Baldur's Gate 3 by Larian Games

Ridas

Ridas

Pay to play forum
2,868
4,111
In a perfect world we would gave gotten BG3 and D:OS3. I am just happy there is another good rpg coming. I would have preferred a more classic BG game, but Larian has shown that their games are great.

My biggest fear is what story they will tell. BG was just perfect in that regard. No "you are the chosen one and have to save the world" tropes. First one was basically a revenge story and stopping Saervok from messing with your life. Second one was getting your soul back and rescuing your childhood friend.
I lost interest in Dos2 in the end, because the main story was so bland. I loved all the minor stories and the different backstories, but stopping big bad from destroying the world is just kinda meeeeh. Same with Dos1.
 
  • 2Like
Reactions: 1 users
Chanur

Chanur

Shit Posting Professional
<Gold Donor>
26,747
39,100
DOS2 was one of the best RPG's I have ever played. If this is DOS2 in a Forgotten Realms setting I don't think you can ask for more.

I struggle to go back to the Baldurs Gate games because they are so clunky now days.
 
Last edited:
  • 1Like
  • 1Cringe
  • 1Worf
Reactions: 3 users
Kirun

Kirun

Buzzfeed Editor
<Gold Donor>
18,741
34,937
Ridas said:
In a perfect world we would gave gotten BG3 and D:OS3. I am just happy there is another good rpg coming. I would have preferred a more classic BG game, but Larian has shown that their games are great.

My biggest fear is what story they will tell. BG was just perfect in that regard. No "you are the chosen one and have to save the world" tropes. First one was basically a revenge story and stopping Saervok from messing with your life. Second one was getting your soul back and rescuing your childhood friend.
I lost interest in Dos2 in the end, because the main story was so bland. I loved all the minor stories and the different backstories, but stopping big bad from destroying the world is just kinda meeeeh. Same with Dos1.
Click to expand...

The only fear I have with this is that Larian are shit storytellers. DOS2 was a lot better in terms of story, but still had some major faults/wtf moments. DOS1 was fucking garbage from a story standpoint. So bad that it was the reason I couldn't finish the game.

Gameplay on the otherhand, they have down better than anyone in the "modern" CRPG space. So, as long as WotC is just spoonfeeding them story elements, I think this has the potential to be this decade's "Mass Effect" in terms of a genre defining game that everyone talks about. Especially if Owlcat releases another buggy mess with Pathfinder.
 
  • 2Like
Reactions: 1 users
Aaron

Aaron

Goonsquad Officer
<Bronze Donator>
8,145
18,084
I think their biggest mistake so far has been calling it BG three. That gives certain expextations. If they had named it something else, such as Baldur's Gate: The Ilithid Scourge or whatever you would have different expectations and people more open to different mechanics.
 
  • 4Like
Reactions: 3 users
Frenzied Wombat

Frenzied Wombat

Potato del Grande
14,730
31,802
I personally have no issues if this is a heavily modded version of Divinity 2 with D&D lore and mechanics, as I personally loved divinity 2, and the only way I could perceive it being better is if it actually used D&D lore and mechanics.
 
  • 4Like
Reactions: 3 users
iannis

iannis

Musty Nester
31,351
17,656
Yeah. That's probably some marketing guys at Wizards who insisted. Larian's been doing just fine with their own IP's.

It's really not baldurs gate at all from what I can tell. But then again, the Baal Spawn story was finished. So what would BG3 actually be? Checking in.... yep, still super evil/good!

They do have limited options for the name. Illithid Scourge would have been fine by itself, but something like that doesn't have the name recognition of Baldurs Gate. And it is important. They could have revived the Gold Box title.. but holy crap that would limit their immediate audience.

I don't really care that it's not Baldur's Gate, personally. 1/2/Throne finished that out to my satisfaction. By throne I was pretty much tired of it anyway. But I guess if you're a purist about these things it's could be annoying.

I guess they're betting there are not very many of that type of purist left, and the eyeballs they get to look at the product far outweighs the cost.

At least it's not a reboot. That reboot they halfassed cheapened the name. If this is good it will strengthen the name. It's not like they deleted BG1/2/Throne to make this one.

Yeah though. Larian storylines are contrived nonsense. It's sort of the aesthetic though. Larian games feel like you're playnig a game made by a dude that used to play those SSI games, too. Those SSI storylines were mostly dumb as fuck as well. lol. I am assuming (with no reason to) that Wizards sent a writer or two over, or some scripts at least, to try to keep them on track. But who knows.
 
Last edited:
Dashel

Dashel

Blackwing Lair Raider
1,829
2,931
I'm hyped for this. I had no idea it was being done by the Divinity OS people.
Looks like they made a lot of improvements too. Jumping, quicker fights, perception rolls, shoving people... all good shit. You can tell by that video they learned a lot and I already really enjoyed the Divinity series.
 
TJT

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
<Gold Donor>
41,083
103,171
I don't get attached to Baldur's Gate the name itself. The Game Baldur's Gate. One and Two. Was basically a module for the Bhaalspawn arc. That arc is over. It isn't coming back. Theya aren't butchering it. The most I expect is some cameos from Minsc, Viconia or Jann and such.

This is just another module for Forgotten Realms.

It doesn't have to be exactly like a 20 year old game.
 
  • 5Like
  • 1Picard
Reactions: 5 users
Borzak

Borzak

Bronze Baron of the Realm
24,706
32,104
I never played DOS2, or 1 for that matter. Apparently I missed a huge game. Might just play it now while I wait for BG3.
 
Frenzied Wombat

Frenzied Wombat

Potato del Grande
14,730
31,802
Yeah, I mean what does one feel defines the BG series? The paused based semi real time combat? The cast of characters? I can't think of any singular thing that defines the BG series, but personally I preferred the combat system in Divinity2 over BG. To me, the greatest flaw in the BG combat system was a lack of control over "turns". You'd give a guy an order and really couldn't plan/know when it would get executed-- frequently causing spells to be cast too late, or your guy just sitting there because the monster you told him to attack dies a second later. You could mitigate this with auto-pauses, but imho the whole thing felt slightly disconnected. Didn't have this issue in Divinity 2. My biigest gripe about Divinity 2 was they went a little overboard with environmental/spell effect interactions.
 
  • 5Like
Reactions: 4 users
Frenzied Wombat

Frenzied Wombat

Potato del Grande
14,730
31,802
Borzak said:
I never played DOS2, or 1 for that matter. Apparently I missed a huge game. Might just play it now while I wait for BG3.
Click to expand...

One isn't that great but two is probably one of my favorite RPG's of the last decade or so, or maybe all time. Definitely worth the playthrough..
 
  • 4Like
Reactions: 3 users
TJT

TJT

Mr. Poopybutthole
<Gold Donor>
41,083
103,171
Frenzied Wombat said:
Yeah, I mean what does one feel defines the BG series? The paused based semi real time combat? The cast of characters? I can't think of any singular thing that defines the BG series, but personally I preferred the combat system in Divinity2 over BG. To me, the greatest flaw in the BG combat system was a lack of control over "turns". You'd give a guy an order and really couldn't plan/know when it would get executed-- frequently causing spells to be cast too late, or your guy just sitting there because the monster you told him to attack dies a second later. You could mitigate this with auto-pauses, but imho the whole thing felt slightly disconnected. Didn't have this issue in Divinity 2. My biigest gripe about Divinity 2 was they went a little overboard with environmental/spell effect interactions.
Click to expand...

To me BG is defined by its UNBELIEVABLE scope and scale. There is just so much content and exploration in that game it is truly unreal. Even today it's scarcely been replicated. The cast of characters is top tier. Most of them are memorable and the villain (at least of BG2) was truly an amazing one. Irenicus is one of the best fantasy villains ever.

Secondly it is defined because it's a Forgotten Realms game.

The video of perception checks and finding all kinds of secrets and stuff tells me that they are on the right track. I am happy about the other changes.
 
  • 2Like
Reactions: 1 users
Kirun

Kirun

Buzzfeed Editor
<Gold Donor>
18,741
34,937
Frenzied Wombat said:
Yeah, I mean what does one feel defines the BG series? The paused based semi real time combat? The cast of characters? I can't think of any singular thing that defines the BG series, but personally I preferred the combat system in Divinity2 over BG. To me, the greatest flaw in the BG combat system was a lack of control over "turns". You'd give a guy an order and really couldn't plan/know when it would get executed-- frequently causing spells to be cast too late, or your guy just sitting there because the monster you told him to attack dies a second later. You could mitigate this with auto-pauses, but imho the whole thing felt slightly disconnected. Didn't have this issue in Divinity 2. My biigest gripe about Divinity 2 was they went a little overboard with environmental/spell effect interactions.
Click to expand...

I agree with TJT that it's mostly defined by its scale and that it was so far ahead of everything prior. It really was just a very revolutionary game in terms of its size and scope. Throw in some really well written characters/story arcs and you have a recipe for an all-time great. But, let's not pretend like the gameplay was the invention of the wheel or anything. That's why I don't get all the criticisms from the "purists" about, "It shouldn't be Baulder's Gate maaaaaan!". Larian will fix what is arguably the worst aspect of the BG series: gameplay. As long as they can keep the story elements good, this will be an all-time great.
 
  • 5Like
Reactions: 4 users
Frenzied Wombat

Frenzied Wombat

Potato del Grande
14,730
31,802
I'll agree that the cast of characters and their interactions, particularly in BG II, was part of what made the game so great. Two decades later I still remember how fucking cool it was to stumble across Drizzt kicking ass in some Vampire den. That and the expanded kick ass god tier combat in Throne of Baal.

Still doesn't hold a candle to Planescape Torment, but nothing ever will I don't think.
 
  • 4Like
Reactions: 3 users
Mr Creed

Mr Creed

Too old for this shit
2,380
276
Kirun said:
So, as long as WotC is just spoonfeeding them story elements
Click to expand...

At the risk of going off-topic, would that be a positive influence? Is the D&D side of WotC good at building a story?

I'm only familiar with the MTG part of their products, and what passes for "writing" in that branch of the company is laughable. it is strange, given how good their world building and plane settings are, but as soon as they get into personal stories it all falls apart.
 
Kirun

Kirun

Buzzfeed Editor
<Gold Donor>
18,741
34,937
Mr Creed said:
At the risk of going off-topic, would that be a positive influence? Is the D&D side of WotC good at building a story?

I'm only familiar with the MTG part of their products, and what passes for "writing" in that branch of the company is laughable. it is strange, given how good their world building and plane settings are, but as soon as they get into personal stories it all falls apart.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of other people I'd rather have, but some of the DnD stuff is decentish-good. More importantly, it's a hell of a lot better than what Larian has done.
 
Utnayan

Utnayan

F16 patrolling Rajaah until he plays DS3
<Gold Donor>
16,314
12,083
WotC pretty much saved D&D. TSR had run it into the ground. (Business wise)

As far as story telling, pretty much varies by writer just like the modules do. (Not really a good answer but story telling is subjective and it's hard to pin point to a company and direct product set and talk about it's writing when there are so many writers. )
 
  • 2Like
Reactions: 1 users
Mr Creed

Mr Creed

Too old for this shit
2,380
276
Frenzied Wombat said:
Yeah, I mean what does one feel defines the BG series?
Click to expand...

At this point, for most people it is defined by rose-colored nostalgia goggles. I get why people rile at the '3' in the title, but all things considered that is a minor detail dictated by marketing.

The question is whether Larian can pull of the writing and stories from the old BG games - if they nail that, nobody is going to complain about the game title. I haven't played the BG remastered releases, but I read that those were mediocre.
 
  • 1Like
Reactions: 1 user
You must log in or register to reply here.