Originally Posted by MrToucan
Must the game explain itself? It's a third installment in a series, taking place in an established setting. A lot has changed since BG1 and 2, but the basic knowledge (e.g. about Baldur's Gate the city) from those games is still applicable to BG3. You don't pick up a random adventure module and expect it to explain every minute detail, like how common druids are, about its world.
Considering the game seems to be it's own thing more then continuation of BG1&2 then I would say yes. Even if it was direct sequel it is a sequel 20 years after the original. And it's not that there has been many good DnD games in a while. Expecting players to remember or even play 20 years old games, and be familiar with a setting with little presence in PC gaming would be a mistake. DnD is not exactly Star Wars.

And I don't think BG3 needs to dump exposition about everything, but it shouldn't throw names and terms left and right and expect for it to make any impressions. Much have been said about Shar (a god which in spite of playing BG1&2 and all other DnD cRPGs I know nothing about) and Shadowhearts confusing reveal. To see how it can be done well: see BG2 and the introduction of Viconia. If she marely showed up and expected to me to be shocked that she is a drow it wouldn't work for me - I didn't know what drow is, when I played that game. Instead we have a situation that introduces her, and the surface dwellers attitude toward her. It also created a foundation for when we ourself go to drow settlement. Imagine Witcher3, which would just expect everyone to read all the books and play two previous games to enjoy it.

It's fine to use existing lore to add texture to the world, and include details that only initiated will get. What we have in BG3 is lack of set up or context.

EDIT: I should also add that BG3 runs into a problem of not being faithful to the setting. That's a bit of a strawman argument, but if monsters I know from BG1&2 are not recognisable in BG3, what else has changed?

Last edited by Wormerine; 08/01/22 05:46 PM.