Going to get this game

dmc · Mon, 13th Jun '11, 10:33pm

As I mentioned elsewhere, I have not yet played this (or the Witcher for that matter). What are the recommendations as far as what I should by and/or download for the first playthrough?

Any mods or expansions worth getting from the beginning?

Also, I still only have a laptop. Now, I'm sure it will run this, because it's a reasonably strong machine, but am I going to get frustrated by the keyboard and/or smaller screen?

I want my initial playthrough to be chock-full-of-goodness.

Death Rabbit · Mon, 13th Jun '11, 10:50pm

My recs: go ahead and get the Ultimate Edition, as it includes all official content packs.

The best DLC's (imo) are Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep and Return to Ostegar. They all add nice in-game content and flow nicely into the main storyline. So if you buy content packs separately, definitely get those three. It also includes Awakening, which I recommend. I haven't played the other main content packs (Leliana's Song, Darkspawn Chronicles, Witch Hunt or Golems of Angmarrok) as they all occur outside the main storyline, and the main game (plus the 3 DLCs I mentioned) make the game long enough as it is.

Normally I would recommend the high-res texture (etc.) mods, but they aren't necessary, especially for your first play-through. In fact, I wouldn't recommend any other mods/tweaks on your first go. It really is great out of the box.

Blackthorne TA · Mon, 13th Jun '11, 10:56pm

I didn't buy any extra DLC for Origins or Awakenings (I got The Stone Prisoner for free with purchase), and I enjoyed them both.

The one thing to remember in this system is that a high dexterity to improve defense is better than strong armor. In my first playthrough Alistair routinely got his ass kicked because I thought strength was more important for him to wear heavier armor and do more melee damage. It turns out armor is nearly inconsequential; you really need to avoid being hit rather than absorbing damage because the enemies just get higher and higher armor penetration as you get stronger and stronger.

Death Rabbit · Mon, 13th Jun '11, 11:11pm

Yeah, that.

Also - the only possible mod I would recommend is the Character Respecialization Mod.

Because...and the 'because' is minorly spoilerific...

Spoiler!

Chandos the Red · Mon, 13th Jun '11, 11:25pm

Quote:

Also, I still only have a laptop

After all that, you never purchased that desktop?

DAO, is an OK game; you should like it. But let us know what you think of it, DMC.

dmc · Tue, 14th Jun '11, 1:05am

Yeah, I know. I wound up getting my son one and never bothered getting one for me.

I'll get the ultimate edition and see how it goes.

Any issues with installing it or is it idiot-proof?

Blackthorne TA · Tue, 14th Jun '11, 1:26am

I don't recall any installation issues; I never had any.

pplr · Tue, 14th Jun '11, 1:50am

I have DA:O and like it.

Have the usuals that came with the extra package game-like Stone Prisoner and Warden's Keep (well worth it to me-a bit of a packrat).

Don't be too afraid to express your opinions to NPCs-at first I was more worried about loosing favorability than I needed to be (there are gifts you can use to smooth over some-not all but some-disagreements).

Chandos the Red · Tue, 14th Jun '11, 2:49am

There were some issues with installing the DLC, but I believe they worked out the problems, DMC.

http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52914

Munchkin Blender · Wed, 15th Jun '11, 4:25pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Death Rabbit

My recs: go ahead and get the Ultimate Edition, as it includes all official content packs.

The best DLC's (imo) are Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep and Return to Ostegar. They all add nice in-game content and flow nicely into the main storyline. So if you buy content packs separately, definitely get those three. It also includes Awakening, which I recommend. I haven't played the other main content packs (Leliana's Song, Darkspawn Chronicles, Witch Hunt or Golems of Angmarrok) as they all occur outside the main storyline, and the main game (plus the 3 DLCs I mentioned) make the game long enough as it is.

Normally I would recommend the high-res texture (etc.) mods, but they aren't necessary, especially for your first play-through. In fact, I wouldn't recommend any other mods/tweaks on your first go. It really is great out of the box.

Get the ultimate as it contains all of the DLCs. Once you download get all the DLCs, you will have to patch the game since the last patch was released after DAO Ultimate was shipped.

Barmy Army · Wed, 15th Jun '11, 10:45pm

I love DA:O. It really is Baldurs Gates spiritual successor. Very re-playable as well.

Mon, 13th Jun '11, 10:33pm	#1
dmc SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member Moderator Speak softly and carry a big briefcase 3 Card Poker Champion! Balloon Shoot Champion! Bumper Golf Champion! Falldown Champion! Plumber 2 Champion! Rotations Champion! Towerball Champion! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 6,505 Like: 19 Liked 55 Times in 44 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,921 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23.82% Daily Activity 71.92% Weekly Activity 51.88% Monthly Activity 71.29% Achievements Awards	Going to get this game As I mentioned elsewhere, I have not yet played this (or the Witcher for that matter). What are the recommendations as far as what I should by and/or download for the first playthrough? Any mods or expansions worth getting from the beginning? Also, I still only have a laptop. Now, I'm sure it will run this, because it's a reasonably strong machine, but am I going to get frustrated by the keyboard and/or smaller screen? I want my initial playthrough to be chock-full-of-goodness.

Mon, 13th Jun '11, 10:50pm	#2
Death Rabbit SPS Account Holder Straight, no chaser Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Jahiera's cleavage Posts: 6,023 Like: 19 Liked 30 Times in 18 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,738 Level: 37 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 0.01% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 27.41% Monthly Activity 27.08% Achievements	My recs: go ahead and get the Ultimate Edition, as it includes all official content packs. The best DLC's (imo) are Stone Prisoner, Warden's Keep and Return to Ostegar. They all add nice in-game content and flow nicely into the main storyline. So if you buy content packs separately, definitely get those three. It also includes Awakening, which I recommend. I haven't played the other main content packs (Leliana's Song, Darkspawn Chronicles, Witch Hunt or Golems of Angmarrok) as they all occur outside the main storyline, and the main game (plus the 3 DLCs I mentioned) make the game long enough as it is. Normally I would recommend the high-res texture (etc.) mods, but they aren't necessary, especially for your first play-through. In fact, I wouldn't recommend any other mods/tweaks on your first go. It really is great out of the box.
	__________________ Any funny or interesting inane bull**** found in this post is the sole intellectual property of Drew. The risque, tantalizing stuff belongs to Drew's mom.

Mon, 13th Jun '11, 10:56pm	#3
Blackthorne TA SPS Account Holder Administrator Master in his Own Mind Attack of the Tweety Zombies Champion! Balloon Bomber Champion! Barrel Jumper Champion! Belter Champion! Birdy Champion! Blast the Enemy Champion! Bubbles Champion! Color Boxes Champion! Counterstrike Champion! Emergency Champion! Fishy Champion! Galagon 2004 Champion! Grand Slam Shredder Champion! Helicopter Champion! Home Run Champion! Jackhammer Rampage Champion! Micro Machines Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Odd World Champion! Pingu Sports! Champion! Sheep Dash Champion! Snake Champion! Space Rescue Champion! Ten Pin Bowling Champion! The Viking Champion! Tiny Pinball Champion! Reaction Game Champion! Wilie Coytes Rocket Factory Champion! Storm The House Champion! aim and fire Champion! Batting Champ Champion! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Pedro, CA, USA Posts: 9,726 Blog Entries: 18 Like: 20 Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,013 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 38.72% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 61.67% Monthly Activity 64.66% Achievements Awards	I didn't buy any extra DLC for Origins or Awakenings (I got The Stone Prisoner for free with purchase), and I enjoyed them both. The one thing to remember in this system is that a high dexterity to improve defense is better than strong armor. In my first playthrough Alistair routinely got his ass kicked because I thought strength was more important for him to wear heavier armor and do more melee damage. It turns out armor is nearly inconsequential; you really need to avoid being hit rather than absorbing damage because the enemies just get higher and higher armor penetration as you get stronger and stronger.
	__________________ Who put the rapist in therapist?

Mon, 13th Jun '11, 11:11pm	#4
Death Rabbit SPS Account Holder Straight, no chaser Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Jahiera's cleavage Posts: 6,023 Like: 19 Liked 30 Times in 18 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,738 Level: 37 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 0.01% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 27.41% Monthly Activity 27.08% Achievements	Yeah, that. Also - the only possible mod I would recommend is the Character Respecialization Mod. Because...and the 'because' is minorly spoilerific... Spoiler! ...some of the characters you meet - when you meet them - may not have their stats and/or specialty where you'd like them, and therefore you might like a chance to reshape them as you see fit. Also - this mod allows you to unlock most (though not all) of the 4 unlockable specializations for each class, and certain specializations cannot be unlocked until much later in the game. This is helpful only because you'll reach level 7 (the first level where you can choose specializations) far sooner than you'd think. In my case, my first playthrough I didn't pick a specialization until I was level 13. This mod merely allows you the OPPORTUNITY to do either, but leaves both completely optional.
	__________________ Any funny or interesting inane bull**** found in this post is the sole intellectual property of Drew. The risque, tantalizing stuff belongs to Drew's mom.

Tue, 14th Jun '11, 1:26am	#7
Blackthorne TA SPS Account Holder Administrator Master in his Own Mind Attack of the Tweety Zombies Champion! Balloon Bomber Champion! Barrel Jumper Champion! Belter Champion! Birdy Champion! Blast the Enemy Champion! Bubbles Champion! Color Boxes Champion! Counterstrike Champion! Emergency Champion! Fishy Champion! Galagon 2004 Champion! Grand Slam Shredder Champion! Helicopter Champion! Home Run Champion! Jackhammer Rampage Champion! Micro Machines Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Odd World Champion! Pingu Sports! Champion! Sheep Dash Champion! Snake Champion! Space Rescue Champion! Ten Pin Bowling Champion! The Viking Champion! Tiny Pinball Champion! Reaction Game Champion! Wilie Coytes Rocket Factory Champion! Storm The House Champion! aim and fire Champion! Batting Champ Champion! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Pedro, CA, USA Posts: 9,726 Blog Entries: 18 Like: 20 Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,013 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 38.72% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 61.67% Monthly Activity 64.66% Achievements Awards	I don't recall any installation issues; I never had any.
	__________________ Who put the rapist in therapist?

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Tue, 14th Jun '11, 1:05am	#6
dmc SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member Moderator Speak softly and carry a big briefcase 3 Card Poker Champion! Balloon Shoot Champion! Bumper Golf Champion! Falldown Champion! Plumber 2 Champion! Rotations Champion! Towerball Champion! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 6,505 Like: 19 Liked 55 Times in 44 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,921 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23.82% Daily Activity 71.92% Weekly Activity 51.88% Monthly Activity 71.29% Achievements Awards	Yeah, I know. I wound up getting my son one and never bothered getting one for me. I'll get the ultimate edition and see how it goes. Any issues with installing it or is it idiot-proof?

Tue, 14th Jun '11, 1:50am	#8
pplr Gems: 16/31 Latest gem: Shandon Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 866 Like: 3 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,452 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 24.05% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	I have DA:O and like it. Have the usuals that came with the extra package game-like Stone Prisoner and Warden's Keep (well worth it to me-a bit of a packrat). Don't be too afraid to express your opinions to NPCs-at first I was more worried about loosing favorability than I needed to be (there are gifts you can use to smooth over some-not all but some-disagreements).

Tue, 14th Jun '11, 2:49am	#9
Chandos the Red This Wheel's on Fire Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 8,209 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 21,118 Level: 40 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 69.6% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	There were some issues with installing the DLC, but I believe they worked out the problems, DMC. http://www.sorcerers.net/forums/showthread.php?t=52914
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Wed, 15th Jun '11, 10:45pm	#11
Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Join Date: May 2003 Location: England Posts: 6,531 Like: 14 Liked 45 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,289 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 58.15% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 120.41% Monthly Activity 112.18% Achievements	I love DA:O. It really is Baldurs Gates spiritual successor. Very re-playable as well.
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