r/BG3 • u/Haygirlhayyy • 1d ago
Quality of life game design decisions other companies should take note of
Here's a list of my favorite game design/development things in this game:
When I talk to an NPC and I have to step away from my computer from a moment, the game displays the last sentence spoken by them, so I actually remember wtf I was talking to them about.
Freakin' Quicksave like, at any time ever. I'm almost embarrassed how many save files I have and it's only my first playthrough.
Integrated mod management, are you kidding? Do I even need to explain this one?
Being able to respec for merely pennies on the dollar (coppers on the gold?). In D&D, just talk to your DM, and you can likely work out mechanically fixing what you don't find fun about your class/subclass. Translating this to a videogame by making respeccing cheap is wild, generous behavior and should be appreciated. The devs could have easily hard forced you to play the class you picked at the beginning.
Choices that actually influence the environment. My husband and I have VASTLY different stories and experiences with this game. I'll be talking about a scene and he goes, "wait? THAT PERSON is there? wait what, how did you do that? wait, that was an option...?, etc"
Instead of having a map that spans the actual distance of the actual world, just jam pack your maps with content. I don't feel like there is one pixel of unused space in this game and the maps aren't HUGE HUGE, they're segmented, which makes it feel less daunting and encourages exploration.
Alt to see interactables.
Holding T on linkables that actually explain what things do (in general, the UI is so incredibly clean and intuitive. Being able to click Actions/Bonus Actions to quickly see what I can do, grouping/ungrouping, seeing all buffs/debuffs, toggling light sources)
Warnings about traveling to places that I'm underleveled for. Don't punish me for being exploratory, okay?
How even the NPCs are so full of life and interesting. I click on every named person and every one of them has their own line of dialogue, even if it's just to comment on the environment. Absolutely so immersive.
I know there's a million other things, but I am in the throes of my first playthrough, absolutely scouring every corner, talking to every NPC, looting every vase... I can't get over how FUN the game is. Obviously, the actors and writing and gameplay and all that is so polished and perfect, but it's the little quality of life things that just allow me to enjoy the game, instead of fighting against it to get to the content I want to see, of which I am so incredibly thankful. <3
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u/Compass_Needle 1d ago
Speak with animals blew me away. There are so many fantastic animal characters and lines that you'd never experience if you didn't pick up or use that spell. That just shows the detail and care they put into every interaction - having every character (even the animals) fully voiced is almost unheard of in this genre of game.
Also, I agree, the UI is perfect, it's incredibly easy to use and intuitive.
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u/stalkakuma 1d ago
Yes, some BG3 features, especially ones you listed, spoiled me to no end. Going back to other crpgs now, I just miss a lot of convenience and immersion focus.
Sometimes it's all in the small details and bg3 really focused on them, like the fact that you can't speak with people if you are in an area of silence. I wouldn't even check that ever, but there it was posted on reddit as a mechanic.
I don't know for sure, but it looks to me like this game was heavily QA'd and had a strong vision guiding its creation.
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u/Haygirlhayyy 1d ago
Oh my gods, you can't speak to people while Silenced?! I didn't even know this! This game continues to amaze me every day.
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u/Comfortable_Low_7753 1d ago
The way the map is built is incredible.
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u/Haygirlhayyy 1d ago
Yes! There are multiple routes to get places and it's not always super clear how, but you can always have your high Strength player jump, your casters Fly, and your sneakies Misty Step. There are so, so many hidden stashes, secret tunnels, and locked areas.
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u/FoxMeats69 Wizard 1d ago
• I love that all the animals are also voiced ( this is true for original sin 2 and i think 1 ) • The fact there is genuinely a lot of different endings • Mod support is always beautiful • Absolutely no micro transactions • Difficulty settings don't just make enemies into damage sponges, I've never found any of the fights to be slogs • There's a lot of cool environmental interactions, like the Grym forge hammer, or popping certain doors open with water and lightning.
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u/usernamescifi 1d ago
I really love quality of life improvements/features, but the part of me that has been Stockholmed Syndromed by older games always lashes out whenever a modern game tries to make the player experience more friendly/accommodating....
Anyone else feel a bit of that or should I go back to my gollum cave?