Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Use Alcohol in the game is OK, but not Cannabis

I found a star sapphire in the D'Arnise water closet.

Regarding the art of smoking, I would guess the intoxicating properties of cannabis were discovered during a prehistoric tribal gathering, when someone gathered a bunch of the plant and threw it onto the embers of a dying fire to try and keep it going. As the vapors swirled about, the tribe soon experienced the mind altering properties of THC and interpreted it as communion with the gods. The tribal shaman eventually made the connection to the plant, and quickly monopolized the supply in order to consolidate his/her power. Thereafter, only small amounts were parceled out by the central authority.

You see all those tentacular consoles that don't do anything? Yep, better wash your hands. Tentacular catheter suction loos. They irregate too.

im an ex alchoholic and fucking hate it when alchohol shows up in games. weed is way better

I'm guessing it's a D&D/Wizards of the Coast choice over Larian. The divinity series had Drudanae, which I believe did different things throughout the series. That said, it was highly addictive, illegal, and with alchemy could make "drug" potion. Still not smoking, but a non-alcohol drug added into the lore.

I honestly don't know all the items in D&D to be able to compare. But there are subtle hints as others have pointed out to alternatives beyond alcohol.

Alcohol has plenty of uses, actually. Cannabis has plenty of uses as well.

Couple of glasses or red wine usually accompany my play throughs. Weed would freak me out I suspect :O

Not sure if it was official DnD (or FR, specifically) canon, but both BG1 and 2 had several references to "Black Lotus", like the tent of black lotus smokers at the Nashkel festival and the addicts in a side room of the Copper Coronet in Athkatla. Was, at least in BG2, portrayed as a somewhat expensive drug.

I don't remember seeing pizza either, what's up with that?

Personally Id go for glazed smoked turnip leaves !

Setting the record straight, Moon sugar is NOT a drug, it is an ingredient used for cooking and alchemy. For example, Moon sugar is the key ingredient of Elsweyr Fondue and Lavender Dumplings. Skooma is an illegal narcotic drink refined from moon sugar, but that doesn't make moon sugar itself illegal.

Now, I don't which drinks are illegal in the Forgotten Realms D&D world, but I am positive that the wine Shadowheart drinks with you is perfectly legal.

The things you never imagined people would complain about...

I dont know about Cannabis ...
But in our last DnD session my character took habbit of chewing certain herb he found ... it was described as energizing and refreshing ... later on, DM confessed me it was actually Coca.

You are correct, remember this scene from LOTR: The Two Towers?

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If you listen to the DvD commentary they say they didn't want to glorify smoking so they put this scene in. In truth they came under a ton of pressure from the Truth Initiative and other anti-smoking groups - who will go after any non-negative depictions of the use of tobacco in popular culture.

I would prefer that they had not done this as I found it stupid. Bad Art is what you get when you tie your vision to an ideology that is outside of the established narrative.

Why not to use vapes in games?

It comes down to the themes and tone the writers want to set in the game. Alcohol fits the medieval fantasy vibe, with its taverns and celebratory feasts, while cannabis might feel more modern or out of place in this kind of setting. As others mentioned, there isn’t a cannabis analog in Forgotten Realms lore. It’s more about fantasy concoctions like potions or magical powders.

By the way, it’s interesting how things like nicotine alternatives in real life, such as Air Bar Nex, have become the modern equivalent of this “relaxation culture.” It’s a neat parallel to fantasy worlds creating their versions with dream mist and traveler dust.

yeah wth i want to smoke weed with karlach @lariangames @sveniforgothislastname fix immediately

actually now that i think about it i remember there being some sort of fantastical magical hallucinogen you could get but i don't remember what it was called (of multiple, one i can think of is "ether root" maybe?) that you get from what i want to say is the guild or zhentarim

Timmask spores made one euphoric I think. And the myconids have some spores that made the Duergar jumo into a chasm laughing.

...and for some reason, it was always Lae'zel who ended up giggling and failing saves in rear left position when we went shopping at Blurg's. Well, at least it kept her fingers from Omeluum's throat. My Tav always carried a stash after that!

You can also obtain narcotics in the seedier parts of the lower city. I remember Dreammist, Terazul and I think one I didn't try.

The original creators of D&D were always one step away from getting sued for promoting satanism and whatnot, so any references in the books to actual real-world drugs are vague innuendos at best.

No pizza ? This game is a failure ! How can you have a game without pizza ?