More seriously, I won't say this is something I've learned from the game but it's a recurring message throughout the series, is the idea that absolute unquestioning devotion to a cause, even a morally sound one, clouds the judgement and leads to bad choices. From Bhaal devotee Sarevok to Ajantis the unbending Helmite, those who refuse to deviate from their masters' prescribed paths are ultimately weaker for it, whilst those who question authorities both mortal and divine are largely better for it.
The other central message of the series is a very old one indeed, its presence is, I think, pretty self explanatory so I won't give examples and it is simply "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".
More seriously, I won't say this is something I've learned from the game but it's a recurring message throughout the series, is the idea that absolute unquestioning devotion to a cause, even a morally sound one, clouds the judgement and leads to bad choices. From Bhaal devotee Sarevok to Ajantis the unbending Helmite, those who refuse to deviate from their masters' prescribed paths are ultimately weaker for it, whilst those who question authorities both mortal and divine are largely better for it.
Closest thing I've got to a reload button is the snooze alarm and that only works for the adventures I have in dreamtime while making me late or rushed for real time business...
An ugly lesson, that's for sure... That stuff in games, even fantasy ones, can somehow, sometimes, happen to us, in real life, out there... For my case...
1) Family bonds can sometimes be shittier than pure, stranger enemies' interaction, and some family members can actually plot against you and wish you broke, jobless, or downright dead...
2) The whole incident about childhood friends and known people, and the dopplegangers they suddenly turned into to slit your unsuspecting throat after some time passes.
3) Despite your best intentions and cleverest dialogue choices, people that are sent against you are ALWAYS going to do you harm and never show another reaction to the predetermined script.
4) You need more people in your group so you can survive.
5) The ugliest territory and the most dangerous beasts, are not forests and animals, but cities and humanoids.
6) You can find yourself implicated in cases that you did nothing wrong, but only had been framed, and suddenly end up behind bars, literally, metaphorically, or both. And from the actions of people that acted friendly towards you, and even gifted you items (koveras' ring anyone...).
7) Sometimes it's better to never have met your father, at all.
8) When you find yourself publically despised or wrongly accused, especially without your wrongdoing or ugly performance, you can rest assured that it is an entire organization behind it and it has to have connections and ties with the entire area's political affairs, at least for their representatives. But even if you assault and kill them, you get a game over, instead of a game won.
9) Donating to the church does NOT raise your reputation.
10) Sometimes, it's better for someone if his pursuers, hunt him down with weapons in hand. Killing in defense is justified, while killing not in defense is not. And hunting with documents, constructed evidence and words, is far worse, than hunting someone with knives. Also, you cannot stealth your way past the summoned guards unnoticed. So you are always screwed.
Always go for the eyes. Both when trying to cripple an opponent or when chatting a girl up. Concentrating on other areas of the human body has sometimes undesired effects
Another political message could be that it is never beneficial for a nation to insulate itself completely from the rest of the world. Candlekeep, Suldanessalar (sp?), the Sahaugin city and the Drow of the Underdark all shut themselves off from the wider world in some way and all ultimately suffer as a result, whilst Baldur's Gate, Athkatla and the smaller towns that largely embrace trade and diversity all thrive.
In SCS version of "Life", your opponents know what you're immune against. And when you throw a rock at one person, everyone else in the neighborhood knows immediately where you are and starts running toward you .
Sorry to rez a dead topic a bit but I am currently playing A Wolf Among Us and realized that I am doing everything *but* talking to the guy I'm suppose too.
So, life lesson from BG and video games in general.
Always do everything else before you do the thing you're suppose to do, in case you miss out on funny dialogue or loot.
I'm buffleheaded, I’m not happy enough, I’m a worm, I’m a beggar, I’m doomed, I’m rather a die-hard fan or a sadist, I’m but grease stains on the wheel - but still my voice is ambrosia
I'm buffleheaded, I’m not happy enough, I’m a worm, I’m a beggar, I’m doomed, I’m rather a die-hard fan or a sadist, I’m but grease stains on the wheel - but still my voice is ambrosia
You may be a simian but you must aspire to exceed your lowborn heritage to reach the vanguard of goonery. Yes, bananas, someone needs to get you a banana.
Comments
More seriously, I won't say this is something I've learned from the game but it's a recurring message throughout the series, is the idea that absolute unquestioning devotion to a cause, even a morally sound one, clouds the judgement and leads to bad choices. From Bhaal devotee Sarevok to Ajantis the unbending Helmite, those who refuse to deviate from their masters' prescribed paths are ultimately weaker for it, whilst those who question authorities both mortal and divine are largely better for it.
The other central message of the series is a very old one indeed, its presence is, I think, pretty self explanatory so I won't give examples and it is simply "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely".
Hm, I'd better be careful from now on.
1) Family bonds can sometimes be shittier than pure, stranger enemies' interaction, and some family members can actually plot against you and wish you broke, jobless, or downright dead...
2) The whole incident about childhood friends and known people, and the dopplegangers they suddenly turned into to slit your unsuspecting throat after some time passes.
3) Despite your best intentions and cleverest dialogue choices, people that are sent against you are ALWAYS going to do you harm and never show another reaction to the predetermined script.
4) You need more people in your group so you can survive.
5) The ugliest territory and the most dangerous beasts, are not forests and animals, but cities and humanoids.
6) You can find yourself implicated in cases that you did nothing wrong, but only had been framed, and suddenly end up behind bars, literally, metaphorically, or both. And from the actions of people that acted friendly towards you, and even gifted you items (koveras' ring anyone...).
7) Sometimes it's better to never have met your father, at all.
8) When you find yourself publically despised or wrongly accused, especially without your wrongdoing or ugly performance, you can rest assured that it is an entire organization behind it and it has to have connections and ties with the entire area's political affairs, at least for their representatives. But even if you assault and kill them, you get a game over, instead of a game won.
9) Donating to the church does NOT raise your reputation.
10) Sometimes, it's better for someone if his pursuers, hunt him down with weapons in hand. Killing in defense is justified, while killing not in defense is not. And hunting with documents, constructed evidence and words, is far worse, than hunting someone with knives. Also, you cannot stealth your way past the summoned guards unnoticed. So you are always screwed.
And when you throw a rock at one person, everyone else in the neighborhood knows immediately where you are and starts running toward you .
So, life lesson from BG and video games in general.
Always do everything else before you do the thing you're suppose to do, in case you miss out on funny dialogue or loot.
...This might not be the best lesson.
Having applied that very lesson to my own life, I can confirm that it's not the worst one, at least in my experience.
2) ... but it doesn't hurt to bring the baddest weapon to the fight.
3) It may be fun to jump headlong into the fray, but it hurts less if you plan ahead.
4) Talk to ALL the hotties. As long as you use a little empathy, you'll end up marrying one by the end of the story.
5) You don't have to be the leader, but with proper skill development, you can still be indispensable.
6) Everything has a weakness. Cheese or not, never hesitate to use that to your advantage.
7) Being an unreasonable d-bag will cost you.
8) Success is the ultimate vengeance.
9) Go for the eyes. GO FOR THE EYES!!!
You may be a simian but you must aspire to exceed your lowborn heritage to reach the vanguard of goonery. Yes, bananas, someone needs to get you a banana.
I learned that from my experiences with Saemon Havarian.