Dragon Age Origins: Collective knowledge thread

[Lewty]

Unsure if its been posted. Did not see it.
Reaver class unlock - Kolgrim must not die.

However, with that unlock, comes the death of the other girl in your party. I'm sure you can figure out which. One easy way to bypass it, save before you complete the mission, do the dirty deed and hand the mission in outside. That unlocks the achievement (This is what you need). Then reload the game. Achievement unlocks are permanent and stay with even new games. This applies to spec book unlocks as well(The 15g ones in vendors).

 

[Akihiko]

Actually it brings 2 deaths/leaves. So if you plan on doing it, I recommend you don't take either of the 2 members who might be slightly religious(Trying to hint at it without spoilers hah XD). As the fight can be pretty tedious with only 2 or 3 party members, as I found out, the hard way.

I completed my first playthrough today finally. Really enjoyed it, although the ending left me wanting more. Damn that child. :X

 

[The DSM]

The treaties allow all the races to come together in unity to destroy the darkspawn threat once and for all.... or just kill all the elves and use werewolves instead,because there awesome.

 

[Actual]

Damn Revenant!! Fucking thing keeps killing me! How do you kill that damn thing?

You've already had a lot of advice, but I'm awesome so you'll want mine too.

Tank it hard, keep your aggro abilities up. The tank just needs to survive and keep the Revenant attacking him it doesn't matter if he's doing no damage.

If you've a rogue be careful with him, if you want to go in for backstabs I suggest darting in doing a few hits and backing off as soon as you take half damage, ideally you'll just leave the rogue on archery duty chipping away at the rev's health.

I like to have two mages, both with healing spells, this should keep the tank upright and they can do slow but sure damage with their staffs. Have some mana pots because it's likely you'll need them if you want to cast any damaging magic.

A little trick that worked for me was to get the force field spell, once your tank has got the Rev's attention force field your tank. That's a good long while that the Rev will be whaling away on the tank and doing no damage. Allows your healers to conserve mana and do some damage. It's got a long cooldown, but you may be able to get it in twice. Four times if both mages have it. Of course if it goes wrong, then your tank won't be able to save you until the spell wears off or you cast Crushing Prison/dispell on him.

And lastly, this fight is damn hard, you may need to come back later. If that's not an option for you then just turn the difficulty down to easy mode. You can turn it back up once the fight is done.


My question is:
<spoiler=Spoiler for The Urn quest>Why can't I take the Urn of Sacred Ashes from the temple? The only choice I seem to have is to take a pinch of ash, just enough to heal the Earl. If I could take the whole Urn I'd be able to keep an entire army fighting against the Darkspawn long past the point they should be dead. Or even just use the power in the Urn to vanquish the blight outright! My character isn't religious, I should be able to do this. Is there a way?

 

[Baby Tea]

So as I type this, the credits are rolling form my finished first playthrough!
(I always let the credits roll when I beat a game)

This game is freaking awesome.

So I beat it as a elven rogue/duelist/assassin with duel daggers. Level 21.
I found the arch-demon fight pretty darn hard, and had to change a lot of tactics in order to get the win. But in the end, all the frustration (Both with the fight, and with my wife laughing at me because of my frustrated outbursts) was totally worth it. For those who haven't beat it, you get a little update on every area your visited with a brief story of what happened after everything is over. I love those. Why don't more games do stuff like that?

I can also see that there are so many ending possibilities. I'll be playing this game for a while, methinks.

At any rate, the game is great. I'll be playing a human mage this time around. I think I'll play as a girl, just to get the romance achievement.

Here are a few things I wish I did different with my rogue, for anyone who hasn't played as the rogue yet:

Spoiler: Rogue wishlist

- Put more points into both willpower and constitution. The extra stamina and health would have been great in the harder fights.
- For skills: only put 2 point in poison, 2 points in herbalism, 4 in weapons, zero in tactics, 4 in coercion, and a few more in trap making. Poison I only really used for the grenades, herbalism I only wanted for the 'health polstice' (Beat the game with about 90 or so in my inventory), weapons is just handy for the bonuses, tactics is useless for me, since I always played my character unless he died, coercion is just handy, and trap making could have made some fights a lot easier. Any other skill might have been handy for a quest or two, but ultimately I never used anything else.
- For talents: I went dual wielding, and that went well. I only did the top and bottom rows, not the middle row. Stealth would have been nice at 4, but I had it at three. That was OK. I wish I put more points in lockpicking sooner, though. I missed a bunch of chests and doors because I got it up to 3 and 4 late.

Beyond that, though, great game. I'm just rolling my mage now!
Oh, and in case you're wondering, there was nothing at the end of the credits.

 

[Zippedmantis]

Hey guys,just picked up the game a few days ago and I've got a question about the blood dragon armour.With the dwarf noble story line you lose the chest piece your given but is there any way to recover it?

 

[Flamezdudes]

Damn Revenant!! Fucking thing keeps killing me! How do you kill that damn thing?

My question is:
<spoiler=Spoiler for The Urn quest>Why can't I take the Urn of Sacred Ashes from the temple? The only choice I seem to have is to take a pinch of ash, just enough to heal the Earl. If I could take the whole Urn I'd be able to keep an entire army fighting against the Darkspawn long past the point they should be dead. Or even just use the power in the Urn to vanquish the blight outright! My character isn't religious, I should be bale to do this. Is there a way?

Well... this is a near end game spoiler.

Spoiler

If a normal person killed the Archdemon, it's essence would go into a another Darkspawn and be reborn again. So you NEED a Grey Warden to stop the blight because the essence would go into the Grey Warden and the Warden and Archdemon would both die outright because each of the souls cancel eachother out, whereas Darkspawn have no souls. There is another way though....

 

[GothmogII]

Unsure if its been posted. Did not see it.
Reaver class unlock - Kolgrim must not die.

However, with that unlock, comes the death of the other girl in your party. I'm sure you can figure out which. One easy way to bypass it, save before you complete the mission, do the dirty deed and hand the mission in outside. That unlocks the achievement (This is what you need). Then reload the game. Achievement unlocks are permanent and stay with even new games. This applies to spec book unlocks as well(The 15g ones in vendors).

Actually if Leliana

Spoiler

is -not- in your party when you get to the ashes you won't have to fight and kill her (assuming your going to add the blood). If she is in your party, all you need to do is upon reaching the bit in the gauntlet where you need to remove your equipment is to walk all the way back outside where the change party function is now lit and just swap her with someone else.

She'll ask you about what happened at the temple once you're back at the camp, but if you're persuasive enough you can lie to her. Though, I'm not entirely sure what happens if you tell the truth.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Unsure if its been posted. Did not see it.
Reaver class unlock - Kolgrim must not die.

However, with that unlock, comes the death of the other girl in your party. I'm sure you can figure out which. One easy way to bypass it, save before you complete the mission, do the dirty deed and hand the mission in outside. That unlocks the achievement (This is what you need). Then reload the game. Achievement unlocks are permanent and stay with even new games. This applies to spec book unlocks as well(The 15g ones in vendors).

Actually if Leliana

Spoiler

is -not- in your party when you get to the ashes you won't have to fight and kill her (assuming your going to add the blood). If she is in your party, all you need to do is upon reaching the bit in the gauntlet where you need to remove your equipment is to walk all the way back outside where the change party function is now lit and just swap her with someone else.

She'll ask you about what happened at the temple once you're back at the camp, but if you're persuasive enough you can lie to her. Though, I'm not entirely sure what happens if you tell the truth.

Spoiler

Wynne can leave you aswell if you taint the ashes.

 

[GothmogII]

Unsure if its been posted. Did not see it.
Reaver class unlock - Kolgrim must not die.

However, with that unlock, comes the death of the other girl in your party. I'm sure you can figure out which. One easy way to bypass it, save before you complete the mission, do the dirty deed and hand the mission in outside. That unlocks the achievement (This is what you need). Then reload the game. Achievement unlocks are permanent and stay with even new games. This applies to spec book unlocks as well(The 15g ones in vendors).

Actually if Leliana

Spoiler

is -not- in your party when you get to the ashes you won't have to fight and kill her (assuming your going to add the blood). If she is in your party, all you need to do is upon reaching the bit in the gauntlet where you need to remove your equipment is to walk all the way back outside where the change party function is now lit and just swap her with someone else.

She'll ask you about what happened at the temple once you're back at the camp, but if you're persuasive enough you can lie to her. Though, I'm not entirely sure what happens if you tell the truth.

Spoiler

Wynne can leave you aswell if you taint the ashes.

Didn't know about that, I think I umm...

Spoiler

killed

her in the Mage's Circle bit, but still sided with the mages in the end anyway ^^'

Speaking of companions though, does Sten have anything story related to him? He's a taciturn bastard with little to say when you talk to him, though he seems quite ready to criticise you for any decision that doesn't involve slaying Darkspawn, regardless of whether or not the quest you're on is helpful in that regard. So far, I've only been able to get his favor bar maybe just under half-way up with gifts, because it's my first playthrough I don't really know the conversation paths that make him happy.

 

[Amnestic]

Speaking of companions though, does Sten have anything story related to him? He's a taciturn bastard with little to say when you talk to him, though he seems quite ready to criticise you for any decision that doesn't involve slaying Darkspawn, regardless of whether or not the quest you're on is helpful in that regard. So far, I've only been able to get his favor bar maybe just under half-way up with gifts, because it's my first playthrough I don't really know the conversation paths that make him happy.

There's a quest for his sword which he'll tell you about once his approval gets high enough.
Also:

Spoiler: Urn of Andraste Questline

When you reach Haven, if you have Sten in your active party he challenges you for leadership of the group, citing that he's tired of 'wandering aimlessly' rather than fighting Darkspawn.

 

[Actual]

Oh, and in case you're wondering, there was nothing at the end of the credits.

I'm glad you told me that, I always wait just in case.

Hey guys,just picked up the game a few days ago and I've got a question about the blood dragon armour.With the dwarf noble story line you lose the chest piece your given but is there any way to recover it?

I believe this is a pretty well known bug. I haven't done it myself, but I'm told, you can just go to the DLC in-game menu and tell it to install again.

--

--
Well... this is a near end game spoiler.--

Hmmmmmm *beard stroke* hmmmmmm

Thank you for the info.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I HATE ULDRED!!!
>
>
>
...sorry, had to get that off my chest. Can't beat the bastard. Took a break from the Sacred Urn quest to see if I could stock up on healing items 'cause this snake-thing kept killing me, wandered into the Mage's Tower and got caught up in that quest, now Uldred keeps kicking my ass!
How do you beat this guy??

 

[Fear Gingers]

if your not a mage then its a good idea to have morrigan and Sten in your party, morraigan can heal, and do freezing spells as well as insta kill some fire-based enemies. but give sten a big hammer and alot of armour and he becomes a tank, hes the big hitter of the party so keep him in. unless you got shale but that dlc

 

[Slycne]

As a means for ongoing and continuing consolidation of Dragon Age: Origins knowledge and fans here on The Escapist, I started a Dragon Age User Group [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Dragon-Age-Origins].

 

[Archetypal_Maniac]

My tips:

-Herbalism rocks, you can get many health and mana pots cheap.
> Grab your Lyrium dust at Magi Circle
> Grab your Elf Root at the Dalish Elf camp.
> Your distilation flasks and Vials are cheap from your own camp.

-Never under-estimate the art of persuasion.

-Crushing prison and Force field are amazing Mage utility spells.

-After you or your team mates die, make sure the penalties your team gets are cured using the injury kits.

-Don't take everything at face value, some characters are brilliant liars.

-Gifts are appreciated more when given to the right people:
> Paintings and pictures - Sten
> Books and writings - Wynne
> Shoes and holy items - Leliana
> Runic and magical items - Alistair
> Pretty things - Morrigan
For the other party members I am not sure at all.

Special items I have found:
Mirror - Morrigan - +15 Love (I think) - Bought from the gem vendor in Orzammar commons.
Black Grimoire - Morrigan - Quest (wont spoil the plot) - Found in Redcliffe keep.
Satin shoes - Leliana - + Love - Can't remember where I found these.
A flower (Don't rmemeber name) - Leliana - Bracillian forest (other places to)
A pendant - Alistair - Red cliffe keep.

- The higher armour someone has, the more aggro they generate.

- Spell casters are too dangerous to leave alone, try to use your mage, whatever spec, to crowd control or burst him down while you deal with his imps. A Rogue may be your first choice however spell casters are pretty well equipped at keeping melee off their backs.

- About to enter into a new zone? Sometimes the game traps you and forces you to plug ahead, to ensure you don't make the task almost impossible. Quick save, go back, prepare your team and gear including pots and such...then go for it.

- Don't do the game on easy...it makes it too quick and too easy.

- Tactics are great, but don't rely on them...although they are pre set commands sometimes the situation in which they are used in can be exactly the opposite of what you wanted, leave important spells on all characters under your control, use your tactic slots for simple get the job done spells instead. For example, a damage dealer may have an ability to feign and relieve aggro from himself. Putting this into tactic form could be dangerous as you may be using this character to tank off a mage or a squishy.

- The macabri dog is facking brilliant, he is even immune to grabbing effects for gods sake.

- Under your team portraits you have two small icons, one is to select your whole team, the other is to make your team hold position...this is very useful.

If anyone has any specific questions please ask!

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Ok, I got this game about 2 days ago and so far, I'm really enjoying it. I will say that Mass Effect was more my type of game, simply because it's more action oriantated. This is probably the most hardcore RPG I have ever played, so much so that it's kind of daunting. But I am still very impressed.

One thing I'll ask; I'm playing to spec Arcane Warrior once I find it (I believe it's in the Dalish mission). What would you say are the better stats for Arcane Warrior, and what kind of role do they fill?

Also, what role should I put Morrigan in? She seems like a powerful character, but I find that my mage and her are doing practically the same job.

 

[KrakFoxx]

Wait, so is this game worth getting?

 

[Archetypal_Maniac]

You find a gem in the Ruins in the bracillian forest, speak to it and request it teaches you the arcane warrior. As a mage warrior you fill the role of melee and utility spells mainly. If your using two mages I would suggest setting one as a healer and the other as a damage dealer, giving them both utility spells. You can find the Spirit Healer tome at the shop in the Delerin (spelling?) market centre in the back ally.

 

[bigdaddy95]

Ok I got Dragon Age for the xbox and it is EPIC, so epic infact I feel it needs somewhere on the escapist where people can share experience and advice. My first piece buy it NOW!!!! Ask questions and pray for answers from the community

I would just like the OP to put this link on the OP itself, it is a VERY useful site for Dragon Age: Origins.

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Age_Wiki