Gaming Baldur's Gate III by Larian Studios (PS5, PC, Mac, Xbox Series X|S)

[Sarni]

It’s a great game and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far but it’s starting to feel a little bit overwhelming. The lore, number of characters, skills tree, items are just a lot to remember and navigate through and I got a feeling if I stop playing for 2-3 weeks (and I got plenty of travel soon) I will just not be able to come back and understand what is happening around me. I am actually trying to play simpler games more rather than engage in long, narrative driven behemoths and this is doing exactly the opposite.

Thinking about lowering the difficulty to Explorer and just enjoy the story and dialogues which are amazing, and forget about all the spells/inventory management/potions/weapons as I suspect I won’t need them as much.

 

[Bebe]

It’s a great game and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far but it’s starting to feel a little bit overwhelming. The lore, number of characters, skills tree, items are just a lot to remember and navigate through and I got a feeling if I stop playing for 2-3 weeks (and I got plenty of travel soon) I will just not be able to come back and understand what is happening around me. I am actually trying to play simpler games more rather than engage in long, narrative driven behemoths and this is doing exactly the opposite.

Thinking about lowering the difficulty to Explorer and just enjoy the story and dialogues which are amazing, and forget about all the spells/inventory management/potions/weapons as I suspect I won’t need them as much.

I've done this for now as I can't keep everything straight in my head to be efficient with combat yet. Too much to learn at this point to deal with actually being punished for all the growing pains involved in learning the game's systems. It's been much more enjoyable.

I'll end up replaying it on a harder difficulty down the road but for now I'd rather just have fun.

 

[The Cat]

Still in Act 2 and trying to explore as much of it as I can.

I know I've missed some stuff and made choices that block things off but am finding it immensely fun and addictive.

Just beat a fight I've tried for around 40 times. Used up an item I was saving for emergencies but I guess this warranted it.

Spoiler

Balthazar you bastard.

 

[Solius]

I’ve just had the stick drift fixed on my controller and oh my god it feels so nice to open the radial and not have it spazzing out between multiple selections.

 

[Redplane]

Lads: I need advice....get BG3 or Elden Ring to play during the winter months? I know two different games in many ways, but the latter I found a sale for.

 

[Bebe]

Lads: I need advice....get BG3 or Elden Ring to play during the winter months? I know two different games in many ways, but the latter I found a sale for.

Depends entirely on whether you want to play an action game or a turn based game. Both are brilliant, but very different. BG3 has amazing cutscenes and dialogue, Elden Ring barely has any of either.

 

[weetee]

Lads: I need advice....get BG3 or Elden Ring to play during the winter months? I know two different games in many ways, but the latter I found a sale for.

Did you play other turn based games recently? Because BG3 is so different to everything I played the last 15years or so while ER felt like an open world version of DS3.

 

[Solius]

Finally killed Gortash.

Spoiler

was a bit weird. I fought my way up to that throne room and killed all the guards. He wasn’t there but I wanted to long rest so I did that and came back. Then all the NPCs in that throne room wouldn’t let me open any doors. Kept saying I’m being watched. So I had to do some stupid work around using fly and opening a door from the other side.

Anyway killed Gortash just about, but my character died. Wyll then kind of had to fill in for a cutscene with Karlach having a break down and she spoke to him like it was my character bit odd.

 

[DatIrishFella]

There is absolutely nothing fecking worst than realizing about 25 mins into a cnut fight that you're going to die.

My 2nd playthrough as an evil bastard Im playing on explorer.

 

[Shane88]

I backed out of the Underdark after the spider cave because I was too scared, felt like I shouldn't be down there.

Then I went to rescue Halsin and one thing led to another, now I'm down in the Underdark again. Feck it, gonna plough on and see what's down there.

 

[Solius]

Spoiler: Act 3

Orin was pretty simple all things considered. I thought her having that Unstoppable thing would prove tough and maybe I missed a way to prevent that but I just kept smashing at her with Karlach. Found the sanctuary twats after a bit more difficult but have both netherstones now. Waiting on the brain for now though.

 

[DatIrishFella]

The Goblin camp is finally done!

Spoiler

Needed one long rest in between 2 of the 3 bosses then fast travelled outta there post haste. The Goblins at the party will never know everyone inside Selunes Crypt has been murdered and stripped of all assests.

They can stay alive. They got an ogre after all.

 

[Shane88]

The Underdark gets weirder and weirder. Just met a "friendly" Mindflayer living amongst The Last of Us extras. Naturally I'm suspicious but I'll see how it plays out.

 

[Solius]

Oof the Raphael fight is destroying me.

He can take like 60-70 HP off multiple party members in one hit. Just constantly being downed/revived and even if I get halfway through the fight he just obliterates hope with one spell ffs. The whole point was to rescue her so I have to start again if she dies.

 

[WI_Red]

Oof the Raphael fight is destroying me.

He can take like 60-70 HP off multiple party members in one hit. Just constantly being downed/revived and even if I get halfway through the fight he just obliterates hope with one spell ffs. The whole point was to rescue her so I have to start again if she dies.

- destroy the pillars ASAP. It dramatically weakens him.

- if you can pass the really high check to get the big demon on your side it dramatically helps.

 

[caid]

Oof the Raphael fight is destroying me.

He can take like 60-70 HP off multiple party members in one hit. Just constantly being downed/revived and even if I get halfway through the fight he just obliterates hope with one spell ffs. The whole point was to rescue her so I have to start again if she dies.

You know casting radiant spells makes you take a lot of damage? I kept hope out of the way, without radiant spells shes mostly useless.

 

[Solius]

- destroy the pillars ASAP. It dramatically weakens him.

- if you can pass the really high check to get the big demon on your side it dramatically helps.

Yeah I actually targeted the pillars and got him on my side with the check. He was useless my first try. Kept missing and then just going invisible so I couldn’t even use him as an extra target to keep heat off me. Finally did it in the end though.

You know casting radiant spells makes you take a lot of damage? I kept hope out of the way, without radiant spells shes mostly useless.

Yeah I wedged her near the back of the room behind a candle in the end and had her just heal everyone.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Yeah I actually targeted the pillars and got him on my side with the check. He was useless my first try. Kept missing and then just going invisible so I couldn’t even use him as an extra target to keep heat off me. Finally did it in the end though.



Yeah I wedged her near the back of the room behind a candle in the end and had her just heal everyone.

Best boss fight ever.

 

[Beachryan]

I hate BG3. After experiencing that level of writing, interactivity and impact on story having to put up with Starfield is utterly ruinious for me.

Dammit Larian, why are you so good!?!

 

[Solius]

Finished it. What a brilliant game. Easily my GOTY and one of the best I’ve played in years.

Spoiler

I killed the netherbrain like I planned. La’zael left because I let Orpheus die. Astarion started burning up in the sun because I basically didn’t do any of his storyline. Karlach started burning up and I had multiple options but I let her die because she said she didn’t want to go back to Avernus and that seemed the only way to keep her alive.

Does seem a bit abrupt. I’m assuming that’s what people had a bit of a complaint about?

 

[Shane88]

In games like Mass Effect you will always have your favourites but I love them all in this. I hate having to leave people behind in camp, they're all so well-written.

 

[Kaos]

I hate BG3. After experiencing that level of writing, interactivity and impact on story having to put up with Starfield is utterly ruinious for me.

Dammit Larian, why are you so good!?!

Starfield just isn't a very good game though, and Bethesda aren't exactly a studio known for their stellar writing. They've been stuck in 2011 and almost all decent modern RPGs put them to shame. Cyberpunk 2077 is another game I've replayed recently to remind me just how hapless Bethesda's writers are.

Larian are wonderful though. Would love to see what they do with a bigger budget and more ambitious IP.

 

[mitChley]

Best boss fight ever.

The music is fantastic.

 

[Siorac]

The music is fantastic.

When he himself started singing, I laughed out loud.

 

[Siorac]

Finished it. What a brilliant game. Easily my GOTY and one of the best I’ve played in years.

Spoiler

I killed the netherbrain like I planned. La’zael left because I let Orpheus die. Astarion started burning up in the sun because I basically didn’t do any of his storyline. Karlach started burning up and I had multiple options but I let her die because she said she didn’t want to go back to Avernus and that seemed the only way to keep her alive.

Does seem a bit abrupt. I’m assuming that’s what people had a bit of a complaint about?

I did the entirety of Astarion's storyline and he still did that. It was a bit underwhelming to have our journey together end like that.

 

[Kaos]

I did the entirety of Astarion's storyline and he still did that. It was a bit underwhelming to have our journey together end like that.

Spoiler

If you let him ascend he doesn't burn up I think

 

[BayernFan87]

I NEVER played a game before where decisions were so hard and felt so impactful.

Spoiler: Act 3

(I'm playing in german so maybe some words are a bit off)
I met Raphael and he offered me a hammer to free Orpheus as long as i give him the crown of the elden brain.
Will i keep trusting the Emperor and let Orpheus be in his prison?
Will I free Orpheus and maybe destroy all mind flayers and get rid of my parasite?
(Will i continue snacking all additional parasites regardless even though i fear it will be bad for me in the end?)
At least I'm sure I don't want Raphael to get the crown.
So will I try to get the hammer another way or will I promise Raphael the crown but at the end decide to not give it to him and fight him?

Urgh, so hard, but i love it

 

[Mr Pigeon]

Spoiler

If you let him ascend he doesn't burn up I think

Spoiler

I let him ascend. Yes; I ALLOWED it. And the little cnut immediately thanked me by acting like a chav who's just won the lottery, talking about how I'm inferior to him. At the first opportunity I killed him. I didn't want to because I liked him - he was my friend. But I'm the boss.

 

[Kaos]

I NEVER played a game before where decisions were so hard and felt so impactful.

Spoiler: Act 3

(I'm playing in german so maybe some words are a bit off)
I met Raphael and he offered me a hammer to free Orpheus as long as i give him the crown of the elden brain.
Will i keep trusting the Emperor and let Orpheus be in his prison?
Will I free Orpheus and maybe destroy all mind flayers and get rid of my parasite?
(Will i continue snacking all additional parasites regardless even though i fear it will be bad for me in the end?)
At least I'm sure I don't want Raphael to get the crown.
So will I try to get the hammer another way or will I promise Raphael the crown but at the end decide to not give it to him and fight him?

Urgh, so hard, but i love it

Spoiler

do yourself a favour and fight him. The battle and the music in particular are absolutely epic

 

[Massive Spanner]

I did the entirety of Astarion's storyline and he still did that. It was a bit underwhelming to have our journey together end like that.

the end in general is a tad underwhelming, I've heard they're working on improving it. it's weird they talk about having a camp party but then nothing actually happens.

When he himself started singing, I laughed out loud.

yeah the voice actor fecking nailed it.

 

[evil_geko]

It would be a travesty if this game doesn't win GOTY, I know GOTY is more of a popularity contest than objective quality game award but come on, cRPG genre deserves this recognition after so long. Lets take a break a bit from the same repetitive 3rd person adventure games winning it every year (and I am saying this as someone who actually loves that genre), it is boring. This is a masterpiece.

 

[DWelbz19]

Finished it. What a brilliant game. Easily my GOTY and one of the best I’ve played in years.

Spoiler

I killed the netherbrain like I planned. La’zael left because I let Orpheus die. Astarion started burning up in the sun because I basically didn’t do any of his storyline. Karlach started burning up and I had multiple options but I let her die because she said she didn’t want to go back to Avernus and that seemed the only way to keep her alive.

Does seem a bit abrupt. I’m assuming that’s what people had a bit of a complaint about?

Pretty much, yeah. Also:

Spoiler

I found the Act 3 bosses outside of Raphael (who was optional) to be very weak. Orin had that one spell that stops her taking damage for a bit but after that she's a doddle. Gortash with his bow and bombs too, yawn. Ketheric was the hardest of the three!

 

[DWelbz19]

I backed out of the Underdark after the spider cave because I was too scared, felt like I shouldn't be down there.

Then I went to rescue Halsin and one thing led to another, now I'm down in the Underdark again. Feck it, gonna plough on and see what's down there.

In terms of act 1 chronology, I would say the most optimal play would be:
Save the Emerald Grove/deal with the Goblins > Do all of the Underdark > Go to the Githyanki Creche

 

[Shane88]

In terms of act 1 chronology, I would say the most optimal play would be:
Save the Emerald Grove/deal with the Goblins > Do all of the Underdark > Go to the Githyanki Creche

My backwards arse has gone: Assessed Emerald Grove situation.

Sidetracked with Auntie Ethel. Ran away.

Spider Cave.

Went to Goblin camp. Checked some stuff out.

Did basically everything in the Underdark.

Solved the Emerald Grove situation.

Now I'm deciding whether to tackle Ethel again, destroy the paladins who are giving Karlach grief or sort out the goblins and rescue Halsin.

Also giving Gale and Karlach their first minutes of the season. Benching Wyll after some poor performances and resting Shadowheart.

 

[DWelbz19]

My backwards arse has gone: Assessed Emerald Grove situation.

Sidetracked with Auntie Ethel. Ran away.

Spider Cave.

Went to Goblin camp. Checked some stuff out.

Did basically everything in the Underdark.

Solved the Emerald Grove situation.

Now I'm deciding whether to tackle Ethel again, destroy the paladins who are giving Karlach grief or sort out the goblins and rescue Halsin.

Also giving Gale and Karlach their first minutes of the season. Benching Wyll after some poor performances and resting Shadowheart.

The beauty of the game is that you really can do things in any order and the game levels itself out! Especially in the early act. I think Ethel will absolutely push your shit in if you’re under levelled though. She’s a bitch to deal with

 

[siw2007]

Need to ask a question:

Spoiler: Owlbear cub

Trying to finish things around the first area. I have found the owlbear cub but only after I have killed the three leaders of the goblins, but have left the camp hostile towards me. The walkthrough tends towards doing this before killing the goblins. I have spared the mother, is it still possible to recruit the cub from this scenario?

 

[DatIrishFella]

The beauty of the game is that you really can do things in any order and the game levels itself out! Especially in the early act. I think Ethel will absolutely push your shit in if you’re under levelled though. She’s a bitch to deal with

So I'm just in Act II at the moment.

I went through Underdark to get to Act II as Halsin mentioned.

Spoiler

I met the Gith before leaving (without Lae'zel as they kept killing us) and the option to back to the mountain pass is still there?

Should I do it eventually?

Ive just left the House of Healing in act 2. Doing a undercover quest for absolutist Z'rell/Kethric?

 

[DWelbz19]

So I'm just in Act II at the moment.

I went through Underdark to get to Act II as Halsin mentioned.

Spoiler

I met the Gith before leaving (without Lae'zel as they kept killing us) and the option to back to the mountain pass is still there?

Should I do it eventually?

Ive just left the House of Healing in act 2. Doing a undercover quest for absolutist Z'rell/Kethric?

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but

Spoiler

once you go through the elevator from the Underdark to the Shadow Cursed Lands, Act 1 is done and you can't go back that way.

Just carry on doing everything in the Shadow Cursed Lands. No spoilers but if you travel up to the upper north end of Reithwin there is a Masoleum which has a really big quest for one of your companions

 

[DatIrishFella]

Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but

Spoiler

once you go through the elevator from the Underdark to the Shadow Cursed Lands, Act 1 is done and you can't go back that way.

Just carry on doing everything in the Shadow Cursed Lands. No spoilers but if you travel up to the upper north end of Reithwin there is a Masoleum which has a really big quest for one of your companions

Spoiler

Is it the same Masoleum you get sent to just after you meet Kethric in Moonrise towers?

To fetch a relic for him? Or is it another Masoleum?

Have Karlach, Wyll, and Shart as main wrecking crew.

 

[Solius]

Starting my second game. Yes immediately after as I have 3 days off this week.

Is Sorcerer a fun playthrough? I want to ensure I have something like Guidance for rolls and a cantrip that is either Eldritch or similar to Eldritch. I don’t see either on the character screen when picking sorcerer though. Dunno if I wanna keep running out of spells in battle so would need an alternative action to use in combat.