Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Torches for the off-hand and flaming weapons

I think torches are a bit underwhelming currently. It feels like something that should be more automated and less manual or else made more tactical somehow. I wish there was just a hotkey called "torches" and when selected any party member that has a torch at the ready pulls it out and ignites it with a flint.

I kind of like the idea of torches having some physicality and potential use beyond just generating light in the abstract though. There should be some reason to use a torch, even if a character has dark vision for example.

Perhaps if a combat is initiated while torches are up, the player can drop their torch to the ground where it shines for a little while but then burns out after a round? If they keep a torch equipped in their offhand instead of dropping, I like the idea that it can serve to deflect a blow, basically like an illuminated buckler or whatever. A lit torch can be a pretty effective weapon as well. I'd expect that the player should be able to do something with it if its already up. Like maybe an attack roll for burn damage, but then the torch is doused in the process? Some kind of opening torch attack move, more than dual wielding per se, just to give em some flash? Unless the character has two weapon fighting I guess, in which case it can function more like a flaming club rather than buckler, since that's more or less what it is. Might be a more entertaining way to do torches, or at least something that makes torches more compelling than candles.

I'd imagine if we see a hand lantern, maybe the player can set it on the ground, throw it, or use it in the offhand for some sort of opening flail attack before its spent. I don't know, I understand having such things just as a separate QoL tool, but the game is already missing a lot of the night time atmosphere to begin with. It'd be cool if there were a few more incentives in place to make use of torches, since they do add to the ambiance, but often not enough to offset the benefits of simply not using them and opting for a cantrip or racial vision bonus instead.