Discussion Baldur's Gate 3

[punkncat]

I picked up BG3 within the last two weeks and have already come to find what an incredible game it is, wanted to share some experiences, comment on a few things, and welcome discussion about the game in general. I don't mean this to be some unturned insight that other reviewers haven't touched on just some of my own impressions and such, so far.

First off, the game mentions being able to use some pretty lowly specs to run on PC. A 4690 and 970 graphics card, alongside some AMD equivalents are listed. I don't want to go so far as to say they wouldn't work, but my own experience with hardware far beyond that is that the game can be pretty demanding. The system I am currently using with this is comprised of an 11900K and a 3070. I have the graphics settings maxed out @1440. My graphics card sits at 100% usage and temps fall right in line with maximums across other games and benchmarks, typically sitting around 74-76*. The aspect I do find surprising is that this game works my CPU in such a way as nothing I have tried before. Most of the time it runs ~25-30% usage and in the 50's but while moving on the map it is not uncommon to see use spike well upwards and temps reaching well into the 70's. As mentioned, I have never gotten that type of temp from a game or a benchmark.
With that said, one of the guys I am playing the game with on multiplayer is running it on a thin laptop with a 1650 or 60 and it runs fine for him even when hosting. I am sure there is a significant difference between our settings...

In the time I have had the game I am already upwards of ~30 hours played. Most of that has been multi player. I have not messed with a multiplayer platform on any serious level in years. With that said, I did purchase a cheap gaming headset and have had to familiarize myself with the PC version of Discord. Prior to now I had it loaded on my phone and would just use it for quick gaming sessions on a round or two of Fortnite or Wildlands. Probably about two hours of the time spent was me getting accustomed to using Discord alongside how to work getting into lobbies, adjustments to settings for sound, and particularly with my microphone (which seems to be an issue with the selected cheapo headset).

One thing I would point out here in respect to multiplayer. There are mods out there that allow you to basically unlock the game, abilities, character levels. In order to load into a lobby all the players must be on the same exact version, update, and mods. A person playing the vanilla game is not going to be in a situation where they are alongside unlocked characters. I don't run mods at all and did run into some minor difficulties loading in with players that do use them.

If you ever played tabletop D&D you understand what a time suck it can be. This game is the official recognized modern version and it also takes LOADS of time to play and in particular to play multiplayer. It is not unusual with just three of us to be in a room or small area over an hour as looting and exploring. Fighting is a whole other level and have run into fights that took several sessions to complete. With that said, something we have noticed is to save frequently. It is not uncommon to get beat down and killed off as part of or the whole of your party. The AI/NPC in this game are not pushovers, at least all the time anyway.
The looting aspect is pretty cool and when you are with a group it can be handy and is typically easy to share items with each other as they are needed to proceed. For instance, if a magic user has a lockpick set that the 'thief' needs you don't even have to transfer it across to them for it to be used. Gold often acts as a group item including everyone within the party when dealing with vendors and such.

Something to point out, and I cannot recall if there is a setting to turn this aspect on or off, but much like in CB77, there is MUCH adult content here. As you design your character you get control over genitals and other aspects of sexuality as well as appearance, colors, tattoos, and so forth. In the game you have the option to have relations with other characters and possibly even some of the AI, although I have not tested that. (I really didn't want to sleep with that she-ogre) I can only imagine that there is a checkbox or option within setup to limit or even eliminate certain aspects of this as age appropriate or other.

The game looks astounding. The map is so expansive. Options for moving around are quite varied and can require physical attributes as well as possible interventions from other characters such as magic and whatnot. I have found that even with my system specs that every now and again I will get a hitch as the game moves from area to area. I suspect this to be something to do with loading in the map sections and it isn't distracting so far. There are waypoints in the game that allow you to travel back and forth. Part of the gameplay here does require that you rest and even camp to recover spells and abilities that you use. When playing single player you get to control the other NPC characters in your party. When back at camp you can select the specific players you wish to have with for each challenge or area, if you have located them that is.

There is so much to the game that certain aspects require taking a moment to go read or research to figure out proper usefulness. There are tricks, traps, pitfalls and so forth that can require a lot of thought and trial and error even to figure out. As above mentioned, save a lot and give yourself the option of going back, starting over, or even making another choice. Not everything is a push over and it is not terribly hard to die or be trapped somewhere you cannot get out of 'alone'.

This game is so huge that I expect to be playing it for some time moving forward. The pace is wonderful, and the way actions and reactions happen don't require players to have the reflexes of a 12yo. The best part is that it does so without feeling boring or clunky. IMO this is one of the best games I have played in a long time, if ever. Highly recommended.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I picked up BG3 within the last two weeks and have already come to find what an incredible game it is, wanted to share some experiences, comment on a few things, and welcome discussion about the game in general. I don't mean this to be some unturned insight that other reviewers haven't touched on just some of my own impressions and such, so far.

First off, the game mentions being able to use some pretty lowly specs to run on PC. A 4690 and 970 graphics card, alongside some AMD equivalents are listed. I don't want to go so far as to say they wouldn't work, but my own experience with hardware far beyond that is that the game can be pretty demanding. The system I am currently using with this is comprised of an 11900K and a 3070. I have the graphics settings maxed out @1440. My graphics card sits at 100% usage and temps fall right in line with maximums across other games and benchmarks, typically sitting around 74-76*. The aspect I do find surprising is that this game works my CPU in such a way as nothing I have tried before. Most of the time it runs ~25-30% usage and in the 50's but while moving on the map it is not uncommon to see use spike well upwards and temps reaching well into the 70's. As mentioned, I have never gotten that type of temp from a game or a benchmark.
With that said, one of the guys I am playing the game with on multiplayer is running it on a thin laptop with a 1650 or 60 and it runs fine for him even when hosting. I am sure there is a significant difference between our settings...

In the time I have had the game I am already upwards of ~30 hours played. Most of that has been multi player. I have not messed with a multiplayer platform on any serious level in years. With that said, I did purchase a cheap gaming headset and have had to familiarize myself with the PC version of Discord. Prior to now I had it loaded on my phone and would just use it for quick gaming sessions on a round or two of Fortnite or Wildlands. Probably about two hours of the time spent was me getting accustomed to using Discord alongside how to work getting into lobbies, adjustments to settings for sound, and particularly with my microphone (which seems to be an issue with the selected cheapo headset).

One thing I would point out here in respect to multiplayer. There are mods out there that allow you to basically unlock the game, abilities, character levels. In order to load into a lobby all the players must be on the same exact version, update, and mods. A person playing the vanilla game is not going to be in a situation where they are alongside unlocked characters. I don't run mods at all and did run into some minor difficulties loading in with players that do use them.

If you ever played tabletop D&D you understand what a time suck it can be. This game is the official recognized modern version and it also takes LOADS of time to play and in particular to play multiplayer. It is not unusual with just three of us to be in a room or small area over an hour as looting and exploring. Fighting is a whole other level and have run into fights that took several sessions to complete. With that said, something we have noticed is to save frequently. It is not uncommon to get beat down and killed off as part of or the whole of your party. The AI/NPC in this game are not pushovers, at least all the time anyway.
The looting aspect is pretty cool and when you are with a group it can be handy and is typically easy to share items with each other as they are needed to proceed. For instance, if a magic user has a lockpick set that the 'thief' needs you don't even have to transfer it across to them for it to be used. Gold often acts as a group item including everyone within the party when dealing with vendors and such.

Something to point out, and I cannot recall if there is a setting to turn this aspect on or off, but much like in CB77, there is MUCH adult content here. As you design your character you get control over genitals and other aspects of sexuality as well as appearance, colors, tattoos, and so forth. In the game you have the option to have relations with other characters and possibly even some of the AI, although I have not tested that. (I really didn't want to sleep with that she-ogre) I can only imagine that there is a checkbox or option within setup to limit or even eliminate certain aspects of this as age appropriate or other.

The game looks astounding. The map is so expansive. Options for moving around are quite varied and can require physical attributes as well as possible interventions from other characters such as magic and whatnot. I have found that even with my system specs that every now and again I will get a hitch as the game moves from area to area. I suspect this to be something to do with loading in the map sections and it isn't distracting so far. There are waypoints in the game that allow you to travel back and forth. Part of the gameplay here does require that you rest and even camp to recover spells and abilities that you use. When playing single player you get to control the other NPC characters in your party. When back at camp you can select the specific players you wish to have with for each challenge or area, if you have located them that is.

There is so much to the game that certain aspects require taking a moment to go read or research to figure out proper usefulness. There are tricks, traps, pitfalls and so forth that can require a lot of thought and trial and error even to figure out. As above mentioned, save a lot and give yourself the option of going back, starting over, or even making another choice. Not everything is a push over and it is not terribly hard to die or be trapped somewhere you cannot get out of 'alone'.

This game is so huge that I expect to be playing it for some time moving forward. The pace is wonderful, and the way actions and reactions happen don't require players to have the reflexes of a 12yo. The best part is that it does so without feeling boring or clunky. IMO this is one of the best games I have played in a long time, if ever. Highly recommended.

Great review, @punkncat

Nice report of the game mechanics, and also for the background to the multiplayer/mod information. A lot of folk may miss that, and have issues.

Personally I don't like those types of games, but I can say for sure they are/can be stunning, and in an open world it does look amazing.

I might dip my toe in to see how it's like.

 

[punkncat]

Thank you @Roland Of Gilead.

 

[punkncat]

Another quick observation.

The game will let you select between DX11 and Vulkan. I just swapped out to an AMD graphics card and the difference between the two is quite noticeable. Vulkan far surpasses DX in performance. Most of the time the game is running ~144, with occasional dips under 100 FPS.

 

[punkncat]

I ran into an interesting situation during last night's multi-player game.

I mentioned above about how your inventory is basically open to the group. You can go right into other players inventory and take items out. I do not know if there is a way to lock this down, or even if you should. It is likely this has been going on the entire time we have played together, but I have just now gotten experienced enough with the game mechanics that last night was the first time I really noticed what was going on.

Another of the players and I are pretty new at this game and are total noobs where it comes to online/multi-player games. The other two guys in the group are very well versed in the game. They seem to have a thing where the moment we hit an area of the map they take off everywhere there isn't an encounter and loot everything. The other two of us might occasionally pick up a nice item first, but pretty rare that they miss anything. It is important to note that both of our characters are not nearly as strong as theirs. I had mentioned something about cheats, and it isn't to say I think they are or even can run a cheat, but more likely the experience they have helps them make better decisions.....Anywho, to get back on track. What is happening is we run through the maps, and they are cleaning up everything. All during the game they have no issue providing us with healing potions and such and also simply saving us from death.

There is an area of the map that having something that will explode (like the Alchemist Fire) is almost a required part of passing successfully. Just as we come to that area I come in range, open my inventory and literally watch some things disappear out of it. In addition to things like the potions, I was having scrolls swapped, weapons taken with proxy put in place, as well as taking a soul coin I found.
When I brought this up, they supported each other to say that we were a 'party' and since they were constantly having to save us, that them looting was fair compensation for said. I do agree with that aspect, but at the same time there seems to me little reason to take others inventory without saying anything about it. They loot and horde all the magical items for themselves or sell them as soon as possible.
At times their activity doing so led to standing around waiting for them to get back from far corners of the map.

I don't mention any of this to indicate a real world problem, so to speak. I mean, there are implications, but I am not going there. I am going to try and do some research today to see if there is a way to lock my inventory down to a permissions basis. I do not know if it is possible, or if it may break features that I want to be happening such as to stay alive. The point of this being that I can only imagine if this happens within a "friends" group, it opens possibilities of basically being ripped off the entire time one is in a multi with people they don't know.

If it can't be locked down, it surely is a situation that the dev needs to figure a way to close.

Edit- Well it appears there is an inventory lock and this seems to be a common complaint within the player base discussing Multi. I guess the next part will be to see how that is received by the other two players. For sure this is one of those things that probably need to be discussed early on in a campaign.