Personally I think it's... I don't want to say "wrong" as it's not exactly the right meaning, but as a player I think it's flawed to treat any D&D-based video game as a replacement of D&D, because it just can't be the same. (Though I do have a few ideas on that). Going into it expecting a D&D-simulator where the DM role is automated and perfect, and other associations with being around a table with friends using your imagination as the main driving-force of a game just won't tickle the same alone, in front of a screen with a software that inevitably can only be rigid in its decision-making just can't do that. So in some ways, I think it's a trap to promote any game as D&D because it brings expectations in all forms and shapes that can never be equally and adequately satisfied across the board, in a general sense.
Even in D&D, each game, even using the same campaign is always different, depending on the DM you have. I, for example, never ever under any circumstance use random encounters. I think they're a slog, adds nothing to the game and is generally boring. Instead I have intentional and more impactful encounters for players to potentially encounter during their travels, and helps make travelling from point A to point B a more interactive journey and roleplay for them, rather than at the mercy of a dice roll. Whereas other people, some of which frequent these forums, highly adore random encounters and would like to see them added into for example BG3.
Back to my "ideas" though. What I personally would really love to see is a mode in BG3 that throws all NPC AI out the window and adds a 5th role, a DM role for multiplayer lobbies that does the traditional DM role. They're in control of the enemy NPCs, a toggle to hide units, manage player/NPC inventories for trade RP etc, and in a quick swoop (though intermediate cost of development), turn it into a D&D-sim where the videogame is the adventure PDF and the DM gets to do what a DM does in a campaign, and players play more of a traditional role as well. The problem with this, is it's exclusively a multiplayer feature and is unplayable for any solo-players or spouses looking for a couch-game, but is definitely a mode I'd enjoy as both a DM and player. And in my opinion, the only way I'd allow myself to approach and play the game to tickle my D&D fancies.
Until then, I find it healthier for myself to approach the game as a video game with somewhat relatable features and systems. But for my love for D&D and urges and tickles to scratch for it, nothing can replace my Saturday sessions. Is it Saturday yet?
Well said. I fully agree, although sadly for me there is no physical group anymore to play in-person TT D&D. I play through Roll20 online, which is okay but just not the same experience as being there around a table in-person.
And for those who want that in-person TT experience, but in a virtual way for whatever reasons, there are several TT gaming simulators now available out there that do a great job of allowing you to create a D&D game exactly the way you want it to be. Video games are not, never have been, and most importantly cannot be expected to be TT simulators. So it is unreasonable to expect BG3, a video game, to be a D&D TT simulator. That said, it is NOT unreasonable to expect that a game advertised as a D&D game would indeed actually be a D&D game and not some other type of game (D:OS?) with some D&D elements thrown into the mix.
