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Forums: Index > Game DiscussionDA:O and DA2: S&S questions
Note: This topic has been unedited for 3531 days. It is considered archived - the discussion is over. Do not continue it unless it really needs a response.

In DA2, equipping a shield gives a significant armor bonus. The damage output is considerably less as compared to 2H, but the Warrior can easily outlast a 2H in DA2. In terms of survivability, it's worth it. In terms of damage output, not really, no.

In DA:O, using shields increased Defense. Bulwark of the True King gives 4 defense. Was it worth it, going S&S in Origins? The measly 4 defense could easily be stolen by increased DEX, couldn't it? It's been a while since I played Origins, so I might just have forgotten.

Enlighten me, please. Quirkynature (talk) 03:25, June 4, 2011 (UTC)

Bulwark of the True King gives 7 defense.

In DA2, equipping a shield activates a bug that gives a significantly higher armor bonus than it's supposed to.

With a DA:O tank build, you buy enough Strength to equip your items and dump the rest into Dexterity. Both styles use bows well enough for superior crowd control with Scattershot.

A 2H Tank has Two-Handed Sweep to draw threat in spikes and Indomitable to survive it.
A S&S Tank has high-end daggers to draw constant threat and great flexibility in how to survive it. User:Futonrevoltion

The bug exists even on 1.02? Damn.

Bows on a S&S tank? Wouldn't Taunt and Threaten do the trick enough? Quirkynature (talk) 13:11, June 4, 2011 (UTC)

Taunt can't draw threat from distant ranged/magic units and, if your Dexterity is going to be sky-high, you may as well take advantage of it! Scattershot auto-hits, stuns up to 10 baddies and draws 50 threat (100 with Threaten). However, none of the other archery skills are worth the points to a S&S. At some point, daggers will have tremendously higher DPS than swords and, if you're a quick clicker, a dagger can draw threat from multiple targets very very quickly, during the cooldown for Taunt.

Read Tank for a (excruciatingly) detailed thesis that differs wildly from what I consider an optimal build that doesn't require micro-management.

Also, you may want to use a couple bug fixes from http://www.dragonagenexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=1601 Each fix is in a different folder, so you only need use the ones you want. The one that fixes Shield Wall and +x% to Healing items are highly recommended for S&Ss. User:Futonrevoltion

If it's not too much of a hassle, could you outline what YOU consider an optimal build that doesn't require micro-management? I'll be going through the tanking link anyway, so you don't have to do it. Just curious...

Quirkynature (talk) 15:09, June 4, 2011 (UTC)


No problem. I'll reedit this post, as I have time and realize what bone-headed things I've written.

Dwarf Noble starts out with Shield Bash and 2 slots in the combat skills. Invest 5 points into Strength (for 20), put another skill point into combat and purchase Shield Defense and Shield Balance. Side with Lord Dace, acquire and sell the Noble's Dagger, Proving Helm and anything of Gorim's that doesn't improve your gear. Give Gorim Frandlin Ivo's gear, because, really... screw that guy. Don't kill Trian and grab the Fine Dwarven Blade and Superior Dwarven Guard Armor. Buy two Tomes and The Spellward from Bodahn. Go to Denerim to sell The Reaper's Cudgel to Gorim and buy the Archivist's Sash.

Get Shield Wall at level 2. At level 3, wrap up the combat skill and buy Shield Expertise.
Invest in Strength until you hit 32, put 1 point into Cunning (for 11), and the rest into Dexterity. The Broken Circle will take care of the rest.

Go to Honnleath for the Helm of Honnleath and Harvest Festival Ring. Then, Orzammar for the Key to the City and Lifegiver. Then the Circle Tower for Andruil's Blessing and the bonus stat points from the Fade.

End Result will look like: Templar/Reaver with Strength 36 + 6 from Helm of Honnleath, Andruil's Blessing and Key to the City. Skills - maxed combat tree, 1 point into Poison, the rest into Nature and Coercion. Individual skill trees developed, ending at Frightening Appearance, Bravery, Taunt, Scattershot, Shield Expertise, and Shield Mastery.

If you're planning on using the Mana Clash "I win!" button, then use Berserker, instead of Templar.

Physical resistance (dropping whatever puts you over 100) and/or Lightning runes go into your weapon of choice, as needed. Use poisons and coatings at every opportunity. A well-placed Shock Bomb draws tremendous threat and probably takes all of that emissary's mana. Three points into Survival plus a greater balm gives maximum Nature resistance - ignore that skill, if you don't care about that. Keep your favorite +15% resistance to fire item around to use with a greater balm for dragons. Most of your equipment is whatever you feel like.

Since it's a build made by me, it goes pretty well without saying that Morrigan and Wynne are running Haste, you're sustaining Blood Thirst, whenever feasible, and the weapon speed bug is fixed. (DPS is boosted, by you getting into melee so quickly, and you've added hours of In-Game Transit time to your Real Life.) Futonrevoltion (talk)

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