Shopping Around - Dragon Age: Origins Nightmare Guide by David Milward (2024)

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SHOPPING AROUND

Master Herbalism

First, I need a character that can use the recipe to craft Potent Lyrium Potions. This requires a character with the Master Herbalist skill. The natural candidate is Morrigan. I return to Lothering, and exploit the Traps are a Girl's Friend quest some more until Morrigan reaches 12th level and acquires the Master Herbalist skill. If you want Morrigan to get Master Herbalism earlier than 12th level, you can always buy a Tome of Skill and Sundry from Old Tegrin.

I then travel to Denerim, and buy the Potent Lyrium Potion Recipe from the Wonders of Thedas on the south side of the Market Square.

Limitless Gold

This is a video demonstration of Myrridan's method of gaining unlimited gold. Lyrium Dust is available in infinite supply from the Quartermaster in the Circle Tower. Concentrator Agents, Distillation Agents, and Flasks are available from the Gnawed Noble Tavern in infinite supply. Buy Lyrium Dust, Concentrator Agents, Distillation Agents, and Flasks in proportions of 4:2:2:1 respectively. I have Morrigan craft Potent Lyrium Potions, and I then sell them off at a significant profit margin. This is a tedious process, but well worth it. Suffice it to say, the many repetitions of this process were not shown in the video.

My objective is of course to raise plenty of gold and then do some shopping for choice items for when I begin the Circle Tower quest in earnest. The next few videos show my particular choices.

Wonders of Thedas

As I mentioned during her profile page, I plan on Leliana's fighting style being one of dual-wielding an axe and a dagger. I start off by purchasing a decent interim weapon from Cesar in the Market Square, an Ash Warrior Axe (+2 Axe) that has one rune slot in it.

I then go to the Wonders of Thedas, and rack up some experience points from the various books lying around. I buy the following:

• Tome of Arcane Technique - Aldarion uses this to add the Miasma talent.
• Wintersbreath (+25% cold resistance, +3 spellpower, +10% cold damage) - This will be Aldarion's staff for much of the game, although he can't use it just yet (needs a Magic score of 36).
• Torch of Embers (+10% fire resistance, +3 spellpower, +10% fire damage) - This will be an interim staff for Wynne. The Staff of the Magister Lord will be out of her reach for a while yet (also needs a Magic score of 36).
• Ring of Ages (+25% to cold, fire, electrical, nature, and spirit resistance) - Whenever I can, I tend to have Wynne hang back at a distance from the rough and tumble. I therefore find it expedient to buff up Wynne's resistances to the various sources of magical/elemental damage, often the only sources of damage she has to worry about it.
• Reaper's Vestments (+6 Constitution, +20% fire resistance, +16% spell resistance, +10% chance to dodge attacks, +12 armor) - This will make for a good interim outfit for Aldarion as he starts to get comfortable with his Arcane Warrior abilities.
• Lend of the Lion (+10% nature damage) - This will increase the damage that Morrigan can inflict with her Flying Swarm ability.
• Grandmaster Flame Rune - I will enchant Aldarion's sword with this.
• Apprentice's Amulet (+1 armor, +5% fire resistance, +5% cold resistance) - Sten will wear this.
• Master Dweomer Rune - I'll put this into Leliana's off-hand dagger for the time being.
• Master Hale Rune - Same rationale.

More of Bodahn's Wares

Now I buy the following from Bodahn:

• Tome of Physical Technique - In order to further Leliana's development.
• Tome of Arcane Technique - This one is for Wynne.
• Dagger (Red Steel) - An off-hand weapon for Leliana that has two rune slots.
• Conspirator's Foil (+20 mental resistance) - A decent interim helmet for Leliana.
• Angled Strikers (+5% backstab/critical damage) - An interim pair of gloves for Leliana.
• Bard's Dancing Shoes (+6 defense) - Just perfect for Leliana.
• Earthheart's Portable Bulwark (+1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Constitution) - A decent interim shield for Alistair
• The Spellward (+5 Willpower, +8 health regeneration while exploring, +30% spell resistance, 10% chance to dodge attacks, +6 defense against missile attacks) - Clearly the best amulet in the game, and Aldarion gets it since it enhances his magical abilities, but also offers great defensive benefits for an Arcane Warrior.
• The Longbowman's Belt (+2% ranged critical chance) - A natural choice for Leliana.
• Grandmaster Lightning Rune.
• Grandmaster Frost Rune.
• Master Lightning Rune.

Circle Tower Quartermaster

I then buy the following from the Quartermaster in the Circle Tower:

• Tome of Arcane Technique - Another one for Wynne.
• Liberator's Mace (+1 Dexterity, +3% chance of melee critical hit) - This will make for a decent interim weapon for Alistair.
• Andruil's Blessing (+2 to all attributes, +20% nature resistance, +2 stamina or mana regeneration, +10 physical resistance) - An ideal belt for Aldarion.
  
• Remarkable Malachite - A gift for Shale when I get her.
• Backpack

Alistair is at 34 Strength, and cannot use the Earthheart's Portable Bulwark just yet. I show a simple trick to get around this. I simply have Alistair wear Andruil's Blessing to temporarily raise his Strength to 36, and then he can equip the Bulwark. I can then remove Andruil's Blessing, but Alistair will still have the Bulwark equipped.

*Note* This trick won't work if you keep more than one weapon equipped and you switch away from the weapon that you don't meet the requirements for. Once you remove the Strength-enhancing items and switch away from the weapon whose requirements you didn't meet, the weapon will unequip and appear in your backpack. This is why I raise Leliana's Strength to 27 over the course of the game.

Aldarion then wears Andruil's Blessing, and thus is able to equip Wintersbreath.

Sandal

It turns out that my Red Steel Dagger didn't have any rune slots, so I had to buy a Silverite one from the Quartermaster. Here I show my first initial interaction with Bodahn's son, Sandal. I have Sandal place some of my runes into weapons to prepare me for my foray into the Circle.

Now I enter the Apprentice Quarters of the Tower.