Yep, anyone is free to ask other forum members anything about what's good out there. And of course, everyone is also free to ignore any questions they don't want to answer
As folk have said, apparently there are mods to increase party size. From what I read they generally work pretty well but have the odd issue. I've never tried one as I'm perfectly happy with four (*ducks*), but OP, if you're interested in the debate about pros and cons of a larger party size, there's a massive thread here at https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=672266&nt=109&page=110.
"You may call it 'nonsense' if you like, but I've heard nonsense, compared with which that would be as sensible as a dictionary!"
I'm currently set on the idea of playing the game on Hardcore (I hope they didn't make it the "bullshit mode") and with an extended party.
The hope is that by release someone will figure out how to iron out the occasional kinks of the current version. Even better if Larian itself fixed the arbitrary bottlenecks hard-coded in a couple of places.
Party control in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complete mess that begs to be addressed. SAY NO TO THE TOILET CHAIN
Well, not only do I hope for an updated version of this mod, I also hope for a version of the mod that will be available through Steam Workshop and not limited to Nexus because I hate having to deal with third-party mod managers.
Note, these mods only take into account companions. Unfortunately, a custom party +4 is not possible.
Huh. Well this is some terrible news I was not aware of as I was banking on some runs with 5 or 6 customs. Here's to hoping modders are able to make it work then because otherwise a huge draw of the game is gone, for me. I really wanted to run two parties of D&D concepts I've never gotten to play as due to just about always being the "forever DM" with my friend group.
Maybe once the full game is out and the whole mercenary/custom character idea is completely released!
Note, these mods only take into account companions. Unfortunately, a custom party +4 is not possible.
Huh. Well this is some terrible news I was not aware of as I was banking on some runs with 5 or 6 customs. Here's to hoping modders are able to make it work then because otherwise a huge draw of the game is gone, for me. I really wanted to run two parties of D&D concepts I've never gotten to play as due to just about always being the "forever DM" with my friend group.
Maybe once the full game is out and the whole mercenary/custom character idea is completely released!
So, you can only have 4 companions, but you can have extra followers. Swen discussed this in an old interview.
They also mentioned that there was a way to "recruit" defeated enemies as followers. Not sure how that system works.
Finally, as has been pointed out there are mods that will allow you to expand your party size if the Hirelings and the other available followers are not enough.
Also, since you are not party locked after Act 1 - we can switch out characters at will by returning to camp/stronghold.
Also, let's hope the final game will have some sort of "formation control". Even a basic and poorly done one like the one in DOS 2 would already be something.
While it doesn't make that much difference when playing the vanilla game, when you tweak the client to support a party of six the "pyramidal" default party formation is absolutely atrocious.
Party control in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complete mess that begs to be addressed. SAY NO TO THE TOILET CHAIN
They also mentioned that there was a way to "recruit" defeated enemies as followers.
That sounds interesting ... I totally planned to make my Pure Githyanki run one day ... but having an option to recruit Beretha and Kithrak to that party would be very apealing! >:]
I still dont understand why cant we change Race for our hirelings. Lets us play Githyanki as racist as they trully are!
They also mentioned that there was a way to "recruit" defeated enemies as followers.
That sounds interesting ... I totally planned to make my Pure Githyanki run one day ... but having an option to recruit Beretha and Kithrak to that party would be very apealing! >:]
If that is true, then I could make an awesome Necromancer playthrough. In general it would be really neat if I could revive any species. I could make my Gobbo Warlock hireling and multiclass him into Necromancer and then I finally have my Gobbo companion. The only thing left to hope for then is that he also gets special dialogue options as usual custom chars. A Gobbo Necrolock (Urban) Bounty Hunter who interrogates the dead with Speak with Dead spell would be a very good addition to my party.
They also mentioned that there was a way to "recruit" defeated enemies as followers.
That sounds interesting ... I totally planned to make my Pure Githyanki run one day ... but having an option to recruit Beretha and Kithrak to that party would be very apealing! >:]