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Hello again! Just wanted to post an update on this build and how successful it's been! Currently level 20 and just zooming through all the DLC on PotD all scaled up. The build is definitely a healer/off tank and performs really well. Maxed out Arcana for extra healing scrolls if necessary and Religion to use Xoti's Sickle for a boost to damage and action speed on kill, which is helpful for landing speedy Shared Flames to heal. Bashing shield in the off hand for the extra proc. The Sporelings are performing super well also. Wild Growth + Moonwell + Enduring Beacon keeps them alive with no problems, and Inspiring Triumph procs all the time too, due to Insect Swarm, Plague of Insects and Venombloom dots, just ripping through enemies. I opted for exalted focus, to assist everyone in accuracy bonuses, because PotD...and have Rusted Armor for boss fights with chonky AC. So, yea, just wanted to thank y'all for the input that helped make this character, and run, super fun! Cheers!

I hate to **** on your friends, but that's giving Bioware too much credit. To say nothing of how the writers room has had complete turnover a fea times now.

Cool! Glad we were of use.

Brought to you by the same legal system that holds Iran responsible for the 9/11 attacks too.

Hey, I can't let a movie I didn't like ruin things I do, otherwise there would very quickly be nothing left to enjoy in this universe.

70 hours, finished the game. Seems like there's some differences in ending, I think I got the best one, but not sure. Overall, I liked the game. For me it was probably the worst in the DA series, but it wasn't a bad game overall. Can't really compare it to modern AAA games since I don't play that many. Worst part was the writing. The overall plot was fine, and the ending too, but the more minute details weren't that good (the baddies were uninteresting, dialogue was often bad, quests were really repetitive etc). Or as good as previous DA games, anyway. A lot of Bioware fans seems to like the games for their writing, so maybe the game won't score that big with them. No real knowledge, haven't googled to find out. Exploration was good, but they started running out of gimmicks later on, and it got a bit repetitive. Thankfully the game ended soon after that. Combat grew on me. It's very actiony and flashy, so that might be turn off for older players. Maybe modern AAA games does it better and ignorance was bliss for me. Builds and stats seemed great, there were a lot of options and I could come up with lots of different ways to build my character. Buuut, since I really only played one, I have no idea if it's really that balanced. DA:O and DA:I were quite bad at that part (DA2 much better) so can't really claim it's Bioware's forte. The game tied up most of the plotlines from previous DA games, so it felt like they intentionally made it the last one... buuut, then So it seems they're keeping their options open.

Guess we're set for 4 years of Stefanik whining about the UN, as if the US has no role to play in making it what it is now.

My friend is telling me that it's not a shadow council but the forgotten gods, but he is also certain that the whole story was written before DA:O development even started.

Well, not quite. The entire Atlantic Charter is an international treaty, and as such, if a state has "ratified" it, then they do have a legal obligation under international law to abide by its requirements. However, because it is international law, yes, there are no mechanisms available that can be used to overrule state sovereignty and compel a state to do so. In the case of the U.S., however, things are different. Per our Constitution, once the Senate has ratified a treaty, that treaty then becomes U.S. federal law. And the president is oath-sworn to uphold all federal laws. So a president can be impeached for not following through on Atlantic Charter Article 5 obligations. This is why Trump would want to withdraw us from NATO. Also @BruceVC, FYI, Article 5 has been activated once. It happened a few days after 9/11, and resulted in NATO AWACS aircraft flying patrols over NYC and DC. Subsequently, NATO's participation in the Afghanistan war was legally handled under that Article 5 activation, which was precisely why some NATO members like Germany agreed to join the NATO force there.

Yes, it's great. But I sort of count it in when I claim that Rangers (without Animal Companion) do comparable dmg to Rogues. I think without Driving Flight the damage output of the Ranger (without AC) is lower than a Rogue's (even if you can attack faster) - until you get Twinned Shot.

Article 5, does not come with written obligations, but country that fails to help in defense of another member state can as well leave the alliance, because they will most likely never themself receive aid in case they are attacked.

And how can we not talk about "Driving Flight"? One of the best passive in the game, and it came also early.

Good job, I think you have taken all the right choices for him! Keep having fun!

Just finished Alan Wake 2. A mediocre game but a fascinating experience. After decades of gaming you'd think you've seen it all, and then Herald of Darkness begins to play...

But Article 5 comes with no obligation. Even if it did, you have no way to punish states refusing to fulfil them. For all we know, without US NATO might turn out to be all about 'Thoughts and prayers'.

Brought to us by the same people who had proof of WMDs in Iraq but no proof of human rights violations by Israel. Yeah, I do not see how anyone can take anything coming out of the US seriously anymore.

Thanks to you and Shady, and any other veteran's we have here, for your service.

I typically make an avatar that reflects the way I look, right down to being bald. Of course, now that I'm much older, it can be a bit harder to find the settings that add some wrinkles and gray in the beard. It's also a bit awkward making an avatar that looks 46, and then starting the game as a young squire or whatever.

@ShadySands Happy Birthday my brother! We are older, grayer, and likely heavier than we were. But we carried the legacy in our time! More than that no one could ask!

I also always play male, and as much as possible a melee warrior type. But that's the thing about playing fantasy games. It's all about being able to do things you couldn't do IRL, such as slaughtering the bad guys. And for me it also includes my physical appearance. IRL I'm a scrawny academic of average height, and now that I'm old also bald. So of course I'm gonna' want to play as a tall buff hottie!!

I play the AC like a Rogue, not a frontliner. If an enemy is already attacked by a teammate (usually tank) I will flank the enemy with the AC and also shoot at it with the ranger. You are right that it's more difficult to maneuver the AC through enemy lines. When there's no space I won't do that. The Ranger does comparable single target damage to the Rogue, especially at the higher levels (see Twinned Shot) and has resourceless CC (see Stunning Shots). But on top you get an additional entity which can act like a "Rogue light". That's my reasoning why Rangers should be higher in the list than the Rogue. Maybe they are at the bottom of my personal BnB-tier. The good thing about the AC is that is has no health pool, only endurance. It also knows no injuries. So it is an additional body that will never force you to rest. And if you have a Chanter with "Rise Again, Rise Again, Scions of Adon" in the party you can revive the AC infinite times.

Going to read in on my lunch break. Edit: This Will Do.

Straight up made an account for the forum just to thank you Gordon and the missus, live savers!

For DJT's second term, I'm expecting a lot of sturm und drang, but not a lot of accomplishment. In terms of foreign policy, there will be nothing that he accomplishes which will make up for losing Ukraine. He's going in to that situation with a weak negotiating position vs. Putin, and Russia will get nearly all of what they want. A halt to hostilities will allow Russia to re-arm and prepare for the final takeover. Hostilities with Iran will continue, and relations with US allies will sour thanks to his "bull in a china shop" diplomacy. DJT's efforts to apply tariffs will increase costs for consumers, particularly those with a low income, and may be inflationary. His work to end the ACA and to "reform" medicare will result in fewer people with health insurance, and a lowering of life expectancy. He'll curb efforts to reduce climate change, which at best will only slow down the transformation to a renewable energy economy. If he deploys troops to round up illegal immigrants, it may severely disrupt the economy and increase costs for consumers.