Quality of life game design decisions other companies should take note of

[u/Haygirlhayyy]

Here's a list of my favorite game design/development things in this game:

1. 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.

2. Freakin' Quicksave like, at any time ever. I'm almost embarrassed how many save files I have and it's only my first playthrough.

3. Integrated mod management, are you kidding? Do I even need to explain this one?

4. 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.

5. 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"

6. 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.

7. Alt to see interactables.

8. 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)

9. Warnings about traveling to places that I'm underleveled for. Don't punish me for being exploratory, okay?

10. 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

[u/Comfortable_Low_7753]

The way the map is built is incredible.

[u/Haygirlhayyy → u/Comfortable_Low_7753]

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.