I'm not sure what to tell you about experience with Gale. It was my very first play-through, my very first character. I didn't try to romance anyone at all, I discovered the possibility through dialogues with them, by accident, as I discover everything else in this game or others. I prefer it this way.
That character is a male elf warrior. I was simply going through the game, getting used to it, for I have never played this kind of games before (point-click). I'm used to the games like Skyrim, TW, AC, etc... This is my very first game of this sort, so romancing was the least of my worries, especially Gale, not with a male character anyway. I was still struggling with the camera and those controls... So I was just following the storyline, clearing some, let's call them "dungeons" for conversation's sake, if any were around, taking rest as necessary...
I think I just realized the possible problem... Right now I can progress deep into the game with fewer rests. Much fewer rests. In fact, I can clear the ruins, save the Grove, clear the village (spider queen and cellar included)with max of 2 long rests. Sometimes not even that, depending on whom I am playing with and if the dice are in a good mood. I also think that Gale should be in your party all the time, and that's not always the case with my later characters. I doubt it's ever the case now. Usually I swap him with Wyll, to avoid Wyll's nagging about not taking him to play with goblins. Plus, I can use Wyll a bit more effectively in a fight then Gale after 3rd level. However, with my first character, he was a permanent member of the group... I should test that theory sometime.

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For Wyll, I'm not sure what dialogue lines you're referring to, honestly; they clearly dind't stay with me or have any large impact.
I believe it's the dialogue when he tells you about his devilish girlfriend. When from a spoiled kid she made him a hero he is today. There should be a question about "spoiled kid" part. Follow it.

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That, and others. Halflings get a line there that allows them to diffuse the situation so no-one leaves the grove, *and* no-one gets punched – they're the only ones who can do that without causing further bad blood.
I am not sure what do you mean by that. I'm guessing I'll have to make a halfling just to see.
But when it comes to those two at the gate, you can defuse the situation between them with everybody, either through persuasion or intimidation. Then those adventurers don't leave the Grove and you can take the quest from them right there, while they are licking their wounds. Punching that guy is just my preference, not a necessity.
However, if you mean that a halfling can defuse the situation to the point that the tiflings become permanent residents of the Grove and don't move to Balder's Gate after you defeat the goblins, then it's something else entirely.

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Would it be nice if they could wrangle it to allow you to take one action of your choice, and then roll initiative as normal? Yes it would.. but I sadly don't see BG3's Larian engine being up to the task of managing something like that. We can hope I suppose.
I simply adopted another way of initiating fights that resonates with... let's say me. You just start with killing something, sometimes a few of some things and then the fight begins. I wish I could do it to the gith, but hiding a couple of characters in different strategic places usually sufficient enough.

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Are you meaning that you'd prefer it if you visually always 'hit' what you aim for, and just dealt zero damage if you failed to actually meet its AC? [/qote]
Absolutely. I just can't bare the idea of my Wood Elf Archer can't hit a freaking mountain with an arrow.
Though, 1~2 dmg for the fail will suffice. Doesn't have to be 0 and their HP can be increased if compensation for that DMG is required. I think it's simple enough to achieve.

[quote]For goblins, they have a base Intelligence of 10 – which means they fall into exactly the same intelligence average bracket as humans, no more, no less;
You're talking game mechanics, I am talking about general goblin concept. Sorry, no contest here.
I'm guessing, with the caged goblin inside the Grove, you pick the line "She's a real person, not a target practice" during that little scene? You're such a softy =D

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If you want someone who learns a spell and then innately knows it and can choose to cast it whenever they want, so long as they've got the energy for it, then that's a sorcerer you're thinking of, or possibly a bard... it's not a wizard.
I see, you're basing your opinion on this particular lore, well, that actually makes sense... I am not familiar with it beyond I've learned inside this game. Do we even have sorcerers in this game?

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By 'physically play it out' I meant just that. Get a friend, mark out some five foot squares, and get a two metre length of broom handle for the spear and a 30cm ruler or two for the daggers. Play about with it in real time (safety first of course); you might be surprised. I'll say for certain that if you give me a chain glove for my right hand and 16cm blade for my left, and I can absolutely show you how to put it in a trained spear-wielding person in a head-on encounter without exposing myself to the pointy end. ^.^ (What... I do fencing...)
Well, now you're teasing, I would love to take you up on that. Though, it seems you think of a spear just as a stretched out pointy end, when it's a bit more then that. You also probably assume that I'd be aiming at your torso... That glove won't help you, you won't be grabbing anything. Better learn to throw that dagger. =)

Which of the 3 is your weapon in fencing? I'm just curious.

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...and they are willing to condemn any soul Zariel tells them to to save their own...
Correction, not any soul, just that specific one, which already belongs to Zariel. Though something tells me that they are being played. However, it is too outside the range of my concerns. There is nothing I can do about this even if I wanted to, but what I can do is to pick the lesser evil. At least that's what I see with the information that quest provides. (I won't let the gnoll matter rest)

And yes, they broke their oath to an indifferent god, which is between them and that god. I don't judge men wearing pink, for example, even though it hurts my eyes. It's purely between them and their lack of dignity and taste, which can be considered as betrayal, but it is not for me to judge... at all... =) Terrible example, I know, but I'm sure you get the point.

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I find Karlach more sympathetic than the paladins, even if her personality is more abrasive. She's on the run and she wants out of it. She's scared and cautious, and doesn't trust random strangers that she doesn't recognise... perfectly legitimate reaction in my book. If you do her a kindness, she fears drawing targets on the rest of you as her reason for continuing alone. Where you find her depiction to be like a rabid, dangerous dog, she struck me as simply someone serious, war-worn and jaded, untrusting and cautious, and on the run. I don't think she's dangerous at all, at least not to anyone who doesn't attack her first. She also owes Zariel a soul, and we should be able to pursue that as well. I don't think she deserves a death that also bears eternal soul damnation with it.
Not at all, my perception of her is very similar to yours, the rabid dog example is to describe her foreseeable behavior in the nearest future. She won't have the choice, at least I don't think she will. You know what people who are constantly on the run have in common? Ever-growing paranoia.
The paladins will be able to operate openly, she isn't safe even in the shadows. She may be three times more noble then all of those paladins together, but her quest is just as selfish and may have far more dire consequences. At least that's how I see it. Like I said, I am not making a morel decision here nor sympathetic one. I am making decision that makes sense to me, for better or worse.

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But walking away from the quest is not progress – it's just 'not playing the game'. It's 'skipping content'. It's utterly unsatisfying, and as per larian's normal way of writing things, it will almost definitely just lead to a default outcome that will be one of our two presented options.
No, walking away is not the way for me either, but for those who wish to keep their hands clean, it is the only option in this quest.

We seem to have strayed away from the topic a bit here, though I enjoyed this exchange of thoughts and perspectives very much.
Thank you, again.

My heart will take me there, where my feet cannot...