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[gaming_again]

Aaaaand the Elden Ring effect began.

Why devs consider Baldur’s Gate 3 anomaly, not new standard for RPG genre: “It’s Rockstar-level nonsense for scope” | Game World Observer

A few weeks prior to its launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 looks like one of the most promising RPGs in recent memory. However, some devs are urging players not to rate all other games in the genre by such a high standard, appealing to Larian Studios’ unique combination of vast experience and resources.

gameworldobserver.com

I would never hold the game of a 30 person team to the same standard as whats being done here, this much is obvious. But to have people from TRIPLE A studios far larger, with far more experience and far more resources than Larian, chiming in saying they shouldn't be held by the same standards - people from Insomaniac, Obsidian and freaking Blizzard - is just ridiculous.

Yes, i will hold you to the same standards, I will compare Everwild, Starfield, The Outer Worlds 2 and whatever else is being made to BG3, why i shouldn't i? There's no reason why a studio like Obsidian, with decades more worth of experience, far more acclaimed RPGs on their backs than Larian, MICROSOFT funds alongside multiple other studios to draw experience from under the same umbrella, shouldn't able to put out something of this level.

They have some cheek. They want to me to place a discount on my time and money to suit their relative lack of ambition and talent?

 

[amigastar]

This will be my first Baldur's Gate and I'm really stoked.

I didn't have a gaming PC as a kid and the few times I've tried 1&2 as an adult, I just have no idea how to play them. Really looking forward to this.

To be fair, it's not necessarily a Baldurs Gate in its purest form, Pillars of Eternity is more like Baldurs Gate 1 and 2. This one is a bit different.
But it will be a good one.
The layers of intervowen plot and twists and turns will be on a scale unlikely ever seen before.

 

[Madonis]

To be fair, it's not necesserily a Baldurs Gate in its purest form, Pillars of Eternity is more like Baldurs Gate 1 and 2. This one is a bit different.
But it will be a good one.
The layers of intervowen plot and twists and turns will be on a scale unlikely ever seen before.

BG3 clearly isn't the same in terms of gameplay mechanics, because even D&D has changed ever since those days.

That said...while you don't necessarily need to have played BG1 and 2, because this is a whole other storyline, there's still interesting thematic parallels and at least two returning characters.

With that in mind...watching a summary video like this one could help bring some of that lore and context to new players:

 

[darth.shrimp]

at least two returning characters.

It's Boo, right? Please tell me it's Boo! We have no way of knowing how old a miniature space hamster can get, after all!

 

[Guilty_AI]

It's Boo, right? Please tell me it's Boo! We have no way of knowing how old a miniature space hamster can get, after all!

Its Jaheira and Minsc, unconfirmed if Boo is still with him however.

 

[The artful mincer]

Is there any good footage without an irritating youtuber talking over it?

As a new comer to this style of game there not doing the game any favours.

Cheers

 

[Guilty_AI]

Is there any good footage without an irritating youtuber talking over it?

As a new comer to this style of game there not doing the game any favours.

Cheers

Plenty of early access footage out there

 

[Fools idol]

This will be my first Baldur's Gate and I'm really stoked.

I didn't have a gaming PC as a kid and the few times I've tried 1&2 as an adult, I just have no idea how to play them. Really looking forward to this.

They made it a lot more accessible to newcomers but it is still quite complex and difficult to play especially on higher difficulties.

My recommendation would be to watch a seasonned veteran like Mortismal Gaming to understand each class and race setup first.. his videos are great and his BG3 series of videos just started.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

This will be my first Baldur's Gate and I'm really stoked.

I didn't have a gaming PC as a kid and the few times I've tried 1&2 as an adult, I just have no idea how to play them. Really looking forward to this.

This was a lot of the fun of it for me. I knew some D&D basic concepts and rules, but there is still a hurdle to get into BG but I always enjoyed making parties and playing it when I was younger.

It was a lot of fun to revisit it recently and I felt like I still had a curve but once I got into it I loved it. Love the real time with pause setup and how everything is laid out. I don't know anything past 2nd edition though so I'm a little worried about that with the new one.

 

[Buggy Loop]

I can’t stop thinking about the game..

Reviewers for sure are playing it right now right? 2 weeks ahead is probably even tight for reviewing a monster RPG like this

 

[Guilty_AI]

I can’t stop thinking about the game..

Reviewers for sure are playing it right now right? 2 weeks ahead is probably even tight for reviewing a monster RPG like this

Dont think they're giving out review codes.

 

[STARSBarry]

This will be my first Baldur's Gate and I'm really stoked.

I didn't have a gaming PC as a kid and the few times I've tried 1&2 as an adult, I just have no idea how to play them. Really looking forward to this.

Considering how different it is from the original 2 I would think of this as its own series, a fresh start much like your experience will be.

But man if I'm not excited about this launch, after recent titles fucking things up I tend to try and keep my expectations in check, but the early access, especially its most recent release has got me expecting an awful lot.

It has some of the best combat in terms of DnD, each class plays exactly as I imagine they would on the table top (well close, few changes) I still remember the laughter the first time I picked up my friends druid and hurled into a pack of goblins so he could use thunder wave (he was complaining about its low range) I have never played a barbarian on the tabletop but my god this game really let's you "experience" how other players see their characters.

 

[cartman414]

Aaaaand the Elden Ring effect began.

Why devs consider Baldur’s Gate 3 anomaly, not new standard for RPG genre: “It’s Rockstar-level nonsense for scope” | Game World Observer

A few weeks prior to its launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 looks like one of the most promising RPGs in recent memory. However, some devs are urging players not to rate all other games in the genre by such a high standard, appealing to Larian Studios’ unique combination of vast experience and resources.

gameworldobserver.com

I would never hold the game of a 30 person team to the same standard as whats being done here, this much is obvious. But to have people from TRIPLE A studios far larger, with far more experience and far more resources than Larian, chiming in saying they shouldn't be held by the same standards - people from Insomaniac, Obsidian and freaking Blizzard - is just ridiculous.

Man if someone from CDProjekt Red chimed in, it would have been too hilarious.

 

[Ocean Dweller]

How can we Bear the wait?

it's unbearable

 

[Fools idol]

Dont think they're giving out review codes.

I believe a very select few indie reviewers and streamers got codes and early access such as Cohh, Wolfheart, Fextralife... mortismal asked for a code but dont know if he is getting one.

Larian doesn't seem to need or care about review outlets in the past.

 

[GymWolf]

It is still wild to me that we will have some of the best RPGs ever within 6 months of each other (FFXVI, Baldur's Gate 3, and Starfield).

I haven't got to play the EA of BG3, but I played Divinity Original Sin 2 and is my favorite RPG. I feel like I talk about the game so much on here lol.

It looks like BG3 is taking the level of freedom from DoS2 and expanding upon it. Like Zelda TotK this kind of freedom makes it hard to go back to more rigid games.

The one downside is it is easy to burn out after a while but I really appreciate this amount of work being poured into these kinds of games.

I am glad Larian Studios is getting more praise and recognition! They are a group of talented and passionate Devs. They really raised my expectationsbfor games in general.

Ff16 is as much as an rpg as an ham and cheese sandwich.

 

[Fools idol]

Ff16 is as much as an rpg as an ham and cheese sandwich.

and far less tasty

 

[KXVXII9X]

Ff16 is as much as an rpg as an ham and cheese sandwich.

 

[Buggy Loop]

I believe a very select few indie reviewers and streamers got codes and early access such as Cohh, Wolfheart, Fextralife... mortismal asked for a code but dont know if he is getting one.

Larian doesn't seem to need or care about review outlets in the past.

That’s very surprising to me. IGN/Gamespot and the likes won’t have review day 1 then? That’s the hype machine and FOMO impulse buy drivers.

 

[Fools idol]

That’s very surprising to me. IGN/Gamespot and the likes won’t have review day 1 then? That’s the hype machine and FOMO impulse buy drivers.

They never got them for DOS 2 either.

A huge amount of the sales came from early access, so the release to wider public was already in the bag I suppose.

To be honest Baldurs Gate doesn't need any advertisement - it will sell like hot cakes, the various DnD forums I frequent are filled with people who haven't played videogames for years talking about buying it at release, I think it will do big numbers.



New mort vid out on Sorc too, my favourite class!

 

[SSfox]

Wow it's this good?

Will be mine

 

[Guilty_AI]

Wow it's this good?

Will be mine

Prophecies so far indicate this piece shall be, indeed, good

 

[nemiroff]

Aaaaand the Elden Ring effect began.

Why devs consider Baldur’s Gate 3 anomaly, not new standard for RPG genre: “It’s Rockstar-level nonsense for scope” | Game World Observer

A few weeks prior to its launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 looks like one of the most promising RPGs in recent memory. However, some devs are urging players not to rate all other games in the genre by such a high standard, appealing to Larian Studios’ unique combination of vast experience and resources.

gameworldobserver.com

That's...cringe... Talk about going on the pre-emptive defense. Holy shit.

 

[Majukun]

never believe previews

 

[Guilty_AI]

never believe previews

tbf we do have an early access build to assess this information.

 

[Buggy Loop]

That's...cringe... Talk about going on the pre-emptive defense. Holy shit.

Imagine AAA studios being threatened by Larian

Just showcases how most studios have lost the fucking plot.

They’ve milked the same recipe for the past 20 years, but Larian building upon their Divinity original sin 2 foundation is an anomaly

 

[MidGenRefresh]

Aaaaand the Elden Ring effect began.

Why devs consider Baldur’s Gate 3 anomaly, not new standard for RPG genre: “It’s Rockstar-level nonsense for scope” | Game World Observer

A few weeks prior to its launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 looks like one of the most promising RPGs in recent memory. However, some devs are urging players not to rate all other games in the genre by such a high standard, appealing to Larian Studios’ unique combination of vast experience and resources.

gameworldobserver.com

I would never hold the game of a 30 person team to the same standard as whats being done here, this much is obvious. But to have people from TRIPLE A studios far larger, with far more experience and far more resources than Larian, chiming in saying they shouldn't be held by the same standards - people from Insomaniac, Obsidian and freaking Blizzard - is just ridiculous.

Yes, i will hold you to the same standards, I will compare Everwild, Starfield, The Outer Worlds 2 and whatever else is being made to BG3, why i shouldn't i? There's no reason why a studio like Obsidian, with decades more worth of experience, far more acclaimed RPGs on their backs than Larian, MICROSOFT funds alongside multiple other studios to draw experience from under the same umbrella, shouldn't able to put out something of this level.

Just wow. This is thread worthy. Lazy mofos lost the plot.

 

[The artful mincer]

Aaaaand the Elden Ring effect began.

Why devs consider Baldur’s Gate 3 anomaly, not new standard for RPG genre: “It’s Rockstar-level nonsense for scope” | Game World Observer

A few weeks prior to its launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 looks like one of the most promising RPGs in recent memory. However, some devs are urging players not to rate all other games in the genre by such a high standard, appealing to Larian Studios’ unique combination of vast experience and resources.

gameworldobserver.com

I would never hold the game of a 30 person team to the same standard as whats being done here, this much is obvious. But to have people from TRIPLE A studios far larger, with far more experience and far more resources than Larian, chiming in saying they shouldn't be held by the same standards - people from Insomaniac, Obsidian and freaking Blizzard - is just ridiculous.

Yes, i will hold you to the same standards, I will compare Everwild, Starfield, The Outer Worlds 2 and whatever else is being made to BG3, why i shouldn't i? There's no reason why a studio like Obsidian, with decades more worth of experience, far more acclaimed RPGs on their backs than Larian, MICROSOFT funds alongside multiple other studios to draw experience from under the same umbrella, shouldn't able to put out something of this level.

Holy shit that thread is ridiculous. Literally comparing Larian to fucking rockstar at one point

They bang the Crunch drum at one point. Funnily enough a eurogamer interview came out yesterday where the Game Director has said they just had to do a bit Overtime to get the game finished and had very little Overtime before that point.

 

[Fools idol]

Wow it's this good?

Will be mine

it is actually shaping up to be the best cRPG since bg2, easily.

 

[Soltype]

it is actually shaping up to be the best cRPG since bg2, easily.

I legitimately feel it might have a shot at game of the year. I can't remember the last game to come out that was this deep and this polished.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I legitimately feel it might have a shot at game of the year. I can't remember the last game to come out that was this deep and this polished.

I think the polished part is something thats yet to be seen honestly.

 

[amigastar]

I hope the game is good enough to be GotY or even Game of the Decade, now that would be awesome.
But the scope of this game is beyond your usual game, i mean Larian consists of 400 employees, thats way beyond your average gamecompany.

 

[Soltype]

I think the polished part is something thats yet to be seen honestly.

On what level, mechanically or aesthetically?, I think it's polished aesthetically speaking especially considering how dynamic the game is.

 

[Fools idol]

I hope the game is good enough to be GotY or even Game of the Decade, now that would be awesome.
But the scope of this game is beyond your usual game, i mean Larian consists of 400 employees, thats way beyond your average gamecompany.

I'd say a game of this quality from 400 devs is incredible. The sheree amount of mocap, voice acting? QA testing on the DnD system with so many possible combos of race, class, spell, etc! it's mind boggling to think about.

No doubt there will be bugs, but the polish will be there, it's Larian. The state that DOS2 launched in was the level of polish most devs and players dream of. It rolled my mind back to the days when new games simply had to work at launch because they could not be 'patched' as easily as this day and age, and certainly impossible on consoles.

as good as it is to have Steam and PSN and instant patch-ability etc, it has most certainly been taken advantage of for 'release game ASAP and fix later'

 

[Guilty_AI]

On what level, mechanically or aesthetically?, I think it's polished aesthetically speaking especially considering how dynamic the game is.

Cutscenes are janky from time to time in EA, one common thing i notice for example are split second moments of assets/textures loading in. On the gameplay side, theres still some things that need to be cleared up in the character creator since it seems they're getting rid of racial bonuses, and regarding stealth which can be exploited with certain builds. Theres more, but its generally small grievances like that.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I hope the game is good enough to be GotY or even Game of the Decade, now that would be awesome.
But the scope of this game is beyond your usual game, i mean Larian consists of 400 employees, thats way beyond your average gamecompany.

Its not an unnusual size for AAA devs, insomaniac for example is also over 400 employees

 

[amigastar]

Its not an unnusual size for AAA devs, insomaniac for example is also over 400 employees

Ok, but i said average game company.
From what i've read Rockstar Games even has 2000 staff members.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Ok, but i said average game company.

 

[amigastar]

I'd say a game of this quality from 400 devs is incredible. The sheree amount of mocap, voice acting? QA testing on the DnD system with so many possible combos of race, class, spell, etc! it's mind boggling to think about.

No doubt there will be bugs, but the polish will be there, it's Larian. The state that DOS2 launched in was the level of polish most devs and players dream of. It rolled my mind back to the days when new games simply had to work at launch because they could not be 'patched' as easily as this day and age, and certainly impossible on consoles.

as good as it is to have Steam and PSN and instant patch-ability etc, it has most certainly been taken advantage of for 'release game ASAP and fix later'

Very true, i've said the same, the amount of work they have put in is astonishing. They are on fire thats for sure.

 

[Fools idol]

damn, this looks really good. I caved and finally started watching some of the low-spoiler previews on the origin characters and now I am even more hyped.

TLDR, the dark urge origin character is some kind of connection with Bhaal... or Bhaalspawn even.. Maybe even Bhaal himself.

Obligatory

 

[Dreathlock]

Any basic DnD tutorials for absolute beginners?

 

[zephiross]

Ok so here's where I'm at:

I've never played a game of that genre. It's usually not my kind of game but I don't know why, I've got that feeling, that very same feeling I got before The Witcher 3 released. It wasn't my type of game either, but I had that intuition that it was going to be great, and so I bought it on launch and turns out it's one of my all time favorite.

I think I'm going to renew the experience with BG3, my guts tell me greatness awaits. I hope my gaming 6th sense delivers once more.

 

[Fools idol]

Any basic DnD tutorials for absolute beginners?

That is a very broad response kind of question.

Are you takling about a video tutorial that explains the DnD rules system? or something specific to BG3 and how it uses the ruleset?

 

[Dreathlock]

That is a very broad response kind of question.

Are you takling about a video tutorial that explains the DnD rules system? or something specific to BG3 and how it uses the ruleset?

Both i think. What should i know about before starting the game so i dont get lost?

 

[Guilty_AI]

Both i think. What should i know about before starting the game so i dont get lost?

Its still a bit of a vague question. If its just about undertanding the rules of the game, i think its better to just learn as you go along, keep your phone at your side to google anything you don't understand and so forth.

If its about meta-game, there are some tips that could be given (like how its always better to have high ground, don't miss X thing, etc), but some prefer to learn that by themselves.

 

[Fools idol]

I'm trying keep my hype in check here but this video is not helping that effort.



I wholeheartedly agree, the replayability and endless build possibilities will make this my personal game of the year. What made Baldurs Gate 2 so great is that even now, 20 years later, I still enjoy trying out new things and experimenting with builds.

RPG's with this level of freedom and polish come out once every 10 years or less, and should be cherished.

 

[Arachnid]

God I fucking love Larian.

 

[Buggy Loop]

God I fucking love Larian.

I can't believe their progression curve, this is CDPR Witcher 1 → 2 → 3 level of epicenes in a studio ramp up.

If peoples sleep on this game and it becomes unviable commercially, then gaming has failed.

 

[Fools idol]

Morts videos for barb and pally dropped.

It seems that you can manipulate certain things in the game to make an evil / dark Paladin, which kind of goes against the traditional lawful good trope they tend to have alignment wise. Paladins typically follow sacred oath, chosen by the player, but in BG3 we dont seem to have that (at least not in EA) so I'm not sure how it will work.

I am hoping it will be freeflowing in the sense that, if you choose an oath, you can break it simply by 'doing the opposite' in gameplay eg, stealing something, murdering a n NPC yadda yadda and it automatically makes you an oathbreaker.

 

[StereoVsn]

I agree, ham and cheese sandwich can be a better RPG vs FFXIV!

You even have a choice between a fetch quest, crafting quest, or posting the fetch quest for a 3rd party in order to obtain the sandwich. Let's see FFXVI do that!