2y ago

Larian knows Baldur's Gate 3's D&D combat is super complicated: "We used to joke you basically need a tutorial for every class"

www.gamesradar.com Larian knows Baldur's Gate 3's D&D combat is super complicated: "We used to joke you basically need a tutorial for every class"

"So then it's onboarding people, teaching them how to play D&D, which is really complex"

You're viewing a single thread.

107 comments

I know this will be a very controversial comment, but I actually can't stand the combat (extremely unfamiliar with the genre as a whole, and I've also never been a fan of turn-based systems), but love the game to death. As a result, I'm using a trainer to essentially trivialize combat encounters, because my BG3 addiction stems from the characters, their stories, the incredible world and the exploration it offers, the side quests, the lore, the insane detail in every corner of the map. I also work 80 hour weeks and want to spend the little time I get with the game doing what I love most, which is exploration and delving into my characters' stories.
I've just gotten through Moonrise Towers (and have done all I can find to do in each area so far, although I already know I'll be doing multiple playthroughs), and it's one of the most immersive and enjoyable gaming experiences I've ever had, despite the fact I'm quite literally cheating my way through combat encounters. I'm basically playing it as a very interactive 'choose your own adventure' novel, with weapon and armor pickups being cosmetic-only in nature, and the focus of my playthrough being on exploring the world and delving into its inhabitants' backstories and the mysteries they hold.
- Playing a game differently to make sure you're having fun is fine to me (presuming you're not messing up other people's multiplayer experiences or something, which isn't the case here).
  Don't see why this would need to be controversial.
  
  I guess I'm still expecting the reddit response to this kind of thing. I got torn to shreds over there for saying this, despite it being a game I'm playing solo.
- I don't disagree with your stance, but I am curious why you decided on a trainer instead of picking the easier difficulty. Did you try it and still find it too much? I have read about the differences between modes but haven't actually tried anything other than normal, and even though I'm extremely familiar with PF 1e and D&D 5e I've struggled with lots of encounters.
  
  I initially started on easy, but just found it far too complex of a system to get my head around, and when my work hours can see me going days between play sessions, any knowledge I do pick up often isn't retained. I also just don't enjoy turn based combat at all, so when I enter combat, I just throw on god mode and infinite turns to get it over and return to the story or quest more quickly (I'll often alter things depending on what's happening in the game at the time though. For example, I did the Gauntlet of Shar with Shadowheart on her own, as it felt like something she needed to tackle solo, even if I wasn't in any genuine danger.)
  I guess tl;dr - even easy was a bit too much for me to take in given my work schedule, as well as the combat taking a lot of time away from the aspects of the game I love, namely exploration and stories.
  
  Not the one you're asking but I feel the same as them.
  I am playing on the easiest setting with no mods because it's my first playthrough, I can finish the combat sessions without struggling but I don't like the combat mechanics at all, this system is just not for me.
  Next playthrough I'll use mods and if there's something that can make combat finish as fast as possible so I don't have to deal with it too much, I'll definitely use it.
- What's a "trainer" ?
  
  a separate program that allows one to "cheat" (not a bad thing, as long as it's not done in multiplayer) by scanning and modifying the game's memory.
  for example, it could figure out where your hitpoints are stored and constantly overwrite that value with your full hit points
  
  I see, very nice, I guess it's called a trainer as it's main use is to help train on a game without constantly reloading. Have fun then :-)
  We are also at the tower, this game is great indeed.
  
  I hope your sorry ass gets banned from everything.
  
  My dude, stop complaining about how other people have fun. They're hurting literally no one
- You're not alone, I can't stand the combat either, not a fan of turn-based combat in RPGs and DnD rules seem needlessly complicated for a videogame, but I absolutely love everything else about BG3, there are so many possibilities I want to explore.
  I'm doing my first playthrough on the easiest setting without mods but from the next I'll use mods and if there's something that can reduce combat to a minimum I'll definitely use it. What trainer are you using?
  
  I'm using WeMod, personally.
  
  Thanks!
- What about the combat is so unbearable for you? Is it too complex or too long per encounter? I've played a lot of CRPGs so to me the combat is very intuitive and one of my favorite parts of the game.
  
  I think it mainly comes down to the length per encounter, on top of the turn based system and mechanics I'm very unfamiliar with. I have pretty severe ADHD too, so it's kinda a perfect storm of combat mechanics I've never been a fan of. I prefer real time, "learn the patterns" style combat ala Dark Souls or Sekiro. If I was younger and had more time to play, I'd likely have pushed through and learned the way BG3 plays on a fundamental level, but the reality is, I have 3-5 hours to play once or twice a week, and I just don't want to sacrifice time in a combat system I don't find enjoyable when I could be out adventuring and meeting new characters.
  
  Your comment makes no sense. You claim to have ADHD, but prefer to beat your head against the wall repeatedly learning patterns in a FromSoft game? To each their own, but oof.
  
  Brains are weird things yo. I'd go as far as to say that Soulsbornekiro Ring combat is my absolute favorite kind of gameplay out there. I also love Kaizo Mario ROMhacks. Something about difficult, but faster-paced action games just do it for me. It's the 'waiting my turn and strategizing for when I get to go again' part that my ADHD isn't a fan of - too much waiting and watching, not enough stimulation.
  I was a real little shit during grade school lmao
  
  You say all this, but then you're basically just waiting around reading the rest of the time in BG3 if you're not fighting. IDK, as long as you're having fun my guy.
  
  Good stories do it for me as well. BG3 isn't my usual kind of game, but it's got me hooked. I learned long ago not to try and make sense of my ADHD - if I like something, I just go with it, even if that thing happens to be some weird outlier.
  
  I'm a different commentor but wanted to reply with my biggest complaint about the combat is that I can't skip the enemy turns and fast forward through them. It gets real tedious when you get into the encounters with like 20+ enemies. Otherwise I enjoy the combat. Do wish opportunity strikes against me would trigger a warning and ability to cancel my movement though since I often miss the red arrow or I misclick 1mm too far.
  
  I personally love the big encounters with 20+ enemies but I do agree that it can really drag out combat and be unfun just waiting 10 minutes to do something again. I would love to see an option, similar to that in civ 6, where you can skip movement and attack animations to really speed up combat.
  
  Huh I expected such thing will be handled with group initiative already at beta stage. Owlcat ran into the same problem with Rogue Trader and after feedback from alpha that large groups of goons resolve turns way too slow bundled them in the initiative track. It's a very common tabletop rpg solution to the issue and I'm surprised Larian didn't implement it.
- Then fucking play something else. This game is for fans you stupid small dicked cunt
  
  "You're having fun wrong"
  
  Then fucking comment somewhere else. This thread is for discussing combat difficulty, not raging at other people's opinions you stupid small dicked cunt.
  
  Take about 20% off there, bud.
  
  lol seethe
  
  Yeah, turn it down a notch, dude.

107 comments