r/BG3 • u/DrewciferGaming • 1d ago
Help Tips on not railroading a new player?
Hello, I recently got my brother to play BG3 for the first time since it came out. The problem? I have played countless playthroughs. Know probably 99% of everything in the 1st act. I’ve caught myself saying “talk to this person” or “go here” a lot and I know it’s not good. I have been trying to stay as quiet as possible, especially through dialogue which has now led to Astartion and Halsin dead before joining the party. I don’t mind this but the Fomo on their storylines is something I’m not used to.
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u/diningroomjesus 1d ago
Pretend like it's an actual game of DnD and you don't know the possible outcomes. It will be tough but worth it. His choices won't be your choices and his rolls will not be your rolls. You might surprise yourself with how... freeing that is? And you might witness things you've never seen before.
Even after 1000+ hours of BG3 I still find things I didn't know about until I tried something new.
Exhibit A: I read a note and got a prompt to dig up a grave in the city while I was in the graveyard. Ordinarily I wouldn't but I'm playing a Durge who is 100% focused on Orin now and she figured there might be something cool in there that would help?
Outcome: met a kobold who isn't Popper
Rating: SUPER COOL
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u/MistakeLopsided8366 1d ago
I dug up a random grave and found a guy who had been buried alive for pissing off some local thugs.
Also a pretty cool find😆
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u/AllStitchedTogether 1d ago
Fun fact, that guy pissed off >! " The Stone Lord!" !< Now that I think about it, I wonder what happens when you dig him up with >! Minsc !< in the party... 🤔
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u/Namechecked 19h ago
I don't think anything happened. I got minsc early act 3, and ran into a lot of people telling us about this supposed, scary guy named 'the stone lord'. Never saw any dialogue being like "oh that guy, he's standing beside me actually"
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u/underlightning69 23h ago
This!! I told my friend I would only give her answers if she really wanted to know and asked for them, like if she felt like a choice would be a huge deal with big consequences. Anyway, a lot of the time, because this game doesn’t handhold you, she would make very different decisions from me, and it was really really cool! I’d never seen what happens when you accept Raphael’s deal and sign the contract so that was super interesting when it happened, for example.
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u/MedianXLNoob 1d ago
This is a self control issue. We cant help you with that. Just help your bro when he asks for it.
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u/happymasquerade 1d ago
I run coops with friends who haven’t played before and I usually let them take the lead to explore the storyline. I usually do a “DM recap” when they’re not sure where to go.
For example if we’re lingering in the Druid Grove I might say “Cool, so we talked to Nettie and Nettie asked us to find Halsin. So that’s one goal we have. We can explore the grove before moving on, talk to the people here.”
If you’re playing with them, use the journal tab to bring up quests and let the new player pursue what sounds interesting. If they get stuck or in over their head (like a level 3 player wanting to fight the gith) tell them to save and let them die, and then suggest coming back later.
If you’re just talking to them about the game, ask lots of questions about where they are and what choices they’ve made. No need to push them towards an objective or a secret quest- they can always replay. Once someone has beaten the game at least once I feel like spoiling hidden methods and quests is fair game
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u/sskoog 1d ago
Swen Vincke sometimes does celebrity playthroughs — with Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, etc. — when he does, he very gently offers “Maybe there might be something interesting over there,” but keeps it vague. I think that’s the way.
(The Elijah Wood Sean Astin playthrough is well worth watching. It’s only a 15 minute excerpt, and it’s HILARIOUS.)
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u/Alewort 1d ago
With the level of impulse control you have demonstrated, a ball gag is the only sure deterrent. You can type actually neccessary information and the delay will help you pull back from the dark urge. Don't worry a whit about missing out, because that's what four hundredth playthroughs are for.
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u/Raisa_Alfera 1d ago
Ask what he wants. When I played coop, the lead hadn’t played the game before, I had beaten it, and the other member had almost finished act 2. I let what happened happen the first bit of the game, then I asked him if he wanted me to guide him towards quests when he started getting lost. I guided him to locations in act 3, but didn’t offer any choice input unless asked
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u/Controller87 1d ago
I'm the new friend going through with my experienced buddy. He's been very spoiler free, having me explore and talk to everyone, and encouraging me to make decisions on my own. However I did tell him that I want maximum story outcomes and I also ask for guidance on how a decision might affect an outcome later on so he will remind to do things like bring a certain character along so as to not miss out on their specific quests.
Here's one example of how he helped accomplish what I want: I decided to help the Grove in Act 1 and decided to kill everyone in the goblin camp as a result. When we got to Minthara he said, "I think we should toggle on non-lethal here otherwise we're going to miss out on some story later on." I wasn't even really aware of that mechanic in the game so by him showing me I was then aware of using it later on when I accidentally made someone hostile but didn't want them dead.
He also took on a role to be a complement to my character. I'm basically the tank that's good at intimidation and he's the rogue that's good at stealing stuff and talking to animals. He's been selfless in letting me get most of the buffs while also being the one to eat all of the tadpoles because I wasn't sure and he thought his character would be interested in the extra powers. It's been fun and he's been super patient and helpful and as we're getting to the end of act 3 we're planning our next playthroughs and which roles we'll play and decisions we'll make
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u/BenWyattIsBae 1d ago
Stop watching him play if you can't help yourself.
Part of the beauty of this game is that everyone's playthrough can be different. There is no way for someone to miss out on things unless they only play it once.
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u/Maplebear1203 20h ago
Exactly. who's first playthrough isn't a chaotic "nightmare" that isn't following a playthrough guide? I feel like it's highly unlikely in your first playthrough that you don't end up accidentally killing or missing at least one companion! There's so many. it's so easy miss one or two. It's also incredibly easy to get into fights that lead you to killing them or just choosing the wrong interactions and you don't get them as a companion.
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u/Bubbly-Material313 1d ago
Set a forfeit for anytime you slip up and give information without being asked
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u/rooeeez 1d ago
I’m currently in a playthrough with a friend. It’s his first time. I have about 300 hours logged. Since we have limited time to play together, usually a few hours on Friday nights, I’ll create an itinerary for us to do within our few hours of playtime. It may not be the most natural way to discover the game but it helps kinda keep our game moving. That being said, he’s making all the decisions, getting us into trouble etc. I am there to provide my support and advice when asked. Last night we finished the second half of the crèche then ended the night clearing the grymforge and getting his armor.
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u/Cracotte2011 1d ago
Maybe try role playing as your character and wondering what they would do with the knowledge they have?
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u/GreenTunicKirk 1d ago
We don’t know your brother or what he would respond to. If he likes gear and stat maxing, suggest where he should be exploring to find enemies and quests that would reveal loot. Along the way he’ll stumble into the story.
As for specific characters, that’s all up to your brother. Try to stay out of it, each persons journey is unique. I’d even suggest to just start all over. Astarion is a great companion throughout the game not just for his skill set but his dialogue and charisma are great fun.
Having fun companions to tag along with him while he plays is what makes BG3 so enriching.
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u/MistakeLopsided8366 1d ago
I try to steer the player in a vague, yet often humorous way.
"Where do I go to escape the nautiloid??"
"I don't know but I'm just casually going to stand by this giant puckered-asshole shaped door until you do figure it out"
etc.
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u/PartTimeBrainSurgeon 1d ago
Just let them lead unless your brother actively asks for help. Let him tigure it out,i dont get why people find that so hard. If you can't do that, why even get him to play with you.
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u/Relevant_Elk_9176 1d ago
It’s a massive game: he’s going to miss things. As long as he’s having fun, don’t worry about what’s been missed.
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u/PKP-Koshka 1d ago
Do you know it's not good? I mean, have you asked him how he feels about it? I just ask because I'm playing through for the first time with someone who has many, many hours in the game, and he is making the calls for where to go and who to talk to to get everyone in our party (we're playing with mods to expand party size and alter the difficulty accordingly), and I don't mind. I'm happy to play the way he likes because I've seen none of it, and I can always roll another character and do something totally different in my own game if I choose to.
It could also be the complete opposite and he's hoping to go his way as a first timer and take you along for the ride, and if that's the case I'd say just treat it like a throwaway save where you get to see what happens under circumstances you normally wouldn't choose.
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u/theawesomescott 1d ago
Get off the train man. Can’t railroad someone if you ain’t on no train
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u/Hazbeen_Hash 1d ago
This is honestly good advice. When I noticed I was railroading my friends in the past with other games, I disconnected to improve the experience for them. The less I paid attention to the screen, the more they got to explore without me backseat gaming. But I was still there if they wanted to ask questions or get help.
Be a train station, not the conductor. Let them stop the train for maintenance, but otherwise it's their train to command.
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u/Riftyfire12 1d ago
Nah I have this same problem. My dad started playing it and he switched from Laezel to Gale because I told him he missed her. 😭 I feel really bad but luckily he’ll be able to keep her in camp later when he meets her at the Mountain Pass
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u/MidnightPractical241 Bard 1d ago
The game does a great job at making things feel urgent. A common pitfall for a new player is rushing it and not thinking in order to save themselves. It helps to give context to lore in order to slow things down and promote thinking if they want it, but other than that I let them do what they want.
“This isn’t just any tower, it looks like a wizard’s arcane tower- it probably has lots of information left behind here. Who knows what secrets wait to be investigated on every floor, desk, and bookshelf!”
I will also wait for them to clear an entire room and then go back and pick up whatever they missed that I would want them to enjoy. Like the dark amethyst in the spider room or Shovel’s spell to “find” later.
Unfortunately not much can be done if they are just not curious players or aren’t accustomed to playing games like these where it encourages you to think and explore. At that point, the best thing you can do is just enjoy to see them play for the first time, and experience a little of that same feeling you also got when you first played.
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u/Maplebear1203 20h ago
Honestly I feel like almost everyone has a chaotic first playthrough of this game. unless you're following a playthrough guide there's a good chance you end up missing or killing a companion.
I took out minty without a second thought because I'm a simple person. A large himbo tells me we need to take out the leaders. I say whatever you want princess. I didn't even know it was an option to have her as a companion until I saw a meme online about having her in your party. A lot of people missed Gale because they didn't trust the portal he was stuck in.
This game has so much stuff it's basically impossible to discover everything or even a majority of it in a first playthrough. The first time is almost like it's just figuring out how the game works more than story even. The game was designed for you to have a million playthroughs.
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u/mikeyx401 1d ago
Best way to play the game for the first time? Solo playthrough with no mods. After that, anything goes.
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u/Maplebear1203 20h ago
Exactly for me first playthroughs of games like this are mostly figuring out the mechanics and how to balance everything after that is when we worry about story or doing everything "correctly". first playthroughs are meant to be chaotic. You're meant to look back and go oh I could have done that differently?
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u/Incurious_Jettsy 23h ago
literally just shut your mouth. you will ruin the experience for him otherwise.
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u/Mostly-Useless_4007 22h ago
I had a few playthroughs done before my son started to play. He would constantly ask me about how to do this or that.... my main response was "try it and find out" or "could be good, could be bad, but how do you want to play this?"
It's the later that makes each run interesting to me, as I'll play them all a bit differently. I've completed the tasks for the mushroom folks, for example... but then went back and betrayed them. Lots of good experience... but a bit evil.
1400+ hours in and I still learn new things.
While there 'kind of' is an optimal way to play things, that assumes you WANT to play it out in a given way.
Plus, the first playthrough should be full of wonder as you learn things, learn the story -- or part of it, anyway, and then on the next few playthroughs, you find out more and more.
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u/No-Ad5521 22h ago
When I got my friend to start playing, we had an understanding that I wasn't going to spoil anything outright, but she knew she could ask me for advice and pointers for certain parts and I would preface things by saying things like “do you want this part spoiled or no?” and she would decide for herself
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u/Mussels84 14h ago
Expect for them to do a second run, play this one and enjoy the new content you didn't see from yours
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u/alyxen12 Bard 1d ago
Don’t do coop, have him play his own game. If you are doing a coop play then he also misses out on one companion’s dialog and quests.
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u/AllStitchedTogether 1d ago
The way I play with new people is to sort of act as a "co-dm" with the narrator. I'm there to give advice if I'm asked, but otherwise I'm just along for the ride and to get us out of a pickle if needed, otherwise I let the new person do all of the "driving" or choose where we go. I also let them choose how we approach different situations, with some minimal reminders on what useful abilities the party may have.
I tend to use the quest log as my guidance or our to-do list, that helps keep track on where to help and what the players should currently know. A lot of times I'll ask "do you want my advice here?" And if they say no, I respect that.
Overall, I'm there to help facilitate a good story that they get to experience their way. I'm just along for the ride to enjoy their reactions.
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u/Hazbeen_Hash 1d ago
Replace commands with suggestions.
"Talk to that guy" becomes "maybe try talking to that guy?" That will make him consider the option among his other internal priorities without eschewing them. If he wants to do something else first or has another idea, he is free to choose to do that instead, but will know to come back and talk to that guy if he gets lost or changes his mind. Especially knowing that you know stuff about it, he's free to take your advice but also to seek his own path.
Acts II & III can change depending on things done in act I, so definitely let him choose his own path. You might learn something new. But if you want to give him more freedom than that, offer your suggestions when you notice him struggling. If he seems lost or is asking a lot of questions, use your suggestions to guide him in a direction you're familiar with.
Keep in mind that things can be different if he strays from the path you've taken so far, and that not everything will turn out the way it did for you in that case. This is just an example and not a spoiler for the story, but if you talk to someone before another person, the dialogue options can be different, meaning relationships can be altered with characters in ways that will alter the end of their arch. So don't be surprised if your suggestions don't turn out the way you expect them once he finally follows them.
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u/meatshieldjim 1d ago
One thing I did was say save the game after every fight so I don't have too tell you to save before every big fight that might be a surprise.
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u/GulianoBanano 1d ago
I'd say it's okay to guide them to make sure they don't accidentally miss out on tons of content by killing companions or missing huge areas, but other than that just don't say anything. For example, I completely missed the Grymforge on my first playthrough because I didn't notice the boat docked at the Underdark beach. It'd be fine to point out stuff like that. But don't explicitly tell them to save Barcus at the windmill because he'll show up later. Missing out on a few small things because of stupid decisions is part of what makes the first playthrough so memorable.
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u/GrassSloth 1d ago
Play as a barbarian and role play just wanting to fight everyone. So instead of saying “talk to this person,” say “LETS FUCKING FIGHT THIS DUDE” and your brother will be like “please big brother, leave them alone! I’m not ready for a fight!” And you’ll be like “ok” and boom, urge to railroad your brother has passed.
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u/Maplebear1203 20h ago
Just leave him alone unless he comes to you for help? Just like you got to play for the first time without someone constantly over your shoulder he deserves that too.
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u/Rabbitknight 20h ago
The only advice I ever give on playthroughs is whether or not something is time sensitive, so they don't feel unnecessarily rushed, or walk away from something that doesn't stay as is.
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u/MovieNightPopcorn 19h ago
Just sit back and enjoy the chaos of their poor decisions. It's funny and entertaining.
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u/Azurekuru 18h ago
Have you tried just letting him experience the game? Imagine you're the DM and you're an added member just to observe. A Guardian of sorts. You're there to keep him from failing, not there to keep him from experiencing, whether it comes as a lack or you see something you haven't. There are a number of companions and it's hard to experience EVERYTHING in one playthrough, so just let it go
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u/Calm-Lengthiness-178 17h ago
Just keep quiet!
Part of the fun is messing up. I lost Lae’zel early in my first run. Adored the whole thing. And then I play again and 😮 WHAT 😮 whole other character with stories, quests, arcs, interactions etc that I missed the first time?! And I thought it couldn’t get any better!
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u/lonely_nipple 14h ago
Like 90% of the excitement of watching a new player start a much-loved game is seeing their choices, watching them do new things, and sometimes making dumb mistakes.
You're ruining your own enjoyment as well as his. You don't need tips, you need to hush.
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u/jessi_unicorn Ranger 13h ago
I got 800 hours in bg3 and i currently play with my best friend who knows nothing about the game. I just dont say shit and let him walk everywhere. If he has questions on how to do things or about lore i answer without spoiling haha. I just roleplay like my character doesnt know either. Its so much fun seeing him react to the story and characters!
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u/fastestman4704 1d ago
Just like... don't?
I had this with my one of my friends, and he kept asking what to do next and where to go, so I just answered him with questions.
If they want to know what to do next just ask them what quest they want to do and what their plan is before giving a firm answer. Don't say "speak to [specific character]" say "speak to [people in certain faction or area]" hopefully they'll get on the path they want without you giving exact instructions.