Dragon Age II Developer Chat

BioWare apparently hosted a live chat with the Dragon Age II development team straight from GamesCom, and while everyone has since dispersed, the full transcript is still available on EA’s website. The topics tread a little into Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect territory, but sometimes it’s difficult to make sense of who’s answering what:

[Comment From AmonithilAmonithil: ]
As a result, are we likely to receive a Toolset updated to Dragon Age 2?
Saturday August 21, 2010 12:20 Amonithil
12:20 Mike Laidlaw: 12:17 [Jonathon ODonnell]
[PC version ]I know you’ve stated that we won’t be able to zoom-out as much as i[…]n DAO, but is there anything you can say about the tactical view of DA2 at this point?

We’ve been showing off the tactical camera here at gamescom, and people have been happy with it. It gives a very nice mix of seeing the exact situation on the battlefield while still letting you issue orders, place your fireballs and such. Essentially, it detaches the camera from your character, letting you move it around and adjust the angle. Also, you can get some really neat screenshots!
Saturday August 21, 2010 12:20 Mike Laidlaw
12:21 Fernando@: @Amonithil: Its unlikely for launch, sorry 🙁 But we are looking at it – and more correctly it remains the same toolset, but with modifications/updates and some additional new tech

…

Mike Laidlaw: 12:33 [David PT]
Hey guys, will specialization classes work the same way as in origins (with a gr[…]oup of skills plus little bonuses to stats) or will there be significant changes to the way they worked?
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It will be similar, though like all of our talent/spell trees, you will have a branching tree, rather than just a linear chain of abilities, and you will be able to upgrade some of the abilities to make them stronger, if you choose to do so. That’s more of a universal change, though.
Saturday August 21, 2010 12:39 Mike Laidlaw
12:39 Fernando@: @Fran: There are characters from Origins (and Awakening) in DA2 (vague enough?) 😛
Saturday August 21, 2010 12:39 Fernando@
12:40 Mike Laidlaw: 12:34 [Guest]
Not so much a question, rather a bit of a plea. Female gamer here, I eing just a[…]s addictive and awesome. But it would be greatly appreciated if you can upp the pretty in the customization options. Just better looking outfits and hairstyles (longer hair pleaassee).
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I think you’ll be happy with the character customization options. There’s some new stuff that is very cute.
Saturday August 21, 2010 12:40 Mike Laidlaw
12:40 Fernando@: [Juan Diez] – In DA 2. Will Dragon enemies be present?

Aye, there be dragons arrr!
Saturday August 21, 2010 12:40 Fernando@
12:42 Mike Laidlaw: 12:36 [Sam Dabin]
Read that the AI is improved this time around and some have said the AI may now […]be too good. Will we still have control over our companions in combat or will the AI do it all for us?
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It will function like origins, so the allies will attack in smart ways, unless you change their tactics. At the beginning of the game, the enemies aren’t that tough, so it’s possible people worried the AI is too good are just reacting to that. Regardless, I’d rather have an AI that’s too good than too bad.

Thanks, Gartar.