Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access Thread [GAME RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[mediocrepoet]

Which is a problem in itself, because if you aren't one of these pushovers that rest every time they use a single spell slot, you can currently go through the almost entirety of Act 1 in basically a single day.

This is true, and the game basically encourages you to go without sleep for as long as possible.

Which is shit for immersion

Yes, but mainly due to the world size thing. Technically, the map areas are pretty large when you compare them to BG2 areas. But without an exhaustion mechanic, as you say, they feel small, since you can go from map to map with no issues other than needing to recharge your spells and abilities.

It's also that there are so many events and encounters sort of smooshed into a map that it makes it seem more like a theme park environment (and therefore small) than an actual space. BG tended to capture the feel of a place by having more spread out events and encounters. The empty spaces that just had scenery that you tromped through made the areas feel larger and more real/grounded.

 

[Reinhardt]

Which is a problem in itself, because if you aren't one of these pushovers that rest every time they use a single spell slot, you can currently go through the almost entirety of Act 1 in basically a single day.

This is true, and the game basically encourages you to go without sleep for as long as possible.

Which is shit for immersion

Yes, but mainly due to the world size thing. Technically, the map areas are pretty large when you compare them to BG2 areas. But without an exhaustion mechanic, as you say, they feel small, since you can go from map to map with no issues other than needing to recharge your spells and abilities.

It's also that there are so many events and encounters sort of smooshed into a map that it makes it seem more like a theme park environment (and therefore small) than an actual space. BG tended to capture the feel of a place by having more spread out events and encounters. The empty spaces that just had scenery that you tromped through made the areas feel larger and more real/grounded.

that's why bg1 > bg2.

 

[NecroLord]

Dont allow yourself to participate in slut-shaming...

Fuck no.

 

[Non-Edgy Gamer]

It's also that there are so many events and encounters sort of smooshed into a map that it makes it seem more like a theme park environment (and therefore small) than an actual space.

You could make the same accusation of both BG1 and BG2.

that's why bg1 > bg2.

It's funny you say that, since BG3 is basically BG1's design, where all the maps fit together, but with no loading screens.

Given that mediocrepoet said "Yes!" to your post, I'm tempted to conclude that he secretly likes this design and is (once again) just looking for something to complain about.

 

[Reinhardt]

It's funny you say that, since BG3 is basically BG1's design, where all the maps fit together, but with no loading screens.

yeah, and all happens on the span of ~1 bg1 wilderness location. bg3 is opposite of bg1's design. it's like "go and find many secret bandit's camp! btw you can see it from the window."

 

[NecroLord]

All I've seen about BG3 is just trash, regardless of any comparisons between it and its predecessors.

 

[Dadd]

All I've seen about BG3 is just trash, regardless of any comparisons between it and its predecessors.

I agree. It's interesting to see so many people here obviously excited for this game while pretending they're not.

 

[Reinhardt]

as i've said before - i don't want theme park, i want some tomb to raid and some xaurips to slay. that's all.

 

[Zeriel]

Daily reminder that if the original BG games came out in 2022 (soon to be 2023) Minsc would be widely despised as a companion that belonged in a Borderlands game

He was basically widely despised at the time too. This idea he was widely beloved is from people who didn't play the game at the time. It's the designated "if you didn't play the game you heard about the wacky space hamster!!!1" detail. I remember finding him hella retarded at the time in the 90s as someone in their mid teens at most.

 

[Non-Edgy Gamer]

yeah, and all happens on the span of ~1 bg1 wilderness location.

No, it doesn't. In terms of surface area, BG3's Act 1 is far larger than any BG1 map.

But you're missing my point. Most of the maps fit together in BG1. You'd probably be able to see the gnoll stronghold from Nashkel too.

bg3 is opposite of bg1's design. it's like "go and find many secret bandit's camp! btw you can see it from the window."

Is that BG3 you're talking about? Or BG1?

"Where are all of these gnolls coming from?"
"I dunno, maybe that giant fortress a few minutes walk that way?"
"Where's that secret bandit camp?"
"Oh, I can see that from the window in the Friendly Arm Inn."

Originally, the city of Baldur's Gate itself was supposed to be one large map, but the AI couldn't handle it. I wonder how many other areas would have been like that, had the tech been suited to it at the time.

Meanwhile, this is BG3's Act 1 surface map. With a large Underdark map beneath it.

The main difference I see is that BG3 is 3D, so that goblin camp really isn't visible from any window, since it's lower than the druid grove and there are objects in the way.

 

[d1r]

It's also that there are so many events and encounters sort of smooshed into a map that it makes it seem more like a theme park environment (and therefore small) than an actual space.

You could make the same accusation of both BG1 and BG2.

that's why bg1 > bg2.

It's funny you say that, since BG3 is basically BG1's design, where all the maps fit together, but with no loading screens.

Given that mediocrepoet said "Yes!" to your post, I'm tempted to conclude that he secretly likes this design and is (once again) just looking for something to complain about.

The loading screens, including the world map and the random travel encounters, are the important factor though. They give you the illusion of the world being actually big, and that you travel from one important location to another. It's far more immersive than just running around 10m to find the next big attraction.

 

[Non-Edgy Gamer]

He was basically widely despised at the time too. This idea he was widely beloved is from people who didn't play the game at the time. It's the designated "if you didn't play the game you heard about the wacky space hamster!!!1" detail. I remember finding him hella retarded at the time in the 90s as someone in their mid teens at most.

Especially since in the initial release he approaches you and speaks to you, and if you refuse his quest, he can attack you, iirc.

 

[Non-Edgy Gamer]

The loading screens, including the world map and the random travel encounters, are the important factor though. They give you the illusion of the world being actually big, and that you travel from one important location to another. It's far more immersive than just running around 10m to find the next big attraction.

"Loading screens are far more immersive!"

This thread is reaching to new heights, I see.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

It's also that there are so many events and encounters sort of smooshed into a map that it makes it seem more like a theme park environment (and therefore small) than an actual space.

You could make the same accusation of both BG1 and BG2.

that's why bg1 > bg2.

It's funny you say that, since BG3 is basically BG1's design, where all the maps fit together, but with no loading screens.

Given that mediocrepoet said "Yes!" to your post, I'm tempted to conclude that he secretly likes this design and is (once again) just looking for something to complain about.

The loading screens, including the world map and the random travel encounters, are the important factor though. They give you the illusion of the world being actually big, and that you travel from one important location to another. It's far more immersive than just running around 10m to find the next big attraction.

The travel time to an adjacent region in bg1 is typically zero, as he posted the maps can be stitched together to form one big map.

People not realizing it was designed this way doesn't change reality.

 

[Volrath]

It's also that there are so many events and encounters sort of smooshed into a map that it makes it seem more like a theme park environment (and therefore small) than an actual space.

You could make the same accusation of both BG1 and BG2.

that's why bg1 > bg2.

It's funny you say that, since BG3 is basically BG1's design, where all the maps fit together, but with no loading screens.

Given that mediocrepoet said "Yes!" to your post, I'm tempted to conclude that he secretly likes this design and is (once again) just looking for something to complain about.

The loading screens, including the world map and the random travel encounters, are the important factor though. They give you the illusion of the world being actually big, and that you travel from one important location to another. It's far more immersive than just running around 10m to find the next big attraction.

The travel time to an adjacent region in bg1 is typically zero, as he posted the maps can be stitched together to form one big map.

People not realizing it was designed this way doesn't change reality.

But what about muh nostalgia rusty?

 

[Reinhardt]

Meanwhile, this is BG3's Act 1 surface map.

nigger, this shit looks like some moba map. team gobbos vs team druids.

 

[Swen]

Nostalgiafags want their loading times back to have the illusion of "muh big world" and "muh immersion".

Download a mod that cuts the map in pieces and adds loading times phaggots, fixed the issue for you nostalgia cucks.

 

[Reinhardt]

Download a mod

is there any mod where you explore world instead of walking around theme park?
seriously, compared to this shit skyrim is peak adventure feelz.

 

[A-Minish]

This look like shit, this look like a reduced World of Warcraft map. You move 2 meters and suddenly the rock are orange, the grass is red, the tree are warped and small and the birds are doing this instead of this. Yeah, nice and colorful but still mediocre, the cities are villages, the mountains are small hills and lakes are mere ponds. What year is it ? 2002 ? I though Morrowind was behind us.

Now if you want to give it a more appropriate sens of exploration/travel, without a proper scale of time and space, you will need to remove fast-travel to force players to do some walking by themselves(the map is small already). With it you will need to have content which will spawn in previous locations as the player finish quests and events(a new PNJ on a well-travelled road, a previously cleaned-up goblin camp now infested with feral animals, a new merchant at the entrance of a town after a quest, etc). It could help distilate the game content without it looking like a bloat at the very least.

2 questions : BG3 does not have a type of true random-encounters using the Points de Passage(fast-travel), right ? And is there any need to get back to or passing by some previous location once they are cleared ?(except towns of course)

Also, if some of you just dont give a shit about rule/gameplay continuity of the serie, why not just take exemple from better game maps ? Like those of F1-2, Arcanum, Vagrus, Kingmaker, etc. I mean : Loading time for everyone, real travel with encounter on the roads, a sens of travel and discovery on both the big map and the OS1-2 style small maps, some hidden locations, time and space matter now.


Et voila, everyone is happy

PS : My apologies as I posted this message half-baked by accident, sorry for the ghost-post

 

[NecroLord]

That map looks like shit.
Compare it to this:

Or this:

 

[Swen]

Nostalgiafags really are retarded.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

That map looks like shit.
Compare it to this:

Or this:

those aren't maps you actually travel on you tard, BG3 has one of those too

 

[NecroLord]

Nostalgiafags really are retarded.

Larian cultists even more so.
Careful not to choke on all that belgian cum.

 

[Reinhardt]

Nostalgiafags really are retarded.

then why you named your gaem bg3?

 

[NecroLord]

those aren't maps you actually travel on you tard, BG3 has one of those too

Nigger, HOW do you not travel on them?
Wow, holy shit! BG3 also has a worldmap? Why, I never.