One issue that is digging into me more and more is how the map feels more like a maze than a world. Open fields and forests could create an effect of random encounters and more of a feeling of exploration - and can increase replayability - but instead this map feels like I'm navigating a maze to get to different areas and my guess it is to force encounters which is never ideal. There is a web of routes that narrow and hit bottlenecks to force events. I'm hoping that later areas are much less constrained than the first area has been.
Couldn't agree more. I was going to post a similar thread asking whether there would ever be 'open' wilderness areas in BG3; an expanse of land you can freely explore without being shunted in to one of several paths. Everything feels like a series of pathways at present which is sadly another example of an immersion breaking mechanic in this game.
I am not asking for open world, simply maps which don't force the party into a constant series of corridors.
