What did you do today in DA? [Spoilers]

Took Cole to Val Royeux first off which nothing major happened there, pretty consistently went top right on the dialogue tree, and was pretty kind to Cole.

Then finished off the last of the Dragons. Which is to say she went out a bit...pathetically. Thought she summoned kids but nothing happened. Not even sure how many health pots I used. But quite the easy fight.

Then later I had some inspiration. Actually went down to the Undercroft to just see how many potions I could get upgraded, wasn't that optomistic. But somehow think I got both the regeneration and Lyrium potion at least. This inspired me to go after the Dawn Lotus again which is apparently only in the Fallow Mire. Somehow I never collected the seeds, but I went there, picked up a fair few of them and Blood Lotus...and also did finally collect the seeds so hopefully I can hit up the Antivan Fire a bit. And Mighty Offensive Tonic. Though I also need Rashvine Nettle which I might be low on to so...

Unrelated to the game but finally did get around to pulling off pics of Kara and putting them onto my newest photo share since the old one is A. hard to get to and seems that its B. hard to share said photos for some reason. And I need easy reference pictures for when I get around to Veilguard so...enjoy. I hope.

So what i did in DAI is a few quests main and side.
I did one mission the one i dislike the most so i'm glad that mission is over behind me history.

Finished the Hinterlands so that means i killed my second Dragon also my least favorite of all the Dragons out there.

So conclusion not so much fun in this playthrough.

I finished my speedrun, if one want to call it that. I will explain. Here's the Grey Warden, Speedo and Anora

What I learned is having companions can slow down the speedrun.  If a companion dies, you can't go further until the downed companion is found, usually within a few feet. Depending on the circumstance, it could take several seconds to find the downed companion. The other is a companion might wander off chasing a baddie that can be avoided, most notably the deep roads.

Having more than 3 companions slows things down. The most notable is the end battle. If you have more than 3, the player will end up controlling the companion not chosen to fight the archdemon, but to defend the gate. 

Lastly, is if any companions are with you, they usually make a comment about whatever. Example of this is the talking tree when recruiting the elves

Why choose the mage class? A mage can take down baddies from range while using spells that can take down more than one baddie. I could play an archer, but I can't kill more than one at a time.

In this playthrough, I had no crashes. It was great. If anyone is having problems, and dazk, if you haven't downloaded the 4gb patch yet, here's what I did to prevent the game from crashing.
steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=233222451

I will likely start another speedrun shortly

Onto the Arbor Wilds.

Usually tend to get lost sometimes like int he beginning and around some of the waterfalls and it happened again. Though at the beginning it also took me half a second to find Briala and then bumped into Josephine on the way out.

Also quite funny to report to that I went in and I think lot of the time I ignore the materials in the region and probably could have at least for the metal and what not...but it was also important for me to get some of the Arbor Blessing considering apaprently I was running out of them and need more for some potions. Which resulted in a lot of collecting...of storm heart. Again bit dubious especially since all the Dragon materials I have jammed down my pants to but at the end of the day I also found a FT Stormheart material...which is also useless. Maybe the Frostback Basin will have more to report in on to.

Past the rituals and what not and not doing the rituals. Something to appreciate about this game is sort of a reverse 'Vietnam effect' where you can do various things of moral report, and still win. For any character and anyone with a consiounce it would still bother them. Wiping out the last of the ancient Elves because you didn't do the ritual is just the latest in a long line of moral compromises. Of course while the game makes clear in a meta textual perspective...do the rituals...it really does not mention the consequences for doing it at this point in the game, specifically. Of course it can't because it wouldn't be a very good RPG in that case. And then something could be said for maybe convincing them somehow without doing the rituals. Bit annoying how this all broke down but it does fit very well with the theme of the character and then going into Veilguard.

Also find it kind of sad, especially since the wounds are self inflicted in I keep on giving it to him, how Bull eventually loses the 'A' Team status kind of. Just I build Sera out so much better then him and her skill set with Tempest is just so useful. Especially since I am still trying to be economical with my time a bit. I know I have like 4 weeks till Veilguard comes out but I still have to not doddle too much just in case, and honestly would rather be too early then late. And then on top of it lot of really tough bosses coming up. Corypheus. Hakkon. Maybe Cory can be better but...oof. Still tempted at least on the Corypheus stuff since he goes down a little bit like a brat...usually. But ultimatley I will just have to see.

There's this little bug with Connor in DAI that just annoys me. My canon worldstate has a HoF that married Queen Anora. But when you first meet with Connor he says King Alistair invited the mages to Redcliffe. In this world Alistair is a wandering drunk. I remember this bug from when the last time I played my canon Inquisitor. I've looked for mods to fix this but haven't found any.

Came across some more little bits of dialogue that offer foreshadowing with Solas. Was speaking to an elf mage in Redcliffe and he was talking about wanting freedom but hating having to rebel. Solas said sometimes to achieve the world we want we must sometimes take regrettable actions.

Went to some alternate timeline and came back. I've never known what to think about time travel. Sometimes it's interesting, but I also feel like it can break the writing if the ability exists.

Queen Anora did show up and toss the mages out of Ferelden. I like to headcannon that she is sympathetic to the mages because the HoF was and he advised her to help them where she could. But she went against her better judgement in inviting them and is going to be a little cross with her husband when she hears from him again.

I also sealed the Breach with the mages. Haven then got attacked. I liked Haven, but not as much as Skyhold. Then made the trek through the Frostbacks to Skyhold. Just arrived and saved.

The Well of Sorrows choice, big elephant in the room. I got to it today and kind of an interesting thing to report in context. There has been a bit of a debate going on recently about what choices should and should not matter and what not. Maybe it was a bit apprepro and interesting timing that I got here in the middle of it and I was...a bit sad at the whole thing. In my mind there is this divide, between expectation and emotionalism, and about logic and reason. Because spent ten years more or less worrying about this very choice. That it was going to have some tragic consequence in Veilguard and that I was playing with fire in regards to my Inquisitor. Would I ever chicken out? WEll I guess none of that matters. But yeah I was terrified of this decision in a lot of ways really going dark. But this was something that I expected from them. Something I built up over these many years in between. BioWare had no obligation to carry the choice over and as I have argued many a time the choice could have still quite effectively stayed in Inquisition because it mattered in Inquisiton. It actually changed gameplay and what not. And as I have also argued that now that it seems like it won't carry over, now we can make several reasonable and logical guesses about how this plot line will go and how Inquisition did resolve it. So yeah...the Inquisitor still drank from the Well. I got a little mean to Morrigan maybe after the fact so there is that to worry about. Each playthrough can be slightly different and well Morrigan was...well a little thirsty.

Other big RP moment, chatted with Leiliana about her being Divine and she gave one heck of a speech about bringing everyone into the fold and forcing people to accept her ideology and what not both within and without the Chantry. And the option was to support and then shoot her down and then the thing was 'I don't agree with this we need something more traditional'. Now I do not agree with her I feel that this kind of benovolent tyranny is still tyranny. And I also again know we can't get all the decisions in the world...but just minor nitpick since I am at least 8 PTs into this game so that's all I have, wish we coud've dealt with it with a little more nuance. Which is something BioWare has done before but just say 'OK I agree with your goals, but, maybe not with the methods'...with of course the added context that we know where this is going with Divine Murder Nun to.

Had a cute moment with Cullen, well kind of nice moment that is. Gave him a big hug. Got threatened by Sera and had a philosophical disagreement with her about things. I guess side note here a lot of these characters do have their...hang ups...which are annoying. But usually this is what helps make them great characters. Also do sometimes have to wonder even if Solas apparently did rather approve of Mythal he wasn't that approving of us drinking from the Well.

Wrapped up with the conversation with mommy dearest. And the second big double tap on the above. First off great voice acting again, second off while it was a little bit vague admittedly I have always also maintained that Mythal 'released' the Inquisitor. SOmething definitley happened afterwards. Though the Inquisitor did have the power of the Well moving forward so there is that also to consider, but it seems either way the theory that it has just moved on one way or another was the correct one. Again, ten years to consider this.

Finished Legacy in DA2 last night, it was cool to see Bethany and Hawke both in this considering the family subject.

Then I fired up my PS4 to re-create my dwarfen dual-wield Rogue (I had started on him already a couple weeks ago while chasing the last trophy, but botched it in the beginning anyway. And now I could also import my world state from the recent DAO and 2 runs, should be fun!).

It's the first time ever playing a Dwarf, don't sue me I liked the name Bioware suggested for him well enough, so here's Edric Cadash.

He rejects the idea of being the Herald, hates being in the center of attention and the position he's in, is brash and will probably annoy some companions. I thought about doing a Josie romance because even he would be charmed by her (plus, I've never done hers before)
And I think my party will be Cass, Viv and Sera (he'll get along with her most I reckon, because of the little people thing. But let's see). He hates demons and won't like Cole and is generally suspicious of magic, therefore will likely support Vivienne as Divine. I will pick the Templar side as I have only done it once so far in all my playthroughs.
Can't wait to see it all play out, but since I'm on limited time until DAV drops, it will be HORRIBLE to pass up on some sidequests and not completing the maps. It's already harder than I thought, hahaha. I left the Hinterlands after only 1,5hrs or so! Gosh.

After defeating Flemeth's guardian Kara went to go vacation in the Frostback Basin... which is always my lore justification for going tot he FBB before the end of the game. Of course going after the temple guardian first for the Dragon, on the other side of Orlais, kind of invaldiates that because I do it because it will always take awhile for the Inquisition's soldiers to get back to SKyhold. But mainly I want to do it for Solas and the conversation later.


Got to there and first order of business was to talk to Harding about Mayhem with Bull in the party.

Things hit tougher, there is a lot more options for crafting materials as some of the critters have been upgraded with better materials. Here I picked up two of the better FTMs to that I have been waiting for quite awhile on.

Went up to Stone Bear Hold as well to check in the with the Sun Hair and then start picking up some of the quests. Not sure how deep I'll go or how deep I can go but at least going to start making headway on an alliance before really taking the fight to the Hakkonites or going after Inquisitor Ameridan. We'll see how long that goes off.

Biggest frustration of the night, something that always gets me and something that always seems to 'gaslight' me into things. While it seems like Stone Bear Hold has crafting stations but does not have stations to upgrade gear or move them around. So I picked up I guess three new things for my crafting needs. At first the big one, guard for Cassandra's sword, Fade Touched Silerrite so that was good. But then had a FTM for longer Walking Fortress. At first I thought it was just a straight up one...but it ended up being an upgraded so Cass now has better armor. And that pretty much used up all the available Dragon materials I had so Sera does not get a new bow. At least not yet. We'll see where that all goes in the future.

Settling into the vacation and ended up being a working vacation dodging murderous Avaar and constant waves of demons. Also in a general perspective on the situation Hakkon was a bit of a wild card in the whole thing because I guess I thought it was a lot longer then what it was...and still have a bit to go. But pretty much done most of what I already wanted to in just two hours. Was thinking it would take me most of the week. So I guess I am on one schedule.

Bit hillarious, kind of on brand. Went to go pick up the quest for Finn Cauldeson and getting the stuff for the hunting. Then Sera pipes in. "so what he does this thing and he is the wrong kind of Elfy?" The Inquisitor. "What?" Most amusing. As was her meeting the spirits who wanted to meet the lady ship. Which did also occur to me about the whole thing with the Inquisitor being a beacon...kind of surprising that none of the demons really tried to take advantage of that sort of a thing.

Also saw one of the coolest but most BS things. Was starting to duel with an elite Avaar defender and Sera had her full bar of Focus ready to go. So I launched into an attack with it and the screen was just filled with 'immune' and 'blocked' all over the screen and not a single bit of damage was done. My mouth dropped but I must say I am more then a little impressed with what it was able to pull off. Still won in the end and actually having some good luck with the Hakkonites overall. Though every once in a while a Hakkonite or demon backs me into a corner and knocked Kara down a couple of times...OH I actually almost forgot another hillarious moment. While in the arena and during a wave Dorian went down but, while 'dead', he started bantering with Sera.

And next thing's next while all this was going on picked up a new trial shipment. The trial shipment ended up being FTM to get me more hit on guard, 5 of them. So I had an idea since Cole is a front line fire, it made a lot of sense. But the daggers are kind of interesting at the lack of materials they need for the results. So turns out that I had 16 Dragon bones and need only 14 to do so. Bit hesitant to give them to Cole for obvious reasons, but on the other hand unless I bought any more from the Black Emporium I wasn't going to use it for anything else so...I pulled the trigger. And in the course Cole now has a Dragonbone dagger which does 474 damage...and is now level 27. Pretty sure Cole, of all people, has the best equipment I've gotten in the game.

With that out of the way basically finished off with Inquisitor Ameridan on the island.

Still working my way through Tevinter Nights. Over the weekend I re-read Murder by Death Mages (Sidony mp/WT char story), Streets of Minrathous (Neve story), The Wigmaker Job (Lucanis story), Genitivi Dies in the End (not!Inquisition mission with Rasaan and 'her' Antaam causing trouble), and Herold Had the Plan (Vaea - comics - makes an appearance). Only 4 more to go.

Immediately after finishing my speedrun, I started another playthrough. Say hello to Pinkston. The goal for him is to marry Anora. Nothing else matters.