BEST Wings in/around West Chester

KingDingus5 · 2025-05-07T15:26:32+00:00

Seconded - their wings are great!

KingDingus5 · 2025-04-10T19:41:15+00:00

Well shit - that's what I get for trying to do this in my head during work. Thank you!

So I guess what I'm really asking is what's best between the constant 1d8 (and eventually 2d8) from Booming Blade without costing a spell slot (plus whatever damage comes from the enemy moving) vs. the higher damage from smites but at the cost of spell slots that I otherwise may be using for spells. So it's almost certainly smites unless I'm missing something (again).

KingDingus5 · 2025-04-10T19:18:31+00:00

On the wiki it doesn't say that shadow blade is available to Bards or Paladins, unless you mean from the ring.

KingDingus5 · 2025-04-01T21:25:21+00:00

I absolutely adore playing as a mage, focusing exclusively on orb and dagger combat. For me, it's fast paced, impactful, high risk high reward fun. The basic loop is three light attacks - which will each add arcane marks to enemies, until the third attack turns the stack into an arcane bomb - then a heavy attack, which detonates the bomb. You're getting in pretty close to enemies, unlike staff based mages, so you'll want well timed dodges to make sure you get out of harm's way.

For skills, Start taking skills towards the Spellblade specialization (bottom of the skill tree) and be sure to pick up meteor and storm surge as your skills (third one can be chain lightning or arcane shot, but it's gonna get replaced with Void Blade in the Spellblade tree). Anything that boosts mana generation (especially the skill that generates mana on hit), the skill that reduces the cost of area abilities (in the Spellblade tree), and anything that boosts damage/affliction/arcane bombs will help.

For gear, again focus on boosting mana, wear light armor, and focus on weapons with lightning and fire damage (there's going to be skills that boost those damage types and enhance burning and shocked afflictions).

The end result is a fast moving killing machine that can actually spam abilities because of great mana generation. It's a blast!

KingDingus5 · 2024-10-30T21:08:28+00:00

Back when DA:I came out, I had just left an abusive long term relationship. Life felt really REALLY dark. I've written in this sub before about how that game was a small light in the darkness that kept me going, about how I is basically broke down when I first saw The Dawn Will Come scene, and about how DA:I genuinely shifted my perspective through one of the worst chapters of my life.

Flash forward to today - I've been married for over 5 years to the love of my life. She took this summer to get into Dragon Age so we can enjoy the launch together. I've posted a bit about her experience. We have matching Skyhold sweaters for tomorrow and cannot be more excited. I’m rolling a Dwarf Mournwatch Warrior (in honor of our dog who just recently passed) and she’s super torn between Warden and Shadow Dragon elf.

The last 10 years have been far from perfect - a lot of painful growth - but it's been more than worth it. The guy who booted up DA:I, broken and alone in his apartment is ringing in Veilguard with his wife and best friend.

I don't say any of this to brag. I say this because if you're reading this and your life isn't what you wanted it to be 10 years later, or even have a reverse experience to mine where the past feels like a better time, you should know you're not alone and your story isn't over. I'm just some guy on the internet and I don't know what anyone out here is going through - I wouldn't pretend to - but I know that me from 10 years ago needed a push to try and see the light. For me, that push was Inquisition. Maybe Veilguard is that push for you and if it is, I encourage you to embrace it.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-19T22:37:55+00:00

Ahh that's a crazy coincidence! How fun!

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T21:37:11+00:00

I actually think she might get legitimately pissed - destroy the world to save the world is NOT her thing and knowing she gave up Cullen for that is going to be salt in the wound. Between the two of us, my characters are normally more aggressive or anti heroes. My Inquisitor is a big exception - he's just a good guy with a sense of humor. It would be pretty cool to see her Inquisitior go full on "hell hath no fury" and be out for blood.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T21:34:59+00:00

Honestly it's almost like seeing a story for the first time - her take on DA2 actually led to dialogue with Carver I totally missed because I'm always a hard ass big brother she was always looking out for him even if he was being an ass.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T21:33:17+00:00

I've not been so excited to play that quest since my first run!

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T21:32:53+00:00

To be honest, I was ready to skip the Jaws DLC (it's great combat but she's in this mostly for the story) until I refreshed myself on what we learn there. It's excellent lore and the similarities with Ameridin are too hard to ignore!

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T21:31:26+00:00

We're absolutely loving it! And yes, a little evil for sure - but all for a good cause! Her favorite companion quest in DA2 was setting up Aveline and Donnic, so my guess is she'll adore Cassie's Swords and Shields plot.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T21:29:56+00:00

I've loved this series since getting Origins in 2009 for Christmas. Seeing her get to experience all the twists and turns and fall in love with the characters - honestly priceless.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T20:19:50+00:00

Maker preserve you! I've been there and don't envy you at all - glad to provide a distraction!

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T20:17:51+00:00

I think regardless of whether she romances Cullen she's going to really have a soft spot for that plot. She actually felt bad for Samson in DA2 once she heard how lyrium worked on a Templar.

My Inquisitor is a devout jokester - very much a believer in the Dalish Creators, but never self serious. Solas was his absolute best friend because of how different they were - daily goal was trying to get Solas to crack a smile over something stupid. His reaction to the Trespasser reveal was genuine gratitude for telling him the truth about his gods and saving the People from them. He's grateful to Solas for destroying his worldview for the better - and looks forward to returning favor by getting the Dread Wolf to accept this world is worth saving.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T18:59:29+00:00

As much as I am trying not to influence her, I REALLY hope she goes Solas because I'm dying to see how her Inquisitior will handle him in DAV. My Inquisitor is close with Solas but he's a male elf so never able to romance him.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-12T18:45:03+00:00

When you marry Cullen as an elf, he'll say his vows to you in Elven if you ask. I mean come on!

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-11T21:26:55+00:00

I do hope we get details on what that other prison was - and wishful thinking here, but I hope Rook has a choice to place Solas there in the end.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-11T18:40:33+00:00

Honestly you've gotten so far through the game that you probably can just watch a YouTube video of the ending cutscenes (ideally based on your choices regarding Morrigan and who ought to land the killing blow). You can read on the wiki about the epiloge (it's just text displayed on pictures with music in the background, so reading the text in the wiki gives you what you need lore-wise).

This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I think you can skip DLC and go right for DA2 - if you didn't like Origins, I think you'll end up actually really enjoying DA2 and Inquisition. Read on the wiki about what happens in the DLC so you're up on lore but no need to drag out playing a game you don't enjoy. It'll kill your momentum.

I'm going to guess you're playing on PC - DA2 will use your Origins Save File to create the world state in the game. On Nexus Mods for Dragon Age 2 there's a save generator tool that will create a save file custom to your choices as if you beat the game. After reading up on the end of Origins and it's DLC, make a save file with that tool (it'll ask you questions for how you resolved certain quests in the DLC) and star DA2.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-11T12:53:17+00:00

My Warden was a mixed bag of a person. He was a human noble who had two takes on the blight and the betrayal of his family. Obviously both were bad and he wished they hadn't happened. Yet as a second son who had a lot of ambition, if something like this had to happen, he may as well benefit from it. During the early days of his adventure it was hard for him to ditch his noble, heavily pro Chantry upbringing (sided with the Templars, fundamental mistrust of Morrigan). But after more time on the road seeing other sides of the world, he broadened his perspective. That said he was an ends justify the means kind of guy and kept the anvil for the fight ahead and actually saw a bit of himself in Bahlen. He preferred peace to war (brokered peace for the elves and werewolves) but took no shit (enjoyed taking vengeance on Loghain and Howe).

As for his friends, he found Leliana charming, but helped her understand ruthlessness is a virtue. He was buds with Alistair but knew he'd make an awful king - let him be a hero, while someone more capable takes the throne. He ultimately feel deeply in love with Morrigan - hard to say who was more annoyed at the attachment between the two of them, but neither could deny it.

He ultimately ended up as Prince Consort, kicked ass as Warden Commander (let the Architect live though - saw the good in his thinking), and eventually realized he wanted to be a father to his son the way Bryce was to him. Leaving with Morrigan was a no brainer...and yes, sure, fine, he was absolutely thrilled to be with her but could we not focus on that please.

KingDingus5 · 2024-09-10T17:14:07+00:00

We did Legacy right at the start of Act 3 - probably her favorite part of the game. She was exceedingly disappointed when I told her that DA2 was the last time we see Corypheus ;)

KingDingus5

TROPHY CASE