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6210 Aug 11, 2023 @ 11:19am
What's your take on save scumming?
In a turn based, heavy RNG game (especially if you're masochistic as I and turn off Karmic die and play on Tactician), does it feel right to just reload saves until you get the perfect rolls? Is there a point to RNG if you're just going to reset the world until it is in your favor? Should I just "consider lowering the difficulty"?

I love challenging gameplay alongside long lasting if not permanent choices made. But I don't know if turning a game like BG3 or any other D&D based game into a roguelike is the answer. Likewise, lowering the difficulty cheapens any victory, knowing the developers have crafted a more challenging mode.
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Originally posted by LokitheWeaver:
Having played D&D, starting back in the dark ages with paper manuals, etc. I have some pretty strong bias. No AI will ever match a creative, reactive human being as a DM. "Save scumming" is simply a mechanism to make up for the inadequate ability of a computer, as a DM and the need to have a mechanical interface.

How many times have I reloaded because I had my "leader" move to a location, only to have the rest of the party decide to pick their own route, alerting the very mobs I was trying to avoid? How many times have I reloaded because I cast a spell to initiate combat, take advantage of my ability to scout, only to be hit with a cut scene or some other game mechanic that made my prep completely useless - often did I lose the initial surprise (which would have been quite easy to spot for a human DM, but I also lost the spell resource or attack option for when the AI decided to actually start the combat.

Ever accidentally shot / attacked a party member because you realized it would make more sense for another character to take their action, but did not go through the process of "unreadying" the attack from the first character? More spell slots wasted, attacks wasted and friendly fire that would never happen with a human DM.

Or not being able to "see" critical information ahead of me, due to the visual presentation of overhead terrain, etc.?

The list is endless. Often I rage quit. Fortunately "reload a save game" will somewhat compensate for the limited DM ability of a computer game.

I appreciate all the work the developer did to add as much freedom of choice but it will never match that of a human who understood the game rules, the campaign and the overall requirement that a game be fun. If it meant you let the players "get away" with a sneaky attack, based only on their gut instinct that the creatures in front of them were enemies, or fudging a dice roll (or two) when a streak of "natural 1's" meant your campaign was about to come to an unexpected end . . . excellent DM.
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Showing 46-60 of 105 comments
Prince of Pompeii Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:05pm 
Some people like playing hardcore and permadeath.... I don't.
Some people like to speed run through their game... I don't.
Some people fixate on the dating sim aspect, I do not.
Some people spend hours on character creation just to get the best looking character... This I definitely do.

It doesn't matter what someone else does in their single player experience. If it doesn't effect my experience, I don't care.

The moment I load into the game, it is my world and I do whatever the F#$^ I want.

Really, this topic is becoming more and more like click/troll bait.
Last edited by Prince of Pompeii; Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:06pm
#46
SuspectedCrab Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:06pm 
They let you save during a conversation (excellent game design, imo) for one of many reasons I would like to think.

I measure how important an outcome might be and will reload to get it. I've also let a lot of rolls fail.

I view save scumming in RPGs a common, natural thing. I view rushing through games and skipping side quests a sad thing.

I'm almost never one of those people who has to redo hours of progress because they forgot to save.
#47
DiabloMuerto Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:08pm 
I don’t really understand the point of this discussion. If you think it lessens the challenge or whatever then you’re free to not do it, simple. There’s nothing that forces you to load from save every time you get an unfavorable outcome.
#48
Private Pyle Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:09pm 
I barely know how to play is it ok if i reload. Hehe.
#49
Entellex Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:11pm 
Depends on the scenario. I am a bit new to DnD and Baldur's Gate.

I definitely save before each battle.

Besides that, it just depends on how important the scenario and the result is to me.

To each their own.
#50
DeuceBane Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:12pm 
LEGAL
#51
Tenor Sounds Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:13pm 
Great feature, I plan to only really use it if something weird happens like a bug or accidental click though. Habitual save scumming makes my playthrough feel too plastic-perfect after awhile.

Regarding other people? It's their game, they can play however they want. You can't play it the wrong way, only differently.
Last edited by Tenor Sounds; Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:16pm
#52
grape cough syrup Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:13pm 
Missing an attack can be the difference between winning and losing a fight - especially if that fight is coming down to the wire. I have no issue with save scumming. I try to minimize my save scumming by not doing it much early to mid battle, but when the end nears I'm ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ doing it if i miss an attack and die.
#53
アンジェル Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:13pm 
Originally posted by Rhen:
What's your take on save scumming?
In a turn based, heavy RNG game (especially if you're masochistic as I and turn off Karmic die and play on Tactician), does it feel right to just reload saves until you get the perfect rolls? Is there a point to RNG if you're just going to reset the world until it is in your favor? Should I just "consider lowering the difficulty"?

I love challenging gameplay alongside long lasting if not permanent choices made. But I don't know if turning a game like BG3 or any other D&D based game into a roguelike is the answer. Likewise, lowering the difficulty cheapens any victory, knowing the developers have crafted a more challenging mode.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1086940/discussions/0/3808408328768732312/
#54
jack_of_tears Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:18pm 
Do it if you want to. Don't do it if you don't want to.
I don't savescum; I've seen no reason to do so; I don't feel like I have to succeed all the time.
No judgment if you prefer to play that way, though - it's your playthrough, not mine.
Last edited by jack_of_tears; Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:18pm
#55
One Man Army Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:22pm 
You play the way you want to play. It's a single player game by heart.
I play on Tactician with Karmic dice off.
In dialogues sometimes I reload just to see what result the other answers would give, but then I always continue with the first choice I made.
#56
6210 Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:28pm 
Originally posted by Myth Alric:
Save scumming implies repeatedly reloading over and over to get the desired results. Occasionally reloading because you miss click something, or forgot you had an ability or the option you pick does something totally unexpected, is normal.


Originally posted by DiabloMuerto:
I don’t really understand the point of this discussion. If you think it lessens the challenge or whatever then you’re free to not do it, simple. There’s nothing that forces you to load from save every time you get an unfavorable outcome.

I genuinely wanted to gauge other gamers' perspectives on the matter to help enlighten me on a different angle when I approach these kinds of games. And I already found one comment that did just that. Again, I enjoy the challenging aspects alongside meaningful choices being made, but I am also deterred at the thought of just restarting from square one whenever I encounter horrific failures. Am also in belief of the topic being an eye opener to others who might only play these games one way but never another. Still, I appreciate your inputs.
#57
anon8431 Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:30pm 
Personally, I tend to reload games *a lot*. Mostly because for important seeming dialog trees I tend to try every option (sometimes nested several deep), then when I know what they all do I'll pick the one I want the most.

Started Act 3 not long ago, so near the start of that. My quicksaves are currently numbered in the 1900's at this point.
Last edited by anon8431; Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:32pm
#58
Ares Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:35pm 
I don't really save scum combat rolls, but I save scum the ♥♥♥♥ out of scenario outcomes. Like I'll often pick conversation options I wouldn't normally pick to see what happens and then reload and do the thing I wanted to do. Or reload conversation rolls to see what they unlock.
#59
jack_of_tears Aug 11, 2023 @ 12:37pm 
The only time I would be tempted to savescum would be in making decisions, but I'm planning on playing the game multiple times so I'm not worried if I miss something. Hell, I missed Lae'zel completely in this playthrough and I've just gone with it.
#60
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Baldur's Gate 3 > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: Aug 11, 2023 @ 11:19am
Posts: 105

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