Dragon Age Origins Tactics Guide

Frustrated with tactics, I installed the 25 tactics mod yesterday and spent *ALL* day replaying the same battle till I was finally able to get my tactics to work *mostly* as I expected.

I used this one on Alister to keep him from running off.

*WARNING*
Tactic do not do what you expect when you have 'group select' and 'hold position' toggled

'Group select' every one will just attack the target you selected without (most of the time) using any tactics.

The selected character under your control will not do tactics.

'hold position' ('h' key), your characters will not attack unless attacked, and will not follow tactics that include an attack command such as ...

*Enemy:Nearest Visible: Attack

nor will they target any enemies to use special attacks. The above will ensure, that even on 'hold position', the character will at least 'look' around and target enemies. Once an enemy is targeted, even on 'hold position' the WILL perform specials, and respond to direct attack, but they wont intercept or perform a 'nearest visible':attack, UNLESS YOU DIRECT THEM TO


They will break target lock if they can't use a special move or are blocked from their target. (like when they're surrounded and can't get to where you want them to go, they will just stand there)

these tactics assume 'Default' behavior select.


the follow tactics, when used with free move ('h' key') will keep your tank from running across the field of battle, and he will attack enemies when they get close.



1 : enemy target: range short to medium: jump to 3
2 : enemy target: range medium to long : switch to range
3 : enemy target: using melee or magic : switch to melee

{edit: change #3, this seems to work better}
{edit: works best if you make sure party is equipped
ranged *before* combat}


(this is for our tank)

>>>>>>>>

(if you don't do the above, the character may get confused at medium range just will just keep switching weapons, or standing around. If you use

3: Self: any : switch to melee

this will cause some graphic glitches when not in combat. this is for our melee guy so anything at medium range when want them to use melee)

(be careful of what tactics you use in between here, some make the character break target lock, and confuse the character)

self:being attacked by melee: shield bash/pomelstrike/dirty fight
enemy:status:Knocked down: Attack(power blow,crit strike,etc...)
(
this does a simple combo) or another suggestion for the tank

4 Enemy:target:using melee: Attack
5 Self : Being attack by melee : ( response)

and of course

6 health <= whatever: drink pot

>>>>>>>>>>>

END: this is the last statement in your tactics

at the end put special things like

6 Enemy : target of whoever : attack, etc....

7 enemy: using melee vs mage: shield bash, etc ...)

8 :Enemy:nearest visible: attack (this is the *Last* in the tactics list)

(If the enemy is at long range, the character should use range)


for a character that mostly uses range, change the first tactic to

1 : enemy: range *short*: jump to 3

they will now only switch to melee when the enemy is right next to them.

combat should go as follows

encounter, game pauses

select your characters targets, *then* select where your going to move them to.

Make sure that 'Free Move' is toggled, when you ready to charge

unpause and start battle.

Character will no longer stand around doing nothing and will attack enemies as they come into range.

I'd like to recommend the awesome Advanced Tactics mod which drastically extends the existing tactics system.