I could say what I hope to see but what I would expect to see but it wont happen id target more what I would hope to see
Paladins / Aasimar or Barbarians / Dragonborn
with level 5 added maybe level 6 if lucky being reasonable.
12 or so new items to existing content there is plenty hidden in game files.
and id like to see a a couple dozen items added / improved on in the game. It would be nice to have the other optional paths but I dont expect to see it. It would be nice to have armor dyes / multiclassing but im being reasonable. It would also be nice to have the option to hire mercs and roll stats at the start of the game but I think larian is holding back on that hard.
Mercs would save me having to get 2 other people all the time so I can customize my party and rolling stats would make your main character feel more tuned and balanced a little better in early access vs the enemy characters you'd get to see more of what they could actually do.
Colored Dice choice also would be nice.
Currently what they have finished in the game files at the moment is barbarian class has its abilities added. Only class has this and voice lines currently - so it has the most probability as the next class though not 100% it is what I would expect to see. Gnomes / Drugar are in the game files and have character creation options. Dragonborn and Half-Orcs have voice lines but no models with last patch. They have also been working on larger models but not complete assuming this is the trend I would hope to see and lean towards Dragonborn and Barbarians. As just adding a class or a race would be a bit far back. They need to be showing big editions at the moment every couple of months to show content is progressing towards the full live release target line.
If i was in charge of targetting release patches before the full game release target date for early access my thoughts would be
Patch 5.0 - April
Barbarians / Dragonborn enter the fray (This would give a big showing of what larian can do with larger model characters and what they could do with less human characters).
Level 5 added
3 belts 3 capes added to the game. +1 Shield added, Another unique shield added. 10 additional items added.
Patch 5.5 - May
Ranger Improved / Animal Companions Improved balanced better to existing game showing larians work on the ranger.
Durgar Added as a suprise bonus. Necromancer Subclass added.
Patch 6.0 June
Aasimar Added with Paladin class.
Gnomes added. Illusionist subclass for mage added. Enchanter Subclass for mage added.
10 additional items added to early access.
Level 6 can now be reached with existing classes
Patch 6.5 July
Half Plate, Breast plate added. Colored Dice added.
All items now showing varients of abilities.
Wizards corrected to not being able to cast divine spells.
2 additional Cleric Domains added.
Patch 7.0 August
Bard added with both subclasses.
Champion Fighter and Half - Orcs Added
Full Plate now accessable with +1 varients.
Patch 7.5 September
Pact of the blade / Pact of the tomb added.
Weapon swapping now corrected.
Archfey warlock Subclass added.
Patch 8.0 October
Monk and Sorcerer Added
Remaning Cleric and Wizard Subclass options added.
Githzerai added. Goblins Added.
Additional Paths added to the next area.
Helios and Minsc join the fray.
Patch 8.5 November.
Evil path varient Replacement Companions added. Minthara / Priestess Gut and Hobgoblin guy whos name i cant remember replace, Shadowheart, Wyll and Gale.
Kagha vs helsin joining party.
Anders vs Karlach - Optional Companion quest.
I would not remove Asterion or Lazeal as they seem to be workable with every path currently in chapter 1 as an option. Adding these mini choice would make the choices you make in early access feel more acceptable.
Patch 9.0 December
Rolling stats added. more items added to additional areas. Hexblade / Oathbreaker subclasses added. Mercs added. Multiclassing added.
Level 7-8 added to game.
all tiefling subraces added.
Patch 9.5 January
Levels 9/10 added.
Full chapter additional zones added.
2 additional companion paths added.
2 additional zones added.
Patch 10 Febuary End
Live release. All initial content released.
That would be how I would approch it. Capping at levels 12-16 based on how larion wants to do it.
with april / june being target for first dlc which if it was me id do 12 and then release the first dlc with 13-16 and the artificer class added and warforged. 5 character party. 29.99
DLC 2 would be September 2022 with 17-20 and 6 character partys. 2 additional races again and a bunch more subclasses added. 29.99
March 2023 epic rules epic boons 21-25 added using optional game vairent options from dms binder allowing you to be epic. DLC 3. 29.99
I think having to chose your companions based on going evil route or good route brings some importance into the game. It brings more customization to the game. Also for the companions adding a conclusion to the character that gives them some unique benefit to give you a reason to chose them over a merc gives them some importance. In accessable races unique abilities ect. Asterion getting additional vampire powers. Gale getting some unique spells. Shadowheart could get some unique items, some unique boons for her. Wyll you could get his patron as a companion, Lazeal could get unique gith items and the ability to craft gith items. Minthara gut and hobgoblin dude could get absolute powers progression and maybe additional powers that progress further. You could get your companion from your dreams going the evil route.
Companion Optional Vs Paths
(Wizard) Baeloth Barrityl vs Gale (Wizard)
(Cleric) Minthra vs Wyll (Warlock)
(Sorcerer) Dream Companion vs Shadowheart (Cleric)
(Warlock) Mindflyer Companion vs Lazeal (Fighter)
(Ranger) Gandrel vs Asterion (Rogue)
(Druid) Kagha vs Helsin (Druid)
(Paladin) Anders vs Karlach (Ranger)
(Barbarian) Dror Ragzlin vs Minsc (Barbarian)
(Monk) Human Companion vs Helios (Paladin)
(Rogue) Durgar Companion vs Barcus Wroot (Sorcerer)
(Bard) Goblin Companion vs Alfirna (Bard)
(Fighter) Half-Orc Companion vs Aasimar Companion (Monk)
Minsc and Baeloth are your throw backs to the old balders gate. Easy to make a conflict for all of those work. Shadowheart has a thing against the dreams going with them makes that a perfect subplot. Anders and Karlach are already written into the story as are Asterion and Gandrel as plots. Dror Ragzlin can be written into the chapter 2 part of the quest along with a reason for him and minsc to dislike each other. Baeloth vs Gale could be written in with gale wanting some item he has. Mindflayer vs Lazeal writes itself. Durgar vs Barcus woot is already there. Alfirna vs another bard could be a competition of music maybe some plot the bard was part of her prior life. Kagha changes sides over the grove and the shadow druids which makes for a good story arch. Wyll vs minthra story plot already exists. I attempted to do the plots in a way that make sense for existing characters. Karlach already has a ranger feel to her so story plot works well. You could also change this so it becomes a Dragonborn instead of anders later on as the plot closure as zariels second hunter tracks her down and you get her on the road to the next area and tie it in with a patch or make that paladin an oathbreaker/Tiamet worshiper and tie it into the story. I picked anders initially to kind of balance human companions and the story plot it already there.
I think that those optional you can get companion A or companion B patchs would really expand the story and make making those choices matter have a big impact on the story. With an optional story arch to spare kagha built into the goblin story based on if you chose the evil path vs the good path. But just my thoughts on it. I also think you could work a good reason to cross compaire the companions this way as there are reasons you could work into the story to make those choices matter. And it gives you ways you write this into the story with reasons that those choices would matter as your chosing 1 companion or the other with benefit giving you reasons to be good or evil. I added in some class notes while i do realize it doesnt make 100% match to the game current lore the could be modifications that would line it up. It would also give you all 12 classes as companions and unique options to the storyline.
Last edited by acatlas; 01/04/21 05:35 AM.
