Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous vs BG3

That’s something I’ve pondered myself. Games like Disco Elysium and Planescape Torment explore pre-established bonds throughout their stories, but they also incorporate amnesia as a tool to keep both the protagonist and the player in the dark about the extent of these bonds. They’re also fairly cerebral high concept games while stuff like BG3 and Pathfinder are more straightforward power fantasy adventure stories. (Which is fine, to be clear, I enjoy both.)

Then there’s something like Mass Effect Andromeda (yes, yes, please don’t stone me, I know the game isn’t good but it’s my guilty pleasure) which has a relationship with a twin, father, and mother that you can unlock as you progress to the story—but ME games utilize a sort of half-and-half protagonist that’s a mix of, say, a Geralt (established character you guide) and a blank slate.

I think Dragon Age Origins is the only Baldur’s Gate styled rpg I can recall off the top of my head that lets you potentially establish a romantic relationship with npcs before the main story kicks in (dwarf noble, city elf, and human) but the relationship pretty much never sticks. It would’ve been a cool option if we could have, like, a wife to defend from the darkspawn. And similarly for, say, BG3, if you’re a Baldurian, it’d be cool if there was a way to meet your family upon return to Baldur’s Gate.