Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Scratch! Calling all hounds: BG3 dogs need more!

So I'm certain I mentioned this a while back, but all the canines in this game should have access to the standard jump action.

Granted not every dog needs to be like a flying Whippet bounding over the tallest fences, but without a jump they can get stuck pretty easily. I think they should be able to clear a gap like the other animals can. If needs be they could just add some kind telekinesis type float animation for crazy tall ladders or platforms and such, or maybe a boost-like bonus action. The idea being that if he can't clear it with a jump, then one of the companions picks him up and carries him over to the new spot. Just mechanically a way for them to handle elevation that also works in TB.

Dogs should have a standard "burrow" action, which allows them to dig stuff up for us even without a shovel.

Some counter vs standard stealth and invisibility. I was surprised how easy it was to sneak past them at various points, when you'd think the nose would know.

Scratch should be the chosen of SIlvanus with protection from death in this game, similar to the way other companions can be raised by Withers. At no point should the player ever have to experience Scratch dying. To me this is the single worst thing that could happen in a playthrough, and there are too many ways that can happen by pointless accident. I think he should have some form of invulnerability or sanctuary when at camp. Since no one is more honourable, or loyal, I also feel strongly that Scratch should not be subjected to any kind of permadeath once adopted into the fold. Instead, perhaps some form of special warding bond, where the player can always sacrifice themselves to keep the dog around?

That would be magic I'd always use! I think Scratch being revivified should be tutorialized with it's own mini cutscene the first time it happens, and when he comes back it should show a rainbow animation, followed by multiple "pet the dog" and "who's a good boy" dialog options for that one.

Finally, I think there should be more Wolf forms for the Druids and for Ranger animal companions. For the latter options to customize the coat color and things like hide helmet so we can still their faces. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a cool Dread Wolf form or something along those lines for Moon druids too. Probably down to climbing animations again, but to me it's so classic with the hounds, that I would appreciate a higher lvl form there. Like one that can compete more with stuff like Bears and Myrmidons, both inside and outside of combat. Rolling around with the Dog or a Wolf almost always makes sense, whether in an urban tracking or wilderness setting, but currently they're pretty outclassed by the Owlbears and the Regular Bears and the Big Cats. Having cooler combat Canines at the higher levels would be nice, but I'd also just take something that has more utility for stuff like scouting/support. I think the Help action is pretty cool for that, but it's also undermined by stuff like the no jump thing, and also fear of putting the fuzz pal critters in harm's way. So again, some beastland's magic for that would go a long way I think.

All the best!



ps. Scratch as an Origin? I would play that one!!!

pps. Ok now I just had had too many ideas. Call it fiction, but whatever, so how about this... If the player choses to play as Scratch, and experience what a lvl 12 D&D campaign might be like as the Chosen Dog of Silvanus... Throughline might be, instead of the Tadpole, the Oakfather is using a different kind of telepathic magic to awaken all the animals. This would explain why they are all presented as very high intelligence creatures in their "speak-with-animals/beast-speech dialogs." Like rather than the typical 2-3 INT one expects from non-magical beasts in D&D, they're clearly all awakened here. This is totally in line with the Nautiloid crashing where it does, on the doorstep of a Druid's grove that's undergoing magical rites. It also plays well into the Myconid stuff a bit later, which could be another though-line with a similar angle. Instead of starting on the ship, we begin in the forest and have to rescue the various companions and path our way through the entire campaign as the Dog, with a party of humans as our support, to do all the human stuff. This would be an entertaining view on what's happening with the story from another perspective, and it gives another hook for the non-tadpoled companions, who all happen to be either Druids or Rangers. Each with a unique penchant for interacting with animals already. I don't know how many recorded lines of dialog it would take, but for a lot of stuff it could probably work without even needing much adjustment. I think players would be willing to accept a more non-verbal type thing with literal barks, that could fill in many gaps and still be amusing. Like just cutting scenes down in such a way that it still works, pulling a funny tilt like that. Might help to explain any bizarre camera behavior, since we tend to get that anyway, via dog cam conceits lol. I don't know, seems like a good one to me! I just think the whole Origin intro monologue could be pretty rad, making him all extra heroic, and it gives an interesting spin on how the rest of the campaign might unfold. A special levelling scheme or perhaps an alternative branch on the tadpole dynamic, so instead of gaining abilities from that, they come from natural magic, to do a parallel progression. That's now the Mod I want! Top request lol

Without commenting too heavily on the rest, I do agree that companions of this nature should be protected from permadeath in some way that also helps prevent using this in an exploitative way (as though Larian cared about that anyway...). Most other games do this by having the protected character sent back to base in some fashion, to recuperate, if they would otherwise have been killed. There are a myriad of different ways this could be explained in universe.



I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Scratch nominated for best romance option. Far superior love interest to all other origin characters. Friendly, loyal, good-natured, good-hearted, caring, considerate, and, by his dialogue, smarter than most average barbarians.