Is the SJW element in SoD as bad as they say?

[Mentos]

I'm skeptical about playing it now. I don't like the idea of having social justice shoved down my throat anymore than other political topics. The occasional one liner isn't really a big deal but people have made it sound like the SJW agenda of Amber Scott runs rampant all over her writing.

While I don't agree with many things pushed by SJW's (which I won't get into on here) I tend to just ignore it unless it's basically being forced in front of me screaming LOOK AT ME I EXIST, JUST ACCEPT IT. It doesn't really 'offend' me, it just pisses me off that I'm being forced to look at or hear something I have already made up my mind about and will not change it. It's a facepalm at first, but then it's like...a child that isn't yours screaming non-stop at an olive garden and all you want is to enjoy your meal but you can't because you now have a migraine.

So is it really like that?

[Tyler Durden]

It's really not, and this is coming from someone who really dislikes such things. I enjoyed SoD for what it was, another adventure into the forgotten realms.

[Mentos]

Originally posted by Tyler Durden:

It's really not, and this is coming from someone who really dislikes such things. I enjoyed SoD for what it was, another adventure into the forgotten realms.

Thanks, I was holding my breath for an onslaught of hateful responses about how I am bigoted and a snowflake. Instead I immediately got an actually useful reply. Am surprised and grateful.

[Tyler Durden]

We play games and fantasy to get away from a lot of the things in the real world, so with that sort of thing, I understand why people wouldn't want to be around it in games. That's just my opinion, though.

I do hope you give it a shot, as it has some really cool ideas. It's not perfect, for sure, but it's still really fun.

[Tasi]

Hi,
as someone who is not fan of Beamdog I have to say: SJW element in SoD does not makes it unplayable.

From my perspective:

• decent combat encounters
  
• not very good writing (some parts are OK while some other parts are just bellow average) - but instead of relying on opinion of others you may ask yourself if you like writings of addition Beamdog characters n BG 1 & 2 (if you do then you may be OK with SoD).
  
• not very good story (even original game has some plot holes but this time it is obvious)
  
• some SJW stuff: not heavy. It is like some comments which throw me out of focus like when mine companion made comment about my unrelated decision - that comment basically implied that I am racist (similar feeling for me as if my colleague would say that I am racist because I have purchased pizza instead of kebab - I would probably take that guy as SJW fanatic and never spoken with him again); not everything is gender related, they have these left-thinking comments on different topics. Again: not everywhere but even few of these is more than enough.

Originally posted by Keksalot:

people have made it sound like the SJW agenda of Amber Scott runs rampant all over her writing.

I do not think Amber Scott should be blamed. Yeah, she identified herself as SJW and made some arrogant comments but let’s be honest - she was not alone. I believe everything had to be discussed and agreed within whole Beamdog creative/content team.

Suggestion: try all Beamdog characters in original game and just "interpolate":)
It is definitely not worst game I have ever played but I will probable never play it again.

[fauxpas]

I consider it unplayable; although the worst bits are in the beginning; after that it becomes more stupid than political.

[Tyler Durden]

What's unplayable about it?

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by Tyler Durden:

What's unplayable about it?

Let's start with the fact that a better story could be written by a barrel of meth fueled monkeys, then move on to the railroaded locking of previous areas one the "story" says you have to move one, and then finish by lack luster combat and boring level design.


And all of that is ignoring the fact that the entire thing was made by people who expressed thier dislike and disgust of the Original Saga, which even IF SoD wasn't meh at it's very best, would have been enough to sour it.

[AlexMBrennan]

What's unplayable about it?

The game engine isn't suitable for massive fights - you can see how noisy the combat log can get with a dozen fighters but they had to add 100s more fighting offscreen for the sake of drama: It doesn't matter if you can see what's going because all that matters to Beamdog is that it looks like an epic big fight.

They also take away your camera controls to make sure you view the spectacle the way it was intended - being able to see what's going is not a priority.

[Planguy]

I would say the sjw stuff isn't a reason not to buy the game, but mostly because there are other reasons to not buy the game. I mean the game is fun enough, I suppose. I liked the loot. But the game just feels so unneeded. This big epic quest that takes place between the two Baldur's Gate games is wedged so uncomfortably into the timeline. Like when you first meet Viconia in the original Baldur's Gate she seems really naive about how Drow are perceived by surface dwellers, thinking that she'll get accepted easily. By Baldur's Gate 2 she has had an experience where she tried to buy some land near Beregost and was betrayed by some humans who she was starting to trust. I'm assuming that encounter happened between Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, because otherwise Viconia wouldn't be so naive about how her people are treated on the surface in BG1. When does that encounter happen with Siege of Dragonspear added to the timeline?

The sjw stuff is pretty annoying, though. Like the bisexual single mother who doesn't need no man and said ladies daughter whose response to you saying that you'll make sure her mom doesn't die isn't "Thanks!" or "My mom will make sure you stay alive too!" but "My mom doesn't need you to protect her." There is a goblin who calls you racist. Safana goes from a character who is supposed to be a skilled manipulator of men to someone on tumblr's idea of a strong women who doesn't take any ♥♥♥♥ from men who is really just kind of a shrew.

[Damn_Monkey]

I would suggest the game if it is on sale for 5$. The writing and story is pretty bad. One could argue that writing the middle of a story when the beginning and ending are already very well known is challenging. But then these are supposed to be professional writers. This is what they are getting paid to do.

SoD feels like a first attempt fan fic. Not a quality offering from a gaming studio.

If you enjoy the combat and general theme of the Baldur's Gate series, and are able to read some really bad writing and just say "sure, ok." then this might be a game for you.

I personally wouldn't pay 20$ for it knowing what I know now, but I would have bought it when it's on sale for 5$.

[Mentos]

Alot of that is pretty disappointing. Why must the fanatics ruin everything they touch...

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Tasi:

that comment basically implied that I am racist

Can you tell details? The one racist line in SOD is just humorous banter, if you hit M'Khiin with your mouse pointer as if you were about to target a goblin for an attack.

[Tasi]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Can you tell details? The one racist line in SOD is just humorous banter, if you hit M'Khiin with your mouse pointer as if you were about to target a goblin for an attack.

Sorry, I do not understand this joke:
So, all goblins look alike to you. That's what you're saying? Racist

[EmotionallyBroken]

Originally posted by Keksalot:

I'm skeptical about playing it now. I don't like the idea of having social justice shoved down my throat anymore than other political topics. The occasional one liner isn't really a big deal but people have made it sound like the SJW agenda of Amber Scott runs rampant all over her writing.

While I don't agree with many things pushed by SJW's (which I won't get into on here) I tend to just ignore it unless it's basically being forced in front of me screaming LOOK AT ME I EXIST, JUST ACCEPT IT. It doesn't really 'offend' me, it just pisses me off that I'm being forced to look at or hear something I have already made up my mind about and will not change it. It's a facepalm at first, but then it's like...a child that isn't yours screaming non-stop at an olive garden and all you want is to enjoy your meal but you can't because you now have a migraine.

So is it really like that?

You should check out my screen shots for BattleTech
(and my follow up review if you're thinking about getting it)

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by Tasi:

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

Can you tell details? The one racist line in SOD is just humorous banter, if you hit M'Khiin with your mouse pointer as if you were about to target a goblin for an attack.

Sorry, I do not understand this joke:
So, all goblins look alike to you. That's what you're saying? Racist

That's because you're clearly racist.

...

Don't worry, I say it isn't a joke either, but D'll never admit bd doing anything wrong.