Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 RELEASE THREAD

[jackofshadows]

Fellas, is Honor worth trying for a first run, or should I just roll with Tactician?

Edit: also, any recommended mods?

I never played on Honor (it wasn't there on release) but Tactician is too easy for RPG enthusiast, especially for one with DnD experience (and I even didn't have much of it). So I'd suggest roll on Honor right away, even if you die you can still continue but you will get improved boss fights. Also it's nice not to worry about reloading for rerolls etc the game plays better that way (live with roll failures) because it was designed for that (even if often it just means as usual resorting to combat).

As for mods, I'd recommend going to rusty's site and getting de-woke mod or w/e it's called. Dunno about your personal preferences/tolerances but to me seeing nigger elves etc en masse was annoying. BG itself is an expected melting pot in vanilla.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Cool, I guess it's gotta be Honor then, thanks bros.

 

[shimadamada]

Fellas, is Honor worth trying for a first run, or should I just roll with Tactician?

Edit: also, any recommended mods?

If you want to go in blind I'd say stay away from Honor mode. There is a way of making the early game relatively painless if you follow a certain path, level up as much as possible without combat and then tackle encounters in exact order of difficulty. But if it's your first run you're probably not going to do it this way and it could potentially be very difficult.

 

[The Bishop]

There is a mod that removes save restrictions in Honor mode. Difficulty and rule fixes are a must, but there's just too much bullshit the game can throw at you to play with a single save, especially on your first run.

 

[Yosharian]

Save restrictions just make the game more interesting, if you die just restart in Dishonour? Tactician is boring as fuck and not balanced. I would definitely have preferred to play the game on honour mode for my first run

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Yeah if you continue and just get better ruleset, so there's no reason to play on Tactictian.

 

[Desiderius]

modhq really are outdoing themselves:

I understand now why Astarion was so fucking gay. If you gender swap him, it makes so much sense:

https://f.rpghq.org/azmqHCNB9Git.mp4?n=[Visuals+VC] Astaria.mp4

All the male characters are like this.

 

[scytheavatar]

Save restrictions just make the game more interesting, if you die just restart in Dishonour? Tactician is boring as fuck and not balanced. I would definitely have preferred to play the game on honour mode for my first run

Game itself is not balanced in honor mode either, honor mode is simply a race to lvl 5. Once you reach lvl 5 honor mode becomes way more manageable.

But yes I would never recommend honor mode for first time players cause this game has too much bullshit which are not obvious for first time players. Even with the best builds it's hard to play a 100 hour long game and not be fucked up by design which are bullshit like the numerous anti-melee stuff enemies have.

 

[processdaemon]

You can start in custom mode and choose Honour ruleset without selecting single save and get all the benefits of Honour mode while allowing a little bit of reloading to get yourself out of a tight spot. I think it's a good to have the option in your first run even if you don't use it for dialogue save scumming since there are a couple of fights that you might want to reload and do more prep for if you run into them unprepared.

 

[Yosharian]

You can start in custom mode and choose Honour ruleset without selecting single save and get all the benefits of Honour mode while allowing a little bit of reloading to get yourself out of a tight spot. I think it's a good to have the option in your first run even if you don't use it for dialogue save scumming since there are a couple of fights that you might want to reload and do more prep for if you run into them unprepared.

Yeah, that's probably the best way for a new player, but I do think there's something to be said for having only a single save available to actually make the game more of a role-playing experience. That aspect is probably best reserved for repeat playthroughs, but I wonder if having it as your first experience with the game would actually be better.

 

[0sacred]

nothing speaks to the quality of a game like having to resort to cock and ball torture on your first run to make the game better. GOTY indeed

 

[Litmanen]

You can start in custom mode and choose Honour ruleset without selecting single save and get all the benefits of Honour mode while allowing a little bit of reloading to get yourself out of a tight spot. I think it's a good to have the option in your first run even if you don't use it for dialogue save scumming since there are a couple of fights that you might want to reload and do more prep for if you run into them unprepared.

You can start in custom mode and choose Honour ruleset without selecting single save and get all the benefits of Honour mode while allowing a little bit of reloading to get yourself out of a tight spot. I think it's a good to have the option in your first run even if you don't use it for dialogue save scumming since there are a couple of fights that you might want to reload and do more prep for if you run into them unprepared.

Yeah, that's probably the best way for a new player, but I do think there's something to be said for having only a single save available to actually make the game more of a role-playing experience. That aspect is probably best reserved for repeat playthroughs, but I wonder if having it as your first experience with the game would actually be better.

I'm playing (in co-op) the game in Honor mode as my first playthrough. And I agree essentially with both of you.

There are a couple of encounters-fights where you arrive unprepared or, anyway, without a strategy in mind (The hag, the Githianky at the Mountain pass, Tha Captain and the Inquisitor fight - if you fight - in the Asylum). And a second chance gives you the mean to have a proper challenge enjoying all the game mechanics. Because, generally speaking, honor mode is not that hard but adds a bit of challenge and roleplay since you cannot change some choices.

And I find the one save a funny thing to have. This will probably be the only game I could try to play twice in my life and the single save gives me the opportunity not to explore the paths I haven't choosen.

 

[Hydro]

Single save mode in BG3 is implemented in a most ass way possible making the game actually worse. Because of retarded cuck writers, glitches and the overall method this game communicates things to you it’s impossible to say how it’ll react to your actions without knowing it in advance. At least it is possible to bypass the limitation of the single save mode by mass suicide your party. Not sure it’ll work in the honor mode tho. Oh yes and make sure to switch off autosave if you choose to opt in — forced dialog scenes along with autosave and your retarded party triggering traps all over the place is a stuff to witness.

 

[cvv]

So guise The Veilguard finally released so I figured it's the perfect time for my first BG3 playthrough.

About 10 hours in and it's... weird. After all this hype and drama and arguing about bear sex I didn't expect my first impressions to be "hmm, I think I enjoyed DOS2 a bit more".

I mean this game is full of cinematics and VO and other bling but I don't give rat's ass about that. And in a Larian game I don't care about writing that much either. What matters for me are the quests, C&C and mainly the combat.

The first two are very good but I remember DOS2 being about comparable. The combat is disappointing so far. In DOS2 I was able to pull all sorts of hijinks with environments and spells and crazy abilities almost from the get go. Here, 10 hours in, I'm still using my basic sword attack for my meleers and the basic flame attack for my spellcasters way too often, due to the DnD charge-based spell system I've never liked. Plus why tf am I missing so much? And the mobs too! Everyone is constantly swinging and missing like a drunken knight stumbling home from a pub. Seems in order to have a more than 70% hit chance you have to use a bunch of buffs or debuffs first and then jump on a bucket and probably fart three times in a northern wind too, jesus fucking christ, please tell me it gets better.

The story or the characters haven't particularly grabbed me so far, but that's never been Larian's strong suit. I like Shadowheart's voice tho.

 

[Infinitron]

Return of the community channel:

Installed 200 mods, and now your save file is acting stranger than a talking Ox? Have no fear! Join Aoife as she introduces you to the wonderful world of Baldur’s Gate 3 modding, as well as sharing tips on resolving some common issues!

 

[Haplo]

So guise The Veilguard finally released so I figured it's the perfect time for my first BG3 playthrough.

About 10 hours in and it's... weird. After all this hype and drama and arguing about bear sex I didn't expect my first impressions to be "hmm, I think I enjoyed DOS2 a bit more".

I mean this game is full of cinematics and VO and other bling but I don't give rat's ass about that. And in a Larian game I don't care about writing that much either. What matters for me are the quests, C&C and mainly the combat.

The first two are very good but I remember DOS2 being about comparable. The combat is disappointing so far. In DOS2 I was able to pull all sorts of hijinks with environments and spells and crazy abilities almost from the get go. Here, 10 hours in, I'm still using my basic sword attack for my meleers and the basic flame attack for my spellcasters way too often, due to the DnD charge-based spell system I've never liked. Plus why tf am I missing so much? And the mobs too! Everyone is constantly swinging and missing like a drunken knight stumbling home from a pub. Seems in order to have a more than 70% hit chance you have to use a bunch of buffs or debuffs first and then jump on a bucket and probably fart three times in a northern wind too, jesus fucking christ, please tell me it gets better.

The story or the characters haven't particularly grabbed me so far, but that's never been Larian's strong suit. I like Shadowheart's voice tho.

Hmm, I don't know. Try some gish for a bit more combat variety maybe?
A Devils Sight Blade Warlock with Darkness? And Sorrow Glaive pull + Cloud of Daggers? Comboes well with Sentinel feat to keep enemies locked inside the aoe.
Slightly later Hunger of Hadar is OP.

Maybe a Spore Druid with that pillar of light spell and offhand torch transmuted into a staff with shillelagh?
Cool start, but sadly melee doesn't scale that well on a druid.

Or a Wildheart Tiger Barb to hit up to 3 enemies with each swing. Or a Warlock / Barb multiclass (very strong below Honor mode).

In general you should try to win Advantage in order to hit (and crit) more. Even Lae'zel's Trip is an effective tool.

 

[cvv]

Hmm, I don't know. Try some gish for a bit more combat variety maybe?

Are you talking about later stuff? I'm still at the early game. Maybe the problem was I took Gale as my MC? In DOS2 playing with origin chars paid off massively in the late game so I did the same here.

So right now I'm running Gale, Laezel, Shadowheart and Astarion and it's... fine. I guess I'm missing the environmental and elemental mischief you can do in DOSes. I'm sure in BG3 it's gonna happen later when I have more companions and more spells but so far the very early game combat feels really bland.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Cool, I've started on Honor as well, decided to roll with a Bard, hopefully speech skills will bail me outta trouble a bit.

 

[Old Hans]

having beat honor mode legitimately, my spiritual guru introduced me to mods. With his help, I can now utilize the power of being level 12 at the start of the game and fulfilling my full potential

 

[Haplo]

Hmm, I don't know. Try some gish for a bit more combat variety maybe?

Are you talking about later stuff? I'm still at the early game. Maybe the problem was I took Gale as my MC? In DOS2 playing with origin chars paid off massively in the late game so I did the same here.

So right now I'm running Gale, Laezel, Shadowheart and Astarion and it's... fine. I guess I'm missing the environmental and elemental mischief you can do in DOSes. I'm sure in BG3 it's gonna happen later when I have more companions and more spells but so far the very early game combat feels really bland.

No, I mean early game. Gish play style is really well supported by warlocks, druids and bards.

Wizards have their own strengths, particularly Divination wizards (Abjuration specialists can be strong too, but are not the best for party play), but personally I prefer other classes.

 

[Haplo]

Cool, I've started on Honor as well, decided to roll with a Bard, hopefully speech skills will bail me outta trouble a bit.

Well, a bard is a very strong MC choice, I guess. And can be very strong late game. But IMO a Warlock has a much stronger start and is possibly more fun to play early.

 

[Ryzer]

Warlock feels restricted to either : Eldritch Blast + Sorcerer = Cantrip spammer doing 60 damage a turn without spending a spell slot or Weapon pact + Paladin = Absurd damage. So overpowered but so narrow.

Meanwhile Bard offers more possibilities and is more versatile, it's also a great support, especially early on.

 

[Old Hans]

Warlock feels restricted to either : Eldritch Blast + Sorcerer = Cantrip spammer doing 60 damage a turn without spending a spell slot or Weapon pact + Paladin = Absurd damage. So overpowered but so narrow.

Meanwhile Bard offers more possibilities and is more versatile, it's also a great support, especially early on.

my fiend pact of the blade warlock is so much fun and he is much cooler than some loser bard

 

[Desiderius]

A couple of the early fights set up well for applying Wet condition (Harpies can be fought in the water itself) to double up damage from Armor of Agathis and the like. Wyll MC gets you Pact of the Blade, and CHR as attack stat on any weapon is underrated.

 

[Old Hans]

A couple of the early fights set up well for applying Wet condition (Harpies can be fought in the water itself) to double up damage from Armor of Agathis and the like. Wyll MC gets you Pact of the Blade, and CHR as attack stat on any weapon is underrated.

armor of agathis is my favorite. combined with fiendish resistance against piercing damage & orin ends up looking like a fool as she kills herself