Dragon Age

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu May 20, 2004 2:27 am

Dragon Age will have a Game Master client. More information on the specific features will be made available at a later date.
[Taken from the official FAQ]

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Thu May 20, 2004 7:59 pm

This game sounds great! I hope it can live up to expectations though.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed May 26, 2004 7:24 pm

Updated with some new previews on 05-27-2004
Let me know if any of the links dont work.

Also check out the official FAQ

I hope they come with more on DA on the next Bioware Wednesday.

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Wed May 26, 2004 9:16 pm

I'm really curious on who the publisher will be. Who are the leading candidates do you think? Interplay?

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu May 27, 2004 3:13 am

THe only thing I do know is that it´s probally not going to be Atari.
Atari holds the D&D licence. And if they knew they where going for Atari, they would have probally make use of D&D rules.

Who? No idea, let's hope not EA.
(Then again, i also can never forgive UBI what they did with Conquest Frontier Wars)

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Thu May 27, 2004 3:36 am

The thing that caught my eye and interest most is this little bit:

1.03: What is the storyline of Dragon Age? (Back to Top)

For the first time, you choose how your character’s story begins and that choice changes how your story unfolds. From a grim barbarian wanderer who is the last of his kind, to an exiled dwarven prince betrayed by his brother; each of the many 'origin' stories spins its own heroic tale of intrigue and romance.

Each origin story completely changes the setting and events of the game's first chapter and unlocks different storylines, villains, romances and items throughout the course of the game.

As you play, your actions shape the destiny of the world. Unite a powerful kingdom under your wise and just rule, enslave nations beneath the tyranny of your powerful necromancy or forge a legend of your own making.

Hero or villain, the choice is yours. Dragon Age features an awesome storyline and epic exploration in the BioWare RPG tradition.

This leads up to a much more dynamic world, where not only ones action but character should/would shape the world.
How this will be implemented is a great interest to me, and I want to see this before I belive it.

I will not say I've lost faith in Bioware per se, but having been disappointed with the original NwN and SW:KotOR - I will not fall for hype this time

So this time, I'm taking a laid back and "if it isn't released, it isn't in the game yet" approach to the game.

But what information is given at the present time does sound intriguing. I hope for a gameplay/storyline in epic scale as BG/BG2, but of course - if they aim for a short SP again (40-50 hours gameplay) it might get a feel of being a to rushed storyline. (NwN + SW:KotOR felt that way imo)

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu May 27, 2004 4:03 am

That part caught my eye to
I agree with the original NWN, but Kotor had a great storyline. The only problem was the fact that rollplaying wasnt that great. But dont forget that console RPG's attract a different kind of players then PCRPG's.

And they made up for the original campaing of NWN with the great concept of modulemaking. And the 2 good expensions.

Like I said i would love a wicheswake (NWN-module) gameplay.

[EDIT] And i would like to see a world change when i play a game.
When i do some quests and get a name around the city, more sidequests are optional. Not like in BG2 where everyone seems to know you although you've never been there before.

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Thu May 27, 2004 4:54 am

Well, thankfully, Bioware on their official forums have said that Atari will most certainly NOT be the publisher.

I felt that the NWN storyline was decent, but poorly implemented. HotU's singleplayer campaign was far more enjoyable, but the story wasn't that much better imho.

The dynamic world they claim to be making is very intriguing, but I am doubtful as to how dynamic it will actually be. Will the different nations actually be different? Or will Bioware be lazy as per normal and simply change the names. I certainly hope that the hero/villain factor is more then just a small ending (like Kotor) or and alignment change.

I never bother to play WW, is it a good roleplaying module?

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu May 27, 2004 5:40 am

Yes WW, is IMO the best rollplaying module. For the experience rewards for rollplaying, and the many solutions to finish things.
(never tries this myself, but you can charm people as a wizzard to persuade them).

In WW you wont get experience for killing, so solving things without swords can be just as rewarding.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Thu Jun 03, 2004 10:08 am

Boys, correct me if I'm wrong, but will it be a game that will mix a good storyline and a better engine, sorta like a hibrid between Baldurs Gate and Neverwinter Night series?

Baldurs Gate sometimes missed a better engine (even though the problems have been fixed) and NWN misses history and a better worked out environment, but the engine is fine.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 3:16 am

[QUOTE=Luis Antonio]Boys, correct me if I'm wrong, but will it be a game that will mix a good storyline and a better engine, sorta like a hibrid between Baldurs Gate and Neverwinter Night series?

Baldurs Gate sometimes missed a better engine (even though the problems have been fixed) and NWN misses history and a better worked out environment, but the engine is fine.[/QUOTE]

I think thats the genral idea.
I liked the fact that (for example in Kotor) you realy had the feeling you where walking trough a city. But a engine like NWN wasnt realy usefull for organized combat or looking for loot. The solved this in Kotor, but that was mainly cause it was a concole game from origin. So i think this game has the potential to be realy realy good.

But let's get a little discussion going here.
What do you hope the class system is going to be in DA?
Totally free like in Morrowind, tied to a single class like in BG or a little more freedom for multiclassing like in NWN?

I personally prefere the BG system combined with some of NWN. You dont have alot of freedom to create your charcter, but in games like morrowind you always end up with upercharacters that can do it all. Also for multi-player purpuse this isnt realy fun.
Let a mage be a mage, and be only good in that, but create enough room to personalize your character by using a sort of feat system like in NWN, only with more room (1feat every 3 levels is to little, more feats, and more feats to choose from)
I'm not realy familiar with the perk-system from the fallout games, so i cant comment about that. But if someone could explain how that would work out feel free.

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:09 pm

Perks in Fallout were special bonuses that you could choose every 3 levels (4 if you had the Skilled trait). An example might be that you choose the Magnetic Personality perk, which means you can have one more NPC in your party. Or there's the sharpshooter perk which increases either damage or ability to hit (I can't remember which) with guns. The perks you can choose are better at higher levels (they don't improve though, it's a onetime bonus sort of thing); i.e, in Fallout 2 once your levels were high enough, some perks you could choose permanently increased your ability scores. It's a pretty cool system actually.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:38 am

I was looking at the few screenshots avaiable... wow, high need of graphics card dontcha think?

I expect it to be like NWN, a heavy lightning weight game. Hope thet dont screw the game too much, cause an upgrade is unthinkable.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 12:06 pm

Bioware realesed a wallpaper, see the first post for a link.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:34 pm

And they released another wallpaper today. Again see the first post for a link.

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 6:18 pm

[QUOTE=Stilgar]
But let's get a little discussion going here.
What do you hope the class system is going to be in DA?
Totally free like in Morrowind, tied to a single class like in BG or a little more freedom for multiclassing like in NWN?
[/QUOTE]

NWN system with unlimited multiclassing (not limited to multiclassing 3 classes)! It really allows for some creative builds and unusual roleplaying abilities. Imagine a Cleric/Sorceror/Paladin/Rogue/Weapon Master/Shadowdancer/Wizard/Archmage/Palemaster/Bard/Dragon Disciple

Adm. Pellaeon · Post by **Adm. Pellaeon** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:49 pm

[QUOTE=Noober]NWN system with unlimited multiclassing (not limited to multiclassing 3 classes)! It really allows for some creative builds and unusual roleplaying abilities. Imagine a Cleric/Sorceror/Paladin/Rogue/Weapon Master/Shadowdancer/Wizard/Archmage/Palemaster/Bard/Dragon Disciple

[/QUOTE]

Sure ... and then the big ol' level 11 warrior makes mincemeat out of your 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1 conglomeration. Just joshing ya, Noober.

On a more serious note, though, has Bioware stated that Dragon Age is going to be class-driven? After all, those mentioned above are all D&D IP, and Bioware has said that Dragon Age is its own Intellectual Property ... meaning expect the unexpected!

If we want something different and unique, I'd say go free-form. Maybe some structure, with suggested routes, but give the players chances to dabble outside their "focus" without suffering penalties. Maybe even something like the Sphere Grid from FFX, perhaps?

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:07 pm

[QUOTE=Adm. Pellaeon]Sure ... and then the big ol' level 11 warrior makes mincemeat out of your 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1 conglomeration. Just joshing ya, Noober.

On a more serious note, though, has Bioware stated that Dragon Age is going to be class-driven? After all, those mentioned above are all D&D IP, and Bioware has said that Dragon Age is its own Intellectual Property ... meaning expect the unexpected!

If we want something different and unique, I'd say go free-form. Maybe some structure, with suggested routes, but give the players chances to dabble outside their "focus" without suffering penalties. Maybe even something like the Sphere Grid from FFX, perhaps?[/QUOTE]
I'm dont think that's a very good idea, take for example your FFX spheregrid example, when you play FFX long enough Lulu is just a good a fighter as Auron (when you dont count the overdrives). And Rikku makes a great healer.
In the end every character becomes the same. In single player this isnt a big problem cause you usually dont end up as the highest lvl possible. But in multiplayer you usually will.

Adm. Pellaeon · Post by **Adm. Pellaeon** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 4:58 pm

Stilgar, when you're right, you're right.

FFX does turn everyone into clones (I never got them quite that far, but Wakka-was-Auron-was-Tidus and Yuna-was-Rikku-was-Lulu in my save file).

I'm just hoping that Dragon Age doesn't get bogged down into the prototypical warrior/rogue/magician hard-line-limitation-on-the-user rut. Although I got bored with Dungeon Siege, I will say that I liked the use-it-and-you-level-in-it philosophy. I like NWN, loved KOTOR, and thought BG and BGII were the best RPGs I've ever played, so I'm hoping that Bioware can really make their IP shine.

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 4:41 am

[QUOTE=Adm. Pellaeon]I'm just hoping that Dragon Age doesn't get bogged down into the prototypical warrior/rogue/magician hard-line-limitation-on-the-user rut.[/QUOTE]

Sorry but Bioware has already stated on their Dragon Age forums that it will indeed be class based, they (last time I checked) just haven't confirmed all the classes that will be in the game.