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[Cedstick]

Dual-wield builds benefit from investing in dexterity, because they're designed to compensate for their lack of armor through the ability to not get hit.

Also, weapons have secret speed values, so dual-wielding longswords will mean that you're still attacking less than if you were dual-wielding daggers. Basically, a dual-wielding rogue with daggers will probably end up with a higher DPS than your warrior.

But it is totally viable.

Oh, yea, I know I need Dexterity, I just figured that I can't really efficiently dual-wield like a Rogue until I've got that end-tier talent for larger weapons, so I'd just ride off Strength in the early game -- that's my guess, anyway. Good to know it's worth it, though A Rogue might out-DPS me, but I can take da' hits. That's the theory, anyway.

 

[Patryn]

Oh, yea, I know I need Dexterity, I just figured that I can't really efficiently dual-wield like a Rogue until I've got that end-tier talent for larger weapons, so I'd just ride off Strength in the early game -- that's my guess, anyway. Good to know it's worth it, though A Rogue might out-DPS me, but I can take da' hits. That's the theory, anyway.

Only problem is that by the end, a decently built DW rogue will have so high a dexterity, coupled with their skill that gives them an automatic 20 percent evade, only special attacks will hit him.

Oh, and don't worry about the higher level skills, just know that if you're going to DW, you just want to get to momentum. That's the skill that will make it viable. Couple that with high dexterity and you're set.

 

[subversus]

Ok, so I'm through my Joining and I have questions about some builds.

First, I want to build a good rogue, it is my main character. She's going to be dual-wield, so I wonder if it is worth investing in strength, constitution and willpower? And to what extent?

Also I heard that archers are broken in the game but I went through the Wilds and found one archer in the party to be quite useful. So in what should I look into if I want to build a good archer in my party?

Also I picked up the Dog, what is the best build for it?

 

[Ledsen]

Ok, so I'm through my Joining and I want to I have questions about some builds.

First, I want to build a good rogue, it is my main character. She's going to be dual-wield, so I wonder if it is worth investing in strength, constitution and willpower? And to what extent?

Also I heard that archers are broken in the game but I went through the Wilds and found one archer in the party to be quite useful. So in what should I look into if I want to build a good archer in my party?

Also I picked up the Dog, what is the best build for it?

I'm a dual wield rogue and I can tell you Strength is completely useless since you can get a skill that makes your Cunning count as an attack modifier instead of your Strength. So basically the only thing Strength is good for is if you want to wear certain higher level armor. Willpower, haven't found any use for it. My rogue never runs out of stamina anyway, and if he does I haven't noticed and it doesn't really impact battles in any meaningful way. Cunning and Dexterity is what you should be focusing basically all your points.

 

[Patryn]

Ok, so I'm through my Joining and I want to I have questions about some builds.

First, I want to build a good rogue, it is my main character. She's going to be dual-wield, so I wonder if it is worth investing in strength, constitution and willpower? And to what extent?

Also I heard that archers are broken in the game but I went through the Wilds and found one archer in the party to be quite useful. So in what should I look into if I want to build a good archer in my party?

Also I picked up the Dog, what is the best build for it?

No.

Invest in strength only to the point that you can equip what you need to equip, and you don't need to equip armor heavier than a leather set. The rogue skill "Lethality" will allow you to substitute cunning for strength calculations down the line.

Invest in constitution to the point where you won't die if you take a couple hits, but you don't need to have massive quantities of health. A good rogue by the end should have a dexterity so high that you'll only be getting hit by special attacks, for the most part. The beginning will be a little rough, but as long as you keep a healthy supply of potions (I suggest investing in herbalism and making your own potions), you'll get past it. Rogues should be designed to avoid hits, not take them.

Invest in willpower to the point that you have a decent pool of stamina, but you don't need an overwhelming amount. But this should probably be your third highest stat. This is especially true if you choose Assassin as one of your specializations, as it gives you the skill Feast of the Fallen, which restores stamina if you kill with a backstab (which you should be using constantly).

Basically, you should almost be operating on a 2-1 Dexterity-Cunning basis, reversing the one you give 2 points to every once in a while, and doing 1-1-1 Dex/Cun/Will if you feel like you're low on stamina. So Dexterity is your main stat, Cunning is close behind, and Willpower is probably third (and should top out in the low 20's at most)

Frankly, Assassin is almost a requirement if you're going dual-wield rogue. The skills perfectly work into the build. After that it's up to you, but I personally suggest Bard, especially if you have a high cunning. If you pick it, you pretty much only have to invest until you get Song of Courage, which, in addition to boosting the team's attack and defense, boost your critical chance well above 50 percent. A high enough cunning should give bonuses about equal to what you get from Duelist. Ranger is a possibility if you want another meat shield, though, which is handy.

Oh, and weapons have hidden speed stats, so even once you master dual-wield you'll want to stick with just daggers. Your DPS will end up being higher (don't believe the game's DPS indicator; it completely ignores this speed factor as well as any bonuses you gain through runes).

Make sure you pick up The Rose's Thorn from Orzammar, as it's the best dagger in the game. Just be aware that it's expensive.

 

[Songbird]

Subversus, you'll only need 22 strength for your rogues to have the highest-tier light armour in Origins. I built the party rogues in my run to have even dex/cunning and constitution wasn't really needed with a good warrior on the team.

Bear in mind that stealth and device disarming is useful but not mandatory. You can go without one or the other (or both!) easily and let squad rogues do it.

Also having three rogues on a mission with the Ranger specialisation is awesome! All three keep their summoned pets, it's like having three other party members join you. There's a tank creature, control creature and agile creature.

 

[subversus]

thanks for replies. I want to use mages as rare as it is possible this time. I was rolling with two mages on my first walkthrough, since I didn't pick up Leliana (I hope I won't miss her this time) and it got old in the end. I suppose a ranged rogue will benefit from same stats?

Also some questions about warrior builds - constitution or willpower? Or may be I should invest in cunning for two-hand weapons build? Like strength + cunning + willpower + constitution (in that particular order of importance).

I still don't know about Dog though. Cunning or constitution? I haven't picked it up the first time (only at the end but it didn't really matter then).

 

[Patryn]

thanks for replies. I want to use mages as rare as it is possible this time. I was rolling with two mages on my first walkthrough, since I didn't pick up Leliana (I hope I won't miss her this time) and it got old in the end. I suppose a ranged rogue will benefit from same stats?

Also some questions about warrior builds - constitution or willpower? Or may be I should invest in cunning for two-hand weapons build? Like strength + cunning + willpower + constitution (in that particular order of importance).

I still don't know about Dog though. Cunning or constitution? I haven't picked it up the first time (only at the end but it didn't really matter then).

Ranged rogues are messed up in DA:O, but pretty much, yeah. Just pump Dex and Cun.

As mentioned above, I almost always ignore Stealth, and all Device Disarming does is add a bonus to the Cunning checks for traps and chests. Once you have a high enough cunning, the skill basically does nothing. So the first couple are probably useful so you can open early chests, but you definitely should not need the last skill in the chain, and probably not the last two.

 

[subversus]

All three keep their summoned pets, it's like having three other party members join you. There's a tank creature, control creature and agile creature.

wow I didn't know about this. I'll look into it.

Damn, this game is deep. And BG2 is supposed to be deeper.

 

[2San]

Ok, so I'm through my Joining and I want to I have questions about some builds.

First, I want to build a good rogue, it is my main character. She's going to be dual-wield, so I wonder if it is worth investing in strength, constitution and willpower? And to what extent?

Also I heard that archers are broken in the game but I went through the Wilds and found one archer in the party to be quite useful. So in what should I look into if I want to build a good archer in my party?

Also I picked up the Dog, what is the best build for it?

A must must read for rogue's. http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/66/index/223777/1 Willpower(next to 1 or 2 debuffs you really don't need to use skills, gets in the way of DPSing) and Con are useless stats for rogues(if you keep dying you are playing it wrong).

Archers might be broken, but are pretty handy when fighting Dragons. I have one of the computer controlled rogue's DPS spec'd like above, but instead of putting points in DW masteries I put some of them archery. Still does insane damage when DW daggers, but is adequate in archery. You do have to use attack rating buffs if she keeps missing. I do not recommend 2 rogue's in one party.

I don't use Dog(waste of slot tbh), but I'd say +2str and +1 con every time. Doesn't have much talents, so you really can't go wrong there.

I'm on my 3rd play-through and I've just learned about Spell Combo's. They pretty much break the game in every way. They are normally hidden, so if you want to find out by yourself don't watch this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbcMV6fSrKo

You could always download a respec mod if you screw things up. If you are playing the PC version.

 

[subversus]

I don't use Dog(waste of slot tbh), but I'd say +2str and +1 con every time. Doesn't have much talents, so you really can't go wrong there.

I'll mod him as a fifth member.

Also are there any must-have mods? I want to download advanced tactics mod.

 

[Songbird]

thanks for replies. I want to use mages as rare as it is possible this time. I was rolling with two mages on my first walkthrough, since I didn't pick up Leliana (I hope I won't miss her this time) and it got old in the end. I suppose a ranged rogue will benefit from same stats?

Also some questions about warrior builds - constitution or willpower? Or may be I should invest in cunning for two-hand weapons build? Like strength + cunning + willpower + constitution (in that particular order of importance).

I still don't know about Dog though. Cunning or constitution? I haven't picked it up the first time (only at the end but it didn't really matter then).

Personally I didn't bother with cunning at all for warrior characters, they get no benefit as far as I know. I took them to 20 will/const and ignored it from there concentrating on strength and dexterity. Once armour is sorted out and at a large amount, your tanks will benefit from higher attack and defence stats, both from strength and dexterity. They'll hit more and get hit less.

I'll mod him as a fifth member.

Also are there any must-have mods? I want to download advanced tactics mod.

I recommend any mods that fix the placement of the Ancient Elven boots in Lothering. It's a great set for rogues and looks like heavy armour sets.

 

[Patryn]

Personally I didn't bother with cunning at all for warrior characters, they get no benefit as far as I know. I took them to 20 will/const and ignored it from there concentrating on strength and dexterity. Once armour is sorted out and at a large amount, your tanks will benefit from higher attack and defence stats, both from strength and dexterity. They'll hit more and get hit less.

The only use cunning has for a warrior, as far as I know, is assisting in trap detection if you choose the trap skill line (and why would you? You still can't disarm them) and for Persuade checks (and even then, once you max out the Persuade skill, you should be high enough to not need cunning at all).

Keep in mind, though, that Intimidate uses Strength.

 

[Confidence Man]

Started another playthrough after beating DA2. Coming from the sequel it really makes me appreciate all the detail in the visuals, the characters, the dialogue, the lore, everything. Sad to think we'll never see another game like this from Bioware again.

 

[Songbird]

The only use cunning has for a warrior, as far as I know, is assisting in trap detection if you choose the trap skill line (and why would you? You still can't disarm them) and for Persuade checks (and even then, once you max out the Persuade skill, you should be high enough to not need cunning at all).

Keep in mind, though, that Intimidate uses Strength.

Oh, I was thinking for companions. I'm always a sucker for persuade.

 

[2San]

I'll mod him as a fifth member.

Also are there any must-have mods? I want to download advanced tactics mod.

I don't mod much, but I use these:

Lock Bash: You break the lock, instead of lock picking. If you don't have a rogue or don't want to spend points on lock picking it's pretty handy. You essentially break the locks, with a chance of breaking gear inside.

http://www.dragonagenexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=301

Character Respec mod: If you screw up a build you can always fix it.
http://www.dragonagenexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=14

Might be interesting to look through this list of highest ranked mods:
http://www.dragonagenexus.com/downloads/top/alltime.php

edit: Oh yeah a very import one for 2nd playthroughs Skip the fade mod: http://www.dragonagenexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=816 Seems to have a compatibility issue's with some mods, not with the ones I use afaik.

 

[Dark Stalkers]

I'll mod him as a fifth member.

Also are there any must-have mods? I want to download advanced tactics mod.

Check this blog out.

 

[Songbird]

Check this blog out.

Whaaaaaat!? In Redcliffe

Spoiler

you can buy Lloyd's tavern?

 

[Stallion Free]

That mod list is badass Dark Stalkers. I'm definitely gonna use a lot of those next time I beat the game. I was surpised how many I had missed when I had done my DA Nexus search. Thanks a ton.

 

[Moobabe]

I need convincing - I've done all the DLC, I've done the Circle, the Forest, Redcliff and now I'm in Orzimmar and it's SO boring. Does it pick up from here?

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I need convincing - I've done all the DLC, I've done the Circle, the Forest, Redcliff and now I'm in Orzimmar and it's SO boring. Does it pick up from here?

You're probably 70 - 80% done with the game and I imagine you have 30+ hours played, but the whole thing was boring to you? Why did you play it so long? Or are you talking about Orzimmar only? Personally, I liked Orzimmar and the Deep Roads, because it kind of had the feeling of a desperate dungeon crawl that the rest of the game was missing. I know a lot of people dislike the Deep Roads even more than the Fade, though, so I might be in the minority.

 

[Nemesis_]

I fucking HATED Orzammar. >_>

 

[Moobabe]

You're probably 70 - 80% done with the game and I imagine you have 30+ hours played, but the whole thing was boring to you? Why did you play it so long? Or are you talking about Orzimmar only? Personally, I liked Orzimmar and the Deep Roads, because it kind of had the feeling of a desperate dungeon crawl that the rest of the game was missing. I know a lot of people dislike the Deep Roads even more than the Fade, though, so I might be in the minority.

Oh no - I've enjoyed the majority of what I've played so far - Orzimmar is really dull though. It feels a little formulaic to me - get to city/town/outpost deal with x many people's problems to access the actual reason that you're there. I guess I'm just burned out on that routine now I'm at Orzimmar.

I'll probably see it through to the end seeing as I'm so close though.

 

[Patryn]

Oh no - I've enjoyed the majority of what I've played so far - Orzimmar is really dull though. It feels a little formulaic to me - get to city/town/outpost deal with x many people's problems to access the actual reason that you're there. I guess I'm just burned out on that routine now I'm at Orzimmar.

I'll probably see it through to the end seeing as I'm so close though.

The Deep Roads are long, but I enjoyed them. They're actually mostly combat sections, though.

 

[subversus]

Started another playthrough after beating DA2. Coming from the sequel it really makes me appreciate all the detail in the visuals, the characters, the dialogue, the lore, everything. Sad to think we'll never see another game like this from Bioware again.

haha, I did the same. DA2 makes me appreciate DA:O even more.

It's sad indeed that we won't see a game like that made by Bioware.

 

[Trick_GSF]

I fucking HATED Orzammar. >_>

I loved it! I also loved the Deep Roads + any Dwarven lore.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

The derp roads and orzammar are some of my fave areas, you see the enemy in it's natural habitat. Who cares if there's tons of fighting...the combat is the best part of the game.

 

[Rufus]

I liked Orzammar, but there was one thing that was always in the back of my mind: Ventilation. I am serious. And how hot is it going to be with all the lava around?

 

[Totobeni]

I fucking HATED Orzammar. >_>

Yeah it was (with poop roads) the longest and most boring thing about about Origins, it almost bored me to death, it also the worse looking design wise, and just an ugly place to walk in, I'd rather stick a needle in my eye than playing that again. oh well, Every great RPG have a shitty complete abomination of a section like that one.

 

[subversus]

I found Leliana.

How I managed to overlook a door to that tavern on my first walkthrough is beyond me.

Also I find combat much easier this time. I was struggling on normal in my first walkthrough, but now I'm almost breezing through Awakenings-style. I think I might turn difficulty up a bit.

 

[Lostconfused]

I liked Orzammar, but there was one thing that was always in the back of my mind: Ventilation. I am serious. And how hot is it going to be with all the lava around?

Well supposedly that is the genius of the dwarven architecture. Those crazy bastards somehow cut enough shafts that they have flowing air and heat distribution. Or maybe I am just imagining it.

Seriously though I think Orzammar is one of the best areas in DA:O.

 

[NeoForte]

So I been playing on the Mac port all last week. I gotta say it's been a pretty good port so far. Some low res textures here and there but nicely done. Wish I could install some of the .exe mods though

 

[Ledsen]

I found Leliana.

How I managed to overlook a door to that tavern on my first walkthrough is beyond me.

Also I find combat much easier this time. I was struggling on normal in my first walkthrough, but now I'm almost breezing through Awakenings-style. I think I might turn difficulty up a bit.

Do you mean "playthrough"?

 

[eternaLightness]

Decided to get back into this game this weekend. I'm about 25 hours in now. I could see why people hated Orzammar. Spent a few hours just going around talking to various people it seemed but it picked up eventually. I just beat

Spoiler

Jarvia

so I should be about done this area.

 

[Rufus]

Decided to get back into this game this weekend. I'm about 25 hours in now. I could see why people hated Orzammar. Spent a few hours just going around talking to various people it seemed but it picked up eventually. I just beat

Spoiler

Jarvia

so I should be about done this area.

The Deep Roads await. Another rather polarizing area in regards to its time-fun ratio.

 

[kai3345]

Do you mean "playthrough"?

Lol when i first read that I thought he meant he was writing a walkthrough

I was like "Fuck, that's a really shitty walkthrough if you missed on eof the recriutable characters"

 

[hateradio]

Check this blog out.

I almost want to make an OT2 with a proper OP and include suggestions like mods, strategies, and other helpful tips for (new) DA gamers. This would be a great list to include in it.

I really wish there were an HDR mod that would change the sky, and another mod that would change some of the horribly brown non-existent flora.

 

[subversus]

Do you mean "playthrough"?

Yes, I meant that, because it's always "walkthrough" on youtube and gamefaq.

 

[Patryn]

Yes, I meant that, because it's always "walkthrough" on youtube and gamefaq.

You personally do a playthrough, because you're playing through a game.

You provide a walkthrough to another person, because you're walking them through the game.

 

[water_wendi]

Replaying the game right now. Its awkward with on-screen keyboard lol

 

[YoungHav]

This game is amazing. I played from 8pm-9am and skipped work b/c I was too tired LOL. 22hrs put in one week.

Are any DLC worth buying? Already have Awakenings.

 

[kai3345]

This game is amazing. I played from 8pm-9am and skipped work b/c I was too tired LOL. 22hrs put in one week.

Are any DLC worth buying? Already have Awakenings.

Golems and Leliana's Song for sure

Witch Hunt if you romanced Morrigan

 

[hateradio]

Golems and Leliana's Song for sure

Witch Hunt if you romanced Morrigan

Do you mean the Stone Prisoner or Amgarrak? I didn't find the latter to be very interesting. I still need to play Leliana's Song.

 

[kai3345]

Do you mean the Stone Prisoner or Amgarrak? I didn't find the latter to be very interesting. I still need to play Leliana's Song.

Amgarrak, it was my favorite of the DLC by far

 

[Ledsen]

Just finished Leliana's Song, it was pretty meh. Nothing really interesting about it that couldn't have told me in a 5 minute cutscene.

 

[Rufus]

Just finished Leliana's Song, it was pretty meh. Nothing really interesting about it that couldn't have told me in a 5 minute cutscene.

Which they kind of actually did.

 

[2San]

I'm starting awakening. I'm wondering do I need to deactivate the mods that are incompatible with awakening?

 

[hateradio]

If a mod is incompatible, you should remove it I guess.

Amgarrak, it was my favorite of the DLC by far

I thought it was pretty bad.

Spoiler

All my new companions kept dying, so it was a one-man mission.

The lack of interaction also made it boring.

 

[SuperSonic1305]

I fucking despise this game sometimes. The difficulty spikes are some of the worst i've ever seen. Darkspawn Chronicles is such bullshit. I lower the difficulty to casual and still get destroyed at the Sten part.

 

[Rufus]

Darlspawn Chronicles is shit either way.