What did you do today in DA? [Spoilers]

This is as close as I ever get. As long as you make it dark enough, and keep enough red in the mix, especially in the outer iris, it should come off as brown in gameplay when combined with the annoying mandatory grey flecks.

You're welcome. I've always had the same frustration with that game's CC. Nothing like a nice pair of deep and grounded nut-brown eyes to help make your western fantasy protagonist slightly less of an utter cliché, and as you say it's such a strange thing to omit.

I started a new and glorious game in DA4 thread.

VOTE VOTE VOTE for your favourite rogue of all times!

bsn.boards.net/thread/18927/game-da-sexiest-character

I'm also going to revive DAO game I've been working on. Since the thread I've been posting the updates is busy and isn't exactly suitable, I feel this thread is a better place to update.

pelassarias and I have given each other DAO challenge. I'm going to post the recap first and then post new chapters.

These are the game requirements from Pela:

First Point: You must play a blood mage.

Second Point: You have to garner enough negative approval with either Leliana, Zevran, or Alistair to the point where they either threaten to leave or give you a really stern talking. Afterwards you're free to go back to their good side or make things worse from there on out.

As for the third challenge: You know that tough fight during the Rescue The Queen storyline that leads to most wardens getting locked up afterwards (if you didn't choose to surrender)? Well, it is possible to actually win this fight. So I think you know what I'm getting at here. You have to win this fight against Cauthrien and the guards. No surrendering and no losing. And luckily for you, blood magic should help a bit here.

Alternate third challenge (this is only if you've actually defeated Cauthrien before): You must defeat the High Dragon without Wynne in your party, and without any healing spells and revives. Any blood magic, including stealing health from your party, is totally fine though. You're also free to stock up to five health poultices. And you can do this in any difficulty setting, but I recommend normal or hard.

As for the fourth and last challenge: One of these companions -Leliana, Zevran, and Alistair. I'll also count Loghain if you recruited him after the Landsmeet- must die in your play through.

It was a nice and sunny middle of the night at the Tower of Magi.

When I was dragged straight out of the bed for some friendly lecturing.

And so the Origins of Solona Amell, the future Blood Mage, have been laid out. But, that she doesn't know yet!



After the Harrowing, Cullen was making it way too easy to harass him.

Why do I need the fire rod, Owain? Why, for my imperative research on burning things... such as magic doors...

And Templar pants! I promised Sweeney! What kind of Hogwash is this?! I can't believe I wasn't allowed to actually do it for a quest! That pervert was giving stink eye to an elderly person, what even is that! He needs his pants burned down, I argue!

Since pants weren't available, went back to plan A to burn doors. When it has a fancy name, such as the Victim's Door, the bigger the prestige to blast it down.

This caused phylacteries to be destroyed and unwanted blood mage elements to escape. RUN Jowan! Run like the wind!

Greagoir SURE was mad about it and wanted ME burned down next. Thank the Maker for the out of execution any day card!



hahaha In your face, Chantry!

On the doorstep Templar advice - next time, make sure to lock BOTH doors leading to the phylacteries!

Lady that seems like a cool Qunari harcut, kind of similar to Sten actually.

More on Solona adventures.

A new day to begin adventures in the stabby and dangerous wilds. Alistair says It!

Yes, swooping is bad!

After dragging your feet through the bone filled marshes, it's always great to get some refreshment!

And after drinking this vile brew it's great to wake up to some friendly faces.



This gathering is for the fireworks, right? Maybe these Grey Wardens won't be so bad after all.



Yes, Cailan. A glorious moment for us all.



You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shut one's eyes tight or open one's arms wide... either way, one's a fool!

That didn't go according to plan. And now we have to fix everything.

From here you two are on your own. Remember, you are both Grey Wardens. I expect you to be worthy of that title.



At least I'll be in the good company.

One thing you can never have enough of is doggos.



Onward, crew! To Lothering!

Our valiant heroes have arrived at Lothering and instantly fired the bridge manager who ran off to do a below lousy job elsewhere. The extortion prices on that bridge were real pathetic.

After having many dull conversation with the local Templars and having Alistair crack a smile for the first time in ages since every friend he had know got eaten by Darkspawn, because he met one of Earl Eamon's men and informed him that his other friend died and all that remained was a locket.

The Chantry brothers were also a dull conversation.

CB: We are all sinners! The fire symbolizes our hope that forgiveness is possible.
Solona: So if I sin, I should just set myself on fire?
CB: NO!

No desire to make it for other races? For a warrior such hairstyle is just perfect imo, for human or elf (shorter v. for a dwarf).

PS: fair-haired mage looks more like a battlemage unlike dark-haired. Nice change.

More Solona

Since nothing interesting popped up, the party ventured into the most entertaining place in town - the tavern! And that's where the fun began!

Loghain's Men: Lookie here, a person we've been looking for all morning and everyone claims they haven't seen!
(so rude! trying to murder us before having a drink!)
Leli: Surely, these are just poor souls seeking refuge.
Solona: Stay out of the way, Sister.
LM: You protect these traitors, you'll get same as them!
Solona: What makes you think we're traitors?

LM think they're boss and attack.

Leli: Too easy. Surely, we don't need to kill them?
Solona: Make yourself useful and say your prayers for them.
Leli: Oh! OH! May the Maker have mercy on your souls!

LM turn into plant fertilizer the tavern keeper will forget in the corner.

Leli: I apologize for interfering, but I couldn't just sit by and not help.
Solona: It's all right. I was happy to save your life.
Leli: Save my life? I assure you, I can handle myself!
Solona: You must, butting into others' business all the time.
Leli: So now you know about me? We just met!
Solona: That's quite the temper you have, Sister.
Leli: Many of us had colourful life before the Chantry.
Solona: And is there something you wanted from me?
Leli: I heard those men say you're a Grey Warden. That's why you'll need all the help you can get. I'm coming along.
Solona: (lie) These men were mistaken. I'm not a Grey Warden.
Leli: Ooooh! Shall we move on then, my common and unremarkable friend?
Solona: I'm not your friend.
Leli: I thought you might say that, but you see, the Maker wants me to join you.
Solona: Can you... elaborate?
Leli: I know that sounds absolutely insane.
Alitair: More crazy? I thought we're filled up!
Leli: What you do, what you meant to do, is the Maker's work. Let me help!
Solona: We need more than prayers.
Leli: I can fight!
Solona: Very well. I will not turn away help when it is offered.
Morrigan: Perhaps your head was cracked more than Mother thought.
Leli: I will not let you down!

After solving every problem in Lothering with the pointy end of the staff, our brave Warden took well deserved rest at the camp where some things Duncan had conveniently forgotten to mention ambushed her in her dreams.

To cheer up, Solona went ahead to her favourite past time, harassing Leliana.

Solona: This vision of yours...
Leli: Proceeds to tell her spiritual story in detail, rose and all.
Solona: Uh did you... hear voices?
Leli: How can I stand by while the Blight devours everything?
Solona: The Blight is the Maker's punishment. Will you defy him?
Leli: You... you're such a pessimist!

Following a few heart warming conversations at the camp, Solona wanted to rush to the Tower of Magi for Ser Bryant had told her blood curling news that the Right of Annulment had been called on. But... you cannot ask for a great sense of orientation from someone who had never set a foot outside the Tower before! After hiring a guide who named himself Levy Dryden, our party ended up staring at the snowy mountains of the Soldiers Peak.

pelassarias

I found some time to advance the story a lot. Still making Leli's life exciting.

More Solona

Soldier's Peak

Having happily lied to Sofia, the adventurer party encountered Avernus.

Solona: Wow! You've been experimenting for all these years with demonology and blood magic? I call dibs on the first product you make. Want funding and Leliana to help you out with the experiments?
Avernus: Nah, I'd rather you free me by murdering the local boss demon.
Solona: Consider it done.

Levy: Thank you so much for helping me learn that one of my legendary ancestors had turned into a monster. I owe you!
Solona: No problemo. Here's the broom. Have fun cleaning up all these stinky demon corpses. We're off to the Tower of Magi.

Denerim scenery with Howe and Loghain.

Howe: Aside from the civil war, darkspawn army, slave revolts and abominations running amuck - I have bad news - surviving Wardens.
Zevran: The problematic part can be fixed by two alternative means: seduce them or stab them.
Loghain: Face Palm.
Zevran: I take it I should improvise.

Camp Time

Solona: You don't seem like the type to be in the ranks of the preachy, stuck up old farts.
Leli: I used to travel dangerous roads as a bard, the farts came into my life later.
Solona: So the crowd with torches chased you down to the church for singing off key?
Leli: For stabbing someone who asked too many wrong questions.

Tower of Magi

Greagoir: I remember what you've done. Come to help more abominations and blood mages escape the tower?
Solona: Weak argument from someone who is about to employ my skills and blood magic to save the tower.

Alistair: Look! A bunch of cute children!
Solona: You sure they aren't abominations?
Alistair: They're not abominations! The dog says so!
Mabari aka Supers: Woof!
Solona: If the Dog says so, then we'll ally with Wynne.

Uldrid: You sure have ruined our relationship by busting in and murdering all my lackeys. But you can make it up to me by giving my abominations foot massage.
Solona throws the litany at Uldrid.
Wynne: You were suppose to read it.
Solona: I was playing fetch with the Dog.
Supers jumps on Uldrid to fetch the litany and tramples all abominations in excitement.
Irving: It's safe to say, the mage collective is very proud of you.
Solona: Was he talking to me or to the Dog?
Greagoir: She still granted leave to the few blood mages encountered at the Tower.
Irving: We will help you in the fight against darkspawn.
Archdemon: Crud.

On the road.

Shady merchant: Magic books! Read all about them in this unique magic book. Genuine! Unique copy! Written by Andraste herself! If you buy five, you'll get 6th free!
Solona sells him her fake copy.
Shady merchant: Wait a minute... Attack!

Farther down the road after a mule nearly runs over the party.

Alistair: I hope this merchant has better stuff than the last one.
Merchant: Golem Control rod for sale... without the golem... that's in a village... just a few days march through the bog and darkspawn charred country... I hope he will not stomp on you once you say the activation phrase...
Solona: Sounds like a bargain.

Even farther down the road.

Disguised lady in distress: Oh help! Please help! An honest merchant caravan is under attack!
Alistair: Merchant?! If I wasn't so heroic, I'd advise running the other way.

Zevran: How did this assassination go wrong?
Solona: If it makes you feel any better, it was the best attempt to this date.
Zevran: If you can't beat them join them?

Alistair: Another love interest? No! Absolutely not! We are not recruiting him!
Solona: Aww precious. I will always have the softest spot for the handsome men in metal suits.
Alistair: I still disapprove.

It had taken long enough to get to Redcliffe

Alistair: Do you like soap operas?
Solona: I like everything you say.
Alistair: Marric's my dad then.

Redcliffe Townie: I hate to interrupt, but the town is under attack by monsters.
Solona: One of these days I will find someone who isn't.
Alistair, Leliana and Wynne all glare.
Solona: And we're rushing off to the rescue!

Finished Act 1 in DA2 with my handsome pro-templar blood mage polearm warrior Hyram Hawke. It's the only game in the series I've never completed and don't regularly play on Nightmare difficulty because it's just too frustrating, but this time I might finally make it. Turns out that if you turn off all of Fenris' and Carver's AOE talents then they don't kill the rest of the party, which has opened up a lot of doors!

The second major lesson I've learned is that the increased mobility of the party is there for a reason. You're really supposed to move around a lot in this game and take advantage of bottlenecks and broken line of sight. 

Aside from that, it has mostly consisted of turning Fenris, Isabela and Varric into a three-person enemy shredding machine with Fenris and my Blood Mage polearm warrior Hawke tanking, going for passive and broadly applied bonuses over circumstantial damage increases. And they've been going through the enemies like butter lately, especially after I programmed them to focus on more or less the same enemies at a time. 

The third lesson has been that if you go truly pro-Templar, the game actually supports it pretty well. I haven't had to doom or kill any innocent mages yet. And It's the first time I've been able to complete Ser Thrask's quest in act 1 without unnecessary bloodshed, forcing the mages who tried to escape lead by a lunatic necomancer to return to the circle, and forcing the templar hunting them to accept it.

Obviously I'm getting along swimmingly with Fenris, and Anders has some serious issues with me. Unfortunately the game won't let Hawke actually respond whenever he gets on one of his 'how can you think that your fellow mages don't deserve freedom' spiels, as if there are no arguments to be made. For one thing, Hyram's hometown was ravaged and both his brother and sister taken away from him by the darkspawn unleashed by 'fellow mages' who naturally thought they were just too clever and important to have to restrain themselves, the descendants of whom also made his best friend's life a living hell. Oh, and unbeknownst to him, there's an apostate serial killer currently perving on his mother.

And yeah, Carver became a Grey Warden even though I like him a lot better as a Templar because Hawke's Grey Warden contact in DAI is going to be Stroud, and I felt like there should be some basis for that. Sigh. *misses Loghain already*

That dungeon puzzle is such a pain in the booty that I'm thoroughly tempted to hand the girl over to Kitty even with the good characters just so I don't have to do it all over.

The Blood Mage Channel also brings Redcliffe News

Leli: You have corrupted the local cleric to deceive the Knights into thinking they've got divine protection with those ankhs.
Solona: What would you have me give them? I had some garlic leftover from Alistair's stew in my pocket, but that works against the vampires, not the undead.
Leli: Surely, true faith comes from the heart.
Solona: Yeah and it doesn't hurt to have another piece of metal between you and the spookies, next to your heart.
Perth: That fire curtain coming from the oil barrels doesn't hurt either.
Alistair: Hey, if I stand in the fire mid combat like the future pro King to battle the undead, you'll heal me, right?
Solona: Do that and I'll feed you to the Archdemon.
Lloyd: I'm giving out free booze. The world must be ending. And why am I outside instead of being locked in the basement?
Owen: This lousy lot can't tell apart the sword blade from the hilt.
Murdoc: We've got drunk blacksmith fixing our armour. I've got a good feeling about tonight!

pelassarias
Wait, that questline can end with the father the one possessed? If I knew that I'd forgotten, been so long since I actually let the demon possess someone and live. Going to have to try that sometime... (Usually it ends with letting the demon think she can have the girl then yelling "Psych!" at the end, or occasionally killing the possessed girl after pushing the issue too far.)