I’ve said this before: I don’t like pissing on game writers. It’s a very easy thing to do, and there’s no such thing as ‘the right way’ to write anything.
But there are clearly two different ‘camps’ of people involved here.
Larian’s core audience, aptly represented by BG3 reddit, is quite rabid about the ‘Larian way’, almost to the point of being a cult. They love Bane, from DOS:2. They love Astarion. And even if they don’t, they love some other – in my opinion – non-enity like Lae'zel.
God can do no wrong, in other words.
And I’ve no problem with the goofy, strange, wacky, ‘out there’ Larian writing – it has its place in the universe they created with DOS. It belongs there. Their writers belong there.
Why don’t they just work on DOS3? Make it a ‘Larian game’.
But they are simply the wrong writers for BG. The distaste, here, could easily have been avoided – but of course, Larian execs naively believe their writers can do no wrong.
I’m sure they’ll make their money back etc. And some really do believe that sales = win.
Based on the comments I’m reading here, that’s not quite the case.
Again, the original BG3 Black Hound sets the ‘right’ tone. Lowkey beginning, almost bland. Unremakable, non-special MC.
BG2 surprised you with its first dragon – I still remember the shock. Didn’t think they could even model something like that after all the simple orcs etc (Firkraag). BG3, of course, lets you know from the start that they’re wheeling out the full circus. And by the way, you’re also in hell!
Ok, ok.
We do live in an age where many people want to be treated as ‘special’, even if they’re plain as a cracker. I work in such a place, I see the effect it has on people who have essentially contributed nothing in terms of output, but are ‘different’, let’s put it diplomatically.
I’m by no means suggesting that BG3’s ‘special’ posse of characters is manufactured to appeal to this particular group – and bear in mind, I’m painting broad strokes: everyone of a particular age wants to be ‘special’, at least where I work. But it does lean into this insipid, shallow fantasy: everything about you is ‘special’ – you’ve a special device or plot. You’ve a special hairstyle or teeth.
You’re special.
Yeah, give me the times when you’re a nobody, fighting to work their up. Just a shcmuck with a crappy ‘wooden staff’ and no armour. For a long, long time. And when you find that first +1 ring, you think you’ve hit pay dirt.
BG3: five minutes in, you’ve met aliens, dragons, imps, hell, demons (am I forgetting anything?) and have a flame sword.
