Based on my discussion with OP, Zephyr and others I think we agree ultimately BG3 is a good game but a game that lacks" something". That something is a either a feature we can trace down and describe either us being old. We hope it's the first thing. Hence why the exercise below.
Link to list here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cOIKHlr1FoWGjJTrVv6AkQzgA6Q-Dq6UeiMIW3rWHDI/edit?usp=sharingPlease check out the below instructions. In point #1+2+3 described what is visible in this list in each column and #4 is what I want from you guys.
1) The OP created a list that is a list of features that are exactly the same in BG3 as they are in DOS 2.
2) Based on this I created a list of how those features compare to BG2(Where they the same or not? If yes, how did they work?).
Those two lists above are purely objective. They are facts. If you think something in one of those two lists above is wrong don't hesitate to let us know. There's nothing to agree on here. Either a feature is there in the way described in the list or isn't. I didn't explain all the details in some cases(like surfaces) as I simply didn't use them so often in BG2 for instance so my knowledge in this area is a bit shallow.
3) I added a comment explaining:
A) How this feature impacted BG2(combat, team management, character building)
B) How can it be implemented in BG3
The point is here to get the best of those features that created memorable gameplay and try to move them to the reality of BG3. For those which are game defining. Which of them are game-defining? Well... To some extent, we will cover this in this topic.
4) I highlighted every row in a color.
A) Red: Should be removed from the list as they either were included in BG2 in the exact same form (and were also a problem there), weren't because of a different D&D edition, or weren't but BG2 version of the feature is simply a downgrade(like pick locking progression bar in BG3), or are a major thread but aren't a difference BG2 vs BG3 but rather a difference BG3 vs D&D rules.
B) Yellow: Those are subjects to be discussed. Those points either aren't part of a larger thread, weren't discussed at all or were discussed very briefly but threads quickly died down.( Random encounters for instance. I didn't hear many voices in their favor even if they played a major part in BG2 and as so this feature might be considered obsolete).
C) Green: Those subjects that are either major threads or major elements BG2 was known for that aren't present in this opus. Descriptions of items could be one of them. I included some minor features that seem to be a detail but ultimately weren't in BG2 and changing them back to resemble the old version would be more of a gesture towards BG fans without requiring major changes in the game.
IMPORTANT: WE TALK ABOUT +/- 80 FEATURES AT ONCE. DO NOT LOOSE SIGHT OF THE FOCUS OF THIS THREAD. WE WANT TO TRACE DOWN FEATURES DEFINING GAMEPLAY OF BG AND NOT DISCUSS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THE COLOR ASSIGNED TO A SUBJECT. THAT'S WHAT MADE BG2 GREAT.
Example: Random encounters
Pros and cons listed in the list.
Very rarely brought up on this forum. Game defining? Not really. You can drop them of BG2 and still have the same game.
