Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Modding Companion AI Combat Mod?

Hey all, got a question about game settings. My daughter is interested in playing BG3, but doesn't know the rules to DnD and prefers playing a RPG where she only controls her own character and just allows the companions to handle things themselves in combat unless she has to stop in and actually control them (think DragonAge).

So my question is, does anyone know if there is a setting, mod or way to put your companions on AutoCombat? I don't believe there is an actual setting that allows you to do this in options, but since enemies have to have a AI combat routine, it makes sense that such a setting is in the game somewhere. A mod would be great, but even a ini setting that allows this would be nice.

For me, I'm always in full control, so I don't need it. She doesn't want to play on story mode, just wants to enjoy the story and have the companions manage themselves. If nothing is out there, maybe someone with Mod skills could look into it if enough people seem to be interested.

Thanks!

The game is Turn-based. So, she'll *always* have to stop and pause for every action. There is currently no way for party Ai scripts, as far as I know.

Edit: Enemy NPC's typically don't work with Character levels, but with a defined set of abilities. On top of that, every combat encounter is handmade - so even if there is one witha compatible script here and there, there is very little chance you'll find an enemy NPC with more than the assigned level / subclass that you'll need for a character. It may be modded in at some point, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

This should be possible to mod, I think.
When we meet him in the kennels, with the disgUUUUsting little GAWBLINS throwing rocks at him, Halsin fights alongside the party - we have no control over him.

Hi there. I’m only asking this because you asking this question and not your daughter: how old is she? If you weren’t aware, this is a game with graphic and explicit depictions of sex and violence. Just making sure you are informed.

As to your question, Rodeo summed it up quite well. Enemies usually have a small pool of abilities with AI dictating when and where they use these. Party members will have constantly growing and changing lists of abilities, so even if you could map an AI profile from an analogous enemy onto your companions, it might quickly become obsolete. I would not ever expect to see a mod that does what you are asking.

Well, that *is* true, so if you run around with three perma-bears at your back, that script would work. But it is another thing entirely to create class-specific combat scripts, let alone ones that synerrgize or read enemy types, or have even a modicum of tactics. And there's what, 50 or so subclasses?

But, sure - I mean, that mod might come out one day, but it'll be a while. Also, the game'll be patched and updated for quite a while, so modding is pretty risky. Good chance there's an update and you can't play your savegame because your mod doesn't work anymore.

If it was possible to script such things for BG1, I'd expect it to be possible now.
LOL! Thanks for the chuckle at three permabears

I'd advise her to roll a charisma character and talk her way out of most fights. And to also open any needed flights with gale blasting as much as possible.

If you don't really like controlling companions you can get down to only a handful of combats in ea, with many of them mostly over after you get the jump on them.

Didn’t think to mention- this game has split screen co-op, and is very much designed to be played with people. You could play with her and just control the rest of the party for her.

I don't think it's quite as simple as changing an ini setting or throwing together a quick mod lol. You're asking for 3 ai to be programmed that are able to handle all possible fights, no matter what class/subclass/level they are. That would be a huge undertaking.

I guess if you made a very rough 'fighter ai', 'wizard ai', etc, but it would be very rough, and I assume you'd have to play on easy difficulty. Do we know what sort of modding tools Larian is releasing?

The companions can be taken over by AI already in certain situations.

If you're wielding the Shattered Flail, for instance. You have a chance to go mad, at which point the AI takes over your character. (which will almost result in that character using a sleep potion)

If you sacrifice one of your companions to the kua-toa fish folk then the AI takes over that character.

*

I'm not saying that any of that means what you're asking for is possible. I don't know. But it's probably worth pointing out that such things exist in the game currently.

Of course the AI is capable of controlling any character. The question is could it control companions in a way that wouldn’t be completely frustrating to play alongside with. That’s a harder issue.

It's doable. All you need to do is use ChatGPT and have it watch a bunch of YouTube videos on how to play a class, with the prompts of playing the game like a player would. A few days it should be good to go in theory. [No engineer just guessing] but a simple micro controller with a robotic arm for the AI to push buttons and your good to go? Best of luck

ChatGPT? Don’t you mean
ChatBG3?

I can't say I understand why not, but I will take your word for it.

For those that wondered, she's 25. Active gamer, just new to the DnD world. She tried Pathfinder, didn't like it because it was too many characters to manage. That's why I asked.

As been pointed out, the game can take over characters in some situations. I have no idea how hard or easy it would be to do, but just asking to see if anyone knew of a method or mod. As far as playing co-op, we talked about that, but she feels she wants to experience the game in her own way. It's an option, but not one she's currently wanting to try.

Game has smaller party by default, is less technical/crunchy than Pathfinder, and is designed around smaller scale fully turn based encounters. The problems she had with Pathfinder will be minimised here.

Yep, explained all that. She really wants to play BG3, just doesn't feel that she can deal with the combat. I have explained that Larian has done a lot to make combat easier, but she's still not convinced. This isn't a complete deal breaker for her, but it's enough that she feels that maybe the game is going to make her feel lost and dumb like Pathfinder did. For additional clarification, she is an avid gamer, she's played and completed ARC, ER, Dark Souls, played ESO, Skyrim and Fallout. So she is certainly cabable of playing and learning BG3, but Pathfinder turned out to be a bad experience.

Maybe just let her share the game on your Steam account (if that’s the platform you’re playing on) and see how she feels?

That’s probably the best you can hope for. A mod to turn on campion AI wouldn’t be coming out for quite a while if ever, and I’d be surprised to ever see such a mod, myself.

We have talked about that, it may happen. You may be right about the mod, but again, I was just asking if anyone knew about a mod/setting that might work. She really does want to play the game, like many things in life, if you want something bad enough, chances are you'll find a way. I've given her options, and explored her concern, it's up to her to decide how much she really wants to play. Again, as I told her, it's really not a hard game at all.

If something is moddable, someone will mod it.

EDIT: Sounds like she should just play solo (as in "one character"). People do it. And she would not be missing much (in my opinion) in terms of the companion NPC stories because they are all annoying jerks (in my opinion). Well, the ones we've met in EA are, anyway.