What did you do today in DA? [Spoilers]

My "fast" run didn't turn out all that fast, the milestone save after beating Corypheus was 20 hr even. Although that is like 100hr fewer than my original run. Was Level 16 when I fought Corypheus. Random things about this:

-Didn't use Golden Nug, and didn't use any supply crates.
-Did recruit all the squad members.
-Only did companion quests for Cassandra and Blackwall.
-Did not unlock Exalted Plains, Emerald Graves, or Emprise.
-Killed one whole dragon (Crestwood).
-Wasted time in the Forbidden Oasis before In Your Heart Shall Burn getting the shards there and unlocking one whole door (Spirit 1).
-Didn't end up crafting armor for myself or Cass. Viv and Solas just got crafted armor before Cory (and it took me as long to figure out what to give them as to do the last sequence). I used the superior scout armor you can buy in Redcliffe for the rest of the game after I hit Level 8.
-After getting Tempest and respec'ing, I went from two (Parry and Evade, plus potentially Stealth if you count it) defensive abilities to 0. Also after respec'ing I only had 7 actives for the rest of the game.
-Final build was upgraded versions of Flank Attack, Twin Fangs, Deathblow, Throwing Blades, Flask of Fire, then regular Flask of Frost and Mark of the Rift.
-Spamming Throwing Blades under FoF was pretty funny.
-Don't really think this changed my opinion of Tempest much.

I wasn't as annoyed with Viv and Solas on auto-pilot after getting some points in their specs post-Skyhold, but that was mostly because I wasn't asking them to do all that much DPS (or nearly any). Still there were some oddities in that neither wanted to use Dispel against Corypheus unless ordered. Cass of course worked fine, but WoH and Spell Purge were manual.

I was trying to save up to get the Superior Prowler schematic, then remembered that it only appears if you have Short List, which I couldn't get because I didn't have enough points / agents in Connections. Overall my crit chance was pretty pitiful at 28% end game. Mostly because I was stuck with T1 / T2 leathers in the dagger slots.

In DA2, i did things. I HATE, BLOODY HATE THE FIRST TWO ACTS OF DA2.

I rivalmanced Anders to do my bidding (I like rivaling him, my first romance in game was a friendship Anders, yah know).

I made another hawke (a male warrior hawke) to rivalmance Merril.

my feeble attempts to replicate my snarky mage hawke (whom rivalmanced Isabela) failed, as he friendshipped her instead.

Really? I like the first act, and for me, the second act is easily the best part of the game. Legacy aside.

Eh, I find it them really quite repetitive, after playing them over and over again....

Some srceenshots from my playthrough


Had Iron Bull use a sword and shield instead of using a two-handed weapon


closed a couple of rifts


Vivenne and Sera fighting side by side

Yesterday, I sold Fenriel's soul to Torpor for a measly attribute point during my evil ish play through. At first, it didn't seem so bad. But then Bioware gave me a literally last second chance to save him. This choice slammed me because I thought the choice of the act was out of my hands the moment I made the deal. And it wasn't. I RPed my evil Hawke; and cringed as Fenriel screamed. I felt dirty for hours afterwards.

Good job. Bioware.

Just now. I encouraged Varric to kill his brother. I can't remember if I'd done that before. I think not.that one hurts me a bit too.

^Sorry I don't know, I am the only person who has DAI but doesn't have Trespasser.

Today, I savor the differences of being rivals with characters I've always been friends with.

Aveline seems to only be by my side because of a "comrade in arms" feeling. Like that guy you were in a war with and you've gone on to better things while he turned into a conniving murderer. But you still are bound to the guy by a strong sense of shared experience. She thinks I'm controllable- enough- and that I'm useful. She's keeping her distance, but can't shake me at the same time.

Even more interesting is Varric. As far as I can tell, he absolutely thinks I'm dangerous. Admits that I'm not popular; but sees the power I'm accruing and sees no issue sharing the ride to the top. Or the connections it gives him. I may as well be a Mafia Boss he respects and knows not to cross. I do not think we're friends at all. It's just super interesting to watch his body language and tone give him away more than any words he can say. He can craft words expertly, but he can't hide the rest.

And I got a known Merril bug. I Max rivaled her before we got the Mirror Tool. My hawke didn't care what she did with it, and handed it over no questions. But because I'm rival, a conversation after had her accusing me of witholding the tool. I farm rivaled her better this time, so it was a bit funny to agree with most of what she said regarding her goals while rivaled. She just hated everything I did outside of direct conversation.



Oh,-! Almost forgot. Casdandra in the story sequences always seemed to admire me.

Now she sounds disgusted with Hawke. "All for coin??!"

That's the wonky thing about DA2. You can be pro-mage all the way, but if you rival Anders <because reasons> he's convinced you hate mages.

More screenshots of my playthrough

The nug says hello


Hmm. Looks like I'm going to have roast Inquisitor for dinner. excellent


Can you see me?

Uh... crashed the client while crafting armor, and now my save won't load because it claims my DLC is missing. Not exactly the most productive day so far.


Edit: Ofc the "whine on the internet" method of troubleshooting comes through again. Connection made; save loaded. *carefully backs away from armor crafting table*

Charming...