Thread: Dragon Age: Origins - Hints

Ostagar: Extra backpack

Upon arriving at Ostagar, purchase the Backpack from the Quartermaster. Note: You should have enough money if you collected sell-able items and gear from the beginning storyline. Complete the quest where you and the other recruits enter into the Wilds. Note: Make sure you explore the entire map. Complete the "Joining" ritual and become a Grey Warden. Before going to attend the meeting with Duncan and the King, return to the Quartermaster. There should be another Backpack available at the same price as earlier.

Redcliffe: Possessed child

Eventually once you reach Redcliffe, there will be an option to enter the boy, aside from killing him and confronting the demon inside of the boy. Do not kill the boy. You will not gain much from his death and most likely your allies will disapprove. Instead, choose the option to enter the boy and let the Blood Mage do his ritual. Once you are inside, talk to the father. Once this is done, you must talk to the child "Possessed" and kill the demon inside him multiple times. Once you reach a certain part where you do not talk to the child, but the demon straightforward, try to converse with her. Conversing with her will get you more than just killing her. She will request that in exchange for her life, and the permission to enter the boy's body again in the near future, she will offer you gifts. One is a new specialization. Another is a certain rare item, armor, or weapon. Finally, is pleasure. Pleasure should not be an option, as it does not give you anything in exchange, not even an intimate scene. Select either the item or the specialization. However if you truly do not want to obtain anything useful, kill her. Killing her alone results in the same experience you would get from killing the boy, not to mention the previous times you have also killed her.

Note: The above method only works if the main character is a mage himself or herself. If you chose to send Jowan (the Blood Mage), Wynne, or Morrigan, the trick does not work and you will not be able to unlock Blood Mage specialization. The only way for the trick to work while your main character is not a mage is to turn your main character into a mage.

Easy experience

To get more experience points earlier in the game, as soon as you leave Lothering, go to the city of Denerim. Once there, you will find a building named "Wonders of Thedas". Go inside it and purchase the Archivist's Belt. As long as it is equipped, you will get an experience point boost for everything in your Codex. Books will increase from 50 experience points to 75 experience points.

Easy money

You can buy two packs from the quartermaster when you begin the Grey Warden Joining (once before you go in the wilds and once you come out). Once you have them, you should have 100 item spaces in your inventory. Collect everything during the main and side quests. When you find a merchant or someone possibly to trade, do it. Keep adding more to your inventory space. A pack is 10 spaces extra, but prices tend to vary from those you buy. The quartermaster in the beginning sells them at the same price. The dwarf merchant that follows your party to camp varies. The quartermaster at The Tower of Magi has one for a heavy price, but it is worth it because you can hold more items and sell more as you see fit. By doing this you can make a lot of coin by mid-game. What you buy and sell depends on the coin you get to carry through the game.

Free tier 4 mages staff

Use the following trick to get some items and gifts before you leave the castle. When playing as a human noble, after you go to your brother Fergus' room but before you leave, to go to bed ask your dog "Do you see anything interesting?". If he brings nothing back, ask him again. By doing this you will obtain the following items:

Piece of wood, which is a tier 4 mage staff that has a +1 Constitution and +10% Nature Resistance.
Found cake.
Dirty pair of pantaloons.
Tangled ball of yarn
Bottle of Garbolg's backcountry reserve.
Greenstone or elfroot.
Unique but seemingly useless Codex entry.

Increasing approval

• Sometimes your party might not care for you or bluntly tells you that they could be off better somewhere else. This can be changed easily. Each item that has "Gift" beside it can be given to a party member. You cannot give one to your own character. For example, some of the demon things that you get in your travels (like the totem or demon statue) can be given to Sten. You will get at least a 5+ approval. Each item varies from person to person. Some are meant more for others. You must learn which item fits what person.
  
• How you choose to talk to a character can determine approval ratings. Some are minor changes, but still will be closer to the liking side or disgusted side however you so choose. The hardest two that you can speak to are Sten and Morhgan. Keep in mind that they can be persuaded. Sometimes the correct words can lead to a loving moment and others to a long argument or a discussion especially for learning about them. That is what takes the longest time. The only one you really never have to worry about is the Mabari of the group, or the dog in most cases. It will love you no matter what and will stay loyal to the end. Give it a treat for being such a good loyal character.

Armed Mages

Mages are not just magic casters, Once you have acquired the Arcane Warrior style you can easily exchange the strength of armor and weapons to wield or wear them for Magic. You can now use spells and a sword. Do not worry about taking physical damage because of the armor. You do not have to keep your distance and use all the spells desired and still get up close with your enemies. Note: This ability is obtained in the "Nature Of The Beast" quest with the Dalish Elves. You must go into the temple and find a vial that seems odd. A short cinematic starts and it speaks to you. After a long series of questioning, it offers to pass on its talents of an arcane warrior to you and your party in exchange for its freedom.

Defeating the Tainted God

Look to the corners and have the final Boss follow you. Notice the oversized crossbows (ballistas). Once you are using the ballista, keep in mind depending on where and how close the Tainted God is, you may not get a high dose of damage and it is time consuming. You just have to worry about the long range attacks and sometimes the dark spawn attacking. However if you have party members then you should be alright. They can battle the dark spawn and you can remain focused on the dragon or Tainted God.

Specialization classes

Note: Specialization points are obtained at levels 7 and 14.

Rogue

• Assassin: Learn from Zevran (companion) when approval is high enough; or bought from Alarith's Store (Denerim, after Landsmeet starts).
• Bard: Learn from Leliana (companion) when approval is high enough; or Alimar (Orzammar).
• Duelist: Learn from Isabela (The Pearl in Denerim) if your DEX is high enough to catch her cheating and make her teach you.
• Ranger: Learn from Bodann's Wares (Party Camp).

Mage

• Arcane Warrior: In the "Nature of the Beast" quest line, you will find a place in Brecilian Ruins where a spirit is trapped inside something. Set the spirit free and ask it to teach you the specialization.
• Blood Mage: In "Arl of Redcliffe" quest line, choose to go into the Fade. Instead of killing the Desire Demon, negotiate with her. When given a reward, choose to learn Blood Magic.
• Shapeshifter: Learn from Morrigan (companion) when approval is high enough; or Varathorn (Dalish Camp).
• Spirit Healer: Learn from Wynne (companion); or manual from Wanders of Thedas in Denerim (after Landsmeet starts).

Warrior

• Berserker: Learn from Oghren (companion) when approval is high enough; or manual bought from Gorim at Denerim Market.
• Champion: Choose to accept reward form Arl Eamon after completing the "Sacred Urn Of Ashes" quest line.
• Reaver: Meet with Kolgrim in the Wyrmling Lair just before the mountain top and help him with his task. Pour dragon's blood on the ashes. Note: If Wynne and Leliana are in your party they will join the Guardian in their fight against you.
• Templar: Learn from Alistair (companion) when approval is high enough; or Bodahn's Wares (Party Camp).

Item set bonuses

Equip the indicated item set to get the corresponding bonus.

Item Set 1: Griffon: Immunity to Flanking
Item Set 2: Effort: -10% Fatigue
Item Set 3: Juggernaut Plate: +3 Strength +3 Constitution
Item Set 4: Imperium Rings: +2 Armor
Item Set 5: Legion of the Dead: +3 Damage +3 Constitution
Item Set 6: Dalish Leather: +5 Defense
Item Set 7: Duster Leather: +2 Armor
Item Set 8: Wade's Drakeskin: -10% Fatigue
Item Set 9: Wade's Dragonskin: -25% Fatigue
Item Set 10: Wade's Dragonscale: -20% Fatigue
Item Set 11: Wade's Dragonbone Plate: -10% Fatigue
Item Set 12: Leather Armor: -5% Fatigue
Item Set 13: Studded Leather Armor: +1 Defense
Item Set 14: Chainmail: -2.5% Fatigue
Item Set 15: Scale Armor: +4.5 Defense vs. Missiles
Item Set 16: Splint Mail: +1 Armor
Item Set 17: Dwarven Medium Armor: +1 Armor
Item Set 18: Ancient Elven Armor: +5 Defense
Item Set 19: Ceremonial Armor: +6 Defense vs. Missiles
Item Set 20: Diligence: +5 Willpower
Item Set 21: Dwarven Heavy Armor: +1 Armor
Item Set 22: Heavy Chainmail: -3% Fatigue
Item Set 23: Chevalier Armor: +3 Willpower +3 Constitution
Item Set 24: Commander's Plate: +5 Willpower
Item Set 25: Dwarven Massive Armor: +2 Armor
Item Set 26: Heavy Plate: +7.5 Defense vs. Missiles
Item Set 27: Wade's Superior Drakeskin: -10% Fatigue +5 Defense
Item Set 28: Wade's Superior Dragonskin: -25% Fatigue +5 Defense
Item Set 29: Wade's Superior Dragonscale: -20% Fatigue +5 Defense
Item Set 30: Wade's Superior Dragonbone Plate: -10% Fatigue +5 Defense
Secret: Warden's Commander: +? Health +? Strength
Secret: Armor Of The River Dane Set: +6 Willpower +1 Cunning +6 Attack +4 Defense