Baldur's Gate III

[Didacgomez]

If BG, BG2, Icewind Dale, Planscape and etc were released in a modernised version would you buy them?

Probably not if changes are more significant than making them work in modern hardware as others mentioned.
Even for BG3 I have "skepticism" till fully released, Larian could have done a Forgotten Realms game without using the BG title... same goes to VT:B2 actually, not indicative that BG3 or Vtmb:2 (IF) releases will be bad; but why not simply release their "own" module (i mean Baldur's is not the only Forgotten Realms series-anybody wants another Dragonlance or Greyhawk(only 1 exisits as far as I know), Vampire the Masquerade is a whole setting no need to "cash" in a "sequel")?

 

[dunadan5]

I think it makes sense to use the name if you can. BG is a much more recognisable name, even to people who aren't normally interested in rpg games. Dragonlance or even Forgotten Realms does not have the same broad appeal.
If you were making a game and you knew that for the same amount of time and effort you'd get significantly more interest under the banner of a well known name, wouldn't you do the same?

 

[Didacgomez]

If you were making a game and you knew that for the same amount of time and effort you'd get significantly more interest under the banner of a well known name, wouldn't you do the same?

Is why they did, no doubt. But then you always risk comparison with previous games in the series and also with Larian previous games (is more DnD or more DOS?). For me then criticism of "old fans don´t like changes" its less valid (little bit what happens with Star Wars movies), as I said the end game might be good (or awesome fingers crossed) but you will always draw comparisons. I also (personal taste here) would have preferred another setting in DnD (Spelljammer,Greyhawk,Dark Sun,Ravenloft,Planescape,Dragonlance,Al-Qadim I know not all have been ported to 5th edition...but Forgotten is the vanilla).

 

[Rawls]

Is why they did, no doubt. But then you always risk comparison with previous games in the series and also with Larian previous games (is more DnD or more DOS?). For me then criticism of "old fans don´t like changes" its less valid (little bit what happens with Star Wars movies), as I said the end game might be good (or awesome fingers crossed) but you will always draw comparisons. I also (personal taste here) would have preferred another setting in DnD (Spelljammer,Greyhawk,Dark Sun,Ravenloft,Planescape,Dragonlance,Al-Qadim I know not all have been ported to 5th edition...but Forgotten is the vanilla).

I'm waiting for a D&D video game set in Halruaa. Still Forgotten Realms, but would be really interesting.

 

[MartineDee]

I had the opposite effect. Larian’s involvement actually made me interested.

Though that might be because I never really cared too much about the Infinity Engine games (aside from Planescape: Torment), nor the D&D setup or rules.

Yeah, had Larrian introduced the legacy view and the legacy fight mode (everyone acts simultaneously), I'd take it.

 

[addar]

Im still waiting for the good game and tv adaptation of drizzt' s story. Such a nice, easy to understand and relate story and noone yet menage to make it Real . Tv show would be perfect. Badass elf geralt like hero.

 

[Feline_Witcher]

Im still waiting for the good game and tv adaptation of drizzt' s story. Such a nice, easy to understand and relate story and noone yet menage to make it Real . Tv show would be perfect. Badass elf geralt like hero.

Then they ought to take a page from the Book of Geralt and make a game with the same mechanics as The Witcher: Drizzt as the playable character, with barbers as the only customization option, and all his skills being variations of the Warrior/Ranger class just like Swordmaster/Sign Caster/Alchemist are variations/aspects of the Witcher class, and the same dialogue system (voiced).

 

[kosamikl]

Disclaimer - I never played the older BG games, I'm not interested in table top DND.
I don't like outdated and clunky gameplay, that's why even though I have 120+ hours in the witcher 3, I could not play through the witcher 2.

Stats
I played about 50 hours of BG3 mostly alone and a few hours with friends.
I had 3 characters. 1 warlock 1 sorcerer and 1 cleric.

What got me playing
The graphics and the voice acting was a big push to try this out, the demos were competent and the narration blew my mind.

What kept me playing
The amount of content they produced is huge and the freedom the game allows is cool.
In the witcher you have less freedom in terms of what you are allowed to do, but there is still a lot of content but in the end you have a certain character you have to RP as.

In Skyrim you have blank character and you can do a lot of things, but the game is not prepared to respond to it. You are not allowed to kill certain characters and aside from glitching things you are on a set path.

I feel like BG3 has options for everything. And that takes a lot of work. Figuring out the possible combinations is fun.

Combat
Reading the complints here made me wonder how RPGs ruined our imaginations.
Stealth and using covers is always good. I like that kind of realism. There are a lot of utility spells which require you to think about tatics. Obviously this is an early access game and the balance is not there yet and there are cheese tactics that can be exploited, but even those are fun, and if you don't google for them, it will take you time for you to figure them out.
Pushing people over ledges was never this fun. There are other environment elements that can be used, rocks, chandeliers , pillars etc.

What I don't like
I think most of this will be addressed in the final version but here they are:

1. performance - low end hardware can barely run this game, AMD FSR turns on a demanding TSSA which results in even worse performance
2. ai turns - sometimes the AI takes waaaay too long to figure out what it wants to do
3. cross platform multiplayer and mp in general - we had several disconnects even on lan, at one point my macbook refused to connect to the game, one of my friends never saw the game and could only connect with the direct link
   

 

[Didacgomez]

For those who have played the Early Access, one question: how is the balance of combat vs non-combat quests? I mean, all quest will lead to a combat-or the combat can be avoided in some cases- or are there some "silly" quests like a drinking contest in an inn based on constitution saving throws-as example of a real quest in one DnD videogame-?

 

[CyberBobber]

Release 2023, I think Im gonna EA it this Christmas.

 

[lyin321]

Release 2023, I think Im gonna EA it this Christmas.

I would be very careful with that, as currently, you can't continue your saves from a previous version of the EA. Now I don't know if that will continue to apply as the game gets closer to release state, but just to be safe I won't be making chars that are intended for the full game.

 

[kosamikl]

For those who have played the Early Access, one question: how is the balance of combat vs non-combat quests? I mean, all quest will lead to a combat-or the combat can be avoided in some cases- or are there some "silly" quests like a drinking contest in an inn based on constitution saving throws-as example of a real quest in one DnD videogame-?

So far the EA is heavy on the combat since you are in a hurry to figure out what happen to you and look for a cure.

You can solve quests by talking your way out or do things in a sneaky way.

There are a lot of hidden things you can discover. They are not quests but items / puzzles.

In my experience most of the quests have multiple outcomes and you can be either good or evil.

 

[ReptilePZ]

I caught some footage of the latest patch the other day, and the game appears to be shaping up quite nicely. They seem to be going into lots of QoL changes, which indicates to me that they're now getting close to the full release. I felt very tempted to grab Early Access and play a bit, but I managed to restrain myself.

Early on, I had my worries about them going too far in the direction of D:OS2, which is a fantastic game, but quite different in style and combat to Baldur's Gate. And there are definitely still bits of D:OS in there, which I'm not too huge a fan of... e.g. seeing all the characters making huge leaps around the place, which really doesn't feel like D&D at all. I think they have a story explanation for this, at least... But minor things like that aside, it's looking very solid. I just hope the writing has improved, as that was probably the weakest point in D:OS2.

 

[The_Blacks]

After playing The Witcher, I have zero interest in any other Medieval Fantasy videogame, what can I say

 

[Spockprime]

So far the EA is heavy on the combat since you are in a hurry to figure out what happen to you and look for a cure.

The reason that I will never purchase the game. CP2077 is the last time that I will accept a game that makes use of that viciously overused idiotic theme. And even with CP2077, I ignore it and just play the game in free roam.

 

[Shafir]

I'm looking forward to it, even though I don't like these old-school systems like D&D5, Pathfinder and co. much anymore, because I find this level and class orientation weak, especially because it also applies to equipment. So I'm rather hoping for entertaining characters and an interesting story.

 

[Marginal0]

Early on, I had my worries about them going too far in the direction of D:OS2, which is a fantastic game, but quite different in style and combat to Baldur's Gate. And there are definitely still bits of D:OS in there, which I'm not too huge a fan of... e.g. seeing all the characters making huge leaps around the place, which really doesn't feel like D&D at all. I think they have a story explanation for this, at least... But minor things like that aside, it's looking very solid. I just hope the writing has improved, as that was probably the weakest point in D:OS2.

Same here. I love the developer and their early games, but I'm not a fan of the style of D:OS. It's unique but I'd rather have the dark theme of BG1/2 instead of you turning into a plant when you go 'stealth'. Takes all immersion out of the game, which obviously doesn't take itself seriously. Great gameplay, so they say, but attacking barrels with oil is not my idea of a D&D game.

So far I've waited for the game to quit EA. Seems like it'll be a long while. I'll eventually get it as it's BG, but will probably look forward more to Pathfinder. That game stays through to BG. You just need to accept the different lore (which, unfortunately, also doesn't take the genre serious, especially goblins).

 

[Sardukhar]

Releasing a month early for PC. Monk announced, Dragonborn, no locked party members after Act 1. Whole bunch of stuff.

"Let’s get into a little detail about what you can expect to see in the Panel From Hell: Release Showcase, just in time for the release of the game
on August 3rd for PC, and September 6th for PS5."

Baldur's Gate 3 - Community Update #20: A Dragonborn, a Half-Orc & a Monk Walk Into a Tavern - Steam News

Where to begin. This week has seen you take to the streets of the Lower City as amateur sleuths in Blood in Baldur’s Gate, a community murder mystery to uncover the hidden darkness that lurks just beneath the city's surface. Where will the investigation lead? Keep digging, detectives, you’re...

store.steampowered.com

 

[Notserious80]

Wow that doesnt happend often. Great for me more Starfield time at release and im guessing its partly too blame for the early release

 

[LeKill3rFou]

Ok, sadly I will wait until an Xbox release... even if the game is (surprisingly) available on Mac.
I hope it wouldn't take too long to be released