Poll: Dragon Age Expansion *basic spoilers*

[Onyx Oblivion]

I'm going to start the expansion in a bit, having bought it yesterday, and was wondering if I should carry over my old level 20-something rogue, or start over. I'd like to try a new class, personally. On the other hand, I don't want to miss out on any character cameos or anything similar. And the idea of coming in as an Orlesian (sp?) Grey Warden sounds interesting. But another 10-15 hours of Song of Courage+Momentum, followed by Stun-Backstab-Stun-Backstab sounds boring, and I don't want to respec and become an archer, either. Archery bores me even faster in that game.

Basically, just how much does me "carrying over" do for me, plot-wise?

 

[Vet2501]

Would definately advise carrying over. Don't know what it will be like for a melee rogue as I haven't made one yet but the new archery skills are so powerful they are almost game-breaking. The new skills are fun though and you'll find the opening level much easier starting with your lvl 20 rather than the default lvl 15.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Would definately advise carrying over. Don't know what it will be like for a melee rogue as I haven't made one yet but the new archery skills are so powerful they are almost game-breaking. The new skills are fun though and you'll find the opening level much easier starting with your lvl 20 rather than the default lvl 15.

What it's like as a melee rogue:

You can't let the AI take over, ever, as they don't understand "backstabbing", and sit there clawing at the enemy's face.

For frontal backstabbing, take Coup De Grace. Riposte (stuns target), auto backstab. Dirty Fighting, Auto Backstab.

For more difficult fights, circle behind target, Flurry, Backstab. And go Bard/Assassin. Other suggest Duelist/Assassin, but I'm not letting my 70+ Cunning NOT be used to power up the Bard buffs.

It was fun at first, but the lack of variety is killing me after 60 hours.

I can only imagine the boredom that ensues for generic Warrior players.

 

[iLikeHippos]

Do it.

Not that whichever ending you chose from the last game will make sense, since I decided for MY Billyjean was to sacrifice my life for the greater good and slash that giant dragons neck of.

Yet, he appeared just fine in the next game, although most people WERE GIVING A SPEECH IN MEMORY OF HIM FROM THE FIRST GAME AT THE ENDING!

I have no idea how he COULD be brought back, but he just got it.

Anyways, characters from your last game and a newly made character... There isn't a huge difference, really. You just get to keep leveling and playing with your favorite character.

 

[Axeli]

The joy of seeing your Warden coming back and kicking ass? I suppose it doesn't change anything big in the plot, but there are several conversations where the fact your character is a living legend comes up.

The classes do evolve, get more specializations and I recall there being items that let you reset skill selections (although someone else should probably confirm this), so it's not like you are completely stuck with your previous setup.
And to my experience I will be doing a whole lot of stun-backstab-stun-backstab even when I give the Warden class other than rogue, just with the other rogue characters (either because it's the tactics I'm most used to or because it's just the best method).
Although I hear mages are so broken that at some point even that tactics goes out the window due to practical immortality...

 

[Vet2501]

Would definately advise carrying over. Don't know what it will be like for a melee rogue as I haven't made one yet but the new archery skills are so powerful they are almost game-breaking. The new skills are fun though and you'll find the opening level much easier starting with your lvl 20 rather than the default lvl 15.

What it's like as a melee rogue:

You can't let the AI take over, ever, as they don't understand "backstabbing", and sit there clawing at the enemy's face.

For frontal backstabbing, take Coup De Grace. Riposte (stuns target), auto backstab. Dirty Fighting, Auto Backstab.

For more difficult fights, circle behind target, Flurry, Backstab. And go Bard/Assassin. Other suggest Duelist/Assassin, but I'm not letting my 70+ Cunning NOT be used to power up the Bard buffs.

It was fun at first, but the lack of variety is killing me after 60 hours.

I can only imagine the boredom that ensues for generic Warrior players.

I would still advise carrying over, you wont get any more rogue skills, but the new "Shadow" specialisation sounds like exactly what you're looking for, also the new dual wielding skills are pretty strong too.

 

[scw55]

To help with the backstab problem you can download a mod called 'advance tactics' or something from a well regarded dragon age addon site. It also gives you new tactic functions which for example, lets a companion who is a keeper, be able to use their plant ability without you having to manually uproot them at the end of every fight.

You do get a tome thingy which you can buy many times that gives you a respecc.

You also get two new specialisations. A legionnaire Scout which is more survivability. And Shadow which is crowd control and debuff. Thoes might spice up you playing melee rogue.

Regarding to repetative play, I played one playthrough as an Archer. In the first game it was quite dull as your damage was poor and you were really there for debuffs and support. In awakening you get a sustain ability which makes you fire trucks from your bow. It's silly.

Perhaps you melee rogue might get something as hilarious.

 

[darkonnis]

I have been a bit dubious to try this as my original game is bugged and wont give me the perfectionist ach. That and from what i've read this addon is fairly rushed, like alot of the other DLC they released.
Mages broken beyond belief? they are in the normal dragon age arent they? I mean a bloodmage/arcane warrior or spirithealer/arcane warrior just doesnt die or at least if you do i've yet to find out how. The fight is always over before i'm out of mana and as for rogues... i've never understood how you guys can play with jsut sustainable skills? i mean, doesnt that get a bit boring? i tend to take lots of active skills on all my characters and just flit between them just to keep me entertained during long encounters.

 

[MisterShine]

I haven't finished the game due to some very crippling bugs I experience with the game (which still has not been patched over 3 months later..), however I'd say I got about halfway through, and I can say other than the "cool!" factor of seeing your character back in action, some odd references to the fact that you slew the bloody archdemon, there is very little incentive to carry over your character. You meet very few characters from the original who will remember you, let alone reference specific things you did with them. And of course, no companions from the original except Oghren.

If you think the Orlesian Warden-Commander sounds good, I'd say go with that.

 

[Zaik]

The joy of seeing your Warden coming back and kicking ass? I suppose it doesn't change anything big in the plot, but there are several conversations where the fact your character is a living legend comes up.

The classes do evolve, get more specializations and I recall there being items that let you reset skill selections (although someone else should probably confirm this), so it's not like you are completely stuck with your previous setup.
And to my experience I will be doing a whole lot of stun-backstab-stun-backstab even when I give the Warden class other than rogue, just with the other rogue characters (either because it's the tactics I'm most used to or because it's just the best method).
Although I hear mages are so broken that at some point even that tactics goes out the window due to practical immortality...

Aren't they basically already? I don't have the expansion, but all i've done so far is send my idiots in to distract them while i cast as many world ending aoe spells as i can, then stand back and watch as my enemies AND allies are frozen to death while being electrocuted to death and burned to death. It doesn't even make any sense but it apparently works.

 

[Axeli]

The joy of seeing your Warden coming back and kicking ass? I suppose it doesn't change anything big in the plot, but there are several conversations where the fact your character is a living legend comes up.

The classes do evolve, get more specializations and I recall there being items that let you reset skill selections (although someone else should probably confirm this), so it's not like you are completely stuck with your previous setup.
And to my experience I will be doing a whole lot of stun-backstab-stun-backstab even when I give the Warden class other than rogue, just with the other rogue characters (either because it's the tactics I'm most used to or because it's just the best method).
Although I hear mages are so broken that at some point even that tactics goes out the window due to practical immortality...

Aren't they basically already? I don't have the expansion, but all i've done so far is send my idiots in to distract them while i cast as many world ending aoe spells as i can, then stand back and watch as my enemies AND allies are frozen to death while being electrocuted to death and burned to death. It doesn't even make any sense but it apparently works.

Yeah, I meant that they are broken with or without the expansions, although I recall it was the buffs Arcane Warrior gets that really does it.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I have been a bit dubious to try this as my original game is bugged and wont give me the perfectionist ach. That and from what i've read this addon is fairly rushed, like alot of the other DLC they released.
Mages broken beyond belief? they are in the normal dragon age arent they? I mean a bloodmage/arcane warrior or spirithealer/arcane warrior just doesnt die or at least if you do i've yet to find out how. The fight is always over before i'm out of mana and as for rogues... i've never understood how you guys can play with jsut sustainable skills? i mean, doesnt that get a bit boring? i tend to take lots of active skills on all my characters and just flit between them just to keep me entertained during long encounters.

I use active skills all the time. Riposte, Dirty Fighting, Below the Belt, Flurry, Dual Weapon Sweep, Mark of Death, Distraction, Whirlwind, and...I think that's it, really.

 

[Fappy]

Carry Over = Unbalanced but more fun
New Game = Somewhat more balanced but underpowered and less fun

That's my assessment anyway. If your bored of your current build you can respec as many times as you want in the expansion so have fun.

 

[Mr. Doe]

I carried over the Orlesians are ugh french.

 

[spartan231490]

I wouldnt start it. I picked a new char (mage) and i started at soo high a level that i had every spell i wanted and had like 6 points left over. I didn't find an rpg where you start at (max?) really high level all that appealing. wish i had known that was what it was like before i bought it, 40 bucks on a paper weight.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Carry Over = Unbalanced but more fun
New Game = Somewhat more balanced but underpowered and less fun

That's my assessment anyway. If your bored of your current build you can respec as many times as you want in the expansion so have fun.

One of the issues is that rogue's don't have many options when respecing.

Archer or Backstabber. HMMMM...

OT:

I decided to start over. Most of the comments suggested that not much happens when you carry over, plotwise.

 

[BeeRye]

If you carry over your character you will absolutely spank everything throughout the entire game, as most mobs will be levels below you. There are some dialogue differences depending on whether you bring you character over or start a new one, but nothing major. If you're itching to give another class a decent try you may as well start a new character really.

 

[Fappy]

Carry Over = Unbalanced but more fun
New Game = Somewhat more balanced but underpowered and less fun

That's my assessment anyway. If your bored of your current build you can respec as many times as you want in the expansion so have fun.

One of the issues is that rogue's don't have many options when respecing.

Archer or Backstabber. HMMMM...

OT:

I decided to start over. Most of the comments suggested that not much happens when you carry over, plotwise.

The difference in play style between Cunning Rogue (daggers) and Strength Rogue (swords) is surprisingly dynamic. Anyway if you plan on starting over I'd suggest playing a two-handed warrior. They are boring as all hell in the original game, but once you get Sentinal armor and the Fade Warrior spec you can suddenly solo the whole game. Its awesome lol.