Dragon Age Inquisition IV: Deal. With. It.

[Beowulf DW]

We got to page 50 on the last thread and you all know the drill by now.

So...I'm level 10, now. When does that specialization kick in?

[Giggling Ghast]

Ah yes, the hat game. I've played a few rounds of it myself.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/20...-timothay-gunn

Has anyone found that shop in Val Royeaux that sells the mystery box?

[JadedDM]

Has anyone found that shop in Val Royeaux that sells the mystery box?

Yes, Calemyr did. He bought it, too.

[Calemyr]

We got to page 50 on the last thread and you all know the drill by now.

So...I'm level 10, now. When does that specialization kick in?

Doesn't work like past games. You don't get a point to assign to an unlocked specialization.

First you need to be level 10 and reach Skyhold. Then you have to go to the warboard and look for a mission near Skyhold called "Special Training". Calls in three trainers representing the specializations you can take.

Talk to each one. They'll offer you a quest, mainly a material gathering one. It's pretty steep for level 10, but doable.

Do the quest for the specialization you want, then commit to it when asked.

All allies will gain a specialization as well. Cassandra will become a Templar, while Solas will become a Rift Mage.

Ah yes, the hat game. I've played a few rounds of it myself.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/20...-timothay-gunn

Has anyone found that shop in Val Royeaux that sells the mystery box?

Yep. 10,000 g for a large golden statue of a nug. Also gives you the warboard quest "The Big One...?" which unlocks 5-6 exotic mounts known as Nugalopes - hippo-sized nugs with antelope horns. Kinda cute, kinda fun, kinda pointless. Your call if it's worth it.

[Giggling Ghast]

That is horrifying. I think I will stick with the Bog Unicorn, thank you.

[Calemyr]

Also, on a subject we were just talking about at the end of the last thread...

It might interest you to know that the "tarot cards" that represent your allies change from time to time. It's usually due to big events in their lives, or participating in a big event that really screws with their heads. If you don't like the look of an ally's card, make sure you talk to them to see if there aren't any quests or conversations waiting for you.

So far I've seen significant changes in the cards for Varric, Cassandra, Dorian, and Cole.

[Sajiri]

So I stayed up too late last night and finally made it back to Skyhold after restarting because of the accidental Blackwall romance thing (okay, there were some other things I wanted to do different too), although I am 5 levels lower than I was last time, I'm more or less at the point I was before.

Question about mounts! I know about the weird nug mount, and I know before restarting after skyhold you can buy a bunch of mounts (mostly horses and I think, one hart?) right there at your stables...where do the rest come from? I know I had more slots for horses, do I have to get them through missions or are they buyable after progressing further? (I know there was only one horse for sale in Haven)

[Hyena]

Some mounts can be bought only after you get Inquisition to a certain level. Lizard-things are only getable once you begin slaying dragons. Some mounts are quest rewards.

[Sajiri]

Ah okay. Im mainly interested in seeing all the horses and maybe some others harts since they fit a dalish..although Im quite attached to Red Hart

[Morty]

Ah yes, the hat game. I've played a few rounds of it myself.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/20...-timothay-gunn

Has anyone found that shop in Val Royeaux that sells the mystery box?

This comic is a depressingly accurate depiction of such a large part of the RPG genre.

[Psyren]

Doesn't work like past games. You don't get a point to assign to an unlocked specialization.

First you need to be level 10 and reach Skyhold. Then you have to go to the warboard and look for a mission near Skyhold called "Special Training". Calls in three trainers representing the specializations you can take.

Talk to each one. They'll offer you a quest, mainly a material gathering one. It's pretty steep for level 10, but doable.

Do the quest for the specialization you want, then commit to it when asked.

All allies will gain a specialization as well. Cassandra will become a Templar, while Solas will become a Rift Mage.

Two things:

1) You can do all the specialization quests, not just the one you want, and reap the rewards for each before committing.
2) I got the quests prior to level 10 (I believe I was 8.)

[Calemyr]

Two things:

1) You can do all the specialization quests, not just the one you want, and reap the rewards for each before committing.
2) I got the quests prior to level 10 (I believe I was 8.)

1) The requirements for each mission are pretty steep, especially early on. I don't know if they're worth it just for the XP.
2) Good to know on the level requirement. Just having Skyhold is sufficient, it seems.

[Psyren]

1) The requirements for each mission are pretty steep, especially early on. I don't know if they're worth it just for the XP.
2) Good to know on the level requirement. Just having Skyhold is sufficient, it seems.

I think there's more than XP - in fact, the game itself advises you to do all three. I'll look into what I get from the three mage ones.

[Muz]

My suggestion for any UI mod that anyone ever makes for this game: Change the Codex entries so I can find what I'm looking for without having to click on every single (often identical) card looking for it. At the very least they could have made the entry title appear if you hover the mouse (though just a simple text listing ala Mass Effect would be just fine with me).

I'm really enjoying this game, but looking for anything in the Codex can be maddening.

[Psyren]

I think it was already decided that it would be: DEAL. WITH. IT.

I don't know what that references beyond a line from Cassandra that I haven't encountered yet myself (and I'm avoiding spoilers), but...

It's a line she famously delivers to a whining no-name representative of {whichever faction you sided with in Hinterlands.}

[Gamerlord]

Also, on a subject we were just talking about at the end of the last thread...

It might interest you to know that the "tarot cards" that represent your allies change from time to time. It's usually due to big events in their lives, or participating in a big event that really screws with their heads. If you don't like the look of an ally's card, make sure you talk to them to see if there aren't any quests or conversations waiting for you.

So far I've seen significant changes in the cards for Varric, Cassandra, Dorian, and Cole.

I've triggered some for Blackwall as well.

Out of curiosity, how do you trigger the Cassandra portrait change? Do you need to run around completing Unfinished Business?

[Tome]

There's a Sera card change too. I think it comes after her pranks, but it might just be an approval thing too.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Okay, BIG IMPORTANT QUESTION TIME!

I've gotten my motivation in order and am ready to start THE MASTER PLAYTHROUGH, but there's one question I'm stuck over!

Spoiler: Are you ready?

Show

You sure?

Spoiler: Really? REALLY REALLY ready?

Show

Here we go...

Spoiler: THE QUESTION!

Show

What color should my Warden's hair be? Blond hair seems common among the Dalish, but it might look too much like Alistair. Black hair looks cool but it's identical to Morrigan's, who I'm romancing. I have no idea if brown hair or red hair would look good on him...HELP!

[Morty]

Go with brown, just to defy the narrative convention that heroes always have black or blonde hair, whereas nothing interesting happens to brown-haired people.

[Hiro Protagonest]

This comic is a depressingly accurate depiction of such a large part of the RPG genre.

The real challenge in RPGs is getting your party to look FABULOUS!

That's why I like cosmetic slots for items. My obsession with fashion in RPGs is also my excuse for having a female avvy.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Go with brown, just to defy the narrative convention that heroes always have black or blonde hair, whereas nothing interesting happens to brown-haired people.

Huh. Good idea!

Now to decide on the final member of my Inquisitor's party. I'm playing a female elf mage, and here's the two guys I'm SURE I'll bring with:

Solas, because she loves Solas.

Varric, because everybody loves Varric.

That leaves one slot, likely for a warrior type (The Inquisitor herself will mix it up in melee too as a Knight Enchanter). So who to bring along? Cassandra, who's with us from the beginning and probably the most important to the plot out of the three warriors available? Blackwall, because he's pretty darn cool and a Gray Warden to boot? Or Iron Bull, because he seems to be getting as many laughs as Varric did in the second game?

[Crow]

Well, I've decided to do it. Tonight I am going to sell all the valuables I've been hording.

Gonna be mad if some darn sidequest asks for them later.

[Psyren]

Okay, BIG IMPORTANT QUESTION TIME!

I've gotten my motivation in order and am ready to start THE MASTER PLAYTHROUGH, but there's one question I'm stuck over!

Spoiler: Are you ready?

Show

You sure?

Spoiler: Really? REALLY REALLY ready?

Show

Here we go...

Spoiler: THE QUESTION!

Show

What color should my Warden's hair be? Blond hair seems common among the Dalish, but it might look too much like Alistair. Black hair looks cool but it's identical to Morrigan's, who I'm romancing. I have no idea if brown hair or red hair would look good on him...HELP!

I hit the "Quote" button because I like slicing through Gordian Knots

Go with brown, just to defy the narrative convention that heroes always have black or blonde hair, whereas nothing interesting happens to brown-haired people.

Luke Skywalker would like a word
(And Frodo Baggins while we're at it)

Huh. Good idea!

Now to decide on the final member of my Inquisitor's party. I'm playing a female elf mage, and here's the two guys I'm SURE I'll bring with:

Solas, because she loves Solas.

Varric, because everybody loves Varric.

That leaves one slot, likely for a warrior type (The Inquisitor herself will mix it up in melee too as a Knight Enchanter). So who to bring along? Cassandra, who's with us from the beginning and probably the most important to the plot out of the three warriors available? Blackwall, because he's pretty darn cool and a Gray Warden to boot? Or Iron Bull, because he seems to be getting as many laughs as Varric did in the second game?

Rotate them so you get as much banter as possible. Unlike previous DA titles, all the warriors in this one can tank equally well, and they're all equally likable too.

[Tome]

As others have said, it's best to rotate your party members.

There ARE quests/things you can do where bringing one particular party member along gives unique dialogue. For instance, definitely bring Iron Bull along for your first dragon kill.

The only critical thing is having at least one tank, and excessive crowd control can compensate for even that in many circumstances.

[Zevox]

Shortest companion conversation ever, yet still highly entertaining:

Serra: Dwarves are weird.
Varric: No arguments there.
Serra: Aw, you're doin' this wrong!

[Psyren]

A mage with Barrier is great too. Not just because it helps you go a lot longer without needing to restock your potions, but they also help you get around - barrier negates falling damage, so you don't have to look for ladders, ramps and other safe pathways to get down from somewhere high and can take gravity's shortcut.

In addition, Fade Step can be used anywhere except Haven and Skyhold to get around quicker, and Fade Step + the disengage command gets your party out of any unwanted/accidental combat in a flash.

[Avilan the Grey]

No Templars though, it seems. I'm thinking about running a sword-and-board lady after my dual-wielding dwarf, since it seems warriors are actually interesting this time around, with the Guard mechanics and all, but two-handed weapons were tragically replaced with concrete replicas. She'd be either a Champion or a Tempalr in terms of specialization.

Yes, but since the concrete replaced the led originals from DAO it is still an improvement. Or are you comparing to DA2?

Actually, the use of French in the game is really jarring for me.
It's supposed to be fantasy and english is used as a convenient means of communication because the developers didn't have the time or inclination to actually create new languages for the game, nor do we as players have the time to learn new languages, but using French for another language suddenly turns it into alternate history. If the French-like people are speaking French, it's not really a stretch to imagine that the Spanish-seeming people are speaking Spanish, the Russians Russian and so forth. Suddenly, every nationality in the game that sparks an association will have a real-life language associated with, which I don't particularly like.

I don't understand the problem. But on the other hand English is just another foreign language to me, although one that I am basically completely fluent in. What I mean is that for me a french accent is no more jarring than a man speaking middle american english.

As others have said, it's best to rotate your party members.

There ARE quests/things you can do where bringing one particular party member along gives unique dialogue. For instance, definitely bring Iron Bull along for your first dragon kill.

The only critical thing is having at least one tank, and excessive crowd control can compensate for even that in many circumstances.

Don't think I'll ever let go of Cassandra. I'm in love with her, almost for real.

I have only watched up to the crossroads quest so... I can't stand that mage that you get from the beginning. Will there be another, or will I have to play a mage myself if I don't want to use him?

[Driderman]

I don't understand the problem. But on the other hand English is just another foreign language to me, although one that I am basically completely fluent in. What I mean is that for me a french accent is no more jarring than a man speaking middle american english.

I'm Danish so same situation for me. And it's not accent that's a problem for me, it's the used of actual, common expressions from the French language (like au revoir) that makes it problematic.

Don't think I'll ever let go of Cassandra. I'm in love with her, almost for real.

I have only watched up to the crossroads quest so... I can't stand that mage that you get from the beginning. Will there be another, or will I have to play a mage myself if I don't want to use him?

You get two more, an

Spoiler

Show

Orlesian(technically a Free Marcher) political bitch-queen

and a

Spoiler

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pompous Tevinter mage

at least. I prefer Solas (the first one) immensely to those two.

[Psyren]

Did a little quest for Dorian and got a makeout session. I spoke to him after and had the option to end our romance, so frenching him must have started it. So out of curiosity I called it off, and Dorian took it rather in stride (though he said he needed a drink.) And then even more curiously, I spoke to him right after and I had the option to start the romance, as though nothing had happened. I have no idea if this boomeranging is intentional, unique to Dorian, or a glitch.

To be on the safe side, I loaded an earlier save, and went with the "I think you were brave" friendly option rather than the "I think more of you" option that led to the makeout. I still got "greatly approves" but now I have the option to actually start the romance if I want. Perfect, now to chat up Iron Bull. (If only I could put Dorian's personality into Bull's body... perfection!)

Anyway, the source of Dorian's anger with his family came to light and it's a doozy:

Spoiler

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His father tried to cure the gay with blood magic, so that Dorian would go through with his arranged marriage to a female mage. Though Dorian found out and ran away before he could start.

His father seemed to only want forgiveness so I chose to convince Dorian to talk to him. No idea if my dialogue choice changes anything down the road.

I have only watched up to the crossroads quest so... I can't stand that mage that you get from the beginning. Will there be another, or will I have to play a mage myself if I don't want to use him?

You get Vivienne next, then Dorian is last. Nah, you won't have to wait long; you can have everyone recruited before you reach Skyhold if you seize your chances.

[Turalisj]

Okay, BIG IMPORTANT QUESTION TIME!

I've gotten my motivation in order and am ready to start THE MASTER PLAYTHROUGH, but there's one question I'm stuck over!

Spoiler: Are you ready?

Show

You sure?

Spoiler: Really? REALLY REALLY ready?

Show

Here we go...

Spoiler: THE QUESTION!

Show

What color should my Warden's hair be? Blond hair seems common among the Dalish, but it might look too much like Alistair. Black hair looks cool but it's identical to Morrigan's, who I'm romancing. I have no idea if brown hair or red hair would look good on him...HELP!

I went with white hair, but that's because she's based off of another character of mine.

And apparently multiplayer freezes the game for me.