Dragon Age: Origins -- Anyone got it? (no spoilers please!)

[Gravekeeper]

Huh, I liked the mage origin. Then again, I'm a sucker for glass cannons in games.

The mage origin is less personal, more educational, if that makes any sense. You learn more about the game world and the Fade, but have no real personal attachments to it like you do in Human Noble or City Elf. As there are no honestly likable characters in the Mage origin, frankly nor do you have any meaningful relationships with them.

Jowan encourages a swift dickpunch within 5 minutes of meeting him for example. Which is very unlike Human Noble where you feel actual affection for your family members. Or City Elf, where it gets rather personal rather quickly too. Both origins involve family ties and people you care about. Mage origin involves no one particularly interesting and a few people I'd like to toss off the highest point of the Tower.

Speaking of which, fark Dwarves. My god. Fark the entire city of Ozgrammar.

<grumbles about the Deep Roads>

[Broomjockey]

okay, well, I've only played the Mage and Human Noble origins so far, so I'll grant you the "not as attached to people" during the mage one, but it does make sense to me for the Mage origin to be educational. After all, it's the only one with a proscribed class. Mages are supposed to be smart, and know things about the way the world works. And you don't exactly get to choose to be a mage, you're just drafted in to it, so the resentment and competition fit.

It would be nice if Jowan wasn't such a dickface, though. At least give you a real reason to want to help him, rather than my pseudo-self-justification of "well, he's supposed to be my friend, I should act like he is." I do wonder how it falls out if you don't help him, though.

[LewisLegion]

I've done it both ways. Helped Jowan or tried not to help Jowan. In the first case, you get to deal with dicky Jowan. In the second case, you get to deal with dicky Irving AND dicky Jowan and just feel like you were slapped on both sides at the end of it.

Yeah, really not fond of the mage start. I DO like Wynne though, I have to say. One of my fave chars.

And GK, I agree with you on Orzammar. I loved the dwarf noble start, but running through the whole Orzammar section to get the dwarfs as allies is a HUGE pain in the butt. That, and the Fade....I get a migraine every time from the slightly out-of-focus 'dream world'. Seriously, can't you just blurr the edges? Talk about eye-strain...

[Gravekeeper]

okay, well, I've only played the Mage and Human Noble origins so far, so I'll grant you the "not as attached to people" during the mage one, but it does make sense to me for the Mage origin to be educational.

Oh it made sense and was interesting from a learning perspective. It just didn't invoke any emotion by the end like some of the other Origins. I didn't feel like I had as many roots in the storyline. Conversely, Human Noble is great but almost *too* involved in the main plot if that makes any sense.

In the second case, you get to deal with dicky Irving AND dicky Jowan and just feel like you were slapped on both sides at the end of it.

Yeah, that was my main prob. Dick either way.

Yeah, really not fond of the mage start. I DO like Wynne though, I have to say. One of my fave chars.

Wynne surprised me. An older woman is a very unusual character design. As the game industry, much like the Hollywood, considers women dead by 40. Though Bioware is Canadian I suppose ( which really shows at times ). She was also a surprisingly deep character. I underestimated Bioware. I should know better by now.

Most RPGs, especially console ones, give you lots of party characters but its always blatantly obvious who are the favourites of the designers. The rest are just tacked on. Final Fantasy is particularly bad for that. But Bioware gives equal love to all its characters.

I perfer Wynne for my support over Morrigan anyhow. Morrigan is argh. She's either amusing or downright aggravating depending on the situation. No inbetween.

And GK, I agree with you on Orzammar. I loved the dwarf noble start, but running through the whole Orzammar section to get the dwarfs as allies is a HUGE pain in the butt. That, and the Fade....I get a migraine every time from the slightly out-of-focus 'dream world'. Seriously, can't you just blurr the edges? Talk about eye-strain...

Yeah, the Dwarves are the last ally I have to get and I hate them all already except the one that wanted to study at the Tower ( She's adorable ). As for the Fade, are you playing the PC version? There's a mod to remove the effect.

[LewisLegion]

No, Xbox. Le sigh...

[MaggieTheCat]

When I rolled my mage, Jowan pissed me off enough in the first 30 seconds upon "meeting" him that when he asked for help, I immediately went and told Irving about it. >.> I like Irving alright. He's kind of a jerk for making you do his dirty work (he basically tells you to go through with Jowan and Lily's plan, because he wants the templars to catch Lily in the act so she'll be punished as well as Jowan.) It's Greagoir who really pisses me off at the end. "She was conspiring with a blood mage! She has no right to be a member of the Circle!" Even after Irving tells him to shut up and that I was working for the Circle the whole time, Greagoir still rants and raves and tells everyone that I'm untrustworthy and a traitor.

[Broomjockey]

Oh, so absolutely nothing changes depending on what you choose. How nice. Here I had visions of the plot actually changing. My respect for the game just dropped a bit.

[LewisLegion]

Broom, for the mage start...yeah, pretty much nothing, though later in the game it may determine your rep with the Circle or with Jowan. One of the reasons I like the mage start the least.

Edited to add, slightly off topic: ONE MORE MONTH FOR MASS EFFECT 2!!!!! *squeak!!*

[Gravekeeper]

Oh, so absolutely nothing changes depending on what you choose. How nice. Here I had visions of the plot actually changing. My respect for the game just dropped a bit.

Each Origin has its moment to shine in the plot, but Mage's is fairly lowkey compared to Human Noble ( So far at least ). Noble origin can hugely effect things in the late game in rather surprising ways. I won't spoil it but I'll give a hint: Keep your romance options open and your Persuade high till the Landsmeet for a surprise. There's, er, more fish in the sea then the game would have you believe. >.>

I'm not sure how much I can affect as a Mage so far. Though it has let me persuade/intimidate my way out of a couple fights or make them easier by running off some of the enemies. No one wants to fark with a Mage.

I swear I will see Jowan dead though. ( and yes, its possible later in the game. Don't worry. You'll get your chance...oh yes... )

X-Box version sucks, however. I can't imagine playing the game with no mods. The character respec mod alone makes the game 5 times more enjoyable. It takes a few experiments before you find a good character build that fits your style and it can be pretty easy to botch up a character. Especially a Mage. Not to mention the ability to respec companions so they aren't stuck with arse builds they start with that forces them into specific roles. I'd rather use chars because I enjoy their company, not because I'm forced too because of the spec they came with.

[LewisLegion]

Ehn, it's not so bad. My main gripe is the bugs. NPCs vanishing as you're talking to them, cut scenes repeating, esp in the Fade...guh, I hate the Fade...

[Gravekeeper]

Ehn, it's not so bad. My main gripe is the bugs. NPCs vanishing as you're talking to them, cut scenes repeating, esp in the Fade...guh, I hate the Fade...

Ew. PC version I haven't had a single bug or crash so far. I can't imagine playing any Bioware game on a console, honestly. Better controls, better graphics, better mods. Not even Mass Effect. Which I'm hoping Dragon Age will tide me over too. Still gots ma saved games saved for the sequel.

Dragon Age is going to get as much mod treatment as BG2 did. New quests, new areas, new characters, new items, etc. Console really sucks for titles like this. ;/

[Lady Legira]

I've just ordered it from Amazon (£15!) as as soon as I get hubby's old comp I'm putting it on there, mine is currently a bit creaky to run it. My sister has it already as it looks great.

[LewisLegion]

Perhaps, GK, but with my pain issues playing games for literally hours on end (like I tend to do with Bioware games...twelve hour marathon sessions, booyah!) it's console or no go. The controller I can use for a very long time without pain but trying to play with mouse/keyboard for anything longer than an hour or two and I'm in serious agony.

Besides, 46" flatscreen or outdated computer monitor I need to replace....yeah, console still wins for me for now

[Gravekeeper]

The controller I can use for a very long time without pain but trying to play with mouse/keyboard for anything longer than an hour or two and I'm in serious agony.

Besides, 46" flatscreen or outdated computer monitor I need to replace....yeah, console still wins for me for now

Fair enough.

Of course, hook gamepad and flatscreen to computer.....victory~

You can't use the Baldur's Gate 2 cam on the console can you? Granted I stopped using it after an hour or so as the game is more fun with third person camera.

[LewisLegion]

ROFL

Sure, make sense and be logical. Don't you know that's not allowed??

I have no idea. Never tried to use the cam.