Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Warlock and about how certain spells work (Make it RAW 🥩 🤤 plz)

This is a follow up to this thread : https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=837400#Post837400
But I will re-contextualize here still, no worries.

Context:
1) Warlocks have one slot level that increases when leveling up. So, if a level 5 Warlock wants to use a level 1 or level 2 spell, they have to use a 3st spell slot.

2) Certain spells allow the player to pick, or not (!), more than one target.
Here, the focus will be on non-damage spells.
Example : Charm Person, Command, Fly, Invisible or Hold Person.

To give a few quotes from the PHB :

Issues:
(The test were done by using a mod to unlock level 5 early on)



Apparently, in this case, those spells use an AOE system instead of being able to choose how many and which creatures to target 😕

However :
- what if I want to command one creature to come to me but really not another one 😶?
- what if I want to choose three targets with my spell in the midst of a horde of 4+ creatures?
- what if I don't want everyone around me to become invisible? (In this case, I know I could unchain the companions who won't get the buff, and send them further away, but what a pain, especially in combat).

I can't do those things, yet I should be able to (following RAW).

Homebrewing can be nice but this removes a lot of possibilities and freedom in terms of strategizing and RP decisions.
Sleep has the same issue (for all classes who has access to it), come to think of it.


Suggestion:
Please, allow the players to choose how many and which creatures to target instead of an AOE.

This could be achieved by doing both of the following steps:

1) Allow the Warlock to pick the spell level (would still consume the correct spell slot) or directly the number of targets for those specific spells. Both would have the same result : the player can now choose how many creatures to pick.

2) Have those spells use the projectile system of spells like Magic Missile or Eldritch Blast. That way, the player can choose which creature(s) to pick.

And voilà ^^

Thank you for your attention,

Sincerely,
A potential future Archfey Warlock.

This is related to Bless not being able to just select the targets. I have no idea why you can't begin Bless like Magic Missile where you click the people you want to bless within range and then cast it.

It's not going to make it enjoyable for spells like this in the release. I remember my first Twinned Hold Person in this game failed on an enemy and got the ally.

You beat me to it - I was going to say the same thing!

I agree with you both that only spells described as AoE in 5e should affect an area, and multitarget spells should be able to be individually targeted to the right characters, wherever they happen to be standing.

I do wonder if the challenge with implementing the same mechanism as for Magic Missile, etc, is that those can be targeted multiple times at a single enemy OR at different enemies, whereas I think Bless, level 5 Hold Person, etc can only target each character once per turn so Larian would have to find a way to limit them appropriately? Still, that doesn't sound like an insurmountable challenge.

True, I didn't think about Bless also being concerned by this! Good catch.


As a dev, I would also estimate that it's not insurmountable. "Just" adapting an existing mechanism with slightly different conditions regarding the behavior of "mouse clicks" and the text displayed. Maybe something like "Select target 0/2" and "Target (already) selected 1/2". Then unselect with right click (I believe like with Magic Missile)?

I fully agree!

Am I evil for loving how everyone keeps asking for the RAW?


"You will eat your DOS and LIKE IT!!"


The Devs must have nightmares.

Booming voice: Sven you are being judged on your interpretation of BG3...Roll a Wisdom saving throw in the tower...with disadvantage!

I can't edit the OP but small correction for posterity : Sleep, RAW, doesn't allow targeting, so bad example.