Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback New Multiplayer Mode

After playing multiple Balder's Gate games, both Divinity games and a handful of other similar titles, I want to see a new focus on multiplayer. I love being able to play DnD-inspired games with friends but it's hard to dedicate time as an adult to work through a 100+ hour campaign with other adults. I would love to see a standalone multiplayer mode that allows more of an open-ended experience. Players can jump in and out at any time the host player is available with any level custom or story-based character and just explore and get into combat. This would allow players to have infinite adventures within the world and not be restricted by each others availability.

1. 1 Player hosts the game.
2. 1-4 players can create or import custom or story characters. (including mixed levels)
3. 1 player games could allow players to build complete custom parties (custom PCs not in use could hang out in a tavern or city space)
4. Level scaling is optional. (if higher level players are mixed with lower level players)
5. Players start in Balder’s Gate (or saved location from the previous run)
6. Players have optional starting areas within Balder's Gate
7. No main campaign
8. Pure adventuring mode
9. Explore, fight monsters, and take quests[b][/b]
10. Able to start or take quests for any difficulty level
11. Perma Death option (saved to game host’s run)

That sounds a bit less like a new multiplayer mode per-say, and more like a new game, using BG3 assets. Specifically:
It sounds like it would need some kind of quest generator, or at least a generous amount of content not tied to main's game narrative.

I think Larian said at some point that they have no current plans to work on a DM mode for BG3 (maybe just not during EA..?), which seems like it'd be a prerequisite for such a game mode.

Unless you're talking about some sort of system that randomly generates content/encounters/areas--i.e, random dungeons (in the broadest sense of the term)--which would also take a bunch of work and is more like a standalone game or a full ~$30+ DLC addition. Getting into the MMO territory too..

I'd be a fan of either.

I don't think it would have to be a whole new game. You would change the starting point of the characters and allow them to explore in their own direction. A quest generator would be amazing but I feel Larian studios has done a fantastic job with existing content and previous games' side quests that the players could just engage with mostly existing content and maybe add more side quests over time.

I guess I would like to see the only main factor be full multiplayer with all custom characters.

I have seen some newer games with DM features and that's not exactly what I would say I'm trying to suggest. I love playing games for their story and being able to experience a solo campaign and I think Larian studios excels at creating that experience already. I just would like to see a multiplayer mode where the players are not "chosen" or special and the exploration and adventuring are just raw and open for replayability.

Like I imagine a Balder's Gate or divinity game where 2 to 4 players can start in a city and then choose where to go and what quests to take. I'm obviously not a game developer and don't know how hard this would be to accomplish, but I just think if the world map is already built and the quests already exist, then it would be like changing the starting point of the players and letting them branch out from there.

If I`m getting your idea right you mean:
- Shared world / instance.
Where it will be hosted when the main host (who created it) is offline?

- Main Campaign disabled / Pure adventuring mode.
So it will be purely monster fighting?
How should monster respawn work?

It looks like something other than the current project. But I would also gladly play such "mode".

I think this mode would primarily be played as a group when everyone is online, so one player would host the game and it would go offline when they have to leave. Like when you host a game like Valheim and everyone can get on and play together. I think server hosting as an option would be nice but not necessary. I think the player's characters should be able to be imported between games. So I could make a character and play through the campaign then host a multiplayer game with that same character or a new character.

And for your second question, Yes, I would either say disable the main campaign and just allow open exploration and monster fighting. I think it would be possible to keep some if not a majority of the side quests built in as long as they aren't directly tied to the main campaign. As for monster respawn, I would suggest that when a party rests at an Inn or tavern in any NPC area that it would reset enemies.

Relevant interviews in regards to the Dungeon Master Mode:

time stamp: 880s/ 14:40
https://www.eurogamer.net/baldurs-gate-3-interview

Sounds to me like it is likely to happen, but certainly not in EA and probably not on launch either