Dragon Age: Specializations in Dialog?

[Zydrate]

I was just wondering if your specialization, in EITHER game (since I'm playing both back and forth) effects dialog choices, or if characters react to it at all, ever.

Specifically, I'm interested in making both a blood mage and a templar, but the roleplaying concepts can only go so far if NPC's just don't give a damn.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Specialization basically affects almost nothing. Like for instance you can turn Wynne into a blood mage or similarly ridiculous things.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

I remeber pretty much raining down lightning in Kirkwall and nobody really batted an eyelash.

But to be fair, they had to balance realism with the ability to actually play the game. Sure it would be fun to be chased out as an apostate, but what then? Live in the one cave it seems to have?

;P

 

[manythings]

The blind templar in the alienage says "I would know a templar even without my eyes" (or something to that effect) but I don't know if he reacts to you being a blood mage. I could never square heroism against bargaining with a demon.

Anders will comment on being a blood mage if you pick that specialisation for him before you go to Amaranthine the first time.

I think Flemeth says something if you become a shapeshifter.

I think the Kardol the dwarf will say something if you are a berserker.

99.9% of NPCs wouldn't even know how to tell you were anything other than your race or a mage really. I can't think of any otutward signs of being any of the specialisations without overt display.

Specialization basically affects almost nothing. Like for instance you can turn Wynne into a blood mage or similarly ridiculous things.

She's also technically an abomination and dead as it is so I think we can call things a bit fuzzy with her.

 

[Zydrate]

Well, thank you for the information. That is quite the damn shame, a lost opportunity.
I know Templars are zealous but really, that's what companions are there for. Throw in one of those "Hey, help me out here" every time a character comments on your Specialization, problem solved. Just a few extra lines here and there.

Oh well. DA3, maybe? Hehe.

 

[Slycne]

All that said baring instance of you demonstrating your powers in front of them or word otherwise getting around, it's not like they are actually going to know.

 

[Zydrate]

All that said baring instance of you demonstrating your powers in front of them or word otherwise getting around, it's not like they are actually going to know.

Does that happen, though?

 

[DustyDrB]

Your class can make a difference in the first game. I know there's a quest line for rogues. It involves lots of thieving. I can't remember if the same is true for mages or warriors. Your specialization doesn't affect anything, though. It makes me cringe to make Wynne a Blood Mage, but its the best option for her. I thought specializations were way improved in the second game.

 

[Slycne]

All that said baring instance of you demonstrating your powers in front of them or word otherwise getting around, it's not like they are actually going to know.

Does that happen, though?

Think about it. The vast majority of your interactions it makes more internal logic that someone isn't going to be able to identify your specializations just by looking at you. For example, how would someone be able to know if you are a Duelist or an Assassin if all they see is a man/woman dressed in leather armor with a pair of weapons?

I'd be like someone instantly knowing I was a Video Producer.

 

[DustyDrB]

All that said baring instance of you demonstrating your powers in front of them or word otherwise getting around, it's not like they are actually going to know.

Does that happen, though?

Think about it. The vast majority of your interactions it makes more internal logic that someone isn't going to be able to identify your specializations just by looking at you. For example, how would someone be able to know if you are a Duelist or an Assassin if all they see is a man/woman dressed in leather armor with a pair of weapons?

I'd be like someone instantly knowing I was a Video Producer.

There's a flaw in your logic, sir. I can see it labeled clearly that you're a Video Producer. And I can see it clearly in many Dragon Age encounters that someone is a Blood Mage. So how do I know that I'm not labeled "Incredibly Good Looking Bard Archer" to them?

...I do want to see a game break the fourth wall in that way.

 

[MisterShine]

All that said baring instance of you demonstrating your powers in front of them or word otherwise getting around, it's not like they are actually going to know.

Does that happen, though?

In the first game I can confirm that it does.

If you use your blood magic in front of Wynne during the circle tower quest, at the end when the templars and mages are together she will tell them that you use strange abilities, the templars will then question you (it is possible to get out of this without fighting)

For the second game, I haven't played through as a blood mage, but I can confirm that the warrior specialties had no impact or reference that I could see (I was a templar, you'd think someone would mention it..).

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

If I remember, there was a blind dude who commented that my Dwarf was a Templar (Which is a great build.) But he didn't point out how odd that in and of itself was.

Otherwise, no, I do not remember. Which is a shame, really. Heck, from my understanding, you can use Blood Magic at the Landsmeet and no one will say anything about it.

I don't remember anything in the second game though. Despite the fact that I was a Templar. Again, they didn't notice that I had that holy smite move (Dang, it's been a while since I played)

 

[Zydrate]

All that said baring instance of you demonstrating your powers in front of them or word otherwise getting around, it's not like they are actually going to know.

Does that happen, though?

Think about it. The vast majority of your interactions it makes more internal logic that someone isn't going to be able to identify your specializations just by looking at you. For example, how would someone be able to know if you are a Duelist or an Assassin if all they see is a man/woman dressed in leather armor with a pair of weapons?

I'd be like someone instantly knowing I was a Video Producer.

Agh, I figured I'd get misunderstood.
I meant in the situations where I -do- use my powers in front of people. Or does that just not happen? I'm fairly new to both games. My highest levels are 10 and 12.

But it just goes to my concern that if I choose to be a Templar on my warrior, it would have been nice to be all, "Hey, I'm a Templar, too. Mages suck, I agree."

"Hi. I'm a blood mage, too. Templars suck."

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I'd be like someone instantly knowing I was a Video Producer.

That's kind of true it's not like everyone in Kirkwall is Sherlock Holmes and is all like 'I can tell you are duelist by the callouses on your fingers and the angle the blood is sprayed across your shoe!'

*Blows bubbles from pipe*

 

[Zydrate]

I'd be like someone instantly knowing I was a Video Producer.

That's kind of true it's not like everyone in Kirkwall is Sherlock Holmes and is all like 'I can tell you are duelist by the callouses on your fingers and the angle the blood is sprayed across your shoe!'

*Blows bubbles from pipe*

Some of them can be trained, though. I imagine Templars being very... knowledgeable about who is from their order and who is a mage. It's like a Gaydar! Or how militarymen can point out other militarymen. It's the demeanor, the way one carries themself.

I'm not saying every citizen should be like "OMG BLOODMAGE"... Goodness no. I was simply asking if it was ever mentioned at all.

 

[Slycne]

Agh, I figured I'd get misunderstood.
I meant in the situations where I -do- use my powers in front of people. Or does that just not happen? I'm fairly new to both games. My highest levels are 10 and 12.

But it just goes to my concern that if I choose to be a Templar on my warrior, it would have been nice to be all, "Hey, I'm a Templar, too. Mages suck, I agree."

"Hi. I'm a blood mage, too. Templars suck."

There are some, in one section a character will confront you for being a mage after seeing you in combat. The conversation goes differently if you are one of the other classes, but for the most part the game tries to fairly neutral with it and it's not going to come up in every single dialogue. There are however certainly plenty of opportunities to side with magic vs religion and by extension the blood mages and templars in both titles.

Oddly enough the Templar actually runs into a similar problem that I mentioned. Your character is perhaps a Templar in ability, but they are not actually a part of that order. So in normal in-game context it would be confusing or lying for them to claim to be a Templar.

 

[Zydrate]

Your character is perhaps a Templar in ability, but they are not actually a part of that order. So in normal in-game context it would be confusing or lying for them to claim to be a Templar.

Also true. Shame, that.