inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 30, 2023 7:59:38 GMT
Can anyone tell me which of the quests in the spoiler tag could give approval from Astarion? Afraid I cannot help you with that because I didn't have him with me for any of those. Just wondering: OK, there seems to be an approval pattern with children then. At least I choose to believe that two instances are proof, lol. So giving food to the hungry poor kid and then the girl form the quest. I didn't have him along for that quest either, so that's interesting. I would make some sense because of the Gur kids he abducted. So I could see that as a guilt reaction. Then again he should feel guilty about all sorts of other situations but he doesn't.
Btw there's a follow-up scene to the Gur I stumbled upon by accident in the sewers. Hope mentioning that isn't too much of a spoiler if you haven't come across it. And you'll only get it if you chose to free the spawn. It doesn't matter though. There will be NO reaction from Astarion! I was like, wft? Seriously, Larian dropped the ball there. It's especially disappointing because there's another encounter in the sewers relating to his arc that he will react to and it's pretty funny. The "funniest" thing however is that I got disapproval for it. LOL. Oh, also no reaction to the follow-up to the Drow from Moonrise Towers. Again, why??? I just ran into that Gur follow-up yesterday, without Astarion in my party. I'm glad I didn't miss any approval from him, but disappointed that it isn't even available. Damn. Is the drow the one making weird potions from your blood? I had Astarion with me when I met her again in the Lower City, and while he joined in the dialog, I was so disappointed to not get any approval for sticking up for him and for refusing her weird experiments. Sorry to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure the game fucked us both over and Astarion will never love us. You'll have to accept that. *g* It's driving me nuts. I hate feeling like I'm missing content with a potentially interesting character. I did a long rest, hoping that him finally reaching "medium" would trigger a new camp scene, but no. Hopefully my next Tav will have more luck
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 30, 2023 3:14:28 GMT
Can anyone tell me which of the quests in the spoiler tag could give approval from Astarion? I'm generally a goody-goody druid, and already completed Astarion's Act 3 quest (to his satisfaction, based on the cutscene, but I only got 4 approval points from it). No spoilers please, just...let me know if any of these are worth bringing Astarion to for approval purposes - Find House of Hope and get the Orphic Hammer
- Rescue Wyll's dad, if possible (he broke his pact)
- Avenge the Drowned (have picked up the quest, but haven't done anything else with it yet)
Find and re-kill Auntie Ethel (I have already visited the researchers and got some items from them to help)- Find the rest of Dribbles' body
Save Vanra (who the people at the pub claim doesn't exist)- Defeat the Banites at the top floor of Felogyr's Fireworks
- Find Omeluum (just learned he is missing, but haven't looked for him yet)
- Take Shadowheart to the House of Grief
- Break into and search Tolna's office for Gale's book
- Disable the Steel Watch
- Get Gortash's Netherstone
- Kill the brain, I guess
Edit: I took him to save Vanra, where he earned 5 approval. He gave me more approval for saving a random peasant child and being a bit sassy with the villain, than he did for finishing his personal quest At least he's at medium now.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 29, 2023 1:50:39 GMT
Just a general reminder that I am still on my first playthrough, so no spoilers for the ending, please.
I like Astarion BUT His story of trauma is quite immature. When you're an abused teenager you get a pass for being a meanie who hates the world. At 300 years old, you don't.
To both of you: Astarion's approval is a bit weird. I'm still trying to make sense of it. I disagree that he's a complete piece of shit but agree that his past does not excuse his behavior. Makes it understandable to me, it's still a realistic reaction to trauma imo, but it's not something I will excuse. Astarion does approve of doing good things sometimes. He liked giving food to a poor kid once. That was totally unexpected! I almost never took him along though so I don't have many samples to go on to discern a pattern here.
I think there's a disconnect between his character arc progression and his approval system. It doesn't match. I assume his approval is hard coded to always be the same even after you soften him up. I guess it would have been very complicated to code two different versions of a scenario based on whether or not you made him softer or full blown evil vampire overlord. Realistically there should be a difference but I get why there isn't.
Of course you could make a case for Astarion just being very self centered. That deep down he doesn't really get better, you just make sure he doesn't get the opportunity to get worse.
What I absolutely love about his character is that when his walls come down in the palace he lets you see how he thinks. "Nobody ever gave a shit about me!" That's his psychology and excuse right there. He HATES the idea that somebody so kind like the PC exists who would help a random stranger. How other people were saved while he rotted away for two centuries. He's SUPER bitter. And jealous.
Imo it's very believable that the only way he didn't go insane was to become hardened and turn off all compassion. He's not a real narcissist to me because he feels immense shame and GUILT for the things he had to do. All the victims he had to seduce. The scene with Sebastian is heart breaking. His reaction was not one of a man who doesn't give a shit deep down. It's a man who pushed all that shame and guilt away. He basically begs the PC to understand and forgive him, crying how it wasn't his fault. But knowing that what he did was really inexcusable. When you tell him that maybe he deserves to be devoured by his victims he shouts "Of course I deserve it!" A narcissist NEVER admits he did something wrong, they never accept responsibility. He does though. And he becomes conflicted about what to do with his former victims. He admits that he wants them gone to erase the ugly reminder of his guit and shame. Very selfish, he knows it too. He's being completely honest for the first time and admits to all his bullshit defensive mechanisms.
He knows very well he's a piece of shit. And when he finally is free to choose for the first time in a long time he doesn't know what to do with his victims. There's goodness in him. And you can appeal to it and he'll then agree that giving them a chance is the right thing to do. Astarion got his freedom and now he thinks his victims deserve it too. Whatever they make of it. THAT is not on him now.
I totally get that it seems eye rolling that a grown man would be so petty. Judging by his face he was around 30 when he was turned? Old enough to reflect. But imo it does make sense regardless of age and how much time has passed. We ALL lie to ourselves to make ourselves feel better. Astarion and Shadowheart react very differently to abuse. It made them very different people. But they both make sense to me as trauma response. Shadowheart had all her confidence stolen and she was kept in childlike insecurity like so many young victims of abuse. While Astarion put up that facade of an uncaring asshole to protect his heart. SH had her faith to convince herself that everything was fine. Lied to herself that Shar and mother superior loved her. Astarion became cynical, losing all faith in mankind because he saw so much depravity. Can't get hurt if you just hate everyone. This might seem juvenile, yes. But plenty of adults are like that. The older the more bitter you become. And Astarion is bitter AF.
That said, he does believe he's somehow owed something better than he got. He's not exactly wrong. Nobody deserves such a fate. But it's really petty to deem others less deserving. So there's something at the core of Astarion that is arrogant, probably because he was used to the good life as a high elf? Do we know? He's all nobility posh. Condescending comes with the territory.
And some people have a bigger drive for power than others. And I don't think it's ALL a result of the abuse and wanting power so that nobody can hurt him anymore. To some degree, for sure. To a big degree probably. But Astarion will never be a selfless person. He'll always be a kind of jerk. A very sensitive fragile jerk. But a jerk.
I think he grows a lot. I find his story very moving. But he's a gray character. If he never got turned into a spawn he'd probably be some rich jerk looking down on others, taking what he wants. So the root of Astarion's character flaws aren't his trauma, I don't think. He's not heatless though. He just doesn't like to be vulnerable, so I understand why he gets called a narcissist. Narcissists have very fragile egos and will do anything to avoid shame. Which is what he's been doing for a long time. But he'll admit it finally which is a key difference imo.
Okaaay, too much rambling! See, what's annoying me about all this is that I got to see a glimpse of this side of Astarion after I killed Cazador and freed the spawns, and saw Astarion just break down in front of me and thank me for believing in him. But due to his bugged (?) approval, I feel like I won't get to see that side of him again this playthrough, and I will miss (and have already missed) tons of his story. I know there's always next playthrough, but it's frustrating to get only a small taste of what is probably a compelling character who I would likely enjoy spending time with. (Meanwhile, Gale is happy to prattle on about whatever, even though I hardly ever let him leave camp. Why can't I have approval problems with Gale instead?)
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 28, 2023 4:20:56 GMT
Not only does he warm up, he also gains the bite attack. He gets that anyway. I didn't let him bite me, but promised him he'd have plenty of enemies to bite (something like that). I really like Wyll. I don't see too many talk about him, but he's a good character. I like Wyll, too. I was going to romance him until Lae'zel won me over by rolling her eyes at me
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 27, 2023 14:13:32 GMT
For those having problems with raising Astarions approval: Talk to His Majesty, the cat in the Last Light Inn - Astarion is clearly a cat person. I'm already in act 3. I talked to His Majesty several times. I don't remember if I had Astarion with me the first time, but I did for subsequent attempts. Nothing special ever happened. Are you saying this should have given more approval points than his actual personal quest (aka at least 5 points)?
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 27, 2023 3:44:14 GMT
I was wandering around the lower city with Jaheira today, when I entered a home that I assumed would be just some random citizen's house like any other. Nope. It was Jaheira's family. What a thing to wander into without expecting it. Surprises like this is why I've been avoiding guides as much as possible, even if it means stupid Astarion stays neutral forever. -------------------------------------------------- It doesn't make any sense why Astarion is different. Unless letting him bite you is somehow crucial. That I didn't do. Otherwise I was being super supportive and his profuse gratitude at the end of his questline does not match his approval at all. You can't explain that away with "Well, he's a complicated man". I don't buy it. Shit's bugged, fight me. I didn't let him bite me, either. I wonder if that is the source of the bug. Maybe it isn't supposed to be crucial, but is bugged to be. Like letting him bite you is supposed to unlock some sort of friendship barrier (or friendship convo) later that could be triggered by other means, but some alternative way isn't triggering like it's supposed to. It has to be. His post-quest speech makes no sense without a huge approval boost or existing high approval. Meanwhile, I've been dragging him around since then in hopes something will trigger somewhere, but no. I've gotten more inspiration points from him, though At least he's pulling his weight disarming traps for me. Still, it's time for Karlach or Shadowheart to get their turn to leave camp, so I hope he enjoyed his time in my party while it lasted.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 26, 2023 2:14:09 GMT
He's still neutral.This makes no sense. I went through Reithwin Town with Astarion and got big approval jumps from persuading my way out of big fights. I was quite creeped out by Reithwin Town at first (doing House of Healing at midnight didn't help), but it turned out to be quite a lot of fun for my high CHA sorcerer. I wasn't closely following your interactions with Astarion, did you give him the Book that he wanted so much? I was playing a little of my first abandoned PT where Astarion was at neutral, and I made sure I did the monster hunter, the book, Aja, and Reithwin Town with him, and his neutral went up to high by end of Act 2. I had to look up which book you mean. If it's the necromancy book from Act 1, then no, I destroyed that. I didn't even realize (or remember) that he wanted it. He's been in my party a lot, though I don't remember if he was with me at the House of Healing or the Toll Collector when I talked my way out of fights. This is my first playthrough, so it's not like I know ahead of time who to bring where for max approval (aside from their own missions, in theory), and yet, Astarion is the only one I'm having trouble with.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 26, 2023 0:40:15 GMT
Ok, at this point, I have to believe that Astarion's approval is bugged. I just did his act 3 quest and killed Cazador, freed the spawns, and convinced Astarion not to continue the ritual for himself. When we got back to camp, he thanked me, over and over again, for not letting him do it, and for believing in him just the way he is. I saw him sobbing. We bonded. And do you know how much approval I got for all that? 4 points. Four. For a total of 20. He's still neutral.This makes no sense. Even Jaheira is already at medium approval, and she just barely joined up. This is bugged, right? WTF. On a completely different note, Yenna has disappeared from my camp, even though Halsin was the one kidnapped by Orin (and my next major goal will be to free him). Her cat is still there, still asking me to please not look at him. But she has vanished. Is that a bug, or is something more sinister at play?
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 16, 2023 8:01:11 GMT
I think I got another bug. I did the part of Moonrise Towers where you rescue the tieflings, Wulbren, and the other gnomes. After I kept getting caught trying to steal Wulbren's weapon back, I ended up going through the...red bloody underground passage that I can't remember the name of (which I accidentally found earlier after I got arrested).
That means Wulbren didn't have a weapon, so the gnomes tried unsuccessfully to break down the wall for the tieflings, who escaped through their conveniently-open cell gates instead. So when the guards showed up to start a fight, my party ended up taking care of the battle ourselves. The gnomes were nowhere near the fighting.
When I reached Last Light Inn with the escaped prisoners, my journal had two entries for Wulbren's fate: one for his survival, and one for his death. So I went to talk to Barcus, and the only option I had was to tell him Wulbren was dead.
But how was he dead if the gnomes were nowhere near the fighting?
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 16, 2023 4:42:03 GMT
Alright, I'm at Moonrise Towers with Karlach, Astarion, and Gale. So far, Karlach has received a "gift" from someone from her past, and Astarion declined the chance to do something he would usually be excited to do. I didn't try to force him to do it, which netted me some approval from him. He's now at...15 He also said thanks. He sounded really surprised or confused to hear himself saying that.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 15, 2023 21:59:30 GMT
Who do you all like taking to Moonrise Towers for story reasons? (If you can say without spoiling why.) I was thinking Wyll, Halsin, and Lae'zel (love interest), but I'm not sure yet. Even though I haven't done Shadowfell? Well, if it's not possible to raise his approval anymore in this act (aside from single points here and there), then I will make room in my party for someone else. His prickly ass can stay at camp. The man's mood is driving me crazy. Like, one day he approves of me giving food to a child. WOW! Really, you approve of doing something NICE now? How come?? The next day we talk about that mage asshole in the city concerning the Nightsong business, he wants to see that fucker destroyed too. All right, we agree on something! So I take him along thinking I can get some approval maybe and when I tell the asshat mage he's done Astarion disapproves. GODAMMIT, MAN! Is there no pleasing you? What's the fucking pattern here?? Goooshhh... So yeah, unless there's a chance something is related to him he stays at camp. Every time I take him along I regret it. Not that things can get worse than the unwavering Neutral... I'm trying hard not to regret taking him places. At least his skills were useful through the Gauntlet, but I regret potentially losing approval from one of the other companions. Or just...losing the opportunity to hang out with a companion that I like better. A lot of the approval system doesn't really make sense to me, just not to the same extreme as Astarion. For example, I thought I would get a huge approval boost from Karlach when I got her heart shielded and hugged her but no, she's still at medium approval. Even though I haven't done Shadowfell? Well, if it's not possible to raise his approval anymore in this act (aside from single points here and there), then I will make room in my party for someone else. His prickly ass can stay at camp. If you havent done Shadowfell, you can still access the Moonrise towers with the cultists there. I thought you had finished that part completely. No, when I got the warning about wrapping up other quests first, I cancelled and fast traveled back to the inn.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 15, 2023 10:58:06 GMT
There's Astarion specific dialogue with an npc in the Moonrise towers if you infiltrate the tower while the cultists are there. If you have done the Gauntlet of Shar though, it is no longer accessible. Even though I haven't done Shadowfell? Well, if it's not possible to raise his approval anymore in this act (aside from single points here and there), then I will make room in my party for someone else. His prickly ass can stay at camp.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 15, 2023 3:49:09 GMT
Half-elf druid, Act 2, First playthrough Astarion's approval of me is still in the single digits Unfortunately, I had a conversation with Raphael without Astarion in the party several days ago, because of course I didn't know he was going to pop up. But I dragged Astarion through Shar's gauntlet (except for Shadowfell, because I'm not ready for that yet), including killing Raphael's target, and Astarion didn't care at all. I thought doing what Raphael wanted would make Astarion at least a little bit happy.
I think all I have left to do is double check some side quests for completion, then start Moonrise towers, and then probably go back to Shadowfell (due to the warning I got clicking on it, I assume it's the end of the act).
Should I bother bringing Astarion to Moonrise Towers? I figure I already have to bring Wyll since his father is being held prisoner, and I wanted room in the party to bring plenty of muscle along.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 14, 2023 23:56:10 GMT
Half-elf druid, Act 2, First playthroughI found Balthazar... Balthazar: *evil villain speech about recovering the relic except those blasted Shar goons are in the way, so Tav needs to get rid of them* Shadowheart: (to Tav) It might be a good idea to play along, for now. Tav: (to Balthazar) I'll see what I can do. *Shadowheart disapproves*OMFG Shadowheart...
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 13, 2023 2:11:49 GMT
2-4 + Hefty Book Spoiler questions Wait, damain? Was that it? And it turns out both can channel it's just (mostly) blind luck who gets to be on which end of the leash right?
Damane are women who will channel eventually no matter how hard they might try to resist. The leash-holders (unbeknownst to the Seanchan) are women who are capable of learning to channel, but who would not do so naturally without training.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 12, 2023 0:05:27 GMT
It took me multiple tries to save the woman holding the shield above the Last Light Inn. Then it took me two tries to defend Halsin's portal. The second time, I used two extremely expensive wall-conjuring spell scrolls, and accidentally destroyed the second wall myself right at the last minute. Halsin appeared soon after, so I guess it didn't matter, but goodness I was mad at myself. That was a lot of gold down the drain. I found the trick with that was to have one of your party directly healing her every turn, while the fighters wail on the opposition. That is what I ended up doing, plus using vines and spikes to slow down the opponents trying to come into the room.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 11, 2023 3:47:52 GMT
Half-Elf Druid, Level 7, Act 2, First PlaythroughI've done a lot since I last posted here. Lae'zel's dialog bug seemed to move on for good once she challenged me to a fight to prove we were worthy of each other's love, I guess. Now our camp is covered in acid because Lae'zel used all the fancy arrows I'd given her against me. And all her health potions. But when I healed myself, she accused me of cheating. I kept healing myself anyway, because I had more health potions than she did, plus a healing spell, and I won the fight. Whatever. We're an item now. It took me multiple tries to save the woman holding the shield above the Last Light Inn. Then it took me two tries to defend Halsin's portal. The second time, I used two extremely expensive wall-conjuring spell scrolls, and accidentally destroyed the second wall myself right at the last minute. Halsin appeared soon after, so I guess it didn't matter, but goodness I was mad at myself. That was a lot of gold down the drain. Halsin joined the party then, and to my confusion, started off with a 0 approval score. I feel like if he's addressing me as "my friend," and I rescued him, and saved the grove, and defended his portal, I should start with at least medium approval from him. So now I have to worry about both him and Astarion I think I'll go get the second bit of infernal metal while I have Karlach in my party, then swap her out for Astarion and hope I happen upon some ways to make him happy. In the graveyard, I unexpectedly found Arabella, who is some sort of druidic prodigy now? I learned a spell from her and she's hanging out with Withers until we leave the Shadow lands.
I found her parents dead at the creepy hospital, where I defeated the surgeon by making his nurses kill each other, and then convincing him to kill himself. That didn't earn me the Steam trophy, I guess because we weren't in combat. Too bad. I'm thinking about multi-classing. Any opinions on that? I'm going to look up what druid spells I might be missing out on at higher levels, but if nothing seems like a must-have, then it might be nice to take a few levels in another class.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 9, 2023 7:43:16 GMT
Maybe one of these? I've played these and liked them to some degree (some a lot more than others):
Beyond a Steel Sky Eternal Threads The Forgotten City Pentiment Road 96 What Remains of Edith Finch
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 9, 2023 5:54:52 GMT
I have no drawn-out comments at the moment because it's late and I still want to play more BG3, but I just watched episodes 1-4 and enjoyed them a lot. Even with the changes to the story, the characters still feel like themselves and most of the changes are working for me so far, for what they are. The new Mat might actually make me like Mat as a character I never was a fan of Mat in the books, but season 1 Mat seemed like a completely different character altogether. Too broody and gloomy. S2E3 Processing. But improvement continues. Nynaeve That was a big change from the books, right? I think I vaguely recall her seeing something about her parents dying, but don't remember her getting stuck in the arches in the books. I watched with a friend who is currently reading the books, and she does remember Nynaeve's 3rd arch taking forever. I can't remember for myself, though. It's been too long.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 7, 2023 23:55:54 GMT
I just started act 2 and had one more bug As we approached the door to the Shadowlands (?), Gale's old wizard friend was waiting for us and we were forced into a conversation with him. The game seemed to forget that I'd already met him at the mountain pass and we already talked about Gale's suicide mission. So we had that talk at camp all over again.
At least Lae'zel's dialog bug seems to be fixed. I just clicked on her and she said, "Speak, I am listening," instead of "you must have questions." Soooo, progress, I guess?
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 6, 2023 4:26:36 GMT
dragontartare Lots of opportunities still to raise Astarion's approval. Question though, how often do you have him in the party? Between the bite scene, goblin camp, and the Myconid colony, you should have some decent approval. If you are struggling, just know that you have some decent approval opportunities in Act 2 (so long as you don't ignore him, and leave him at camp all the time). If you want some info on that, just let us know. Myself and others shall provide! Have fun! I actually didn't let him bite me So I guess that didn't help matters. He was with me for a long while until I decided Shadowheart needed another chance to leave camp, so he was present for part of the goblin camp, and then for part of the myconid colony and all of Grymforge so far. He wasn't with me for the creche at all, and I wonder if he would have liked some of my decisions there more. I'll keep trying, though. I have a tadpole I can give him.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 6, 2023 3:20:36 GMT
1st playthrough, Act 1, half-elf DruidAny tips for getting approval from Astarion? I've got Lae'zel at 100, Wyll at "very high", Shadowheart at "high," Karlach medium or so last I checked, and Gale at...who knows, because I never bring him with me But Astarion remains in the single digits for approval. He seems to hate everything I do no matter what. And he's the only companion who hasn't really mentioned a quest, other than he's worried his former master can still control him. Have I missed something? I'm at camp at Grymforge after beheading Nere, but still have to find where I can actually forge weapons. But first, deliver Nere's head to some mushrooms. I just made Volo run screaming from the camp. I finally decided to ask about his research into the parasite (as Wyll, but I didn't think that mattered), and declined to let him poke my eyeball. The result was him running around camp screaming for a few seconds, before he vanished entirely. It's going to be really inconvenient not having a merchant right there to offload all my ill-gotten gains.
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 5, 2023 4:07:45 GMT
E1 was 'fine'. This was 'good'. I haven't started watching yet because I'm still hooked on Baldur's Gate 3, but "fine" and "good" sound promising, at least
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 3, 2023 8:20:31 GMT
1st playthrough, Act 1, level 5 Half-Elf Druid, female, criminal background, romancing Lae'zelI got a bit of a bug, which led to another bug, which led to the fixing of the first bug...kind of...but not really. After finding out about Vlaakith's potential betrayal, not killing my guardian in the prism, and killing only as many gith as necessary to leave the creche, every time I tried to talk to Lae'zel, she said, "you must have questions." And I, the player, did indeed have questions! But my character had none. The screen would do a little animation skip, like two clips had been spliced together poorly, and then the only dialog options I got were the default ones to tell her to stay at camp, break up with her, or leave. I tried advancing the story a bit further (found Gale's friend, Discount Gandalf, and took him to camp), then long resting, then tried reloading various points...nothing worked to let me ask Lae'zel anything. Finally, after loading a save from before finding Gale's friend, I long rested, then decided to fast travel back to the grove directly from camp. Instead, I got transported to our old campsite, and it was night time again, but the campfire said "leave camp." So I clicked it, and instead of us leaving camp, another long rest was triggered...this time, with Voss visiting to strike a deal: we bring the prism to Baldur's Gate, and we free the guardian from inside, leading to Vlaakith's defeat. When we "woke up," we were fully rested, Lae'zel finally had something to say other than "you must have questions"...and it was still night time, except we were back at the mountain pass. And I couldn't leave camp, because the game thought it was night time again, so I had to long rest again before I could leave. I poked around the grove, traveled back to the mountain pass to kill the death shepherd again and grab Discount Gandalf, and Lae'zel is back to saying "you must have questions." Edit: I went to a merchant and realized all my gold -- and all my companions' gold -- was gone I had to reload to right after Voss's visit to fix it
|
|
inherit
Now Available As A Combo Meal!
984
0
16,408
dragontartare
Add a cookie for just $1.99 (plus tax)!
5,596
Aug 14, 2016 19:06:09 GMT
August 2016
dragontartare
Mass Effect Trilogy, Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age 2, Dragon Age Inquisition, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect Andromeda, Mass Effect Legendary Edition
DragonsALaMode
|
Post by dragontartare on Sept 1, 2023 5:02:19 GMT
1st playthrough, Act 1, level 5 Half-Elf Druid, female, Circle of Land, criminal backgroundI decided not to go back to the Underdark just yet, and instead went to finally deal with Auntie Ethel. Lae'zel didn't appreciate how I handled this conversation. Her glare at the end of the clip Then, I accidentally killed Mayrina in the battle with the hag. Oops.
But I got a present from a pink frog, so that was nice. I'm going to try to go back to her scary prisoner cave tomorrow, because I think some of the potions from her lab might help free them.
|
|