Baldur's Gate III (PC/Mac/PS5/XSX) - Larian Studios (100% CONFIRMED)

[Zetanio]

I always liked the max level last act of campaigns I’ve managed to get that fair. I’m sure the same will go for this. I have no complaints. My naked barbarian is fucking shitstomping stuff

[Karbuncle]

Yah I've no trouble clearing it now either, but I'm only on normal/middle difficulty. If they did/were to raise the level cap I wouldn't mind them adjusting some late game fights to be a bit harder.

[Odesseiron]

i think that's the entire community's wish right now. if they don't i have to imagine a BG4 will be in progress at some point for that 12-20 gameplay. Larian said currently they don't have shit planned but rather are doing an internal company-wide post-mortem while working on bug fixes and the like. will prolly only start developing whatever's next towards the end of the year. fingers crossed.

Man I don't believe this for a second. In an interview with Swen, he was just playing coy due to NDA's and such, but to think they wouldn't have at least a small team planning a full on expansion or sequel, I would call bullshit. ESPECIALLY after the some of the stuff I've seen in act 3. With so much success and almost beating out Hogwart's for most concurrent users, this game is doing HUGE sales, on top of the 2.5 million it sold in early access. Even if it's in the infancy stages, I'm sure there's something being worked on, or set up to be very soon. I think Larian's money problems are over for itself and can continue to self publish forever.

[Karbuncle]

I mean they have the bones already built, I know its not as easy as snapping their finger and BAM more content, but I do think it'd be silly not to take this insane momentum the game has created and work on some little DLCs here and there, since the heavy lifting (assets, engine, etc) are already built. Still gotta create interesting landscapes/worlds/etc I know, but yah.

Man, just like Elden Ring, its always so refreshing to get a taste of a game thats just... good, and is designed from day 1 to just be a good game. No modified skinner boxes, no mtx, no grindy bullshit added for player retention/hour invested metrics, no insanely bloated, useless, and redundant itemization categories to artificially lengthen the grind, just a good game.

Its why I'm going to cope for some DLC or an Expansion in the future lol. I do believe they didn't have any pre-planned DLC/Expansions while making the game as they wanted to make a full game without cutting content for a DLC/Expansion, but I'm sure after a much deserved break for the staff, they'll probably work on some DLC/Expansions, as I thought I read they expressed the desire to work on smaller projects.

[Zealot]

Meh... just erased a bunch of progress because I just didn't like the direction I'd been going in. Plus geez I'm tired of my guys seeming like they're made out of paper, Gale especially seems to get hit for excessive damage every time.

[Karbuncle]

Yah mages are very paper in exchange for B O O M. You could try using a spell slot on Stoneskin or whatever the DND version is called, it at least raises your AC to I think 17 or 18 (Until the next long rest?) and goes quite a way into making your mages a little bit tankier. You could also pick up the Tough Feat (+2HP per level) to add up to 24 extra HP to him. Theres a few other defensive options i just don't recall them off the top of my head.

Not a spoiler but idk better safe than sorry -> Piece of Armor late game

Spoiler: show

Theres an amulet in late game from a uh, special place, that raises your Constitution to 23, that kinda fixes the mages HP problem at the sacrifice of his Amulet slot, as well as a 21(I think) AC Heavy Armor which has a special perk that "You are proficient with this armor while wearing it" so you don't gotta have Heavy Armor proficiency to use it. But they come from arguably the hardest optional boss in the game in Act 3 and require you to take a few choices you might not otherwise make as well as solving a little puzzle to open the way to the area you get them. Not everyone will find these items

Act 3 Optional Boss spoiler too, related to the above items, though I don't specify any names or the zone, so very minor spoilers ->

Spoiler: show

That fight having a unique song attached to it was amazing. The two "big players" in the fight sing a duet during the fight, If you've done the fight you know what I'm talking about especially after describing some of the armor you get from the zone.

And if you don't care about spoilers, super super spoilers for that Act 3 optional boss I've only been vaguely describing above and how to "Find" him.

Spoiler: show

You sign a contract with Raphael to get the Hammer to break a dude free from inside your relic. After signing the contract, go to the "Devil's Fee"(?) Inn in Act 3 and upstairs theres a summoning circle on the floor with a few items hidden around the room. You toss a Diamond, the Unique coin found in that room, some Incense, and a Skull in the summoning circle circles(They'll glow orange and be unable to be picked up if you tossed them in the right spot), and in the center you throw the Infernal Rock also found in that room and BAM, you open a portal to the "House of Hope", Raphaels home.

In there you can free Hope herself (Which is why you need to sign the contract cause you >need< that Hammer to free her), and in the room with your Contract has 2 pieces of armor. An Amulet that raises your CON to 23, a Pair of gloves that raise your STR to 23, and your Contract which you rip up. Theres a lot more to explore in that house too, so feel free.

Then you go to the basement and free Hope, and run to the escape portal only to be stopped by Raphael and a few friends. Anger ensues, you can defeat him if you're lucky, and on his body is the 21AC Legendary heavy armor that anyone can wear.

[Zetanio]

Meh... just erased a bunch of progress because I just didn't like the direction I'd been going in. Plus geez I'm tired of my guys seeming like they're made out of paper, Gale especially seems to get hit for excessive damage every time.

uhhh. he's a wizard.

[Zetanio]

Use line of sight and actively retreat with him.

[Odesseiron]

Yah mages are very paper in exchange for B O O M. You could try using a spell slot on Stoneskin or whatever the DND version is called, it at least raises your AC to I think 17 or 18 (Until the next long rest?) and goes quite a way into making your mages a little bit tankier. You could also pick up the Tough Feat (+2HP per level) to add up to 24 extra HP to him. Theres a few other defensive options i just don't recall them off the top of my head.

Not a spoiler but idk better safe than sorry -> Piece of Armor late game

Spoiler: show

Theres an amulet in late game from a uh, special place, that raises your Constitution to 23, that kinda fixes the mages HP problem at the sacrifice of his Amulet slot, as well as a 21(I think) AC Heavy Armor which has a special perk that "You are proficient with this armor while wearing it" so you don't gotta have Heavy Armor proficiency to use it. But they come from arguably the hardest optional boss in the game in Act 3 and require you to take a few choices you might not otherwise make as well as solving a little puzzle to open the way to the area you get them. Not everyone will find these items

Act 3 Optional Boss spoiler too, related to the above items, though I don't specify any names or the zone, so very minor spoilers ->

Spoiler: show

That fight having a unique song attached to it was amazing. The two "big players" in the fight sing a duet during the fight, If you've done the fight you know what I'm talking about especially after describing some of the armor you get from the zone.

And if you don't care about spoilers, super super spoilers for that Act 3 optional boss I've only been vaguely describing above and how to "Find" him.

Spoiler: show

You sign a contract with Raphael to get the Hammer to break a dude free from inside your relic. After signing the contract, go to the "Devil's Fee"(?) Inn in Act 3 and upstairs theres a summoning circle on the floor with a few items hidden around the room. You toss a Diamond, the Unique coin found in that room, some Incense, and a Skull in the summoning circle circles(They'll glow orange and be unable to be picked up if you tossed them in the right spot), and in the center you throw the Infernal Rock also found in that room and BAM, you open a portal to the "House of Hope", Raphaels home.

In there you can free Hope herself (Which is why you need to sign the contract cause you >need< that Hammer to free her), and in the room with your Contract has 2 pieces of armor. An Amulet that raises your CON to 23, a Pair of gloves that raise your STR to 23, and your Contract which you rip up. Theres a lot more to explore in that house too, so feel free.

Then you go to the basement and free Hope, and run to the escape portal only to be stopped by Raphael and a few friends. Anger ensues, you can defeat him if you're lucky, and on his body is the 21AC Legendary heavy armor that anyone can wear.

This whole thing was absolutely incredible! HEAVY SPOILERS

Spoiler: show

It's funny, there are so many options in this game, I did it completely different. I ignored Raphael's deal in the brothel. I found some sort of book/parchment later on that stated the owner of Devil's Fee had experience with breaking into the Hells. For a hefty sum, you can get her to break you into Avernus without having to sign the contract. So I did all that stuff, saved Hope, took all the items, etc. Didn't need to make the deal with Raphael. When you get to Avernus, you are disguised by Hope and sneak around, then you can find out a fuck the devil and find out the password to get the hammer.

Got to the final battle...which was very tough to say the least. That music though was absolutely epic. I loved it.

Was struggling but then I remembered what game I was playing and took a more creative approach. I had previously freed the Duergar from the factory by setting the "database" to self destruct. I didn't have to use the Smokepowder Bomb that I was given to blow up the factory.

I set the bomb down in the middle of the room, summoned a bunch of zombies from the book of the dead skill you learn, & an elemental. Huddled everyone together, gave Gale a +5 Initiative potion.

When the fight starts. Gale gets first turn. Globe of Invulnerability. PC goes next and throws a firebomb at the Smokepowder Bomb. HOLY SHIT. The room fucking went up in a glorious blaze of glory, destroyed all the pillars and absolutely wrecked all the mobs in the room. Then I decided to try Hope's move which can call down the power of her deity in exchange for her life. She was spared due to the Globe. At that point it was just mop up with everyone as aside from Raphael, everything was near death. Raphael transforms, zombies paralyze him with their regular hit and I stun lock him as Monk. His to hit was 100% His ass got SPANKED.

I was so proud of myself for having thought of that, and just shows what you can do with the game. When the bomb went off and just wrecked and everyone was still alive. So satisfying. But yeah that whole part was great.

Also MEGA SPOILERS for late Act 3 Main Story temple of *spoiler* (seriously)

Spoiler: show

I'm about done with all the side quests and killed Gortash. I felt like saving the Bhaal temple for last was fitting since it's Baldur's Gate. Boy was that the right call. Holy shit. Sarevok is alive and well! That was a huge oh shit moment for me. I had a feeling there might be something with the past, so I brought Jaheira and Minsc with me. Also the right call. I somehow managed to convince them we were putting a show on to get where we need to go. I stopped there for the night. But god damn.

[Zealot]

uhhh. he's a wizard.

See this is why I never play mages.

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[Kachiko]

Gale takes mostly ranged attack damage, and there are some gloves that allow, as a reaction, a 1d10 reduction in damage as well.

[Botosi]

I just copped this last night and I have absolutely no idea what i'm doing. I've never played D&D before.

I got wrecked by little brain creatures 3x, before I had to watch a youtube video to get a decent strategy.

So many choices already. It's awesome and I'm sure i'll get the hang of it, but the tutorial isn't really a "tutorial" imo.

[Koul]

I just copped this last night and I have absolutely no idea what i'm doing. I've never played D&D before.

I got wrecked by little brain creatures 3x, before I had to watch a youtube video to get a decent strategy.

So many choices already. It's awesome and I'm sure i'll get the hang of it, but the tutorial isn't really a "tutorial" imo.

If you're brand spanking new to D&D I think it might be best to do the easier difficulty until you get a better understanding of the systems. If you have any specific questions, I'm sure all of us here can answer em for ya

What class are you playing and what's your stat distribution?

[Zealot]

I did see those gloves in the druid's wares, I'll have to go back for those.

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[Zealot]

So what's the deal with succeeding on pickpocket rolls but then having the person you stole from immediately turn around and make you give back what you took anyway?

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[Zetanio]

someone else can probably see you.

[Andalusian girls]

See this is why I never play mages.

if you ain't got them spell book'd shield lets you cast it as a reaction that gives you +5 armor on getting hit & mage armor boosts AC to 13 + dex bonus. Gale is also human so his racials let him wear light armor and a shield in his off-hand to juice his AC. he'll always be fragile but survivability gets p good when you build / spec him right.

[Kachiko]

So what's the deal with succeeding on pickpocket rolls but then having the person you stole from immediately turn around and make you give back what you took anyway?

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Hold Shift. If you are in a red zone, someone can see you. If not, hit C or Use the Hide skill, enter turn mode, then pickpocket. If you want to save/scrum, in case you get caught, go for it. When done, hit end turn combat, then port out via the map. If you go back right away, you'll see them running around a bit, looking for a thief that stole from them and if they see you, they'll always suspect you, but if you're far enough away for long enough, they go back to normal mode. Astarion is bonkers for this, especially when beefed up specifically for it; I think mine has +10 in bonuses to slight of hand.

[Andalusian girls]

you can also split up your party and have your thief run away from the area while another member talks to the patsy. they'll demand a search and since the stolen goods are in the thief's far away inventory you'll be cleared of suspicion.

[Karbuncle]

No, he's right. There are times when you pickpocket someone and the game just decides to question you rather you're seen by anyone or not, bug or intentional. They'll approach you and be like "Someones been stealing in the area lately and they're questioning you", you either return the item or bribe them (bribe hasnt worked for me once). I've had this happen to me once or twice from all my pickpocketing and i can assure you I was not seen, red lines and all.