Maggie I use a Merc Stealth Game Keyboard and I really like it. You use your left hand to control the wasd keys keeping your right hand on the mouse.

You can read about them here and/or here. (The second site has a good closeup of the game controls of the keyboard.)

I really like mine and I bought it at Best Buy so they're available at retail stores.

This is not just a fighting game? [even if the marketing seem to think it is, at one point the head honcho of EA saud that it was game 'about dragons' - DA: Origins that is - we all had a good laugh that summer...]

There are quests to do in this game, you can control up to 4 characters in your party, you need to keep them happy, or else - they'll leave you for good. The game has 6 Origin Stories for you to choose from, and they will have some (small or big) impact on the rest of the story. Based on feedback from the forums at Bioware, it seems they've made a dating simulator, since you'll need to appease your characters liking of you with gifts or glib of mouth - or something else .

The quests generally seem to be well written (again based on info from the forums) and don't have a black or white character to them. Something the choices you'll have to do seems difficult and hard. Sometimes you can do quests multiple ways. As said, for those who just want to enjoy the story there's the easy option which makes combat somewhat easier.

Maggie, can you confirm that you can use the right mouse button to point & click to where your characters go?

It says in the manual you can but based on info from the forums at Biioware, I'm beginning to doubt the validity of this statement? I thought it would be like Baldur's Gate where you just clicked on a characters portrait (or the little ring under them) and then they moved...happily to where you wanted them to move. [There's a post over at the Bioware forums that deals with the controls, I'll try to see if I can find it...]

Now, it seems like Bioware added this as an afterthought - since it were a great wish by many community members. And you can move with the wsad keys using your left arm. Takes a while to get used to doing, but I got used to it playing Oblivion - is it impossible for you to use the mouse with your left arm?

You can turn OFF persistent gore - that is the blood that stays on you after the fights I think?

There's a story reason behind all this blood; you'll discover it, while playing the game.

The marketing of this game has made it so that people might think there's more blood that there actually is. Just a way to get attention...

And it has worked:

Steam is now reporting that DA: Origins is the most downloaded(bought) game of this week; and I saw on another website that DA: Origins now is # 4 in the Top 10 Sales chart of the Week. This means, I hope, Bioware is safe from letting people go ---- in reference to EA laying OFF 1500 people...

/Karsten

Thanks Karstan and Draclvr for all your info. I watched a video of the programmers talking about how you cut off the heads of the enemy, and the entire focus of the video was nothing but blood and combat so it turned me off of the game. Now that I know there are quests to do and you can turn off the blood it makes me feel better.

Is there anywhere to get a demo of the game? Do you think they will release a demo if not?

Witcher enhanced and Sacred 2 are great games and I am looking for something up to that level of greatness or more.

I don't understand. You can play this game exactly like any other point and click. You can also play it with WASD if you so choose.

To make your entire party move with with point and click: First make sure that the little "run" icon under their portraits is active and not the "hand" icon, which makes them stand still while only the main charcter moves.
With your "run" icon enabled, click on the portrait of your character that you want to run in front, and then click on the ground where you want your party to run. You don't have to click the portrait all the time, though. Once the leader is selected, you can simply keep clicking on the ground, and they will go there. It's just like Witcher and NWN2. It's as easy as that.


Of course, I personally prefer WASD, so at the beginning of the game, I used to hold my Right mouse button depressed to give me free-look camera panning while I run along depressing W, but I found RMB a strain, and have changed my mouse buttons around in the Options menu, so now I depress LMB for the free-look camera.

Anyway, I just want to say that I'm finding the graphics in this game beautiful. Both the backgrounds and the character models are very nicely done. The cutscenes really look good, and the animations are excellent.

Hi Sherryah

I don't think Bioware (and EA) are going to release a demo of this game, sorry But you can go to giantbomb and watch two guys play the Xbox 360 version of the game. On the Bioware Dragon Age site there's info on characters as well; you can also view some (or all of the released) videos related to the game there. Game trailers should have them all, I think..

Once again, the marketing for this game has made people think it's an action game.
It it not, you get quests to do, you level up...and so on...

Hint:
Try to use cold damage in the game - when fighting enemies...

Just keep in mind, though, that the console versions (especially Xbox360) don't look half as good as the PC version, as is the case with most of your next-gem games these days.

I have a game specs question. Is anyone playing the game with Vista and 2GB RAM instead of the 4GB they recommend? If so, is the game running OK?
I'm using a laptop so I can't upgrade the RAM on it. I don't want to buy the game if it won't play worth a hoot.

Karsten-

It can be done, but they move very stiffly and slow. Last night I clicked on both at the same time and that is when it happens. I do not know what I am doing wrong to do this. You could never fight in this, if so you would be dead every time, but my character and her brother are still in the Castle, it is so funny it is laughable. I know there is nothing wrong with my game, I hope the company reads this, as maybe they can come out with a patch for it.

Oldman=

Thanks so much I will look at that, you say it plays good. Do I take my keyboard off my computer then or do I use the pad and keyboard at the sametime, I could never do that. Thanks again

maggie

Hi-

I just purchased the Merc Stealth, got it from Dell as the one at Best Buy they wanted $89.00 for it and this one looks grand and with a mouse and headset.

Maggie I hope you're happy with your new keyboard. I know I am. It takes some getting used to but once it becomes comfortable to your left hand it is really great.

Hope this helps you play keyboard games.

What I did was wander around and explore in a safe zone for a while until I got used to the controls.

Hi Maggie

Over at the Bioware forums a dev. said that you needed to leftclick on the icon under the characters that says run; the characters will then run. And hopefully, not move as slowly and stiffly..

You do not need to click on the portraits. You can drag a box around the characters, us the right mouse button to click and point to where you characters need to go. (as least that's what's in the manual).

I hope, you'll be happy with your new gamer keyboard as well. The next time I'm getting a new keyboard, I will be getting a gamer keyboard, too.
[I've always found it weird that the arrow keys were in the right site of the keyboard]

@ Debra

I think you'll do fine with 2 GB of RAM. The big challenge seems to be processor and the graphics card. I've seen people mentioning they're playing with a single core p 4 2.4 Ghz and a 7900 (GS) card and 2 GB of RAM.

/Karsten

EDIT:

In this thread at quater to three

http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?p=1964558#post1964558

there's someone (Malkav11)having troube with a slider puzzle (the torch puzzle in same area where you get Shale).
I just thought it could be sort of cool and neat if any adventuregamers here could help these people out - provided of course that you've solved this puzzle. Just to prove, you know, that adventure game(r)s still exist...

/Karsten

Karsten, started playing the game yesterday, as an elf mage, its a lot of fun and beautifully done. Your links and all the info have been so useful, thank you, but why are you not playing the game?

Sadly, I can't afford to buy the game right now - as I recently lost my job

I then decided to help others enjoy the game

Hopefully, at a later time, I can afford the game...

Thank you Karsten for the info on the game and running it with the 2GB under Vista. I've got the dual core and the OK Nvidia card. I wish you luck on finding a new job.

Karsten and Oldman-

Since my right hand is the hand I use for almost everything, is it difficult to use the left? I am looking forward to getting my Merc, got it for # 39.00 plus shipping, I thought some places wanted way too much money. Thanks so much for both of your help. Do not be surprised if I ask for more.

Hugs to both

maggie

What a steal, Maggie! I'm a total rightie also, but it was easy to get used to the left controls. What I like about my gamepad is that I no longer get wrist and hand fatigue. I rest my left hand on the gamepad (as you will on the gamepad part of your Merc) and I don't have to do any twisting or lifting or anything. It will definitely take a little getting used to, but once your brain figures it out, you will love it.

What about trying it out on a game you're familiar with like The Witcher?