A good list...
I'll add my opinion (though some of these became generic RPG wishes vs spefic BG wishes):
Day/Night & Weather +1 from me
Compelling Story That's always a must, but whether I am the main focus? I too prefer the approach that I am just another cog/adventurer, I am not important AT FIRST. But that's a preference.
Companion story Where possible I would like that to apply to custom companions through selection of pre-determined background choices, but I am equally ok with that being done via the Origin characters. It's just if I play solo or with friends and all characters are custom built, I don't want to miss out on missions personal to each of us beyond the main story. Obviously less so in Multiplayer, but for cmpanions not cotrolled by players, i want to care, one way or another about what happens to them. Give me tough decisions (the feeding vampire one was quite cool), that shape our relationship. Does Shadowheart find out? Does she "like" it and want to become a vampire? Or does she forever mistrust me and look to double cross me at some point?
Dice Roll at Character creation Didn't NWN get rid of this? Was that due to D&D 3.5 or a game decision... can't remember, either way, I'm happy to spend hours in Character Creation and don't mind re-rolling until I am more less happy, but it's not a must.
Fog of WarIn a 3D game I am unsure of how this feels. In Isometric, yeah I guess, but seeing as we can move the camera to a more 3rd person approach, I think it would look odd. Maybe at the right range.. meh, not a big deal for me. Plus FoW was something to easil exploit in the original games with a well placed spell
so, other than the very first time I go somewhere or play, i somethng goes wrong I will reload right, so what does FoW give me? Plus if there is a castle or large structure in the distance surely I can see it?! I might not see if anyone is there, but the scenery?!
Companion quantity Prefer 6, ok with 5, 4... maaaaybe. Not a fan of companions hanging around at camp. Why are they hanging around twiddling their thumbs whilst I venture out with my prefered X companions? Send them off, make them be doing stuff and then meet up even in specific locations at key points, swap in and out at that point if wanted or If I bump into them and only if I choose too (unless good story reason), but not by going back to camp and selecting a party composition for a particular quest or mission. Doesn't feel organic.
Side Quests Interesting side quests, side quests that can be as equaly memorable as the main quest. See Witcher 3 for details, but in essence quests that at first glance appear uninteresting, but you know, sod it, xp. Yeah yeah, fetch this, do that and BAM, you're caught up in this whole other thing and it has consequences within itself. Equally, given the rating, don't be afraid to creep us out (Spoons - W3). Quests can be tricky I appreciate due to party composition and perhaps not having the required skills, but I am heartened by the discussion of not locking interesting outcomes behind success. Just lead me down a diffrent rabbit hole, but one just as interesting as the other.
I think the key here though is it happening organically. You don't want it thrust in your face the moment you enter a new area and it should be part of players travelling around and exploring. Also give me the choice to interact or not, don't interrupt my exploration (at least not ever time) with an in engine cinematic or unskippable conversation. Prvide me with visual or audible clues to pique my interest,or pull at my heart strings (crying child asking for help in the street), but I should be able to rush on and ignore it and perhaps have consequences later on, or not.
Real Party composition choiceThis ties into something I mentioned in another thread. If the game is too combat heavy, then I am going to want combat heavy stats, gear, classes. I often felt (and that might just be faulty memory) that BG1&2 turned failed checks into another fight and another and that was fine, I like combat, but I like choice more.
Useful & Interesting Towns Diablo 3 wanted to specifically keep you in the field Going back to Tristram for example was only useful to sell & repair gear and pick up quests. For me that sucks. Totally different game & genre and an extreme example, but the point stands that I would prefer shops to actually have gear that piques my interest or allows me to fill my party's needs. I might find 1x cloak of protection +2 out in the wilderness, but not a 2nd 3rd or 4th. Being able to buy useful items is key and bumping into interesting encounters whilst I am at it is a must
- I don't see how this wouldn't be in this game, it already was in BG1&2, but it's important to me that loot does not make towns useless. I like shopping.
