Dragon Age

I'm a dirty cheater and looked up how to get the optimal rewards for all war table missions.

edited 9th Oct '15 9:59:23 AM by Arha

Yes. Because, among other things, I don't use the word "innocent" as a noun. I don't divide the world into "Helpless victims-to-be who must be rescued by valiant heroes, and the wicked, sinful monsters who prey upon them." People are more complicated than that, as are the situations they bring about.

The Templars are a military organization. They have a clear chain of command. There is a clear source of rot at the core of the order, with most of their membership not knowing any better and trusting in the people who have guided them all their lives. The average Templar means well enough, but they are loyal to a leadership they've never been given suitable reason to question. They're good soldiers, they've just been lied to.

The Mages are an insurrectionist militia. If they didn't support rebellion in some capacity, they wouldn't be there, as evidenced by those mages who are not. They're losing the war they started and so they're doing what mages so frequently do: given the choice between fighting a losing battle or surrendering, they're Taking a Third Option and succumbing to temptation from dark forces offering to trade their current predicament for a far more ghastly fate.

There are no "innocents" on either side of the battle line. What people are unjustly suffering are those caught in the crossfire between them. But between the two, I have greater faith in the Templars to do right when given the chance; all they need is a change in management.

edited 9th Oct '15 10:01:08 AM by TobiasDrake

Because the child mages also being sold off into slavery were completely at fault here. Nah, they weren't innocents, were they. Screw those kid mages who had the audacity to think that they deserved freedom.

Fiona sold the mages out, it's not a deal any of them wanted to make but her. Hate the mages side as much as you want, I'm not saying this to change your mind, but it's factually incorrect to say all of the mages sold themselves to Tevinter on purpose.

Except Fiona says she didn't want to make the deal, but caved in to pressure of everyone who wanted it (enhanced by venatori plants in her own organization).

So yeah, everyone sucks.

Don't forget the demon that took the Templars place was sat there intentionally by their former leader who ditched them for creating a new order after Corypheus ascends to Godhood or Apocalypse Cult I don't remember which.

Plus some of the other Templars do know the truth and still sided with Corypheus anyways.

edited 9th Oct '15 12:30:01 PM by OmegaRadiance

@Tobias: Maybe "innocents" wasn't the right word (although I was thinking more about kids and other noncombatants in that regard - do the Templars have any of those?). That said, while you believe that the Templars could do better with a change on leadership, I believe that the mages could do better when given another way.

I mean, I once recall you saying that you wouldn't go quietly to the Templars, so surely you understand what would drive the mages to this route.

edited 9th Oct '15 2:47:20 PM by KarkatTheDalek

Part of that boils down to where one falls on the conflict as a whole.

In theory, I'm a moderate. I believe there are gross misdoings that go on in the Circle. I believe Mages do not have enough rights and that some Templars abuse their power in unconscionable ways - to which the Mages have no recourse. The Circle is in dire need of reform. Most importantly, there needs to be some Mages in positions of power equal to the highest ranking Templars and clergy, because they deserve an equal voice in their own governance.

However, I also recognize the reason why the Circle needs to exist. The fears of maleficarum, blood magic, and most importantly abominations is not without merit. Magic is extremely dangerous - not only to the people around the mage but to the mage itself. Every mage is born with a guillotine blade over their head in the form of one demon or another that will try to worm its way into their soul. The Templars didn't put it there, the Chantry didn't put it there, and it's not fair that they have to live with it but it is, unfortunately, a reality of being a Mage. As a consequence, every Mage needs to learn to control their powers, to recognize the minefield of an existence they live, and to use their abilities responsibly.

In practice, I find myself siding with the Templars more often than not because, though I am sympathetic to the plight of mages, I am unsympathetic to their cause: that is, "Give me absolute 100% liberty with no oversight whatsoever, or give me death!" Anders may not have kicked off the mage rebellion, but he successfully removed the option for compromise. Order has to be restored in order for compromise to return to the table.

Ultimately, it's why I put Cassandra on the Chantry's throne; because Leliana wanted to free the mages completely and remove all restrictions, which is unacceptable, and Vivienne wanted to restore the Circle exactly as it was, which is also unacceptable.

edited 9th Oct '15 3:00:44 PM by TobiasDrake

Good thing Trespasser takes care of the issue regardless of Divine choice.

Speaking in purely practical terms, the mages are a much greater threat to everybody if they are my enemy than if the Templars are.

edited 9th Oct '15 3:09:00 PM by TheAirman

That. The Inqusition could clean up the mess with the mages because a Tevinter magister whose time magic is breaking the world just moved in and commandeered a few hundred mages, or they could clean up the mess with the Templars because...the Lord Seeker is acting strangely.

And then it turns out the Lord Seeker was a bad guy anyways.

I feel a part of the problem with too much Mage freedom is that their societies fear and prejudiced against Demons is so strong that it naturally gives rise to demons and turns even benign spirits into demons, forcing a situation that could be avoided if people weren't so ruled by their fear of them. Not that some of it isn't justified, but it certainly doesn't help the situation.

Not to mention that Circles inevitably become corrupt. Just like they took something that should have been used as a drastic measure to be used for the most minor of offenses. That happen. It's just a matter of when.

edited 9th Oct '15 3:24:32 PM by OmegaRadiance

So Blackwall is pretty much the worst Grey Warden ever if what Ihave been t old is true. The reason he doesn't like me is because he's all about forgiveness and being some bloody moral paragon boy scout.

I killed the Blades because they killed my men. I don't care about their reasons. I shouldn't care about their reasons.

He has his reasons.

Of course, I've always wondered why you feel the need to be so hardline.

Honestly, killing them is a waste of perfectly good resources.

edited 9th Oct '15 8:50:48 PM by KarkatTheDalek

I didn't kill the Blades because I wanted an Agent. And I guess I like forgiveness or something? I try to avoid killing people.

I guess I am not very good at this RP thing huh.

Nikkolas is very in-character when he plays video games (At least that's the vibe I get from hearing about his playthrough of Fallout New Vegas and previous Dragon Age games) and takes it very seriously.

Yeah, hearing Nik play is a real treat.

Once I learned that the Blades of Hessarian could be agents, I stopped killing them all.

My first run I killed the Blades for pretty much the same reason as Nikkolas. Then once I learned what's actually going on with them I have them a chance on my second run. Now I play it by ear depending on how intensely I RP

edited 9th Oct '15 9:47:50 PM by TheAirman

TBH, It would have been interesting to have a quest arc where you attempt to recruit the mages and templars... And it goes horribly horribly wrong. A big subversion of the whole 'Take a third option' that Bioware games are fond of.

I think having a "lose everything" option would not be much more interesting than a "save everything" option... If there needs to be a choice, the current one is perfect. The bad guy is trying to recruit both groups and finishes his work on one while you get the other. If you consider that both missions probably take months in-game, it makes perfect sense.

To Nikkolas: It's probably various things piled up, with Blackwall. During my first playthrough I killed the Blades because fuck them, and Blackwall never stopped liking me.

Oh, and... you'll see why he's all about forgiveness. It probably won't make you like him more, but there is a pretty strong reason. :P

edited 10th Oct '15 1:02:15 AM by Cozzer

I like Blackwall quite a bit. Also, I find his armour design to just be cool. Trenchcoat Cassadra comes second.

For the mages... I don't know, Dorian or Solas?

And for the rogues it would be Cole.

On the other hand, Wardens conscript basically anyone. They don't really hold grudges. I think recruiting the Blades, if they are of use and can be won over, is probably the most Warden-y thing to do there.

Though Blackwall yes, probably pretty bad Warden, doesn't really understand the whole "Grey" thing they got going on.

Well, I like Blackwall too. It's just that, judging from what he's written until now, I really don't think Nikkolas will like him more going on. :P

I wasn't talking about a "3rd option", rather a complete restructuring of the first act to force all players to recruit the Templars to deal with the Venatori at Redcliffe. It's not like picking one side means you suddenly don't see any Venatori or Red Templars with Corypheus anymore so there's goes that whole idea but whatever.

edited 10th Oct '15 5:35:23 AM by VeryMelon

Favorite Warrior - Cass. Favorite Rogue - Cole. Favorite Mage - Vivienne

Alsothis is the second RPG where Cass was the best companion.

Is it bad I can only understand every other sentence out of Sera's mouth? If I'm lucky. Sometimes it's every other OTHER sentence.

The bit with Iron Bull taking you to talk to some of the soldiers was really...touching. They don't even know what I look like but they have absolute faith in me. It was also really sweet of Bull to do this. I haven't much cared for Bull as he's so different from other qunari I've seen in previous games but I guess different isn't always bad. I can't see Sten doing anything like this, for example.

Blackwall: The world would be better off if people focused on defeating evil rather than explaining how it came to be.

Oh yes such an enlightened soul he is...

My love for Cassandra just keeps growing and growing. Between her reading Varric's smut and then telling me about her history with her brother and how she became the Divine's Right Hand, she's impressed me as both amazingly cute and amazingly interesting. I had no idea she was royalty, even if it was in a very loose sense of the term.

Dorian is...interesting. Hopeless braggart but his passion is real enough. I think I'm going to use him a bit because he had such a personal stake in this. He wants to prove Tevinter isn't just madman and assholes. Perhaps a Tevinter mage saving the world will make some people rethink their positions. It's making my Inquisito rrethink hers. She's met several good mages along her journey.

I helped Leliana by reminding her that soldiers are...well, soldiers. They are prepared for death and a commander afraid of losses is no commander at all.

SOLAS DRUGGED ME! SOMEONE CHOP OFF HIS HEAD!

MY FIRST JUDGMENT! It was on one of the surviving Templar officers. History Knowledge granted me an option and both my Inquisitor and I are huge fans of history and tradition so we won't question the old ways here. He's exiled to some godforsaken land called the Sea of Ash, a fitting punishment.

Been doing a whole lot of nothing all night but that's kind of the name of the game isn't it. I thought I'd do something constructive and learn my Specialization but noooooo. I can't even beat a Pride Demon. Well a Pride Demon and a bunch of Despair Demons. Also the thing seems to heal itself? Bullshit. I'm only Level 9 while the Pride Demon is Level 12.

So I'm Level 10 now and beat the Pride Demon. The problem was its Guard. I don't know what the best way is to take down an enemy's guard which means we spent forever just taking it down then doing a bit of damage then it would put Guard back up and we'd repeat the process all over again. I had to just keep running away because everyone was dying during its "Guard phase." Any tips on easy ways to break enemy Guard, please tell me.

So I looked it up and found a dupe glitch tha tlets me make money at a crazy fast rate. I'd say I feel guilty but I don't. This game is not fun to play. The less I have t do, the more I'll like it.

Will Spell Purge work on enemy Guard? I have chosen to become a Templar. It fits with my Inquisitor's characterization I think, much moreso than the other options.

I did Still Water in Crestwood and some other things in the Western Approach. I have 25 Power but I hear that there is a merchant who will becoe available soon an I can purchase Power and Influence from him. God I look forward to that. I don't mind sidequests then the game actually lets them be sidequests. Forcing them on me just makes me hate them. I HATE going to new regions now because I just think 'well this will set me back a lot of Power Points so what kind of crap will I have to do to get it all back?"

For my second Judgment I exiled the Mayor of Crestwood. He made a hard choice and perhaps a bit rash but his reasoning was sound. Besides, it was ten years ago. The man is clearly wracked with grief over what he's done so let him live with his guilt. I suppose I could have locked him up but I doubt medieval prisons would agree with older men and he wouldn't live long in there anyhow.

And that's it for tonight. Tomorrow I hopefully can do a lot more important stuff, like helping Solas' friend, helping Josephine and maybe even start on this Orlais plotline. I like Orlais a lot and so does my Inquisitor. The intrigue, the fancy clothes, the lovely accents... the Game is just fascinating to behold and Rhaenyra can't wait to take part. I assume that's where the "Corypheus is planning to kill the Empress" plot will lead? The Civil War and chosing who to side with?

edited 10th Oct '15 12:14:04 PM by Nikkolas