[GUIDE] You're playing Baldurs Gate 3 wrong, how to do it right.

[Ellie]

Intro

Whether role-playing games are new for you, or you're just not familiar with the particular kind of RPG that Baldurs Gate 3 is, chances are, you're playing BG3 wrong. But no worries, weary traveller, I shall take you by the hand and walk you through the superior way to enjoy the game.

The issue

There is two main ways that people are playing the game wrong. Firstly, they want to get all content into one playthrough, and secondly, they refuse to accept that any situation is not going exactly the way they intended it to go. People suffering the first affliction may look for ways to cheese, for example, the companion roster, to make sure they have the maximum number of people in their camp, whether or not it makes narratively sense. The second affliction, in turn, leads to non-stop savegame scumming, basically sidestepping the roll-system altogether, because no failed roll is ever accepted, no matter how trivial it is.

This is fundamentally misunderstanding the nature of what BG3 is. The game is, as far as that is possible, a narrative sandbox game. It presents you with a landscape to traverse, and you should find a path through it, like a wanderer, an adventurer, not aim to explore the entire landscape in one go. After you found your way to the other side, you may start the adventure over, and, depending on your decisions and luck, you may unfold an entirely different, unseen part of the narrative map.

This way, BG3 affords you with the potential for many playthroughs and more novelty in each playthrough than a single player game would usually contain. It also lets you effectively forge your own adventures. With so many moving paths, if you accept not being on 'the ideal one', you will likely end up on something that actually is your adventure, a version of the story that barely another player will have seen the way you have seen it.

An example from myself with heavy spoilers for the entire game:

Zevlor.

In my first playthrough, he was my mentor, my guide. I defended the tieflings on his request. For him, I spilled Kagha's blood, at his request, I eradicated the Goblin scurge.

When he failed his oath to protect his people, I saved him from his illithid capture, and tried to remind him that he is not defined by this one weak moment, reaching out to him at his lowest point.

Then, I find myself atop the elder brain, the only way to stop catastrophe from unfolding blocked by a snarling dragon, with no feasible way for me to get past it. Calling out for help, it's Zevlor, my mentor, my old friend, who throws himself at the beast without hesitating, slaying it, and opening the way for me -- but, sadly, giving his life. With this last act of bravery, his redemption, he dies a hero, amidst fire and blood, through his sacrifice allowing Faerûn to see another morning.

On my second playthrough, Kagha makes a lot of sense, arguing why the tieflings should leave the grove. I try to convey this to Zevlor, who stubbornly refuses to leave, forcing my hand. I end him unceremoniously in some random cave, where he will feed the rats for the remainder of my adventure. Through twisted paths, I end up again on the elder brain, but this time, without Zevlor there to intervene, on my way to the portal, I lose Jaheira, closing the book on a character I first met in the Friendly Arm Inn, many lives ago.

BG3 has many moving parts and it will reward you making your own story.

The solution

So, what is a new player supposed to do? Here are a few things:

Forge a character

During character creation, don't just think about stats and perks, think about personality, backstory. What sort of person will your character be, what are their strengths, weaknesses, values. When the game starts, make decisions like they would. Go the places they would, in the order they would, speak with the people they would, and say the things they would. (For my main playthroughs, I actually wrote out a bit of backstory on a notepad, to keep in mind who they are supposed to be.)

Accept failure

Don't savescum, and accept negative outcomes. If a skillcheck fails, you failed, move on. If a character wasn't convinced by your rhetoric, you failed, move on. A real adventure isn't a straight path from start to finish, and your successes become meaningful exactly because they aren't certain. A nat 20 will feel so much better when you give yourself real consequences for failure.

Embrace romance

Some of the most memorable moments of BG3 are within the romance system. My personal highlight of the entire game happens at some point in Lae'zels romance path. People will meme about all companions just wanting to snu snu, but that isn't the case. The romance is actually written very well, and gives a lot of depth to the characters.

Closing words

There you have it, adventurer, the superior way to play BG3. People will yell at me, saying that everyone can play BG3 however they want, the save-scumming is fine, that they don't have time to play the game more than once anyway, because they have three wives and fifteen kids, so they have to 100% it on the first go. All of that is, of course, cope, and you will see the truth of my words if you give this way of playing the game a go.

Thank you for reading my manifesto.

[Яeplicant]

Shouldn't it be posted in the guide section rather than general discussions?

That's my only complaint. So far. *squint*

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Lizzy:

You're playing Baldurs Gate 3 wrong, how to do it right.

Intro

Whether role-playing games are new for you, or you're just not familiar with the particular kind of RPG that Baldurs Gate 3 is, chances are, you're playing BG3 wrong. But no worries, weary traveller, I shall take you by the hand and walk you through the superior way to enjoy the game.

The issue

There is two main ways that people are playing the game wrong. Firstly, they want to get all content into one playthrough, and secondly, they refuse to accept that any situation is not going exactly the way they intended it to go. People suffering the first affliction may look for ways to cheese, for example, the companion roster, to make sure they have the maximum number of people in their camp, whether or not it makes narratively sense. The second affliction, in turn, leads to non-stop savegame scumming, basically sidestepping the roll-system altogether, because no failed roll is ever accepted, no matter how trivial it is.

This is fundamentally misunderstanding the nature of what BG3 is. The game is, as far as that is possible, a narrative sandbox game. It presents you with a landscape to traverse, and you should find a path through it, like a wanderer, an adventurer, not aim to explore the entire landscape in one go. After you found your way to the other side, you may start the adventure over, and, depending on your decisions and luck, you may unfold an entirely different, unseen part of the narrative map.

This way, BG3 affords you with the potential for many playthroughs and more novelty in each playthrough than a single player game would usually contain. It also lets you effectively forge your own adventures. With so many moving paths, if you accept not being on 'the ideal one', you will likely end up on something that actually is your adventure, a version of the story that barely another player will have seen the way you have seen it.

An example from myself with heavy spoilers for the entire game:

Zevlor.

In my first playthrough, he was my mentor, my guide. I defended the tieflings on his request. For him, I spilled Kagha's blood, at his request, I eradicated the Goblin scurge.

When he failed his oath to protect his people, I saved him from his illithid capture, and tried to remind him that he is not defined by this one weak moment, reaching out to him at his lowest point.

Then, I find myself atop the elder brain, the only way to stop catastrophe from unfolding blocked by a snarling dragon, with no feasible way for me to get past it. Calling out for help, it's Zevlor, my mentor, my old friend, who throws himself at the beast without hesitating, slaying it, and opening the way for me -- but, sadly, giving his life. With this last act of bravery, his redemption, he dies a hero, amidst fire and blood, through his sacrifice allowing Faerûn to see another morning.

On my second playthrough, Kagha makes a lot of sense, arguing why the tieflings should leave the grove. I try to convey this to Zevlor, who stubbornly refuses to leave, forcing my hand. I end him unceremoniously in some random cave, where he will feed the rats for the remainder of my adventure. Through twisted paths, I end up again on the elder brain, but this time, without Zevlor there to intervene, on my way to the portal, I lose Jaheira, closing the book on a character I first met in the Friendly Arm Inn, many lives ago.

BG3 has many moving parts and it will reward you making your own story.

The solution

So, what is a new player supposed to do? Here are a few things:

Forge a character

During character creation, don't just think about stats and perks, think about personality, backstory. What sort of person will your character be, what are their strengths, weaknesses, values. When the game starts, make decisions like they would. Go the places they would, in the order they would, speak with the people they would, and say the things they would. (For my main playthroughs, I actually wrote out a bit of backstory on a notepad, to keep in mind who they are supposed to be.)

Accept failure

Don't savescum, and accept negative outcomes. If a skillcheck fails, you failed, move on. If a character wasn't convinced by your rhetoric, you failed, move on. A real adventure isn't a straight path from start to finish, and your successes become meaningful exactly because they aren't certain. A nat 20 will feel so much better when you give yourself real consequences for failure.

Embrace romance

Some of the most memorable moments of BG3 are within the romance system. My personal highlight of the entire game happens at some point in Lae'zels romance path. People will meme about all companions just wanting to snu snu, but that isn't the case. The romance is actually written very well, and gives a lot of depth to the characters.

Closing words

There you have it, adventurer, the superior way to play BG3. People will yell at me, saying that everyone can play BG3 however they want, the save-scumming is fine, that they don't have time to play the game more than once anyway, because they have three wives and fifteen kids, so they have to 100% it on the first go. All of that is, of course, cope, and you will see the truth of my words if you give this way of playing the game a go.

Thank you for reading my manifesto.

It is fine.

[Dangeki]

im playing right because im always right

[Ellie]

Originally posted by Яeplicant:

Shouldn't it be posted in the guide section rather than general discussions? :lunar2019deadpanpig:

I mean. Maybe. Once Larian officially endorses it, which I'm sure they will swiflly do, this will be pinned to the top of the guides section.

[Bray of Cats]

Originally posted by Lizzy:

Originally posted by Яeplicant:

Shouldn't it be posted in the guide section rather than general discussions? :lunar2019deadpanpig:

:burosob:

I mean. Maybe. Once Larian officially endorses it, which I'm sure they will swiflly do, this will be pinned to the top of the guides section.

They will pin it to the top at least twice I think?

[Illamard]

Bg3 is not a rouge like so why dis people for save scumming? People will play the way they like there is no right or wrong way. I like to min max all my play through to fit my narrative, others use exploits to speed run the game in under a hour. Why even say who is right or wrong if we all get to play?

[SecretDragonSludge (Drugs)]

You pfp is Meru

[Space Cowboy]

I think the game design still rewards "minmaxing the storyline" more than going your own way and more often than not there are clearly ideal solutions to quests instead of things just going differently. Fallout 2 is an excellent example where you can follow different routes, and experience different storylines depending on the factions you join - and non inherintely lead to a better or worse outcome. For example in New Reno where you can join one of four families and you'll always get a different story and all are mutually exclusive to each run - you simply can't experience "everything".

I'm in act 3 by now and I gonna finish the story but from what I've experienced I have no desire to do a second playthrough.
The whole thing feels too contained within a small area with no other cities or villages to explore other than Baldur's Gate.
Apart from that there's also lack of cultural destinction between the races you encounter which leaves a huge potential in terms storytelling on the table. Most people feel like carbon cutouts of current day diverse, politically correct stereotypes apart from maybe the Githyanki. Fear of Drow, Tieflings, Duergar or whatever for what they are is almost abscent - almost everyone is just a human with different physical features, so the cultural and racial aspect that you would expect from a fantasy setting like this is mostly abscent and that makes the world feel inauthentic, muted and kinda boring.
And while the system does allow for some diverse playstyles with multiclassing, the 12 lvl limit feels as if it stops just when it becomes interesting with feats mainly being focussed on stat improvements.

All in all to me personally the world feels too containt and constraint to feel the need to come back for a second playthrough and thus I'm going to cheese it to the end. I'm honestly struggling through act 3 right now hoping that I'm gonna be done soon so that I can take a look at some other cRPGs.

[Popsicles]

I agree that I enjoyed my first run immensely by living with my decisions. I can't imagine reloading over and over until I get the outcome 'I' want. I'll let the fates take my character in whatever direction they wish.

That being said, if people want to reload and save scum, that's their decision.

Live and let live.

[z__frog__z]

i'm for letting player play as they want but indeed , a game like as BG3 focusing on story telling i'm more on letting my character follow the flow :).

the thing with current marketing AAa game , press/dev/influencer 're more and more on the trend game its amazing because you need skill xD .. but mostly all those 're 'empty or use all boring sub-gameplay to keep the player in-game , i.e a slow beautiful animation or learn the combat pattern .. in fact its all artificiel mechanic used for decade to give a feeling on contents but there's no diversity , no " complexity " ( sandbox feature gameplay : see the number vids showaces , BG3 provide an event for unexpected behavior from the player ) .

in reallity BG3 not adding something new , all those feature 're core gameplay on old game but it was the game last year to let both press and player reminds , a game genre ts just a map with lore and let the player do as they want .. not those BS trend open world with the same and over activity behind grinding system or paywall in case on game as service .

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by Lizzy:

Embrace romance

Some of the most memorable moments of BG3 are within the romance system. My personal highlight of the entire game happens at some point in Lae'zels romance path. People will meme about all companions just wanting to snu snu, but that isn't the case. The romance is actually written very well, and gives a lot of depth to the characters.

Hilarious. Referring to any part of the game, especially the romances, as well written. People have such low standards these days.

[seandeven]

How dare the assumption my style of play. I can't even..... (however feels best in the context of pixilated proclivaties)

[Fluffykeith]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Originally posted by Lizzy:

Embrace romance

Some of the most memorable moments of BG3 are within the romance system. My personal highlight of the entire game happens at some point in Lae'zels romance path. People will meme about all companions just wanting to snu snu, but that isn't the case. The romance is actually written very well, and gives a lot of depth to the characters.

Hilarious. Referring to any part of the game, especially the romances, as well written. People have such low standards these days.

There's always one...

[seeker1]

Originally posted by Lizzy:

Some of the most memorable moments of BG3 are within the romance system. My personal highlight of the entire game happens at some point in Lae'zels romance path. People will meme about all companions just wanting to snu snu, but that isn't the case. The romance is actually written very well, and gives a lot of depth to the characters.

So, Lizzy, though I could discuss other points, I will focus on this one.

People call this a dating sim. I guess, if you're trying to work on "10 steps to dating a Githyanki" skills. Or "how to impress your lovely Tiefling". They call it a sex simulator. Come on, without BG3 Sex Framework, it's tamer than stuff you can see on late night Cinemax, it's ridiculous. (That mod IMHO can let you add the right amount of ... spice ... to your game, including setting up, well, encounters that wouldn't otherwise be feasible. Look. Do we know for sure Alfira and Lakrissa wouldn't be OK with a third person some night? Etc.)

I call the romances nice side stories. With some incredible nice moments and story beats that have nothing to do with sex per se. Lae'Zel's is a tremendous example. She starts out a horny Klingon battletoad and grows into a person who realizes there are more important things in life than battle, like sunrises. I think they are worth experiencing, even if the sexual stuff onscreen is pretty tame, and they aren't even written as well as a Harlequin romance novel,, but look, set your expectations correctly for a video game.

Do you have to do any of them? No. But I did 4, because they are all side stories I wanted to see. And the only one I will complain about is Minthara's, because hers seems bugged and unfinished. Even still, it has an interesting ending and epilogue. Not because I need a waifu, my RL relationship is just fine, but it's story I wanted to see,

And dammit, if I wanted to see my sweet (Tav) Clariane kiss Karlach while both of them were naked, well that is between me and her, eh?

[Adahn]

This game doesn't work if you don't save scum. Entire story lines and quests will end if you fail one check because the developers didn't write alternative paths for failing those checks. You're meant to reload and try again to progress the stories.

Disco Elysium is a game where you don't actually have to save scum because there are alternative paths you can take even if you fail the skill checks. Failing a skill check doesn't mean you automatically fail the entire quest right there and then. You can still progress through a different approach.
Saying BG3 is well written shows that you've never actually played well written games.