But at the end of day, that aesthetics is Larian's vision of that universe ... So I guess I'm really just bothered by what I feel is a dissonance between what combat looks like and what the rules lead me to expect.
But that's just the thing. It's NOT only Larian's vision.
They are making a D&D game set in Forgotten Realms, which has a vast amount of source material and the massive legacy of BG 1&2 to respect and build on. They can't just saturate it with their gimmicky video game tropes because that changes the tone of the entire setting.
Well ... when I spent some time reading what Larian was
saying in interviews, one impression I formed from what I read is that, when asked about expectations and legacy of Baldur's Gate, Larian's answer was that they prefer not thinking about all that and just focus on making a game
they will like, hoping that many players will like it too. Many interviews featured both WotC and Larian, and they explained that Larian essentially has
carte blanche.
So Larian can do and is doing 100% their take, both on combat in DnD and the aesthetics of the Forgotten Realms universe. I'm not saying this situation is good or bad or anything. I'm just saying that's how the situation is. And thus what we players can expect.
