# Baldur's Gate 3! {finally Released August 3rd, 2023} **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [February 28, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681 "2020-02-28T23:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/761 "2023-08-21T21:52:10Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The story should be fine, you just need him dead. You will lose out on his tadpole ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/762 "2023-08-21T22:04:57Z")
I figure that just falls under sweet loot but also I never partook anyway so forgot all about it ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/763 "2023-08-21T22:23:05Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@vislor](#): > > > > I haven’t played DDO in a decade or more. What really did it for me was no ability to solo. I rarely find a group/guild that was on when I was, so if I couldn’t solo, I couldn’t really play. I don’t think I could finish any final boss monsters without a group. I also wasn’t excited about Eberron but that’s me. > > I loved DDO back in the day. Like you my main problem was being unable to solo or find a worthwhile group. I remember hitting a dearth of solo content around level 9 or 10 (I think, it’s been a decade for me as well). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/764 "2023-08-21T22:41:24Z")
My only memory of DDO is that when it launched it had neither dungeons nor dragons. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/765 "2023-08-22T00:48:14Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I remember hitting a dearth of solo content around level 9 or 10 (I think, it’s been a decade for me as well). Pretty much exactly 10 years ago is when soloing became much easier. They revamped the entire enhancements system in 2013, which greatly increased both character power and self-healing across the board. I started playing in February 2011, almost exclusively grouped until the enhancements revamp, then mostly soloed for several years until reaper killed my fun in 2017. It was great while it lasted, but I’m glad it ended for me. Way too much of a time sink. I finally got a modern gaming rig in 2021, and have been strictly single-player ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/766 "2023-08-22T01:43:35Z")
So, uh, has anyone gotten to the optional boss fight with the absolute gem of an opera/rap duet background music track performed by the two primary NPCs of that particular arc? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/767 "2023-08-22T02:04:02Z")
If you think casters have problematic spells now, check out third edition. My favorite 9th level spell was the Cleric spell “Implosion”. Lasts for a number of rounds; each round you point to a target and they either save or die horribly. (Technically the spell doesn’t require you to point, but I figure you can give each victim at least that much attention before destroying them utterly 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/768 "2023-08-22T05:07:48Z")
Tonight I killed some guys on the third floor of a building in Baldur’s Gate and some dude came sprinting from an alleyway outside, around the building and up the three flights of stairs to accuse me of stealing as I looted the corpses. I talked my way out but then he just ran to Shadowheart and accused her instead. I reloaded and, this time, as soon as I talked my way out, I pulled up the map and fast traveled away. No joke, as I was standing there planning my next move, this dumb fucker ran _four blocks_ just to accuse me again of looting corpses in a building he wasn’t even in when it happened. As it happened, I reloaded to an earlier save for reasons unrelated to this idiot. Act III Spoilers for Fireworks Shop > **Quest Spoilers Within** > > I had this quest to investigate the shop since the beginning of Act III. It doesn’t really seem to amount to much: You can use a password you got earlier to get to the second floor of the store and, if you can sneak past the guard somehow, find that the top floor is a bomb factory for Lord Gortash. After that, there’s nothing much to do except fight everyone; just stealing the bits of evidence doesn’t lead anywhere obvious. It was a pretty amusing fight, actually. There’s a window you can shove people out of and off the balcony to the ground floor of the store. But there’s some Fist outside with a robot guard and they’ll come in and join the fight. Killing them meant I was “kill on sight” to the rest of the guard in the city and it wasn’t worth _that_ so I just reloaded. I looked online and no one else seemed to know where the quest was supposed to lead either unless that was the end of it. Only thing I can think of is if someone down the line doesn’t have smokepowder or something. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/769 "2023-08-22T14:16:10Z")
Quality of life things I discovered: - Clicking the rolling die instantly finishes the roll with all bonuses applied. No more waiting for the animations. - Clicking on the map let’s you add a point of interest. Very helpful for remembering where you need to go back. Annoyances: - Blood splatter! Two characters have a tender moment–with gore dripping from their faces. A seasoned warrior walks around with blood-encrusted weapons; didn’t they teach anything in basic training? There needs to be a cantrip or class action to wash up. - Elevator accidents. I was hoping that the pathing was better this game, but nope. I’ve had several characters killed or injured by walking off ledges or falling off moving platforms. This kind of stuff shouldn’t happen outside of combat. Wonderments: - The ambient sounds are excellent! Woodpeckers in the woods, creaking timbers at the docks. - Artistic details are incredible! Little touches everywhere really make this look like a lived world. Questions: - How do you know what Act you’re in? I can’t find any clear indication in the game. Maybe somewhere outside the quest log? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/770 "2023-08-22T14:49:32Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > How do you know what Act you’re in? I can’t find any clear indication in the game. Maybe somewhere outside the quest log? I don’t think you can, it’s just something people have noticed based on pointa of no return and such. As I understand it: Prologue The Nautiloid tutorial up till the crash Act 1 All of the first map you’re on that includes the beach, the grove, etc; the Underdark, including both sides of the lake and the Mountain Pass. The Grymforge, or far side of the Underdark lake, as well as the Mountain Pass are both kinda like an Act 1.5, as I understand it. You fail a bunch of sidequests if you go there too early, but you can freely return to the Act 1 area. Act 2 From the moment you leave the Underdark or Mountain Pass and enter the Shadow Cursed Lands you are in Act 2. I still haven’t beaten it yet but I understand that Moonrise Towers is the finale of Act 2, after which… Act 3 Act 3 takes place on the outskirts and inside of Baldur’s Gate proper. I believe it starts when you finish Moonrise and goes to the game’s end. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/771 "2023-08-22T15:00:36Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > How do you know what Act you’re in? I You get an achievement each time you move to the next act. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/772 "2023-08-22T15:03:55Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > There needs to be a cantrip or class action to wash up. Throwing water at someone will clean them, as will wading into water or using the _Create Water_ spell. I just installed a small lightweight mod to remove character gore as I didn’t find that it added much for me. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/773 "2023-08-22T15:17:22Z")
I just felt I had to post this here. This video won’t stop amusing me. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QmZFxAqZKuU/maxresdefault.jpg "4 Halfling Barbarians") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmZFxAqZKuU) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/774 "2023-08-22T15:33:06Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Blood splatter! Two characters have a tender moment–with gore dripping from their faces [My PC during every cut scene.](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/homelander-covered-in-blood-in-the-boys-season-2.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/775 "2023-08-22T22:16:42Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > the lack of decent magical rapiers I just got a legendary rapier from a questline in Act 3 and it is crazy good. In case you’d like to do it early enough to make good use of it, it is the help the hag survivors quest. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/776 "2023-08-22T23:18:52Z")
Nice, I was just getting into that quest. I have a pretty solid two Legendary weapon combo going right now but I’ll have to check the rapier out once I get it. There’s a really sweet trident you can get from the Djinn at the carnival which was kind of funny. Shadowheart literally got her upgraded Spear of Darkness not an hour before when I got that trident and tossed the spear into the camp loot box. “I retrieved your spear from the Shadowfell and Selune blessed it!” “Uh, thanks… I’ll just put that… over here. So it stays clean.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/777 "2023-08-22T23:43:50Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There’s a really sweet I had Karlach use that for a very long while for the increased mobility. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/778 "2023-08-23T01:44:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > How do you know what Act you’re in? I > > You get an achievement each time you move to the next act. Ah, looks like my mods are preventing achievements. > [@Jophiel](#): > > > [@Pleonast](#): > > > > There needs to be a cantrip or class action to wash up. > > Throwing water at someone will clean them, as will wading into water or using the _Create Water_ spell. I just installed a small lightweight mod to remove character gore as I didn’t find that it added much for me. With experimentation, it looks like anything that gives you the Wet condition also cleans you. Nice detail, Larian! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/779 "2023-08-23T12:17:02Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > I was going to say that Disintegrate could be an insta kill in 5E because it states that if the target is taken to 0 hit points, they are turned to dust. Sadly, the spell is all or nothing, which I think is terrible for a sixth level spell not to do some damage Last night I ran up to a full health enemy with somewhere around 90hp and killed it in a single character round. I looked at the log and saw I did 100+ points of melee damage. This is “late” game (well into Act III) and it was gear dependent but I thought it was cool that I could theoretically output a max Disintegrate’s worth of damage each round without needing a spell slot. Of course, whether multiple attacks vs AC is better or worse than a single Dex saving throw depends a lot on the target. > **Character Build/Gear stuff** > > Currently 4 Thief Rogue/7 Berserker Barb. 20 Dex. Five attacks per round between two Main-hand attacks and three Off-hand, but no penalties on off-hand due to Dual-Wielder feat and a short sword that emulates the Twin-Weapon fighting style. +2d6 Sneak Attack damage, +2hp damage each hit from some ring, +7hp dam per hit from sword when attacking with advantage, a ring that gives me Advantage always\* and main-handing a dagger that gives anything it hits Vulnerability to Piercing so all of my attacks are doing double weapon damage. > > \*(Attack Advantage comes at the cost of saving throw Disadvantage but I already had Advantage on INT/WIS/CHA/DEX saves (and STR if raging) so it’s mostly a wash) Reading some online comments, I don’t think I’m even top tier compared to Tempest Cleric/Storm Sorc builds and other stuff floating around the internet. Also I don’t think you need to be – the game isn’t built around characters doing 300 damage per round – and, of course, not every character is a “max damage” character. Utility, Tanking, etc are all legitimate routes. Just thought it was cool. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2023, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/780 "2023-08-23T12:43:52Z")
@Jophiel Wow! Impressive build! I see builds like that but I’m terrible about multi classing in 5E. Fighter Rogue is the only one I have seen that worked well at the table. I usually make my players OP without them having to look for that in builds. I think the best I have is Lae’zel with a good sword and three attacks maybe doing 75 in a round? I haven’t counted but potential is there. I’m also with whoever said that I do have karma dice off but it still sucks to have a 75% chance to hit and miss on two or three attacks. I have done that a lot, it seems. On another front, I think the lowest I have seen for a percentage hit is 6% chance. Basically needed a nat 20. I used Otto’s Irresistible Dance to shut down Savelok and it was a glorious thing to watch! Only way I won that fight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681.md?page=40)