Launch Trailer for Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening

[DoctorFinger]

7a707ac1

It's a punctuation explosion with the new trailer for Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening. I begs the question: what would go after 'Awakening' if the expansion received an expansion? While you ponder that bit of philosophy, I'll give a bit more detail on the expansion.

Set after the finale of the game, the expansion provides a higher level cap, new abilities, spells, items and the ability to re-spec your character or create a whole new one. You'll also find 5 new party members and many new lands to explore.

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening is available now - as both a retail product and a digital download - for $39.99. You must have a copy of the original Dragon Age: Origins to play Awakening.

[Superman's Dead]

Hmmm...is there any chance that we could get an edition down the line that has both, or is there just too much included? I haven't played DA:O yet, and don't know if I could start knowing I was missing out on more content.

[BigJonno]

This is an old-school expansion pack: complete content set after the original game.

[RandoM51]

Hot Coffee comes after awakening.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

I am knee deep in XIII at the moment, but I really want to play this.

[Mike Kelehan]

So how does the disc-based version of this work on the 360? Does it just dump itself onto the hard drive, or does it boot directly from the disc? If it boots from the disc, how does it check for the original game? If it doesn't, what's to stop me from installing this and then selling it on eBay?

[TheFlyingOrc]

This is going to be awesome once my wife lets me play.

[Narradisall]

Where'd this come from?!?!

Hmmm, I'll have to pick it up at some point, but I'm swamped in games at the moment. Maybe a summer pick up when I fancy a 4-5th playthrough

[Mike Kelehan]

I begs the question: what would go after 'Awakening' if the expansion received an expansion?

Kind of like how the first episode of the Dreamfall Chapters will be The Longest Journey 2, Part 2, Part 1.

[Lithium Flower]

Public Service Announcement! DA:O is on SALE on Steam all week until thursday!

Also to play, you will install DAO, then install DAOA and you'll be able to choose from the title menu whether you want to play the original campaign or the expansion.

Finally, god damn it Steam! I want to pre-load!

[Karmakin]

Any word on any refinements to the combat engine? To you know..make it not suck?

[ClannerDelta]

Any word on any refinements to the combat engine? To you know..make it not suck?

In what way? I found it worked well.

Not being snide, I'd actually like to know what you found flawed.

[AyeEmBored]

And... any word on the length? I'm trying to decide if there's enough gameplay to make it worthwhile. AND, I don't think I WANT to be forced into using the new characters, although to get all (or most) of the content I'd suspect they'll have to be in the party at times. I have such attachment to the originals.

[bstiff]

Dragon Age: Insomnia?

I actually got this today from amazon as I had a bunch of credit with them. I haven't gotten a chance to play other than like 5 minutes of the intro. You can either import your old character from the original campaign or start a new one at level 18. There are three new skills runecrafting, vitality(increases health), and clarity (increases mana or stamina).

Also there are 6 new class specializations:

Fighter: spirit warrior, guadian
Mage: keeper, battlemage
Rogue: legionnaire scout, shadow

There are also 2 new tiers of weapons, armor, and runes. It also says there are new consumable items including stamina potions for rogues/warriors. You can also upgrade existing runes with runecrafting.

I may go with the legionnaire scout as it seems like a more durable form of rogue able to take a little more of a beating.

[Karmakin]

In what way? I found it worked well.

Not being snide, I'd actually like to know what you found flawed.

Bioware RPGs tend to be too hacky/slashy for my tastes. Start combat, use your skills, then hack until you or the enemy is dead. I'd lose in a fight, go retry the fight, pretty much the exact same way, and win it easily. Very little room for strategy or anything like that. It's the same problem I had with most other Bioware stuff. (Mass Effect, by moving it away from RPG towards shooter combat worked well.)

That said, Bioware has great writers, and does relationships very well IMO. But the combat engines in their fantasy games have always been very meh to me.

Edit:The problem with Bioware is that systems wise they're a bunch of 2nd edition D&D geeks. And while that system was very good for story-telling, as a straight up game, it's always been lacking.

[TheFlyingOrc]

!

Game came with an insert showing a picture of a Dragon and the date 2.01.11.

So, it looks like the next Dragon Age comes out next year in February.

And... any word on the length? I'm trying to decide if there's enough gameplay to make it worthwhile. AND, I don't think I WANT to be forced into using the new characters, although to get all (or most) of the content I'd suspect they'll have to be in the party at times. I have such attachment to the originals.

Only one character from the previous game is going to be available in Awakening. I believe they have officially stated that this character is Oghren. Alistair definitely appears in the game, although this may vary based on what paths you chose in the previous game.

[ClannerDelta]

Bioware RPGs tend to be too hacky/slashy for my tastes. Start combat, use your skills, then hack until you or the enemy is dead. I'd lose in a fight, go retry the fight, pretty much the exact same way, and win it easily. Very little room for strategy or anything like that. It's the same problem I had with most other Bioware stuff. (Mass Effect, by moving it away from RPG towards shooter combat worked well.)

That said, Bioware has great writers, and does relationships very well IMO. But the combat engines in their fantasy games have always been very meh to me.

Edit:The problem with Bioware is that systems wise they're a bunch of 2nd edition D&D geeks. And while that system was very good for story-telling, as a straight up game, it's always been lacking.

I can understand that. The entire game I wished I could position my characters within a specific area at the start of every fight.

Why the hell did no one voice the awesome idea of not standing extremely bunched up when every other fight involves a fireball to the face. :p

[Church42]

Don't know if I'll get this...I mean, hell, the 3rd add-on pack just became available for the PS3 like a week or two ago (which has been available to 360 players for 2 months now).

I still don't know why the 3rd add-on (Return to Ostagar) took so long to get to PS3 and I'm not happy about it.

[Savok]

I begs the question: what would go after 'Awakening' if the expansion received an expansion?
Dragon Age: Morning Whiz

Hmmm...is there any chance that we could get an edition down the line that has both, or is there just too much included? I haven't played DA:O yet, and don't know if I could start knowing I was missing out on more content.
Wait, not only is the game constantly on special on shit like Steam they keep adding shit in the hopes it won't suck quite so much. Worst case you'll be able to buy all the little bits and pieces at bargain bin prices.

[Saladin]

Does the respec let you change your character appearance as well? After 10 or so hours in the original I got really annoyed with my characters look but never rerolled.

[Lithium Flower]

Hmmm...is there any chance that we could get an edition down the line that has both, or is there just too much included? I haven't played DA:O yet, and don't know if I could start knowing I was missing out on more content.

Well anything is possible, so who knows if there might be a collector's edition down the road but so far, the following dlcs are available.

1. Dragon Age: Origins (Steam regular version/retail dvd) ~ 50$ (33$ on Steam Sale right now)
This includes redeem codes for the following dlc you need to download in-game or through the Bioware store:

(i) Stone Prisoner (party companion)
(ii) Blood Dragon Armor (very good massive armor for your tank)

There is also a couple of minor preorder bonuses such as:-

Lucky Stone (Ring),
Bergen's Honor (Helm)
Final Reason (Mage Staff)
Grimoire of the Frozen Wastes (Tome of Knowledge)

These are not included in the retail/regular versions of the game.

Then the following premium DLC is available from the Bioware Store only (if you have the retail DVD/regular version).

1. Warden's Keep (A substantial new quest affording a glimpse into the Grey Wardens' history which culminates in a party Keep and importantly a storage chest) for 15$.

2. Return to Ostagar (A smallish new quest culiminating in a suit of massive armour) for 5$.

The Steam/D2D Digitial Deluxe versions (65$ or 44$ on Steam right now) include all of above DLC/Addons/Bonuses EXCEPT Return to Ostagar, which you will need to purchase separately from the Bioware Online Store.

Finally you have the latest expansion - Awakenings, of which only the retail DVD/regular version is available.

The most economic/efficient route to take is to grab the Steam/D2D Digital Deluxe version and the expansion pack.

Then you only need to purchase Return to Ostagar from the Bioware Store.


Hope it makes sense. Oh, also for some reason if Digital River decides to hate you, then no Return to Ostagar for you!

[ClannerDelta]

I've been playing the expansion for a bit. Savok, if you see this message... avoid. Avoid with all your might. As much as you hated DA:O's story. This will make your brain explode.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I've been playing the expansion for a bit. Savok, if you see this message... avoid. Avoid with all your might. As much as you hated DA:O's story. This will make your brain explode.

What the heck is wrong with it? Characters and dialogue are still just as fantastic as ever.

[ClannerDelta]

What the heck is wrong with it? Characters and dialogue are still just as fantastic as ever.

Funny how you mentioned nothing about the story. :p Yeah, the characters ARE good, not fantastic, but I'll admit that's probably personal taste.

[Savok]

I've been playing the expansion for a bit. Savok, if you see this message... avoid. Avoid with all your might. As much as you hated DA:O's story. This will make your brain explode.
Oh god their 12 year old writer found Tarantino films didn't he?