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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen PC |OT| Wolves hunt in 4K

Lulubop

Member
Plenty of 'em spawn right outside Cassardis, the starting village.

I know, but I never see them. Also what level should I be at to go to that Island?

If you have the "Off with it's head" quest in your log all the respawning animals will not spawn. Escort the Hydra head to Gran Soren to complete the quest. When you return to Cassardis the rabbits, seaguls, etc. will be there again.

Well there you go.

Also do robes increase your magick attack stat as well?
 

Baalzebup

Member
These quest are kinda ass, like the one with the thief. getting annoyed.

I know, but I never see them.
Well there you go.
A piece of general advice to keep your sanity: Take the notice board quests that involve killing x y and z, but only do them on the side while you have business with the correct areas / enemies for other reasons. Chasing after them specifically is fucking tiresome busywork.

Also what level should I be at to go to that Island?
Depends. Generally, the whole shebang assumes you have done a single full round of the game already when you set foot to BBI, as the narrative is built upon futher with the assumption that the players is already familiar with all the aspects of the cycle of Dragons and Arisen. So the answer would be "whatever level you can beat the game at", though you can actually tough out the early portions much earlier and then build upon that with the gear you pick up there, but it is a bit rough way to do it.

Also do robes increase your magick attack stat as well?
Generally no, but there are certain pieces of gear for almost every armor slot that improve your attack stats, though your weapons will always be the most important pieces in determining your relative attack power. I seem to remember the being something going to the arms or hands in Cassardis that boost Magick. Maybe in a shop, maybe in a hidden chest, can't remember exactly.
 
Beat Awakened Daimon. I had hoped to kill him fairly, but after a few bullshit deaths (that vortex thing has insane range) I said "fuckit, plan B."

4x Conqueror Periapts, metric fuckton of blast arrows, Liquid Vim and Tenfold Flurry. Dead in ~30 secs.

Was saving that for Death, but it never showed up.
 

Lanrutcon

Member
Beat Awakened Daimon. I had hoped to kill him fairly, but after a few bullshit deaths (that vortex thing has insane range) I said "fuckit, plan B."

4x Conqueror Periapts, metric fuckton of blast arrows, Liquid Vim and Tenfold Flurry. Dead in ~30 secs.

Was saving that for Death, but it never showed up.

When you gotta fuck something up, nothing compares to the Ranger. You can kill Death in seconds.
 

ggx2ac

Member
When you gotta fuck something up, nothing compares to the Ranger. You can kill Death in seconds.

That's why I never bothered with blast arrows since I'd get bored with killing things that easy.

That's why Strider is my favourite ranged class since I find it fun using hailstorm volley and the fracture dart is really good at dealing damage, once you figure out the arc trajectory it becomes easy using it with timing the explosion.
 
Can someone do me a favor and hire my pawn for a while? I need rift crystals for purifying.

SteamID: Playford (please let me know who you are if you friend request)

Pawn name: Emma

Approximate level: 150

Vocation: Fighter

She's wearing the Immortal's set, Cursed Bite, Dragon's Roost and Divine Embrace, all at various stages of dragonforging, mostly gold. Immune to Possession and Petrification. She's very, very hard to kill, only that stupid dragon roar and falling off a cliff (she has bad luck with cliffs, don't let her fight near one) can seemingly kill her.
 
Can someone do me a favor and hire my pawn for a while? I need rift crystals for purifying.

SteamID: Playford (please let me know who you are if you friend request)

Pawn name: Emma

Approximate level: 150

Vocation: Fighter

She's wearing the Immortal's set, Cursed Bite, Dragon's Roost and Divine Embrace, all at various stages of dragonforging, mostly gold. Immune to Possession and Petrification. She's very, very hard to kill, only that stupid dragon roar and falling off a cliff (she has bad luck with cliffs, don't let her fight near one) can seemingly kill her.

Not sure if I'll be able to play today, but next time I hop on I'll rent her and do some BBI farming.
 
You know, when making custom characters, I tend to put in a bit effort to make my character look like myself. Not too hard, just so there is some general similarity.

Despite the limitations of DD's character creation, I somehow made the most "looks like me" character ever.

And now, I spent several hours "godsbaning" myself trying to get Lv.3 cursed items.

It's such a strange sight, to see yourself repeatedly commit suicide...

Not sure if I'll be able to play today, but next time I hop on I'll rent her and do some BBI farming.

Thanks! Much appreciated.
 
You know, when making custom characters, I tend to put in a bit effort to make my character look like myself. Not too hard, just so there is some general similarity.

Despite the limitations of DD's character creation, I somehow made the most "looks like me" character ever.

And now, I spent several hours "godsbaning" myself trying to get Lv.3 cursed items.

It's such a strange sight, to see yourself repeatedly commit suicide...

https://gfycat.com/EnviousIndolentDove

And yeah the character creator is actually really damn good. The top post on r/DragonsDogma has some great ones:

My character formulas are masterworks all. You can't go wrong.
 

Seik

Banned
https://gfycat.com/EnviousIndolentDove

And yeah the character creator is actually really damn good. The top post on r/DragonsDogma has some great ones:

My character formulas are masterworks all. You can't go wrong.

Wow, your Donna from the 70's Show is on point. :O

Can you modify a character after its creation?

I just bought the game during the Steam holiday sale...runs in beautiful 4K on my GTX 1060, I only played like an hour so far though, can't wait to sink my teeth in deeper.
 

oSoLucky

Member
Can someone recommend the best texture mod(s)? I've been waiting to get the game hoping for a really good one. I've researched a few, but can't find much in the way of impressions compared to the others.
 
Thanks! Much appreciated.

No problem, I got to play a little this morning. Killed some Firedrakes and Living Armors. If you've been having trouble getting your pawn rented out, it's probably because of the Guardian inclination. I made a post about inclinations (info I learned from the Wiki/subreddit) that may help:

So I finally got around to researching pawn inclinations. Interesting stuff. Here's some general advice for my fellow noobs:

I. Avoid the Guardian and Acquisitor inclinations at all costs.

II. Good inclinations:
Melee pawns: Scather (Primary), Mitigator, Utilitarian
Ranged pawns: Challenger (Primary), Mitigator, Utilitarian
Spellcaster pawns: Utilitarian (Primary), Challenger, Medicant (for healers) or Mitigator (for nukers)

More detailed advice:

III. To set your desired pawn inclinations, go to Johnathan in the Encampment (he appears next to the rift stone after you finish the Reward and Responsibility quest) and buy the proper elixirs. You have to take them in reverse order. So let's say you want your Mage pawn to have Utilitarian as his primary inclination, Challenger as his secondary, and Medicant as his third.

This is the order you want to take the elixirs:
1. Neutralizing Elixir (to reset your pawn's inclinations to default)
2. Medicant Elixir
3. Challenger Elixir
4. Utilitarian Elixir
5. Another Utilitarian Elixir (to reinforce it as the primary inclination)

IV. Reinforce your pawn's inclinations at a Knowledge Chair (found in the inns). The first question your pawn asks you is always in regards to its secondary and third inclinations. You will be asked to choose between them (in the form of a somewhat roundabout question), which allows you to swap the secondary and third inclinations. Why is this important? Because every time you switch back-and-forth between the two, it apparently reinforces your primary inclinations. So every time you visit an inn, sit down at the Knowledge Chair to swap your secondary and third inclinations, and then use the Knowledge Chair again to swap them back. Doing this regularly should keep your pawn's desired inclinations stable (at least that's what I read).

Sources:
http://dragonsdogma.wikia.com/wiki/Pawn_Inclination
http://dragonsdogma.wikia.com/wiki/Pawn_Inclination_troubleshooting
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=600965086

Since your pawn is a tank, I recommend Scather as its primary inclination, Utilitarian as its secondary, and Pioneer as its third.

Wow, your Donna from the 70's Show is on point. :O

Can you modify a character after its creation?

Lol, those aren't my creations. I found them on Reddit. Also:

If you have defeated the dragon, then you can buy the Secret of Metamorphosis from Johnathan in the Encampment. This lets you edit your character and main pawn as many times as you wish from the main menu.

If you are not in post-game yet, you can buy the Art of Metamorphosis, which is a one-time use version of the item mentioned above.
 
Beat Awakened Daimon. I had hoped to kill him fairly, but after a few bullshit deaths (that vortex thing has insane range) I said "fuckit, plan B."

4x Conqueror Periapts, metric fuckton of blast arrows, Liquid Vim and Tenfold Flurry. Dead in ~30 secs.

Was saving that for Death, but it never showed up.

I know that feeling. 4 Conqueror periapts and liquid vim can get things done easily, but blast arrows just makes sure the enemy doesn't have a pulse.
 
No problem, I got to play a little this morning. Killed some Firedrakes and Living Armors. If you've been having trouble getting your pawn rented out, it's probably because of the Guardian inclination. I made a post about inclinations (info I learned from the Wiki/subreddit) that may help:



Since your pawn is a tank, I recommend Scather as its primary inclination, Utilitarian as its secondary, and Pioneer as its third.

Alright, did my best to change her inclinations, but I have no idea how to see what the third one is.
 
Alright, did my best to change her inclinations, but I have no idea how to see what the third one is.

Go to a Knowledge Chair. The first question your pawns asks is always about their second and third inclinations (and lets you swap them). That's how you figure out what their third inclination is.
 
Ok Pantaghana I took your pawn through the latter part of BBI (Corridor of the Hallowed through Awakened Daimon). How much RC did that get you?

I released and rehired her so I could get the updated inclinations.
 
Ok Pantaghana I took your pawn through the latter part of BBI (Corridor of the Hallowed through Awakened Daimon). How much RC did that get you?

I released and rehired her so I could get the updated inclinations.

I didn't get anything. According to the wiki, I will only get gifts and Rift Crystals after you rest at an Inn (or a safe spot in BBI).

Hired pawns are formally released to their owners on resting or sleeping after the pawn has been dismissed or lost.​
If a pawn is hired more than once by the same Arisen before rest or sleep, their owner will receive only your last review but still the sum of all your gifts and all the Rift Crystal they earned. Caution If the number of gifts given to a player's pawn exceeds 9 before the owner rests, there is a risk that those items will be lost - for more details see Trading and Gifting.​
 
Ugh, that Frostwyrm + Firedrake duo in Sparyard of Scant Mercy is really fucking annoying. I killed the Firedrake and then Death showed up and killed all my pawns. Taking on a Frostwyrm solo as a Sorcerer is one of the stupidest things in this game; they cast spells 10x faster than you so you always get interrupted, and your focused bolts don't do much damage. I might actually ragequit Sorcerer because of that fight and just switch to Ranger.

I didn't get anything. According to the wiki, I will only get gifts and Rift Crystals after you rest at an Inn (or a safe spot in BBI).

Wow I didn't know that. Interesting.
 
Can someone recommend the best texture mod(s)? I've been waiting to get the game hoping for a really good one. I've researched a few, but can't find much in the way of impressions compared to the others.

I checked some ENBs and texture mods back then and nothing looked better than vanilla DD honestly.
 
Wow, is this not the most useless augment?

Flow - Keeps you from beeing slowed while fording Water or Marshland

...you mean the thing that is barely present in-game, and is mostly avoided because of a tentacled fog-monster? I can now move faster through that? Joy.
 

ggx2ac

Member
Mystic knight is everything I ever wanted. I usually role Mage but Melee in this game is soo good.

If that will be your primary class leveling up and that you'll be using the great cannon as your main attack, if you use your main pawn (or can hire one) as a Strider with the Utilitarian attribute it can use fracture dart on your great cannon to send out a burst of shots from the great cannon.

As a suggestion of course.
 
Got lucky with purification tonight and got the Framae Blades, Revenant Wail, and Blackwing Bow. I played Magick Archer for most of the night and loved it, now that I have the best daggers and magick bow in the game. (Protip for Awakened Daimon: run directly underneath him and spam Hunter Bolt, since it's a Holy-based attack.) Now I've changed vocation to Ranger and will play that next session.

I really need to remember to have Shadowplay running when I run through BBI. So many hilarious/terrible deaths -- like getting destroyed by a Condemned Gorecyclops' mace, or sent flying off a ledge by an Eliminator, or getting pinned against a wall by two Living Armors and beaten to death. Sometimes it's frustrating but I also can't help but laugh.
 

Sarcasm

Member
Plan to get back to this after my finals. I got down doing the quest where you find and fight named dudes at night.

I forgot what I was doing but I got this spread sheet. Though jogging anyone memory, what does one typically do after that?
 

Baalzebup

Member
Plan to get back to this after my finals. I got down doing the quest where you find and fight named dudes at night.

I forgot what I was doing but I got this spread sheet. Though jogging anyone memory, what does one typically do after that?
Considering it is a sidequest completely unrelated to everything else as far as actual quests and such go, anything and everything you'd normally do in DD given your current gear and levels. Just about the only thing the availability of that quests tells is that you can progress the story by going to meet the Duke, as the sidequest, Nameless Terror, only comes up around when that becomes possible.

Though if you are a completionist, you'll want to see about seeing if there are any quests that might expire when you progress the story. The game does feature some missables.
 

Sarcasm

Member
Considering it is a sidequest completely unrelated to everything else as far as actual quests and such go, anything and everything you'd normally do in DD given your current gear and levels. Just about the only thing the availability of that quests tells is that you can progress the story by going to meet the Duke, as the sidequest, Nameless Terror, only comes up around when that becomes possible.

Though if you are a completionist, you'll want to see about seeing if there are any quests that might expire when you progress the story. The game does feature some missables.

Ah okay that is why I have this spreadsheet hehe =D
 
So, after far too much lollygagging, I have finally decided to go into NG+.
I think I made a mistake by doing Bitterblack so early and grinding there so much, the fight against the Senechal was comically easy, he was unable to do any damage and my basic light attacks oneshot him, I'd just attack and then let him attack me for 20 secs it takes for him to finish his monologue.

Does NG+ affect difficulty in any way?
 

Lux R7

Member
So, after far too much lollygagging, I have finally decided to go into NG+.
I think I made a mistake by doing Bitterblack so early and grinding there so much, the fight against the Senechal was comically easy, he was unable to do any damage and my basic light attacks oneshot him, I'd just attack and then let him attack me for 20 secs it takes for him to finish his monologue.

Does NG+ affect difficulty in any way?

Nope, the real ng+ is hard mode (best mode imho, i only play hm, normal is a little too easy to me)
 

Sarcasm

Member
Nope, the real ng+ is hard mode (best mode imho, i only play hm, normal is a little too easy to me)


I haven't even beaten the game once and I am playing on HM. Well I lied I started on Normal, went to BBI and got a ring.

THEN enabled HM (which resets story).
 
So, after far too much lollygagging, I have finally decided to go into NG+.
I think I made a mistake by doing Bitterblack so early and grinding there so much, the fight against the Senechal was comically easy, he was unable to do any damage and my basic light attacks oneshot him, I'd just attack and then let him attack me for 20 secs it takes for him to finish his monologue.

Does NG+ affect difficulty in any way?

Yeah you're kinda supposed to do NG+ before BBI. The story makes more sense that way, since it involves the Senechal. BBI backstory from the wiki:

There are two different Olras, a Pawn and an Arisen whom have no relations with each other. The Pawn Olra was created by Grette, an Arisen of an ancient time. During their travels they met a man named Ashe who became an apprentice to Grette. Ashe saw Grette as a mother figure, but he fell in love with her pawn. When they left him, they fought and killed the Dragon, and they tried to defeat the Seneschal, but lost. The Senechal transformed Grette into the next Dragon, who then proceeded to turn Ashe into an Arisen in hopes that he would kill her.

Ashe took Olra as his main Pawn, and in their final confrontation with Grette, she offered Ashe a choice. Either he sacrificed Olra, his Beloved, or Ashe would be forced to fight and kill her. Ashe couldn't decide, and cursed the infinite cycle. Grette decided to take things in her own claws, slew Olra, and cursed Ashe, transforming him into Daimon. Daimon went mad with grief and transformed the land into the massive underground complex known as Bitterblack Isle.

Even after being sacrificed Olra's spirit wanted to save Ashe from this vile fate and decided to find arisens that may help free Ashe. An arisen with the same name; Olra was lured into BBI and eventually killed, the pawn with the same name then possessed her when she wakestoned herself alive and called the player to BBI. When Ashe was freed from his damned form BBI remains because Ashe damned everyone with him and not just himself (Grette), it is speculated that Daimon 2nd Form is Grette. This explains why 2nd form drops a Vile wakestone which is presumed to be Ashe's former heart. The arisen, and dragon, pawn cycle still remain but instead in a corrupted/ damned way that continues to keep BBI going instead of the original cycle shown in Dragon's Dogma.

It is speculated that perhaps the Seneschal of BBI himself became one with BBI forever damned when Ashe damned the whole cycle. Which explains the constant creation of monsters.
 
After doing numerous runs through BBI as a Sorcerer, Magick Archer, and Ranger, I believe Magick Archer is the best vocation. Sixfold Bolt (ice) is strong against many of BBI's most troublesome monsters: Gorecyclops, Saurians, Hellhounds, Banshees, Eliminators, Living Armor, Firedrakes, and Daimon's first form. Hunter Bolt (holy) is strong against Death and Daimon's second form, even being able to stagger-lock the latter. Explosive Rivet (fire) is good against basically anything that the other two skills aren't -- it's especially effective against Frostwyrms, which were the bane of my existence as a Sorcerer. Ricochet Hunter (lightning) is also very strong, especially against Elder Ogres, but I prefer Explosive Rivet overall.

In other news, I'm not a big fan of the purification system. I'd really like to be able to choose the items I get, through gathering materials or whatever. This lottery-based shit is getting really tiresome. I've gotten so many useless rings in my attempts to purify a Staff Enchanter's Ring with Holy Pact.
 

Ogawa-san

Member
I agree that MA dominates BBI, but you don't mention Ricochet Bolt? If you're in a closed area, stuff just dies. The ambushing garm pack will die before you even make visual contact. You can take Death from full health to none before it escapes.

Ninefold Bolt (with the ring) is awesome, but I only use it if there's no space for RB to... well, ricochet.

Are there items you just want to copy in-case of something in the future or NG+?
Not copy, but you want to stock up on periapts. The vendors won't be available until you're well into NG+.
 
I agree that MA dominates BBI, but you don't mention Ricochet Bolt? If you're in a closed area, stuff just dies. The ambushing garm pack will die before you even make visual contact. You can take Death from full health to none before it escapes.

Ninefold Bolt (with the ring) is awesome, but I only use it if there's no space for RB to... well, ricochet.

I mentioned Ricochet Hunter in the last sentence of my first paragraph. :)

Well Sixfold/Ninefold Bolt is irreplaceable because if its ice element, which is strong against so many BBI enemies.

Ricochet Hunter is probably better than Explosive Rivet, because as you said it can shred enemies down like crazy. But Explosive Rivet makes extremely short work of my most hated enemy in the game (Frostwyrms) so I have a soft spot for it... and because it's just too much fun to use.
 

Morrigan Stark

Arrogant Smirk
After doing numerous runs through BBI as a Sorcerer, Magick Archer, and Ranger, I believe Magick Archer is the best vocation.
I could have told you that ages ago. Pretty sure I (and others) said that repeatedly, in fact. :)

But yeah MA is the best class in BBI by far. My first time using Ricochet Hunter against Elder Ogres (after struggling to take away their health bit by bit before) and Garms and seeing their HP bars melt away was just... such an "Oh my god" moment haha.
 

Sarcasm

Member
MA is a magic main type right?

I leveled all three of the physical ones. Don't know how screwed I would be if I switched. I do have two rings.
 

Artdayne

Member
I've been watching a let's play challenge run recently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr3BglAXM8g&list=PLPpgEXhxLRZgqZm_i5rHkBzfVetkvIlS4

It's from the guy that made Volgarr the Viking and he's pretty damn amazing at this game. It's all explained in the video but he limits himself by not using curatives in combat, wearing fisherman's tatters throughout the game, never using pawns and there are a few other rules to his challenge run but they are explained in the video.

I might have to try a challenge run like this because I really love playing this game but one of the biggest drawbacks is how easy the game gets. Imposing restrictions like the ones he did could give the game more legs in a repeat playthrough.
 
I've spent several hundred thousand RC on just Bitterblack Gears trying to get Holy Pact at this point. I literally have every single other Pact, and all the Grand Mage and Sorcerer spells (and duplicates of most of them). God damn it.

I could have told you that ages ago. Pretty sure I (and others) said that repeatedly, in fact. :)

But yeah MA is the best class in BBI by far. My first time using Ricochet Hunter against Elder Ogres (after struggling to take away their health bit by bit before) and Garms and seeing their HP bars melt away was just... such an "Oh my god" moment haha.

Yeah I remember you guys saying it, but it's a whole 'nother thing to experience it!

I switched Explosive Rivet for Ricochet Hunter in my last BBI run and was finally able to kill Death for the first time. Right after he killed all 3 of my pawns in a single swipe, of course. I got lucky and encountered him in a really narrow hallway so the ricochets did a shit ton of damage.

MA is a magic main type right?

I leveled all three of the physical ones. Don't know how screwed I would be if I switched. I do have two rings.

Not screwed at all. I didn't play any magic type vocations until end/post-game. The weapons and armor you get in Bittlerblack Isle more than make up for the lack of base magic stats you have.
 

Raybunny

Member
Holy crap, I just downloaded the Don't Blind Me mod and it's a game changer. My Mage pawn uses Grand Anodyne and it used to completely block my vision.

I had that problem also. Specially in BBI where things are quite dark even more with my ENB preset. What a game changer.

Hey folks, new in this thread. Been playing this game for a couple of weeks ( DD DA steam version) and I am loving it. (got over 80 hours already). Yesterday went to NG+ after finishing BBI on my NG at around 55-60. Quite challenging and that is what made me push my character and pawn into the depths of the DLC.

At level 126 my sin is decked with oblivion set and farming the Bitterblack armor lvl3 for my mage pawn. 2 pieces out of 4.

If you feel like having my pawn mage on your party feel free to send me a Steam FR.
Info of my pawn: https://www.reddit.com/r/DragonsDogma/comments/5mtfm5/pawn_rental_post_january_8/dc7hnr6/

Level and items got to be updated since I got better stuff on her but you got the idea.

Stay safe Arisen
 

Sarcasm

Member
I loved it but I was moving and haven't gone back in months.


I get discouraged when I log into it because I dunno what I was doing -.-
 
I had that problem also. Specially in BBI where things are quite dark even more with my ENB preset. What a game changer.

Hey folks, new in this thread. Been playing this game for a couple of weeks ( DD DA steam version) and I am loving it. (got over 80 hours already). Yesterday went to NG+ after finishing BBI on my NG at around 55-60. Quite challenging and that is what made me push my character and pawn into the depths of the DLC.

At level 126 my sin is decked with oblivion set and farming the Bitterblack armor lvl3 for my mage pawn. 2 pieces out of 4.

If you feel like having my pawn mage on your party feel free to send me a Steam FR.
Info of my pawn: https://www.reddit.com/r/DragonsDogma/comments/5mtfm5/pawn_rental_post_january_8/dc7hnr6/

Level and items got to be updated since I got better stuff on her but you got the idea.

Stay safe Arisen

Scather is an undesirable inclination to have on a Mage pawn. It makes the pawn favor close-quarters fighting and climbing on big enemies, neither of which you want a Mage doing. For a Mage I recommend Utilitarian as the primary inclination, Medicant as the second, and Challenger as the third. For more info on inclinations read my post (or the wiki articles I listed) here:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=226193075&postcount=10728
 

Raybunny

Member
Scather is an undesirable inclination to have on a Mage pawn. It makes the pawn favor close-quarters fighting and climbing on big enemies, neither of which you want a Mage doing. For a Mage I recommend Utilitarian as the primary inclination, Medicant as the second, and Challenger as the third. For more info on inclinations read my post (or the wiki articles I listed) here:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=226193075&postcount=10728

Thanks for the feedback. The character isn't updates there as I mentioned. She is Level 125 with utilitarian > medicant as inclinations. Got her some potions yesterday before tackling NG plus.
 
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