What are you going to be doing during the initial planned launch window for Endwalker

[linayar]

I didn't even try to cancel the time off days that I actually got for the 19th and the 20th, but my boss finally gave me the 3rd off as well (but not the 4th). That's actually more than I expected to get in December, so I'm grateful for even the one day that I got.

Thus, barring any unforeseen disruptions, it looks like Endwalker will be the third consecutive FFXIV expansion launch that I'll be able to experience day 1 of early access. Time will tell if it will be closer to Stormblood's experience or Shadowbringers's.

[Sauteed]

I think I'll just continue playing as I do, no real "goal". I'll probably be working on my alt and getting through Shadowbringers before I take a real dive into it

[SturmChurro]

I still need to do that moogle tome event, to get that jacket (just to have it). I'll probably get to it at some point. As far as games are concerned, I've been playing Neverwinter Nights EE, and may or may not move onto the second if I still have time. Otherwise, maybe BG1 instead. I'd like to play BG3, but that thing is still in early access. Endwalker wasn't the only thing I was anticipating that got delayed that was supposed to come out around this time of the year, but at least it's still coming out relatively soon.

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

I still need to do that moogle tome event, to get that jacket (just to have it). I'll probably get to it at some point. As far as games are concerned, I've been playing Neverwinter Nights EE, and may or may not move onto the second if I still have time. Otherwise, maybe BG1 instead. I'd like to play BG3, but that thing is still in early access. Endwalker wasn't the only thing I was anticipating that got delayed that was supposed to come out around this time of the year, but at least it's still coming out relatively soon.

To me, BG3 doesn't really have the same vibe and playstyle that made BG1 and 2 so fun, tbh. I don't really have high hopes for it as a BG sequel - on its own as a D&D game? Eh, sure. But the direction Larian's taking it is very far removed from the older D&D games, and even more modern (and more faithful) renditions like Pathfinder's Wrath of the Righteous or Pillars of Eternity. It feels more like I'm playing a reskinned Divinity entry than a Baldur's Gate game, and that'd be great if that was what I wanted... but it isn't, lol.

[SturmChurro]

To me, BG3 doesn't really have the same vibe and playstyle that made BG1 and 2 so fun, tbh. I don't really have high hopes for it as a BG sequel - on its own as a D&D game? Eh, sure. But the direction Larian's taking it is very far removed from the older D&D games, and even more modern (and more faithful) renditions like Pathfinder's Wrath of the Righteous or Pillars of Eternity. It feels more like I'm playing a reskinned Divinity entry than a Baldur's Gate game, and that'd be great if that was what I wanted... but it isn't, lol.

It plays quite a bit like Neverwinter Nights actually, but turn based instead of real time with pause. I disagree with many that it is like a Divinity OS2 reskin. I have personally put in about 150 hours into the Early Access, and I can say that it is a proper DnD RPG experience, with wide variety of options, and more on the way. I suppose one could argue that it feels like Divinity OS2 due to how it plays (turn based), and that it will have similar 'origin' characters. Not saying that I particularly enjoy turn based, I do prefer real time with pause (over 500 hours in Pillars of Eternity alone), but an RPG being turn based isn't going to stop me from enjoying an otherwise great RPG experience (Fallout 1+2, UnderRail, Wasteland 2, etc.). For that matter, DnD is turn based in the first place, and the game is using the 5e ruleset translated. Anyway, I can understand why Larian was chosen to make it, as they wanted a more modern turnbased take on the franchise, and Larian had already proven themselves prior with successful crpgs. Even Pillars of Eternity 2 has a turnbased mode now.

I see a lot of people say this in concern to BG3's plot. The thing is the Bhaalspawn story has already been concluded, like in what Throne of Bhaal (granted it's been a long time since I've played BG2)? For that matter, BG2, didn't even take place in Baldur's Gate. BG3 will actually be taking place in Baldur's Gate and it's surrounding environs. Also, BG1 wasn't even that deep as an RPG, and was very goofy, so funnily enough right along the lines of Larian's usual writing style. Anyone remember Noober, or Minsc and his Space hamster? Baldurs Gate 2, is really where the more serious RPG experience started for the franchise. I can say with certainty, that if Larian continues the route and quality of writing that's in the first act (Early Access portion) then the game will turn out to be a pretty great RPG, though I can understand people waiting and seeing for sure until full release. Entirely reasonable with most releases nowadays..

Anyway, I'm going way off-topic. I do like my RPGs though, they are usually what I play when I am not playing FFXIV.

[Kaoru_Nagisa]

It plays quite a bit like Neverwinter Nights actually, but turn based instead of real time with pause. I disagree with many that it is like a Divinity OS2 reskin.

I very fondly remember my hours and hours playing NWN1 and 2 way back in the day, and I honestly didn't really feel that vibe from BG3, personally. Maybe a bit of NWN2, but something about it just doesn't hit the same notes as they did.

It feels far more like DOS2 with a D&D coat of paint right now, though I am hoping that feeling changes once the full game is out and we move away from the "Fort Joy" section that is Chapter 1. But the opening segment of BG3 in specific was almost verbatim the opening segment of DOS2... which didn't give me high hopes for Larian handling this project, honestly. :x I loved DOS2, but when I think "Baldur's Gate", I don't want to feel like I'm playing DOS2 again... when I could literally just boot that up instead.

They've certainly done better than I anticipated with it from that, but still not really hitting the mark so far.

For that matter, DnD is turn based in the first place, and the game is using the 5e ruleset translated.

Larian's also modified a some of the D&D 5e ruleset and inserted their own brand of "fun" combat options from DOS2 (I don't find them fun, just needlessly overpowered and unnecessarily goofy), which most older BG and RTwP fans vehemently dislike, from what I've been seeing.

I can understand why Larian was chosen to make it, as they wanted a more modern turnbased take on the franchise, and Larian had already proven themselves prior with successful crpgs.

Larian's certainly a good studio, I agree! That said, I still think Obsidian or the people in charge of Solasta would have been a better choice to hand over such a beloved franchise to.

Pillars of Eternity was practically a love letter to the glory days of cRPGs, and Solasta's done a much better job of 1:1 translating 5e's ruleset into a game.

I see a lot of people say this in concern to BG3's plot. The thing is the Bhaalspawn story has already been concluded, like in what Throne of Bhaal (granted it's been a long time since I've played BG2)? For that matter, BG2, didn't even take place in Baldur's Gate.

My issue with the story isn't so much a lack of connection to the older games beyond name drops and etc. I actually like where it's going so far, I just think some of the writing needs polishing. That said, I wasn't super fond of Descent into Avernus - which is what BG3 is coming off of, storywise (at least, iirc), so that doesn't really help matters.

The issue with focusing on cinematics and gorgeous graphics comes from a place of concern over the writing and roleplay elements being a secondary thought to those. I don't need my game to push the limits of graphics and look photorealistic - I just need a good RPG that offers tons of roleplay variety. I got that in WotR and Pillars, not... really feeling it in BG3 so far. :x

Also, BG1 wasn't even that deep as an RPG, and was very goofy, so funnily enough right along the lines of Larian's usual writing style.

Larian's never had bad writing, per say - I just feel it's being bogged down right now with a lot of other issues. Plus the mostly-evil party we have access to right now can kinda grate on people who play good-aligned characters (like me). I liked all of them except Wyll (he just... didn't stand out and has a personality that rubs me wrong, but eh, hard to fully judge with just a single chapter available in EA), but they could still be kind of irritating at times. Astarion and Lae'Zel stand out as the more fun options, though I've been hearing Shadowheart's story is shaping up to be interesting.

And compared to DOS2, BG3 definitely got a lot more serious in and less campy than the former - which I do appreciate! I prefer less goofy stories and more well-timed comedy sprinkled within an otherwise serious tale, and BG1 for all its silliness actually hit that balance pretty well. WotR has as well, perhaps even more so, which is part of what enamored me to it over BG3 - despite being wholly unfamiliar with the Pathfinder setting and lore, let alone its mechanics (I've come to adore both, though, but I'm glad the game handles number crunching instead of me needing to. I'm hella bad at math and Mathfinder is a meme I know well from my friend who's played it exclusively for years).

All that said, I've basically swore off the EA after getting through to the start of the Underdark. I don't want to burn out too soon on the game and not have any enjoyment out of it when it's fully released, plus my above-mentioned issues just haven't made me that keen on continuing with it in its current state. Still following development here and there, though, and I do hope you're right that it'll end up being an excellent entry to the D&D cRPG franchise once all's said and done!

For now, it just isn't clicking with me like the old games (and some new ones) did. I'll reserve full judgement for it until after it's out and I've had time to fully experience all the game offers, though!

Anyway, I'm going way off-topic. I do like my RPGs though, they are usually what I play when I am not playing FFXIV.

Mood though. My bad, I just wanted to share my thoughts in more detail since you took the time to type all that up! I tend to exclusively be playing various cRPGs, western RPGs, or jRPGs in my spare time during content lulls in FFXIV - so I hear where you're coming from. xD

[SturmChurro]

I very fondly remember my hours and hours playing NWN1 and 2 way back in the day, and I honestly didn't really feel that vibe from BG3, personally. (...)

Larian's certainly a good studio, I agree! That said, I still think Obsidian or the people in charge of Solasta would have been a better choice to hand over such a beloved franchise to.

Pillars of Eternity was practically a love letter to the glory days of cRPGs, and Solasta's done a much better job of 1:1 translating 5e's ruleset into a game.



My issue with the story isn't so much a lack of connection to the older games beyond name drops and etc. I actually like where it's going so far, I just think some of the writing needs polishing. (..)

The issue with focusing on cinematics and gorgeous graphics comes from a place of concern over the writing and roleplay elements being a secondary thought to those. I don't need my game to push the limits of graphics and look photorealistic - I just need a good RPG that offers tons of roleplay variety. I got that in WotR and Pillars, not... really feeling it in BG3 so far. :x

(...) the mostly-evil party we have access to right now can kinda grate on people who play good-aligned characters (like me). I liked all of them except Wyll

And compared to DOS2, BG3 definitely got a lot more serious in and less campy than the former - which I do appreciate! I prefer less goofy stories and more well-timed comedy sprinkled within an otherwise serious tale, and BG1 for all its silliness actually hit that balance pretty well.

All that said, I've basically swore off the EA after getting through to the start of the Underdark. I don't want to burn out too soon on the game and not have any enjoyment out of it when it's fully released (...)

Mood though. My bad, I just wanted to share my thoughts in more detail since you took the time to type all that up! I tend to exclusively be playing various cRPGs, western RPGs, or jRPGs in my spare time during content lulls in FFXIV - so I hear where you're coming from. xD

I should have clarified, I meant the way the movement and how the camera is feels like NWN*, rather than the isometric BG1+2. The gameplay is definitely turn based like DOS2, and yeah some aspects can for sure be cheesed. I think one of the biggest issues, was/is how elements work, like on the ground, if I recall? It's still in EA though, so everything is still subject to change.

I also stopped at the Underdark, as I didn't want to go super deep into it. My 150 hours in that game is from me making new characters and playing around with the different choices up to that point - which the game for sure has a lot of. I stopped playing BG3 about two updates ago (around 6-7 months ago). I do want to see who else they plan on adding for companions, supposedly Minsc is on the way - that should be interesting. I don't think what we have are really evil necessarily, it feels more like a party of neutrals to me, except for Lae'zel (who I'll probably play as, as an origin character at some point). Wyll is the one I dislike the most as well, coincidentally..

I have heard of Solasta being quite faithful to the ruleset, Larian with BG3 have definitely taken some liberties. I do understand why other studios weren't chosen, Obsidian were bought by Microsoft, and have their hands full working on their own Skyrimlike, Outer Worlds 2, and something else (if I recall), and BG3 would probably be too big of a project for an indie studio (at least how it was envisioned), so Larian is a pretty obvious choice. They have the resources and experience to make a large crpg. Funnily enough, I actually never really got into OS2.. I never liked it that much. I have maybe gotten to the middle of the second act, but that's about the extent of my experience in it. Pathfinder, I haven't bought yet. I've been meaning to buy Kingmaker on sale one of these days (for like two years), and I like to play stories in succession, so I can't play WoTR unless I have played Kingmaker. Plus I heard it had launch issues, and yeah I have heard that of Pathfinder, if you don't build your character right, you can find yourself unable to complete sections of the game! I'm sure minmaxers love it though..

Anyway, I really hope BG3 lives up to it's namesake, and Larian can continue their quality of writing, into further acts. At the very least, before the mods decide to delete all of this, this is a deeper look at some of our opinions outside of FFXIV, and what we do and will be doing during the extra two weeks until Endwalker!

[Yeol]

I'm working on Big Fish achievements

[Illmaeran]

I picked up Diablo 2: Resurrected over the weekend and started derping around with that. The first time hearing the main menu theme sent chills of nostalgia down my spine. The 20 year old gameplay is awkward and can be frustrating, and goes to show just how much progress gaming in general has made since then. Even so, I love it and will enjoy tooling around in it when needing mental breaks from XIV. Honestly, the only downside is how it reminds me of Blizzard's fall from grace and how I'm probably never going to buy one of their games again.