What did you do today in DA? [Spoilers]

You can spec her to archery.

Archer is a rogue talent, I don't know, why they categorized in this way, if not only for the weapon in the first steps.

The first enemy, yes, and I think it has range limitation on it or something, so the character ends up not hitting the character? If the gap-closer is on the cooldown, I am left with a long treck to the ranged guy somewhere on the ledge, while it pounds on me. Unlike in DA, where you targeted and leaped, and the aim assist landed all your blows just fine....

Not being able to lock on target with a mouse wheel scroll is a PAIN, a real PAIN. I could do it in DA2, why not here? Bio's obsession with click-to-lock on target is annoying as heck. they could at LEAST give you the ability to chose how to do it.... Oh, Krea, wherever you are, I am forever grateful to you for teaching me to do it, and darn, I miss that option so badly....

I hate to use game controller, I rarely find that handy. I have one, for the DMC series and similar games, what have terrible port. So: I dont think, that someone use mouse and keyboard will find comfortable the game controller, except some extreme cases. The Inquisition not bad in this, I think easy to control, but the DA2 was much easier. 

I use a gaming mouse, and I am completely comfortable with using it and love it. I am very comfortable with clustering my abilities in the Q-T, A-F and Z-V ranges of the keyboard, and using L.Shift to pause, and 1 through 6 on the mouse to shoot off the abilities (7 to 12 are less comfortable). However, the autolock on target with a forward scroll of a mouse wheel (that EVERY bio game lets you do, save for Jade Empire) is way, way, way more natural motion than the point-and-click lock on target or the TAB/Y they bound it to. Along with BioWARE's insistence in binding abilities in the 1 to 0 range by default, and giving the convenient buttons clustered around the AWSD to pointless options rather than the combat skills... it's like they have never used a keyboard before, lol. Apparently their 'strafe" Q/E does not do anything different from A/D. Two of the best keyboard buttons given to duplicates? get outta here! V bound to... look around when you can do it with a mouse? No binds on Z, X, C? F used for something dumb... I can't even recall what.

Okay, maybe I am playing weird and they know better, but as long as I can re-keybind my skills comfortably, I am fine. And *not* having the scroll key-bindable is the only real problem I have with their keybinds, and also that I cannot double key-bind, because sometimes it is convenient to have two different buttons for the same action.

I would have preferred however, that they did not make us to lock on to hit it and just let us hit what we see as we look at it like in Mass Effect.

EDIT: Regardless, I will try Dusk on a bow instead of melee, see if I like that more. I cut my fingers this morning too opening a can, so it's probably will be better all around as my right hand is so awkward right now.

Just a few comments on kb/m controls. Yes, they are terrible, but not as terrible as when the game launched.

There is no auto-attack via mouse button UNLESS you are in tac-cam mode. You can use a key (I think I have it as R but I'm not sure if that is the default) for auto-attack.

Keys can be rebound - I basically line up DAI to match the first two games (ie spacebar = pause, etc).

Basic melee attacks are 50/50 whether you will hit your target. Power/ability melee attacks also sometimes whiff but are much more reliable. Ranged (archer or mage) is better by far (imo) than either.

Once you are able to explore the village, visit the "store" at the blacksmith area to buy a respec amulet. The first one costs 1 gold, I think. Then you can switch your skills over to archery.

Damn, next time, maybe she should just use a Health Potion?

 Magic potions that heal everything? In which case, nobody need to be afraid of going into battles or fight against demons. I'm going with the premise that a higher tier demon is able to cast spells that sicken / poison people unlike the common wraiths. 

Have you begun crafting yet?  Unfortunately, the shop selling Tier 1 schematics is in Redcliffe, which you may not be able to get into yet.  When you go to Val Royeaux, there's a shop that sells more expensive Tier 2 schematics.  Alternatively, I think Black Emporium sells Tier 1 schematics too. 

Solas is actually tall for an elf.  Of course, the Qunari are just taller than everybody!

I finished DA:O well over 10 times with characters from every origin. With one exception (when playing a female Cousland who ended up as Queen) I always made Alistair and Anora king and queen. If I remember correctly, when speaking with Anora prior to the Landsmeet, there is an answer from her like "Deal." which seals the bargain for supporting Alistair. Alistair changes his pre-Denerim speech to suit the origin of the Warden, and it`s always well received. Quite different from the usually fumbled Landsmeet one...

Qunari are, so I do know I am playing a giant woman basically. But I just don't like it that elves in this instalment are more like loli/shotas from the Eastern games. I hope we are not going to see kawaii ear ornaments and tie-on tails on the elves next instalment, lol. My favorite take on the elves is in DA2. Alien, but not obviously different in height.

Overall, I much prefer character art in DA2. I don't like how stock NPCs look like at all, and from plot characters, only Varric, leliana, Cassandra and Josephine looked good unmodded so far. And yes, I have read that guy's thread about how Cassandra and Josephine were ugly, and I don't see it that way.

I do not want to do crafting. I clicked on the tables, and I really, really, really do not want to do it. I don't like crafting, I did too much of it, and it's a boring time sink. It's exactly like in MMO only without a peer Market. I want to loot for gear. Only loot. For me it is one of the basic draws of the SP games that you do NOT have to do chores, just play. Some folks do love hoarding possessions and decorating houses, etc, I do not.

You know, I`m getting really tired of all these game studios trying to "increase the game difficulty" moron-style, by imposing totally imbecilic restrictions for players. I understood the idea of no healing AFTER combat in IWD and BG games (although there was that healing bard song for both Hearth of Winter and IWD 2) as part of the AD&D rule system. But DA has nothing to do with that system, and there was healing available BOTH during and after the fight in DA:O AND DA2.

I spent a huge amount of time playing Pillars of Eternity with similar restrictions concerning healing. There is NO healing outside resting in the game, but there are TWO health related concepts: overall health and Endurance, which can be healed by priests during a fight. In order for the game to be more "tactical" (read stupid) they came up with a completely useless and aggravating fatigue system, with heavy penalties for fatigued characters. All well and good, but fatigue appeared not only as a result of just several fights but also after a longer travel. Meaning that the party arrived already fatigued in most new areas, and needed to rest asap. BUT rest was possible only with camping supplies, of which the party is able to carry a very limited amount, meaning many nonsense trips back to villages or towns with stores. Fortunately, Obsidian listened to fans and changed the idiotic fatigue system to something playable.

Instead of devising such nonsense "tactical" devices, game studios should spend some time to develop a decent AI system...