Opinions: Rogue, Warrior, Mage?

[Fljotsdale]

I'm currently playing Dwarven Rogue, and she's good, even as a kind of off-tank (at lvl 11, anyway). She can melee almost as well as Alistair (who isn't a great tank, I admit, in comparison to Sten), besides doing her Rogue stuff. She's a Duellist, 1st level.

But the main reason (apart from lock-picking! I hate not being able to open locks) that I like Rogues is cos of the extra points they pick up.

By nature, I guess I'm a hack n slash type, which is why I chose a Dwarf Rogue, but what I really want to know is:

Is it really worth the loss of points and lockpicking to go for an all-out Warrior or Mage?

There seem to be more than enough Rogues and Warriors available, and there is (so far) just Morrigan for a Mage, (and I don't really like her, despite her striking appearance. Well, she doesn't like my character!) And I have been feeling the need for a real Healer Mage... Just picked up Wynn in the Mage Tower, but that's at lvl 11...

Any advice/experience welcome!

[Faust]

It's a matter of personal preference, obviously. Wynn is a very good healer (best in the game, quite frankly), if you don't like Morrigan. So, bring her along as a dedicated healer and you'll be fine.

Rogues are great in DA1. They do great damage (best single target damage if you are maximizing your use of backstab), if you are going dex/dagger build they are virtually unhittable by opponents, and they get additional tactical options through using traps, bombs, poison, and stealth.

[vio]

I found warrior and rogue to be too similar in Origins, one of my few big complaints about the game (warrior does of course have tanking and 2-handed weapon skills that rogues don't, but if I wanted to duel wield or use bows I'd always go rogue as it was near enough identical and had the benefit of lockpicking) but overall I enjoyed all the classes for different reasons, though some of the specialisations (shapeshifter for instance) were underwhelming
I'd definitely recommend trying a playthrough as each class. for one thing the mage Origin is well worth playing, and has some effect on how some other parts of the game play out so you're missing out on some story if you don't try it
also keep in mind you get Leliana very early in the game and there are few locked chests or doors before Lothering (I don't remember any in the City or Dalish Elf origins, there were a couple in human and I think dwarf, but nothing particularly special that you'd miss out on). also if you play on PC you can get mods to get lockbashing, unlocking spells for mages and similar things

[Fljotsdale]

It's a matter of personal preference, obviously. Wynn is a very good healer (best in the game, quite frankly), if you don't like Morrigan. So, bring her along as a dedicated healer and you'll be fine.

Rogues are great in DA1. They do great damage (best single target damage if you are maximizing your use of backstab), if you are going dex/dagger build they are virtually unhittable by opponents, and they get additional tactical options through using traps, bombs, poison, and stealth.

Thanks, Faust. I'm finding my Rogue pretty good, I must say, and I intend to play out the game with her. I agree with your assessment of their value!

[Stworca]

Dex rogues are unhittable. Since you can stack all poisons at once in this game, they can also deal ridiculous damage per hit.

Warriors, with some inventory micromanagement, can keep a foe permanently under crowd control abilities and disrupt all attacks. I'm not talking about them pathetic darkspawn, but enemies such as Sir Caulthrien.

Mages are all kinds of cheesy.

So.. Pick whatever you want

[Fljotsdale]

I found warrior and rogue to be too similar in Origins, one of my few big complaints about the game (warrior does of course have tanking and 2-handed weapon skills that rogues don't, but if I wanted to duel wield or use bows I'd always go rogue as it was near enough identical and had the benefit of lockpicking) but overall I enjoyed all the classes for different reasons, though some of the specialisations (shapeshifter for instance) were underwhelming

Yes, I agree the Rogue is very similar to a Warrior, but with advantages the Warrior doesn't have. So far, I'm finding the shapeshifting in the Fade (Mage Tower quest) very handy, but not exactly impressive. And She'll lose that anyway when she gets out. Morrigan only has Spider at the moment. I've been giving her Healing spells instead of upgrading Shapeshifting - mainly cos I haven't bothered using it. I couldn't see either Spider or Bear being that useful and she doesn't qualify for anything else yet.

I'd definitely recommend trying a playthrough as each class. for one thing the mage Origin is well worth playing, and has some effect on how some other parts of the game play out so you're missing out on some story if you don't try it

Yes, I started off playing each Origin starter (though stopped when we reached Ostagar), because I was too curious not to! :laugh:

also keep in mind you get Leliana very early in the game and there are few locked chests or doors before Lothering (I don't remember any in the City or Dalish Elf origins, there were a couple in human and I think dwarf, but nothing particularly special that you'd miss out on). also if you play on PC you can get mods to get lockbashing, unlocking spells for mages and similar things

Actually, I think you may be right about that - but even one or two drive me nuts! :laugh: I hate that 'skill not high enough' notice. Leliana is a Bard, too, which could be very handy.
I tend not to use Mods. My comp really isn't up to it. I'm getting a new one later this year - I want to play the upcoming new Elder Scrolls game - so then I might go for mods.

I'm really loving this game. Far more than I thought I might, actually. It went a bit dead, just after the rescue following the battle against the Blight, and there seem to be a lot of little quests to bog you down, but now it's interesting again.

Thank you for your comments. I found them very helpful.

[Fljotsdale]

Dex rogues are unhittable. Since you can stack all poisons at once in this game, they can also deal ridiculous damage per hit.

Really? Stack poisons? I've just been using one at a time on my weapons! :speech: Gosh, thanks! I didn't know that.

Warriors, with some inventory micromanagement, can keep a foe permanently under crowd control abilities and disrupt all attacks. I'm not talking about them pathetic darkspawn, but enemies such as Sir Caulthrien.

Hm... Interesting... I'll bear that in mind!

Mages are all kinds of cheesy.

Really? Why? Too good?

So.. Pick whatever you want

You have been most helpful.

[GoldDragon]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stworca
Mages are all kinds of cheesy.


Really? Why? Too good?

Storm of the Century. Enough said. Massive Damage area, extremely few resistant to it (and nine other really good combos, to boot).

[Fljotsdale]

Storm of the Century. Enough said. Massive Damage area, extremely few resistant to it (and nine other really good combos, to boot).

Oh? I haven't actually looked at spells much, so I've not come across that one. Well, levels too low yet, I suppose. I must check out the spell trees!
Thank you.

[Lord++Revan]

All have their advantages,Warriors can go toe-to-toe with the high dragon,rogues can do backstabs with fantastic stealth and they can coat their blades with poison,mages can let off serious crowd control while allistair (or sten)can seriously pound on them and rogus can sneak behind and backstab and seriously jack up the DPS. It's all team work so any type of char is good with the right party. I played templar with holy smite as main attack and he seriously owned while Morry let of firestorm and alli 1/2 the damage on the protagonist and Wynne kept them all alive and put in that extra umph with her staff. Overall it's all about using all of the classes capabilities.

[Claudius]

I played a rogue who used bow but who also had the first talent in dual wield and the 3 bottom talents that make you attack faster. That only costs 4 talents but it allows you to backstab and tank. All dex almost aside for enough cunning for the thief skills. I took duelist for extra hit chance (which works on bow) and ranger for the pets. Assassin you need up close and personal and bard is not dexterity which I like the sound of dexterity.

[Lord++Revan]

I played a rogue who used bow but who also had the first talent in dual wield and the 3 bottom talents that make you attack faster. That only costs 4 talents but it allows you to backstab and tank. All dex almost aside for enough cunning for the thief skills. I took duelist for extra hit chance (which works on bow) and ranger for the pets. Assassin you need up close and personal and bard is not dexterity which I like the sound of dexterity.

I had a bow rogue and her contribution to party damage was 13%

[Claudius]

Actually a lot of the time I tanked or backstab. The point is that only those 4 melee talents are all that good. Actually 2 are good and the other two are just to qualify.

[Fljotsdale]

Very informative additions to the thread.

My Dwarf Rogue is currently lvl 15 and doing the Anvil thing. I have to say that Wynne is seriously useful as a Healer Mage (which is what I was interested in doing next); but my Rogue is a very good off-tank. She has Dual Weapons, and Duelist (2 levels) Her Lockpicking/trap spotting is complete, but she still misses sometimes cos her Cunning is only 26 (I think). She uses a bow sometimes - very handily, too - but she has no Ranged Weapon slots. She has all the Combat Training, 1 poison making, 3 Stealth (or maybe 2), 2 Combat Tactics, all Coercion. , some other stuff as well, iirc, and all round she's pretty darn good.

But I still yearn to play the other classes.

[Claudius]

One nice thing is that you can try out different mage talents with Morrigan or Wynne. And with Sten and Alistair you can try out damage dealing 2 hander and sword and board tank. Leliana and Zhevran are two styles of rogues. I am starting to get interested in another run hopefully to actually complete the game. But then I won't complete my plan of 20 runs through dungeon lords with each third tier class .

[Fljotsdale]

Yeah... but looking at what Wynne does, I doubt I will be such a good healer, cos I have Wynne operate from Tactics, so she just does stuff. If I was running a healer myself it might be another kettle of fish altogether! I operate my Rogue directly, and just bundle in where needed after the initial Stealth-explore-and-clobber the Mage-type.
I could do the Morrigan stuff - though I doubt I'd go for shape-changing - and I could do Warrior, even though, with both, I'd not have lockpicking/traps, which will grieve me until Leliana or Zevran shows up.

[Lord++Revan]

Well I have that problem too when I see a locked chest a warrior or mage without a rogue I get mad but personally I don't think rogues are very good in combat. It seems when an enemy turns its attention from the the tank and comes at you it seems like you get destroyed.

Mages I love blasting off firestorm and having Zevran stealth and set AOE traps

With warriors I love just pinning an enemy in the corner and knocking them down ,stun and just ravage them:laugh:

Although about rogues I had an elf who was a wicked Off-Tank. 19 con,20 cun,28 str,and 30 dex,willpower,magic were soooooooooooooooo low though.

[GoldDragon]

I just use a lock bash mod, open chests regardless.

[Fljotsdale]

Well I have that problem too when I see a locked chest a warrior or mage without a rogue I get mad but personally I don't think rogues are very good in combat. It seems when an enemy turns its attention from the the tank and comes at you it seems like you get destroyed.

Don't have that prob with my dwarf rogue. She can go toe-to-toe with most things, and what she can't, she gets from behind. She's GOOD! And furthermore she gets 'killed' far less often than anyone else in the team. Mostly run with Sten, Alistair, and Wynne, though I had Oghren in the Deep Roads areas, and initially, of course, I had Morrigan, Alistair and the Mabari Hound. Never used Leliana or Zevran, though I have 'em at Camp.

Mages I love blasting off firestorm and having Zevran stealth and set AOE traps

With warriors I love just pinning an enemy in the corner and knocking them down ,stun and just ravage them:laugh:

Although about rogues I had an elf who was a wicked Off-Tank. 19 con,20 cun,28 str,and 30 dex,willpower,magic were soooooooooooooooo low though.

Must post my rogue's stats. Can't remember without checking the game.

[Fljotsdale]

Here she is:

Name: Tali
Race: Dwarf Commoner
Class: Rogue

Str 24 (enhanced by item)
Dex 38 (ditto)
Will 20
Magic 14
Cunning 30
Con 20 (enhanced by item)

Mental Resistance check 17
Physical Resistance check 27
Fire, cold, electrical, nature, & spirit resistances =0%

Rogue
Chain 1 = 3 lvls
chain 2 = 3 lvls
chain 3 = 4 lvls
chain 4 = 2 lvls

Duelist = 3 lvls

Dual Weapon
chain 1 = 3 lvls
chain 2 = 0
chain 3 = 1 lvl

Skills
Coercion = 4 lvls
Stealing = 1 lvl
Poisons = 3 lvls
Combat Tr = 4 lvls

Haven't taken any Tactics, cos I control her (but I did think I had one lvl of this!)