**Potential Spoilers** What would you like to see in Baldur's Gate III?
Slit518
Member Posts: 16
I know it is a ways off, with the release of Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition which just came out, and following that Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition. But the team's goal, ultimately, or so speculation has stated, was to be able to eventually make Baldur's Gate III. So I ask you, as the community, what do you want most from Baldur's Gate III, please, no spoilers, or at least be cryptic when talking about something in past games.
An example of some things I want:
Classes: Duskblade, Warlock, Witch
Races: Goliath (2nd edition equivalent), sub-races similar to Icewind Dale II
All the portraits and voices from Baldur's Gate I & II carried over as well as some additional ones.
Similar style of game using the infinity engine, please don't change it! 2nd edition rules still, please as well!
If the maps are large enough, the ability to ride mounts for faster travel.
More micromanaging in certain ways, but in a way that is optional. Like buying horses or carriages or even a place to stay and store your loot. Possibility of being able to set up shop and actually sell wares from your adventures, getting offers from NPCs on what they would pay for a certain piece, you can accept to decline the offer. The ability to eventually become ruler or a land (optional) and expand on the territory, we get to see visual results based on decisions, such as added buildings, NPCs, merchants, etc...
The game could use an ultimate boss battle, possibly an optional boss that is really hard, such as the Tarrasque! Which someone mentioned in a previous thread.
More NPC's from the myth and lore of The Forgotten Realms. So perhaps more true to character Drizzt and party, Elminster, Forgotten Realms classic characters, etc... Just fun easter eggs to run into when you see your favorite character from a story.
An example of some things I want:
Classes: Duskblade, Warlock, Witch
Races: Goliath (2nd edition equivalent), sub-races similar to Icewind Dale II
All the portraits and voices from Baldur's Gate I & II carried over as well as some additional ones.
Similar style of game using the infinity engine, please don't change it! 2nd edition rules still, please as well!
If the maps are large enough, the ability to ride mounts for faster travel.
More micromanaging in certain ways, but in a way that is optional. Like buying horses or carriages or even a place to stay and store your loot. Possibility of being able to set up shop and actually sell wares from your adventures, getting offers from NPCs on what they would pay for a certain piece, you can accept to decline the offer. The ability to eventually become ruler or a land (optional) and expand on the territory, we get to see visual results based on decisions, such as added buildings, NPCs, merchants, etc...
The game could use an ultimate boss battle, possibly an optional boss that is really hard, such as the Tarrasque! Which someone mentioned in a previous thread.
More NPC's from the myth and lore of The Forgotten Realms. So perhaps more true to character Drizzt and party, Elminster, Forgotten Realms classic characters, etc... Just fun easter eggs to run into when you see your favorite character from a story.
Post edited by Dee on
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Comments
Baldur's Gate 3 should be a game with 2 paths, i won't say much about 2 paths cause you said no spoilers
So infinity engine, deep and interesting storytelling, FREEDOM like in BG1, 2nd edition rules, atleast 2 new classes and races(subraces would be cool too), new weapons (2h axes anyone?), story to switch from forgotten realms to planes, something to build and improve (stronghold, army, etc.), FREEDOM AND DEEP STORY again.
BG:ToB isn't the end of the story, it's quite the opposite!!!
Damn, I'm even willing to write that story, all the twists and turns, beginnings and ends...
That way it can either be played with a new character with no ties to the original, or the Bhaalspawn-it's not like anyone will recognise you if it's the latter. As for ascension, simply explain the restart as the Bhaalspawn either being cast down and losing divinity.
Features I would want to see though, theoretically
-) multiple big cities
-) trade system (caravans and stuff where you can import/export goods)
-) expansive stronghold (maybe in your divine realm)
-) since you're a god you would do most of the travelling/exploring in the game through a proxy (maybe one of your old companions)
-) events/changes in environment with passing game time
-) and of course D&D 3.5 rules
EDIT: I would not think creativity would be an issue among D&D players is what I meant, but your point is well-taken, and the reason I posted that I had not finished the game. My comments are but a reflection of my fondest moments of gaming, and the hope that I may re-visit them with the same vigor I once had.
EDIT 2: It was dragon lance, but I was mistaken they were not husband and wife just friends.
The same main character with the option to be exported from BG2
Plenty of areas and maps - forests, dungeons, cities, planes, more places at all
Old content from BG1 and BG2 - NPCs, places, items...
Lots of new quests with various options of completing them.
Content from IWD1 and IWD2 - areas, sub-races, spells
New spells and items
Improvements for classes - For example, making more unique spells for druids only, that are not available for clerics... In other words, making classes more unique
Infinity engine or some enhanced version of Infinity engine that will remove some of the limitations and still keep its beauty and epicness. If that's not achievable, then a new engine that will not ruin the game experience
More dialogs and more dialog options. Once acquaintance of mine asked me "Have you ever read Baldur's Gate" and he meant the game, not the book. But still, I want more dialogs.
More weather effects - snow, hail, rain... BG1 and BG2 have all of this except hail, but there are no snowy areas.
Day and night and feeling of time. I love how there are quests in BG1 and BG2 that can only be completed at night. Keep that up.
Similar "look and feel" even if the engine is changed.
More item types - scythes, whips...
Similar sound motives and music. How could they make the perfect(BG1, BG2 sounds) more perfect? That I don't know.
Enhanced Spells - spells like "Divination" and "Wish" to have more options.
Different possible endings - like in BG2
...
So, I'm going to blatantly refer to the climax of ToB in my suggestion for new features in a BG3. You've been warned.
Any way you write it, I'd enjoy a non-linear jaunt through the upper and lower planes, with epic-level battles against steadily more and more powerful gods. Allowing demigods or even lower-level deities to become party members would be extremely interesting, too. Freedom to form and break alliances and draw up battlelines amongst the most powerful beings in existence would be a uniquely excellent gaming experience.
Of course, I have no background in PnP, and thus no particular loyalty to Forgotton Realms canon. It may be that Beamdog's contractual limitations, or the outrage of DnD fans at the non-canon deaths of gods, would bar this from ever becoming a reality. But hey, a guy can dream, right?
To go back to the topic at hand, I believe the Bhaalspawn Saga has been told to the end. There's no need or reason to force a continuation of it, especially since it would have to take place on a ridiculous power level (as if ToB wasn't bad enough in that aspect) or go through a similarly shitty level retcon. I want neither.
No, what I want a completely new, low-level campaign taking place back on the Sword Coast around Baldur's Gate. Preferably north of it, where we haven't been, though visiting familiar places would be fun as well. If I were to write the plot, though, I'd set it more or less along the two or three rivers that runs out into the ocean in the area - including the one the Gate lies on. Gives the map a natural... Whatever the word is. Reach-to-boundary evolution.
In short, the Spellplague was a chain of devastating crises that still affects Faerun more than a century later. People with spellscars are one of the less dangerous manifestations of its power, but most people fear and loathe the spellscarred, believing them to be just as insane as many magic users were during the Spellplague itself, or that the raw power inside the character that the spellscar represents will go nova, so to speak, unleashing dangerous power beyond the character's ability to control. Elminster himself gained a spellscar, and because of it he has decided to never use magic ever again, worrying that the spellscar will flare up and he'll go insane.
Icewind Dale 1 and 2 were great games, but the two games' stories, I felt, were unsuccessful in surpassing the natural AD&D: Go out, kill this and you're an adventurer. People like defining features! We obsess over it! In fact, I read an old forum post: The Nameless One vs. BG Main Character. Those two characters are defined as being powerful, and that's what makes up those two character's essence: power.
But I don't want to revisit as the main character of BGII, but I do want something different. Ask yourself why Skyrim appealed to a wider audience in contrast to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion? As the series' creator, Todd Howard, often remarked was based on Utima and AD&D (although more loosely, concerning the latter). In Oblivion you were the champion, in Skyrim you *are* the power.
Maybe there is a possibility for a prequel, but in a series like Baldur's Gate, I think it could work. However, that's not to say it would be as good as Baldur's Gate II because I think it wouldn't. In the long run, I think that's the problem I have with the idea of a prequel. In a prequel can you really expand? Just how powerful would your character be? There's the possibility of being, Gorion, but remember that he was a mage... that also *(SMALL SPOILER)* was defeated by a (level 10), Sarevok. *(SMALL SPOILER)*
Finally, in essence Baldur's Gate to me was about the deities of AD&D. Deities play a big roll in the lore to begin with, but it was the defining features given to The Nameless One and Abdel which TRULY defined these games. All I want, all I care about, I don't want to be a simple nobody walking around saving the world of Faerun... anyone can do that and everyone does in AD&D.
EDIT: Also, I agree with @scriver - I want a new campaign setting with a low level character, but one whom eventually builds to *eventually* become BEAST, though.
-) Boo is back !
-) Viconia is back !
-) Edwin is back !
-) Sarevok is back !
-) Continuation romance from BG2
So you still get attacked by wizards and guards if you have reputation 1 but Viconia and Edwin don't go away when you have reputation 20 and good members dont go away at 1 but they wont be happy and they still gonna talk that they'll leave but they won't .
I really like Viconia and Edwin but I'm not bad and I just can't act like that so I never have them till the end of the game ( yeah I know you can kill a NPC then but it doesn't feel right )
I would put it where the autopause menu is
* Not directly tied to CHARNAME but same areas/setting
* References to CHARNAME'S exploits back in the day and other references to the series
* Same pause type play for strategic fights and isometric view - I do not want a FPS type interface. You can make things pretty and 3D but don't force me to jump around and play like I'm in a FPS to excel at combat. D&D is about decision making and your character's capabilities not how fast you can mash buttons and real life reflexes. This is one thing I really really like about the current BG games and I despise FPS.
* Most likely D&D Next rule set, but since that rule set is supposed to be modular and have old school feel, options should be used to keep the experience and simplicity similar to BG saga.
* Ability to own land/fortress/stronghold/house/whatever
* Strong plot, but with multiple choices/paths to progress along in the story
* Better reputation type system/consequences for good/evil decisions
* Possibly alignment shifting based on decisions (as in NWN) but I'm not married to that idea
* Different dialogue choices based on ability scores and alignment
* Same great vision and creativity we saw in the saga, I liked to play because playing was fun, and getting levels and gear was icing vs. some games where levels and gear are all the game is about.
I'm sure I have more, but that's all I have for now.
Ideally a new hero starts at level 1. Game plays through to level 15 or so. Xpac gets you up to ToB levels. I know that's a big gaming experience obviously.
It's not up to Overhaul to decide what edition to use.
The game should be non-linear, like BG and BGII are now (IWD was much more linear, and while still a good game, it's not my preference.)
Would like to see some new locations but revisit old ones as well; a continuation of the current story if possible.
Early to get boots of speed to make traveling a little faster.
More portraits, voices, races and classes. Tons of side quests (BG II did this better than BG.). Upgraded graphics and spell effects.
I hope this is able to come about. I rediscovered my love of BG with the EE and I'm having a blast.
the person above hating the 3rd edition rules should do some research or get another hobby. please DO tell me why you prefer the corset of 2nd over the utter freedom of 3rd... without ridiculing yourself
The 2nd edition was like a corset. You had to make your decisions at the start and then just play and be damned. Play was the byword. You had to do with what you had. Team play was important.
The 3rd edition got rid of the corset, but at the same time as giving freedom, it allowed everything to flop about, as it were. Time was wasted planning a character. It was also not realistic. Hell, is it common for powerful lvl 39 wizards to suddenly dabble in thievery for the skill dump? It was in the 3rd ed.
2nd was awesome. They still haven't bettered it or they would have stopped making further editions...
I believe BG3 will be the 5th ed. Due to publishing legals... Some conspiracy to stop you using older, better editions.
I like many things about 3.5, however there are many things I prefer in 2nd Edition. 2nd Edition treated classes much more uniquely, which I appreciate, than 3rd did.
I think a good combination would be the 3rd Edition combat/feats/skills system but the 2nd Edition race/class/experience systems & restrictions.
in the p&p there is no justification not to be able to pick as many classes as you want, if you can justify it in your campaign. elminster himself has 5 or 6 different classes because that is how his life went, learning different things at different times. 3rd edition liberated d&d, there's no way around it
The fact that you were limited to certain stat points, a certain class, and limited skill points and spells is what gave the BG games their replay value. In 3rd edition you can make the optimal character, in 2nd there is always going to be limitations.
Multiple playthroughs are appealing because there is only so much of the game you can do on one playthrough. The well developed NPCs contributed to this. But they would be less interesting NPCs if we could just multiclass them like crazy.
One last point -- too much freedom in a video game can be a bad thing. Too many options make choosing the correct one incredibly difficult. For example you may only level up 7-8 times in a playthrough of BG1 or even SoA. Those decision points are difficult, and much of the fun of the accomplishment is robbed when a player has to agonize (or even do tedious internet research) to decipher if they should add a 2nd or 3rd class.
I'm not here to argue what edition of rules are better for DnD. But I think the game designers should consider that Neverwinter Nights series, Icewind Dale, and other 3rd+ edition CRPGs never enjoyed the success of the BG series or even the old gold box series. Maybe there's a reason for that.
If they set new level cap to 100 and add some new stuff is possible continue with CHARNAME.
Or
someone can " drain CHARNAME live force " ( or something like that ) and he fall down on something between lvl 1-20 ( and they steal nearly all ours items ). Then we must acquire ours old powers back and take ours revenge.
Still, a new game should be rife with references and contact points with the earlier games. There should be clashes with the Gods and special appearances of familiar faces as questgivers, shopkeepers, or cameos. I want to be manipulated by Harper agent Jaheira and to help Mazzy rescue the halfling village she settled down in.
In fact, I think the Bhallspawn's in an excellent position to be the ultimate antagonist of Baldur's Gate 3.