Is the HoF OP'd? That's what I would like to ask right about now. Let's take the games into account.
DA:O/A had some pretty basic combat compared to DA2 and what we've seen of DA:I. The motions were slower and we didn't really see a whole lot of impact for each blow. Compare that to the sequels where each attack seems to shake the entire planet.
Also let us compare spells. The new spells seem to have much more destructive capabilities. Winter's Grasp went from a refreshing blast of snow to an all out barrage of ice and liquid nitrogen (or the magic equivalent thereof).
Also, sword swings. Whirlwind is now for two-handed users, you can also use devastating blows with a mere sword that seems to leave craters in the ground, and you can swing that huge thing around like it was a butter knife.
Arrows seem like they're rocket propelled now. Shield Bash actually has a rushing motion to it, meaning it isn't completely useless anymore. Uh... what else? Rogues can back-flip. Warriors can guard. Mages have more control over the Fade.
But there are some aspects of the sequels where they have taken a step backward. Bloodmagic isn't as powerful in DA2 as it was in DA:O/A. It's non-existent in DA:I. You can only choose one specialization in DA2 and DA:I, and you only have three to choose from. You can't dual wield. You can't be a two-handed rogue. You can't carry as much with you. And so on.
But in DA:O/A you could do all that. You had six specializations to choose from, and you could pick three (or four if you got the glitch in Witch Hunt). You also had additional skill trees that could increase your willpower and constitution.
So basically my question is this...
If the Hero of Ferelden continued to scale over the some 6 year period between DA:O/A and when he or she disappeared (and perhaps even after this) which should be around 9:37, and if the Hero were to appear in a new game modeled after the combat style of DA2 and DA:I, then would the Hero be so bad-ass that he or she would be overpowered to the point of being unstoppable?
For instance, my primary character King Izen Cousland, was a dual weapon, Champion, Berzerker, Spirit Warrior, Templar who knew all the dual-weapon talents and had high str, dex, wil, cun, and had a few enchanted things to ward off magic or increase constitution. He can wield full sized weapons in each hand, which NO ONE outside of the Arishok in DA2 can do. Warriors can't dual-wield at all, and rogues can dual-wield but only with crappy daggers. Then on top of that Izen can used two-handed weapons and knows a few powerful attacks for that school. Izen can also use a bow and hit his mark because of his high dex, but warriors can't even use bows anymore. And if Izen can use the DA:I Whirlwind with dual swords? Uh, that would be instant game over for all enemies in 15ft radius.
My mage character Varos Amell is a pyro-necro, Bloodmage, Arcane Warrior, Keeper, Shapeshifter. He was animating dead before it was a specialization. Heck, that's just one more spell to him. He also obtained the Power of Blood, tapping into the taint. Speaking of taint, here have some. Fireball! Fireball! Fireball! Basically a one man army. He can make enemies' blood boil, or control them to use against other foes. No healing in DA:I? No problem. Not for him anyway. His method of healing involves stealing your health! No more automatic regeneration? Death Magic to draw in the energies of the newly dead. Varos laughs at you resting in your pathetic camp! He's going the full distance! Yeah! Believe it! He's also been hanging with Morrigan these past years. No mysterious disappearance with him. Whatever Morrigan has been up to, Varos has been involved with it as well.
I also heard that DA:O/A rogues can do massive back stab damage with a two-handed weapon. I've never tried it myself, but whatever, that's cool. Rogues in DA2 and DA:I can't even lift that great-sword.
So what happens if the Hero shows up in a DA:I expansion pack? Are they going to have all these phenomenal cosmic powers? Or worse... are they going to be nerfed?
OP? Nerf or nuthin'? Please comment. Could this be the real reason the Hero doesn't show up? Believe it! (talk) 01:08, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
Actually rogues in DA:I can use double daggers if they use that tree... and blood magic was one of the least used specializations in DA:O/A and DA:2 I've found very few people who always use blood magic and in DA:O/A you could get a max of about 3 specs and we don't know what spells will be in the game so I doubt you will be able to use your death magic. As per your question I do not believe that the Warden will be in the game at all (even if you did use morrigan's ritual)--WardenMaster (talk) 01:25, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
- Actually you can get 4 specs if you are max level by the time you do Witch Hunt. You just have to get an attribute, skill, or spell/talent point like from a tome and you should wind up with an extra specialization point.75.174.202.203 (talk) 07:07, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
- But I didn't refer to rogues not being able to dual-wield, I wrote that warriors couldn't. Also that rogues cannot use two-handed weapons like great-swords or mauls. Or did you mean to write that warriors in DA:I can dual-wield daggers? Believe it! (talk) 02:08, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
I feel that unfortunately, the Hero of Ferelden would have to be. The mage specializations released in Awakening alone were pretty game breaking. Origins felt very heavy on personal character customization (at least compared to DA:2) whereas the main takeaway from Inquisition promotions is that is about party customization. The IP is going in a little bit different direction, and to suddenly allow a past duel-wielding warrior to walk into the room seems like it might be a big middle finger to everyone who's asked why that couldn't be implemented since day one. Personally, I think the biggest shame isn't that the specializations and skills could be nerfed, but that those specializations had meaning. It's not like Hawke who could just be a templar because; you had to earn that stuff. So if my Hero Rouge returns and no longer knows all the bardic skills patiently taught to her by Leliana, I'll be more than a little sad. --Dbiznaz (talk) 03:05, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
The main character was pretty badass by Awakening itself. Speaking in terms of in game capabilities, not taking into account scaling due to different games, a Warrior type character by the end of Awakening was far far stronger than a Warrior character at the end of DA2. I remember that mages had been rather OP when compared to other classes in DAO. So in Awakening they had gone and balanced this out by giving some ridiculously OP powers to other classes too (the Spirit Warrior branch for instance). There was no need for tactics any longer. You could just rush in and solo all but the most difficult encounters (although again one might argue this was the case with DA2 since the beginning :/ )
As far as the mages are concerned, well, DA2 mages were small fry compared to the mages from the first game. The AoE spells and the mixed spells like Storm of the Century were matchless. I'm hoping we see equally strong mages in DAI. Diain (talk) 05:58, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
I don't think that if the Warden were introduced in DLC that they would be nerfed in the traditional manner of where they retain their powers but weaker. Rather, I think they would be given completely new powers and hand-wave an explanation of that it's been 10 years already and the Warden learned new specializations. Same thing with Hawke now that I think about it.75.174.202.203 (talk) 07:07, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
First off I will point out that you can actually have two specializations in Dragon Age 2. Second, this is all assuming that the hero shows up (which I doubt will happen in the real game). third, the fact that the hero had greater choices when it comes to weapons does not necessarily mean that he is better. fourth, we must look into the context of the game: just as the attacks will have greater effects here I doubt that there would exist any such easy healing methods. Still, the Hero of Ferelden is probably still a bit overpowered and what I want to know is if the inquisitor can match him or her. Caspoi (talk) 12:01, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
Oh, absolutely. Once you learn how to exploit the game, becoming OP is very, very easy. By the end of Witch Hunt, my Elf Mage Warden was an Arcane Warrior, Spirit Healer, Battlemage and Keeper, literally knew every spell in all four trees, had somewhere around 110 Magic, I forget the exact stat, and no less than 60 in every other stat. It's overpowered, but it's the point where you're so ridiculously, ungodly overpowered that the game is just so much for how easy it is.--Lurooke Surana (talk) 11:32, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
I don't think they would go so far into detailing all the abilities of the warden, they might change them a bit... and that will make Belive it rant angrily about it and say the game sucks (You know it's true you want your warden to be the exact same... me I don't give a crap about it, I'll enjoy the game anyhow). Relax Belive it I think you're trying to make yourself think the game is gonna suck and all, but why instead of doing that why don't you just chill and enjoy what ever the fuck they make 'cus it's gonna be good.--
14:19, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
- I'm not ranting. I'm just putting forward another theory as to why the Hero can't show up in Inquisition. Aside from the voice and personality issues, there is also this issue. In Origins/Awakening your custom character could do things that later characters in later games cannot do. So to have the Hero back would mean either updating Inquisition to allow those things, or else taking those things away from the Hero. Both options have their negatives. So that's all I'm saying here. Believe it! (talk) 03:39, October 31, 2014 (UTC)
I ain't complaining if my Warden is a god now XD. Nonetheless, I don't really mind, and I doubt they'd take it too into too much consideration anyways. 
14:52, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
Honestly I think The Warden will never make a true appearance in DA:I simply because of How many different voices your character can have and all the different armors/weapons you have take the champions armor set from DA2 it's possibly the best armor set for your character near the end of the game where as in DA:O/A you can easily power through most things with Silverite armor and weapons you have no need for top tier stuff if you know the game (my mage has taken on the Archdemon naked for an actual challenge just using abilities and potions/poultices) --WardenMaster (talk) 15:33, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
The answer is no. Not because the HoF would have leveled up to Godhood by now, but because the games have changed so much from game to game that there really isn't a fair and comprehensive way to compare the main characters anymore. The same can be said for Hawke. It may be fun to do and speculate on things like being overpowered, but it can't be done accurately really. Neither previous player character is viable anymore, except for story purposes. And even then they pretty much present more problems then they should warrant. Sadly. The Grey Unknown (talk) 15:50, October 28, 2014 (UTC)
Gameplay changes/systems/balance =/ Lore. 67.61.238.119 (talk) 14:06, October 29, 2014 (UTC)
I agree with the no points. The HoF was just one character who could level up and be spec'd out to the players desires. Anders was completely redone, and partially explained by story reasons. I think they'll do the same with the warden. Something that focuses on their specializations, 1 or 2 not 3 or 4. The power of blood would also be a factor, and whether or not they ventured through the eluvian. Either way, witch hunt ends with the warden finding the book or going through the eluvian, maybe a new found power will come from that. We'll have to wait and see whether or not Hawke is drastically changed, since that will give us insight into what they might do with the HoF. 
14:40, October 29, 2014 (UTC)
I think I should clarify what my point was. I'm not posting this as a dig against BioWare or Inquisition, I'm just submitting another possible reason why the Hero can't show up in Inquisition. Like if your character was primarily a Spirit Healer, then obviously they would have to bring back healing for Inquisition. Easily done, but it goes against their vision for the game, and it basically breaks the game. You wouldn't have to set up camps or rest or manage your potions wisely. So, those are just my thoughts on the Hero. Here's a question, would you rather have the Hero return overpowered, or nerfed? Keep in mind, if this happened, you would be able to reselect your Hero's new abilities. Personally, if it meant getting the Hero back, I would accept the nerf option so long as I could pick my Hero's new move set. Believe it! (talk) 03:39, October 31, 2014 (UTC)
- I would doubt they will show us our hero's power set, they could however allow us to choose the style but I doubt that 'cus it would be like a return tot he warden and they made it clear they do not want him back as a PC or anything... the more I think about it I doubt we will see him at all.--
16:49, October 31, 2014 (UTC)
I doubt the HoF will show up, considering it's been said s/he won't make a physical appearance, but personally I'd rather not have her/him show up. The risk is too great for the reward givin.--BriefSeduction (talk) 19:24, October 31, 2014 (UTC)
Yes. The Warden should be stupidly overpowered. I'd be sorely disappointed if I had to fight the Warden and I could kill him. The only way that fight makes sense would be for the Warden to kick the current PC's ass because he would be invincible during the encounter. And after humbling the new PC extending a helping hand while discussing motivations and possibly teaming up. ---- Soulofshezarr (talk) 19:56, November 1, 2014 (UTC)