Junior Adventurer's Guild - November: Dragon Age: Origins

[gerey]

then why play medieval fantasy

So I don't have to look at black people.

[Tweed]

then why play medieval fantasy

So I don't have to look at black people.

Umm, sweatie

[1998]

Finished the Deep Roads. Killed that *****.

I actually enjoyed it quite a bit this time, even the length. Great dungeon overall.

[1998]

NO SKIP

[Reichspepe]

Tip, use stealing often on NPCs, you get some pretty good stuff. Somehow I never used it until this playthrough.

[fkirenicus]

Tip, use stealing often on NPCs, you get some pretty good stuff. Somehow I never used it until this playthrough.

Yep, from the higher-ups you can get decent potions, for example. Quite handy both for selling and actually using to boost or protect yourself. Also, save at least one diamond for DA:A... if I recall correctly, you will need one. And, oh, a grandmaster flame rune as well.
(both can be stolen (as random loot) from bosses or super-bosses, the ones with orange names)

[Jordy]

LFG

[Jordy]

Dwarves stole my stuff. 0/10 would not stay again.

[Jordy]

Makes children fatherless.

[Jordy]

I thought I recognised Loghain's voice.

[Oyster Sauce]

► Show Spoiler

On to Awakening. First time I've gone past the main campaign.

[fkirenicus]

► Show Spoiler

On to Awakening. First time I've gone past the main campaign.

Remember: there are a few gamebreaking bugs in DA:A. You should at least get the Silverite mine bugfix. Good luck.

[Jordy]

One thing I've noticed comparing DAO to BG3, the story flows a lot better. You go from your Origin story > Join the Grey Wardens > Battle of Ostagar. After that, the world opens up and you have a few goals. There is an urgency due to the threat of the darkspawn that keeps the story moving when you get to Lothering.
Compare that to BG3 where you're kind of just wondering aimlessly looking for quests and random people to pick up along the way.

[gerey]

One thing that I've always been puzzled about, especially for a game that ostensibly draws inspiration from ASOIAF, is how a commoner queen is suddenly the heir to the throne and can name her father regent.

Even if the king doesn't have any direct heirs, or brothers/sisters/parents, there's still going to be a lot of other nobles with valid claims to the throne (and the squabbling would soon degenerate into civil war). I always felt that the writers made the whole thing needlessly convoluted, could have just Loghain the king's uncle, or some other close blood relative.

Also, weird that they picked "Bann" as the title for nobility, since that's what the rulers of Bosnia used to called themselves, spelled as "Ban", at least until the 14th century. I wonder what chain of events led them to pick that specific title.

[fkirenicus]

One thing that I've always been puzzled about, especially for a game that ostensibly draws inspiration from ASOIAF, is how a commoner queen is suddenly the heir to the throne and can name her father regent.

Even if the king doesn't have any direct heirs, or brothers/sisters/parents, there's still going to be a lot of other nobles with valid claims to the throne (and the squabbling would soon degenerate into civil war). I always felt that the writers made the whole thing needlessly convoluted, could have just Loghain the king's uncle, or some other close blood relative.

Also, weird that they picked "Bann" as the title for nobility, since that's what the rulers of Bosnia used to called themselves, spelled as "Ban", at least until the 14th century. I wonder what chain of events led them to pick that specific title.

Well, Loghain took precautions that the most powerful contender (who also was related to Cailan) was literally put down... at least to sleep. Given the way these characters are presented, the outburst of Teagan in Denerim after Ostagar is not enogh to really rally the opposition against Loghain, but presumably Eamon's would have done the trick. Hence: Jowan to Redcliffe.
We also get to know very little about the civil war for the throne that follows (except for one or maybe two sidequests), but we know enough that Loghain under no circumstance had the support of every noble - not least because of the reason you mention.

Also - nice bit of side info there. It is highly likely the writers of Bioware were aware of this, several of them judging from their names having their roots in (middle-)eastern Europe.

[Element]

Also, weird that they picked "Bann" as the title for nobility

Ban means white in Irish, and is a base in a lot of common words - baine (milk), bainis (wedding). Fereldan draws a bit of inspiration from Ireland (Morrigan - Mor Rioghan from Irish mythology, Loghain Mac Tir literally means Loghain Son of the Land)

[rusty_shackleford]

One thing that I've always been puzzled about, especially for a game that ostensibly draws inspiration from ASOIAF, is how a commoner queen is suddenly the heir to the throne and can name her father regent.

Even if the king doesn't have any direct heirs, or brothers/sisters/parents, there's still going to be a lot of other nobles with valid claims to the throne (and the squabbling would soon degenerate into civil war). I always felt that the writers made the whole thing needlessly convoluted, could have just Loghain the king's uncle, or some other close blood relative.

Also, weird that they picked "Bann" as the title for nobility, since that's what the rulers of Bosnia used to called themselves, spelled as "Ban", at least until the 14th century. I wonder what chain of events led them to pick that specific title.

Because the people love her. It's why the king acts like he does, he's trying to be a hero to win the favor of the people.
Claim to the throne means little when nobody will pick up a sword to push that claim.

[1998]

My favorite AG month so far. Not because it was the best game out of the pool, but because I was thinking of replaying it for years and there was always one other game ahead of it.

Great game, and sad to see what had become of it

[Boontaker]

dead dwarves tell no tales.png

Entered orzammar with 50g, left with 300g, an army of golems, and a dead shayle. Worth

[Oyster Sauce]

This gay character from DA2 sure likes talking about ******* women a lot

[rusty_shackleford]

This gay character from DA2 sure likes talking about ******* women a lot

Complete character assassination, not even remotely the same character.

[Oyster Sauce]

They really should have backported these extra runes and slots into Origins

[Tweed]

This gay character from DA2 sure likes talking about ******* women a lot

Complete character assassination, not even remotely the same character.

The only good thing about ****** ***** Anders in DA2 is taking him to The Fade.

[wndrbr]

LFG

[Oyster Sauce]

I do not care for talking darkspawn

[fkirenicus]

They really should have backported these extra runes and slots into Origins

For rune slots: It's (relatively) simple .gda (2da) editing, actually.
The runes themselves is a different matter, but there are mods that do it (ofc, these also handle the slots).

[TKVNC]

One thing that I've always been puzzled about, especially for a game that ostensibly draws inspiration from ASOIAF, is how a commoner queen is suddenly the heir to the throne and can name her father regent.

Even if the king doesn't have any direct heirs, or brothers/sisters/parents, there's still going to be a lot of other nobles with valid claims to the throne (and the squabbling would soon degenerate into civil war). I always felt that the writers made the whole thing needlessly convoluted, could have just Loghain the king's uncle, or some other close blood relative.

Also, weird that they picked "Bann" as the title for nobility, since that's what the rulers of Bosnia used to called themselves, spelled as "Ban", at least until the 14th century. I wonder what chain of events led them to pick that specific title.

The Titles are all a weird fusion of Early Middle Ages Nobility, from most of Europe, although primarily the British Isles (and I guess arguably, Germany and Southern Denmark).

Arl is just Earl - which is from Old Saxon Eorl
Bann is derived from Bannan - Bannan being Old-Saxon for a Command of Men (though I don't believe it's a title, perhaps Bosnia the title derives from the same root)
Teryn is a different spelling Tiern - which is an Old Brythonic Title for a Nobleman, specifically a Prince or High-Ranking Nobleman, hence the way it is used in game (Brythonic meaning Old-Welsh)

[rusty_shackleford]

I'd guess bann is just from baron
my guess is based on bann being below arl and baron being below earl irl

[logincrash]

I've posted this somewhere here already, but I too find the idea of the Fereldan nobility supporting Anora to be ridiculous.

► spoilers for one of the endings

And the fact that female Cousland can become the Queen, while male Cousland can only be the prince-consort is even more laughable.
First of, the Cousland family predates the kingdom of Ferelden. They've been a noble house before a Theirin even thought of uniting the lands. Their title of Teyrn is second only to the king. Secondly, Bryce Cousland, the human noble PC's father, has been offered the throne before. He refused, saying that a Theirin should remain on the throne. Third, male Cousland is a legitimate son of a Teyrn and has been groomed from birth for rulership and command. He's a both a talented warrior and a skilled administrator.
Male Cousland's claim on the throne is on par with, if not stronger than, Alistair's, since Alistair's a ******* who's been raised in a stable and was given to the Chantry precisely so that he would be unable to contest Cailan's claim. Anora's a childless (which is most likely not her fault, but still) daughter of a peasant. Her only good skill is peacetime administration. There's no way in hell that she should have enough leverage to deny Cousland his kingship.
The Theirin line is pretty much finished, as Grey Wardens are unlikely to have children. Plus there's a question of Theirin virility; both Maric and Cailan were quite the philanderers and yet there's only a single ******* between the two of them (Alistair). Couslands, however, still have Fergus. So, putting the Cousland PC on the throne averts a succession crisis when Fergus makes a bunch of new Orens.

[TKVNC]

I've posted this somewhere here already, but I too find the idea of the Fereldan nobility supporting Anora to be ridiculous.

► spoilers for one of the endings

And the fact that female Cousland can become the Queen, while male Cousland can only be the prince-consort is even more laughable.
First of, the Cousland family predates the kingdom of Ferelden. They've been a noble house before a Theirin even thought of uniting the lands. Their title of Teyrn is second only to the king. Secondly, Bryce Cousland, the human noble PC's father, has been offered the throne before. He refused, saying that a Theirin should remain on the throne. Third, male Cousland is a legitimate son of a Teyrn and has been groomed from birth for rulership and command. He's a both a talented warrior and a skilled administrator.
Male Cousland's claim on the throne is on par with, if not stronger than, Alistair's, since Alistair's a ******* who's been raised in a stable and was given to the Chantry precisely so that he would be unable to contest Cailan's claim. Anora's a childless (which is most likely not her fault, but still) daughter of a peasant. Her only good skill is peacetime administration. There's no way in hell that she should have enough leverage to deny Cousland his kingship.
The Theirin line is pretty much finished, as Grey Wardens are unlikely to have children. Plus there's a question of Theirin virility; both Maric and Cailan were quite the philanderers and yet there's only a single ******* between the two of them (Alistair). Couslands, however, still have Fergus. So, putting the Cousland PC on the throne averts a succession crisis when Fergus makes a bunch of new Orens.

The Game's Lore is superficially interesting, but on investigation, is flimsy.

► Show Spoiler

Should have been a King Cousland option, indeed.