and just return the new copy on my BB receipt.

[foxdvd]

as for the difference in the reviews between the ps3 and the xbox...that seems to be the only site that is giving the PS3 a higher score. I have not seen any frame rate issues yet, but there is starting to be some complaints...so seems to be a wash to me. The game is not that good looking anyway, so I would rather have a smooth frame rate.

[Quake1028]

How far are you? I'm around 5.5 hours in and I've definitely seen the framerate chug on more than one occasion.

[Dragon Fly]

So Quake, aside from the framerate issues, how are you liking it? is it a "run out and buy now" kind of game, or a "when you're ready to play something try it out" thing. I LOVED Mass Effect, Jade Empire, and KOTOR and wanted to dig into this one, but wanted to see what people around here thought.

[Wolf359]

I just picked this up and looking through the manual is intimidating! Hope I'm smart enough for this game.

[flashburn]

Originally Posted by Dragon Fly

So Quake, aside from the framerate issues, how are you liking it? is it a "run out and buy now" kind of game, or a "when you're ready to play something try it out" thing. I LOVED Mass Effect, Jade Empire, and KOTOR and wanted to dig into this one, but wanted to see what people around here thought.

Run out and buy it. If you have played the above games and liked them all, and you like the whole "high fantasy" setting, then you will dig it.

[nickdawgy]

Another funny moment early in the game. One of the responses to a merchant:

"Heard you're making a killing. Me too! [Kill him]"



I love Bioware's humor.

[Quake1028]

Originally Posted by flashburn

Run out and buy it. If you have played the above games and liked them all, and you like the whole "high fantasy" setting, then you will dig it.

1000000% agreed. I put everything on hold for this game.

[Dragon Fly]

Originally Posted by Quake1028

1000000% agreed. I put everything on hold for this game.

good enough for me! Dragon Age, here I come!

[Suprmallet]

Picked mine up today. Unfortunately, between my day job, freelance work, and side projects, I have no clue when I'll actually be able to play it. D'oh!

[edstein]

How does this game compare to Oblivion? Graphics? Voice talent? That is my console RPG benchmark.

[foxdvd]

Originally Posted by edstein

How does this game compare to Oblivion? Graphics? Voice talent? That is my console RPG benchmark.

This is the for both 360 versions...

Oblivion was stunning when it came out but it definitely has aged. Even when installed on the hard drive, the frame rate suffered a bit on the 360 (though the Hard Drive install helped A LOT!!!)...So far 10 hours into Dragon Age...no slowdown or frame rate issues. Some parts of Oblivion are still stunning, and I have yet to see anything like that in Dragon Age, but the graphics are still smother, and animate better than Oblivion. I loved Oblivion, but I can see this game holding its own...though I think it is a little slow to start...

Voice Talent, so far I give the edge to Dragon Age, though still early. There is a LOT more voice work in Dragon Age, and the characters animate realistically to the acting, unlike Oblivion that was a little stiff.

This game is every bit the quality product Oblivion was, and even though the action is different, and the quests seem to offer less options to complete compared to Oblivion, I can't see how you will not like this game if you like RPG games.

[Tarantino]

So I haven't read much about this game, but I know it's been very highly reviewed.

Is this a traditional RPG when it comes to combat? As in...'turn based'? Or is the combat different?

If it's turn based, I probably will skip it.

[boredsilly]

I was watching a review of this on Gametrailers. Yeah, I was interested, but the length scared this dude off. The game looks really awesome though. However, you understand graphics continually get better, but I didn't realize how far the PC had come until the review showed screens from the 360 and PS3 versions of the game, after using the PC's graphics for most of the review.