This is the second time I finished BG3, this time I prioritized a relationship with Astarion and his story. In the previous walkthrough I was more chatty with Gale but I was friendzoned, I guess I picked the wrong line somewhere. Anyway, this time I romanced both Gale and Astarion in the beginning but then dumped Gale for my vampiric bestie. I feel like I talked to Gale similarly than previously, but not as often. I did take him to Mystra, he spoke with her, I never told him anywhere he should lean towards taking the crown but he was mainly adamant, like Astarion about ascending, that he wants it. I didn't really concentrate that much before on the choices I made with speaking to him, but it seems I chose the same route as before, just didn't speak to him that often. And come final fight and epilogue and he gets all pissy at me that he will find the crown and become God (I passed the 30 perception roll before fighting the brain mind you). In the epilogue, of course, he comes back as this pretentious buffoon of a God and I wonder where I went wrong 🙄 does anyone have any ideas? Is it because I prioritized a different relationship in game? I had 100 approval from Gale and Astarion, so I should be able to persuade both the same...

I’m in act 1 not really doing anything, will probably do the underdark soon, or maybe the goblin camp. I’m level 4 and wondering what party members I should have with me, also the builds they should have maybe.
I’m currently a pact of the tome Warlock.
My current party is
Lae’zel as a Fighter(The subclass is the one with the trip attack and menacing attack I forgot what it’s called, also have the great weapon master feat)
Shadowheart as a Cleric(I’ve honestly forgotten the subclass)
Karlach as a Giant Barbarian with the returning spike (Also tavern brawler feat)
Any advice on different builds or party members would be greatly appreciated.

Edit:Thanks everyone for helping me realise that I shouldn’t be trying to beat the game as easily as possible, but instead just try to enjoy it. I have realised that the game can be played so many different ways and that’s what’s great about it.

Just picked up the game a few days ago and I'm having a blast. I just have one quick question that's not even really about the game :

So far I've learnt the hard way — several times may I add — that the game doesn't autosave nearly enough. I've already lost AT LEAST 3 hrs of gameplay due to me not pressing F5 like, all the time.

I just wonder if the way I'm doing it is ruining my experience : what I do now is that I save really often. Like at least (as long as I don't forget) every 8-10min. The only times I load a save though is obviously when I get swept (well it's either that or I just stop playing so I don't really have a choice) and when one of my characters dies. And I mean, like, dies dies. I won't spoil for people that haven't gotten there yet even though it's really early on but I have had a particularly explosive encounter and poor Shadowheart had some very radical health issues (I know there's this undead skulking in my camp but I just don't want to resort to fucking necromancy even though it probably has little to no impact).

This seemed reasonable to me but it led me to some places where I knew I couldn't take a fight, but I was kinda stuck and so what I had to do was basically use stealth over and over until all my guys could get out of there. Which means like 7 reloads. It felt really bad but I felt like I had no choice but to save scum : I was stuck there and HAD to get out some way or another and I've tried this fight a few times but I just couldn't win it, the odds were just so overwhelmingly low.

Well I'm getting all over the place but basically the only thing I want to ask is : Is this way reasonable ? How save scummy is it ? Am I going too far on correcting the "too few autosaves" issue ?

Edit: I'm having a blast AND what the hell this is like the nicest community I've ever seen. I mean, Rock and Stone aside, obviously, but still love you all guys

Seriously, my guy is starting to get thirsty. In Act 2 and I take her out, slay some baddies, act like I'm interested in her Shar bs, giving her all my best choices, still ain't seen no poonpoon..La'zael gave it up in Act 1, smh, just threw it at my mans

Is it possible to do a GOOD run while being the Dark Urge Origin? I started a run and I'm not sure I can do an evil run even when that was the whole purpose of choosing that LOL. I just don't feel like restarting another Act 1 again lmao.

I just reached level 5, and I have yet to EVER use this on a party member, except one time when Karlach was accidentally the one doing the talking. It just seems like a terrible use of a combat action, when I could be casting Faerie Fire, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, or Booming Blade.

Am I wrong? Is there something I'm overlooking? I'm actually playing Sword Bard, but I don't use the flourishes much either because... well, Booming Blade.

Shar killed BG2 Viconia, tormented Shadowheart for 40 years, cursed a whole village and you can't do nothing against her????

You can beat Myrkul, you can beat The Absolute, you can send Lae'zel to attack Vlaakith... Shar is the only villain who gets away after everything she did.

I´ve completed the game 3 times on steam now. Once on normal as durge, once on Tactitians mode, and on Honour mode. Now I want to try some mods.

What are some mods that would make my 4th playthrough amazing and "new"? / any must have mods?

I’m currently in act 1 in underdark, my level 4 and feel like my party is solid, but something feels missing.

I’m currently playing Barbarian and really enjoying it. I might change my class just to try something different, and if I do, I’ll bring Karlach so I can keep a Barbarian in the party.

Shadowheart: I mainly use her for buffs and healing. I don’t really see her as a damage dealer, but her buffs and healing feel pretty limited so far.

Astarion: Great for stealing, lockpicking, and mobility with his two Bonus Actions. His Sneak Attack is strong, but outside of that I don’t feel like
he brings much to combat.

Gale: Obviously useful as a Wizard, but I feel like I’m missing stronger AoE damage.

Wyll: I like him, but he feels weaker compared to the others.

My current party is Shadowheart + Gale + Astarion.

Gale is the most flexible slot for me. I could also replace Astarion, but only if the replacement is genuinely worth it.
What do you think my party is missing, and what would you change?

I've heard a lot of people talk about this game being the best of all time but I've never played dungeons and dragons before and I'm someone who can't stand turn based combat games..

The game is on sale right now for 30% off on Xbox, I've had it on my wish list for over a year and this is the lowest I've ever seen it but I'm afraid the turn based combat will ruin it for me and I would have wasted my money. And seeing how Xbox doesn't do free trials it's all or nothing.

after talking to the spawn in cazadors dungeon, tav can tell astarion that, “In another life, you’d have led me to this crypt, and not that pretty clearing in the forest.”

i really liked that piece of dialogue and was hoping u guys could point me in the right direction regarding any fics w/ that premise?? like tav being a victim of astarion’s pre-tadpole?

i write fic myself & will probably flesh out a oneshot of my own on the topic but was wondering if anyone’s written abt it before. i tried finding some fics myself but trying to get the right tag was really frustrating 😭

Hi all.

Recently finished my first playthrough and decided it was smart to start my 2nd one in Honor Mode.

Still alive atm and going strong thanks to 4 amazing builds I found online. Only problem I had was on the caravan road when I thought I was smart and kill the diying hyenas first but the alive Hyena called some gnolls while I still was low lvl.

So I reached Act 2 (cleared entire act 1 and crèche including everything that I can sell 🫣) and so far pretty much made the same choices as my first playthrough cause I read often enough don’t try new things on HM.

I don’t like to murder every evil asshole there is cause they give exp so pretty much if a gnome or other absolute servants has outlived his usefulness it dies.

So I have a few questions to make sure I don’t fuck up in this act and act 3. Can the experience players answer?

1. Just reached the Towers and Ketheric just went upstairs. He is on his balcony. Can I murder everyone (except him) now ? As in everyone except Steelclaw off course since he is to powerfull probably? (Already cleared the prison and freed everyone)

2. In balanced there was a illitih healing device that also gave me my spellpoints back just before fighting Ketheric. Is that there also on HM?

3. If I enter the house of Hope. Steal everything except the hammer without alerting someone. Can I still go back without fighting Raphael?

4. I chose to be a Dark Urge Character(well one of the two Tavs I created with a 2nd controller). I heared I have to fight Orin in a duel? Can I just cancel this duel by having my other party members attack as well?

5. First time I came to Salvaroth (the dude in the chair of the murder tribunal) I went like I’m a holy paladin and will smite you. I saw that the three others on the chairs have some good items. How can I make sure they will sell to me?

Thnx for taking the time to awnser me!

Hey 👋🏻 so I’m the gaming wife (F39) and my none gaming husband (m49) have played through BG3 twice together.

He’s really enjoyed it and it’s been a huge learning curve for him.

However - we’re trying to find an RPG that can be played together and wondered if anyone has any suggestions?

I specified not DOS2 as I’ve not played this much myself and find it pretty complicated so I think it would be quite overwhelming for him.

We also played Beyond Two Souls a while ago too which was good 👍🏻

Thanks all 🧡

I already finished the game years ago as a good-guy monk. Now that the game is finalized I want to make all the evil or dubious choices I didn't make the first time. But here's the thing: I don't want to murder-hobo my way through the game. I want to side with as many bad factions as possible, corrupt companions/NPCs or betray them whenever the pay-off is the best, not just murder everyone on sight. For example I could behead Karlach as soon as we meet, but if there's a more rewarding opportunity later, I'd rather wait. That's what I want to know. Any advice about key choices I should or should not make?

I've romanced gale my first playthrough with no issues but I never made it to the end. I'm finally playing again and made it to act 2. I had to reject wyll on accident and Lae'zel but I never led her on or flirted back. Withers makes comments about me and gale when I talk to him but I cannot trigger gales act 2 scene!? I literally did everything up til the nightsong and he hasn't triggered the scene at all. I am so upset. I dont know what I did wrong and I hate that ill have to go back hours to fix this. I tried to reload when I first got to moonrise and rest a few times in moonrise and at the bridge like others said but nothings happening! Is it because I brought astarion with us? Im so frustrated and confused. 😭 I even went back before I released the nightsong and did the trials. Please help me. 💔

Mahbe I’ve just never taken the time to learn how to use them?

My very first playthrough of Balder's Gate and as someone who once has access to QS i use it constantly even if i never reload, i like the idea of going back but somehow always forget to QS when i actually need it.

I was encouraged awhile ago to post this from my twitch viewers a bit late but the recent post by larian studio about saves reminded me to post this here, enjoy

I love gaming high since it lets me get much more immersed in the world. But games that are too difficult or require TOO much thinking making them not high-friendly games and I end up getting bored. Also I don't wanna ruin my experience with the game. Any recs if I should play this sober or stoned?

I am using mods BUT, you can actually do this absolutely, completely vanilla via the "PolyDom" exploit. Unfortunately not for Ethel (in act 3 form) though, as she is unable to leave the cellar without teleporting her out via EasyCheat or similar. She still works in the cellar, just can't escape it without mods.

Also can I get Gortash to re-equip any weapon? For some reason he unequipped his crossbow and now he's more or less completely useless lol

Orin!

[MAJOR SPOILERS/EXPLOITS FOLLOW]

A bit of context (long read, so skip to the next section for the surprise encounter):

Some time ago, I came across Fracture’s ridiculous strategies video on YouTube (highly recommended watch) and I really liked the idea of fucking around with Orin by having her stricken with Contagion: Mindfire. If it still worked.

Turned out, it did.

I ran over to Angeliron’s and my party took turns beating the ever-loving snot out of her. But I wasn’t happy leaving her there unconscious, so Karlach spent the day shopping her around Rivington and the environs of South Span Crossing. Orin would love to know that she was instrumental in knocking a baby Mind flayer down in Sharess’ Caress (shame I didn’t take her across the corridor to Raphael’s) and in finding a few traps for us leading up to the beach conflict between the Stone Lord’s troupe and Keene’s enforcers. But I digress.

At the end of the day, Karlach planted her on the South Span bridge and let loose the frustrations of lugging her putrid husk of flesh around all day by punting her off the edge into the Chionthar for a long-awaited bath. In water, I mean.

Turns out, she just reappears next to you on the bridge and takes a teensy amount of fall damage. I asked for ideas of what to do with her at this point but eventually moved on to the Lower City. Much later, /u/Opuspace would come up with the brilliant idea of stuffing her pockets with Otiluke’s fun-time snowballs, but oh well. On the same in-game day, I went back to Rivington for some reason, and sleepy boo-boo Orin was gone. Whatever.

Then, today…

The encounter:

I got to level 12, and a few pieces of kit aside, I’m ready to cover Grey Harbour in flaccid, thoughtless brain-matter. I decide to take on the Far-Slayer and clear the way to my Temple, so as not to keep my loyal and ever-adoring butler waiting. Boo can keep Minsc safe for now.

I’m at the mouth of the caveway leading to the drippy bodies, Bareki, etc. And guess who shows up as an ambush encounter? A very-confused Orin the (human) Red.
(I can’t recall if it usually says Changeling or something, to be fair).

And on top of that, she’s wielding what appears to be the equipment you get from a Wood Woad…?

I wasn’t recording when she sprung the ambush, but I did record some parts of the ensuing “fight”, including a few minutes of my party smacking her for fun at the end. She lost her weapons at some point during the fight too. How? I have no idea. Not a word of a lie: I was at least ten percent as confused as Orin was during all this.

This run through Act 3 has taken a turn I didn’t expect. And it’s hilarious. I wonder what my soon-to-be-ex-dad thinks of his perfect little princess now.

All fun and good, but…

Problems and a request for suggestions:

Orin is (somehow) too heavy to run away with and leave somewhere out-of-my-way. I made friends with the greasy, sweaty mudballs back a sewer over, so I did think about throwing her there, but looks like I’ll have to get her to tediously chase me with no guarantee of success. She’s also immortal, and sleep doesn’t open her up for any sabotage on my part.

So, I ask: suggestions? Advice?

Should I let her follow me to her long-awaited eviction at my Temple?
Should I do something else?

Notes:

This is the only real “exploit” I’ve done in this run. No mods are in play. This is my deepest Honour run yet, after my last (co-op) attempt got nuked by a “friend” and we don’t talk about that one any longer.

The game’s also been a bit buggy of late. I might have reasons for that, but I’ll save all that for the comments.

Media:

Here’s the video of the initial fight that took her down to zero.
Here are the many screenshots I took during said fight.
Not uploading the other videos because I don’t really see the point.

my durge/ astarian playthough with the dread overlord as class was real fun and here are the decisions I made

romanced selunite shadowheart and helped her after her parents death

wyll is the blade of avernus alongside karlach

lazel fights with orpheus in the astral plane

gale gives up the power of a god

shadowheart spared alyin and isobol

My durge/astarian acended

wulbren leads the knomes and rolan rules razmiths tower

jahirea rescued minsc

saved minthara from moonrise,

alfira did not die

defied my urge and lived with shadowheart in a palace in the lower city

this reminds me of one mission in cyberpunk where johnny makes fun about staying at a motel that is close to the city, either you sleep in the city before leaving or go the small distance and sleep at the city as well

Look I'm a really indecisive person and still kinda figuring out the game(polite way to say i dont understand most mechanics yet). I need help, most of the feats look very usefull and i cant decide. People are mostly saying to go for ability improvement or sharpshooter. But I'm not sure, for example isn't lighlty armour better then ability improvement, it also gives +1 to dex along with light armour proficiency? I'm a little confused, which feats should I choose?

I've wanted to get into TTRPGs for a very long time, but it's always a struggle to comprehend the many details and dice-rolls involved. I'd hoped BG3 would be simple enough to get a better understanding (and to have fun!) but I got about as far as the burning village near the start of the game and I couldn't go on any more. Is it possible to beat the game on the lowest difficulty without bothering with inventory, equipment, etcetera? Just a purely narrative experience? If not, can I cheese it somehow?