Baldur's Gate: Immersion and Choices
Cynic2701
Member Posts: 1
The experiences that really drew me into the original Baldur's Gate materials were the really involving story and the immersive atmosphere and game play. I'll always remember the sound track and the nature sounds, and how hearing an enemy spellcaster start chanting something would always make my heart jump into my throat. It's these kind of experiences that make me fondly remember how immersive the original game was.
I have not played this DLC yet; I intend to once a patch is released to address the numerous bugs reported by players.
The first time I found the girdle of Masculinity/Femininity on the Ogre south of the Friendly Arm Inn was a really interesting moment--and I wish that (at least according to reports and not my first hand knowledge) a quest could be generated to get this item for this character. Yet, I also agree with many of the complaints - who, while not offended by the inclusion of transgendered characters, are offended by the apparently poor quality of the script writing or how this was presented in the game - that see this as an affront to the Baldur's Gate series.
Baldur's Gate has always been about the player's choices. You, as the player, can have your choice of Race, Class, Alignment, Ability Scores, Strategy, Sex, etc. The modding community is perhaps one of the best of any game, and there are a slew of incredible mods that add so much original content and additional functionality - including "non-standard" gender choices - that any inclusion of forced dialogue or decision making feels insulting to the community of people who love Baldur's Gate. I want to make a choice because I feel a vested interest in a particular outcome, because I want to make that choice in support of another character, or in support of a particular goal.
My favorite part of Baldur's Gate II was Edwina Odesseiron and I sort of wished that he/she could have a storyline wherein he stays as a she permanently. I think that Amber Scott and Beamdog really missed a great opportunity to create a transgendered character that I would really care about as a player. There are so many avenues that could have been explored that could give so much more depth to a character: why not make a new recruitable NPC with an engrossing storyline wherein you quest for a spell or item to change their physical sex characteristics? I'd love to play a game where I can help a character I care about--regardless of what that character's sex or gender is. That is the Baldur's Gate I remember from almost 20 years ago.
I hope that the community can gather together as a party before venturing forth.
I have not played this DLC yet; I intend to once a patch is released to address the numerous bugs reported by players.
The first time I found the girdle of Masculinity/Femininity on the Ogre south of the Friendly Arm Inn was a really interesting moment--and I wish that (at least according to reports and not my first hand knowledge) a quest could be generated to get this item for this character. Yet, I also agree with many of the complaints - who, while not offended by the inclusion of transgendered characters, are offended by the apparently poor quality of the script writing or how this was presented in the game - that see this as an affront to the Baldur's Gate series.
Baldur's Gate has always been about the player's choices. You, as the player, can have your choice of Race, Class, Alignment, Ability Scores, Strategy, Sex, etc. The modding community is perhaps one of the best of any game, and there are a slew of incredible mods that add so much original content and additional functionality - including "non-standard" gender choices - that any inclusion of forced dialogue or decision making feels insulting to the community of people who love Baldur's Gate. I want to make a choice because I feel a vested interest in a particular outcome, because I want to make that choice in support of another character, or in support of a particular goal.
My favorite part of Baldur's Gate II was Edwina Odesseiron and I sort of wished that he/she could have a storyline wherein he stays as a she permanently. I think that Amber Scott and Beamdog really missed a great opportunity to create a transgendered character that I would really care about as a player. There are so many avenues that could have been explored that could give so much more depth to a character: why not make a new recruitable NPC with an engrossing storyline wherein you quest for a spell or item to change their physical sex characteristics? I'd love to play a game where I can help a character I care about--regardless of what that character's sex or gender is. That is the Baldur's Gate I remember from almost 20 years ago.
I hope that the community can gather together as a party before venturing forth.
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Comments
I would add that you should begin playing the game now. You might not get this impression from these forums, but the game is stable and almost entirely bug-free! It's just that the presence of a bug is more newsworthy than its absence. Obviously there are more bugs now than there will be in one month's time, but one thing you will not want to miss is the experience of playing the game unspoiled. By the time a patch comes out, these forums will be full of details about traps, battles, encounters, and the game's ending. I for one am really enjoying being able to play the game without any metagame knowledge.
Good luck!
I agree i havent ran into anything game breaking yet, but there are quit a few bugs to be worked out and i've been told multiplayer does not work??
Nothing at all was "broken". Pillars of Eternity, when it came out, was 10-fold more buggy.
Anyways, I would suggest you put this polemic out of your mind and just try the game. It is really, really good.