Dragon Age: Origins - Tactics (possible spoilers)

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 8th, 2009, 18:32

So not to deviate too far I thought I'd start a thread here to discuss the tractic routines, party makeups, spoilery proble missions, and anything else that might not be interesting to those not playing,

The tactics 'programs' are interesting to me, and I can see a benefit to swapping ideas about them. Currently I'm playing a human warrior, with Alistair (human Templar), the bard priest bird whose name I've not had chance to remember yet, and a healy mage who's a plot insert. I tank, Al offtanks and hits things, bard bird fannies about being squishy and ineffective (but she opens doors and chests), and healer keeps my tank alive mostly. Typical Warcraft-style tank and spank. It's not hugeley effective though because I've not found a good AI for anyone yet.

Tank: Shield wall and threaten any time, shield bash and shield pummel when enemy on <75% health.

Fighter: Precise strike any time, threaten when ally <75% health, shield bash and pummel as tank.

Not really looked at the others, but I'd be interested to see what peple do. Especially with Morrigan, who's a bit limited, especially against zombies.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » November 8th, 2009, 20:17

I used Morrigan as a healer on the zombie mission. Obviously you have to have given her the power, which was a mostly random choice for me in the previous area. Worked out well.

The scope of customisation on the tactics impressed me. Although I started off with an impressed "WTF"and I've only just moved on to "Oh I get it, that's clever" type of impressed. Not sure I'll customise, it's a little too much for the moment and I'm enjoying micro-managing on the fly.

friznit · Post by **friznit** » November 8th, 2009, 20:52

Bit faaabulous, can has spoiler tags in title if spoilers lie therein please?

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 8th, 2009, 21:18

I didn't think I'd put any spoilers in. Have I?

Post by **FatherJack** » November 8th, 2009, 21:30

I use Alistair or Sten on Defensive, Leliana on Archer and Morrigan on Debilitate or Control. I'm (female elf mage) set to Destructing, but usually control myself.

I usually set off a huge lightning ball around us which sticks around for most of the battle, then pull the enemies with a big fireball that they all run through. I have Flaming Swords and the Suck Health from Dead Things up most of the time, so I'm usually low on mana by this point. I can do a small heal, go spider form or send out fire/lighting cones if the baddies get too close.

Alistair's a better tanker than Sten as he has the threat-generating skills and I'll take him further down that tree, along with his shield skills. I really liked him when I first met him, but his bickering with Morrigan is getting a bit annoying.

Not levelled Sten yet, and while I'd like to swap him with Alistair, I don't want to duplicate his skills. Probably just straight Warrior with two-handed sword skills. I really like talking to him, he's quite the comedian.

Leliana's got archer skills, but she does like to charge in, so I'll add a few more backstabby things in for her, but mostly I keep her around for lockpicking and thieving. Currently she sings her bard buffs and does the special arrow attacks, but I have a custom strategy ready for when she learns the next level of stealing which can be used in battle. Her voice is a bit annoying, but

Spoiler:

I'm trying to be nice to her.

Morrigan is supposed to be doing debuffs/curses for me, but seems to mostly do as she pleases. Ever since I taught her healing she does it all the time, then ever since since I gave her a bow as a second weapon she uses it all the time instead of her (more powerful) staff - even in melee. I just gave her bear form, so I need to work that into a custom tactic for her once I've figured out how the command order works and why some are red. For some reason I always seem to be seeking her approval when talking to her, and worry when I say the wrong thing.

I put the spoilers thing on the title, just in case. What spells characters get/what characters you get/what mission involves (ie: killing zombies) are all potentially spoilery without knowing the order other people are doing quests in.

Akiakaiu · Post by **Akiakaiu** » November 8th, 2009, 21:44

I have Morg set to destruction, wynne set to healer and Leli is my lock picker too, she's set to archer.

Also in response to FJs spoiler,

Spoiler:

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » November 8th, 2009, 22:18

FatherJack wrote:Leliana's got archer skills, but she does like to charge in, so I'll add a few more backstabby things in for her ...

Morrigan is supposed to be doing debuffs/curses for me, but seems to mostly do as she pleases. Ever since I taught her healing she does it all the time, then ever since since I gave her a bow as a second weapon she uses it all the time instead of her (more powerful) staff - even in melee. ...

Sounds like you need to tweak the tactics or have a look through the presets, to get those characters to do what you want. Mine are behaving at the moment, but it would be a good way in to the complexities of the tactics system, starting with small changes.

I'd completely forgotten about the pickpocketing skill, never used it. I think I'm just too honest.

Akiakaiu · Post by **Akiakaiu** » November 8th, 2009, 22:56

For people that charge in you can change their "behavior" in the tactics screen, it's a pull down on the top right. There you can set them to run away from enemies and such.

Post by **HereComesPete** » November 9th, 2009, 1:43

spoodie wrote:zombie mission.

I just did this, talk about spike in difficulty. Took a few goes to get my tictacs right. Ended up dragging them onto the knights - I camped the top of the hill just below the knights and dragged groups on with all my ranged types pummelling them and my melee backing up the knights.

MORDETH LESTOK · Post by **MORDETH LESTOK** » November 9th, 2009, 4:11

HereComesPete wrote:zombies!

It was quite odd first time I did it...I was just waiting by the knights cuz I was supposed to use the fire...they were trickling down 1-3 at a time...I thought it was broken then I moved up and got squished...

Post by **FatherJack** » November 10th, 2009, 5:20

From my online profile page, which doesn't seem to update very often. I put the slider halfway between smile and snarl, which makes her look a bit mad.

When it updates it should have all the auto-generated screenshots and list the order I did the story in so possible spoilers, etc.

shot2bits · Post by **shot2bits** » November 10th, 2009, 6:49

HereComesPete wrote:

I just did this, talk about spike in difficulty. Took a few goes to get my tictacs right. Ended up dragging them onto the knights - I camped the top of the hill just below the knights and dragged groups on with all my ranged types pummelling them and my melee backing up the knights.

i think im doing the quest after this, spent hours playing to get fucked in the arse by a massive swarm of undead cunts. they are the only way forward and i cant seem to kill them, might see if i can leave and come back later when i can do more bashy bashy and less dying

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 10th, 2009, 8:19

shot2bits wrote:
i think im doing the quest after this, spent hours playing to get fucked in the arse by a massive swarm of undead cunts. they are the only way forward and i cant seem to kill them, might see if i can leave and come back later when i can do more bashy bashy and less dying

I had the same issue with it, and by the looks of things so did most other people. Zobah spoiler solution:

Spoiler:

shot2bits · Post by **shot2bits** » November 10th, 2009, 9:11

Dog Pants wrote:
I had the same issue with it, and by the looks of things so did most other people. Zobah spoiler solution:

Spoiler:
The quest is completed by killing all the zombies down by the church. They'll come in large waves at first and overwhelm the militia, then come and eat you. Don't get too involved in saving the militia - it's never going to happen. Stay back and pick off as many as you can while they're busy eating braaains. Once the militia are dead you'll have to lead the zombies back to the knights in small groups and deal with them there, otherwise you'll get overrun. Eventually they'll stop coming from the lake and you can go down there and mop up the stragglers.

i did that one with no problems, its the one after, was no problems apart from one bit where all other paths are blocked apart from one where theres a shitload of warrior and archer zombah that make my band of 4 crap themselves, i could possibly get rid of one of my squishier people for something more bricklike but then id forfiet either healing or lockpicking

Post by **HereComesPete** » November 10th, 2009, 10:10

Inside with the dudes in the courtyard?

I found I got creamed so I restarted and put everyone on defensive and had them hang back and pulled with the archer, otherwise the meat runs in to hack at everything and pulls all the groups.

I've also set up their tictacs to burn through the health pots I can produce so they stop hitting things to drink at half health.

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 10th, 2009, 10:12

It is tough. I don't know the specific bit you're talking about, but I struggled with several fights in that bit. I just persevered in the end with a tank (myself), Alistair as a general fighter, Lelaini to open stuff (the locked door leads to a very useful armoury) and Morrigan to look pretty casting spells that the zambahz are immune to.

Post by **HereComesPete** » November 10th, 2009, 10:16

I've gone ice with her and they work well, freezing everything in place (including any of my stray tanks) a crit hit on a low health frozen thing makes lovely meaty ice cubes.

Post by **Dog Pants** » November 10th, 2009, 10:35

I picked up a blood mage for a little while, and his paralysis spell was really useful. Lasts for ages, enabling my to zap the shit out of them.

spoodie · Post by **spoodie** » November 10th, 2009, 12:16

HereComesPete wrote:Inside with the dudes in the courtyard?

Assuming we're on the same page. You can deal with the archers on the stair with ranged attacks without attracting the big dude and his mates. Makes it a lot easier, but it's still tough.

shot2bits · Post by **shot2bits** » November 10th, 2009, 13:17

isuppose that could work

Spoiler: