I'll admit that I keep killing my melee characters with friendly fire (Walking Bomb is the most fun ability known to man, if perhaps over powerful), But as my party generally consists of two mages, an archer (rogue), and the lone two-handed weapon warrior it tends not to concern me.

This game kicks ass... Will be playing it alot until MW2 on 360... then I have to divide my time between them... Oh and Elemental too...

"You don't actually get your DLC."  Yeah, that was a problem for several hours on the first day of launch, pretty much because their servers were slammed and had problems processing everyone's keys and seeding the downloads.  By about 3 PM Eastern time, I had my content (collectors + pre-order), and the game only came out at around 1 PM.

I agree that they shouldn't have put the DLC quest guy in your camp (doesn't affect me with the DDE, though) if you don't have the DLC purchased or installed.

Oh, don't get me started on the DLC at launch stuff   It was like buying a great steak dinner; having the waiter bring it out, then, just as you start eating he says "Do you like how that salad, soup, and side dish looks?  Yes?  Well you can have it if you pay for it".  Grrrr.   They could have just added it to the game from the start for free if you ask me.  And having an NPC tell you all about an important quest, only to have him turn into a half used car salesman, half Morman doorbell ringer, was a really unpleasant moodbreaker.  It was like having Billy Mays pop into the game saying "Act now, and for only $9.99 you TO can have this great quest!".

There are a few whiners on the DA forums, but nothing like you see with pretty much every new game today.

Seriously - if you like story driven RPG's, or RPG's in general, or the whole DPS, Tank, Heal thing, pretty awesome game.  Best in game story I think I have ever played.  On first character about 40 hours in.

Wow. I can't imagine why people might opt to hold back even minor negative opinions with such open individuals such as yourself being on these forums.

maybe because there are no negative opinions to be had? ....

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Possible Spoiler Alert!!

-one thing odd though, was that I only got 50% of game completed, even though I did 75% of SideQuests and 100% of main story? is it in error? I highly doubt there is another 60+ hours hidden somewhere ... (or 80+ hours if yer me)

I think I read a post (on these forums) where someone said that the %completed took into account all of the origins as well.  So until you play through each of the origin stories you won't get to 100%.  Not to mention any of the side quests that you may have (inadvertently) opted out of.

What? $7 for what is not even an expansion? Ummm! me no lik'um. Me giv'um negative review. Me slap this game on its hairy snout!

What's not open about that comment?  Use of the word whiner?  Other than the technical issues that kept folks from playing, downloading DLC, etc (of which I understand their frustration), those that are playing the game and complaining really stand out as a minority compared to other game forums.  That was my point and my impression.  If I was flaming someone in particular you would be spot on.  I haven't though.  I don't flame individuals in forums because although the internet makes folks anonymous and sometimes brings out the worst in people, I don't personally attack people.  That would definitely keep folks from opening up.

Also, that 50% probably takes into account quests that can be completed in more than one way, and the multiple endings.  I can think of at least 4 endings offhand, with a possiblity of many more, depending on actions during the game.

I finished my first play through, and I am pretty damn happy with this. It's no Baldur's Gate II, but it's the closest anyone's managed to get thus far. If you even remotely enjoy RPGs, this game was built for you!

It is not a winner... Again, Stardock/Impulse use his "racist" distribution scheme who exclude almost all the world to enjoy these game... It is the same system that with sins, where European have need to wait months for a release... but now, it is the same for online...

And steam is not a option... steam crash at the boot 50% of the time...

This time, i will not download a pirated version and wait a world wide release for buy the game... i will simply buy something other elsewhere... this time, Stardock/Impulse will not have my money... and for the future Armada game, i have already find a alternative place for buy online...

Since i cannot buy the Game via Impulse, i give it now a score of 0/10 !!!

Just remember that it is not Stardock that wants to limit availability, its the publisher/owner of the game rights. It is lame, and I hate it too (I am in Norway), but I am not sure if Stardock can do much about this other than whine to EA and others.

I don't think so... the availability is limited on Impulse but not on Steam... if i was not with so much problem with the Steam system,  i will have buy it there... Steam have maybe a price a little more high that Impulse, have a convert rate 1:1 from $ to Euro... but i don't care, money is not the issue...

If impulse propose Dragon Age at a highter price for European, i will not have a problem... for shipping product, it is already the case to a lot of place due to our high European tax...

Of course, i can use a US proxy and fake address... use the same proxy for the install and activation, for buy DLC... but i don't see why customer who wish spend money on a game need to seek a workaround for buy a product they wish... in fact, for a lot of people, click a torrent with a pirated file is more easy... have made it in the past for sins.. since, i have buy two boxed version and more that 15 time the Entrenchment expension pack... but i become tired that the same story repeat itself for each new game that i wish to buy on Impulse...

Unfortunately Thoumsin, it is infact the publisher of Dragon Age which sets the rules; Stardock and thus Impulse have to play along or they aren't allowed to provide the game to their customers. However, I have the feeling that the Stardock boys and gals will tell you the same thing they tell everyone else: if you don't like dealing with Impulse, then go where you feel comfortable.

Thoumsin,

You're not understanding that EA, the publisher, makes the rules on who can sell their game and where.  In this case Stardock/Impulse can only sell in North America.  Why?  Who knows.  Very possible that they signed an exclusive agreement with Steam to sell exclusively outside North America.  Or could be whoever has European physical distribution rights may have a clause that only X digital companies can sell in their territory.  And there are many others.

The fact remains that Stardock would LOVE to sell every game to you.  But the publishers determine if Stardock can do that.  If EA says no there isn't much Stardock can do other then to say "pretty please".  And I'm sure Impulse also gets the shaft at times simply because they are still a small player.  Publishers I'm sure many times just want to get on Steam and tha'ts good enough for them.  Nothing Stardock can do about that other then to keep trying.  And with the great rise in AAA games coming to Impulse at or near launch is showing us that Stardock is indeed doing that and it's working.

So put the blame where it belongs....EA.

I seem to recall a post by a Stardock employee saying that some companies limit the availability of the game at first to 'test the waters' of Impulse, so to speak. Though given that both the regular and the Deluxe edition of Dragon Age have been consistently within the top 5 in sales since its release, *despite* having to compete with titles with worldwide availability, I don't know what else they could possibly be waiting for.

 But then again this is EA we're talking about, if their actions made any sense they just wouldn't be EA anymore.

'test the waters' of Impulse !!!! The only real alternative of Impulse is Steam... the only real way to "test the waters" is give to both the same right of distribution and see who is the best...

Here in Belgium, i can have the game in shop but not the deluxe edition... for new year, i will be in London... will have my deluxe edition there !!!

I wont lie, this turned me a little off. I was looking forward to it. i may still get it, but being one of those damnedable "fps flashy lights" people, we will see.

Maybe i know ... from the Stardock 2009 report : Stardock's position of "one world, one price" requirement has resulted in many titles only being available in North America.

There's also GamersGate, Direct2Drive and their own online store as well, but I think it's more of a "vs effort" comparison, see if they get enough sales to make it worth their time dealing with Stardock at all, but that's just my personal speculation.

Then I'd recommend playing Mass Effect first, Bioware's previous RPG (and whose sequel is coming next January, already confirmed to be on Impulse). The combat system is pretty much that of a tactical FPS, like the Brothers in Arms or Rainbow Six series, except you can also use some special powers (think Star Wars' Force) in between, so its much better suited for action FPS players than that of Dragon Age. The only problem is that its still not here on Impulse, but it's been confirmed it'll be available before ME2's release and, if you still can't wait, it's only $20 on Steam.