Dragon Age 3: Inquisition announced

[Fire&Blood]

Its an in engine cutscene, and not much of an improvement over the regular gameplay. Granted, I do run the game at ultra settings and 1440p.

Its taken years for others to catch up to Witcher 2's visuals, there's no question on that.

Absolutely. I see people throwing curve balls at the Witcher franchise, they need to be kept in check.

I spent 2 weekends with a xbone peasant scratching that DA itch and it's good, overall I am happy with Bioware's effort on this one. There were things that I felt were behind Origins but overall it works well and most importantly it bests the abomination that was DA2.

8/10 from me.

 

[escrow4]

Seem to be running into some glitches nearly 50hrs in. Game has a nasty tendency to randomly pause and the Inquisitor has a nasty habit of not being able to do anything until you switch to another character and switch back. Grrr. Its also ridiculous that the Undercroft and your undercroft are separate areas. Are consoles really that useless? And why can't you upgrade Skyhold more? It should be a mini RTS here, it IS the heart of the game.

 

[Bateluer]

And why can't you upgrade Skyhold more? It should be a mini RTS here, it IS the heart of the game.

As someone who loves strongholds, Skyhold was . . . disappointing after looking at what options I had to upgrade it. Seriously, its a wreck when you first move in. And I think all you can upgrade are the courtyard and the purely cosmetic tower. :/ I miss Crosswords Keep in NWN2. Even Vigil's Keep in Awakenings had several options for upgrades. Wish it had no load screens as well . . . seems like they could have done that easily enough.

 

[bystander36]

I personally never really got into the castle upgrades. I did it only because I had to, I'd rather focus on the party. I don't recall Vigil's Keep having much of anything for upgrades. You had the keep walls and the armies weapons. There was the explosives too, but that was for your party, not the keep. That was all I can remember being upgradeable. I was fine with that. NWN2's was more than I liked, though I got used to it in replays.

 

[zinfamous]

As someone who loves strongholds, Skyhold was . . . disappointing after looking at what options I had to upgrade it. Seriously, its a wreck when you first move in. And I think all you can upgrade are the courtyard and the purely cosmetic tower. :/ I miss Crosswords Keep in NWN2. Even Vigil's Keep in Awakenings had several options for upgrades. Wish it had no load screens as well . . . seems like they could have done that easily enough.

yeah, pretty much. As much as I've gotten used to how pimping your house is very much a thing in these games now, even though I am pretty sure that I will get tired of it (it really doesn't mean all that much for the most part), I still enjoy it and if it's going to be done, at least make it worthwhile.

The options for Skyhold are rather useless and on top of that, I added the Infirmary, and it does't seem to be anywhere. is it broken? The surgeon disappeared, but the tents and sick people are still there. The courtyard area is pretty much the same as before, and I haven't found a new room fixed up anywhere else...unless I missed it.

The garden could provide more than, you know, 6 pots. I feel like you aren't going to get any real use out of this garden.

something tells me that clearing the trash and making new rooms will be some wasted DLC option.

 

[Bateluer]

I don't know if this was posted yet

http://www.amd.com/en-us/markets/dragon-age-inquisition

Get the Avvar Mixed Draft mount, a proud and adaptable variant of the breed that has been expertly trained by a master. Also receive the Amulet of Martial Determination which is uniquely enchanted to enhance your Constitution. The AMD pack also includes a Dragon Age Multiplayer chest to aid in your co-operative adventures.

​ Here’s how:​
1. Sign in or sign up for the AMD Gaming Evolved Client​​, powered by Raptr
2. Earn 500 reward points
3. Redeem between November 18, 2014-February 18, 2015 through the AMD Reward Store in the AMD Gaming Evolved Client
4. Receive the Dragon Age™: Inquisition EXCLUSIVE AMD Radeon™ in-game gift pack.

 

[datalink7]

I was a bit disappointed by the keep options as well. I was hoping for something with more upgrades, and that these upgrades would affect things. Upgrade the armory to upgrade the weapons on your forces. Build a mage tower to improve the power of your mages. That kind of thing.

Also was hoping there would be some management of troop options. Do you deploy to deal with bandits, and increase tax revenue? Or maybe march them against a rebellion or something.

Nothing that would be the super focus of things (that's for the party) but a bit more involvement in keep management than is in there now.

 

[Aristotelian]

Yep latest drivers. Im not saying its more fps with SLI disabled, but with all the stuttering with SLI enabled, the game feels much smoother with SLI disabled for me, & not just the cutscenes. Maybe microstutter is big in this game & any increase in fps with sli enabled is offset by all the stuttering. Never gonna do SLI again, just a big headache & a disappointment for new games.

Anyways SLI issues aside, this is the best RPG ive played in forever! And its so damn huge!!

Well, on the performance side - I'm playing with a 2600k at stock clocks, and GTX 580s (overclocked) in SLI. I play at 1440p with everything on High except tessellation and MSAA off - the game still looks great, and my FPS is quite reasonable considering how old my PC is, built it back in 2010. I haven't had SLI issues, but when I use that occularium or whatever (to find shards) I find that panning the camera then is really jerky and odd, probably FPS dips, that are unexplainable to me given that I don't think the scene is so demanding to render.

On the game - man I'm having a blast, but I'm already at a major choice regarding recruitment of either one or another group, and I can't decide yet. I wanted to clear the Hinterlands first but there are a few rifts around level 12 that destroy me (my party is level 8), and I always seem to find good gear that I can't use yet, like an awesome rare warrior chest piece that is level 10, and Cassandra is level 8. So Cassandra ends up using a level 4 shield, and a level 4 chest piece.

Essentially, I suck at gearing in this game. Should I be crafting a lot using the dropped recipies? I try to stay away from Haven for the most part unless my inventory is full, or I want to try to push dialogue with my recruits. And on the romance part, I wonder if things are buggy - my party members keep treating my character as a woman even though its a guy, so some romance options aren't being triggered, I think.

All in all, a really good game - I think my biggest annoyance so far is that I can't consistently "disrupt rift" - even when I try to target it and hit 'f' or right click, nothing happens. I can't tell if I'm too far away when I try to do that but I wish that was a bit easier to understand/do, even in that first fight against the demon (the scripted one with Cassandra) I couldn't reliably disrupt the rift. Hopefully these will all be tweaked in a patch, but the game is nevertheless really enjoyable, and I think I've only scratched the surface in the Hinterlands so far.

 

[Bateluer]

Small discount for DAI from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html...DER&pldnSite=1


44.99 instead of 59.99.

 

[davie jambo]

I got my copy for £28 from ********

Played a fair bit at the weekend , excellent game. Performance is fine , playing 1440p most things on high on my i5 2500k and R9 280x

I'll complete this in the next fortnight or so

Edit - why is it **** out g2a's website lol

 

[ControlD]

On the game - man I'm having a blast, but I'm already at a major choice regarding recruitment of either one or another group, and I can't decide yet. I wanted to clear the Hinterlands first but there are a few rifts around level 12 that destroy me (my party is level 8), and I always seem to find good gear that I can't use yet, like an awesome rare warrior chest piece that is level 10, and Cassandra is level 8. So Cassandra ends up using a level 4 shield, and a level 4 chest piece.

Essentially, I suck at gearing in this game. Should I be crafting a lot using the dropped recipies? I try to stay away from Haven for the most part unless my inventory is full, or I want to try to push dialogue with my recruits. And on the romance part, I wonder if things are buggy - my party members keep treating my character as a woman even though its a guy, so some romance options aren't being triggered, I think.

All in all, a really good game - I think my biggest annoyance so far is that I can't consistently "disrupt rift" - even when I try to target it and hit 'f' or right click, nothing happens. I can't tell if I'm too far away when I try to do that but I wish that was a bit easier to understand/do, even in that first fight against the demon (the scripted one with Cassandra) I couldn't reliably disrupt the rift. Hopefully these will all be tweaked in a patch, but the game is nevertheless really enjoyable, and I think I've only scratched the surface in the Hinterlands so far.

If you run into areas that are well over your level that is a cue that it is time to move on to another zone and come back when you are stronger. From what I have seen (about 40 hours into the game now) you aren't really expected to clear an entire zone before moving. I also ran into some rifts in the Hinterlands that I could not clear in the beginning. I moved to some other zones and came back and those zones were now much easier to handle. This will also help with getting gear that is more level appropriate as you will be fighting lower level mobs in the beginning areas of many zones.

As far as crafting goes, you can always go to the crafting area and see if you are going to end up with better gear than you have now. I found once I started getting Tier 2 and Tier 3 recipes I was better off crafting my own weapons and armor as opposed to just using picked up loot. This is another area where moving to other zones can help because you get better materials to craft with. You can also buy crafting recipes from numerous merchants that are more powerful than what you are picking up in the beginning.

When you try to disrupt a rift you need to be fairly close to it. You will know you are in range if the "disrupt rift" text appears when you target it. If you are in tactical mode and target the rift and get the option to disrupt you will auto move to it if you select the action. If you are in action mode you need to move until you are in range. Also, if you get hit by either a melee attack or a ranged attack you will be interrupted and have to start over. If you have four enemies close by you aren't going to be able to disrupt very often. It is best to clear out most of the enemies first or disrupt right after the next wave spawns.

 

[QuantumPion]

I want to use different party members from time to time but I'm a bit overwhelmed trying to select talent points and craft gear for everyone. So far I've just been sticking with the starting crew. I really like Solas, I think he is my favorite character so far. He's basically Spock.

 

[Rhezuss]

I'm still working on my Witcher 2 playthrough since I want to check that off my list before Wild Hunt releases. After that i'll be all in DA:I, can't wait. I started a game on release date but TW2 have all my attention, can't run 2 games efficiently.

 

[ControlD]

I want to use different party members from time to time but I'm a bit overwhelmed trying to select talent points and craft gear for everyone. So far I've just been sticking with the starting crew. I really like Solas, I think he is my favorite character so far. He's basically Spock.

Iron Bull is great to have in your party as well, just for the dialogue. I don't think he's as good a tank as Cassandra, but I find myself taking Iron Bull more times than not simply for the laugh out loud comments and conversations he throws around.

For building the party members (except for myself) I pretty much just pick one or two main ability trees and max them out. I'm not worried about building the perfect companion every time. If I see a glaring weakness in my party I will adjust for it, but unless you are spreading all the points around in too may trees you should end up with some decent builds. If I have one ranged rogue I make sure the next one is a dual wield. If I have a sword and board warrior I make sure the next is a two-hander, etc. I usually just equip the best available items for my party before selling and only craft what is needed (weapon and armor upgrades).

 

[Udgnim]

I want to use different party members from time to time but I'm a bit overwhelmed trying to select talent points and craft gear for everyone. So far I've just been sticking with the starting crew. I really like Solas, I think he is my favorite character so far. He's basically Spock.

not sure how far you are into the game

been playing on Hard and the only time I really focused on crafting gear so far was when I did the story mission that opened up the real story to the game

I also expect that I'll need to craft gear when I start trying to take down dragons

the one thing I need to find out is if the talent reset purchase only applies to my character or if it can be applied to any party member

 

[Dahak]

I'll just randomly add some thoughts to some of the questions comments above. im about 65+hrs in if the timestamp on the saves are correct. I am also playing on normal if that matters too.

For Zones, I tend to clear as much as possible too, although there is a small issue with that in that you tend to almost out level some of the later zones.

For equipment, generally the way I do it, is for my inq, I usually use crafted, and mix of drops and crafted for my other party members, and because I tend to want to clear our a zone, I can craft items for my other party members

For Dragons, if you are on level you should be find with on level gear, if you are under level, then you may need crafted gear as it will tend to have more stats than the drops.
That being said, I have killed 5 dragons so far, two of them I soloed with Blackwall once you get the patterns down, use guard.

Skyhold upgrades, yes they are vastly underwhelming, sure it opens up a room in a tower for templar or mages. I would have through you would see some visual differences. Even doing the keep customization in the Undercroft does not make much impact other than maybe the throne.

Performance for me has been fine, I have had a few pauses but that is generally in skyhold exiting from solas' room to the outside

Companion story for Sera without spoiling the details too much, I pretty much had her at the point of leaving/telling her to go and then all of the sudden, we are pretty much buddy buddy to the point that her character select card has changed.
I read that they do, but did not notice it much with other. had not paid enough attention to those. I think Dorian's is changed too, have to look at an old save

 

[Bateluer]

I'm still working on my Witcher 2 playthrough since I want to check that off my list before Wild Hunt releases. After that i'll be all in DA:I, can't wait. I started a game on release date but TW2 have all my attention, can't run 2 games efficiently.

True that. Probably better to wait for DAI to get that first patch anyway. There's some really annoying glitches right now.

 

[ControlD]

For Dragons, if you are on level you should be find with on level gear, if you are under level, then you may need crafted gear as it will tend to have more stats than the drops.
That being said, I have killed 5 dragons so far, two of them I soloed with Blackwall once you get the patterns down, use guard.

I've tried fighting a couple of dragons (a few times each) and I have been completely destroyed every time! I'm only level 14 or so however and I imagine that is borderline at best. This game is like crack though. I haven't enjoyed a game this much since Borderlands 2. It sort of makes me wish there was a new (single player) Elder Scrolls game on the horizon.

Once you get comfortable with the crafting system all of that constant looting of natural resources really starts to become fun and I now find myself going the long way to quest markers hoping to find something fade touched.

 

[ramj70]

yeah, pretty much. As much as I've gotten used to how pimping your house is very much a thing in these games now, even though I am pretty sure that I will get tired of it (it really doesn't mean all that much for the most part), I still enjoy it and if it's going to be done, at least make it worthwhile.

The options for Skyhold are rather useless and on top of that, I added the Infirmary, and it does't seem to be anywhere. is it broken? The surgeon disappeared, but the tents and sick people are still there. The courtyard area is pretty much the same as before, and I haven't found a new room fixed up anywhere else...unless I missed it.

The garden could provide more than, you know, 6 pots. I feel like you aren't going to get any real use out of this garden.

something tells me that clearing the trash and making new rooms will be some wasted DLC option.

The infirmary is over near where Cassandra hangs out. There is a small building there in need of repair. After you choose Infirmary it is repaired and you can go inside. Nothing inside to write home about though.

 

[TheUnk]

For Dragons, if you are on level you should be find with on level gear, if you are under level, then you may need crafted gear as it will tend to have more stats than the drops.
That being said, I have killed 5 dragons so far, two of them I soloed with Blackwall once you get the patterns down, use guard.

This poor AI really shows when fighting dragons. I've heard from a few people that they end up soloing them with a tank. I'm playing on hard and have also killed 5. Never soloed one yet, worst has been a duo.

Lots of manual control switching but far more satisfying than soloing with a tank. I tried that a bit and found it pretty dull and slow.

They really dropped to ball on the "tactics" mode. It would be OK if it zoomed out more and let me continue to control a selected character as normal. It seems that once I exit that mode then the AI goes back to being retarded. I set "Hold position", but they still move? That should never happen

The AI has some real issues. They don't use preferred abilities like you tell it. For example I told my tank that bash is a preferred skill, disabled a few others, and set the reserve stamina to 0. They still wouldn't use it every time it was available, even when the enemy has a guard up. I have to manually do it.

I wonder how much of the AI issues are from bugs though. One time my characters wouldn't use any abilities except basic attack. Everything was set up right and the only thing that fixed it was to restart the game.

 

[zinfamous]

The infirmary is over near where Cassandra hangs out. There is a small building there in need of repair. After you choose Infirmary it is repaired and you can go inside. Nothing inside to write home about though.

after I posted that, I was running around a bit last night and had a quest update prompt in the quest HUD saying that "Courtyard Update complete." I went back and did find it near Cassandra.

This would be ~7 or 8? game hours after I initiated it. I was wondering if it was a time thing, which is actually reasonable, but there is no indicator for this or progress notification...I just assumed it wasn't working.

Then again, with the surgeon gone immediately, I assume it was there all along and I couldn't find it, and the quest update just happened to flash when it was good and ready.

 

[bystander36]

Also was hoping there would be some management of troop options. Do you deploy to deal with bandits, and increase tax revenue? Or maybe march them against a rebellion or something.

Nothing that would be the super focus of things (that's for the party) but a bit more involvement in keep management than is in there now.

All the troop management stuff is at the war table. At any time you get to pick up to 3 missions which you can send Josephen, Cullen and his troops, or Lilliana and her spies. There are protection missions, which gain reputation, there are other missions which gain gold, and others which gain resources.

 

[zinfamous]

the one thing I need to find out is if the talent reset purchase only applies to my character or if it can be applied to any party member

yep, you can use it on anyone. I had to respec Sera after finally deciding to pull out the dead kid and see what his specialization was....so I gave him Sera's gear and traits and put her back on the dorky bow :\

 

[bystander36]

When you try to disrupt a rift you need to be fairly close to it. You will know you are in range if the "disrupt rift" text appears when you target it. If you are in tactical mode and target the rift and get the option to disrupt you will auto move to it if you select the action. If you are in action mode you need to move until you are in range. Also, if you get hit by either a melee attack or a ranged attack you will be interrupted and have to start over. If you have four enemies close by you aren't going to be able to disrupt very often. It is best to clear out most of the enemies first or disrupt right after the next wave spawns.

Can you tell me what disrupting a rift actually does? At first, I always tried to disrupt them, but I've not noticed anything different from disrupting them, and simply killing what comes out. The only exception was the first boss fight at the end of the initial mission, which disrupting the rift caused him to drop his guard.

 

[TheUnk]

Can you tell me what disrupting a rift actually does? At first, I always tried to disrupt them, but I've not noticed anything different from disrupting them, and simply killing what comes out. The only exception was the first boss fight at the end of the initial mission, which disrupting the rift caused him to drop his guard.

It damages all of the enemies.

You can also dispel the ground effects when the next wave is starting to stop a spawn or two.