Thanks for the review Dean. I guess I need to get my but in gear and finish the final battle in DA Origins so I can try out DA2.

Chris. Is the action stuff in DA2 harder than the in the original? I played Origins on hard and it was challenging, but not overwhelming.

I'd say the fights are unbalanced (although there has been some rebalancing in patches since I last picked it up, so it may be better). I'd walk through day-to-day fights (on normal) without any problem. But be utterly defeated time after time during boss fights. It was only when I used the item that lets you re-roll your characters, and followed the advice I gave that the boss fights didn't feel totally unfair.

But still the technique between the two fights are different. It's hard to lose the normal fights, but chaining skills is pretty much needed to make it through boss fights.

I'm still plugging away at Bejeweled 3, simply to get to the highest rank. I was hoping 100 was the top rank, but it looks like I'll have to get to 131. That's going to take forever. I'm at 97. I still have one platinum badge I haven't earned, too, and I don't know if I'm ever going to get it, since I don't like that game mode. I tend to only play Diamond Mine these days.

1. Novice
2. Apprentice
3. Trainee
4. Beginner
5. Amateur
6. Jr. Appraiser
7. Appraiser
8. Gem Polisher
9. Gem Scraper
10. Gem Grinder
11. Jewel Thief
12. Jewel Scavenger
13. Gem Scrounger
14. Jr. Gemfinder
15. Gemfinder
16. Master Gemfinder
17. Jr. Jewelkeep
18. Jewelkeep
19. Master Jewelkeeper
20. Gemhunter Lv 1
21. Gemhunter Lv 2
22. Gemhunter Lv 3
23. Gemhunter Lv 4
24. Gemhunter Lv 5
25. Gemcrafter Lv 1
26. Gemcrafter Lv 2
27. Gemcrafter Lv 3
28. Gemcrafter Lv 4
29. Gemcrafter Lv 5
30. Jr. Gemstalker
31. Gemstalker
32. Sr. Gemstalker
33. Topaz Hunter
34. Onyx Hunter
35. Amethyst Hunter
36. Ruby Hunter
37. Emerald Hunter
38. Opal Hunter
39. Sapphire Hunter
40. Diamond Hunter
41. Topaz Blaster
42. Onyx Blaster
43. Amethyst Blaster
44. Ruby Blaster
45. Emerald Blaster
46. Opal Blaster
47. Sapphire Blaster
48. Diamond Blaster
49. Topaz Hoarder
50. Onyx Hoarder
51. Amethyst Hoarder
52. Ruby Hoarder
53. Emerald Hoarder
54. Opal Hoarder
55. Sapphire Hoarder
56. Diamond Hoarder
57. Topaz Master
58. Onyx Master
59. Amethyst Master
60. Ruby Master
61. Emerald Master
62. Opal Master
63. Sapphire Master
64. Diamond Master
65. Lapidary Lv 1
66. Lapidary Lv 2
67. Lapidary Lv 3
68. Lapidary Lv 4
69. Lapidary Lv 5
70. Master Lapidary
71. Supreme Lapidary
72. Ruby Wizard
73. Emerald Wizard
74. Opal Wizard
75. Sapphire Wizard
76. Diamond Wizard
77. Jeweled Wizard
78. Jeweled Mage
79. Jeweled Archmage
80. Jewelcrafter
81. Jewelforger
82. Bronze Blitzer
83. Silver Blitzer
84. Gold Blitzer
85. Platinum Blitzer
86. Bronze Master
87. Silver Master
88. Gold Master
89. Platinum Master
90. Jr.Bejeweler
91. Bejeweler
92. Sr. Bejeweler
93. Master Bejeweler
94. Mega Bejeweler
95. Hyper Bejeweler
96. Ultra Bejeweler
97. Prime Bejeweler
98. Ultimate Bejeweler
99. Bejeweled Regent
100. Bejeweled Demigod
101. Supreme Bejeweler
102. Jewelmagus Lv 1
103. Jewelmagus Lv 2
104. Jewelmagus Lv 3
105. Jewelmagus Lv 4
106. Jewelmagus Lv 5
107. Jewelmagus Lv 6
108. Jewelmagus Lv 7
109. Jewelmagus Lv 8
110. Jewelmagus Lv 9
111. Elder Jewelmagus
112. Jewelknight Lv 1
113. Jewelknight Lv 2
114. Jewelknight Lv 3
115. Jewelknight Lv 4
116. Jewelknight Lv 5
117. Jewelknight Lv 6
118. Jewelknight Lv 7
119. Jewelknight Lv 8
120. Jewelknight Lv 9
121. Elder Jewelknight
122. Bejewelian Lv 1
123. Bejewelian Lv 2
124. Bejewelian Lv 3
125. Bejewelian Lv 4
126. Bejewelian Lv 5
127. Bejewelian Lv 6
128. Bejewelian Lv 7
129. Bejewelian Lv 8
130. Bejewelian Lv 9
131. Elder Bejewelian

God help me.

Imagine if the forum had that many titles.

Addictions aren't his strong suit, Charles, apparently.

137 levels of compulsion is more in JP's "realm."

I'd start with Wellbutrin for the OCD component and branch out from there. Maybe add some Symbalta after a few months.

Bob, Bob, Bob ...

If you tried, you probably could not pick a worse anti-OCD medication. Wellbutrin works primarily through dopamine and secondarily (just a pinch) through norepinephrine. OCD, as we all know (?! ) is mediated mainly through serotonin, so the SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, Celexa, Luvox) are first line treatment. Also, the "golden oldie" tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine works well, if you, or should I say Charles, can tolerate it.

In your defense, your combination of Cymbalta and Wellbutrin would be hard to beat for depression.

I agree that the fights on “normal” are mostly pretty easy. On about 3 of the boss fights I’ve lost the first round but just reloaded and did a little micro managing and won fairly easily. Another good tactic I’ve found for some boss fights is to run your party out of the “boss room.” Otherwise it seems like underlings just keep spawning until the boss is dead, however if you leave the room that doesn’t happen. It doesn’t always work since not all bosses can leave the room they’re in.

During one fight with an ogre, I think in the deep roads, it missed charging me and ran into the wall getting it’s horns stuck. A mage with a dagger could have killed it.

I’ve also noticed that the default tactics seem a lot better in DA: 2. Some tweaking still helps to optimize them but I think that’s also part of what makes some fights seem easier. I just wish you could put a “hold” on a single party member. I usually have my Mage/Damager set to chain attack the “biggest bad” in the fight. However, since they often hold back that means the Mage runs up closer usually ending up in the middle of the raging melee.

Jeez, JP, you're not supposed to be the first one to dump "explanation necessary" all over my jokes. And you say you "were" a nerd. Ha!

Choosing pharmaceuticals for depression is easier than you think. Just look for the labels that say "Take With Alcohol."
Careful, 'cause when you're hammered they all appear to say that.

Yes, I've always construed "alcohol may intensify the effect" as advertising.

Not advertising, nor a "serving suggestion," Tom. It's a flat-out directive! Unless you were Karen Ann Quinlan.

I still have her recipe for an 8 year coma, then death, if anyone is interested.