A 100% spoiler-free list of tips of this is your first time touching the franchise and if you’re looking for some early game guidance.
This Guide
A quick list of tips for anyone that’s never played the franchise before, from someone who played this dang franchise too much. No spoilers, just things to keep in mind about what this game is and isn’t, and some behaviour that’s useful to you.
What is Dragon’s Dogma?
Dragon’s Dogma is not your average RPG, it makes some bold design decisions and sticks to pretty much all of these in this sequel. While you don’t have to play the original game to be able to play this one, there’s definitely some nostalgic nods in this game referring back to the first game. Without further ado, this is and isn’t what Dragon’s Dogma is:
- It’s a single player experience with a multiplayer pawn system. It’s not a multiplayer experience, so apart from pawn gifts there’s no player interaction.
- Fast-travel exists through in-game mechanics that makes you weigh whether or not the fast-travel is worth the drawback on your resources. It’s unlike a lot of modern videogame design where fast-travel is instantaneous and disconnected from the rest of the game.
- Single save file with many autosaving, save scumming is nigh impossible. Release the FOMO and go with the flow of the game. Dragon’s Dogma is known for having multiple solutions for quests as well as New Game+ being part of the overall experience. Don’t worry if you feel like you “miss out” on things.
Also an important thing to note, because I’ve seen a lot of people ask about it, this game doesn’t have Romance quests like games such as a Mass Effect /Dragon Age/ Baldur’s Gate 3 and such games. There are affinity quests and there’s definitely a few NPCs that have more romance-y questlines, but trust me when I tell you that Dragons Dogma does not treat these as these other games would. I might be a bit cryptic, but I can’t say more without psoiling.
Tips for New Arisen
With Dragon’s Dogma being such a different game and all, some tips to avoid later frustration and overall enhance your experience.
Pick up everything in your path
Everything in this world is useful, pick it up. Hoard. Speaking of…
Empty your inventory at inns when you can
Carry weight affects your character’s stamina, so stay light on your feet. Keep a few important items for the road and dump everything else at an inn when you can.
Don’t sell items
Unless you’re running out of storage space, don’t sell items. You might feel tempted to get a cool piece of gear. Resist it. You never know what you will use those items for later.
Carry important tools with you always
There’s a few important tools that will help you out in a pickle. I recommend the following:
- Lantern + Lantern Oil
- Ferrystones
- A Wakestone
- Some health items
Ditch anything else at the inn. Unless you know you’ll need it.
Read tutorial pop-ups, quest descriptions and item descriptions
Dragon’s Dogma simply loves being obtuse and you could dismiss a great item simply by not reading its description. There won’t always be a quest marker.
Sleep at the inn often
Saving at an inn properly saves the game and avoids losing massive amounts of progress if “Continue from Last Save” ends up being a dead end.
Talk to everyone and anyone
NPCs won’t always speak up if they have a problem. Say hi to the townsfolk, give them gifts, you never know what you might get.
Anyone could die and death is not the end
Even quest critical NPCs can die, but with the existence of Wakestone, anyone can also be revived at a morgue. Accidents happen, but most accidents can be fixed.
Consider changing vocation when maxed out
Obtained augments can be used on different classes, so gaining more from different classes can be perfect to complement a build. Of course, if you don’t find playing other vocations fun, you can just stick to what you’re playing already. This same advice goes for your main pawn.
Everything has a weakness
Knowing which skills to use and when, you can go from fighting the same monster for ten minutes, to one-shotting them in a second.
Check old areas after having done big main story plot points
Dragon’s Dogma tends to work in stages, where new quests become available (and sometimes unavailable) based on which part of the main quest you’re on. Checking out old places might give new opportunities.
Ox-carts are your friend
Ox-carts will save you a lot of time, get familiar with them whenever you find their stations.
Consider always having a mage in your party
Only mages have access to healing skills, so having a mage pawn with you avoids the need to always have healing items on your party members. It’s more advice than a necessity, feel free to try things out, but this is the beginner friendly option.
Have Fun!
Enjoy your time. I’d recommend avoid looking up guides, the Oracle in town gives you good hints anyways. Enjoy your time, a great game like this doesn’t roll around often.
