Companion builds and tactics

[elysium_fic]

If there has been one feature of DAO I feel I have been missing getting the most out of in the time I've been playing, it's the more challenging combat. Mostly, this hasn't been a problem because I've been doing RP playthroughs where it doesn't matter that I'm on easy mode. But even with mods that should make it possible for me to be able to play on Normal or even Hard mode, I still can't.

Part of the problem is, I think, that my computer is a bit too slow for the game. I meet the minimum specs, but there still seems to be some sort of response lag. I can throw a bomb and it will be well over a minute before it detonates. I can take aim at a TRASH mob and be attacking it for 30-60 seconds before its health bar ever drops below 100%. So it's taking a prohibitively long time for me to clear out even trash, and all the while the trash is pounding on my companions. I had to download a mod that added a bunch of elite militia at Redcliffe to have even a hope of getting through the siege with any of the town's militia alive. And that was on Normal mode.

Lag issues aside, I suspect my other problem to be that I'm not building my companions or using the tactics efficiently. Mostly, I take the "default" tactics set and tweak it a little to add things like lyrium and health potion usage.

I've decided before DA2 comes out, I want to do one final playthrough of DAO and Awakening, and I want to challenge myself a bit and do it on a harder mode. I think I will uninstall all but the most crucial mods (the ones that fix bugs and things like Advanced Tactics) to see if that helps the response lag. But I also want to get the most out of my companions and their tactics.

So, hit me. How do you have your companions built and how do you deploy them?

Comments

[visser]

See, I built Alistair up, too, but even with the mod that lets me respec him, he just can't keep my target from munching on my face. I used to wear the lightest armor, and just keep my rotation simple, had Alistair target the same target as me to keep its attention, but the target would always turn and eat my face instead.

I started stacking dex on my melee characters, and had them wear medium armor so they wouldn't die. I made the mistake of making my mage an Arcane Warrior and decked her out in a nice set, and I just couldn't get Alistair to keep the mobs off me.

<_< I think I've only killed Loghain ONCE, because his tanking style is just much more comfortable for how I play. I can go balls to the wall and I don't get nommed on. The only times he ever died was because Wynne REFUSED to heal him, and I wouldn't notice until it was too late to grab control of her and force a heal out of her. =/

[(Anonymous)]

Huh, weird. Did you keep Threaten up? That made a big difference for me. I also had him go champion and use Warcry whenever we were surrounded. That helped too for some quick snap-to threat on multiples.

For my arcane warriors, I don't even bother with a dedicated tank. With all the defense toggles up, I'm nigh invincible... of course, with so much mana tied up in those toggles, I cast a lot less spells, so it can be kind of boring just whacking away with my sword while I wait for regen sometimes. :)

Ugh, Wynne. I'm always tempted to side with the Templars just so I don't have to take her with me through the Tower.

[lemontwisted]

Ack. Not sure why I sometimes randomly get logged out, but at any rate that was my comment above. :)

[visser]

haha i figured. But yeah, I did have him always have Threaten up. Not sure why my rogue pulled threat like she did.

Granted, a few times, I just had her go nuts. She's a dual wield duellist/assassin, so she hits like a truck- she kicked Loghain's ass in less than 5 seconds on normal, and 20 on Nightmare.(she was a dirty cheat and used Soldier's Bane and Quiet Death XD)

[lemontwisted]

Haha, nice. Rogues can surely put out some impressive damage. I actually haven't tried the duelist spec yet, I'll have to give it a go on my next rogue.

As for dirty cheaters, I think mages take the cake... glyph of repulsion followed by an overlapping glyph of paralysis for a nice aoe paralyze, and it can be done from out of line of sight, around a corner, before the enemies even know even know you're there. Then its firestorm, lightning storm, and sit back and watch them all burn. :)

[visser]

I need to try this tactic on Cauthrien in Howe's estate >=D

[lemontwisted]

The only problem with it, is on mobs that have stuff to say (like Cauthrien). If you try and play sneaky, and cast it on her and her guards before you've triggered her talk, they won't take any damage, and then when you go in and the fight starts, all your best stuff is on cooldown.

I, uh, might be speaking from experience here. >.>

(Never had my happy ass landed in Fort Drakon so fast, lol).

[visser]

*cackles* Oh lord, I can imagine XD

[darkrose]

I've never had a problem with Alistair not keeping aggro, as long as I leave Threaten on. As the most heavily armored guy in the party, he usually draws aggro anyway.

[sakuratea]

ditto to the comment above. Never a problem for me with either L or A, though, and I am almost always a stabby dual heal rogue.

[sakuratea]

I meant dual wield. Maybe I shouldn't post after a visit to the tap house...