I hit the level cap a long time before being anywhere close to finishing the game. It's not fun knowing you can no longer advance. And I am never going to use the Illithid skill tree. Shoving parasites into your brain is not something sane characters would do. This is a mature story-driven RPG first, a gamey game far second.
Hitting the level cap wouldn't be so bad if you were strictly on the main quest path. But the game is showering me with side quests which makes the useless XP much more salty. I feel like I should be two levels lower still. The level advancement was just way too fast overall. It's always better to leave the player hungry for more than just sate all appetite.
Some quest lines feel like they should have been cut entirely. Like the one involving...
Minsc and the bank robbery which is just weird and feels like it doesn't belong in the game.
And the sewers as a location should have been cut. I didn't need to wander in the sewers for hours for high level content, or fight level 12 grease balls and powerful Wizards living down there. Total filler content that only distracts you from the main storyline when you're already max level.
Equipment-wise, I hate it that the game only has one "high level look" for your characters, which is an overly decorated fancy high fantasy look. Especially for Heavy Armor users. I don't think that look fits anyone who actually goes to combat, even if you're the fanciest High Elf Knight there is. My entire party looking like that in dialogue is so over the top it actually takes me out of the fantasy rather than strengthens it.
