Talya wrote:
I don't like the combat in DA2 compared to DAO, so far. But I haven't played it much yet. It just feels frantic and button mashy.
I'm really enjoying the combat in DA2. It's not frantic, or button mashy, or anything for me. I'm playing a rogue archer, and I use my hotkeys about as often as I did in the first one. I also do a lot more auto-shots than most people, probably. I prefer to save my big hitting abilities for Cross-Class Combos, which do absolutely HUGE damage. I do like all of the aggro affecting skills that rogues get, tho. Armistice, Goad, Stealth, Evade, Decoy. There are so many ways to drop aggro and/or transfer it to your tank. It's really quite fun. Also, I tend to move around the battle field a lot to make the most out of my abilities. Like Archer's Lance, I'll move around until I've got 3 or more enemies in a straight line, then fire it at the last one in line. It usually takes out everyone in between with one shot. It's pretty sweet.
I'm also finding myself switching to my other characters (NPC's) A LOT less than in DA:O. They are much smarter/better this time around, and the tactics system is really, really robust. You can actually have them automatically take advantage of enemy status effects to pull-off cross-class combos. For instance, I always have at least one mage in my party casting Winter's Grasp and/or Cone of Cold. Which can turn enemies Brittle. So in Varric's tactics, I set it up this way:
Code:
5: Enemy: BRITTLE ---> Jump to Tactic 7
6: Self: Any ---> Jump to Tactic 9
7: Enemy: Clustered with at least 2 enemies ---> Bursting Arrow
8: Enemy: BRITTLE ---> Archer's Lance
9: Whatever
This way, Varric will use Bursting Arrow on a brittle group (for a huge 300% bonus to brittle targets), and he will only use Archer's Lance for single targets (which does, I think, 400% dmg to brittle targets). It works out really well. I've got Varric and Merril taking out entire groups with cross-class combos, with NO input from me at all. Aveline can Stagger opponents with Shield Bash, My rogue has a ton of Disorient abilities, and the mages can apply Brittle effects. It's really a lot of fun.
Corolinth wrote:
Is that how the first Dragon Age was supposed to be played as well? Pausing the game every combat round?
At that point, why bother with any sort of real-time engine. Just give your players a turn-based SSI D&D module to play.
Pretty much, yes. It's designed to play like Baldur's Gate and NeverWinter Nights. All of which were real-time, but able to pause at any point. I've always played them like this. In fact, I always have the option to "Pause at the start of combat" turned on, so that I can position my group, and/or set up attacks in advance. I'll also pause at different points in combat to make sure that everyone is focus-firing down a certain target, etc. As far as I know, there aren't "rounds" like there were in previous Bioware Games, since this isn't based on DnD rules. But pausing definitely helps get the most out of your group. It is, however, optional, if you prefer to play a more action styled game.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
