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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jun 2020
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I wish to start by saying, I am a huge fan of Baldur's Gate. I grew up with those games. They a very near and dear to me. They've even influenced my current career path.
When I heard BGIII was in production, I had very mixed feelings. Because Baldur's Gate is more than just a name. The original two games had a very distant style and identity. And if those particular quirks can't be recaptured, what Larian Studios creates won't be Baldur's Gate III. It will just be Divinity with a Forgotten Realms mod pasted on top of it.
I don't want that. And I don't think that's what Larian wants either.
So, if you'll indulge me. Please allow someone who absolutely adores the first two BG games to share what he feels is needed for this new game to be the true heir to the Baldur's Gate throne.
1. NPCs
One of the first things almost anyone will bring up about BG is the companions and characters you'd meet in the game. SoA perfected it, but the first game had it's winners as well. To this day I still remember each party member. And I fully expect BGIII to deliver the same.
Now by this, I'm not saying I want Larian to create a world full of Minscs (although, what a world that would be). But I'm expected some truly well written characters. The likes of which we'd see in those Bioware games of old (before the dark times). Also romances. Thank you.
2. Story
Next up is the story. The first two Baldur's Gate games centre around “Charname”, the games protagonist character. Charname is kind of a big deal. And because of this, as a player you always felt this was your adventure, your story.
Whilst I don't think it's possible, or even wise to try and continue the story of the Bhaalspawn. I'm still wanting Larian to provide a story with the same weight, the same personal feel that the first two games had. (Good luck with that!)
3. Dialogue
Baldur's Gate was a game that went fairly heavy on the text (due to obvious limitations of the time). But the writing never felt bloated. It was always well crafted, to the point, and often with humour. When you spoke to a character, you usually got a feel of who they were within the first few lines of dialogue. And the same rule applied to Charname.
From what I've seen of the gameplay demos so far. Larian has gone with the Divinity style of protagonist dialogue. If this was not just a placeholder, then please do not do this. Please allow our protagonists to speak with real words. The current style just shatters immersion, and does not fit the style of BG.
4. Music
When I start a replay of the old BG games, one of the first things to hit me as soon as a boot up the game is the music. It's beautiful. It pulls me into the games world right away. Making a character to the BG or SoA theme puts me in just the right mood to begin an epic adventure. And once I start playing, the music just gets better. Whether I'm exploring the wilderness, battling creatures, or just arriving in a new town or city. The music is spot on. It's iconic.
So far the music I've heard for BGIII has been worryingly generic. This is not a slight on the composer. But if Larian wants to make a true sequel, you guys have to nail the right sound for the music. If you can, please consider hiring Michael Hoenig. And if you can't, please try your best to replicate his style and sound.
5. World
The areas you visit in the BG games are overflowing with personality. However, I think this is in large part due to their 2D-ness. The artists were able to cram in a lot of character and charm into those 2D painted backdrops.
It would be a challenge to bring back that same feel in 3D. But I think it's needed. When I entered the city of Baldur's Gate, it -was- Baldur's Gate. Not Beregost, not Athkatla, not Trademeet. Each area had it's own unique look. Please do your best to replicate this.
6. UI
Perhaps an odd one. But I think every fan of the old games remembers what the UI looked like in each game. It's presentation and art style blended it so wonderfully, that you just saw it as an extension of the games world.
Try to replicate it if you can!
Okay, I've rambled on for long enough. I'm sure at this point BGIII is so far into development that there are not many large changes that could be made. But please, I ask that Larian (if not having already done so) consider implementing some of the suggestions I offered.
I want this game to be good. I want it to be amazing! I want a true Baldur's Gate III. Please Larian, don't let us down. We're all excited to see what you make. Edit: Quick question, since I'm brand new to the forums. Does formatting on posts not work? Or did I just screw up somehow?
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apprentice
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apprentice
Joined: Jun 2020
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I was going to make a thread just like this one, so I'll share in this one instead my own hopes. I'll start by saying that I share the same hopes as OP.
I'm 34 years old. I played role playing games since I was 14. Started when my mom bought my first AD&D manual, and I wanted it because I had played Baldur's Gate 1 like crazy, when my uncle gifted the game to me when he came from USA to visit us. Not many people in Chile had played that game, at that point. I felt like an evangelizer or something, because I got into ADnD and got all my friends into it. Became a DM and started a campaign that endured for 5 years, and it was full of ideas I took from Baldur's Gate. Including Boo. One of my friends played a barbarian in that campaign, and I wanted a "boo" of sorts in the story, so without him knowing I gave him the chance to raise an "orcish pig" from a very small cute piggy, to a gargantuan-talking pig which he would mount into combat and enter into frenzy with, at epic levels. It was glorious. He was called Willy, and he was so funny. It really felt like he was the giant space pig I dreamed of when boo appeared in BG. Right now I even have a guinea pig (4 in fact), which is like a giant hamster, but smarter.
Of course in between I played BG 2 and it's expansion, Icewind Dale 1-2, NWN 1-2 and all of Bioware games. Then when Pillars of Eternity and Divinity came, I was so hyped! Same with Pathfinder Kingmaker. The Divinity games at first, I didn't get into them much, but since BG3 was announced, I started again a campaign in DOS 2, and now I have like 150 hours of play invested JUST in Fort Joy ahhahah. I love it!! I'm very happy Larian Studios are the ones developing BG3 and I'm confident it willl be good, but I still want them to know how I feel. My hopes for this game are so much that I feel like a kid all over again. To know that (maybe) it'll come out in August just makes this unbearably amazing. Please Larian, think of BG2 at all times, all the while you add that DOS 2 flavor. Let the music be as epic, let the NPCs be as special, and the main char as unique to every different player as possible. Let there be romance, and mistery. Let there be masterful combat, and difficulty plenty. To me, Baldur's Gate 2 will probably always be THE best game there was, and you have a chance to overcome it, like it overcame BG1. You have the chance to do so much with BG3... I just want you know: with this game, now you are in a different league, you have the chance to swim in gaming history and be the CHAMPS. I want you to succeed with all my heart.
I send you guys all my hopes and dreams, and a big hug. This won't be easy, but it could very well be the RPG of a decade, or even more. Give 'em hell guys.
I'M SO HYPED!!!!!
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Support
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Support
Joined: Mar 2003
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Does formatting on posts not work? It will now; UBBCode is disabled for new accounts (anti-spam measure).
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