Topic: Baldur's Gate 3

@Ravix I tried it and I didn't like it at all! I don't think I'm a reliable authority on this type of game though. It's just not for me.

@Ravix I’m still wandering around the Wilderness, trying to soak it all up. I spent the weekend defogging the map more, and basically getting all my ducks in a row. I’m probably being too obsessive about looking at every nook and cranny, but even at that, I know I’m missing some things. I have the Grove more or less temporarily settled and I’m trying to make my way through the Goblin Camp now. I’ve got to assassinate three leaders, according to my journal, and also track down Halsin. I’m hoping to do all this without an all-out battle erupting.

There’s some marshlands I’ve found and a creepy woman and a girl I’ve supposed to track down, but I’ve put that quest line on hold for now. Hopefully finishing off the Goblin Camp stuff doesn’t lock me out of it.

Oh, and being nice to Gale and feeding him magical items has given him the wrong idea about my intentions, apparently. 😅 He’s the first to really want to get romantic with me. Astarion was getting a little flirty too, but I can’t tell is that’s just his personality and him wanting to seduce me into letting him keep snacking on my blood. Did that once and didn’t appreciate the debuff, pal. 😆
I think I’ve heard that you can only romance one character (?) so I’m definitely trying to keep my options open this early in the game. Kinda leaning Karloch, tbh. I know Shadowheart is the usual female choice for most, but she’s still annoying me, personality-wise. Although there’s moments of her showing some kindness off and on.

The combat is getting quite a bit harder and I’ve had the entire party die a few times and nearly all die several times more. I’m level 4, so I don’t know if this is normal at this stage of the game. I’m probably 25 hours into it. The combat and general gameplay is so deep that it is overwhelming, and I can’t help but feel like I’m missing some essential elements of playing the game. I’m periodically looking at online tips, but trying not to do it too much because I do want the initial playthrough to be relatively pure. As an example, I just recently figured out how pickpocketing works. I don’t know if it’s quite consistent with my ‘good guy’ playthrough, but it sure is useful. Especially on vendors.

But overall it’s the story and characters that are really making me enjoy it right now. I think the multiple systems and mechanics will eventually become more clear, but at this stage it’s the storyline and making consequential choices that keeps me engaged. It’s definitely a game that I think about often, even when I’m not playing!

@HallowMoonshadow I’ve actually come to the transition path to the Mountain Pass (from the Goblin Camp) but I’ve not entered it, since I was worried that going too far west would trigger things I’m not ready for. And while I was walking towards it, my whole party collapsed with some powerful being getting into our minds, so I figured there’s some kind of major plot point there that I’m not ready for. Gotta figure out this Halsin guy and these Goblins first.

About how many hours have you invested into your current run? You’re three whole levels ahead of me, but I feel like you’re only slightly further along in the overall journey. I feel like I’ve explored maybe 75% of the map…? But maybe getting this Goblin camp taken care of will get me up past level 5 and then the last 25% of the map will get me another couple levels?

@HallowMoonshadow I seem to remember you can change it so counterspell doesn’t get used automatically; I think it was called “reactions” so you can choose when you want to use the ability just so it doesn’t get wasted on low level attacks.

Good to hear you’re having fun though @Th3solution and well done on finding the spiders as I never did! It’s crazy how much missable content there is though (I also never found who I think is Shovel in one of the pics from @ravix on the previous page either) and I find it impressive that Larian were more than happy to not let you find things in the game.

@Th3solution indeed. A game that burrows into the mind, if you will 😁

If you're a good guy, well, don't pickpocket... but you can't really stop Astarion if he wants to pickpocket people my go to play, as a kind of rogueish Bard who encouraged his thievery, was to play music to distract people while Astarion took advantage of the situation. We may have poisoned a bunch of 'people' that way too. But, if mean if you're chatting to a character and a split off Asatrion happens to pickpocket the person you're talking to, hardly your fault, is it (hint hint)

It can be hard, I got wiped out a bunch of times as a newbie to turn based rpgs like this, and probably still sometimes forget some of the tools and tactics at my disposal. I think the absolute main thing in my opinion was getting AC high, and your attack bonus as + as possible, and then using the high percentage attacks off the back of it. It took me a while to understand the real benefit of buffs and control/support spells too. I perfected getting Astarion as an assassin to always have advantage for great damage and 99% attacks with various support spells. I used Gale as an absolute spell cannon at times. But it is the intricacies of the Shadowheart, Gale or any other support spell characters that is really important for getting better. Anything that gives you as much advantage as possible and debuffs as many opponents as possible.

Also: Scrolls. Scrolls don't require spells slots and they are absolutely everywhere and are a good way to test spells out (wizard types can also permanently learn those spell scrolls via the menu somehwhere, the menu where you can swap out some characters spells at any time) And I still forgot to use those scrolls in so many battles 🤦‍♂️ same as potions.

You can also hurl healing potions at your team mates, rather than using healing spells, which can be useful.

The creepy lady? Don't let her hear you say that, laddy. Poor old Ethel.

Next time you're on screenshot your character and their stats sheet if you will, I can have a nosey to check if there's any simple tweaks to make it less hard for you. Plus I'm sure everyone would like to see your Tav (you're probably right on track though, as I think mine was reaching lv5 at the point you are at. And I've still not gone to visit Ethel pr discover everything you've yet to discover on this run)

Edit: I'd take the north/east path, and ignore the west one, in terms of the mountain path route, when you're ready (which will be ages from now haha) but then again, it might loop round to where the content is anyway. Needless to say, you are not 75% done with the map

@Thrillho yes, Shovel is an absolute legend too. I'm still annoyed at myself that I f***ed up on my Dark Urge run and now no longer have access to them 😭 on my first run, I think I was in Act 3 when I noticed I actually had the scroll and managed to keep the summons permanently at that point. But, damn, Shovel would fit my Durge so well, and now it's too late and they are gone into the ether as I'd summoned them and was just strolling round the place pleased with myself that I had them for the whole game this time, and then realised... I did not. Some hyenas ate it before I remembered what I had to do 😭😭😭😭😭

@Ravix Ideally throw potions near people and not at them as they can actually cause damage (splash effect can also heal multiple people if close together)

I'm currently in Act 3 of a second playthrough and was planning on adding some stuff afterwards. I'm taking a second from a tricky fight to just comment on how annoying the NPC allies AI can be. It feels like they are moving to get themselves hit by as many reaction attacks as possible before doing something. Also everyone seems completely oblivious to ground obstacles. Just had a mage ally decide to walk up to an enemy to do something but fall flat on their ass on the ice patch there and lose their turn. Absolutely love this game but it does have some silly annoyances.

@Thrillho ah yes, I have only been doing it to downed party members so far to revive, but the potion puddle splash technique I remember now from first playthrough.

Having checked last night, @Th3solution you are very much on track level wise

This is my Dark Urge having arrived at the Goblin Camp, and knowing how much more I can yet do, including Ethel, the same as you, Level 5-ish seems about right, maybe even a bit overlevelled by the end of it, although I don't think it is really possible to be too OP on levels alone. (You can go back to Ethel later by the way, first time I came back from a later act to clear that quest up. I know you were wondering)

On my own current run I'm trying out different Druid types to see what spells my Monk can have in reserve (Druid will mostly be my support class, despite putting 3 levels in early. That was the plan, anyway, but its been fun casting spells and I haven't explored beyond lv1 Monk yet)

I've found Land perhaps has a bit more for my Monk multiclass than Moon, as misty step is a perfect ability to have at hand, especially as I don't really look to use wild shape in combat much. Can't wait to try out the Mushroom Monk though 😅 my gear is poison based too, so it might be quite tasty.

@Thrillho Indeed, the game is extremely deep and I’m sure I’m missing loads of content. I’m trying to control my FOMO because trying to do everything seems to be impossible. The game was clearly made with the intent to be replayed ad infinitum, but the issue is that it’s so huge and long that most of us won’t ever have the time to play it more than once or twice. Unless we choose to ignore all the other pile of games that are constantly coming out.

@Ravix @HallowMoonshadow Cheers for the info. There’s a steep learning curve, for sure. Not sure when I’ll get my next extended time with the PS5, but if I think of it I’ll post some screenshots.

And my apologies to Karlach for botching her name, but I just always call her “Sweetheart” or “Cupcake” anyways. 😛

@Th3solution how's the playthrough going?

I've paused mine for a while, but I did have a couple of sessions where I pushed quite a way further into Act 1 so it will all be fresh in my mind. A little underground, a little overground, so to speak.

@Ravix Unfortunately I haven’t had time to make significant progress. I guess I’m sort of paused right now also and may not have time this weekend, much to my chagrin.

I've just stopped my playthrough for the evening after failing 2 attempts at the 'Save the Gondians' quest. I forgot how tricky this one is from the first playthrough.
Late Act 3 comment below
My second attempt was going really well but I failed to get to one of the 'devices' in time and it wiped them. if only the npcs you are trying to save actually could think to grab it themselves instead of running right by them. Oh well I managed it the first time so will keep trying. I'm grateful that I'm going to play as evil when attempting a Tactician playthrough so they can just die. Plus I can let Shadowheart stay Shar to skip the House of Hope fight which is another painful one.

I wish there was a warning for idiots like me when for when you are about to concentrate on a spell whilst already concentrating on one. A couple of times this playthrough I have fatigued myself because I forgot I was concentrating on Haste and activated another spell.

Anyway, nearing the end of my second playthough. I'm pondering whether to jump into my Tactician/Evil run for the Platinum whilst my knowledge of everything is fresh, to make it easier, or to take a break with something else first. There are very few games I'd consider another playthrough as soon as I'd finished but this is one.

@BearsEatBeets yeah, the amount of times I broke concentration for a spell was ridiculous. I did at least learn that was a way to cancel your spells after battle so your party don’t keep running through Cloud of Daggers..

@Thrillho Yeah I discovered the cancel concentration button this playthrough. I was hoping one of the updates since my first playthrough might have fixed the AI of companions/npcs blindly walking into fire/acid/traps etc but no. You have to be quick with the cancel though.

Getting near the end now. I've not played out many different choices this time but still eager to the bits I have.

Have spent some quality time “Down, down, down by the river” 🎶 and so I finally have some thoughts, which I’ll share soon, but I want to formulate them because I’ve done and seen quite a bit since my last update.

So, more to come. Suffice it to say that the game is living up to all expectations and it’s a great journey. I do fine myself doing a few reloads every once in a while, which I know is sacrilege to the BG purists. It’s just when I make a decision that kills off a main character or ruins my “good” playthrough then I have gone back to a former save a few times to correct my mistakes.

Tagging @Ravix since you’ve been wondering about my BG3 run. I’m still making my way through! I’m in the Underdark and feel comfortable leaving behind everything now on my way to Moonrise. I’m sure i haven’t done everything in the first map, but it’s time. I’m ready to progress the sorry. I’m level 6.

@Th3solution nice. Glad to hear you've been able to get stuck in a bit. If you do want to see a bit more, it is possible to do both the underdark and the mountain pass concurrently, but if you're going along nicely in one, it is probably best to stick with it for your own sake and then deviate if you naturally feel like you want to see the light once more later on 😛

I agree, some games are best left to absorb into the mind, let them seep in as you evaluate everything you've done before moving on to the next stage. I'll keep a look out for your actual write up anyway to see what you've been up to 🍻

@Th3solution You definitely want to do the mountain pass! I think it’s fair to say that there aren’t any areas that you should consider optional in this game..

I think it’s pretty common that Wyll becomes the forgotten companion but others really love his Eldrich blast move as you can power it up in so many ways.

I kept everyone as their origin class though and didn’t really tinker with multiclassing either as it sounded too complicated. There are loads of Reddit threads that can suggest easy multiclassing options and open hand monk is a popular class on there so you’ve probably got lots of options. I think the new barbarian subclass can mix well.

@Thrillho I’ll plan to try the Mountain Pass too then. I went that way briefly before I fully entered the Underdark and I got waxed pretty cleanly by that first encounter with some big dudes that had a group of zombies that rush you and they kept raising them back from the dead everytime I killed them. I think I’m better prepared to give it another go now though.

I have to clear the village of the duergar and explore that area and I think that’s about all I have left of the Underdark. I’ve kept it to the end because I love having the Sovereign Glut as a companion. Wish I could take him with me throughout the campaign.

Oh and I think maybe I need to find some kind of forge down here too that I keep hearing about.

And yeah, I’m not sure why Wyll is such a forgotten companion. I think it’s because that outside of Eldritch Blast, he’s a less powerful version of other characters. At least that’s how I found him to be when I played around with him. His story actually seems kind of interesting though.