Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 Pre-Release Thread [EARLY ACCESS RELEASED, GO TO NEW THREAD]

[Volrath]

I'm going to play the shit out of this game.

And enjoy it.

Suck it Codex

 

[DraQ]

Imagine you bought a car from a fantastic company that has served you faithfully for 20 years. Then another company aquires the rights to build the car in name only, and you neighbour buys it and gloats at you every day because he considers his car to be superior. But everybody knows the latest version is a POS.

-That was my attempt at injecting some rationality and therapy into the Codex. How did I do?.

There was a brand of beer in Poland, that was all in all an atrocity to consumer's senses and general well-being, to the point where comparing it with piss would insult the latter, but its main selling point with its, ahem, consumer base was that it was cheap (also it didn't spoil, at least not in a discernible manner if you catch my drift).

Then the brewery was bought by someone with an ambition to make really good beer for discerning consumer and he did it, reimagining the brand completely.

I imagine there still being some winos and assorted mantrash who happen to be very upset about this change.

 

[Saravan]

Imagine you bought a car from a fantastic company that has served you faithfully for 20 years. Then another company aquires the rights to build the car in name only, and you neighbour buys it and gloats at you every day because he considers his car to be superior. But everybody knows the latest version is a POS.

-That was my attempt at injecting some rationality and therapy into the Codex. How did I do?.

Imagine you bought a car from a fantastic company that has served you faithfully for 20 years. Then another company aquires the rights to build the car in name only, and you neighbour buys it and gloats at you every day because he considers his car to be superior. You decide not to endlessly cry like a little bitch about it and move on with your life.

 

[Chippy]

Imagine you bought a car from a fantastic company that has served you faithfully for 20 years. Then another company aquires the rights to build the car in name only, and you neighbour buys it and gloats at you every day because he considers his car to be superior. But everybody knows the latest version is a POS.

-That was my attempt at injecting some rationality and therapy into the Codex. How did I do?.

There was a brand of beer in Poland, that was all in all an atrocity to consumer's senses and general well-being, to the point where comparing it with piss would insult the latter, but its main selling point with its, ahem, consumer base was that it was cheap (also it didn't spoil, at least not in a discernible manner if you catch my drift).

Then the brewery was bought by someone with an ambition to make really good beer for discerning consumer and he did it, reimagining the brand completely.

I imagine there still being some winos and assorted mantrash who happen to be very upset about this change.

https://www.beyondsoy.com/blog/2017/8/7/is-there-soy-in-beer
A quote: "We know that soy isn’t a necessary ingredient in beer, and therefore would hope it doesn’t contain soy. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case..."

German Beer purity Laws: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36110288

I know they arn't technically German, but the same thing really. So maybe they should stick to beer?.

 

[Atlet]

This game will be so amazing, that I think I will play the EA to try all the builds before the full game is finished and publicized.

 

[prodigydancer]

I imagine there still being some winos and assorted mantrash who happen to be very upset about this change.

But BG3 has the same price tag as the previous installments.

It's hard to explain why some people still despise BG3 so vehemently. D&D? Yes. Party-based? Yes. (Four is less than six so there can be some valid criticism re. this change.) Turn-based, mostly true to the PnP ruleset? Yes. Moddable to be even truer? Most likely, yes. Takes you to Baldur's Gate? Yes. (Ironically, BG2 and ToB didn't.) Made by a well-known company? Yes.

The initial "oh, it's just D:OS 2.5 in the Sword Coast" reaction is understandable. But that was three months ago. Anyone with a grain of maturity who is still a hater at this point should put something substantial on their list of BG3 grievances (if they have anything substantial, that is).

 

[Chippy]

I imagine there still being some winos and assorted mantrash who happen to be very upset about this change.

But BG3 has the same price tag as the previous installments.

It's hard to explain why some people still despise BG3 so vehemently. D&D? Yes. Party-based? Yes. (Four is less than six so there can be some valid criticism re. this change.) Turn-based, mostly true to the PnP ruleset? Yes. Moddable to be even truer? Most likely, yes. Takes you to Baldur's Gate? Yes. (Ironically, BG2 and ToB didn't.) Made by a well-known company? Yes.

The initial "oh, it's just D:OS 2.5 in the Sword Coast" reaction is understandable. But that was three months ago. Anyone with a grain of maturity who is still a hater at this point should put something substantial on their list of BG3 grievances (if they have anything substantial, that is).

Well as I said, I'm pretty ambivalent to this game. I pop in on the thread every now-and-again to see what they're up to. I get the impression there's a lot of tension here. So not to be a "hater" but if you want a substantial grievance: the game doesn't deserve the title of BG3 because the writers will not be able to (and don't deserve to sit on the shoulders of) the story, cameo characters, and world that the writers of the first two games created.

I expect it will at least be a passable RPG. But they should have just called it Baldurs Gate: Tentacle invasion. Any company that attempts to pick up a series from the Bioware & Blackisle of yesterday is foolish. The same as anyone trying to pick up a KOTOR3.

 

[Riddler]

If they really rework the initiative and remove the retarded narration then I'm open to giving this a shot, despite my misgivings about Larian.

 

[Elex]

https://eu.merch.larian.com/en/

For all the true Ontopoly out there!
You can buy larian stuff and burn/destroy it.

 

[Harthwain]

There was a brand of beer in Poland, that was all in all an atrocity to consumer's senses and general well-being, to the point where comparing it with piss would insult the latter, but its main selling point with its, ahem, consumer base was that it was cheap (also it didn't spoil, at least not in a discernible manner if you catch my drift).

Then the brewery was bought by someone with an ambition to make really good beer for discerning consumer and he did it, reimagining the brand completely.

I imagine there still being some winos and assorted mantrash who happen to be very upset about this change.

That's not hard to believe. If the only criteria for a beer was the price. At some point the taste becomes less important than sustaining the addiction.

 

[prodigydancer]

the game doesn't deserve the title of BG3 because the writers will not be able to (and don't deserve to sit on the shoulders of) the story, cameo characters, and world that the writers of the first two games created.

They didn't really create Faerûn because WotC created it for them. It's still the same world in BG3, although some lore may have changed since 2E. Same goes for at least some cameos (Elminster and Drizzt, obviously, weren't BioWare's creations). The rest we can argue about.

The story in BG1 was very linear. Theoretically, there were two main arcs: avenge Gorion and investigate the iron crisis. But practically, you simply followed the latter until the former reappeared late in the game. The main plot device was finding and killing your next target to gain new information. The story was neither complex nor had any surprising twists. It was solid but objectively no better than the D:OS1 story. Similarly, the story in BG2 is on par with D:OS2. I'd even say that D:OS2 is probably more complex, considering all the Origins arcs and everything that happens. It's a pretty long game after all.

Both Sarevok and Irenicus were cool as main villains as was being a child of a dead god and fighting others like you. Admittedly, the Void in the Divinity games is less interesting but we definitely won't have to deal with it this time. Illithids are just a hook and there's no reason to believe that the whole game will be about them.

As for the writing in general, yes, D:OS1 had issues. Mostly it was the inconsistency between the lighthearted mood of most conversations and the grim reality of war, slaughter, dark magic, human sacrifices and impending doom. But that internal contradiction was resolved in D:OS2 which had some really neat writing. Give me more of it and I'll be quite happy.

 

[Elex]

Illithids are just a hook and there's no reason to believe that the whole game will be about them.

from the recent trailer look like the tadpole is the hook that brink you to deal with the Devil maybe an archdevil or similar (don't look like asmodeous he don't have the rod).
You get the tadpole in the head, and the only thing that can save you is a deal with an archdevil "for your soul can you please bring me the divine essence of bhaal? TY".

"consider your predicament
ONE SKULL two tenents
And NO SOLUTION in sight
I COULD FIX IT all like laughing
TRY TO CURE YOURSELF shop around beg borrow and steal Exaust every possibility until none are left
and when hope has been whittled down the very marrow of despair
that's when you come knocking on my door"

this is clearly a devil offering a pact to the adventurer so they can survive the tadpole, remember also that descent into avernus is supposed to be a sorta of prequel to the event of BG3.

Maybe this devil is the new archdevil ruling over avernus replacing Zariel.

Maybe this new archdevil is an ex adventurer from the "descent into avernus" campaign, now an archdevil and he want to take vengeance over the cult of the dead three in baldu'rs gate 3 (at the start of the adventure you fight them).

 

[PorkyThePaladin]

This last cinematic trailer shows exactly why Larian should ve never been entrusted with a Baldur's Gate game:


Larian:




Original:



The difference is striking. The original has such great ambience and atmosphere, from the thunderstorm in the background to the music, to the understated dramatic elements. The Larian version starts with a logo being hit in the forehead with a rubber dart. Then some dolt narrates some crap that's 3 hours too long and is delivered in a voice that says "Please do not take me seriously at all costs!"

 

[vortex]

Original is gothic, dark and serious. BG3 seems to have very light tone, melodramatic, pretentious and characters don't take themselves seriously.

 

[DraQ]

This last cinematic trailer shows exactly why Larian should ve never been entrusted with a Baldur's Gate game:


Larian:




Original:



The difference is striking. The original has such great ambience and atmosphere, from the thunderstorm in the background to the music, to the understated dramatic elements. The Larian version starts with a logo being hit in the forehead with a rubber dart. Then some dolt narrates some crap that's 3 hours too long and is delivered in a voice that says "Please do not take me seriously at all costs!"

[Perception] One is an intro, the other is not.

 

[PorkyThePaladin]

Doesn't matter, every Larian intro trailer since D:OS has been in the same vein. They just have this retarded idea that you can make a 100 hour long game that doesn't take itself seriously at all, and people will have some sort of incentive to plug through it anyway. Which is completely wrong.

 

[User0001]

Reworked initiative!!!

Three months ago:

New (normal initiative):

 

[User0001]

Doesn't matter, every Larian intro trailer since D:OS has been in the same vein. They just have this retarded idea that you can make a 100 hour long game that doesn't take itself seriously at all, and people will have some sort of incentive to plug through it anyway. Which is completely wrong.

The new intro has already been released. So how shit do you think it is?


Personally think it's kinda' dope. A bit too epic (DRAGOOUUNS) but highly impressive and with great ambiance and atmosphere.

 

[Dodo1610]

Just how was Baldurs Gate a dark game? You ran around green fields or forests and beat up monsters and bandits with cheesy dialogue. I actually finished it for the first time last year and found it was a surprisingly light-hearted game compared to modern stories where everything was dark and gritty.

 

[Chippy]

prodigydancer If you're incapable of interpreting what I mean by "the world that the writers of the first two games created" and assume that I'm dumb to be talking about the world that Ed Greenwood/WOTC "created for them" and to then reply/infer that the BG games were easy to make - as the framework was in place, and Bioware could just copy/pasted from Faerun > BG without creating their own world? Then I don't see the point in having a conversation.

Thanks for reminding me why it's often just a good idea to stay away from BG related threads (and forums such as Beamdog - that doesn't mean I think I'm on a Beamdog forum by the way ) as the sheer level of anal retention from BG fans (or Larian fans, it seems) is just not worth the headache.

Hope you like the game.

 

[PorkyThePaladin]

The new intro has already been released. So how shit do you think it is?
...

That does look better (though still shit because it's way too long without actually showing you in any way what any of that has to do with the game), but that video I linked is newer and does not fill me with any confidence at all.

 

[Lacrymas]

Just how was Baldurs Gate a dark game? You ran around green fields or forests and beat up monsters and bandits with cheesy dialogue. I actually finished it for the first time last year and found it was a surprisingly light-hearted game compared to modern stories where everything was dark and gritty.

Let me guess, you played with a good party certainly featuring Imoen, Khalid, and Jaheira? The good parties in BG1 always feel like you are going on a zany adventure with your buddies, saving maidens and drinking mead or some shit. The ambience changes dramatically if you go with an evil party. Then we aren't in Kansas anymore, Dodo.

 

[Melcar]

Even the "evil path" in vanilla BG/BG2 was a bit campy and light-hearted. None of the "evil" companions really struck me as, you know, evil. Maybe Korgan a bit, or Viconia in certain occasions. Monty and Xzar seemed more insane psycho than anything else, with Tiax just plain nuts and silly. Edwin in both games came off more as selfish and vain.
Modern "grimdark" in many games is just cringe for the most part, so I don't see what's the point of complaining.

 

[AwesomeButton]

I would kill fantadomat for a chance to play Icewind Dale 3

Hmpf! I've killed fer less!

 

[Infinitron]

Whoops, the Larian Gazette email landed in my spam folder.

There’s no time to waste with a hello! We have so much to cover. It’s been a while, but we’ve been busy. Let’s get to it. Today we’re talking about Baldur’s Gate 3 as well as Divinity: Original Sin 2. BIG STUFF.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is entering Early Access this August, 2020… maybe. There’s a lot to that maybe, and it’s covered in Community Update #3 that went live today. But we’ll get to that.

Yesterday saw the Guerrilla Collective Show. A show that celebrated indie games and brought gamers together. It was also the place we unveiled Baldur’s Gate 3’s first official trailer featuring in-game visuals, setting our intended mood-target for the game. If you haven’t seen the trailer, then stop reading! We’ll post it right below. Go watch that!

We announced Baldur’s Gate around this period almost exactly one year ago, and it’s come a very long way. Even since the world-reveal of the gameplay at PAX East earlier in the year, there have been some major changes and improvements -- and this is natural. Covid-19 slowed us down, but we’re returning to the office and we’ve a lot to show. We’re very much on the road to Early Access, and we hope you’re coming along for the ride.

For more details about what those changes are, check out the community update. Baldur’s Gate 3 is going to be a game shaped by its players to no small degree, and we’re really excited that we’ve now locked in exactly what the day one content for Early Access will look like… but more details on that another time.

Trailer. Update. What’s next? You won’t have to wait long to see more gameplay, since Baldur’s Gate 3 will kick-off D&D Live 2020, which is shaping up to be quite the star-studded event, with Game of Thrones actors joining the lineup. But don’t worry, of course our very own Swen Vincke will be there.

For more information about the Community Update #3 and aspects of development, be sure to check out the official forums and Steam Community Hub to read our break-down of the world of development.

The cool thing about the next Baldur’s Gate 3 live gameplay? I’m glad you asked. YOU’RE involved. We’ll be offering you two paths to explore on the day, but we’ll talk more about that a little later…