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Dragon Age!
We beat Dragon Age: Origins tonight. That final battle: oof. It took us all day. Otherwise, I would like to find something rational to say about it, but I'm afraid my brain has gone to mush with all the squeeing. I loved this game. As in, totally unabashed fangirl adoration. As in, I started a replay before we even finished the first time through. I love the world, I love the characters, I love the backstories, I love Alistair, I love the gameplay, I love the balance between sandbox and storytelling, I love Alistair. Did I mention that I love Alistair? Maybe just a little bit.
Although maybe I love Alistair a little too much, because I just couldn't force him to be king when he so clearly didn't want to be. So, much as I loved the Alistair/Elissa romance (and that was a lot, geez, it was just so ridiculously adorable) (and yes, I used the default name; I always do), I didn't get the marriage ending, wherein I presume Alistair becomes king and Elissa becomes queen and you rule Fereldin and live happily ever after. I may have to replay once as Cousland just so I can experience that moment. Still, it's a better ending than our first time through the Landsmeet, wherein I accidentally drove away Alistair by keeping Loghain alive. I couldn't believe that he was actually going to leave forever, right up through going to Redcliffe and talking to Arl Eamon and triggering the final battle in Denerim. When Alistair didn't show up there, ready to do his duty as a Gray Warden, and I realized that he really, really wasn't coming back, we erased our progress and went back and did the Landsmeet again.
Anyway, enough about that. For now. I can't promise I won't break out in fangirly joy over Alistair at another random time.
As mentioned above, I've already started a replay. Actually, I've potentially started five replays because when I was home sick last week, I played through all five other backstories. My favorite, hands-down, and the one I am carrying forward for now, is Noble Dwarf. The most interesting story, I thought, and I'm really curious to see how it will affect the way things play out in Orzammar. I liked how most of the stories caused ripples that show up throughout the game -- perhaps ironically, Cousland's background seems to have the least resonance within the story as a whole, except perhaps in some of the political machinations with Howe in Denerim.
Another thing that I love about this game is that it's not over. The high replay value, of course, but I look forward to downloading some of the extras. Unfortunately, we don't have the "ultimate" edition that comes with everything bundled, so if we don't want to spend ridiculous amounts of money, we'll have to pick and choose. Any recommendations? Is Awakenings worth playing? Not to mention fic -- I have been itching for fic for weeks, but I was good and avoided spoilers and didn't go looking. And now I can! *rubs hands together with glee*
And of course there is Dragon Age 2 to come, as well. But not just yet, because Portal 2 takes priority. Oh yes. It does.
Although maybe I love Alistair a little too much, because I just couldn't force him to be king when he so clearly didn't want to be. So, much as I loved the Alistair/Elissa romance (and that was a lot, geez, it was just so ridiculously adorable) (and yes, I used the default name; I always do), I didn't get the marriage ending, wherein I presume Alistair becomes king and Elissa becomes queen and you rule Fereldin and live happily ever after. I may have to replay once as Cousland just so I can experience that moment. Still, it's a better ending than our first time through the Landsmeet, wherein I accidentally drove away Alistair by keeping Loghain alive. I couldn't believe that he was actually going to leave forever, right up through going to Redcliffe and talking to Arl Eamon and triggering the final battle in Denerim. When Alistair didn't show up there, ready to do his duty as a Gray Warden, and I realized that he really, really wasn't coming back, we erased our progress and went back and did the Landsmeet again.
Anyway, enough about that. For now. I can't promise I won't break out in fangirly joy over Alistair at another random time.
As mentioned above, I've already started a replay. Actually, I've potentially started five replays because when I was home sick last week, I played through all five other backstories. My favorite, hands-down, and the one I am carrying forward for now, is Noble Dwarf. The most interesting story, I thought, and I'm really curious to see how it will affect the way things play out in Orzammar. I liked how most of the stories caused ripples that show up throughout the game -- perhaps ironically, Cousland's background seems to have the least resonance within the story as a whole, except perhaps in some of the political machinations with Howe in Denerim.
Another thing that I love about this game is that it's not over. The high replay value, of course, but I look forward to downloading some of the extras. Unfortunately, we don't have the "ultimate" edition that comes with everything bundled, so if we don't want to spend ridiculous amounts of money, we'll have to pick and choose. Any recommendations? Is Awakenings worth playing? Not to mention fic -- I have been itching for fic for weeks, but I was good and avoided spoilers and didn't go looking. And now I can! *rubs hands together with glee*
And of course there is Dragon Age 2 to come, as well. But not just yet, because Portal 2 takes priority. Oh yes. It does.
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As far as downloadable content, one of the one's that's really piqued my interest is Darkspawn Chronicles, which is the "what if the Warden died in the Joining and Alistair had to go it alone?" game. It's pretty cool, but not very happy, from what I understand.
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That AU expansion does sound interesting. Alistair doesn't start out as much of a leader, so I wonder how he would handle being in charge. And also, what would stop him and Morrigan from just killing each other on the way to Lothering...
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I liked both dwarf backstories a lot. I would say more; how much do you care about spoilers?
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I also supported Harrowmont the first time through, and although I am curious to play it the other way, since I'm playing as the Dwarf Noble this time around, I really can't see backing the brother who betrayed me! Either way, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
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DLC: "Soldier's Peak" (or Warden's Keep or whatever it's called) and "Stone Prisoner) are both good to get early on, because the one gives you a dump spot for all your extra stuff and the other gives you a new, fricking hilarious party member.
I really, REALLY want to pick up the DLC "Witch Hunt," which is about Morrigan, but I haven't played it yet.
I heard Leiliana's Song was good; I haven't played Awakenings; Golems of Amgarrak is apparently really damn hard.
/unhelpful
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* You can import choices from Soldier's Keep, Origins, and Awakenings into your DA2 game.
* Prior experience with Bioware, back in the Neverwinter Nights days, suggests that relative to price, Awakenings should be another 20-30 hours of content (that's what they did with the Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark expansions to NWN, priced at $30 each vs. NWN's $40-50.) They had, at the time, other, smaller 5 to 10 hour bits priced at $7 or $8. I would guess that rule holds roughly true now, scaled for price increases, etc.
I'll research Awakenings for you, if you'd like. I don't much care if I get spoiled for it.
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One caveat: someone I know who played DA:A says that the character that carries over from it to DA2 has completely changed personalities in the meantime.
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