WotC Baldur's Gate III Announced; Powered by D&D 5E

SkidAce · Jul 3, 2019

Seramus said:
Yeah. Battlemaster, Eldritch Knight, and Arcane Archer would work fine in the DOS2 engine. Champion would... flounder for options.
Wondering if the characters will start at Level 3 just to avoid the auto attack problem.

I may have missed it in the thread...but I don't get what the "auto attack" problem is.

Paul Farquhar · Jul 3, 2019

SkidAce said:
I may have missed it in the thread...but I don't get what the "auto attack" problem is.

In the DoS games everyone starts with around 3 abilities, choosing which one to use forms a big part of the combat system.

If they went for real-time-with-pause like BG1, autoattack (i.e. lack of choices on a character's turn) wouldn't be a problem, but it sounds like they are going for something closer to fully turn based DoS2, so they need to present more than one option when a character's turn comes around.

gyor · Jul 3, 2019

SkidAce said:
I may have missed it in the thread...but I don't get what the "auto attack" problem is.

In a TTRPG the fact that for most of 1St and 2nd level ckmbats fighters really only just do basic attacks, but a good RPer can fluff those attacks to make them more interesting. In a CRPG you really, can't do that.

gyor · Jul 3, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
In the DoS games everyone starts with around 3 abilities, choosing which one to use forms a big part of the combat system.

If they went for real-time-with-pause like BG1, autoattack (i.e. lack of choices on a character's turn) wouldn't be a problem, but it sounds like they are going for something closer to fully turn based DoS2, so they need to present more than one option when a character's turn comes around.

Your right, this is another hint that it will be turn based combat.

TheWayofPie · Jul 3, 2019

What it sounds like to me is that every class is going to get a "newbie friendly" option, but it will still be more complex than the champion. As game designers they don't seem to really subscribe to the binary martial - simple/caster - complex philosophy. And they already know the default ranger needs Jesus, so that's good.

I'm thinking that all Fighters get superiority dice (Battle master just gets exclusive maneuvers), Barbarian's might get a small pool of rage techniques, and Rogues may get some tricks to perform. This is on top of any skill checks environmental or otherwise that can be performed.

I also assume that combats will be more frequent, but much shorter than Divinity in general because of the short rest/long rest system.

We'll see what Larian decides.

Paul Farquhar · Jul 3, 2019

If the fights are "Divinity style" the could allow a short rest after every battle.

TheWayofPie · Jul 3, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
If the fights are "Divinity style" the could allow a short rest after every battle.

Yeah, I imagine it would be like that. Similar to 4e or Pillars of Eternity (for a video game equivalent) where they just had most martial abilities as per encounter powers. Long Rests would still require the 8 hours/tent/whatever though, I'm sure.

Sorcerers Apprentice · Jul 3, 2019

Maybe BG3 will actually be based on 4e, just reflavored to look like a 5e variant?

gyor · Jul 3, 2019

https://gamingbolt.com/baldurs-gate...om-divinity-original-sin-2-larian-studios/amp
Another BG 3 article.

Remathilis · Jul 3, 2019

Sorcerers Apprentice said:
Maybe BG3 will actually be based on 4e, just reflavored to look like a 5e variant?

Without ragging on 4e, I hope not. Neverwinter is already 4e-based, and Sword Coast Legends was a hybrid of D&D with whatever house system they used. I want to see a D&D game play like a 5e game with the minimum changes needed due to game structure (such as not needing abilities tied to getting lost or swimming or controlling the wind). BG and IWD were close enough that someone playing them could learn a lot about 2e, NWN did the same with 3e for the most part. I want BG3 to be able to teach someone 5e in much the same way. I want short rest abilities, spell slots, and even having "I attack" be the best option for a combat to save resources. I don't want another SCL that uses its own rules and wears D&D's IP like a cloak.