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Return to Ostagar and Future DLCs

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:58 pm
by dragon wench
OK, so I finally broke down and bought Shale... Of course, the way the point system works I had to get the maximum package to buy it, which means I have 400 points left over. (bastards... :rolleyes: )

I already have Warden's Keep, and I'm wondering if I should bother with Ostagar..

Everything I've read seems to suggest it really isn't worth it, and I'm more inclined to save the points until something better comes along. I know Dark Spawn Chronicles is out, but truthfully, playing as a Darkspawn isn't my thing.


Does anybody know if/when more DLCs are upcoming? I did some googling but nothing really popped up.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:18 pm
by GoldDragon
I enjoyed Return to Ostagar, and the "banter" (NO SPOILING IT!) between Alistair and Wynne (if you bring both, that is) is hilarious. Or spooky (or both, if you happen to be in a romance with Alistair).

Darkspawn Cronicles. Hmmm.... I am of two minds on this. On the one hand, playing as a Darkspawn, and playing the Ogre was fun. Beating up on Oghren and Morrigan was fun. But.... That last cut-scene, with Alistair... painful. And definitely Evil. I don't think I could ever bring myself to play it again... :(

Stone Prisoner: Shale has unique Dialogue in the game. Fun character to have around, especially in the Mage's Tower. :mischief::laugh:

Future DLCs: Bioware got burned badly on their own forums for the way they handled the announcements of the Return to Ostagar. I doubt that there will be ANY announcements of impending DLCs until a few days before it's released.

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 9:04 am
by Claudius
Its mainly a crawl through the terrain of ostagar inhabited by orcs (or darkspawn whatever).. Some of the battles were interesting (for me) tacticly because I had just settled my party into 2 mages 2 rogues and it was interesting to figure out how to battle. I thought the fights were MORE interesting tacticly than Warden's Keep or Stone Prisoner DLC. For that I will give it a B+ to on the qualities as a tactical adventure or dungeon crawl..

There is also some loot which combined by showing me *newness* material is worth 5 dollars (for me) though if the entire game cost Hours played x 5 dollars I wouldn't have been able to play the game in the first place. Loot gets a B because there is good loot yet more loot is not really needed particularly if you sell lyrium or use the console to purchase things (I do). I mean the loot isn't unique like Baldur's Gate 2 loot.

I didn't see much personal interaction. There is a scene related to Duncan or the King (I won't spoil it) I had Wynne but not Alistair in the party and it wasn't too exciting with regards to banter or emotional appeal. Wynne said a few things like "look something shiny is back there" and one thing at the cutscene I mentioned. Morrigan and Leliana were stone dumb the whole adventure.. Banter and story appeal E+

Overall I would rather have Return to Ostagar than a 6 pack of bud light or a car wash... but then I don't care if my car is dirty hehe :D

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:53 pm
by Xandax
I think both were quite interesting and Darkspawn Chronicles were indeed very fun to play through, although a bit too easy.
Return to Ostegar fits into the story, though, which is a plus whereas D.C. is just another "campaign".

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:09 pm
by galraen
I bought Return to Ostagar and the Warden's Keep DLC, Shale I got free. I found RtO to be the best of the three personally. It's no more than a hack'n'slash crawl through Ostagar true, but the others are just the same, but without any meaningful relationship to the main quest. RtO however I thought fitted in quite well.

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:47 pm
by Thing
I've played it twice and enjoyed it both times, although on storyline, RtO takes on extra dimensions if you are accompaned by Wynne and Alistair (after all, they went through the original battle with you....).

Some of the situations required tactics I hadn't used or figured before so there was some extra stimulus.

Hell, for the price demanded don't hesitate :)

Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 7:26 pm
by dragon wench
Thanks for the replies guys.

Since the majority who posted here gave RtO a pretty positive nod, I decided to grab it.. and I have to say I'm extremely pleased I created this thread, because otherwise I might have skipped out on what was a very enjoyable couple of hours.
I honestly don't quite understand why this DLC has been so badly panned. Like Galraen, I think it's the best of I've tried.

It's very good value for the money, and I like the way it ties into the main game. When you left Ostagar the first time, there was something raw and unfinished .. at least if you roleplay and enjoy the storytelling aspect of RPGs. RtO provides closure, especially when you have Wynne and Alistair with you.

There was also a certain cut scene where I actually felt moved... OK, maybe I'm just a cheap date when it comes to emotional manipulation.. but I felt that scene (and I'm sure everyone knows the one I'm referring to) was very well done.

And yes, the dialogue between Alistair and Wynne was great! :D (if not a tad disturbing at the end :eek: ).

I don't know, maybe it's because in RL I prefer to resolve loose ends when I can, or maybe I'm overly enamoured by Dragon Age (: o), but I definitely thought RoT was worthwhile. So.. many thanks for the recommendations! :)

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:21 pm
by Thing
Glad you liked it.

PS - cheap date is fine by me, hack and slash are fine (as are tactics) - but tweaking heartstrings makes you remember the game!
;)

Posted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:31 pm
by GoldDragon
Hmmmm...[url="http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Max21/Leliana%27s_Song_DLC_Announced"]The Dragon Age Wiki[/url] Seems to have some info on a new DLC, available July 6......

ANd it seems to have just been made official, too.

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:45 am
by galraen
Oh dear a prequel, I hate those, so I won't be bothering with it.

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:50 am
by Thing
Official information at http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:49 am
by Claudius
I should have said banter (without alistair AND wynne) E+ emotional appeal of cutscenes B- (am I a more expensive date hehe?)

Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:36 pm
by DesR85
Claudius wrote:I should have said banter (without alistair AND wynne) E+ emotional appeal of cutscenes B- (am I a more expensive date hehe?)
Can't expect much from DLCs, especially when it's purpose is just to maintain interest in the game. Just look at the Reborn DLC (which is free and released together with a patch in the PC version) for FEAR 2. Minimal voice acting, only 2 cutscenes (one at the beginning and the other at the end) and the whole level took less than 2 hours to complete.

Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:18 am
by vio
Thing wrote:Official information at BioWare | Dragon Age: Origins
since Leliana's my favourite Dragon Age character, methinks I'll be buying this one. pity it is a prequel though, I'd have liked more new stuff to be in the actual game to give me more incentive to play it through again