Dragon Age Origins-getting stomped

[broberfett]

I've been playing Dragon Age Origins(the first one, just incase I've used the wrong title). I've enjoyed it and in most fights I kick ass. There are 4 fights I'm getting stomped into the ground on.
1.Branka the Dwarf
2.The High Dragon
3.The Witch shapeshifter Dragon
4.Myself and my party in the 4 part test to get the ashes.

While fighting my own party I can't believe what a super badass my wizard is in a fight. I can barely hurt myself. The Dragons seem to rapidly destroy my party followed by me last. Branka the Dwarf caused me to reload way before I got locked in the Anvil of the Void area.

Are there any secrets or crucial items for fighting these opponents?

 

[SPCTRE]

No secrets per se, but it is advisable (especially during boss encounters) to adhere to the RPG class archetypes (tank, healer, damage dealer).

Did you spec your party members accordingly, i.e. do you have a designated tank that is using the appropriate gear and abilities to soak up as much damage as possible and keep the enemy's attention? Do you have a designated healer?

Also, do you switch between party members to control them manually, e.g. if you need to heal a specific party member? Did you take a look at the strategy scripts that control your party members when they're acting on their own (you can adjust those to better fit your needs and playstyle and to reduce the need for manual control)?

 

[clint g]

^^^

Yup. Also, for the dragons, it's really really helpful to have ranged attackers (archers)

 

[broberfett]

Do you have recommendations for specific tactic settings? I have a wizard/Arcane warrior, Alistair(warrior), What's her name(Thief/duelist), and that Dwarf dude that was Branka's boyfriend. I have a few alternative characters back at the campsite like the Mubari dog and that daughter of the witch, something like Morganna.

 

[Reverend]

Yeah, with that line-up it's no wonder you're getting your arse kicked. Basically, the usual thing to do is have one warrior to act as the tank (damage magnet with loads of health, defence and armour) a rogue archer (or failing that a rogue or warrior with high dexterity and cunning that can equip a bow) a mage with healing and other support abilities and a fourth party member of any class that can just deal out damage.

With dragons it's best you keep your distance, sticking to ranged attacks while your tank goes in and keeps the thing's attention while your mage should be focusing on keeping to tank alive through healing and defensive spells. It might also help if your rogue(s) is a ranger and can summon beasts to act as mini tanks and extra distractions.

 

[clint g]

Tray, morrigan is pretty much a must have character in these fights. Teach her a lot of healing abilities and have her back you up. It will make a big difference

 

[Skywalker]

Yeah, I'd recommend either bringing Wynne, who's already a healer mage, or spec Morrigan to do some healing. Keep Alistair as your tank and Leliana as your rogue, and replace Oghren (the dwarf) with one of those two mages.

 

[clint g]

Or even bring in both mages, one as an attacker/debilitator with tactics set to heal characters when they are below 25 percent and one dedicated healer with buffing abilities. I found that this tactic works very very well.

 

[broberfett]

Bringing Wynne helped alot. I ditched the Dwarf, who I've been a bit disappointed in for sometime. I had to rearrange some tactics and give my thief the bow(Leliana). I died a few times fighting The shape changing Witch of the Wild. Leliana ran up right into the dragons face to shoot her with a bow. Alistair died quickly, but Wynne kept healing me and Leliana which was crucial. Leliana died and then my Arcane Warrior main character ran up at point blank range and used my enchanted sword plus Freeze spells and Stone Fist until the Witch/Dragon was history.

Now three more to go. I'm worried about the duplicate party fight at this point. The Branka fight is annoying because if I'm not strong enough then I am stuck or forced to do a reload from before you get locked into the Anvil of the Forge.

 

[Niorah]

If it becomes more frustration than fun, you can always take the game difficulty down a notch from the Gameplay Options Menu.
It's better to enjoy a game than to swear at it.

 

[broberfett]

If it becomes more frustration than fun, you can always take the game difficulty down a notch from the Gameplay Options Menu.
It's better to enjoy a game than to swear at it.

I defeated my duplicates and I am about to fight Branka the Paragon. I already tried the High Dragon and was defeated multiple times. I'm going to try to win it at normal difficulty. I figure I can take a crack at the Dragon after another level or two.

 

[Niorah]

Levelling up before the High Dragon is always a good idea. And look for equipment you can buy to boost your stats as well. Doing some side quests to get some money to buy better equipment is never a bad thing.

 

[ThunderAeroI]

I played through he original twice on two different installs and can speak towards the fact that sometimes you have to have everyone attack the same target run and ensure all the additional popups are dead before you resume attacking the main bad guy.

I enjoyed the original more that the sequel so enjoy your time and do everything you can. Get the Downloaded content too as it is a nice addon.

Branka is pretty close to the end of the game, only leaving a few more steps until the final boss. So finish up quests and have fun before heading too far.

 

[broberfett]

I don't have the downloaded content because I'm not hooked up to X-Box Live. I had a chance to buy a golem Control Rod, but couldn't get it because it was downloaded content. Does having the Control Rod deactivate Branka's Golems in the Anvil of the Forge fight? That would be super. If it doesn't then I feel like the downloaded content doesn't add too much.

I am away from my X-box for about a week, so I still haven't fought Branka yet(again, after getting the healer. Still stuck with that damn, lame dwarf for that fight).

 

[SPCTRE]

The control rod quest involves a new party member - I don't want to go into further detail because that could be considered a spoiler, in case you end up getting this specific DLC

The DLC also has some impact on the Branka storyline, although less in terms of gameplay but rather background story.

 

[MNM]

I don't have the downloaded content because I'm not hooked up to X-Box Live.

You can do what I did and buy the Ultimate edition. cost less than £20 on amazon and has both the game, the expansion pack and all the DLC, witch hunt, leliana's song etc.. A very good bargain.

I dont agree that tactics or specific party set ups are really needed. I play through with 2 offensive mages (me and morrigan - no heal type spells learnt) leliana as an archer and alistair swinging his sword. Just make sure that when you level up, you increase your mages magic, your archers dexterity and the other guys strength and you can handle anything the game throws at you.

 

[Freman]

Does anyone have any idea how to beat the freaking Broodmother??? I have my character, Wynne, Leliana, and Oghren the Dwarf, and I've been stuck on her for days.

Worst part is, somehow all my gamesaves except my most recent were deleted, so I can't go back and change characters.

 

[clint g]

Does anyone have any idea how to beat the freaking Broodmother??? I have my character, Wynne, Leliana, and Oghren the Dwarf, and I've been stuck on her for days.

Worst part is, somehow all my gamesaves except my most recent were deleted, so I can't go back and change characters.

If you can, have Wyne heal your characters, have Leliana use her bow and ranged attacks and have Oghren use that skill that draws all enemy attention to himself. What class is your own character?

 

[Freman]

Female dalish elf, warrior.

 

[Reverend]

Two handed, duel wielder, or sword & shield? Usually a sword and shield warrior is best suited for tanking (drawing fire away from the rest of the party and soaking up damage) while two handers or duel wielders are usually the ones that deal the most damage on the primary threat.

So if for instance both you and Oghren are damagers, then you might be in some trouble. If so, then you just need to have Leliana keep minor enemies of everyone's back while Wynne does all she can with healing and buffs.