DAO has a different feel from DAI. DAI is just fun. But I played DAO (and will play DA2) on a PC and can agree that the combat wasn't very creative but it's about the story than the fighting. DAI on a console is a bit better for me and the characters and their depth is just astonishing. If I don't publish novels, I'd love to write for video games or tv shows. 

I don't know if I'd call it an ambush unless you want it to be. I just figured there'd be another notification on the way home they'd deal with.