Dragon Age Series

[Pumpkin]

I use a bow, so really what I had to do was just stand there and wait for him to swing/charge and then move back and shoot him. Took a bit of time, but it wasn't anything too bad.

I maxed out friendship with Aveline, Isabella, and Verric. Merrill is about halfway up the friend side, Anders is very close to maxed friendship, and Fenris is only slightly up the friend side. I also romanced Isabella.

I liked getting to know more about the characters in Act 2, although I felt the act as a whole was a bit less... open? Not sure why. I felt much more streamlined in to a certain direction than in Act 1. I ended up having a lot of respect for Aveline, she's my best bro now. Odd considering I was pretty meh towards her at first. I don't agree with all of her opinions but I respect her as a (fictional) person.

[FFNut]

I hate Aveline. Wish there was a second tank choice in the game. I ran the game with no warrior just to avoid her.

[Pumpkin]

WELL YOUR OPINION IS WRONG

Can't you use Fenris as your warrior?

Note: I always confuse Zevran and Fenris

[FFNut]

I could have but my team was.

Hawk: (Named him Hudson) was a Mage.
Act 1 Carver sent him to the grey wardens though

Isibella as in close DPS

Merrill as my blood Mage doubled as my Tank

Verric to help draw aggression away when Merrill needed some healing.

Just used potions and micromanaged everyone's acts. I found it was harder game with a warrior on the team.

[Formalhaut]

I also happen to really like Aveline, she strikes me as the moderate voice of reason between the two sides of the debate.

It would be nice if someone else could tank I guess so you don't always have to bring her along. Fenris can off-tank, but he doesn't really have the skillset to be a primary tanker.

A shame that Fenris isn't halfway up the Friend tree yet, but that's very easily done if you're not checking a guide every few seconds to check that he isn't going to disapprove.

[Pumpkin]

I've barely used him either so that would explain why xD

[Freya]

I just beat the arishok myself with a duel welding rogue. It was pretty tough, but doable. I enjoyed dragon age 2 more than I thought I would.
Yeah that's tough. I tend to always default to rogues

First play through, I romanced Anders cause I had DA:A feels. I was dissapoint.

Second playthrough: Sebastian! I wanted to corrupt the Church boy. :] That one was fun and sweet but doesn't go anywhere.

Thrid Playthrough: Fenris. He's dark and broody.

Haven't tried isabella yet. But That would require a 4th playthrough and I'm a bit WoW: Legion obsessed as of late.

[Pike]

Anders is my precious child but I understand he's not everyone's cup of tea. He's like my all time fave though, I have a great deal of feels about him and relate to him a lot, I don't even care if he's a big melodramatic trash nerd

Edit: Merrill is honestly the sweetest, you all should be romancing her, honestly!

Pumpkin, do you plan on playing Inquisition next?

[Spuuky]

The worst thing in DA2 is that you can't side with the Arishok.

I challenged him to a manly duel and beat him rather easily as a rogue, he is very vulnerable to all those misdirection-type skills.

[Forsaken Lover]

The worst thing in DA2 is that you can't side with the Arishok.

I challenged him to a manly duel and beat him rather easily as a rogue, he is very vulnerable to all those misdirection-type skills.

If Isabela comes back, you can kinda side with him. I did on my first run. She is partly to blame for all this after all so I handed her over. Of course the Arishok still doesn't get a happy ending and that pisses me off.



The Arishok is hardest against Two-Handed Warrior. 2H Warrior is all about strength but it doesn't matter because the Arishok is made of adamantium or something. His defense is insane and all your super amazing and devastating attacks won't do anything against him. In fact, I recall sometimes attacking him and "I" got stunned as a result, like my sword just bounced off him.

Mage annihilates him though and I have yet to face him as a Rogue.

[Pike]

There's a way you can get the Arishok to leave peacefully but I've yet to actually pull that one off, I always end up fighting him. Same with how I always end up accidentally keeping Leliana a hardened murderpope in Inquisition.

[Madame Adequate]

Getting the Arishok to go in peace is quite simple; have enough Friendship with Isabela that she comes back, but then agree to hand her over to the Qunari.

She gets mad.

[FFNut]

However you will end up losing Isabela at that point doing it that way.

[Spuuky]

But I don't want the Arishok to leave in peace. I want the Arishok to burn this stupid human city to the ground, because they are all unworthy of the Qun.

[Scotty_ffgamer]

Just beat 2 and moved on to Inquisition myself. I'm really not sure what to expect for this game, which is pretty exciting. I already knew pretty much everything that happened in 2, so I'll be happy to be surprised.

[Pike]

Inquisition was actually the hardest of the three to get into for me, it felt really different compared to the other two in the series. I still liked it but it was my least fave of all of them. That said I'm playing it for the second time currently and it's more enjoyable the second time around.

[FFNut]

Agreed with Pike that I liked Inquisition the least. Just felt kinda dull. That being said I should play it a second time as I only zoomed though it once and put it aside.

[Formalhaut]

Agreed with Pike that I liked Inquisition the least. Just felt kinda dull. That being said I should play it a second time as I only zoomed though it once and put it aside.

Agreed. I really liked it when I first played it, but on reflection, I do see very definite, visible flaws which is why I gave it a 7/10, which surprised me, to be honest.

The problem were side-quests. They were poorly implemented, largely resulting in 'find letter in field, head to location, end'. Many side-quests involved little to no actual human interaction at all, and those that did pretty much amount to 'please help me'. There was no way to ruthlessly reject them or pursue any other option besides... doing it. I remember being able to bribe people in DA: II and Origins, get out of fights peacefully, and other varied interactions. Inquisition is probably the most on-rails adventure in the series, which makes for a tighter narrative but it felt very restrictive.

The main story was great, but main missions ended with a rather binary 'support [x] or [y]' choice, as opposed to the many wonderful ways missions could end in the earlier games.

I hope they bring it back to DA: II levels for the fourth game. I'd play Inquisition again, but it is an absolute chore going through large areas finding things and it felt rather 'going through the motions'. Strangely for a wide open RPG it felt very difficult getting that 'first run' feeling again.

Not to discourage you Pumpkin to play it, it is well worth it in the end and the story is gripping.

[Freya]

To be honest, I haven't even finished inquisition. I played 1, awakening, and 2 several times and loved all of it. I just got so bored with inquisition

[Spuuky]

I didn't have any of these issues with Inquisition being "boring." You can skip sidequests that don't interest you. It would be better if more of them were good, but they're really just filler on top of the game.

[Formalhaut]

I didn't have any of these issues with Inquisition being "boring." You can skip sidequests that don't interest you. It would be better if more of them were good, but they're really just filler on top of the game.

That's the thing though. In a series like Dragon Age, exploration and questing is like, half the fun. If you have to skip them because they were boring, or derivative, or lacked any kind of human interaction, then you feel like you're dropping half a game.

[Freya]

Yeah that was my problem. In the other entries I'd do all the sidequests because I loved the extra lore and what not. And in Inquisition it felt more like a chore than fun.

[Spuuky]

I enjoyed exploring.

[FFNut]

In the DA seri s though you have to do the side quests due to level limitations. Side quests are really the only way to grind up to complete your player. If they are boring and you skip them you end up under levelled late game. So in a way though they are optional they aren't really optional.

[Spuuky]

Of course they're optional. You can very easily complete the game without being max level.

[Vyk]

I'm gonna be one of those outlier blasphemous fans since I bought most BioWare games day one. But it took me forever to beat Dragon Age: Origins, and I never played any DLC and have little interest in playing through it again. I eventually got the GOTY package or whatever with all the DLC and got about halfway through before losing interest. I love the beginning origin stories and ideas. And I love the things they tried to implement. But it was no Baldur's Gate like it was supposed to be

Then Dragon Age 2 tried to pretend to be an action game and for some reason I hated that even more. It took me forever to get over that and actually get into it, and in the end I think I like it more than DA1 just because I like the characters even more. The story is very tight-knit being in one city and dealing with the same characters over the course of like 10 - 15 years as the story unfolds. My character gets a voice and a personality to boot. But I never beat the game. I liked it better, but it still wore on me

Dragon Age: inquisition was a similar thing. Even more action'y and even less interesting things to do. Find plants, rocks, and codex entries. Hurrah sounds like a fun way to spend an open-world adventure...

Fortunately I kinda lost my first character due to playing a good amount on someone else's console without realizing it would lock me into the DLC they had even though I'd made no use of that DLC at all. Now it expects me to buy it to use that character. So I had to start over and I'm actually loving the game. It seems to almost have as much character personality, interaction, and consequence as the second one, and a good portion of the lore and choices fleshed out to the extreme that the first one wanted so badly. Only thing lacking that I can tell is a dwarven stronghold to visit. And the fake-action in the second game is more close to real action now, and combat is actually fun. There was nothing wrong with the strategic aspect of the first game, but if they're going to go fake-action, they've done it right in this one

We'll see how long this love lasts, or if I get bored of this one as well, but for me is the Mass Effect 2 of the series. Good enough plot and characters to be compelling without being a masterpiece, but any shortcomings are made up for in the actual gameplay with fun fast and sometimes intense fights to keep me going

[Pumpkin]

So yeah, I got distracted from this after the TV broke, and when we got it repaired I had moved on to other games. BUT I started it back up again a few days ago. Some dude was badmouthing Aveline, so we killed him. Merril wanted to fix her mirror and, long story short, we killed a bunch of elves

[Squall Leonhart Loire]

Personally, games like Dragon Age bore me to death. I guess WRPGs just don't interest me as much as JRPGs. I need my anime characters with quirky tropes.

[Skyblade]

Personally, games like Dragon Age bore me to death. I guess WRPGs just don't interest me as much as JRPGs. I need my anime characters with quirky tropes.

You'd like Merril, then.

[Pike]

ZrMJ3bGlzdc

[Formalhaut]

I wish I had a powerful enough computer to play the Dragon Age games on computer for those sweet, sweet mods.

[Pike]

I wish I had a powerful enough computer to play the Dragon Age games on computer for those sweet, sweet mods.

Hit me up if you ever do because I have the list of Essentials

[FFNut]

Today I found Dragon Age Inquisitions and all DLC for $15. Going to make an attempt at it, yet it is my least favourite I played of the Trilogy. Never beat this one so am interested to see how the story unfolds.

[Squall Leonhart Loire]

Personally, games like Dragon Age bore me to death. I guess WRPGs just don't interest me as much as JRPGs. I need my anime characters with quirky tropes.

You'd like Merril, then.Who is this? If it's not Rinoa, Yuffie, or *smirk* Yuna then I tend to not be appealed.

[Spuuky]

You're in luck, it's pretty much all 3 of them.

[Psychotic]

I sort of raised this in the Mass Effect Andromeda thread but I'm struggling to decide who the worst party member is out of Solas and Vivienne.

Solas:

Is Welsh
Has a weird face that is too big for his head what the smurf dude
Is boring and really into all that weird ass fade trout
Is Welsh
Can be guaranteed to give the most ridiculous and fruit loop round-the-god-damn-bend opinion possible
Is Welsh

Meanwhile I had high hopes for Vivienne when I first met her. I thought she was going to be this sassy gal pal for my Inquisitor and we could gossip and bitch about everyone else. Nope, turns out the woman is completely berserk.

"Hi Vivienne!"
Vivienne disapproves
"Lovely weather we're having, right?"
Vivienne disapproves
"Hey Vivienne do you want all of this free gold?"
Vivienne strongly disapproves

She is absolutely unhinged. I got my own back when she asked me to do what I assume was her loyalty mission and I told her to get to smurf. "I'll remember this," she replied. Oh no Vivienne, don't get all Telltale on me! Anything but that!

[FFNut]

Solas is worse... Welsh.

All joking aside he really is a boring codger.

[fat_moogle]

I've never played any of the Dragon Age games before, but I recently installed Origins on my PS3. Not long set my console up again and I forgot I got it with PS+. I'm too lazy to look back through this thread, so what are peoples impressions on that?

[Pike]

At least Solas has the correct opinion on the Circles, i.e. they should not exist.


I've never played any of the Dragon Age games before, but I recently installed Origins on my PS3. Not long set my console up again and I forgot I got it with PS+. I'm too lazy to look back through this thread, so what are peoples impressions on that?

I LOVE ORIGINS. It's one of my favorite games of all time. I prefer playing it on a PC because it feels a lot more like a retro CRPG but it's okay on a console too. Albeit less methodical and more hack-and-slashy.

[Formalhaut]

I sometimes call Solas the egg. If you don't know why, just look at him.

To be honest, between the two I much prefer Solas. Yes, he can be broody and is intimidatingly intelligent, but he does have a softer side to his personality. His people skills need work, but you know, time spent fade dreaming will do that.

Also, I disagree with Vivienne being unhinged. If anything, she's scarily fixed in her ways. She's heavily pro-circle and if you so much as think about mage freedom her approval plummets fast. It is actually possible to be good friends with her and be pro-mage/anti-circle, but it requires avoiding the conversation options that lower approval and targeting ones that raise them but without compromising your own stance. Of course, you could choose not to bother. That's also pretty valid. Pissing her off is fun.

The worst thing about her though isn't her opinion: she's entitled to it. Her manner is the real poison. She's spiteful and mean to over half the cast for not much reason. Having said that, I like Vivienne as a character, but I hate her as a person. Indira Varma did a great job as her VA.

EDIT: I'm replaying Origins for the first time now and while the story and amount of meaningful sidequests is brilliant (you can bribe, kill, persuade, be mean, all those choices that you can't do in Inquisition), the combat leaves something to be desired.

I actually wouldn't mind it so much if there was a smurfing move to point button. I want my mages (and my archer) to hang back but I can't see a way to tell them to do so. It's pretty frustrating.

[Mr. Carnelian]

One of the biggest problems with Origins is how brown everything is. OTHER COLOURS EXIST, GODDAMNIT!

Other than that: great characters, good quests, decent story. Combat system feels a bit clunky, but the tactics system (like the Gambits in FFXII) is pretty good.

[Madame Adequate]

One of the biggest problems with Origins is how brown everything is. OTHER COLOURS EXIST, GODDAMNIT!

Not in Ferelden they don't. Place is a mound of mabari shit atop a mound of mud.

Also the Egg is great do not speak ill of him.

[Formalhaut]

One of the biggest problems with Origins is how brown everything is. OTHER COLOURS EXIST, GODDAMNIT!

Not in Ferelden they don't. Place is a mound of mabari trout atop a mound of mud.

The Hinterlands is one of the most beautiful places in the game.

http://www.cheats.co/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Dragon-Age-Hinterlands-and-Redcliffe-5.jpg

Though having said that, the Hissing Wastes replace endless brown with endless, boring sand, so it kinda balances out.

Seriously, the Hissing Wastes was a terrible area.

[Mr. Carnelian]

Also the Egg is great do not speak ill of him.

Agreed. Woefully misguided, obviously, but a very good character.

[Psychotic]

One of the biggest problems with Origins is how brown everything is. OTHER COLOURS EXIST, GODDAMNIT!

Not in Ferelden they don't. Place is a mound of mabari shit atop a mound of mud.

Also the Egg is great do not speak ill of him.WELSH APOLOGIST FOUND

[Mr. Carnelian]

Not in Ferelden they don't. Place is a mound of mabari trout atop a mound of mud.

Interior of Ferelden palace.
71813

Interior of Orlesian palace.
71814

[Madame Adequate]

Yes being Welsh is dire but the truth about him is genuinely - and I can't believe I'm saying this about a fucking bioware game - one of the best twists in video games.

[Psychotic]

Sure, the twist is great, but it doesn't stop him being a twat - with the exception of his views on Circles.

[Pike]

Honestly considering how much I love Morrowind and DAO I feel like my taste in games is determined by a.) how many elves and mages/wizards are in said game, and b.) how brown and muddy the game is. Apparently, the more brown and muddy the game is, the more I like it. (See also: DAI being my least favorite DA game. Like, still good, but I really LOVED the other two.) (And see also: Oblivion is probably the most colorful TES game but is my least favorite of the three.)

Edit: I'm Team Egg, sorry Psy :shobon:

[Madame Adequate]

Sure, the twist is great, but it doesn't stop him being a twat - with the exception of his views on Circles.

The only way he is a twat is by sounding Welsh :colbert:

Okay and not letting a romance Inky help him.

[Formalhaut]

You see DA: I is my least favourite game (but still good, and is the easiest to replay) because they've reduced the role of side-quests. In DA: I, you stumble across a side-quest in the field via a random letter, and literally your only option is to do it or not. If you stumbled across a side-quest in the other two games, you get to talk to the person, see their motivations (with opportunity for sarcasm), and then decide to handle the quest straight, do it but then screw the guy over, persuade out of fights, bribery, etc.

For me, DA: I really suffered in my opinion because of that. They function as EXP boosts, as opposed to meaningful bits of story.

[Mr. Carnelian]

They function as EXP boosts, as opposed to meaningful bits of story.

True that. Definitely something they need to fix in the next Dragon Age.

[Madame Adequate]

They should have cut out, say, two zones, and used the dev time to make the rest of the game more fleshed out instead, for sure.

[Pike]

Truthfully my issues with DAI were twofold:

a.) the characters were good in typical bioware fashion but overall I found them less interesting than the characters in the first two games (except for Dorian and the Egg, both of whom are my Bros) (Varric doesn't count and I liked him better in DA2 anyway)

and

b.) the gameplay mechanics were solid but they stripped out a lot of the real oldschool CRPG stuff that was one of the major features of the first games (particularly DAO) that I liked

In other words DAO had my favorite gameplay, DA2 had my favorite all around characters, and DAI just kind of comes up short in both of those departments to me. Not to say it wasn't a good game - it was - but overall I prefer the other two.

[Psychotic]

b.) the gameplay mechanics were solid but they stripped out a lot of the real oldschool CRPG stuff that was one of the major features of the first games (particularly DAO) that I likedWhat kind of things? I actually skipped DA2 and have only played Origins and Inquisition so I am not sure what was changed and when.

[Formalhaut]

You skipped DA: 2? That's probably the most underrated game in the series. I really enjoyed it!

[Psychotic]

I heard it was kind of crap so I missed it, and then y'all were talking about how great Inquisition was so I got it for my birthday and then forgot about it until last month. And I learned Anders, as in the wacky goofy Anders from the Awakening DLC, went all Cersei and blew up half of Kirkwall. That was a surprise.

[Madame Adequate]

2 is when the series got quite actiony, more like DAI than Origins, and fights were pretty much entirely real-time without much need for pausing except when you target a spell or whatever. OTOH it still retained stuff like quests mostly coming from individuals who explained their motives and who you could snark at and stuff. BW fixed most of 2's big problems with Inquisition, but some of the fixes went in, I won't say the wrong direction, but a direction people like Pike and myself aren't as taken with.

e; 2 is vastly underrated and still gets a lot of shit today. I hear the launch was certainly a catastrophe, and there are some questionable design decisions (specifically the way you'll finish a fight and then a whole new wave of enemies spawns out of nowhere). The overarching plot and character development is a subject of... some controversy (I think it's some of Bioware's best work since the BG era tbh, and certainly their bravest).

[Pike]

I smurfing love DA2. It's one of those games where like... if Bioware had had more development time it would be one of their all time best games. As is, it's flawed but immensely enjoyable and you can really see what Bioware was going for in terms of having a hero who is, well, a Failure Hero (seriously Hawke is even saying the quote on top of the TVTropes page for Failure Hero) and taking place in a world that is just going to trout no matter what you do. It's really, really different than most video games. The story is intimate - you have a family - and the characters are IMO the best in the series.

Also, Anders was right

[Formalhaut]

Yeah, DA: II had the most fast-paced combat. Even with the inclusion of move to point, it is probably slightly less tactical than DA: O, though it still retains deep tactics (unlike DA: I) and I like that each companion has their own unique skill tree.

If you ask me, DA: I is a decent compromise between action and tactics (though I do appreciate those who preferred Origins-style), but I really wish they kept in the gambit tactics, the lack of them hurt combat in DA: I.

And I'm divided whether or not the 'you can only have eight abilities' helped or hindered.

[Pike]

Weirdly enough I think Inquisition is more fun to play with a controller. I've played through the series on both PC and console and while I definitely prefer PC for the first two (for mods and traditional CRPG combat), I think Inquisition is a lot more fun as a hack-and-slashy style game with a controller.

[Formalhaut]

I wish I could play Inquisition on PC so I can get more hair options. And mods are brilliant, a shame consoles don't allow for mods.

[Pike]

I can't get Inquisition mods to work at all so I just don't bother with them.

[Pumpkin]

Inquisition is the only one I have left to play. Do I get to go to France Orlais?

[Formalhaut]

Pretty much most of the game is set in Orlais. There's also this main quest where you go to a grand masquerade in Orlais and it is fabulous.

[Pumpkin]

:omgomg:

And the game is like $12 now, might pick it up in the next few months

[Formalhaut]

If you get it, I'd consider getting the GoTY edition, as it comes with all the story DLCs and the other little DLC, and is surprisingly affordable.

[Pumpkin]

Will there be a character as good as Leliana though?

I heard she's back but as like, a side character

[Mr. Carnelian]

Will there be a character as good as Leliana though?

I heard she's back but as like, a side character

She is! And there are loads of good characters, you're bound to like at least some of them.

[Formalhaut]

Leliana's is in-between companion and side character, if we're tiering the cast of characters. She has more than enough impact in the story, don't you worry!

[FFNut]

Verric has to be the best companion of all time, unless they destroyed him in I.

[Madame Adequate]

Nah he's still bro as hell, don't worry.

[Spuuky]

I love Solas because I love turning to him, looking him in the eye, making sure I know he's watching, and expressing no curiosity or interest in questioning anything in the world around me. Yes, Solas, let me drink in your disapproving disdain.

[Madame Adequate]

It is admittedly amazing to have no time for any of egg's shit because he gets SO angry.

Having said that, Egg Was Right.

[Formalhaut]

So Pike and Mister Adequate may have inspired me to go get Dragon Age: Origins on PC. And I am not disappointed. So many things are new! Tactical mode, whaaaa? More in-depth tactics, get out? I can tell people to move to point, shut your face?

Playing on PC has also introduced me to the wonderful world of modding! I've already completed it once on Xbox so I had great joy in getting remeshing, texture updates etc. The game looks decent now! Especially in the faces. One mod I got basically revamped everyone's look, and it was pretty noticable. I got a mod that tweaked my companions as well. Only got to Ostagar, but I met up with Wynne and she actually looks her age somewhat, instead of a thirty year old with grey hair. Kinda looking forward to seeing more people.

I also got other mods. Apparently there's a mod that introduces an entirely new character in Ser Gilmore, which is also fully voiced, so looking forward to see that work. I got an extra dog slot as a fifth party member so Dog is actually useful. Also various weapons and armour mods. The best thing I got was a universal dye pack which allows me to tint my stuff! Eeee!

I'll still getting used to keyboard and mouse though. I only ever play The Sims 3 on PC so I'm getting used to using wasd for movement. I still have to keep pausing every few seconds in combat, especially when trying to get backstabs. Is there an easier way for that? Or do I just have to keep pausing and directing people to move to point whenever an enemy shifts?

Playing as an archer really helps me appreciate tactical mode though. I can just zoom way out and direct myself to stand back and fire shots. I forget how slow archers are to become good though. So many useless talents to get to the good stuff like Master Archer and Scattershot. Ugh, why do they have so many sustaineds?

Doing the City Elf origin. I'm gaying it up with my character and I really wanted to say with my character during the whole arranged marriage business "I'm gay! Leave me alone!". Would've been nice, but I'm content to just go "I don't like this" and be done with it. Looking forward to playing some more later!

[Danklord]

DAO was good... and then BioWare went full sellout and SJW....

So many gay characters, lesbians and weird characters that I could not assoicate with any of them.
BioWare in their social justice fewer totally forgot that like 95% of people are plain old normal.

[Danklord]

Will there be a character as good as Leliana though?

I heard she's back but as like, a side character

Leliana was not lesbian or buff enough I guess. She fell pray to the social justice pain train.

A beautiful, interesting, heterosexual woman with a sexy french accent? NO! :mad2:

Get this lesbian elf and this schoolgirl elf instead and die of boredom.

[Vyk]

You will not die of boredom with Sera. For certain. And Lelliana has a job to do. An important one. Verric is the only returning companion. It would make more sense to have Cullen follow you around than Lelliana. And him not being a companion has nothing to do with social justice. And there's only like one or two per game. It's not like playing Fantasy Lesbian Simulator. It's just a little diversity and none of it is mandatory to experience. You only find out Dorian is gay if you make friends with him :)

[Madame Adequate]

imagine being so pathetic that seeing a few non-straight characters sends you into conniptions, lmao

[Formalhaut]

Oh no, diversity! Run and hide!

Seriously though, DA: O had diverse representation as well. Leliana and Zevran were bisexual, for example. BioWare has always been one of the most committed developers when it comes to inclusion. They didn't change, if anything the only thing they did was become more​ committed.

[Vyk]

There was a quasi-lesbian option in Knights of the Old Republic as well. Can't remember if the romance option was cut or not. But the character was still a lesbian

[Mr. Carnelian]

Oh no, diversity! Run and hide!

I know, right? I couldn't possibly be interested in characters who are dissimilar to me in any way whatsoever. :roll2

Personally, I've always thought that diverse characters have been one of this series' strengths. Always room for improvement, of course.

[FinalxxSin]

Just my stance
DA:O - Great story, likable diverse cast, fun combat, nightmare mode is legit nightmare mode, but runs extremely poor on PS3 from what I experienced

DA 2 - Skipped due to negative reception I read and also wasn't feeling the demo nor characters much.

DA I: - solid story which got boosted from cameo appearances of some origin characters; more enjoyable combat than origins, but wasn't nearly as difficult as the original game as a whole in comparison; likable cast but not to the same degree of the origins cast

[Vyk]

You're missing out on DA 2. The big complaint is reusing maps. But the time they saved not making new maps was spent nuancing characters with intriguing back stories and growth and filling out a very expansive and powerful politically driven plot. It's not a fantastic game and it's not for everyone, but it probably shouldn't just be shrugged off either. And the demo sold the game terribly short. I originally passed on the game because of it myself. But its my girlfriends favorite in the series and she's replayed it many times and showed me how short sighted I originally was on it. I think the characters are the most diverse and well fleshed out personalities in the series

[Madame Adequate]

2 is fucking great, despite having like three dungeons they reuse loads.

[Pike]

Thirding what Vyk and Adequate have said. DA2 is easily my second favorite in the series right after DAO. It's probably one of the most high concept games I've ever played, and it suffered from being rushed to completion but between the characters, story, and combat (simplified compared to DAO, but still a lot more fun than DAI's, IMO) it's a very solid game and I can only think of a few others that have made me feel and think as much as it has.

[Formalhaut]

Fourthing. :p

The reused maps irk, but aren't a major flaw in the game which instead - as Vyk said - focused so much more on characterisation and story which I think is arguably the best cohesive story of the three games. What I love is that there isn't so much a central villain as just an entire city of wonderfully flawed people. I love the companions, and even Sebastian has his moments.

Funnily enough, the main thing I was bothered by was the combat. The only I didn't like was the faster paced. It was so fast paced. Playing as a warrior was just me wailing on the target with a fast flurry of blows.