How much of this environmental stuff is there in the game?

[BornToKill]

Hey,
just wanted to know how much of this environmental stuff is there in the game?
I don't like using explosive barrels or shoving people from cliffs to win fights as this destroys imo any feel of character progression.
Another question: Can you win all encounters without using this stuff?

[Planeforger]

You can definitely win all of the encounters without using barrels, environmental surfaces, or exploiting the shove mechanic.

As for how much is in the game...it varies. A bunch of goblins have alchemist's fire, and a bunch of ambush spots have explosive barrels.

It's certainly a lot less prevalent than DOS2, and I'd say most fights don't feature them at all.

[Edstyles]

I havent used a single barrel so far. Its not a problem. As for shoving people I have done it , but mostly when its particualrly fun to see a goblin fall off a cliff xD , but no exploitation of it I would say. Usually just use jump for disengage, might be a bit cheesy jumping that is, but I wouldnt know that as far as ive heared there is suposed to be a dodge mechanic that is not implemented so may as well use the jumping for now.

[Weresheepherder of Original Sin]

Yes, no problem winning without using barrels etc.

[Archform]

Yes, but likely all the environment stuff is gonna stick around.

[Specter]

There are various spots throughout the world you can find to use to your advantage. Keep acid arrows or someone with acid splash on you. For instance if you're going rambo on the goblin camp you can use various traps they build against them... but you need to aim at vines/ropes with acid to get the ball rolling so to speak

[mysticfall]

While I agree with others that you can probably win without using such things, I'd encourage you to try to be open-minded about the aspect.

IMO, those vocal minority in this forum have been painting quite a distorted picture about DOS2 and its influence over BG3.

Despite how they may want you to believe it, combats in DOS2 are not all about stacking up oil barrels and blowing the entire screen with them.

Of course, the game allows you to do such things. But it's just one of the many opportunities it provides for the players which were not possible in other games, rather than something you are forced to do in order to win in DOS2.

One of the biggest reason why DOS2 was so successful is because of the freedom it provides to the players, in terms of many creative strategies and multiple ways to resolve the quests.

As such, I think the introduction of such DOS-like elements to BG3 is more of a blessing than a curse. You can of course, pretend they don't exist and play it the old way. And of course, I have no right to force you to play the game this or that way.

But I can say that it might be better if you can try to be a bit more open-minded about such things, because they exist because the game developers intended to add a new dimension to their game using such elements, and many BG1/2 fans including myself have been enjoying BG3 all the more because of them.

[pnk]

Theres WAY to much emphasis on inviromental effects and is schews with the balance , my warlocks Imp pet is more effective and a way better companion than an ekstra warrior for instance basicly because it can fly around the battlefield totally immune to ground effects, basicly every single fight have this groundeffect mechanic incorporated due to even cantrips haveing it as a component now. dosent feel like any Ad%D or D&D game ive ever played . don't get me wrong i loved DOS 2 but i do not think all the mechanics from that game translates well into D&D movement,& class rules

[sim-h]

I want to adventure in a 'believable' fantasy setting (if that's not a contradiction in itself) and at the moment the large amounts of fire barrels everywhere certainly detracts from that hugely.

Shoving not quite so bad - more an issue that it is a bonus action not a main action.

The number of barrels in my opinion should be greatly toned down. Having said that I only use them myself once or twice, there's no need. Knowing they are there, however, BUGS ME.

[TheManInTheAlley]

I completely disagree with your assessment of environmental aids (one of my favorite moments in the game was shooting a chick in the face through an open window, and then having one of my companions race up a ladder behind her, fail to backstab her, and then push her off the second story balcony instead; it was ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ glorious) but to answer your question, they are everywhere, and ever present.

You can't go five feet without hitting barrels, fire, acid, slime, water, cliffs, balustrades, twisting vines, rock traps, burning webs, verticalities of all kinds, environmental hazards and aids are absolutely constant in this game. I could do with fewer liquid hazards, specifically, as I think Larian has a hard-on for them in all of their recent games, but yeah, environmental presence in combat is completely unavoidable. Whether you choose to use it to your advantage is up to you.

[Jiro Dragonheart]

Usually if you want a barrel, you gotta bring one yourself. Its far less of a thing in this game.

[qwerty]

Enviromental things aren't that bad. They just need to remove absurd aspects of it. Like running around with a stack of 10 explosive barrels in your pocket then throwing them miles away on your enemies heads.

[Sir_Baldur]

If they spent as much time writing the game as they did coding barrels then game would be great.

I wouldn't look to this game for any deep story telling. It's meant for Playstation/Xbox and isn't a real follow up to BG2.

It's not the combat.

It's the lack of text.
It's the lack of being able to solve any combat through roleplaying/non-violent solutions.

This game is more a dating sim for 14 year olds and was designed to be like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, with better graphics and Final Fantasy Tactics fighting.

*shrug*

Don't expect much. This game is for kids.