Jono1319
Game Owner
 NWN 2
Mass Effect
Joined: 15 Dec 2007 |
 Posted: Thursday, 20 December 2007 09:20PM |
New to the DA forums..
One of the biggest questions I have about Dragon Age is this... The question is even more heightened now that I have played Mass Effect. I have many opinions on ME but I will try to keep those at bay. I liked ME but I did not love it. D&D, traditional RPGs are more my style. I am way behind when it comes to knowledge about DA but I have heard many good things from these forums about their love for BG from every bioware forum. What are things you want to translate over from BG to DA?
I made a list of what I am looking for that BG had but ME did not have.
1. Identifying weapons
2. Longer story with more side quests
2a More twists and/or deeper story (probably would come with a longer story)
3. keep the D&D elements that has made BG II my favorite game of all time
4. Keep the classes more strict (I think this one may be out already but i'll explain anyway) A mage should not be able to pick up a sword and use it just as good as a warrior/fighter class.
5. Armor that "makes sense" I had a Light armor that was just as good as my heavy armor in ME (this could not happen in BG 2) It could maybe have special abilities but it would not have an armor class just as good as the best heavy armor.
6. More Cities/different types of locations. (after awhile it seemed like ME looked the same except on the main quest).
7. Less mainstream than ME (ME for the masses BG for true RPGers)
I do think DA will be much more my type 
What do you want from BG?
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Wrath of Dagon
Game Owner
 SW: KotOR Xbox
NWN 2
Mass Effect
Joined: 11 Jul 2007 |
Posted: Thursday, 20 December 2007 09:24PM |
Combat will not be D&D, but it will be stat based and hopefully tactical. The rest of your issues they more or less implied at one time or the other, but we'll just have to wait and see.
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David Gaider
Lead Writer
Joined: 17 Oct 2001
From: Edmonton, AB |
Posted: Thursday, 20 December 2007 10:07PM |
Quote: Posted 12/20/07 21:20 (GMT) by Jono1319
1. Identifying weapons
No, you don't need to identify anything.
Quote: 2. Longer story with more side quests
2a More twists and/or deeper story (probably would come with a longer story)
Hard to judge at this point... perhaps? Even so, if you're expecting BG2 kind of longer, that's not going to happen.
Quote: 3. keep the D&D elements that has made BG II my favorite game of all time
Which are? The DA rules system has some things in common with D&D, but not much.
Quote: 4. Keep the classes more strict (I think this one may be out already but i'll explain anyway) A mage should not be able to pick up a sword and use it just as good as a warrior/fighter class.
Definitely not in the works. Mages are strict in the sense that they're the only class that can spellcast, but otherwise there's a lot of leeway allowed in which direction you want to take your mix of classes and abilities.
Quote: 5. Armor that "makes sense" I had a Light armor that was just as good as my heavy armor in ME (this could not happen in BG 2) It could maybe have special abilities but it would not have an armor class just as good as the best heavy armor.
The DA armors are pretty distinct, though it's not clear-cut when it comes to usefulness. Some types of armor are better against certain classes of weapons. Heavier armor provides more protection, but is not always desireable depending on what kind of fighter you're going for.
Quote: 6. More Cities/different types of locations. (after awhile it seemed like ME looked the same except on the main quest).
We've got some pretty distinct areas, including cultures which have a distinct look, but I'm not sure if this would be more or less distinct than ME. Re-use of art is always going to lead to a little bit of this, but without re-use of art you're never going to get to any sort of volume of content, I'm afraid. If you want longer games with more areas, you'll need to give a little on this area, I think.
Quote: 7. Less mainstream than ME (ME for the masses BG for true RPGers)
Without question. ME was an Action/RPG for a reason. DA is intentionally aimed more towards the core RPG audience.
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Zevran: "Hello my stocky little friend!"
Oghren: "Huh. You got small breasts for a gal."
Zevran: "Ah. This is where we begin the typical dwarven/elven rivalry, is it?"
Oghren: "Nahhh."Edited By David Gaider on 12/20/07 22:08 |
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imported_beer
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Joined: 30 Jan 2006
From: Texas |
Posted: Thursday, 20 December 2007 10:22PM |
Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider and his entire post
You can rest easy knowing you almost made my day. Santa will be so happy with you.
/No lump of coal for you. |
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Wrath of Dagon
Game Owner
SW: KotOR Xbox
NWN 2
Mass Effect
Joined: 11 Jul 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 12:09AM |
Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider
Without question. ME was an Action/RPG for a reason. DA is intentionally aimed more towards the core RPG audience.
I wish I knew that when ME was first announced. Would've saved me two years of urequited anticipation.
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DemonKing
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Joined: 18 Oct 2001 |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 12:22AM |
Quote:
Re-use of art is always going to lead to a little bit of this, but without re-use of art you're never going to get to any sort of volume of content, I'm afraid. If you want longer games with more areas, you'll need to give a little on this area, I think.
Or just go back to 2D art ala the IE engine!
(Just kidding - there was even some replication of area art assets in BG2 from earlier IE games, if I remember).
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Jono1319
Game Owner
NWN 2
Mass Effect
Joined: 15 Dec 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 12:45AM |
Quote: Posted 12/21/07 00:09 (GMT) by Wrath of Dagon Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider
Without question. ME was an Action/RPG for a reason. DA is intentionally aimed more towards the core RPG audience.
I wish I knew that when ME was first announced. Would've saved me two years of urequited anticipation.
haha thats what I was thinking. That was my BIGGEST conern though. If DA is more for the hardcore RPGers then I WILL buy this game.
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Reinoc
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From: 45° 62' N 73° 45' W |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 01:59AM |
Between 1 to 5 feet. More than that and it will fall off my desk.
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Cat Lance
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Sonic DS
Joined: 09 Jan 2003
From: wandering in my head |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 05:39AM |
Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider Quote: 6. More Cities/different types of locations. (after awhile it seemed like ME looked the same except on the main quest).
We've got some pretty distinct areas, including cultures which have a distinct look, but I'm not sure if this would be more or less distinct than ME. Re-use of art is always going to lead to a little bit of this, but without re-use of art you're never going to get to any sort of volume of content, I'm afraid. If you want longer games with more areas, you'll need to give a little on this area, I think.
That totally makes my day! I always hate feeling like the people look the same everywhere you go. Whether I'm in a jungle, desert, or frozen tundra all the NPC's wear the same tunic/pants or dress? EEP! Let alone when I'm supposed to be in another culture in a different climate and they dress the same! *headdesk* So this is very good news!
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John Forseti
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Joined: 02 Dec 2006
From: Great Britain |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 05:54AM |
Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider Quote: 2. Longer story with more side quests
2a More twists and/or deeper story (probably would come with a longer story)
Hard to judge at this point... perhaps? Even so, if you're expecting BG2 kind of longer, that's not going to happen.
I played Baldur's Gate II obsessively for weeks before completing it, I finished Mass Effect in hours, and played it casually. I hope DA will atleast lean toward the BG II length rather than the Mass Effect story length. |
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KDY-Worker1138
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Joined: 29 Mar 2004 |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 12:31PM |
I'm replaying the Bg saga (BG1(tutu) and now continuing BGII) after a 5 year pause...and boy these games are amazing, truly utterly amazing.
So amazing in fact i wonder what just happens to the world of RPG gaming since, i mean did everybody who made these fantastic games look at Diablo 2 with envy and decided that they would stop making games with meat and just go for the cheep thrills galore?.
Anyway I'm getting off target with this post and I'll just say.. i really really hope DA will be much like BG.
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Dorian6610
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Joined: 25 Jun 2003
From: England UK |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 08:31PM |
Quote: Posted 12/21/07 00:09 (GMT) by Wrath of Dagon Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider
Without question. ME was an Action/RPG for a reason. DA is intentionally aimed more towards the core RPG audience.
I wish I knew that when ME was first announced. Would've saved me two years of urequited anticipation.
Seconded.... ME is flawed in many many ways...
like me, you were probably looking forward to the 'dynamic conversation' unfortunatly the dialogue wheel did nothing for me... and i can't really even think of one conversation that was funny or memorable... the script was pure sci-fi geekiness.
It would be cool to see the ME engine fine tuned (majorly) and used for DA .. but at the same time, i'm looking forward to a new engine.
I'd also love to see more Infinity Engine games.... Imagine playing Baldurs Gate or Planescape... possibly even Fallout.... on a DS. Would it be possible to create such an engine for the DS? Could the DS handle graphics like those in BG2? |
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Leinadi
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 SW: KotOR PC
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Joined: 08 Jun 2007
From: Sweden |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 09:54PM |
I think the Baldurs Gate games are generally well-made, and I do consider BG2 to be Biowares best game so far.
But there are many things I'd like to see being different in Dragon Age.
If a shorter game in DA makes for more world reactivity, a more focused experience and generally better replayability, then I am all for it. I think very long games often can sometimes lose focus, and/or just have very varying quality. BG2 for example is very good the first chapters I think, but once you leave Athkatla the game kinda goes downhill for me.
I think there is a rather unhealthy obsession with people feeling that RPGs *have to* be very long. This can often hurt the game as a whole if you ask me.
I'd also want Dragon Age to have way, way more skill checks and things in dialogues, and I also definetely want a few more different ways to complete quests. |
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Jono1319
Game Owner
NWN 2
Mass Effect
Joined: 15 Dec 2007 |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 09:54PM |
Quote: Posted 12/21/07 20:31 (GMT) by Dorian6610 Quote: Posted 12/21/07 00:09 (GMT) by Wrath of Dagon Quote: Posted 12/20/07 22:07 (GMT) by David Gaider
Without question. ME was an Action/RPG for a reason. DA is intentionally aimed more towards the core RPG audience.
I wish I knew that when ME was first announced. Would've saved me two years of urequited anticipation.
Seconded.... ME is flawed in many many ways... like me, you were probably looking forward to the 'dynamic conversation' unfortunatly the dialogue wheel did nothing for me... and i can't really even think of one conversation that was funny or memorable... the script was pure sci-fi geekiness. It would be cool to see the ME engine fine tuned (majorly) and used for DA .. but at the same time, i'm looking forward to a new engine. I'd also love to see more Infinity Engine games.... Imagine playing Baldurs Gate or Planescape... possibly even Fallout.... on a DS. Would it be possible to create such an engine for the DS? Could the DS handle graphics like those in BG2?
Yeah, ME was full of dialog yet i remember so little of it. "sci-fi geekiness" I like that and second that. I am ready for some mean and potatoes, a real mans RPG!
I would love to see a game play video of DA in action. So much more insight could be made. Any time table in progress for maybe a game play video, or any video at all?
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Mozziah
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Joined: 14 Aug 2003 |
Posted: Friday, 21 December 2007 11:42PM |
Quote: Posted 12/21/07 00:22 (GMT) by DemonKing Quote:
Re-use of art is always going to lead to a little bit of this, but without re-use of art you're never going to get to any sort of volume of content, I'm afraid. If you want longer games with more areas, you'll need to give a little on this area, I think.
Or just go back to 2D art ala the IE engine! (Just kidding - there was even some replication of area art assets in BG2 from earlier IE games, if I remember).
I'd pay a high price for a game like BG2 with an updated IE engine with omg CONTENT instead of a short game. I guess eye candy over story/rpg elements are the wave of the future sadly. Anyway I'll play the waiting game with DA in high hopes of lots of X-packs and sequals if it's truly in the spirit of BG2. |
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