Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Exploration vs Combat maps

Do you think BG3 will have an exploration map separate from the combat map? Like random encounters and such ... For example, Pathfinder Kingmaker had an overland map with random encounters but when exploring a dungeon both the exploration and combat took place on the same map.

No idea, we know so little, just that it's based on 5e.

i doubt it, while 5E has been going into the direction of Hex crawls again in recent releases, from how the hype is beeing built around BG3 and how its toted as a story based RPG, i somehow doubt that elements like that will be in it.
i could be wrong of course, but i think well be seeing at least a semi open world with no overland maps

I personally like the open end version of these type of games, unless they have lots of side quests I'll be happy. The reason for this is that if the game is too linear and not much to explore, then your bound to rush the story-line and end up in a situation where the encounter is either too hard or impossible to overcome.

For me, it's not only the combat that is intriguing in D&D games but also the lore and story that comes with it. Unless they make these side quests lore related and not "go kill 10 kobolds in my basement" type situations (which is very bland), then it's not a good D&D game for me. I mean, I don't want to kill enemies like a bounty hunter just for the sake of experience in order to level so that I can take on a bigger and badder encounter that involves my main story.

Although Pathfinder kingmaker is on the right track on exploration and random encounters, but often we end up with the same random encounters over and over again. And on occasion, we do end up with interesting side quests along the way which gets you pulled back into the game. So overall, it is an interesting game and did bring me that D&D nostalgia and can't wait for a sequel.

So hopefully the developers of BG3 find a right balance of exploration / lore besides the main storyline.