I find these comparisons odd personally because BG3 is the larger more ambitious game by a few orders of magnitude. Its strange to compare it to a game like Solasta which takes no risks and constrains your actions to the point of having no agency.
I agree, but most comparisons here I have seen are focused around combat mechanic, and translation of DnD systems into computer setting - and as both game use DnD 5e it is very much 1:1 comparison. It doesn't necessarily make Solasta a better game then BG3, but it's is as perfect comparison as one can get when it comes to combat.
BG3 is also building off an engine that needs extensive modification still to make it work for 5E rules.
That's hilarious. Tactical Adventures had to build on Unity to fit their needs as well. Larian isn't simply reusing Divinity engine - I remember it being mentioned in one interviews it is heavily modified. If Larian wanted to make Solasta-like systems they easily could. They a massive team, with big budget and their own engine, and seemingly unending budget. What they do/don't do is creative choice and design decision.
The most time-intensive fight was the magic spitting forest tree spiders who stay in their trees and never chase you but will shoot at you, until they can't then they just stay where they are while you line of sight them one-by-one. I guess those are tactics if you like.
Or you can knock them down, use mentioned fly or spider walk. Verticality in Solasta is definitely clunky (I dislike not being able to precisely control my flying character unless there is platform he can stand on or enemy to attack) but it's cool. Not something Larian needs to adapt, but a cool system nonetheless.
Solasta does have the better UI but I never expected that the current UI wouldn't be redesigned one way or another.
I wish I shared your confidence. Larian already shipped two games with it's awful chaining-characters system and hotbar, and didn't feel the need to add functionality to it. Will it change for BG3? I hope so, as issues that were annoying in both D:OS games will be unbearable in a DnD game.
it is my hope that the Solasta team made enough that we one day see a Solasta 2 with Multiplayer and an engine that allows a lot more freedom.
I actually think Solasta stroke gold with the concept - I would like a sequel with better writing, better character reactivity, more classes, subclasses and enemies, perhaps more choices and reactivity in the story, but linear balanced, custom voiced charactirized party creation tactical RPG is a wonderful nieche unoccupied by competition. I think it would be shame if they would get overambitious.
