Starting at DAI: MP - Need some help (Xbox One)

1) The difficulty levels from easiest to hardest are : Routine/Threatening/Perilous/Nightmare/Heartbreaker. During peak time(which is usually evenings/weekends) there should be plenty of pugs around in lower difficulties like Routine/Threatening. Perilous are less and Nightmare/Heartbreaker Pugs are scarce now. It doesn't mean on one is playing in harder difficulties though. The majority of people who play Nightmare/Heartbreaker are mostly in private lobbies. If you're just starting, it's not a good idea anyway to simply jump into Nightmare/Heartbreaker pugs when you do find one.(People don't mind new players in harder difficulties and many are willing to help.But playing in Nightmare/Heartbreaker requires certain status/gears to be an enjoyable experience, otherwise you'll just be one-shot by mobs and spend most of the time dead.That's no fun at all.) I suggest to begin search for pugs in Routine/Threatening, add people who you like to play with onto your friendlist and move onto harder levels as you progress on status/gears.

Btw I'm speaking from my own experience on PC about how many pugs there are on the assumption of that it's similar on Xbox1/PS4. Someone correct me if it's different on Xbox1. (Beerfish perhaps?)

2) Not sure about Xbox1 but check here.

3) No. They don't affect each other except for you can get some optional Skyhold decor for playing MP.

4) Korbin is no doubt the best choice for that. For new players PeguinFetish has a very good Legionnaire build here. Do note the skill "Unbow" in the build is obsolete and it's called "Livid" now. Also a very useful thread regarding using Shield Wall here DAIMP Resource Library(Pinned) is always a good place to look for info on character builds, gameplay mechanics, equipment etc. For general advice also check this thread

5) If you play one character over and over again, it does get repetitive fast. But there're 17 characters in total and it won't be long before you unlock them all. There are a lot of variations among characters so try playing different class from time to time. You won't be bored soon.

My personal opinion, always try to play in a group. What I find most fun in MP is the strategic play and teamwork. It's hard to get repetitive when you can try out various team compositions, experimenting the synergy between characters and unleash powerful/hilarious cross-class combos now and then.

Hope this helps

DRAGON AGE HQ: hq.dragonage.com/en_US/dashboard

Things to watch out for and keep...

Crescent's Shadow

1 Bow - Andruil's Gift (level 27 bow)
1 Dagger -The Bosun's Blade (level 27 dagger)
1 Greataxe - The Dancer's Axe (level 27 greataxe)
1 Shield - The Knight's Second (level 27 shield)
1a Longsword - Rime (level 27 sword)
1b Longsword - Brand (level 27 sword)
1c Longsword - Bolt (level 27 sword)

Amulet of Physical Immunity

Hakkon's Honor (level 26 1h sword)
Hakkon's Mercy (level 26 dagger)
Hakkon's Valor (level 26 2h sword)
Hakkon's Wisdom (level 26 staff)
Hakkon's Wrath (level 26 bow)

Valus Atredrum (1h sword)
Stone Breaker (maul)
Isana's Song (staff)
Silencer (dagger)
Tezpadam's Bane (bow)
Isatunoll(shield)

Guide Catalog

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1frhl_09eFpmZiT90A4F452n-7u0-xPHpi5U1ZCcr-K8/pubhtml

Multiplayer Equipment Document

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vbHLvX4T-CUA3YlNS2VSyuxhowg5P66Z3y8ZpLHBNMM/pubhtml

Nightmare and Heartbreaker dragon drop rates

15% - first Hakkon
7% - second Hakkon
5% - third Hakkon
2% - forth Hakkon
1% - fifth Hakkon
1% - second Hakkon Dagger
1% - level 26 weapons
1% - level 27 weapons
1% - chance of Crescent's Shadow after getting ALL of the above

1% - chance from the Store (so you might as well farm gold quickly and try there)

1% - chance to drop from faction Commander on Nightmare and Heartbreaker

The blue weapons you need to hold on to are as follows.

Revered Defender Longsword to get Valos Atredum
Revered Defender Maul to get Stone-Breaker
Lyrium-Infused Staff to get Isana's Song
Stone-Stalker Blade to get Silencer
Lyrium-Reinforced Bow to get Tezpadam's Bane
Revered Defender Shield to get Isatunoll

Hakkon Weapons Base Damage Ranges

Hakkon's Honor (1h sword): 224 - 233
Hakkon's Mercy (dagger): 166 - 172
Hakkon's Valor (2h sword): 311 - 324
Hakkon's Wisdom (staff): 87 - 89
Hakkon's Wrath (bow): 187 - 193

Crescent's Shadow ? - 243

Pact Belt + HP Bars

2 bars - 80 con
3 bars - 160 con
4 bars - 240 con
5 bars - 320 con
6 bars - 400 con
7 bars - 480 con
8 bars - 560 con

Explanation:
2 Bars of Health = (200 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 80
3 Bars of Health = (300 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 160
4 Bars of Health = (400 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 240
5 Bars of Health = (500 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 320
6 Bars of Health = (600 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 400
7 Bars of Health = (700 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 480
8 Bars of Health = (800 * 4 - 450) / 5 + 10 = 560

LOOT

You have a hidden 'loot score' based on the item cards you have collected. Items (not potions) in both the store chests and dungeon chests.

Basically there are different tiers, with 10000 items being the highest loot bucket.

Noone is really sure of what the tier brackets are (I assume blocks of 1000 but who the hell knows)

You need 800+ item loot score before the Hakkon weapons have a chance of dropping from the Nightmare and Heartbreaker dragons (possibly bugged as people have started new characters and gotten Hakkons fairly quickly)

*** Hakkon cards DO drop from the NM Commander fight (not just the dragon) I got a Crescent's Shadow from Red Templar Commander, and another from the Qunari Commander as proof ***

It is generally accepted that it takes 2.4 million gold spent to max out your loot score

Once you reach max loot score you still get loads of shite grey gear.

Promotions will not influence your drops at all.

Damage Calculation Formula

final_damage = (base_damage * rand(0.95 to 1.05) - armor * (1 - armor_penetration))
* (ability_multiplier)
* (1 + critical_damage_bonus + flanking_bonus)
* (1 + attack_bonus + damage_multiplier + type_bonus)
* (1 - magic_resistance)

Attributes and bonuses

Strength
Increases attack_bonus by 0.5% for each point above 10 (warriors only).
Increases guard_damage_bonus by 1% for each point above 10.

Dexterity
Increases attack_bonus by 0.5% for each point above 10 (rogues only).
Increases critical_damage_bonus by 1% for each point above 10.

Magic
Increases attack_bonus by 0.5% for each point above 10 (mages only).
Increases barrier_damage_bonus by 1% for each point above 10.

Constitution
Increases maximum health by 5.
Increases melee_defense by 0.5% for each point above 10.

Cunning
Increases critical chance by 0.5% for each point above 10.
Increases ranged_defense by 0.5% for each point above 10.

Willpower
Increases attack_bonus by 0.5% for each point above 10.
Increases magic_defense by 0.5% for each point above 10.

If I had seen this scary list earlier, I would have quit on my first day. Lucky me.