You know, I hadn't really thought about the possibility that the EA surface may be the ONLY area in the entire game that would even potentially be affected by Day/Night. If that's the case, it doesn't really make sense for them to worry so much about building an entire Day/Night system just for 10% of the game.
I mean, whether we go into the Underdark or into the Shadow Cursed Lands - our next objective - it's not likely going to have Day/Night. And will Moonrise Towers? Will whatever comes next? And, as someone said, will even Baldur's Gate? What if it IS besieged in some sort of Lord of the Rings style cloud of darkness thing where it is perpetual night there the entire time? That would actually make sense if they are going to bring Cazador into it as a major player, and devils like Raphael, mind flayers, undead of all kinds, etc.
So, as much as I want Day/Night, I could see Larian thinking, "Come on. Most PCs are going to travel by day on the surface of EA. Why go through all the work for one small area of the game?"
The other thing I was thinking was that other D&D games have done this same thing. Neverwinter Nights, for example, didn't have Day/Night cycles. Each map area was what it was. Granted, the resting system was taking a knee in the street, but the point is that you didn't see shifting day to night events. The map dictated what time of day it was. Unless I'm remembering incorrectly. It has been awhile.
Again, I WANT Day/Night. I think the EA map would REALLY benefit from it, and when I play a drow, it's REALLY weird to travel about in broad daylight. I'd much rather have the option to travel by night. All I'm saying is, I am maybe understanding a bit more why they COULD think it's not worth it in the long run.
This is a good point. On the other hand, does that mean we are in for as urgent a main story as the DOS2 story? I know we have the tadpole and all, but I'm concerned that urgency will take away from worldbuilding or making the game have a lived-in experience. A lot of times the games feel static and that sort of frozen experience is justified by the idea that all of this is happening instantly from one moment to the next. Not necessarily terrible, but not ideal either.
