Originally Posted by rodeolifant
Lack of light-heartedness?

Hmm..It's not the slapstick Minsc and Boo [yet], but there is ample dialogue that is funny in its own right, for all companions; even Laezel and Shadowheart have their funny moments, as well as endearing ones....

Have you...


... tried out "Speak with animals" on, say, a squirrel? Or the frog in the swamp? Or just any animal [besides Teela], really?
... Had Gale die on you?
... Had Mattis flip his coin until he didn't want to, anymore? Or Mattis in general?
... Listened to the bard as she finally found the words to her song?
... Found the work-in-progress Half-Ogre?
... Said 'baaaah!' ?
... Played Chicken-Chasin'?
... Found out what Tieflings taste like?


.. Just a quick grab, I think there's plenty of moments that relieve tension. I think the game does a well enough at this.


A fine list, but all of these break up the tension for us as the player, but not for the party. In very few of those situations is the overall mood lightened nor does the party comment on them to provide a bonding moment.
I feel like all of those things fall into the one-off category where they're set up as forced moments meant to pander to the player and don't function to serve as genuine moments for the party to enjoy.

I don't want to fall to bits 'cos of excess existential thought.