It's Hard Being an Elven Mage
Thursday, 17 May 2012 10:54![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lea_hazelMy second playthrough of Dragon Age: Origins has not gone exactly as planned, but it was very illuminating nonetheless. I started out with a female elven mage, with the intention of making as many different decisions as possible. She was going to be a blood mage and as corrupt as I could get away with making her. I was going to be much more careful about who I took on what missions, and in general invest a lot more in getting/keeping companion approval up. And, of course, recruit all the companions I missed out on the first time.
The mage origin was a little less dramatic than I expected, I guess. A lot of players seem to get really attached to Jowan, but I'm not really feeling it. Sure, it made Redcliffe Castle much more dramatic, and that was nice, but of all the NPCs I'm overly attached to, he's not one. Also, it was my second game, so I already knew he was a maleficar. Maybe that particular revelation would have been more troubling otherwise. I had Lux turn on him as a point of self-preservation, and also because his plan for getting his phylactery was kind of terminally foolish. Later on, though, he proved a bit wiser, and I wondered if I would regret turning him in.
At Ostagar I finally realized that the Warden meets Wynne before arriving at the Circle Tower. It totally passed me by the first time. I got all the side quests except the Chasind trail, which I fumbled for some reason. At this point Lux was still a nice, well-behaved, Circle-raised girl. She didn't start going off-model until Lothering, where she got drunk with power. I blame the intimidate check against the bandits, it's intoxicating. I was going to do all the side quests, for XP hoarding purposes, but I got nervous for some reason and ended up not doing the bear one. Maybe too many injured party members? That seems to hold me back more than anything else.
Having recruited Sten, right now I'd say he's definitely the most satisfying companion to win over. He's so resistant in the beginning, and you really have to try to understand his way of thinking. Taking him to Haven was awesome because Lux had to duel him for submission, sort of like Natia had to cheat Isabella at cards to get the Duelist specialization. Last night I was playing and he initiated a conversation where he told Lux she was a true warrior and he would regret having to fight her when the Qun inevitably invade Ferelden. It was fucking heartwarming, let me tell you, I squeed.
As part of the general "win over everyone" sentiment, I'm doing a lot of companion quests. I acquired Morrigan's first, even though I had the grimoire for ages, in secret, before Lux handed it over to her. I'm worried about Flemeth and I keep putting it off. Right now I'm debating whether to head there right after I finish in the Brecilian Forest, or go to Orzammar and try to grind out another level or two. I also have three drakes, an Arcane Warrior and a high dragon still waiting for me at the ruined temple. Then again, maybe Morrigan can handle the drakes with Blizzard and Sten can handle the high dragon with Yusaris. Then I'd have loot and I'd be able to take the lyrium side quest in Orzammar for great profit.
Lux gets along great with everyone but Alistair. Oh, and Shale, but I get the impression it's really hard to converse with her before Orzammar, which is to be expected. But she's BFFs with Morrigan and Sten, and does well with Leliana, barring that one awkward elf conversation, probably going to romance Zevran, and for some reason Wynne adores her. It's like she doesn't realize she's a blood mage or something. Alistair was a lost cause though. He was pissed when she let Zevran live, more pissed when she picked up Shale, and then there was Redcliffe Castle. Of course she sacrificed Isolde, and that didn't sit well with him either.
The long and short of it being, they stormed into Redcliffe Castle with a pinch of Andraste's ashes and Eamon wanted to talk about the Landsmeet. And Lux did not yet know who Alistair's father was. I didn't even realize they'd never had that conversation. AWKWARD. Then they get back to camp and I have her initiate a conversation to see if they can, you know, discuss this issue? Of him dragging her kicking and screaming into a war of succession? And holding back vital information? But then he was all, "I GOTTA SEE MY SISTER IN DENERIM PLZTHX :D:D:D?"
I swear this game is conspiring to make me resent Alistair.
Anyway. I'm already thinking about playing Awakening next, probably with Natia again. Although I wonder how hard it would be to play an Orlesian if I import an ultimate sacrifice. Hmm.
The mage origin was a little less dramatic than I expected, I guess. A lot of players seem to get really attached to Jowan, but I'm not really feeling it. Sure, it made Redcliffe Castle much more dramatic, and that was nice, but of all the NPCs I'm overly attached to, he's not one. Also, it was my second game, so I already knew he was a maleficar. Maybe that particular revelation would have been more troubling otherwise. I had Lux turn on him as a point of self-preservation, and also because his plan for getting his phylactery was kind of terminally foolish. Later on, though, he proved a bit wiser, and I wondered if I would regret turning him in.
At Ostagar I finally realized that the Warden meets Wynne before arriving at the Circle Tower. It totally passed me by the first time. I got all the side quests except the Chasind trail, which I fumbled for some reason. At this point Lux was still a nice, well-behaved, Circle-raised girl. She didn't start going off-model until Lothering, where she got drunk with power. I blame the intimidate check against the bandits, it's intoxicating. I was going to do all the side quests, for XP hoarding purposes, but I got nervous for some reason and ended up not doing the bear one. Maybe too many injured party members? That seems to hold me back more than anything else.
Having recruited Sten, right now I'd say he's definitely the most satisfying companion to win over. He's so resistant in the beginning, and you really have to try to understand his way of thinking. Taking him to Haven was awesome because Lux had to duel him for submission, sort of like Natia had to cheat Isabella at cards to get the Duelist specialization. Last night I was playing and he initiated a conversation where he told Lux she was a true warrior and he would regret having to fight her when the Qun inevitably invade Ferelden. It was fucking heartwarming, let me tell you, I squeed.
As part of the general "win over everyone" sentiment, I'm doing a lot of companion quests. I acquired Morrigan's first, even though I had the grimoire for ages, in secret, before Lux handed it over to her. I'm worried about Flemeth and I keep putting it off. Right now I'm debating whether to head there right after I finish in the Brecilian Forest, or go to Orzammar and try to grind out another level or two. I also have three drakes, an Arcane Warrior and a high dragon still waiting for me at the ruined temple. Then again, maybe Morrigan can handle the drakes with Blizzard and Sten can handle the high dragon with Yusaris. Then I'd have loot and I'd be able to take the lyrium side quest in Orzammar for great profit.
Lux gets along great with everyone but Alistair. Oh, and Shale, but I get the impression it's really hard to converse with her before Orzammar, which is to be expected. But she's BFFs with Morrigan and Sten, and does well with Leliana, barring that one awkward elf conversation, probably going to romance Zevran, and for some reason Wynne adores her. It's like she doesn't realize she's a blood mage or something. Alistair was a lost cause though. He was pissed when she let Zevran live, more pissed when she picked up Shale, and then there was Redcliffe Castle. Of course she sacrificed Isolde, and that didn't sit well with him either.
The long and short of it being, they stormed into Redcliffe Castle with a pinch of Andraste's ashes and Eamon wanted to talk about the Landsmeet. And Lux did not yet know who Alistair's father was. I didn't even realize they'd never had that conversation. AWKWARD. Then they get back to camp and I have her initiate a conversation to see if they can, you know, discuss this issue? Of him dragging her kicking and screaming into a war of succession? And holding back vital information? But then he was all, "I GOTTA SEE MY SISTER IN DENERIM PLZTHX :D:D:D?"
I swear this game is conspiring to make me resent Alistair.
Anyway. I'm already thinking about playing Awakening next, probably with Natia again. Although I wonder how hard it would be to play an Orlesian if I import an ultimate sacrifice. Hmm.
no subject
2012-05-20 08:30 (UTC)Also, you can has the DLC/expansions? Yay! (I admit I don't have them all, but. Shale!)
no subject
2012-05-20 19:10 (UTC)As for Alistair, I try so hard not to burst into spontaneous rants about how I think he'd make a dreadful king, even quite aside from the whole GW snag. I have feelings about Anora's stewardship that rival the shippiest shipper's shipping.
no subject
2012-05-20 19:19 (UTC)I actually like that ending where Alistair marries Anora and he handles all the PR and she handles all the affairs of state. Alistair on his own... The only way I can see that working is if Ferelden has something closer to, say, a constitutional monarchy and Alistair doesn't do all that much actual ruling.
no subject
2012-05-20 19:39 (UTC)At any rate it's a match bound to be horribly uncomfortable for her, without even much of a reprieve by way of having affairs. She'd be under ever so much more scrutiny than him, after all.