Dragon Age: Ranger's wolf pet
Toolpackinmama
least half-way through the game. The only one to make it all the way to
endgame so far is my "Spirit Healer" Elf Mage.
I suppose the reason my mage got so much attention is because he is tons
of fun to play, and I actually identified with him, and really got
caught up in his adventure.
My other characters were toys that I experimented with (tried different
approaches and pathways with them, to see what happened). But when I
asked myself if I cared about them enough to drag them all the way
through the Fade, the answer was no.
UNTIL!
I decided to try a Human Noble female, and make her a Ranger.
My first rogue (a Dwarf) became a Bard and I liked that well enough and
thought at first that I would go that way with my Human, Helena. But
then I acquired the book that unlocks the Ranger specialization, and
once I saw that Rangers could summon a combat pet, I was hooked!
You may wonder why that is exciting, since anybody can get a dog. The
difference with the Ranger is the combat pet doesn't use a party member
slot. You can have a party of four AND a combat pet! This gives the
Ranger an effective party of ~five~.
The Ranger's summoned combat pet has no tactics, no fancy talents. The
first pet you get is a wolf that can howl and bite, that's it. BUT!
You can become the wolf and play him just like you can with the Mabari
dog.
Let me tell you about this summoned wolf: He is surprisingly sturdy and
useful. He can be healed like any regular member of the party, but if
he dies you don't rez him, you just summon a new one. He's a very
handsome gray wolf, much easier on the eyes than the butt-ugly Mabari,
and as a tool for the Ranger he has many uses, as you might imagine.
I actually love having the dog in my party, and always felt deprived
when I had to leave him at camp so his spot could be filled by a more
versatile character. Now that I can summon a wolf, AND bring along my
favorite bipeds too, I am completely happy, and have once again fallen
in love with my avatar. :)
My only regret is that I have to go through that whole Fade ordeal
again. God, I hate the Fade.
Jonah Falcon
> again. God, I hate the Fade.
lol
Frank E
Make sure you upgrade to the level 4 Ranger talent as soon as you can.
Both the wolf and bear pets get massive power boosts and a 2nd
ability. Either can take out a yellow con enemy with ease.
Rgds, Frank
Nostromo
-0500, Anno Domini:
Minor spoilers aside *grumble*, tx for the heads up guys. I had a feeling I
wasn't going to like playing a mage in this game (for various reasons), so
now I'm definitely going to restart with a Ranger! :))) Pet classes are my
favourite in any case. Do you know if any of the NPCs can be adapted/leveled
to be summoners or necros, like some of the animate dead spells I saw on the
mage? Is the Mabari dog available to any class?
--
Nostromo
Toolpackinmama
> Make sure you upgrade to the level 4 Ranger talent as soon as you can.
> Both the wolf and bear pets get massive power boosts and a 2nd
> ability. Either can take out a yellow con enemy with ease.
Good to know, thanks.
Wolfing
> Thus spake Frank E <fakeaddr...@hotmail.com>, Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:39:07
I don't see why you need to restart a game. You *will* need a mage,
the fact that it's the character you create or an NPC is irrelevant.
Same with ranger, you can have a ranger (or more) in your group and it
doesn't have to be the character you create. I made Leliana a bard/
ranger for example.
Any mage can be a summoner, they just need to learn that tree although
I haven't done it with any of my mages so can't tell you how effective
those zombies are.
The Mabari dog is different in that it is a PC member, i.e. it's part
of your group of 4, counts as a member and has its own stats/skills
like Shale.
Mark Morrison
>Minor spoilers aside *grumble*, tx for the heads up guys. I had a feeling I
>wasn't going to like playing a mage in this game (for various reasons), so
>now I'm definitely going to restart with a Ranger! :))) Pet classes are my
>favourite in any case. Do you know if any of the NPCs can be adapted/leveled
>to be summoners or necros, like some of the animate dead spells I saw on the
>mage? Is the Mabari dog available to any class?
You can level up the mage characters, and pick their spells, so you
can give then the 'raise dead' spell - I think you could also given
them a Tactic to use the spell when and enemy dies - not 100% sure if
there IS a tactic trigger for dead enemy though, as I've not tried it.
The Mabari is available to all. Himan Nobles got one right away, the
other Origins have to do a quick quest in the early part of the game
to 'unlock' him. I called mine Mr Wolf. :)
Nostromo
(PST), Anno Domini:
>> Minor spoilers aside *grumble*, tx for the heads up guys. I had a feeling I
>> wasn't going to like playing a mage in this game (for various reasons), so
>> now I'm definitely going to restart with a Ranger! :))) Pet classes are my
>> favourite in any case. Do you know if any of the NPCs can be adapted/leveled
>> to be summoners or necros, like some of the animate dead spells I saw on the
>> mage? Is the Mabari dog available to any class?
>>
>> --
>> Nostromo
>
>I don't see why you need to restart a game. You *will* need a mage,
>the fact that it's the character you create or an NPC is irrelevant.
>Same with ranger, you can have a ranger (or more) in your group and it
>doesn't have to be the character you create. I made Leliana a bard/
>ranger for example.
>Any mage can be a summoner, they just need to learn that tree although
>I haven't done it with any of my mages so can't tell you how effective
>those zombies are.
>The Mabari dog is different in that it is a PC member, i.e. it's part
>of your group of 4, counts as a member and has its own stats/skills
>like Shale.
Cool, tx for the tips Wolf. As I'm extremely time-limited, I may just power
on for a while with the mage then & turn her into a necro/summoner. Cheers!
--
Nostromo
Nostromo
Anno Domini:
Nice. Wolves are by far my favourite wild animal/beast, so can't wait to
take these puppies for a spin! ;)
--
Nostromo
Paul Murray
> Thus spake Wolfing <wolf...@gmail.com>, Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:30:58 -0800
> (PST), Anno Domini:
>>> Minor spoilers aside *grumble*, tx for the heads up guys. I had a feeling I
>>> wasn't going to like playing a mage in this game (for various reasons), so
>>> now I'm definitely going to restart with a Ranger! :))) Pet classes are my
>>> favourite in any case. Do you know if any of the NPCs can be adapted/leveled
>>> to be summoners or necros, like some of the animate dead spells I saw on the
>>> mage? Is the Mabari dog available to any class?
>>the fact that it's the character you create or an NPC is irrelevant.
>>Same with ranger, you can have a ranger (or more) in your group and it
>>doesn't have to be the character you create. I made Leliana a bard/
>>ranger for example.
>>Any mage can be a summoner, they just need to learn that tree although
>>I haven't done it with any of my mages so can't tell you how effective
>>those zombies are.
>>The Mabari dog is different in that it is a PC member, i.e. it's part
>>of your group of 4, counts as a member and has its own stats/skills
>>like Shale.
> Cool, tx for the tips Wolf. As I'm extremely time-limited, I may just power
> on for a while with the mage then & turn her into a necro/summoner. Cheers!
It is worth knowing that only your main character speaks to NPCs. This means
that persuade/imtimidate options only appear if your main character has those
skills. So playing as a mage means you will miss these options, as you cannot
learn the necessary skill.
Greg Johnson
Yes you can - it's a skill, not a talent. My first character was a
mage who maxed out persuasion ASAP, and it really paid off for her.
Nostromo
+1100, Anno Domini:
>Yes you can - it's a skill, not a talent. My first character was a
>mage who maxed out persuasion ASAP, and it really paid off for her.
Cool, tx for that.
--
Nostromo
Mark Morrison
wrote:
And Mage's 'Intimidate' dialogue options are based on their magic
score - other types are based on Strength.
Paul Murray
> And Mage's 'Intimidate' dialogue options are based on their magic
> score - other types are based on Strength.
Is that documentated anywhere? I don't have the manual with me, but
I don't remember that being in it. Makes mages much more playable
as a main character if so.
Mark Morrison
No, I read it somewhere - makes sence, otherwise only fighters could
intimidate pople.