Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Do you have your own BG3 Homebrew or restrictions?

I don't use the send to camp function, we don't have teleport item spells
No candle dipping, don't want to have light drawing attention to my location
No moving barrels around, however if they are already placed in stupid locations then they may get used
Characters only use spell scrolls if the spell shows up on their class list
No shove, it is not implemented in an immersive way. Might strategically use it only on a high Str character if it didn't look ridiculous
After an initial ambush I will have the characters stand up like idiots to get properly pulled into initiative
Scouting with a character rather than the floating camera
Only resting when characters would realistically be tired and then only after clearing an area
Having the appropriate character speak in the situation even if they don't have the highest Cha
No throwing of potions, only grenades, etc
Realistic use of surfaces only, things like a flame spell/arrow shot at Grease or Web are fine

I find using a lot of what is in the game to take the fun out of it for me because it either is too cheesy or just doesn't make sense. I don't play multiplayer though.

It does seem a little strange to be policing oneself in a game like this. I don’t recall ever doing so in the previous games.

I can totally understand doing homebrew restrictions from a loreful,thematic or common sense (like taking Lae’Zel’s armour) perspective but relinquishing the use of what seems to be primarily Larian’s homebrew would suggest that they have erred in including some of those mechanics in the first place?

I wonder if you mind (and noticed) that they loose their first turn if you do that.

Oh yes, i forget that.
Also trying to have all conversations done with Tav. :3

Not at all ...
Just bcs *i* dont use some mechanic doesnt mean that someone else dont. O_o

If we would concider everything that someone refuses to use to be "error to implement in the first place" ... we could easily end up with autoattack only.

Strange logic but whatever. Can’t say I’ve ever played a game where I policed my use of game mechanics, that’s the point I’m trying to make.

The logic is simple ... i like it, i use it ... i dislike it i dont ...
Someone else may have it differently.

I have done this to some extent in nearly every game I have ever played either through mods or by not using some features, mostly I do so to give the AI a bit of help, or because something just seems unrealistic/off. On the other hand I have also been known to mash out "how do you turn this on" 8 times in rapid succession while playing AOE II.

I have only restricted party members in my playthroughs so far: Solo, Duo or 4 characters.

Actually, on my last solo playthrough with a sorcerer, I decided she was scared of fire and so she never uses fire based spells.

I love stuff like this


I'm doing a playthrough now with Wyll in the party along with Shadowheart, Gale and an Elven Ranger whose favored enemies are aberrations fiends etc. I have Wyll mostly avoiding using any obvious Warlock spells at this point as he is trying to hide his true nature in fear of rejection by the other members (after all he does bill himself as the BLADE of the Frontiers). Obviously it will all come out eventually but for now its one way to make yet another replay a little more interesting.

I try to play as best I can by true 5e rules.

Potions = Action
Jump is part of movement, not an extension, and you can't jump more than 10 feet unless you've got special characteristics
Cleric spells can only be used by clerics, same with mages
One surprise attack per person. No endless sniping
Etc., Etc., Etc.

It's frankly hard to do because I often have to look up different rules to refresh my memory, and enemies don't play by the rules. Also, I sometimes need to use jump just to pass through a space I should be able to pass through. Things like that.

I would prefer them to fix the bugginess of stealth. Sometimes combat starts properly but other times, especially playing solo I can cheese snipe the enemy to death without combat ever starting. It is these fights that I stand up like an idiot.

Oh, I don't have Tav talk in all situations. If it is something that another character would be more interested in then they will talk, or I will use dice to determine a decision even if the outcome may not be ideal. The custom party of my 4 DnD characters was rather a mess.

I do this in most games, or download mods to do it since I prefer realism/survival and prefer to start as somewhat of a nobody rather than the assumed hero. For example, I don't fast travel in Skyrim. I will take the carriage from one city to another then walk from there. I also mod my stats with console commands accordingly, depending on what type of character I am playing I will remove points from all the inappropriate skills since we start out rather overpowered. In FO:NV, I refused to use chems on my Legion character, also refused to pick any up to sell (backstory reasons.) Currently the only game I don't do any of this in is SCUM because it is already done for me.

Done something similar in Skyrim before, except I only used necromancy related spells from a mod because I decided the overuse of them corrupted my character so much that other spells would not work properly. Might try something like that in this game.

Like all those extra spells I never use. They should just get rid of them.

I avoid using things that I see as too powerful (push, granades, pushing arrows) and I also don’t use things that IMO shouldnt work (like healing through throwing potions). No hard rules however.

1. Reduce the use of barrels. I must admit it makes sense in the fight for the grove as a defender (up to a point, of course).
2. Only use scrolls that can be cast by the character as per the 5e rules (that's where I am the most strict as I do find it a bit annoying)
3. Try not to cast two spells in one round (cantrip + a spell is ok).
4. Minimize reloads (mostly at full party wipes or where I have done something that the character would not typically do)
5. Untypical things done by the NPCs are to be avoided
6. When I do not use my main for dialogue options, I try to follow the beliefs and manners of the character talking.
semi-7. When playing as a wild mage, I always try to cast the spells where there are few allies around. In the presence of barrels nearby, either move away or do not cast spells from 1st level and higher.

I was kind of opposed of the push but then again if the enemy uses it, then I should, too. That being said, shove would work best as a standard action.

I am not overly strict with most of the rules but I do try to minimize the behaviour.

I love some of the ideas from this thread. I used to really get into setting tactics in DAO for my characters based on their personalties and my own character’s relationship to them. Like Sten would alway rush into battle, even if I cast a huge AOE rhat would fry him. Alistair would protect me first and foremost if we were in a romance, but would do other things if not. It was great. You guys have inspired me to do that here!


Some things I will try..
Wyll = no warlock spells till reveal.
Shadowheart = no cleric spells till reveal. Can throw grenades in early encounters (ones found on ship)
Gale = stack up on lightening/storm spells given all his “Dorothy Gale” refs — no fire or necrotic
LaZeal = the only char who *might* throw things in environment
Asterion = mobile, stabby stabby, no spells ever

Should make it a bit more fun! I also like the idea of trying for realistic weight (not carrying around a bunch of swords and armor). I might try that too!

For SH, I use cleric spells but avoid trickery ones until her reveal. She can use Guiding Bolt and Healing and Bless and such. I also remove her armor and circlet asap, pretending she was never wearing it. As far as her spell focus, she hides it, not letting anyone see it until the reveal. Then she wears it all loud and proud.

No dipping/ scrolls used by correct classes only, no barrelmancy…
But I do buy anything I can use elemental arrows & the alchemist fires..gotta have some balance