I want to get into BG3, but…..

[I'm too old for this]

So, long time baldurs gate player/fan here. I started when I was younger with BG1 when it came out, as well as 2. Played all dnd games from neverwinter nights 1-2, expacs etc.

With BG3 out I decided I’d give it a try. I learned larian was heading development and although I wasn’t a fan of their combat approach of turn based, i was willing to try.

I want so much to get into it but…I just can’t. Because my main fear came
True; larian evironmental AOE damage areas and dreaded barrelmancy.

Some friends of mine love this, because they feel it adds a larger strategic element to the game. You can start mass fires, freeze over water, electrocute enemies inside water, etc. it is indeed a great boon to give players a chance to think outside the box, I agree.

However, I feel the sword swings both ways with it, because the AI is capable of the same thing. And since it’s not a grid based battle map, I found myself spending more time focusing on dodging AOE puddles than enjoying battles.

The other problem I feel is that it impacts the usefulness of certain classes. Any class with spells, specifically fire, ice, lighting etc, become immensely useful due to being able to capitalize on all barrel, throwable flask and aoe pools.

Unfortunately it leaves other classes such as fighters stuck slogging their way through everything, or being forced to play the same game of alchemy flask abuse. Kind of counter active to have a sword wielding badass in plate doing that, IMO.

Since release, is there an option to tone down or just remove the sheer amount of barrels, flasks or AOE damage, maybe even a mod? I think the game has so many great things about it, and the combat is fine, I just find the issues above are what’s preventing me from getting into the game properly.

Seems silly I know, but I guess we all have our preferences!! Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks!

[Wokelander]

I play on Tactician and don't really engage in barrelmancy.
Sure, I utilize environmental effects for combats, but my main gripe with DOS2 was the whole covering the battlefield in all manner of gunk and juices, and BG3 is A LOT better at this. They struck a good balance between providing elemental options and not overdoing it I think, all classes are pretty viable, the focus is more on figuring out how to build good synergies and effective tactics than environmental stuff

[id795078477]

To be honest, the worst enemy of the engaging combat in BG3 aren't surfaces or barrelmancy, it's minmaxing builds. Once you get to that point where you have some of those uber-builds, you can basically solo any game difficulty without breaking a sweat. Barrelmancy is just a child play compared to that.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Khorvale:

IThey struck a good balance between providing elemental options and not overdoing it I think,

That's debatable.

[Wokelander]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by Khorvale:

IThey struck a good balance between providing elemental options and not overdoing it I think,

That's debatable.

You think what I think is debatable? :D

[Fingusa of the East]

Originally posted by id795078477:

To be honest, the worst enemy of the engaging combat in BG3 aren't surfaces or barrelmancy, it's minmaxing builds. Once you get to that point where you have some of those uber-builds, you can basically solo any game difficulty without breaking a sweat. Barrelmancy is just a child play compared to that.

WotC: "3.5 was too minmaxy, lets make sure 5e has no minmaxing potential!"
Proceeds to allow minmaxing anyway.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Khorvale:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

That's debatable.

You think what I think is debatable? :D

Yes, I don't think they "struck a good balance" at all.

All of these elements are way overdone in BG3.

[Kryldost]

I usually just pick up all the barrels and store them at camp xD All the barrels. I saw there's 2 more barrel of runepowder in the gnome hideout in rivington and I'm extremely tempted to swipe them.

[1337_h4x0r_xXx_deathlord666_xXx]

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Originally posted by Khorvale:

You think what I think is debatable? :D

Yes, I don't think they "struck a good balance" at all.

All of these elements are way overdone in BG3.

I mean it's your opinion, and opinions are chronically bad to debate...so I'd say it's not very debatable at all :P
We both are simply of very different opinions about that ;)

[DragonSoundxSG]

Apparently the the top two killers of villains in BG3 are barrels and ledges.

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by Powerword: Shill:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Yes, I don't think they "struck a good balance" at all.

All of these elements are way overdone in BG3.

I mean it's your opinion, and opinions are chronically bad to debate...so I'd say it's not very debatable at all :P
We both are simply of very different opinions about that ;)

That's pretty debatable too

[Pan Darius Cassandra]

Originally posted by DragonSoundxSG:

Apparently the the top two killers of villains in BG3 are barrels and ledges.

https://youtu.be/wfKWiaqTsUs?si=fBS4r6Lx7r4MVotE

[Wokelander]

Originally posted by Powerword: Shill:

Originally posted by Pan Darius Loveless:

Yes, I don't think they "struck a good balance" at all.

All of these elements are way overdone in BG3.

I mean it's your opinion, and opinions are chronically bad to debate...so I'd say it's not very debatable at all :P
We both are simply of very different opinions about that ;)

That was my point also, he can disagree with what I think but he can't really say it's debatable that's what I think

[IvoryTemplar]

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

So, long time baldurs gate player/fan here. I started when I was younger with BG1 when it came out, as well as 2. Played all dnd games from neverwinter nights 1-2, expacs etc.

With BG3 out I decided I’d give it a try. I learned larian was heading development and although I wasn’t a fan of their combat approach of turn based, i was willing to try.

I want so much to get into it but…I just can’t. Because my main fear came
True; larian evironmental AOE damage areas and dreaded barrelmancy.

Some friends of mine love this, because they feel it adds a larger strategic element to the game. You can start mass fires, freeze over water, electrocute enemies inside water, etc. it is indeed a great boon to give players a chance to think outside the box, I agree.

However, I feel the sword swings both ways with it, because the AI is capable of the same thing. And since it’s not a grid based battle map, I found myself spending more time focusing on dodging AOE puddles than enjoying battles.

The other problem I feel is that it impacts the usefulness of certain classes. Any class with spells, specifically fire, ice, lighting etc, become immensely useful due to being able to capitalize on all barrel, throwable flask and aoe pools.

Unfortunately it leaves other classes such as fighters stuck slogging their way through everything, or being forced to play the same game of alchemy flask abuse. Kind of counter active to have a sword wielding badass in plate doing that, IMO.

Since release, is there an option to tone down or just remove the sheer amount of barrels, flasks or AOE damage, maybe even a mod? I think the game has so many great things about it, and the combat is fine, I just find the issues above are what’s preventing me from getting into the game properly.

Seems silly I know, but I guess we all have our preferences!! Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks!

I read all that, and my response isn't going to change.

If you want to play it, then play it.

If you just want to complain about a game you've never played, go somewhere else.

[I'm too old for this]

Originally posted by IvoryTemplar:

Originally posted by I'm too old for this:

So, long time baldurs gate player/fan here. I started when I was younger with BG1 when it came out, as well as 2. Played all dnd games from neverwinter nights 1-2, expacs etc.

With BG3 out I decided I’d give it a try. I learned larian was heading development and although I wasn’t a fan of their combat approach of turn based, i was willing to try.

I want so much to get into it but…I just can’t. Because my main fear came
True; larian evironmental AOE damage areas and dreaded barrelmancy.

Some friends of mine love this, because they feel it adds a larger strategic element to the game. You can start mass fires, freeze over water, electrocute enemies inside water, etc. it is indeed a great boon to give players a chance to think outside the box, I agree.

However, I feel the sword swings both ways with it, because the AI is capable of the same thing. And since it’s not a grid based battle map, I found myself spending more time focusing on dodging AOE puddles than enjoying battles.

The other problem I feel is that it impacts the usefulness of certain classes. Any class with spells, specifically fire, ice, lighting etc, become immensely useful due to being able to capitalize on all barrel, throwable flask and aoe pools.

Unfortunately it leaves other classes such as fighters stuck slogging their way through everything, or being forced to play the same game of alchemy flask abuse. Kind of counter active to have a sword wielding badass in plate doing that, IMO.

Since release, is there an option to tone down or just remove the sheer amount of barrels, flasks or AOE damage, maybe even a mod? I think the game has so many great things about it, and the combat is fine, I just find the issues above are what’s preventing me from getting into the game properly.

Seems silly I know, but I guess we all have our preferences!! Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks!

I read all that, and my response isn't going to change.

If you want to play it, then play it.

If you just want to complain about a game you've never played, go somewhere else.

I have played it, a few hours in. Hence me making a post asking about the current state of the above issues I’ve had with the game; if they’re the same, If they’ve changed, if they’ve been removed, etc. the whole purpose of the post wasn’t to complain, it was to explain why I’d love to get into it more, what’s held me back, and to find out from the community if there’s a solution to said issues that have held me back from going any further since I played it.

[Mollerz]

Anyone remember BG3 in the initial EA days when they tried to insert DS2 barrelmancy into the game and the entire community said NO.

Then Larian toned it down a lot. Like a lot lot. It was a portent of the good things to come from Larian and their willingness to listen to the DnD community.

Mollerz Farm remembers.