How often do you save?

Aozgolo108

Including quicksaves (QS) of course.

I QS right before I KNOW I'm entering a battle or about to enter a new room in a dungeon, even if all I've done is walk half-way across the map. Maybe I'm just not that great at the game, but I end up reloading at least once a map in the first few chapters, usually due to an NPC death or walking into an obvious trap (died 20 times in a row trying to kill the Black Bear right at the start before giving up).

I also QS right before attempting to copy spells to my spellbook. I pretty much only do a permanent save right before I quit the game, or if I'm about to switch out one party member for another.

So what do others do? Do you think relying heavily on save scumming quick saves is cheating or meta-gaming? What circumstances do you always save before?

The Q key is my best friend in Baldur's Gate

Twani

Every freakin' second.

Well, maybe not that often, but pretty close. I don't save scum- what happens happens, and I deal, but I generally get paranoid about losing battles or crashing, so I save all the darn time. I don't, notably, QS before putting spells in my books, having a conversation with a romantic interest, or selling/stealing. If I mess up there, I live with it. But before every battle? Almost definitely.

That1Dude

A lot, I'll save after exploring a bit of map after rearranging my parties inventories, pretty much anything I don't want to do again, and yea obviously before every fight, or likely fight, or possible fight. Also quick save before entering or exiting any building or map (I've had some glitches before) and always save before resting.

jackjack

Let's just say I've mapped the "Q" key to the most accessible of the 13 buttons on my mouse…

elminster

I would say 3x an area. More for some of the more intense areas.

Autequi

I save constantly. Before battles, after shopping/reorganizing inventories, before and after dialogs, all the time while exploring, etc. I also have two (at least) permanent saves per major quest and I'll alternate between the two, saving after each major battle or plot development. And I certainly don't fret about whether it's ignoble or whatever to reload whenever I don't like an outcome. The 'L' key is almost as much my friend as the 'Q' key.

Aozgolo108

Unless you are a complete master of the game mechanics I guess I can't really see how you'd have a very fun experience if you didn't save constantly throughout the game. I've had some incredible dumb luck where charname gets one-shotted by the first arrow volley 2 seconds after coming within sight of a random bandit.

Yeah I also save before every wilderness rest attempt, though as long as I don't have significant casualties I'll keep trying after each interupt.

booinyoureyes

I break my Q button. Literally I press Q and Spacebar every two seconds in this game.

Its funny how often I fail my quicksaving throws. "You cannot save in dialogue mode" "you cannot save... there are monsters nearby" and then there are the most frustrating "you cannot save at this time" with no explanation (usually while people are scripted to walk away, most notably after the Gaal speech in the Temple District... damn peasants and cultists need to hurry up)

lunar

I save a lot, enhanced edition's non-existent saving time is a boon I am grateful for. I save before and after each battle, map change, etc. I play no-reload, it is just a precaution in case it crashes or a bug happens or something. (which does not happen frequently, btw)

kryptix

Q and L both get lots of use because I pickpocket whole cities etc when I'm bored and lets just say agroing all of athkatla doesn't help you finish the game...

I'll sometimes even reload on a missed backstab when I'm having hexxat solo groups for fun...

nano

I quicksave just to check whether there are still monsters nearby, that's how bad it gets...