This is yet another in a string of games that throws a huge boss battle right at the start before you even know how to fully use the controls. Bad gaming, altogether. No immersion, no story, no happily fooling around for a while getting used to the game, just frustration right off the bat.

Okay my question is this -- I know I am supposed to disrupt the Fade Rift so the Pride Demon can be killed? The problem is, I don't know HOW to target the dang thing. I can see it, my character is TRYING TO TARGET IT, but there is no actual targeting function that I can see. I have no idea how to do this. Consequently, this game is already on my hit list of games that may never get played because of horrible boss battles early on in the game(joining Witcher 2, most recently).

Can anyone tell me what I should be seeing when I try to target the Fade Rift? I'm not getting a targeting icon like I would with a regular enemy. I know I'm supposed to use the right mouse button, but nothing ever happens. I am looking right at it, but I see no way to target it.

I found this online:



If this does no good, hopefully another player will be able to help.

Thanks, Marian

Hagatha, did that do it?

Hagatha you face the rift and then hit the interact key. (default is F)

Yes! The F key does it.

I'm a bit disappointed in the game, though. It's more like Dungeon Siege than Dragon Age, with none of the wonderful character interactions I came to expect from Bioware. Oh well. It's the inevitable dumbing down of great games that we see these days.

Yea, that always make me sad. Interaction is my favorite part of any game.

How far along are you in the game Hagatha. I found much more interaction in this latest version and was very impressed with the graphics and the way they handled quests etc. I found it to be an improvement over the previous ones.

It takes some getting used to but if you stick to it you may just find that it's a little better than DA origins.

Really? That is good news, indeed.

I'm just in the first part of the game, wandering around the valley, closing Rifts and doing some quests.

The graphics are, as you say, wonderful.

I am hating the combat at the moment, but that might improve. I just feel it's chaotic, even with the Tactics key. The spell effects block my ability to see what's going on. I am truly unable to control more than one character in combat, which I hate.

combat takes some getting used to but you can control each of your party members. Your default key for pause is (ctrl) and you can click on the character you want to control and give them commands. You can also use the tactical key to target enemies (also from each party member) and then click on the T key again to return to the combat screen and your party members will carry out your commands. I believe each member can be selected with the number keys as well.

Hope this helps.

Oldman

Hi Hagatha

Please remember, Hagatha, that in this game, Bioware has put a lot of focus in exploration. This means you don't have to finish all quests in the Hinterlands before you're able to get out of the Hinterlands (the first area). Many people were frustrated because they didn't know this which meant they kept wandering around in th Hinterlands (the game's first area) for a long, long time. You can leave areas e.g. Hinterlands in this game and come back later to finish quests. And you don't have to collect every and all shards you find in the Hinterlands.

As I understand it, from reading the Bioware forums, things do get better when you arrive at stronghold/castle in this game. Here you'll meet several followers etc. and they each have something to say. Bioware has ben working on several patches, some of which adresses the banter problem e.g. people you're meet run out of things to say. However, as I understand, each follower has a limited amount of words they're able to tell you. When you talk to them a lot, then suddenly they'll have no more to say. Again, as I understand it.

One of the patches, Bioware released should enable you to configure the controls yourself e.g. make pause space like in all other Bioware games. As I understand, there should be a tactical combat screen available where you can use your mouse?

ps: you did download the patch, didn't you? (sorry if you have, just checkin' )

nb: many people, for some reason, have found it easier to play this game with game controller or gamepad. I don't know why, though....

Thanks for the tips, everyone.

I have managed to develop some degree of control in combat. I only wish that I was able to give Varrus a script telling him to stop running into close combat -- seriously, the dude is an ARCHER and needs to stay back. Same with Solus. They both just rush on in, and neither is really able to handle it. The only two characters I want in melee are my PC, a dual-wielding rogue, and whatshername, the big chick with the sword.

I'm really enjoying the wandering around aspect of this. I've found some good stuff and I now have a wee horsie, though she's not much good when things get rough. It's like Oblivion -- the horse looks cool, but seriously folks, it's not much use (unless this game also has an undead horse).

There's a patch? I thought I had the whole thing. Maybe I'll check.

Thanks, Karsten

Have fun, Hagatha

This is fun, no question. The open world is amazing, and that alone is worth price of admission -- and it's a huge improvement on both DAO and DA2 in that respect. Bioware has clearly got the message that people love games like the last three Elder Scrolls because of the immersive open world (and for all its flaws, I loved Gothic 3 for the same reason). And wow, the more I play, the more I appreciate the graphics. My Alienware can run everything on High, so it's a fine experience (though the game runs really hot on this laptop, even with my Targus, so I have a rotary fan blowing at the back of it). Even the Spousal Unit was blown away, and he is not a gamer.

I did get back to Haven finally, and explored some other areas, and now I have yet another rogue in my arsenal, but she at least seems to get the concept of staying out of melee. Plus, she's a hoot. I guess I have to wait for more party members, but for now my party balance seems better.

I couldn't find a patch on the Origin site, so I must have downloaded the game already patched.

My only complaint is that the lock picking perk is so expensive. I have three rogues, and none of them can pick locks.

Go try open cellar doors, then ask one of your rogues to help.

Your Rogue can pick most locks. Just select the rogue and have them interact with the door/chest. Some locks require the deft hands perk which can be obtained at the War Table but it takes a while. I think it has to be the fourth perk you select from the secrets category.

Oh -- does that mean you have to pick all three of the other perks first? That's a drag -- I spent two perks in other categories already. Wish I'd known -- my character is a dual-knife rogue and that perk was really the one I wanted from the start.

I wish you could get a talent reset in these games as you learn as you go...or as least, I do

I learned that the hard way. I did the same thing before it finally dawned on me.

I finally got that perk though, by spending lots of time in the Storm Coast, filling the same requisitions over and over.

Now that I understand the combat better, I'm really enjoying the game. In combat, I actually prefer to start by controlling Sera, since her bow hits are so powerful, and let the rest take care of themselves. Once she has used up all of her power shots and seriously whammied the enemy, I switch over to my PC, who has some pretty good mojo herself. Iron Bull/Cassandra and Solas usually do fine on their own, though I have to step in to help Solas every now and again.

Sounds like you are in the groove now

Yup. Good game. I really haven't seen much story progression yet, but I imagine it's early days.

Yea, that usually follows the main quest doesn't it?

Well, I'm at level 12, and all I've done is run around doing fetch-it quests in the three area open to me. I guess I'm at the point where I need to decide which side I'm on, but I don't feel I've had enough story to make a decision yet. I'll get the rest of the shards and mop up some of the remaining find-it quests (Warden and Red Jenny) and then move on.

Ahhh, good luck deciding