Inquistion - One-Life permadeath
Jun 16, 2022 10:25:44 GMT
themikefest, DragonKingReborn, and 1 more like this
Post by kalreegar on Jun 16, 2022 10:25:44 GMT
After beating Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2 without dying once (difficulty: hard), I decided to continue my final playthrough, with my canon Inquisitor, Vallhon Trevelyan.
Same Rules: one life. If I die, it's game over. Difficulty: hard.
Origins had a lot of tension, and in 6-7 occasions I really risked game over. Left with only one party member standing, I saved myself with bombs and potions most of the time.
Dragon Age 2 had HUGE amout of tension. It was AWESOME. Thrilling. Limited resources and culldown for potions, bombs, etc. makes every move count. There were at least 30-40 fights to the death... so close.. One of the most satisfying experiences as a gamer.
So, time for Dragon Age inquisition.
The campaign was very, very enjoyable, but I must say, the game is so much easier than the two previous games.
The "open world" maps allow you to avoid confrontations that are too difficult, and if things get bad, easily run away. To level up fast and without danger.
By being careful just enough, leveling, exploring and equipping the party with ordinary diligence, after the first 10-15 hours, it becomes virtually impossible to die, unless you do some really stupid mistake.
Throughout the base game, I have no recollection of particularly dangerous or challenging enemies, but simply bosses or situation to be dealt carefully, without getting distracted or overconfident, using barriers and guards correctly.
The only occasions when I took serious risks were both in the Frostback Basin. The first time, I approach a simple fight (the mission to free Storvacker), lightly and superficially. One of the few times I was overconfident. Suddenly, all the party members are down, like in 3 seconds. Only the inquisitor survives: he backs away calmly and casts a mark of the rift, solving the situation.
The second, way more dangerous, was inside the Old Tevinter Temple, in the section where you have to overcome the ice magic by lighting the fire in the braziers.
In the middle of a fight, the party disperses, and the ice begins to take effect. In the heat of combat, I notice the ice effect too late. Pause. Confusion. PANIC. Breath deeply. Desperatly, I search for the closest member to a brazier.
It's Cole. It's not so far away, but not even close. A race against time, with the screen getting whiter and whiter. Every movement must be precise. Cole pulls it off. Relief.
Things changed slightly in the DLC Deep Roads, where the were more a half dozen cold-sweat, long, complex fights in which every move had to be carefully planned, and was required a dragon age 2-style micromanagement of the party.
The fight against the Dark Prole Emissary was epic, dangerous, one of the longest ever in all the series, sealed by Cole with a devastating critical attack.
Game Summary
The Inquisitor: Vallhon Trevelyan. Human, warrior (champion).
Compared to the Hero of Ferelden (an egotistical noble, all honor, and bravado, and chivalry, however honorable) and Hawke (an adventurer, complex, intelligent but ultimately a selfish man) the inquisitor is more the typical good man: honest, brave, tireless, a good fighter... but in the end, nothing so special or brilliant. Almost a mediocre personality, if compared with the glorious, charismatic Warden or with the smart, ambitious Hawke.
Nevertheless, the right man for the inquisition.
A good leader. Willing to compromise, and accept everyone, free of any kind of ideological, racial, or political fanaticism... but neither compassionate or overly tolerant. Efficiency and common sense, I would say.
A man who knows that he is the only one who can save Thedas, and he pursues this mission with diligence and responsibility. But always remaining, somehow, down-to-earth.
Unlike previous characters, he didn't evolve much over the course of the game.
He was prepared for betrayal, and for the fact that some of his choiches will sooner or later backfire on him.
He suffers for this events (Solas and Iron Bull betrayal, Orlais and Ferelden acting against the inquisition) but his world-view and personality remained solid.
the Inquisitor
The main choices
Wrath of Haven: 'Herald of Andraste'? Yes, well, if you say so.. I mean, maybe? There are stranger things in the world, after all.
An agnostic and utilitaristic approach.
Templars: Conscripted. They have proven to be unreliable, dangerous, and they must be watched closely, pending necessary reforms. Fiona killed in Haven (ahhh... the satisfaction...)
Orlais: Celene empress, Briala executed, Florianne executed, Gaspard executed. The Empire must be strong, enough with traitors and schemers. Awesome mission, btw.
Wardens: Stroud left in the Fade. The champion of kirkwall can be an important asset, given his numerous and decisive connections around the wolrd.
Wardens conscripted.
Well of Sorrows: Allied with the Sentinels. The Inquisitor drank from the well. There is no way that Morrigan, whose purposes are obscure, and whose ambitions are blatantly out of scale, and without moral or ethical counterbalances, would seize such power.
Jaws of Hakkon: revealed the true about Ameridan. Why not?
Divine: Vivienne. The circles are a necessary evil. It is a system that has worked decently for centuries, and with proper corrections, it can continue to work. Any alternative (tevinter or anarchy) is worse.
Leliana's program is crazy, a leap in the dark, too many risks and uncertainties, both in the short and in the long term.
Cassandra is even worse: she represents the classic middle ground that serves no purpose and displeases everyone. Besides her being temperamentally somehow unsuitable for the role. She lacks class, complexity of thought, cold-bloodedness.
Trespasser: Preserved the Inquisition. Even if infiltrated by Solas spies, can be an excellent tool in the service of the Divine. A force for political stability and order.
Stop Solas at every cost.
Hawke in the Fade
Same Rules: one life. If I die, it's game over. Difficulty: hard.
Origins had a lot of tension, and in 6-7 occasions I really risked game over. Left with only one party member standing, I saved myself with bombs and potions most of the time.
Dragon Age 2 had HUGE amout of tension. It was AWESOME. Thrilling. Limited resources and culldown for potions, bombs, etc. makes every move count. There were at least 30-40 fights to the death... so close.. One of the most satisfying experiences as a gamer.
So, time for Dragon Age inquisition.
The campaign was very, very enjoyable, but I must say, the game is so much easier than the two previous games.
The "open world" maps allow you to avoid confrontations that are too difficult, and if things get bad, easily run away. To level up fast and without danger.
By being careful just enough, leveling, exploring and equipping the party with ordinary diligence, after the first 10-15 hours, it becomes virtually impossible to die, unless you do some really stupid mistake.
Throughout the base game, I have no recollection of particularly dangerous or challenging enemies, but simply bosses or situation to be dealt carefully, without getting distracted or overconfident, using barriers and guards correctly.
The only occasions when I took serious risks were both in the Frostback Basin. The first time, I approach a simple fight (the mission to free Storvacker), lightly and superficially. One of the few times I was overconfident. Suddenly, all the party members are down, like in 3 seconds. Only the inquisitor survives: he backs away calmly and casts a mark of the rift, solving the situation.
The second, way more dangerous, was inside the Old Tevinter Temple, in the section where you have to overcome the ice magic by lighting the fire in the braziers.
In the middle of a fight, the party disperses, and the ice begins to take effect. In the heat of combat, I notice the ice effect too late. Pause. Confusion. PANIC. Breath deeply. Desperatly, I search for the closest member to a brazier.
It's Cole. It's not so far away, but not even close. A race against time, with the screen getting whiter and whiter. Every movement must be precise. Cole pulls it off. Relief.
Things changed slightly in the DLC Deep Roads, where the were more a half dozen cold-sweat, long, complex fights in which every move had to be carefully planned, and was required a dragon age 2-style micromanagement of the party.
The fight against the Dark Prole Emissary was epic, dangerous, one of the longest ever in all the series, sealed by Cole with a devastating critical attack.
Game Summary
The Inquisitor: Vallhon Trevelyan. Human, warrior (champion).
Compared to the Hero of Ferelden (an egotistical noble, all honor, and bravado, and chivalry, however honorable) and Hawke (an adventurer, complex, intelligent but ultimately a selfish man) the inquisitor is more the typical good man: honest, brave, tireless, a good fighter... but in the end, nothing so special or brilliant. Almost a mediocre personality, if compared with the glorious, charismatic Warden or with the smart, ambitious Hawke.
Nevertheless, the right man for the inquisition.
A good leader. Willing to compromise, and accept everyone, free of any kind of ideological, racial, or political fanaticism... but neither compassionate or overly tolerant. Efficiency and common sense, I would say.
A man who knows that he is the only one who can save Thedas, and he pursues this mission with diligence and responsibility. But always remaining, somehow, down-to-earth.
Unlike previous characters, he didn't evolve much over the course of the game.
He was prepared for betrayal, and for the fact that some of his choiches will sooner or later backfire on him.
He suffers for this events (Solas and Iron Bull betrayal, Orlais and Ferelden acting against the inquisition) but his world-view and personality remained solid.
the Inquisitor
The main choices
Wrath of Haven: 'Herald of Andraste'? Yes, well, if you say so.. I mean, maybe? There are stranger things in the world, after all.
An agnostic and utilitaristic approach.
Templars: Conscripted. They have proven to be unreliable, dangerous, and they must be watched closely, pending necessary reforms. Fiona killed in Haven (ahhh... the satisfaction...)
Orlais: Celene empress, Briala executed, Florianne executed, Gaspard executed. The Empire must be strong, enough with traitors and schemers. Awesome mission, btw.
Wardens: Stroud left in the Fade. The champion of kirkwall can be an important asset, given his numerous and decisive connections around the wolrd.
Wardens conscripted.
Well of Sorrows: Allied with the Sentinels. The Inquisitor drank from the well. There is no way that Morrigan, whose purposes are obscure, and whose ambitions are blatantly out of scale, and without moral or ethical counterbalances, would seize such power.
Jaws of Hakkon: revealed the true about Ameridan. Why not?
Divine: Vivienne. The circles are a necessary evil. It is a system that has worked decently for centuries, and with proper corrections, it can continue to work. Any alternative (tevinter or anarchy) is worse.
Leliana's program is crazy, a leap in the dark, too many risks and uncertainties, both in the short and in the long term.
Cassandra is even worse: she represents the classic middle ground that serves no purpose and displeases everyone. Besides her being temperamentally somehow unsuitable for the role. She lacks class, complexity of thought, cold-bloodedness.
Trespasser: Preserved the Inquisition. Even if infiltrated by Solas spies, can be an excellent tool in the service of the Divine. A force for political stability and order.
Stop Solas at every cost.
Hawke in the Fade
