Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 RELEASE THREAD

[perfectslumbers]

It does bring up the question of why gaymers feel so married to DnD. Near as I can tell, its not a particularly fantastic system (any edition) to begin with, and requires heavy handed modification to translate it from tabletop to CRPG, and the setting and lore just gets increasingly indistinctive and gayer with every edition. Moreover, its derivative to begin with. Why cant people just make their own tolkien rip off? Why do studios feel the need to get into bed with WOTC just have a generic fantasy license?

D&D is pretty much the best at what it does, whether that's tense sword and sorcery in the old editions or whatever genre of high fantasy 3e and 5e are. All the games that compete for that spot are OSR hacks that clean up old editions or things similar to Pathfinder which can only be created with the benefit of years of experience with a particular edition. In theory I totally agree that devs could create better original systems, but in practice I don't think that will ever happen. When devs try to create their own fantasy systems we end up with abominations like DOS:2 and Tyranny, or bland attempts at innovation like Pillars of Eternity, or simple D&Dlikes that have one or two original ideas.

As for getting into bed with WOTC, that's not really necessary. Thanks to the Open Game License (OGL) which was introduced in 3e, you could make a 5e or 3e or Pathfinder game tomorrow without needing to contact WOTC. Knights of the Chalice 1/2 and the Owlcat Pathfinder games use this license, although there are some particularities that you need to go through in order to be compliant with the license. You're not allowed to use trademarks or copy text outside of something called the "System Reference Document," which contains all the core rules, core races, and core classes, and core spells. You also have to create a document that outlines the entirety of your system, and that document must also be released under the OGL. Owlcat made a 1000 page reference document for this reason: https://owlcat.games/PFWotRCRPGRD but this only applies to WOTR. Kingmaker technically isn't compliant with the license since it doesn't have an equivalent reference document, thankfully WOTC doesn't pay too much attention.

WOTC tried to revoke this license a few months ago but they got such an incredible backlash that they reneged and decided it would be irrevocable. They may try to change it in some future edition but all previous edition's OGL will still be usable if they do that

 

[Konjad]

I wonder if it's worthwhile to give MP a shot. I joined some random game and just followed the host for a while, but it seemed rather meh. There also seem to be no chat which hinders joining random games a lot.

 

[AwesomeButton]

bland attempts at innovation like Pillars of Eternity

Please elaborate, what's bland about PoE's ruleset?

I think the two games released lack the draw of games like Baldur's Gate/2, but the ruleset is quite solid, especially in Deadfire with actual multiclassing.

 

[AwesomeButton]

I wonder if it's worthwhile to give MP a shot. I joined some random game and just followed the host for a while, but it seemed rather meh. There also seem to be no chat which hinders joining random games a lot.

My strong suspicion is that due to the plot structure, subsequent replays will all pale in comparison to the first one. Multiplayer in the first playthrough is the best option, because this way you wouldn't spoil at least some of the party members' plots for yourself, in addition to seeing everything for the first time.

 

[Konjad]

I wonder if it's worthwhile to give MP a shot. I joined some random game and just followed the host for a while, but it seemed rather meh. There also seem to be no chat which hinders joining random games a lot.

My strong suspicion is that due to the plot structure, subsequent replays will all pale in comparison to the first one. Multiplayer in the first playthrough is the best option, because this way you wouldn't spoil at least some of the party members' plots for yourself, in addition to seeing everything for the first time.

I already completed the game in SP yesterday, now I wonder if I should just remove it and maybe replay once an Enhanced Edition is out in a year, or keep it installed and play MP.

 

[Lyre Mors]

I wonder if it's worthwhile to give MP a shot. I joined some random game and just followed the host for a while, but it seemed rather meh. There also seem to be no chat which hinders joining random games a lot.

The only way MP will be worth such an immediate replay is if you're playing with people you can actually communicate with and coordinate game sessions. Real friends, preferably. If you can do that, it's some of the most fun moments you'll ever have with the game.

 

[Tyranicon]

I wonder if it's worthwhile to give MP a shot. I joined some random game and just followed the host for a while, but it seemed rather meh. There also seem to be no chat which hinders joining random games a lot.

I can't imagine playing with randos with this game. Do they have anything preventing some dude from just aggro'ing everything in the game world? Probably would just have to kick 'em and reload.

Play with friends. Preferably in real life. There's even a sort of hidden split screen option on PC. Me and a buddy rolled a barbarian and fighter and just cheesed every encounter by shoving things off cliffs.

OFC he lost interest by the end of Act 1, but that's understandable.

 

[just]

i launch the game 4 times and pretend we're friends

 

[Haplo]

Just finished BG3

How many "endings" are there, as in, how many ways to tie the knot together? No spoilers, just say 1-2-3....

Over 9000!

 

[Nikanuur]

An excerpt from the fabled and long-lost Encyclopaedia of Proper Gaminigism

Annals of gaming part 42: "The hunt for 3D near-realism in games"
Verily, the symptoms of this nefarious, contagious developers' disease are immense and their numbers have been steadily growing since the dreaded Tomb Rider in 1996.
As Nietzsche once stated: "The quantity in the games' development is inversely proportionate to the quality at any given time.
Pythagoras' reaction sums it all: "Alas, I have to agree and, if I may add -- Diogenes, for the love of Silvanus! Stop wanking in public already! The amount of sexuality does not reverse the said inverse proportion!"

Ex. 1.
The sacred reference-table of the disease-free environment: The year is 1998. The game, Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn came to the light of gamers' cognition. 16 companions to choose from, some of them with the same classes, most of them with craftily designed quotes and other hints of unique personalities that weren't overdone because, as Kant said, quote, "The rise of satisfaction is in direct proportion of letting the gamer's imagination finish those hints." The rest of the work was some sprite animations, several pages of conversation or less, it was doable.

Ex. 1.b.
A good example of how you should never let the symptoms develop. The year is 2023, a game called Baldur's Gate 3 emerges into the light of the Primal Material plane after having been hammered into existence for countless years on the anvils of the devils in the Abyss of the Early Access. The approach to creating the companions, an important but not-so-critical-a-part of an RPG, is this:
"Let's focus most of our character-creation resources on the state-of-the-art 3D portrait of 8 companions, each with a group-exclusive class, each with almost a book of text to go with. We dedicate what resources and time we have to the depth of character and choice. Oh wait. We don't have any more resources in that regard. And if you don't like one of them, bye bye Kansas for having that class at your party."

 

[Parabalus]

Just finished BG3

How many "endings" are there, as in, how many ways to tie the knot together? No spoilers, just say 1-2-3....

2

 

[Haplo]

thot

Indeed.
But apparently at least a good looking, stylish and hard working one.

 

[Grauken]

60 hours and still enjoying act 1. Finished the Nere fight yesterday, with the help of the Duergar and killing Nere in the first 2 two rounds wasn't particularly difficult but still fun. Tried to save the girl Nere kicks into the lava by attacking him before the cutscene start but I couldn't make it work. Shame. Now mopping up the rest of Grymforge and the Underdark. Accidentally killed the mushroom picker because I love blowing shit up and forgot he might be in there, came running out but died before he could entirely get clear of the exploding mushrooms. So I reloaded because I'm nice. Once I'm done below the surface I finally get to the mountain pass area

Oh yeah, how does the elevator in the mage tower work?

 

[Haplo]

I've repeated the Auntie Esthel fight like 6 times, dammit.
Not that I lost even once. But I wanted both her hair and to save the girl.
Half the time she didn't even start the parleys before dieing. Come to think of it, might have had something to do with her being inside a Silence and/or Darkness zone? Is the game this reactive to active effects?

2 other times she spoke to Astarion, who's ass at Intimidation, rather then my MC Warlock (once she shoved my MC into a chasm as her last action - she does like to Shove characters; the other time Astarion might have been closer, I guess). And since the DC of the check is 20, I wasn't so lucky to roll max on the dice.

Finally managed it yesterday, when I pulled all other characters wayy back when she got low on health...

Btw., the girl husband's "ressurection" was pretty funny.... even moreso that she insisted to keep him like that.

 

[dbx]

60 hours and still enjoying act 1. Finished the Nere fight yesterday, with the help of the Duergar and killing Nere in the first 2 two rounds wasn't particularly difficult but still fun. Tried to save the girl Nere kicks into the lava by attacking him before the cutscene start but I couldn't make it work. Shame. Now mopping up the rest of Grymforge and the Underdark. Accidentally killed the mushroom picker because I love blowing shit up and forgot he might be in there, came running out but died before he could entirely get clear of the exploding mushrooms. So I reloaded because I'm nice. Once I'm done below the surface I finally get to the mountain pass area

Oh yeah, how does the elevator in the mage tower work?

The one in the underdark? Arcane Tower?

Spoiler

Jump to bottom level, use Sussur Bloom in the generator you find inside the bottom level

 

[Grauken]

Btw, the girl's husband's "ressurection" was pretty funny.... even moreso that she wanted to keep him like that.

There's really no good outcome of that event. I gave her the staff but you have to wonder how safe she is with a zombie around.

 

[dbx]

Btw, the girl's husband's "ressurection" was pretty funny.... even moreso that she wanted to keep him like that.

There's really no good outcome of that event. I gave her the staff but you have to wonder how safe she is with a zombie around.

Spoiler

You'll meet her again in act 3

 

[VentilatorOfDoom]

I've repeated the Auntie Esthel fight like 6 times, dammit.
Not that I lost even once. But I wanted both her hair and to save the girl.
Half the time she didn't even start the parleys before dieing. Come to think of it, might have had something to do with her being inside a Silence and/or Darkness zone? Is the game this reactive to active effects?

you have to bring her below 20 hp and then wait for her turn, she will start speaking then

you can save/reload during dialogues

 

[Lagole Gon]

So who will do the review, Infinitron?

Maybe we should also include mini-reviews by multiple users.

 

[AwesomeButton]

So who will do the review, Infinitron?

Maybe we should also include mini-reviews by multiple users.

I guess it will be as usual - whoever writes one, and isn't shit, will get posted.

 

[Haplo]

I've repeated the Auntie Esthel fight like 6 times, dammit.
Not that I lost even once. But I wanted both her hair and to save the girl.
Half the time she didn't even start the parleys before dieing. Come to think of it, might have had something to do with her being inside a Silence and/or Darkness zone? Is the game this reactive to active effects?

you have to bring her below 20 hp and then wait for her turn, she will start speaking then

Yeah, only 3 times under 10 health she didn't and kept fighting until put down.
I'm wondering if Darkness and/or Silence might her interferred with the dialogue cutscene trigger.

you can save/reload during dialogues

Good to know. Although gunning for a roll of 20 with Astarion (for some reason couldn't even get Guidance buff for this check), would have been tedious. Maybe less tedious then repeating the whole thing 3 more times, however.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Good to know. Although gunning for a roll of 20 with Astarion (for some reason couldn't even get Guidance buff for this check), would have been tedious. Maybe less tedious then repeating the whole thing 3 more times, however.

Fortunately for me, Karlach was the closest party member to the Hag when the dialogue triggered, and barbarians receive an advantage for that intimidation roll.

 

[AwesomeButton]

For some reason I can't stop laughing at this guy's face:

 

[Rhobar121]

For some reason I can't stop laughing at this guy's face:

chop chop chop.

His intelligence reminds me of some members of the Codex.

 

[whydoibother]

For some reason I can't stop laughing at this guy's face:

Looks like about 10% of the population of the Balkans, to be fair.