Dragon Age

[Stilgar]

Originally Posted by Luis Antonio

Boys, correct me if I'm wrong, but will it be a game that will mix a good storyline and a better engine, sorta like a hibrid between Baldurs Gate and Neverwinter Night series?

Baldurs Gate sometimes missed a better engine (even though the problems have been fixed) and NWN misses history and a better worked out environment, but the engine is fine.

I think thats the genral idea.
I liked the fact that (for example in Kotor) you realy had the feeling you where walking trough a city. But a engine like NWN wasnt realy usefull for organized combat or looking for loot. The solved this in Kotor, but that was mainly cause it was a concole game from origin. So i think this game has the potential to be realy realy good.

But let's get a little discussion going here.
What do you hope the class system is going to be in DA?
Totally free like in Morrowind, tied to a single class like in BG or a little more freedom for multiclassing like in NWN?

I personally prefere the BG system combined with some of NWN. You dont have alot of freedom to create your charcter, but in games like morrowind you always end up with upercharacters that can do it all. Also for multi-player purpuse this isnt realy fun.
Let a mage be a mage, and be only good in that, but create enough room to personalize your character by using a sort of feat system like in NWN, only with more room (1feat every 3 levels is to little, more feats, and more feats to choose from)
I'm not realy familiar with the perk-system from the fallout games, so i cant comment about that. But if someone could explain how that would work out feel free.

[The Z]

Perks in Fallout were special bonuses that you could choose every 3 levels (4 if you had the Skilled trait). An example might be that you choose the Magnetic Personality perk, which means you can have one more NPC in your party. Or there's the sharpshooter perk which increases either damage or ability to hit (I can't remember which) with guns. The perks you can choose are better at higher levels (they don't improve though, it's a onetime bonus sort of thing); i.e, in Fallout 2 once your levels were high enough, some perks you could choose permanently increased your ability scores. It's a pretty cool system actually.

[Luis Antonio]

I was looking at the few screenshots avaiable... wow, high need of graphics card dontcha think?

I expect it to be like NWN, a heavy lightning weight game. Hope thet dont screw the game too much, cause an upgrade is unthinkable.

[Stilgar]

Bioware realesed a wallpaper, see the first post for a link.

[Stilgar]

And they released another wallpaper today. Again see the first post for a link.

[Noober]

Originally Posted by Stilgar

But let's get a little discussion going here.
What do you hope the class system is going to be in DA?
Totally free like in Morrowind, tied to a single class like in BG or a little more freedom for multiclassing like in NWN?

NWN system with unlimited multiclassing (not limited to multiclassing 3 classes)! It really allows for some creative builds and unusual roleplaying abilities. Imagine a Cleric/Sorceror/Paladin/Rogue/Weapon Master/Shadowdancer/Wizard/Archmage/Palemaster/Bard/Dragon Disciple

[Adm. Pellaeon]

Originally Posted by Noober

NWN system with unlimited multiclassing (not limited to multiclassing 3 classes)! It really allows for some creative builds and unusual roleplaying abilities. Imagine a Cleric/Sorceror/Paladin/Rogue/Weapon Master/Shadowdancer/Wizard/Archmage/Palemaster/Bard/Dragon Disciple

Sure ... and then the big ol' level 11 warrior makes mincemeat out of your 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1 conglomeration. Just joshing ya, Noober.

On a more serious note, though, has Bioware stated that Dragon Age is going to be class-driven? After all, those mentioned above are all D&D IP, and Bioware has said that Dragon Age is its own Intellectual Property ... meaning expect the unexpected!

If we want something different and unique, I'd say go free-form. Maybe some structure, with suggested routes, but give the players chances to dabble outside their "focus" without suffering penalties. Maybe even something like the Sphere Grid from FFX, perhaps?

[Stilgar]

Originally Posted by Adm. Pellaeon

Sure ... and then the big ol' level 11 warrior makes mincemeat out of your 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1 conglomeration. Just joshing ya, Noober.

On a more serious note, though, has Bioware stated that Dragon Age is going to be class-driven? After all, those mentioned above are all D&D IP, and Bioware has said that Dragon Age is its own Intellectual Property ... meaning expect the unexpected!

If we want something different and unique, I'd say go free-form. Maybe some structure, with suggested routes, but give the players chances to dabble outside their "focus" without suffering penalties. Maybe even something like the Sphere Grid from FFX, perhaps?

I'm dont think that's a very good idea, take for example your FFX spheregrid example, when you play FFX long enough Lulu is just a good a fighter as Auron (when you dont count the overdrives). And Rikku makes a great healer.
In the end every character becomes the same. In single player this isnt a big problem cause you usually dont end up as the highest lvl possible. But in multiplayer you usually will.

[Adm. Pellaeon]

Stilgar, when you're right, you're right. FFX does turn everyone into clones (I never got them quite that far, but Wakka-was-Auron-was-Tidus and Yuna-was-Rikku-was-Lulu in my save file).

I'm just hoping that Dragon Age doesn't get bogged down into the prototypical warrior/rogue/magician hard-line-limitation-on-the-user rut. Although I got bored with Dungeon Siege, I will say that I liked the use-it-and-you-level-in-it philosophy. I like NWN, loved KOTOR, and thought BG and BGII were the best RPGs I've ever played, so I'm hoping that Bioware can really make their IP shine.

[Noober]

Originally Posted by Adm. Pellaeon

I'm just hoping that Dragon Age doesn't get bogged down into the prototypical warrior/rogue/magician hard-line-limitation-on-the-user rut.

Sorry but Bioware has already stated on their Dragon Age forums that it will indeed be class based, they (last time I checked) just haven't confirmed all the classes that will be in the game.

[Ned Flanders]

Originally Posted by Noober

Sorry but Bioware has already stated on their Dragon Age forums that it will indeed be class based, they (last time I checked) just haven't confirmed all the classes that will be in the game.

Just because they said this, doesn't make it gospel. They still have plenty of freedom to do what they want. I don't know what FFX is (final fantasy ten?) but that sounds a lot like NWN wherein all characters became mimics of the other. I would very much like to see defined class roles. Even the dual classing ability of BG1 and BG2 made life easy.

Side note: I really like the system of development present in arcanum

Maybe it's just the fact that when characters attain really high levels, in any game, one character blends/mimics another no matter what criteria you include. With the amount of special abilities and/or equipment with bonuses, each character becomes able to 'handle' themelves in almost any situation.

Perhaps the answer is a low level cap to aid in keeping different classes defined. **puts on a fireproof suit**

[Luis Antonio]

Originally Posted by Ned Flanders

Perhaps the answer is a low level cap to aid in keeping different classes defined. **puts on a fireproof suit**

Like in BG1? To frustrate dual class users?

[Ned Flanders]

Originally Posted by Luis Antonio

Like in BG1? To frustrate dual class users?

I'm confused. If I recall correctly, dual classing was available to humans in BG1.

[Luis Antonio]

Originally Posted by Ned Flanders

I'm confused. If I recall correctly, dual classing was available to humans in BG1.

Yes, it is avaiable, but with a low xp cap you'll not go far in both professions... and then your gameplay experience suffered, cause with a dual class party you'll not be able to rely on streght and stuff.

But if you meant to avoid dual in DA for purpose of defining classes, I dont understood what you meant before.

[Ned Flanders]

I don't think we're on the same page here. Dual classing in both BG1 and BG2 made life easy. Obviously more so for BG2, but dual classing in BG1 was still effective. Examples include making a mage and dualling to a fighter so you could use scrolls and then play the game without a straight mage. A fighter dualled to a thief or mage at level 3 was excellent for the hit points. Imoen was a great character to dual, it's what she is in BG2. So, if not becoming a uber character by dualling in BG1 is frustrating, then so be it.

Earlier I stated that dual classing made life easier and has the ability to make characters 'similar' in the manner experienced with NWN and FFX. I mentioned nothing about avoiding or excluding dual classing in DA as a means to better define character classes. Would it? Probably, but more than likely not being able to dual would be compensated by a skill set system where you could invest skill points into combat skills or thieving skills.

In the end, given the amount of customization that will be available in this CRPG, you will able to make a party whose abilities mimic one another if you want to. It comes down to the individual choosing to limit the options available to them, which is where I've always felt the role playing in these games really lies.