Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Are you letting the meta affect your 2+ playthroughs? (Mild Spoilers)

I understand that the meta should never affect a player's decisions for their character. For example, if a player at the tabletop is also a DM and happens to have run the dungeon that their character is now in, they'll have detailed knowledge of things they should avoid, where the treasures is, and so on. It's standard etiquette, at least at tables I've DMed for and played at, for players like that to avoid using the meta to benefit their characters.

I know that, but I've let my meta-knowledge 100% affect decisions I've made now on my second playthrough. Case in point, knowing what I know about the ultimate end-game for Astarion, I chose the criminal background for my Dragonborn bard main for my second playthrough. I did it so I wouldn't need a dedicated rogue for picking locks and disarming traps. I also did it so I could just eliminate the threat Astarion's existence poses for the realm. I killed Astarion immediately after meeting him, knowing that I had just prevented a terrible evil from being released upon the world, one way or another.

Even worse, in my first playthrough I romanced Shadowheart. Knowing that I didn't want to do that again, and not wanting to even be bothered with her storyline, I burnt her to a crisp on the beach, which doesn't fit, at all with how I intend to morally play this character. It was a decision driven entirely by me, the player.

Am I the only one? Let's find out. To that end I've included a poll. Two choices only. Yes, you've allowed the meta to affect character choices for 2+ playthroughs; or no you haven't.

MetaGame Choices single choice
	Yes, I've made choices in game based off of what I know from my 1st playthrough.
	No, all my in-game decisions are based on what the character(s) know.
Votes accepted starting: 25/09/23 06:47 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

I think that's part of the fun. But I think the only treasure I beeline myself to is the 17 Int tiara, not for built reason, for passing dialogue checks. Most of the good thing for my build is at Act 2/3, which I already forgot where to find once I finish the game anyway.

It's almost impossible not to, at least to some degree.

For instance, on my first playthrough, I'm cautious. I'm careful going into rooms because I don't know what to expect.

But on subsequent playthroughs, if I *know* a room is safe, I don't bother wasting the time to sneak around and carefully scout everything out.

I agree completely, meaning it's near impossible to avoid, so I had to vote option one. I think meta-play is pretty foundational to the design of these types of games (as replayable SP campaigns) so if they weren't accounting for that basically being the norm, it would be a major miss on the developer's part.

I think it's pretty distinct from TT play in that respect, and a few other respects as well. For example, if you told your DM, oh yeah I've run this module like 20 times and love it. They might take a few extra days to mix stuff up, while you as the player would be sort of feigning ignorance the whole time about a lot of stuff with the wink, so as not to ruin it for the rest of the players. That's almost like DM helper though, and potentially a bit much.

I think the only way around it would be to build in so much randomization that the player would never be able to step in the same river twice here, but then you lose all the structured bespoke encounters and the DM needs to be like a master at ad-lib in that case.

One of the things I do like about BG3 though is that, even though it's pretty structured and somewhat set in terms of what's there, it still leans into that idea of D&D as spontaneous and tries to be ad-lib friendly, to make that feel rewarding. I think the comedic angle helps with that in many instances. Works better with comedy than tragedy probably, or levity over gravity.

That said, it'd be cool to see them keep running with that concept. Maybe via a game mode that sort of caters to that? As opposed to Ironman, perhaps mode called "ThirdMan" or "Second Time Around" that is more about mixing it up than making it harder per se, if that makes sense, by turning the lights out and then shaking up the grab bag. Since difficulty and familiarity are sort of inseperable here. Or just the DM mode I guess, for stuff on the fly, but I'd still prefer the single player experience for a BG game to have primacy. I guess the Durge run is a bit like that currently.

Absolutely.

I am always in pursuit of a perfect playthrough, meaning achieving the best possible outcomes for all situations. Don't have it in me to take the wrong choices knowing ahead what's gonna happen

It's a sort of a double-edged sword because this means I play the early parts in a very linear way (such as resting at very specific moments prior to getting to the Grove to trigger some easily missed scenes) and also stuff such as avoiding certain encounters until I know I'm ready (like not opening the book in the crypt until I get the intelligence circlet and some buffs to pass the INT checks)... but it's what I enjoy doing so doesn't bother me all that much to replay linearly early game every time.

My second playthrough is online with friends, so I’m actually having a fine time taking my hands off the wheel and letting them drive the story and figure out encounters.

I do use some meta knowledge too. I’m constantly B-lining towards ever tadpole I can get my hands on so I can acquire as many powers as possible.

They still haven’t figured this out yet. XD

Oh yeah. If I ever replay BG3 it definitely won't be for the story. Probably my goal will be to see alternative content/potential new content so will be making decision around that. I gave up on trying to roleplay on my first playthrough, so I can't imagine I will be trying it on my 2nd.

Still, even in other games there is element of metagaming with heavy roleplay. Knowing what's coming allows me to plan and set up nice moments for my characters. I think it is very difficult to judge for me, if I would play the same character, in the same way, if I had no foreknowledge of what is going to happen.

This is the only way to do it. Even if you think your ignoring the meta data your not, just the fact you try to ignore it means it is impacting your play.

Since I completely failed to "roll with the dice" and avoid re-loading for my first playthrough (godamnit I have EXPERTISE and ADVANTAGE on that persuasion check!!!), I will definitely commit to that on my second.

And the only "influence" my first playthrough will have, is that I will try to make totally different / opposite decisions.

I do my best to make character based decisions. For instance 2nd playthrough I played a githyanki and the dialogue with me a Laezel present resulted in Shadow heart dying before she could even join the party. Wasn't my initial intent to kill her but responding to the conversations the way I think githyanki would led us there.

Also I went to Auntie Ethel planning on clearing the whole encounter and ended up trying her "cure" and found I didn't really have a good reason to attack her. So I didn't. Story played on fine looking for other avenues.