Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Game Design Flaw in Ranged Combats

I am not sure if this problem is a "bug" or just poor planning. (Though I do know that this may be more about game theory than programming.) I hope the other users here can help figure out a solution.
In good game design, player agency, the player feeling like their actions are what causes the results in the game, is extremely important. Having a game where you lose no matter what you do is no good.

However, ranged combat in the early game (levels 1 and 2) is broken in this manner. When combat begins, mages keep shooting my rogue and his friends in the face with magic missiles, fire lances, and acid-spewing arrows. I lose over half my health and can do nothing to prevent it! How can I fight "fair" if I must start my first turn with half health or lower? While now covered with acid and fire?

Here are some discussion points to get the thread talk going:
1. Sneaking up on the bad guys in a fight is not always going to fix the issue. What about fights that start from conversations gone bad? (talk, roll dice, fail, acids arrows again, I start first turn with acid on my face.)
2. Maybe Larian could add some "preparation" spells or actions to protect the player during the first round of combat? Like deflecting spells until you take your first turn?
3. What other ways could Larian keep my dude from dying before his first action is taken?
4. If you want an in-game example of my problem, try raiding the ruins with the "scribes of death" in the earliest part of the game.

I presume you refer mostly to situations where you start a dialogue and suddenly it explodes in a combat...

Your character talking ends-up in front with many enemies "shelling" you to death.

There are some encounters where I want to reload and just attack them first :P Or you send your "tank" upfront to talk (I send Laezel with a shield for risky negociations).

I mean, welcome to DnD--where RNGesus can sometimes royally screw you over and you have to live with the consequences. Difference is, in the game you can reload. Can't do that with tabletop.

Anyway, to address your "issues"


1. Fights that start from conversations gone bad mean you probably borked a skillcheck. You DO have ways to prepare before a conversation if you have a spellcaster. Use them! If you don't have the right spells prepared, well...that's DnD.

2. Addressed in 1, there are preparation spells. It's not Larian's fault if you decided not to run with a support role like a cleric.

3. Dying is part of the game as it is part of DnD. Be glad your character doesn't have perma-death. Sometimes the dice just don't roll your way. Reload and try again.

4. I've had no problem with the early game. Maybe you're trying to advance too fast. Player level is important, far more in DnD than most other games.

Yes! That is the perfect word for it. "Shelling."
Using a tanky character can help. But there is a weakness to that strategy: conflicting use of attribute points. You see, if I send in my constitution/ strength guy to to front to talk, then I would not be using my charisma guy who is actually good at talking.

As for the "RNGesus" comment from Cetra;
If random reload spam is the only way to continue, then I tell you that the game is not that well thought out. This is why I am asking the forum users to talk things over with me in order to refine the game's design. (We all want that release build to be good as gold, naturally. )

Can't you just cast spells during a conversation if it looks like a battle is about to start?

Theres a "change character" button on the lower left which lets you control characters who are not in dialogue.

Yes, this "preemtive strike" idea would help with one or two ranged enemies.
Yet, I still wonder if it would address the core issue of getting ganked to nothing by larger groups before the player can even more their units. For example, the band of thieves by the death scribe ruins main entrance.
By the way, I like the way you think critically, 1varangian.

I managed to defeat the scribes but I get the problem.

I got my party into the tomb room and nuked anything I had vision to.

When you're full mellee you're dead because there are cantrips generating all these effects and you're a poor rogue whose dexterity saved you from nothing.

This is already one of the major complains going on.

Malks, can you please tell us of who else has been writing complaints about this?
I would like to hear what they have to say about it all.

Geez man, it's all over the place.

Theres this

http://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=677973#Post677973

Then posts saying its dos3 not bg3

Then posts about combat mechanics

Then posts about cantrips

Check the pinned unofficial compilation of feedback and suggestions, lots of stuff there too.

Edit2: also posts about 5e rules
Edit: so many posts i cant look them up cellphone dying im at work

Sorry, Malks! Thanks for the information anyway! Have good work day.

True, while one is in conversation and you are guessing it will go sour,
you can switch to the other characters who are not in dialogue (F1 F2 F3 F4) and they can move, cast, etc.

I think the actual issue is not the "shelling" but the triggering of cut-scenes and conversations outside of your control. This was an issue in DOS2 as well. You can position and prepare your main character how you like, but then get close enough to trigger a scene and suddenly your MC is walking up to the potential enemy and starting a conversation. It is very irritating. Triggers should be much closer to the individuals involved, so they don't go off as soon as you enter an area.

Ive had an issue with things like guiding bolt. On long encounters, there is no way something of the CR of a goblin cleric with 12 hp would be able to cast it 6 times.

Hey dude, no problem, I just didn't go looking for the posts cause I wanted to give some answer.

I really, really, hope Larian actually reads your comment. Some spellcasters do not follow the game's rules at all.