Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General What Makes Good RPG Writing?

I don’t want exactly the same things from every RPG but off the top of my head some of the things I’d like from BG3 are as follows. Most of these I think it already does at least to some extent, though there are a number of areas where I’m definitely hoping for improvement.

• A protagonist with well-written lines whose character we can shape and express, and who it feels other characters react and listen to, rather than someone who just asks questions and reacts to others. This includes being able to express our characters’ intentions and motivation in-game, as well as be humorous, serious, studious, action-oriented and so on.
• And on the flip side, there should always be neutral options for our PC so we’re not forced to say something that doesn’t feel true to them.
• A main story that is compelling and exciting without the role of our party in it being overblown for characters at levels 1-12(ish).
• Fun and varied side quests that deepen knowledge of the world but don’t feel like an unnecessary distraction from the main story and aren’t trivial fetch quests.
• Companions with engaging stories who have plenty to say to the PC and each other as they travel the world as well as in quieter moments.
• Deepening relationships with and between companions that have interesting dynamics that can be, but aren’t necessarily, positive (I hate feeling my PC has to pussyfoot around companions while they can be as rude as they like).
• The possibility of different sorts of romantic arcs that feel as though they develop naturally (and don’t require my character having to say cheesy chat-up lines).
• A diverse, memorable and interesting cast of NPCs who seem to have more to them than simply being local colour, quest givers or generic baddies.
• A mix of humour and darker themes that will challenge my expectations and preconceptions, make me think and surprise and engage me emotionally. But when there is tragedy this should make sense rather than the game just not letting us do something that would clearly make sense to lead to a better outcomes.
• Difficult decisions with real consequences. These don’t need to send the story off in radically different directions but I want to see ever increasing ripples from what my party does, and have the ability to play a character of any alignment. (The latter doesn’t mean having a distinct “evil path” for me, but making sure that what there are clear motivations for differently aligned characters to take the options we are given, and we can express those in the game.)
• A feeling that there is a wider world to get glimpses into, and it’s not all constructed just for me, which means things like notes and items to find that tell mini-stories, lore and history we can discover and side characters we can incidentally find out more about.
• Connections to the characters and plot of the first BG games that stand on their own merits for new players but add depth for those who know the old games.

I definitely agree that having the PC voiced will help give them personality. Fingers crossed!