Thanks Moondancer, was also wondering about that. Love your morning posts, there is always something interesting.

Thank you Moondancer. I'll be checking it out when I finish my current quest.

Maggie:

Above the numbers on your right keypad there is a "Num Lock" which has to be on in order for you to use the numbers. When it's on there will be a light above it.

When you get used it I'm sure you will like it.

Oldman-

I have the number lock on,but I still cannot use the numbers to the right.. I read the entire booklet and it did not tell me how. What order does it have to be???
Thanks

Maggie

Hi Maggie

I'm glad you received your Merc keyboard and the mouse.

Did you connect it ? If they're wireless, there should be a wireless receiver with it?

When I press the 'numlock key' to the right on my keyboard, the led light to the right in the wireless reciever light up.

Hope you get to play Dragon Age soon

Hi Karsten-

No, it is not wireless and I am glad I recieved it too. But I sure would like to use the numbers to the right. I have number lock lit, but I still cannot use it, I can use the ones to the left above the wasd keys and the ones above the keyboard. It is connected.
Karsten, how is the job hunt going? Anything we here can do. I feel so bad for you, I know what it is like and so does my husband. Keep the faith and I will pray for you.

maggie

Maggie, can you use the numbers on the right in a document, not a game? I can't use the number keypad on the right in games either on my regular keyboard. However, I wouldn't want to as that would require that I lift my hand from the mouse and lose valuable time in a battle if I needed to equip something assigned to a quick-slot. I use the numbers on the left gaming keypad.

Drac-

I just tried in my office to write a letter and no I cannot get the keypad to work. I do not know why it does not. I may have to uninstall it again.
It is the only thing I can think of. I can use the numbers on the left, but I want to also use the ones on the right for typing and I cannot.

maggie

Hmmmm.... I assume you mean by uninstalling that it did come with a driver CD?

You also might take a peek in your Device Manager to see if there are any yellow alerts there that the device drivers aren't installed properly. Start, Computer,System Properties, Device Manager... Take a look at your keyboard entry.

Drac-

Okey, will reinstall it and take a peek. Will not be able to do it till Wednesday late afternoon.

Thanks so much for your help. Yes, the cd, which I uninstalled, but will put back on.

maggie

Hi Maggie

Good to hear that the your keyboard is connected; hope you get it to work the way want it do soon

Maggie, thank you so much for asking into how the job hunts going Thanks your for empathy, too - means a lot to me. Just knowing that people think about - and are praying for me - is helping a lot You do what you've been doing - encouraging me to keep faith, praying...

As for right now, I've been lucky to get some temp work at a school; I'm hoping this pays off so I'm can get a full schedule, to january maybe, or sometime durinmg the spring next year. I'm focusing my energy into getting this job.

As for Dragon: Origins (to keep it on topic a bit); I'm somewhat happy that I didn't get it at release. There have been reports about broken quests, bugged quests, people not getting their dlcs, their redeemed codes not working. So I've decided to wait a bit - hopefully, the game will be patched by then so that it works better...

Good luck with that job, Karsten. I hope you get something more permanent, and you just hang in there.

Re DA, I'd be interested to know which quests have been reported broken?

I'm about 3/4 through the game, and haven't noticed anything untoward yet. The only DLC I downloaded was Shale, though.

I've so far done Lothering, Redcliffe, The Mages Tower, Brecilian forests and a few sidequests, also just entered Ozammar to peek.

I think it mainly is the quest to get Shale and the other DLC quest or DLC items that have been reported broken. People also seem to be having troubles with quests involving Leliana and other NPC members of the party.

I have an intuivtive feeling that it mainly is the peole who (legally) downloaded the game that are having these problems. The retail version seems fine.

It could also be that some people maybe are playing a pirated version of the game? (bad bad - very bad :naughty) or that they consider a gameplay element or a story element a bug?

People playing this game can't have it both ways, they need to make some tough choices like who to support in Dwarfen Politics. And from what I understand, Bioware made this choice a choice between the plague and cholera i.e. both are somewhat and both are somewhat good...

Re the job thing, thank you for your support and your empathy. I hope I get something more permanent, too

Karsten-

Dell, who I bought the Merc from is picking it up, they say their is a problem with it. Spent some time on the phone with them yesteday, the red keys to the left kept turning games off. I am getting another keyboard, not a gamepad. My mouse is about shot, I have three, but it looks like I have to go over to Best Buy since we have one in the neighborhood. Wanted to let you know what was going on. I guess I am not a gamepad person, or I may buy still just the gamepad, as an extra.
I have my fingers crossed for you on a job Karsten a full-time would be great. Let us know, we care and are not just being nosey.

maggie

Ah, maggie, I had a feeling there was something wrong with the keyboard. My extra gamepad to the left of my keyboard has been a life-saver for me in my gaming!

Drac-

I want to buy one of those small gamepads with big keys, do you recommend any? I need the big keys for my older eyes< I am 62 and not getting younger What are you using?

maggie

I am about to install this game and am wondering about the DLC. I bought the retail copy and have Blood Dragon Armor and Stone Prisoner available for free. How large are these files? I have a slow connection and don't want to get caught up in a large download. I really hesitate to get any of the DLC unless it is worth it. Is the Blood Dragon Armor great? Is there much to the Stone Prisoner?

Maggie, I'm going to point you to one of the Hobbit threads where I posted a link. Scroll about halfway down.

Cyber Snipa Link

Yuppers, at 62, I certainly need those big keys too!

As I understand you just need to redeem your code from the DA: Origins site (under your profile, there's a menu point saying 'redeem code'). Just be sure to log into the game with the same account you've used when loggin into your Bioware (EA) account.

The nice thing about this is that you can play the game (I think?) when the DLC is downloading.

The Blood Armour is, as I understand is, very nice It is indeed one of the best armour in the game, and the very best thing is that anyone in your party can wear as long as they have the strength requirement. The bad thing is that it requires 38 strength, I think?, to wear.

The quest to quest the Stone Prisoner (Shale) is sort of short, I've gathered from people at the Bioware Social Site. However, this is not the whole deal. Shale has a (great) personal quest as well as banter (talk and dialogue) with and some other things to be revealed during the game.

Thank you for crossing fingers and caring - It means a lot to me - I know it is because you care Thanks again.

Thanks, Karsten. Sounds like both might be worth downloading then.

Edit...I have the Stone Prisoner redeemed and it seems to be downloading. Blood Dragon Armor is not showing on the available list though Warden's Keep showed up for purchase.

I have Blood Dragon Armor now. Just needed to look in the right place.

I just finished the section of the game called "The Fade". One word of advice - walkthru. Very confusing and a lot of it to go through.
Also, I wish Bioware had not made the females walk like Brutus in Popeye. It's just off putting.
I love not having to deal with respawn an having a pause button. (Been playing World of Warcraft too long :)) I love the story. It draws you in. I've been teary eyed a couple of times. Great writing!
Well, I'm gonna quit for tonight. Anyone have any first impressions?

Drac-

Yes, that is what I am looking for and I found one on their space for $39.00, I went to gogamer first but they are out of all of them, but their price is better.

Thanks so much

maggie

From RPGWatch comes news of new DLC 'Return to Ostagar' - link below:

http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9199

You'll get a second chance to get Dog as well as learn something about the politcal musings in Ferelden.

The DLC is (very short), about an hour, it seems, or even 15-30 minutes, if you speedrun.

Bioware ask 5 US dollars for this which you see here

http://dragonage.bioware.com/addon/

Personally, I don't plan to get this as a download...

I bought the retail version, and my Stone Prisoner took a mere few seconds to redeem and download. ..and it's certainly been worth it!

Since I wanted to get to know all my companions first, I didn't bother with doing The Stone Prisoner quest early on in the game, but it's been an interesting distraction to go and fetch him, and his banter with the party members certainly is a hoot! So, yes, -worth working on.

Debra, I did the Fade (do you mean the Mage's Circle quest?) without a walkthrough, but I admit the maze aspect was pretty frustrating.

What was extremely fun though,

Thanks for the feedback, Karsten, I have not done the Dwarf City yet, that is my next stop in the game. So I'm crossing fingers I won't have any problems there.

Moondancer, I am never good at mazes so the WT was necessary. I agree with your spoiler. Very different!
I'm in Denerrim (sp?) now working on the Urn of Ashes and about 6 more Chantry quests.
Did anyone download the Warden's Keep? Is it worth it for a place to keep your stuff?

As for the Warden's Keep, word on the Bioware forums and the Social Site is that it is not worth getting if you (just) want a place to store your stuff.

It's fairly short, too - maybe 1½-2 hours total.
And you can get a storage chest added to your camp site by going to the projects (mod) site at the Bioware Social Site. Also, there is a Dragon Age Nexus site up now.

If you get Warden's Keep, you will get a very good armour, some experience and some additional talents and skill, I think?