User:Hollowness

=Summary=

Ex Endgame WOW Vet (it broke my heart) with currently too much time on my hands (insomnia much) and Dragon Age: Origins is my new game/love. So far one full run through of the Game and countless 1/2 way games (no respec'ing and plot mistakes do that to a perfectionist). I hope to add what I can to help the site out that has helped me so much with the game and add other tid bits here or there. Very much looking forward to Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening.

I am currently in love with the Arcane Warrior and took a break from playing after making a Dialog Error 18 hour in my 44 hour game of my one of my many in progress run through's but for i redo all that or get frustrated and start fresh (perfectionist much). Since no real Arcane Warrior Guides can be found ATM.

Current Projects
I am currently writing an easy to use/read Equipment/Item Guide/Tables because I find the current Equipment and Item can be updated, simplified and set up easier to read.


 * My first Template Template:ColorItemGift to represent items marked as gifts such as . Thought I'd start small and practical for gifts are notable but may not have a page.

Current idea's in my head is while updating, correcting and cleaning up to have items/equipment listings appear as if they are in game with the rest of the information on the item page, like where to obtain extra, that with to what we have currently spreadsheets of types of items with notes and locations for quick thumbthroughs, shoulkd clean up nicely, IMO.

Character Summary

 * Female Human Mage
 * Magi Origin
 * Arcane Warrior
 * Spirit Spells / Entropy Spells
 * Notable Equipment/Gear:
 * Weapons Spellweaver and The Rose's Thorn
 * Rings Wicked Oath and Key to the City
 * Neck The Spellward and Belt Andruil's Blessing
 * Priority Skills
 * Coercion 4 Points, Combat Training 2-4 Points, Poison-Making 1 Point
 * Quote:
 * "It's a massacre, no one gets out alive!"

I know best Arcane Warrior uses a sword and board but I have customized my Mage as dual wielding caster using multiple poisons and find it overpowered. Skill priority: Max Coercion, 2 points Combat Training, 1 point Poison Making, then Max out on Combat Training, lastly Survival 2-4 points and 1 point Stealing to open questline. Main/Priority Spells are Virulent Walking Bomb, Crushing Prison and Curse of Mortality. Also with Combat Magic, Telekinetic Weapons and Miasma on reserve. Crowd Control with spells that weapons don't have to be sheathed (Check out Arcane Warrior Spellcasting) is a plus. I do feel like a Caster Rogue but found this much more enjoyable than a regular Rogue or regular Mage (if I was able to further customize I'd steal the Rogues Talents like Below the Belt easy, really, any humanoid should be able to manage that with out Class Specification :P).

This Character is on run through "double digits" now, through trail and error of not being allowed to respec and optimal gear while leveling and I am starting to get to know this personalized spec/gear/play style with more and more ease. Though it is slow at first (cool downs on spells and staff auto attacking isn't very interesting), once I get my main/priority spells and unlock my first specialization at level 7 and go Arcane Warrior spell/melee balance is when I truly fall in love with this class. If I didn't need a healer with party buff Haste (so I don't have to waste my mana reserve) and/or rogue to Lock pick, I'd 2 man everything with Alistair his Warrior taunt/threaten and Templar talents (Holy Smite ftw) and with my crowd control/support/mass damage, very overpowered.



Role playing wise, I back stab Jowan every time with no regrets. If I can't get Cullen; then he can't have Lily. With polite, I'll help everyone but alway be obliged to fight if they think they can take me, demon bullying attitude, I ensure party manipulation to make minimal disapproval during plot dialog. I romance Alistair because I have a thing for templars (corrupting what was to be forbidden fruit), once I find out he is heir I keep his as far from the throne as I can, he made it clear he doesn't want it. I lead Zevran on till he wants to get intimate, then end it with lets be friends. I don't romance with Leliana (too much baggage) instead, I play the "omg I love shoes!!!" with her. If there was a "toying with people's emotions" achievement, I'd definitely get that every play through. I did both A Dark Promise and Warden-Commander, I disliked both, I wanted to do The Ultimate Sacrifice but with a romance with Alistair (which I want) he doesn't allow it... and I want both... damn! But at least an expansion will remedy that. :D

=The Arcane Warrior=

I leveled several different types/styles of Arcane Warriors (AW) and this is what I found to be optimal with chance of personal preference/customization. I don't want to be told how to play a cookie cutter spec and play style and i don't expect anyone else to either. These are recommendations and things I researched on the Specialization.

Attributes
Easy guides to where to put your attributes if you know what you are looking for for role and/or second Specialization.


 * Strength - no points need to go into this stat, unless you plan to fight mostly or only in your Shapeshift form which is very, very unlikely
 * Dexterity - if dual wielding 26-30+
 * Willpower - Spirit Healer support of high fatigue AW maybe like to has similar points to magics 40-50+
 * Magic - represents both Magic and Strength if Combat Magic is active 40-50+
 * Cunning - while in the fade you can get 5 free cunning attributes no more points need to go into this attribute
 * Constitution - for Blood Mage support or Defender role 30-40+ if not 16-20+

How to Level and Play
Even with the intent to have an Arcane Warrior, keep mind you do still start out as just a mage and play as one for a while and wait till you have key spells you plan to use and the Specialization point ready, for when the time comes to use the items/spells. Start off by reading and noticing what level each Arcane Warrior Spells are available, then look over all the Spells and then make reference to Arcane Warrior Spellcasting if you plan to wield anything besides the staff this is something to pay attention to. Drawing and sheathing weapons is time consuming and unless it is a very good spell I'd refrain to as few sheathed weapon spells as you can or you could be juggling your weapons quite a bit or stick to staff. As you level to get to your Specialization keep in mind the spells you want to use once you can go Arcane Warrior.

Once spec'ed Combat Magic, spells and combinations, supporter, defender, debilitator, damager or healer or any custom tactics and role can be sorted and set up. Then you can work on the gear, once you decide your game style and gear/equip type you can start picking up or purchasing if you haven't already.

Role in your Party

 * Supporter - not necessarily a healer but may have a healing ability, you buff your self and your party
 * Defender - AOE spells and armor/shield spells are very useful
 * Debilitator - hexes, dispel and other penalty spells
 * Damager - a nuker mostly straight up damage spells
 * Healer - full time or part time a few healing spells and/or support spells for you self and party
 * Custom and Hybrids - a clean slate for the ambitious

One or more Mages in your Party
Setting up your party the more mages the better, custom spec'ing to created and optimal party. To get the idea have a Defender/Damager mage and a Healer/Supporter mage or Debilitator/Damage mage and Damager/Healer mage in your party, are just some suggestions. Having your Arcane Warrior team up with a another Arcane Warrior can work out well.

Arcane Warrior's Second Specialization
Those with mana troubles some use Blood Magic to work out that problem. A second or back up Spirit Healer for party support or one you may want to Solo. Also there are suggestions of AW Defenders with Shapeshifter as second specialization that works well.

Endgame
Probably the most overpowered class Specialization in the game fully geared and comfortable with your game play, spells and party, feels like you're cheating.

Arcane Warrior Heavy Armor
Equipping Heavy Armor or Massive Armor ideally for tanking and off tanking play styles, equip items or sets that have - Fatigue% like Wade's Superior Dragonbone Plate Armor Set, Warden Commander Armor Set DLC, Blood Dragon Armor Set DLC or Juggernaut Armor Set for the ultimate resistance set.

Arcane Warrior Light Armor
Equipping Clothing and/or Light Armor/Medium Armor dodge/resistance gear, Weapons, accessories and equipping Hale/Dweomer Runes, creating more melee caster or fatigue managing caster for play styles. Ranging stats 30%-72%+ Spell Resistance, 16%-36% Chance to Dodge Attacks, gearing and rune enchanting several slight varieties to personal preference. Some examples:

Gear


 * Boots: Imperial Weavers or Lion's Paw DLC
 * Chest: Reaper's Vestments
 * Gloves: Ancient Elven Gloves
 * Helmet: First Enchanter's Cowl
 * Neck: The Spellward
 * Belt: Andruil's Blessing
 * Rings: Key to the City and/or Lifegiver

Arcane Warrior Weapons
As for Melee Weapons Spellweaver is the best and only class specific item for Arcane Warriors though there are other weapons to tide you over till you get it or you stick to your staff until better weapons become available to you. Choices of melee weapons: sword and board (being the most popular choice), dual wield (best daggers are 26-30 dexterity till able to equip) and 2 handers (being the least popular choice). Some examples:

Main Hand/2 Hand


 * Longsword: Spellweaver, 2 rune slots
 * Longsword: Starfang (Longsword), 3 rune slots DLC
 * Greatsword: Ageless, 2 rune slots
 * Greatsword: Starfang (Greatsword), 3 rune slots DLC

Offhands


 * Shield: Havard's Aegis
 * Dagger: The Rose's Thorn, 3 rune slots
 * Dagger: Dead Thaig Shanker, 2 rune slots

Tip: Considering the balancing of mana reserve and high fatigue, when using melee weapons have a point in Poison-Making, for crowd control: draining mana/stamina, chance on stunning and/or a penalty to movement speed on top of extra damage with no strain on your mana pool for your Arcane Warrior.

=Dragon Age: Origins - My Review of the Game=

Summary
An adult fantasy RGP including: gore, sexual content, humor, character creation, character customization, worth watching cut scenes and strategic combat. Its as if Final Fantasy finally finished high school and went less anime. Best Graphics in a game with the most flexibility that I have seen in a long time.

Pros

 * Multiple possible Romances
 * Unique Origin stories
 * Dialog and Gift options for approval
 * Natural companion on companion dialog
 * Combat "pause" tactics
 * Plausible tactics consequences (blood spatter,injuries and friendly fire)
 * Character choice dialog
 * Fun references (ie Superman)
 * Downloadable content (DLC)
 * Expansion(s) (Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening)

Cons

 * Unable to respec hero or companions (being fixed in Expansion :D)
 * Really, really hard to find Codex's
 * It ends, roughly 100 hours isn't nearly as long as I want this game to be (Pro: Expansion)

Suggestions/Wish List

 * More comprehensive and detailed character statistics/resistances/accomplishments
 * Add new and more classes and customizations to character creation
 * Optional Co-Op
 * Ability to lvl grind
 * Easier ways to get gold
 * More gear/equipment or customization

=Links= | GameFAQs: Dragon Age: Origins Walkthrough