Originally Posted by Deemer
Originally Posted by Epona
I play a lot of 5e and I think they've done a good job so far on transitioning things from 5e mechanically into a video game format.


Combat in this game plays out drastically differently from how it does in DnD, and their surface system is a poor substitute for having a creative human GM. Imagine having a bastard of a GM that makes you save to not trip and fall over your own frozen blood every. single. time. you get hit with a frost cantrip or weapon that applies cold damage. That's what this game does.


Ehh, I'm going to have to disagree with that, at least a little bit.

A video game has to take into consideration all variables from the get go when designing it, but the DM has the advantage of being a person and being able to make their own calls within the game world. And even then, there are things that either a) the game doesn't address in RAW anyways that comes up and you have to make the call or b) it's some errata buried in Jeremy Crawford's damn twitter account and, again, the DM has to make the call on if they want to play it that way or a different way. I don't think Baldur's Gate 3 is a replacement for D&D whatsoever, but it doesn't aim to be that in the first place - it's a video game that uses the same setting and a similar premise. Depending on how much Larian takes from the early access, they might be able to address more things properly once situations show themselves and they get some feedback on it. After all... in D&D, you always have to prepare for the unexpected from your players. Personally I haven't had those surface issues though, at least not yet; I'm a few hours in currently. My biggest issues so far is more related to the party AI's poor movements when I'm running around more than anything.

But playing it does feel a lot like D&D mechanically at a very simple, base level. So I guess it just depends on what you focus on. For me, it was the action/bonus action and movement phases, spell distance and cover, etc.
I've only played a little of BG3, but the biggest combat thing that stuck out to me is you don't get advantage on flaking (presumably, anyways) but that's an optional rule anyways if I recall correctly. I don't really expect a 1:1 of anything from D&D though, since it's a different medium and my personal thoughts is if I want 100% unadulterated D&D, I'll play D&D. My current campaign is past level 20 though and going through the Epic Legacy supplement though, so I am enjoying the feel of a low-level party since it'll be awhile before we start a new D&D campaign. smile