Baldur's Gate III News

[Urdnot_Wrex]

However, there is a huge backlash going on. And the streamer had to write a comment under the video: "I was told that even though this is possible in the current build, it might not make full release."

If it's indeed like these, people who complained about the availability of a respec option for companions, will win, and people like me, who didn't mind and actually wanted that, will lose.

It sounds complicated, because I'd definitely prefer being able to change their class, otherwise we'd basically be forced to pick our party or even create our character based on who we want to bring along, that would be a real pity.

On the other hand, not seeing some of the companions' dialogues is one thing, but basically destroying their whole backstory...
They said they completely rewrote Wyll for example, maybe that had something to do with it, so that his story would work even if he's no longer a warlock?
Shadowheart could be a follower of Shar without being a cleric, and multiclassing your companions wouldn't be that different from respec either, that too would break the chain if dialogue doesn't respect the change.
Or can only the player multiclass?

 

[Urdnot_Wrex]

Another detail from the video I don't quite understand: The tadpole. I hadn't played Early Access, I don't know how it was then, but what they described about dream sequences somehow made more sense to me.
To collect tadpoles as a resource from killed enemies and insert them into the brain to gain those skills... sounds a bit odd.
I got the feeling that choosing to use the tadpole thing influences how the player develops, like a taint and all, but now it just looks like another skill chart, and then even fueled by a resource like the Source Orbs or getting Source from slain enemies in D:OS2.

There it was first handled like something supposedly evil too (people who played D:OS1 knew though that Source wasn't inherently evil), and it seemed that sucking out people's souls to get Source points would affect you in a bad direction, but it had no gameplay consequences, it was just a collection of resources.

Now I'm not going "this is horrible, it should be punished" but somehow I'd feel a bit disappointed if using or not using the tadpole powers had absolutely no consequences on character development.

 

[Antimatter]

If it doesn't have any negative consequences, then it's really bad. Probably the first really bad aspect.

The bigger problem is all this uncertainty right now. They haven't addressed any of these topics during the Panel, and content creators just can't know all the details, they can't follow up and ask the company, and really, they shouldn't.

Also, it feels really odd that so many big changes are literally done 2 weeks before the game release when they had 3 years+ of Early Access.

 

[Antimatter]

Swen has given a big interview about Larian and what comes next.

Larian on signing Baldur's Gate 3, approaching a new era, and games you've never heard about

I saw sides to Baldur's Gate 3 last week - at an event for the launch version of the game (due 3rd August on PC) - I di…

www.eurogamer.net

There is a new part about BG3 there as well: 2 companions are not romanceable. It means Minsc and Jaheria are not romanceable, since everyone else has already been confirmed. Not a big surprise, but still.

 

[Antimatter]

Hi all by the way, first post. I was invited here by someone from another forum because I announced that I'm working on the following project:

Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki

Welcome to Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki! We provide an accessible, detailed, up to date wiki for Baldur's Gate 3 by Larian Studios.

bg3.wiki

The reasons I decided to host this instead of relying on Fextralife:

• Their contribution agreement says that anything you write becomes the exclusive copyrighted property of their parent company.
• They have an annoying Twitch integration that automatically plays a video while you're using the page. It even sticks around as you scroll down.
• Although I personally don't see it because I use an ad-blocker, they also play video ads on top of that. Bit excessive if you ask me.
• I really don't like their web design, it hurts my eyes a bit every time I visit one of their pages. (I might be a bit pedantic.)

In contrast, bg3.wiki is and will always remain 100% non-profit and ad-free. Content you write remains your property, though you agree to release it under a Creative Commons license. The sole purpose of the project is to be a great resource for BG3 fans.

You can edit the wiki without an account, but it'll constantly annoy you with a CAPTCHA. Once you register, it will stop requiring a CAPTCHA after the first few edits you make.

Feedback welcome!

Congrats on huge progress with the wiki!

 

[Zaxares]

If it's indeed like this, people who complained about the availability of a respec option for companions, will win, and people like me, who didn't mind and actually wanted that, will lose. I want a respec option because most likely, it'll be the only way for me to be free with my party based on their personalities and not default classes. What if I want to be a Rogue but also like Astarion? What if I want Karlach as a ranger and not a melee fighter? Also, with the replayability aspect, this limitation is harmful.

Honestly if push came to shove, I am not against including the option to respec companions as well. After all, I have the freedom to NOT do it (and I probably won't. It would feel... "wrong". Like I'm changing who they are against their will. It's different if I was playing AS them, but they still don't really feel like MY character... But anyway, that's another digression.) So, fear not. I'm all for people like you being able to respec companions if you wish. And it would indeed make it easier for us to bring along companions we like based on their personality and not be forced to bring someone because "I need a Rogue/Mage/Cleric." On the other hand, as Urdnot says it also feels like basically tearing down the companions and rebuilding them from the ground up. You'd need to change not only their class, but also their stats, and their backstory would basically be completely desynced from who they are in their new incarnation. It's kind of like, the Story says Astarion is a self-serving, manipulative vampire spawn, but in actual gameplay he's a NG Cleric of Corellon Larethian? It would reaaaaally strain my suspension of disbelief. XD

I still would prefer the old BG1/2 approach where we had multiple different companion choices who could fill all of the necessary D&D party roles, but I suppose that would have been too much work given all of the animations and voice lines required for a modern AAA RPG. Still, I continue to hope that if BG3 ever gets future DLC/expansions that we'll also see more companion choices.

 

[Cahir]

All righty guys. I've been thinking about BG3 *a lot* (and I mean *A LOT*) these last couple of days and I want to share some random thoughts with you, based on what I saw, read and already discussed.

• The tadpole skill tree - I'm not sold by this change, to be honest. I am not against a skill tree that allows you to makes you more proficient in using your newly acquired powers, but I have two concerns. First, I'd prefer to master the skill tree, by using tadpole, rather than gathering them like resource. I feel it would be more natural to gain "skill points" after some number of successful tadpole use, rather than collecting them from enemies corpses. In my opinion, the new system disconnects the narrative part of using tadpole from gameplay. You can avoid using tadpole, but you can also pick new feats from its skill tree, because you collect more tadpoles. Secondly, I'd like to know if there is also a gameplay-wise incentive to not learn new feats from tadpole skill tree, in case you reject its powers both from narrative and gameplay point of view. If the only outcome for you is to be stripped from available powers, without gaining other tools of power, it's not a good approach.
• The Dark Urge - to be is as obvious, not to BG1/BG2, as can possibly be. Personally, I believe The Dark Urge will be some sort of Bhaalspawn (even if called differently), and there were already hints their powers are indeed connected with Bhaal. If this is true, that's wonderful, because this would mean you can play a true spawn of Bhaal, with all ramifications of this state, instead of someone with just a backstory of a child of Bhaal (as in BG1/BG2). When I played BG1 and especially BG2, I always felt disconnected from the main character's origin, because I could play as good-aligned character as humanly possible, only to be turned to the Slayer all of a sudden, without being tempted to do evil things, as one would think your tainted blood would make you to do. Playing the Dark Urge allows you to feel the taint inside, its cravings and offering of power.
• Itemization - some of you already know, that item management and item presentation is important to me. I feel like there was nothing better invented in this matter than in BG1/BG2. There were games, (like WoTR), where I really liked itemization, but it couldn't match classic BG games. But, I must say, I really liked what I saw in BG3. There is a bit of lore on the item sheet, maybe a bit too little, but enough to not feel like a placeholder. Also, it seems there are tons of items, many tailored to specific races or classes and also 9 legendary items, heavily rooted into FR lore (which makes me one happy panda).
• Respec and multiclassing - I get where all those unhappy by Larian's liberal approach to multiclassing are coming from, and honestly I wouldn't mind some sensible (P&P?) restrictions too, but I also understand Larian's choice to give people complete freedom. As for respec of companions, the fact that it can create a possible desync from their story, is indeed a bit of a problem to me, but then again I was never really into respec system (used it once or twice only in the past), so it doesn't bother me personally that much. Still, I totally see this may be a problem to some players.
• Character creation - it's insane, and I know I will spend days, until I roll a proper character for my BG3 adventure. I do miss some race options, though. Now, I'm not really following FR timeline post 3rd edition and completely don't know elven race history since ca. 1375 DR, but I found odd there are only two elf subraces to choose from: high elves and wood elves. In 3rd edition there were 3 main elven subraces (sun elves, moon elves and wood elves) plus two lesser known elven subraces (star elves and avariel). I suspect it's a 5ed thing and Larian just followed the rulebook here (I appreciate your expertise on this), but to me high elves seems a bit generic, and seems to just group moon and sun elves together. I don't like it, because those two subraces were quite different in 3rd edition. I would also love to see human subraces, even if only for flavour. I miss the chance to play as Calishite, Cormyryan or Tethyrian, instead of generic human. Thirdly, I miss the third main halfling subrace, that was present in 3rd edition, ghostwise halflings. Again, that may be just 5ed change, but if I'd ever roll a halfling, I'd choose ghostwise halfling. And lastly, I dearly miss aasimar. And unfortunately, lack of assimars is just another reason for people to feel deprived of the possibility to play truly good-aligned characters. There are tieflings, so why there are no aasimars? I hope Larian would add aasimars at some point of BG3 support period.

 

[Nimran]

“I fought in the Blood War. I killed demons by the hundreds.”—Karlach, the level 1 barbarian. *shakes head*

Low level characters doing high level stuff is hilariously jarring to me. Like, HOW did you do that? You have 15 hp, and a nonmagical greataxe. You haven’t killed shit.

That’s part of the reason I’m not really excited about Minsc and Jaheira being recruitable companions. What, did they lose 20-something levels somewhere? Why are these gods among men now level 3?

I really like what I’ve seen of Karlach’s personality, though, and she’s more useful than Wyll, who has the same problem, so I’ll still have her in my party, no doubt. But boy, is her backstory silly.

 

[mlnevese]

Another thing I worry about is that by the end of BG 2 both Minsc and Jaheira were quite high-level characters. Even if we don't consider the games as canon but the books, they were still quite powerful. How will they explain the loss of levels? Or will they just ignore it?

 

[Urdnot_Wrex]

Somehow I don't share those concerns, I can live with some things that don't quite make sense and don't get explained in-game. I can totally understand how it would irk other people, we all have things that matter more for us considering realism than others.

Frankly, it never made much sense either that Jaheira, who is described as a harper and an old friend of Gorion's and supposed to protect you, is level 1 just like you when you meet her at the Friendly Arm Inn in BG1.

Some things make sense story-wise, some things are necessary gameplay-wise. We all have our own priorities what breaks our immersion and what we can overlook.

 

[Nimran]

If Wizards are indeed going by the books, then Jaheira would be dead, and Minsc wouldn’t have left the Copper Coronet’s kitchen. Clearly they’ve changed at least some of the canon, if only for marketing purposes.

To be clear, the level thing is a nitpick, not a dealbreaker. Wrex is correct that there’s precedent within this series as well. Raising awareness of it is still a good thing, though, since it is poor writing, unless there’s an in-game explanation for it.

 

[mlnevese]

Not really nitpicking Just curious how they will deal with it As long as they preserved their personalities I'm all in favor of them

 

[Antimatter]

In an exclusive interview with Kotaku, Larian's lead character artist Alena Dubrovina ran through how BG3's expansive character creator came to be.

Baldur's Gate 3 Aims For RPG Fans' Ultimate Character Creator - Kotaku

In an exclusive interview with Kotaku , Larian runs through how Baldur’s Gate 3 ’s expansive character creator came to be

kotaku.com

Spoiler

There is a NSFW section there about genitals

 

[Urdnot_Wrex]

I'm a bit surprised about their claim that a few presets to select from and combine make for more unique and distinct characters than sliders. I thought we'd have more individuality with sliders for facial features and especially body types.

I wonder if that's just a theory, or if it was actually tested, especially on players. Maybe it's only designers who get tempted to make too "pretty" or "mediocre" characters when using sliders, or if we would really gravitate towards average looks.

I still think the character creator looks great, although I'm a bit skeptical about the clothes (not part of character creation, I know, but the look in general). But the sliders vs presets is really a thing I don't quite grasp. Freckles and scars and tattoos are interesting and of course there are horns and scales, but for the human-looking creatures I'd still say they a bit more physical variety could be added with sliders for stuff like nose, brows, lips, body.

 

[Antimatter]

It's so good to feel the excitement and see it in other players and industry people, now when the release is in 2 weeks.



This is what I wrote in June 2019, before the game launched into EA:

"BG3 should not be an indie game. It should be right there - among the top RPGs of all time, if not the top one. And for that, you'd want everything "best" in the category. Best storytelling, best cinematics, best characters, best music, best gameplay, best everything. You can't be the best if you use something from 20 years ago. If BG1 tried to use something from 20 years - ok, even from 5 years - before it was released...

This game should define the genre, not trail at the end of it. This game should impress, it should blow your mind. It should blow the minds of millions of gamers. It's impossible to do with an old engine, it's impossible to do with an approach of "this is our spiritual successor to the classics" only.

Come on, people. Lots of gamers didn't try BG1 or BG2. There are many more gamers nowadays than there were 20 years ago. And I hope all of you would agree that the more people learn D&D and become charmed by its magic, the better. That is the aim the company behind such a game should take, IMHO.

If you're not interested in the Dragon Age - type (and here I mention it only from the popularity, only from the genre-defining standpoint) - it's your choice. But how many people will be inspired and absolutely captured by something as incredible as BG1, but for today's world. For today's gaming world. When you see such games as Death Stranding going out in the same (or nearly the same) year, you want to provide quality, you want to impress, you want to be beautiful.

I don't want Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 to look like Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, I want it to look modern and to be cool - while staying modern. There's nothing bad in being from today's world, living in the past is not the only way.

I don't want BG3 to look like BG1. I don't want it to look like PoE. I don't want it to look like DOS. I don't want it to look like DAO. I want more, and I have every right to demand more from such an iconic title."

"I like Witcher 3, I like Dragon Age games, I like TES. I like 3D. It makes me feel as if I'm there exploring the world.

I like DOS. I like tactical battles. I like SCS and can't imagine BG without it.

I always wanted to try a D&D game where I can zoom and look at everything in 3D. Imagine - you are looking at the Elfsong tavern as if you are standing in front of it. And I always wanted to get more tactics into Dragon Age.

DOS gave me a portion of it. It wasn't 3D fully and it wasn't D&D. But if this next game is a step above, that would literally be a dream coming true.

I like the Infinity Engine and I still play BG every week. 20 years later. But in no situation, a new game should use such an old engine. It should set its own rules and be a game of its own, not aspire to 20-year-old mechanics."

And it seems that my wish from 4 years ago to receive one of the best RPGs, a game that will redefine the genre going forward, actually will be granted.

 

[OrlonKronsteen]

Hey @Antimatter, out of curiosity, are you passionate about rpgs? I can’t really tell from your posts.

In all seriousness, I’m glad the wait is almost over for you. I must say, I’m just learning about the scope of this game and I’m quite impressed. I was against the idea of BG3 from the beginning, and I will always have philosophical issues with it, but for the first time I’m actually thinking of taking a look at it.

In fact, maybe I should preemptively edit this post to read, “Larian, take my money already.”

 

[mlnevese]

Hey @Antimatter, out of curiosity, are you passionate about rpgs? I can’t really tell from your posts.

In all seriousness, I’m glad the wait is almost over for you. I must say, I’m just learning about the scope of this game and I’m quite impressed. I was against the idea of BG3 from the beginning, and I will always have philosophical issues with it, but for the first time I’m actually thinking of taking a look at it.

In fact, maybe I should preemptively edit this post to read, “Larian, take my money already.”

Tell us when you edit it to say "Larian took my money already"

 

[Cahir]

Hey @Antimatter, out of curiosity, are you passionate about rpgs? I can’t really tell from your posts.

In all seriousness, I’m glad the wait is almost over for you. I must say, I’m just learning about the scope of this game and I’m quite impressed. I was against the idea of BG3 from the beginning, and I will always have philosophical issues with it, but for the first time I’m actually thinking of taking a look at it.

In fact, maybe I should preemptively edit this post to read, “Larian, take my money already.”

I know what you're doing here, mate And I like it!

13 days guys and gals. The hype is real...I repeat...THE HYPE IS REAL!

 

[Juk0]

Hello! New to the site and new to the game! Bg3 was introduced to me to a few friends of mine so when i looked into the last panel, i got really into the cinematics and the character customization hehe. But i also saw that the EA was launched years ago, how different was it when it first launched compared to how it is in the current state of EA? And were there people still playing throughout the years when it launched?

 

[Cahir]

Hello! New to the site and new to the game! Bg3 was introduced to me to a few friends of mine so when i looked into the last panel, i got really into the cinematics and the character customization hehe. But i also saw that the EA was launched years ago, how different was it when it first launched compared to how it is in the current state of EA? And were there people still playing throughout the years when it launched?

I have been avoiding to play EA for 3 years (even if I own BG3 almost from the beginning), which I believe is accomplishment on its own, so I can't say first hand, how much has changed during those long 3 years of EA, but from what I've read and seen... this is a completely different game now, with every aspect of the game polished, tweaked, upgraded and expanded.