About the SJW - SMALL SPOILERS AHEAD WARNING.
Whoa, the shit storm. :D I personally don't like to see other peoples agenda pushed into a video game this forcefully, especially when it does not fit the original game for which it is an expansion. There first thing that happens is that there is a refugee crisis in Baldur's Gate. Of course, that has absolutely nothing to do with the current refugee crisis in Europe, right? So you talk to guards and have the option of telling them to be more inclusive and treat the refugees nice and all that, while they are causing a ruckus in the street. That immediately felt like in-your-face social social commentary right there - I was more than a bit surprised. It doesn't have to do with the situation itself, but the writing and how the issue is presented. Then you enter sorcerous sundries, where a lot of refugees are queuing for potions. Halbazzer the poor guy has a hard time with all the refugees inside who all want their potions - another typical social commentary situation, which just feels so out of place and in your face because the writing is too direct.
Then, it turns out my money has been stolen, and ended up among a group of refugees that I meet in a tavern, who have distributed it to all the other refugees in town, and they ask me that don't I think they need the money more than I do? More social commentary, right in my face, just to make sure that I am subjected to the Right Opinions. The group asked me to show compassion and understanding - I showed them Spider's Bane.
Then we have Mizhena, whose dialogue is completely out of place.. And in this case there is no option to get back at her, put you have to accept it, which is contra to almost every other situation in the games - so you can't help but notice it. If you kill her no one cares, but she shows up again in the next chapter even if you do (this probably a bug). She has nice stuff, btw.
Thing is - I understand very well that people who are outside of what is traditionally considered "normal" must have a freaking hard time even in the western world, and if you are poor and/or have lost everything you have, including your family, in a war or disaster and become a refugee then yes, you will have psychological trauma and face a huge uphill struggle in life and that sucks, and is an issue that needs to be solved. But I already have to consider all these issues during my job, when I read the news, when I talk with friends and relatives etc. In SoD I feel like I'm being lectured to, and that is what bothers me the most. If they wanted to social comment, give me better writing with actual suggestions of solution-paths and a more in-depth presentation of all the issues that are involved. The CRPG setting would allow you to do that really nicely if you made the effort. Don't make it so black and white and insulting to my intelligence when the issues are much more complex. I am enjoying taking the Infinity Engine for another spin, but I'm constantly bothered by the fact that there is probably more politics up ahead delivered in a very shallow and lecturing tone, and this is seriously immersion breaking and thus hampers my enjoyment of the game.
I don't have him in my party to check as I have Edwin and killed Dynaheir.
