You can get backpacks at: Ostagar (first time you get there), Ostagar again (on returning from the wilds), your camp (I think), the tower... and one or two other places.
I haven't seen any mention of achievements, although since the two launch-day DLC pieces had 50 points each, the same number wouldn't surprise me.
EDIT: Actually apparently there are NOT any new Achievements in this one, which is surprising. However, since there is a cap it seems to indicate that there will be larger DLC coming in the future. Otherwise, I don't see any reason they wouldn't include them, since I'm sure at least on 360 that the inclusion of Achievements helps a great deal in selling DLC.
I haven't seen any mention of achievements, although since the two launch-day DLC pieces had 50 points each, the same number wouldn't surprise me.
EDIT: Actually apparently there are NOT any new Achievements in this one, which is surprising. However, since there is a cap it seems to indicate that there will be larger DLC coming in the future. Otherwise, I don't see any reason they wouldn't include them, since I'm sure at least on 360 that the inclusion of Achievements helps a great deal in selling DLC.[/QUOTE]
Also no chest to store items in so you don't always have to carry everything you want to keep.
[quote name='MSUHitman']Also no chest to store items in so you don't always have to carry everything you want to keep.[/QUOTE]
That was in Warden's Keep, I don't see why they'd need to include another one. Of course, it should have been in the main game, but that's another story.
[quote name='ViolentLee']But now, here's the question: Can I not access the world at large after I beat the game? I had one more incomplete quest, as well as the golem DLC to do.[/QUOTE]
DLC, yes, main game, nope, you can't. For some reason,
even though they say they're taking you back to an "earlier time" in the game,
you can go back and play any DLC, but you're out of luck on any quests that are left over from the main game (you can't even go back to any non-DLC areas) -- the only way that you can do them is to reload an earlier saved game from before you started on the final assault (assuming you have one). So either finish everything that you want to do before you start into the ending, or make sure that you keep an older saved game around.
That actually irritated me to no end, as it seems so damn cheap to allow players to play all of the DLC they want (in an effort to keep them buying it, of course), but not do anything else. Honestly, based on the Warden's Keep and Stone Prisoner DLCs, my feeling is that while they integrated nicely into the game, they wouldn't have been worth purchasing to play on their own. If there were a way for me to continue actively playing the game I'd probably buy more DLC, but to play it on its own? Unless it's a lot more significant than those two, I can't be bothered.
[quote name='seanr1221']Can someone tell me where the point of no return is (if there is one).[/QUOTE]
When you're gearing up for the last battle, you first have to fight a bunch of darkspawn in Redcliffe and then go to Redcliffe Castle. Entering the castle is the point of no return. The game will tell you this, thankfully.
I haven't seen any mention of achievements, although since the two launch-day DLC pieces had 50 points each, the same number wouldn't surprise me.
EDIT: Actually apparently there are NOT any new Achievements in this one, which is surprising. However, since there is a cap it seems to indicate that there will be larger DLC coming in the future. Otherwise, I don't see any reason they wouldn't include them, since I'm sure at least on 360 that the inclusion of Achievements helps a great deal in selling DLC.[/QUOTE]
No achievements = lame. I want to get this DLC as I loved the game. But, this the same day as Darksiders.....my attention is going to Darksiders. That gold armor looks pretty BA, though.
Yeah I won't be getting this DLC for awhile as I don't know when I'll put DA back in. Just beat AC 2 right before Christmas, and now I'm doing my nearly 2-year delayed second play-through of ME 1 before ME 2 comes out.
Then Feb. is finishing up ME 2 and starting Heavy Rain on the PS3, with a calvacade of Sony games in March with MLB The Show 10, FF XIII, and GoW III.
Well, the DLC has been delayed. I'm hoping it's just delayed a few weeks so that it comes out with the PS3 release of the DLC, but who knows. Either way, I'm sad
Edit: looks like someone already posted the link to the expansion pack.
The $40 price tag seems really steep, so hopefully there is a lot gameplay in there. Still, I can't help but be just a tad excited that Bioware is gonna be releasing a full expansion to the game so soon. I've already put over 150 hours into the game... now I find out about this...
I don't mind that you can't use previous characters but why does the above link say they raised the level cap and allow respec?
I was just telling a friend the other day that the backstory about other countries etc was so rich that they should have retail expansions with whole new adventures in new areas with new characters. Glad to see this. Can't wait. Between ME2 and this, half of 2010 is going to be Bioware stealing all my time.
[quote name='Dasflikko']Edit: looks like someone already posted the link to the expansion pack.
The $40 price tag seems really steep, so hopefully there is a lot gameplay in there. Still, I can't help but be just a tad excited that Bioware is gonna be releasing a full expansion to the game so soon. I've already put over 150 hours into the game... now I find out about this... [/QUOTE]
With 5 new party members and a new character, I expect it to be a very big expansion. Probably at least half the size of Origins.
[quote name='thrustbucket']I don't mind that you can't use previous characters but why does the above link say they raised the level cap and allow respec? [/QUOTE]
From the article:
putting the player in the role of a new Grey Warden Commander, or simply an old, imported character from the main game
It sounds like you can import your main character, but the other characters will be different -- which, given the way the main game ends with telling you where everyone is going off to (and with that varying depending upon what you did in the game), seems inevitable.
Well, 49+ hours later I finally finished my first playthrough last night. I'm sure a second/third will be in order in the future, but for now I have about a dozen games I need to catch up on.
Thanks to everyone in this thread who offered advice/ideas/whatnot, you helped me stay motivated to play to the end (and it was worth it)!!
[quote name='thrustbucket']49? How did you do 49? I am at 80 right now and I am just nearing the end.[/QUOTE]
Perhaps a different difficulty? I also skipped a few quests towards the end simply because I wanted to finish the game. Considering how much time I spent researching and replaying certain areas, I'd say my total time with the game was closer to 80, but of course the game clock has me down as 49:28 ?
[quote name='thrustbucket']49? How did you do 49? I am at 80 right now and I am just nearing the end.[/QUOTE]
80? Damn. I did every sidequest in the game on my first run and finished it in about 36-40.
Is anyone else holding off on DLC to see if they include it in the expansion? I just have a feeling that either as a bonus or something some of the DLC is going to be included in the box.
Apparently I have some how glitched the game....I am stuck in Ozammar and I cant get past the picking a king because I somehow told both of them I would report back on the other. (Well documented glitched that I didnt know.....this is why I always use a damn walk through on massive games.......sigh)
Anyway, I heard you can still progress the story but I cant figure out how....anyone got any help with this?
[quote name='OnyxPrimal']Is anyone else holding off on DLC to see if they include it in the expansion? I just have a feeling that either as a bonus or something some of the DLC is going to be included in the box.[/QUOTE]
Not necessarily, but I wasn't going to get the DLC since I already got 1100/1100 and didn't really see the point. I'll definitely be getting it now, before the expansion is released, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to wait and see whether they include it in the box (which I doubt they will).
In the IGN interview about Awakening, BIoWare says that it is the largest DLC, by far, that they have planned.
For some reason that disappoints me. I was hoping for GTA4 style retail DLC for the next two years. I really want to go to all the other countries the game talks about extensively.
[quote name='thrustbucket']For some reason that disappoints me. I was hoping for GTA4 style retail DLC for the next two years. I really want to go to all the other countries the game talks about extensively.[/QUOTE]
I'd imagine they want to save those places for the next full title. It wouldn't shock me if this was the only major expansion before they start working on the sequel.
[quote name='ohboy10451']I rather wait for the inevitable GOTY edition. I am NOT paying $40 for an expansion![/QUOTE]
Kinda this.
I'm enjoying the game but the fact that they're pumping out so much additional content seems to point towards a GOTY release later this year. I could either...
a. Sell the game now while it is still relatively valuable and wait for the deluxe/GOTY version to come out.
or
b. Keep my current regular version and hope a great deal on Microsoft spacebucks comes along so I can buy various DLC for cheap.
The whole thing sort of points out the problem with DLC. Because everyone expects it, you will automatically create a group of people who will bypass your game's initial release and opt for a bundle further down the road. Obviously I'm not one of them at the moment but I'm pretty sure that I won't be biting on Mass Effect 2 right when it comes out. I avoided Batman AA for more or less the same reason (although I did rent it just to play through it once).
[quote name='bvharris']I'd imagine they want to save those places for the next full title. It wouldn't shock me if this was the only major expansion before they start working on the sequel.[/QUOTE]
I just read an interview on IGN with the developers and they say there's definitely more coming after this.
I'm enjoying the game but the fact that they're pumping out so much additional content seems to point towards a GOTY release later this year. I could either...
a. Sell the game now while it is still relatively valuable and wait for the deluxe/GOTY version to come out.
or
b. Keep my current regular version and hope a great deal on Microsoft spacebucks comes along so I can buy various DLC for cheap.
The whole thing sort of points out the problem with DLC. Because everyone expects it, you will automatically create a group of people who will bypass your game's initial release and opt for a bundle further down the road. Obviously I'm not one of them at the moment but I'm pretty sure that I won't be biting on Mass Effect 2 right when it comes out. I avoided Batman AA for more or less the same reason (although I did rent it just to play through it once).[/QUOTE]
They said before the game even came out that they were planning for two years worth of DLC. So it's really no surprise.
[quote name='Halo05']The whole thing sort of points out the problem with DLC. Because everyone expects it, you will automatically create a group of people who will bypass your game's initial release and opt for a bundle further down the road.[/QUOTE]
I think that's a scenario they are more than comfortable with. As far as they probably concerned, most people who will pass on the initial run likely would have anyway. And the lost money is more than made up via the sales of the DLC to the people who can't get enough. I mean, I know that when I really, really like a game, I almost always buy the DLC, even if I feel it isn't worth it. Mass Effect's Pinnacle Station was a complete rip-off, even for $5, just because it was obviously rushed and no care was put into it. Know what, though? I bought it, even after reading the reviews.