[PC] Dragon Age 2

I said 'how far', that quote which I did read very clearly says 'as far up'. In the hypothetical scenario where you're zoomed a bit further in but you can move the camera move freely/further away from your character horizontally, then spell targeting and battlefield analysis would actually be easier. I don't know if that's the case, but Mike did say:

So he clearly understands the value of being able to manoeuvre the camera. It's a completely separate thing and the signs there are actually encouraging. So, err... please DON'T PANIC?

That's clearly not what they're doing. The dialogue system has nothing to do with consolitis and everything to do with their decision (which is very debatable, but that's not the point) to have voice over for the main character. The combat system's main difference seems to be that actions start more rapidly and it's easier to get within range of melee attacks (probably both through slightly higher range and easier movement around other enemies) so that half the combat isn't about getting around enemies to reach your target. While also debatable, that design choice seems positive overall (as long as it's not overdone!) and it's something they might have come up with even without a console version.

And before anyone gets wrong impressions, while I am fairly enthusiastic about Dragon Age 2, I think it's fair to say I'm by far more enthusiastic about Guild Wars 2, which at this point I'm tempted to declare the most innovative video game of all time (excluding classic genre-setting ones) by, well, a lot. If it lives up to its promise, then WOW. If it doesn't, then a smaller wow anyway. All while doing everything differently, much more innovatively, and much more intelligently than WoW, thank you very much. (this is OT, but there's no GW2 topic and I don't feel like starting one myself, plus given my several posts in this thread it's only fair to point out I'm hardly a DA2 fanatic)

 

If they actually do implement character independant movement of the camera I'll be a very happy camper.

I'm not sure why that would preclude also allowing for greater zoom out. It's not a competitive game, so it isn't like it gives anyone an unfair advantage over another.

I suppose it "could" be a performance issue if the graphics engine is receiving a large update. If this is the case, I hope they give an option in a *.ini file to specify the maximum zoom height.

Regards,
SB

 

Fair enough. I wouldn't say it would be easier, but I will say it could be easier, harder or just different. OTOH, DAO's camera ceiling was already low for my liking.

Encouraging would be reading about how they're trying to make the PC camera more like BG2/IWD/PST.

My problem with those is that IMO they were good in the first game where there were a few major problems with the game they aren't addressing.

I get they're trying to make money but if the PC version sells less than the first game you know they're going to blame it on piracy.

You can't just leave it at that.

Saw it on blues.

 

Of course it would be bloody 4e D&D ... which is god awful (also even worse suited to realtime conversion than AD&D and 3e, although I wouldn't want to play it turn based either).

 

Agreed.

Disagreed. Heh. Many of the changes in D&D 4e scream of video game features (like the inate healing potion powers ALA health-regen). Turns were simplified and AoO are a shadow of their former selves; changes that make it easier on real-time gameplay. That's one aspect I vehemently dislike about D&D 4e. That and the butchering they did to Paladins (you can't fall from grace? WTF??).

My hope is that if NWN (3) is good and has a toolset some adventuring soul will mod D&D 3E into it somehow. Oh, and make it turn based. Oh heck, just lift the D&D system off ToEE directly. :sigh: I have to install that again sometime.

 

Yeah 4e was made for game conversion, it's pretty much an MMO on paper in its design. A combat in 4e is basically akin to you pressing different buttons in an MMO with the powers.

 

Oh, so even pen&paper RPGs are now being dumbed down for the console 'tards?

 

I'm not going to get up in arms. I enjoyed the first one very much. I bought it at launch and was very happy playing through it dispite its flaws. However these are some featuers that I really liked , without the toolset alot of the flaws in the game would be much worse. So I wont buy this new one until a steam sale with it under $30 bucks. (The first one i bought was at $60 i believe it the CE gotta find it in storage)

 

No, that's for the WoW'tards.

 

Heh, what MfA said. However, unlike PC games, P&P gamers don't suffer as much because we can still use our current rulebooks with any new adventures that come out. Not that adventures is a major seller. In most groups I know, the DM makes up most of the quests. This means HASBRO/WotC is burnt while we only get pissed off.

If only I could take DA2's story/textures/setting and put it in ToEE.

 

P&P is a different medium, with potentially vastly superior role-playing, storytelling and replayability. It's quite hard to beat for a mass-market medium.

Then again, I think we all want more of that while capacity progresses, instead of less.

 

Did anyone notice the debut trailer is voiced be Flemeth? Has there been any word on when the sequel is taking place?

Spoiler

Because if you followed Morrigan's character quest in the original, you wind up killing Flemeth.

I really admire the art direction of this one. There's a ton of games coming out with a slick direction which makes my inner artist gleeful. The Witcher 2 is another. Hawke is panning out to be a pretty neat character. I read somewhere you can choose from a predetermined character, or create your own. I may end up sticking with the pre-made Hawke. He's pretty bad ass!

 

Spoiler

She's reborn or takes over some peasant child walking with others near the end of the game. The glowing yellow eyes is the give-away.

 

DA2 starts with Hawke fleeing Lothering, presumably shortly after the Warden him/herself left. So back then Flemeth is very much still alive and kicking either way. The story spans 10 years though, so before the end your DAO choice should definitely have an impact.

The bigger story in DA2 seems to be

Spoiler

that by the end of the game, the Chantry is in a state of complete disarray and the Qunari are set to resume their all-out assault on Thedas. Presumably the two events are somehow linked, and exactly how your actions influence the post-DA2 Thedas is hard to say at this point. And it's even harder to know what to make of the 'Army of Morrigans' in the trailer: http://social.bioware.com/forum/Dra...emeth-has-an-army-Of-Morrigans-4477206-1.html

 

I'm tired of games that should be great, being dumbed down to the common denominator.

Its not just dumbing down graphics and interface to console levels, but why are game mechanics mangled into nothingness in order to satiate casuals? Fable is probably the most egregious example of this out there and ultimately makes it unsatisfying, when it could be so much more.

The best game i've played in the past few years is Dwarf Fortress, which is certainly more cerebral, and thats a damn ascii game.

 

Does anyone really like the whole personal story with about nothing of great importance schtick?

Personally I think at the end of any good cRPG trilogy I should either get to kill a god or be a god ...

 

Baldur's Gate 2, and Mask of the Betrayer (most evil ending of any CRPG I've ever played).

 

Didn't get to kill Kelemvor though...maybe I should replay it:-s