Forum:Thoughts on DA2 Party Composition

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So as the launch DA2 looms ever closer, I (like many of you I assume) have been deliberating with who I want in my party and what major talent trees they will invest in. I am interested to learn other players pre-game strategies just to see how others plan to approach the game. So as for me...

I plan on playing as a mage, not so much as I have to be a mage, but because I am more interested in pursuing the rivalry brotherhood between myself and Carver. I think I am liking the primal, spirit and creation schools the best as of now. I know elemental has great AoE and the best chances of brittling enemies so Im sure I'll get into that one a bit too.

Since I am really interested in the brother rivalry Carver will hopefully be another staple for my party, but I might try to turn him into a shield and weapon warrior instead of two handed. I love the battlemaster and warmonger abilities for controlling agro and keeping the rest of my party healthy.

I also think Varric should be in almost every party outing since he will be made to tell the story. It helps that the archery is so much improved over DA:O and his specialization seems powerful, but I think from a story perspective he needs to be in there. I also think the sabotage talent tree is essential as it has the only skills, beside disorienting shot, that can disorient. A def must have with the new cross-class combinations.

Which leaves me with my last choice and Im torn between isabela, because I do love rogues and the new dual weapon talents along with the abilites make this a new powerful combo over DA:O imo and anders. I really want to know how anders will be incorporated from DA:A into this game and I hope there is alot of carry over between the choices in DA:A and DA2.

Anyway thats my initial take on the party composition, let me know yours!

I'll also be playing as a mage, and right now I think I like the elemental, primal, and arcane trees the most, but I'll have to look at entropy first. Anyway for my party I think I'll try to use a bit of everybody, especially as they all seem different, but I'm the most excited for Carver (unless Fenris' specialization really kicks ass) Varric, and Anders, but that doesn't mean I don't want to see Merrill and Isabela in action too, Aveline just seems like a standard tanking character though Soralan (talk) 18:20, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

A bunch of tentative considerations: my first party, as those who know me as a wiki contributor can guess, will be archery-based. With this in mind: (1) a Rogue protagonist -- Archery, Subterfuge, Duelist, probably Dwarf or Qunari; (2) Sebastian Vael AKA the Exiled Prince, as a dedicated archer that will plainly have a personal uber-bow (à la Leliana/Nathaniel); (3) a Warrior buffer/tank (à la Shale) -- Battlemaster, Vanguard, Reaver; (4) a buffer/debuffer mage (à la Wynne/Velanna) -- Creation, Arcane, Spirit Healer. Varric seems a nice addition, but x-bows were not exactly uber-l33t in DAO/DA:A, to put it mildly, so... We'll see. IN (talk) 18:22, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

I'm a bit curious as to how you're intending on having a dwarf or qunari protagonist, considering you don't get to choose your race in DA2? BassmanUW (talk) 19:49, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

I was interested in the arcane tree at first as well, until I figured a warrior using turn-the-blade/elemental aegis coupled with unite could provide a party wide defense buff whille keeping precious mana in my mage's hands for other spells. Is there a clear advantage to using the arcane talents over the warrior's unite and stonewall? I just figured I dont care if my tank cant throw as many shield bashes if that means my mage can pummel more with stone fists! But I agree with IN, dual rogues might be a good strategy as they seem to be powerhouises in controlling the battlefield. I hope Varric and Bianca are a strong duo, but having Sebastian would be a good choice too.

--My intention for the party is to have my Hawke as a battlemage, specialising in the Arcane, Spirit and Primal trees for single target beat-down and debilitation and close-combat survivability, with Fenris specced in order to tank and hold threat, the idea being that they both equally divide the damage dealing and tanking roles between them. Mostly because I love the battlemage/arcane warrior character concept and always try to make it in pretty much any game, and using Fenris because from what I've seen of Aveline I don't find her that interesting. Merrill would be a support and nuking mage, specialising in the Elemental and Creation trees. I'd probably then have Sebastian for ranged damage and roguish misdirection (I preordered the Signature Edition). Though you do have a point about Varric kind of being necessary for the framed narrative...--146.87.52.53 (talk) 18:38, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

Also Im interested to see the political implications of an apostate becoming the champion of Kirkwall. Just another reason I think mage will be my first play thru.Bum88 (talk) 18:57, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

Mage Hawke with Aveline, Anders, and Varric. That will be my standard party. Mostly because those are my favorite characters so far, but it gives a pretty good balance too. I'll switch in other characters for Anders and Varric from time to time, but Aveline will be a staple... I freaking love her. How can you not love somebody who punches the hell out of hurlocks? I also have a thing for redheads :p Matt 2108 (talk) 19:07, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

I don't know about building a party quite yet. I'm going to have a mage play through first then rogue ranged and last warrior 2 handed. I guess depending on how I want to play Hawke, not so much worried about class, but I always roll with 1 warrior, 1 mage, 1 rogue, and 1 for damage or buffing. Xorander (talk) 19:59, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

In Origins/Awakening my initial party build was not made for practicality, but instead purely on who I liked. My favorite party was a "fellowship" which included one character of each race; Elf / My Warden, Dwarf / Oghren, Qunari / Sten and then Human / Morrigan (substituting Alistair, Wynne or Leliana in as the situation called for it). However as I replayed the game over and over I started desiring complimentary party builds. I anticipate playing DA2 in the same sequence. As such right now I like the brother/brother dynamic, I really like Aveline and I am undecided on everyone else. I do think I will have Merrill in my party a lot however... simply because my Warden was a Dalish Elf and so bringing her along is a tangible link from the Warden to Hawke. --Zambingo (talk) 20:21, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

I plan on my first Hawke being a DW Rogue, so I will need Aveline, as the only weapon/shield Warrior to tank. I also want a Mage, as a healer, which means Anders or building Bethany and/or Merrill as a healer. The fourth slot will be left for whoever's quest I'm working on, or one of the ranged companions (Varric, Sebastian, one of the other mages). Gruedragon (talk) 20:41, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

Do you think it plausible that you could build Carver to be a shield and sword warrior? I guess Im just hoping they give us all 3 Hawkes from level one to build as we see fit, even if we do loose one quite early.Bum88 (talk) 20:45, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

I have it on good authority SPOILERS use edit to see text: As for my Hawke, he will be a 2H warrior and will function as a high damage dealing tank, focusing on the Two-Handed, Vanguard and Warmonger trees with the Beserker and Reaver specializations. I will use one mage who will be the primary healer, but might have some general AoE/cross-class combos skills as well(the other mage will be all damage dealing and I will use incase healing is not a concern, but actual damage dealing is a la High Dragon). I will have a DW Rogue or a Archery Rogue, depending on mood and balance, and the other character slot will be for however best aguements my other three, and mood.-- C2 / CC 21:11, March 4, 2011 (UTC)

Spoilers use edit to see text: I am a little surprised that no one has used the companion specific specializations as reason for prefering one over another. But its hard to know exactly what all that entails without knowing the specific skills.Bum88 (talk) 21:16, March 4, 2011 (UTC)