Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Baldur's Gate 4

Ridiculous topic at this point in time, I know, but this is General, so it's allowed. And I am genuinely interested in people's thoughts. Suppose the following happen: We get a level cap in this game (around, say, 12), the game is good, the game is successful, and Larian turns on the green light for BG4. I have a few questions for people:

-Would you want BG4 to have a save import feature from BG3, like the original Baldur's Gate games? How much of BG4 would you want to be dependent on your decisions in BG3?

-What features that didn't make it into BG3 would you MOST want in BG4 that Larian could FEASIBLY implement?

-What features in BG3 that are necessary for that particular game would you want removed for BG4?

-What is your dream feature or addition to BG4 that didn't make it in BG3?

-What parts of BG3 are so good that they MUST be included in a potential BG4?

-Any other thoughts on BG4, especially as we get closer to BG3's release?

I would like for Larian to base BG4 of BG3 so they can include all the base content from it (like races and classes) and then expend on it with more modules.

I would consider the Definitive Edition (DoS 2) or Enhanced Edition (DoS 1) to be BG4.

Larian is not going to release this game and not add additional content and development patches. In fact, I'm betting on that the things they ran out of time to do for the initial release will be included in the Definitive Edition.

DoS 2 updates and development extended for years after release with new content, new characters, re-balancing, new items, new quests and I expect the same will happen here.

This game will be actively worked on for at least 3-4 years after release and we may get additional classes from non-PHB, just not initially.

Frankly there's a lot of BG3 that is already pretty close to my ideal CRPG.

So the things I'd wish to see addressed in a hypothetical BG4 are pretty much the same I'm currently hoping to see changed or improved in BG3.
A control scheme that doesn't make me wish for an armed conflict with Belgium in the near future, support for a larger cast, putting aside the fairly redundant idea of "origin characters", a world with day/night cycle and a sense of passing time not perpetually stuck at noon, a better and more flexible implementation of verticality, (like actual flight and climbing), some occasional tweak in terms of visual and aesthetic (I'd gladly do without the cartoony bits, for one) etc, etc, etc.

Maybe if we have to talk about big structural changes, I'd be all for having smaller individual areas connected by world map travel, so we could avoid the current sense of "diorama world" where everything feels fifteen meters away for anything else.

That aside, as a general direction, I don't think I'd be a big fan of an "epic level campaign" (from lvl 12 and going up) continuing where the predecessor will leave us.
I think I'd favor a fresh start with new characters, starting from low level and all the way up again.

+1 to this paragraph.

What I'd like the most for BG4 is a world that reallly looks alive (time, weather, unexpected events or encounters,...) and coherent (vfx, map design, gameplay,...) rather than one that is clearly a playground dedicated to us.

Immersion is the most important things to me in cRPG and even if this word has as many definition as there are players that use it... There's an unecessary amount of things that doesnt suit the reality of the world to me in BG3 (teleportation, resting system, vfx, map design, items design, animations, surfaces,...)

The game could become my new "best crpg of all time" if Larian was more foccused on this.
Of course I,d like to be able to play with my BG3 team in BG4 !

No freakin way. Frack BG4. Larian had their chance, made DOS2.5, is probably in pre-production of DOS3 with the same same engine and similar gameplay (minus D&D).

Larian should continue making great successful Divinity games in their own IP, and the Baldur's Gate / D&D license needs to be transferred to another developer who understands D&D better, appreciates and respects it.

I don't mind a smaller budget either if mainstreaming an RPG means it has to be silly, light and over the top like DOS, or dumbed down to repetitive hollow MMO button mashing gear grinding gameplay like Dragon Age. D&D is the last hope in that mess, really. And Larian is screwing it up with all of the above, mix of styles, gear grinding, silly and cartoony, button mashing with unlimited resting.

Bg4? LET TACTICAL ADVENTURE DO THAT. 🤔🤔🤔

That is true. If a brand new game were to be made, WoTC should ensure the developer's engine can support the actual mechanics.

Larian's makeshift splice job crossover only benefits them. I may be foolish in saying, but I think Larian would do it over differently now. They understand the demand of the game and would make sure they had a better foundation.

I'd be ready to let Baldur's Gate go after this one. Making sequels that don't respect the originals, no matter how popular they might become, is a no go for me.

Rather start a new series that will be faithful to the next edition of D&D, and to Faerûn without stupid video gamey tropes mixed in with a grown-up RPG that is trying to tell a serious story.

Perhaps Wizard of the Coast has something like this in mind, hopefully.

What D&D actually needs most is Neverwinter Nights 3. Toolset, DM client and endless possibilities. NWN 1&2 are way too dated now.

-Would you want BG4 to have a save import feature from BG3, like the original Baldur's Gate games? How much of BG4 would you want to be dependent on your decisions in BG3?
Depends ...
I didnt play original Baldur's Gate games, and concidering how they look ... i doubt i ever will, unless they get some remaster. :-/

But if our "important" decisions would be dealed as they were in Mass Effect, or Dragon Age series ... then i would say dont even bother. :-/
I mean i ofcourse understands that no developer ever will create two completely separated sotries, depending on if player choose A or B at the end of previous game ... but still, i just want to see some lasting inpact, otherwise there is no reason.
And especialy Dragon Age really pissed me off, when i played Inquisition and find out that they were negating practicaly everything you choose ...
With "decisions" like this? I say, just pick cannon outcome and scrap the rest ... you do it anyway, so why pretend anything else?

-What features that didn't make it into BG3 would you MOST want in BG4 that Larian could FEASIBLY implement?
This is impossible to answer right now, since we dont really know what "didn't make it into BG3" ...

But presuming the game will look as it does now in patch 8 ...

Mainly more fitting responces for players ... i really think that is the weakest point of this game and there is HUUUUUUGE potential for improvements.
It also helps me a lot with imersion.

And then all the things we were promised, but didnt get ... difficiulty setting (with lots and lots options to tune our game however we want), multiclass, rolled stats, custom party (that actualy behave like MC and Followers, instead of up to 4 MCs), much, much, much much and once more much more races and options in character creation.

And finaly things we are asking for the most ... optional (meaning there should be option to turn it off in difficiulty settings) timed events, biger party, etc.

-What features in BG3 that are necessary for that particular game would you want removed for BG4?
None.

-What is your dream feature or addition to BG4 that didn't make it in BG3?
Isnt this the same as second question?

-What parts of BG3 are so good that they MUST be included in a potential BG4?
How can we know yet?

-Any other thoughts on BG4, especially as we get closer to BG3's release?
I dont need BG-4 ... at least not right now.
Quite honestly i would like to see some Expansions for BG-3, working with people, surrounding and story we will be familier with ... rather than something entirely new again. :-/

This really, NWN was incredible for it's time (and still is). The accessibility of the toolset while allowing for complex systems and the ability to have persistent worlds with DMs made it truly shine.

As for the topic itself:

A potential BG4 would have to get of origin characters and adhere much closer to the actual rules.

They stated that they want to keep the studio small, so they are unlikely to be in position to ever be able to handle an IP of that scale. And while they implemented combat very well, I don't think they showed skill nor interested in areas I would consider key to great BG game - story, interesting characters, quest design.


As to OP - I don't believe Larian will want to continue working for WotC in the long run. Developing their own IPs is in the long run the best thing they can do.

Working on BG3 is an opportunity to raise the status of the studio and expand their audience, as well as expand their toolset while working on a high profile IP. I would be shocked if they weren't looking to use the enhancements that they have made to enrich the IP that their own. Having a strong IP raises studio's worth - making a great game for someone else, not so much.

While BG3 will most likely be very succesful, it will be a success shared between Larian and WotC - both financially and reputation wise. After all, Baldur's Gate and D&D isn't an IP that Larian can freely use in the future - not all will be so immersed to know who made BG3. Back in a day Bioware ended up going its own way, rather then working for Interplay/D&D owners, and I suspect Larian will do the same. They have showed that they are more interested in developing their own ideas rather then serving the IP. The goal is not to make best D&D game they can - it's to hook D&D/BG audience on D:OS formula through marriage of both.

I never liked NWN 1 OR 2 even when they were hot on the shelf, actually.
I still don't like them and still consider both the starting point of Bioware's descending parable.

NWN1 was horrible as far as single player campaign goes, but NWN2 was alright (abysmally clunky though) - and more importantly an Obsidian not Bioware production.

Well, Larian's writing is awful in any game. I hope Origin characters are no more after this one.

Oh, right. A moment of distraction. Somehow I was immediately associating Mask of the Betrayer with Obsidian but not the base game.

Well, it doesn't change that I never really liked it, though.

True, the official single player campaigns were horrible, there's no denying that. But some of the premium modules and community modules were very good.
And many of the RP persistent worlds created by the community were incredibly well done. That was the strength of NWN, not the official single player campaigns. Those always felt to me like examples of what could be done with the toolset.

But then again I'm not particularly fond of BioWare's storytelling... which always seems to revolve around the same old "save the world" trope.

To be clear when I say that I never liked NWN 1 and 2 I'm not even talking strictly about the narrative, the characters, writing or what else.
I didn't like them on a mechanical level.
Not a fan of the way they looked ( I found the art in both games butt-ugly), and even less of the way they controlled and played.

EDIT: Also, I remember fiercely disliking the fact that NWN 1 moved away from being a party based game and focused on "Single character plus mercenary".

And to put things into context I'm not talking from a "modern perspective". I was there trying them when they were fresh releases.