Baldur’s Gate 3 anyone?

Yeah, I am super obsessed with this game. But I loooooove turn based games.
My sister is a big D&D fan, but I always struggled to play it with her because I don't have a visual imagination. And I'm not great at coming up with things to say on the fly. BG3 is a great intro to D&D style gameplay because it provides you with both visuals and dialog options rather than requiring you to conjure these.
At first, my sis didn't love it, she thought it was very limiting compared to D&D. However, we both realized as we continued playing that unlike an ordinary RPG, you aren't limited to the handful of options that the NPCs present to you. There are many, many different ways to solve a problem, and your more creative choices may lead you to surprise content I believe there is some content that the developers expect almost no one will ever see, if they did not make the exact combination of choices to produce that result.

I have I think 6 campaigns going right now, and I'm still experiencing new content every time. Every choice seems to produce a consequence in the world. And it's funny how some random decision you made early on, could come back and bite you in the cheeks two acts later
I also love the relationship dynamics between the origin characters. And how much your relationships with them can change based on your choices, not only in the story but even in just making your character. In my solo play, Astarion has had quite the complicated relationship with my ranger, but in the game I just started with my sister, he was fawning over my rogue soon after meeting Could it be because of my class? My background? Our little meet-cute? Not sure!

Not to mention, if you are like me and refuse to save-scum, you actually get rewarded for this, and it's awesome

I very much want to recreate some of my avatars as dolls one day

Astarion's storyline tho???? No spoilers. But
Speaking of that, getting everyone but Astarion killed during a certain event also produced a specific consequence I could not believe they thought of this too.

 

Okay, I haven't had the opportunity to play BG3 myself yet (I intend to, but I need to do some updates to my PC's CPU first for space/power sake), but I have been watching a couple different playthroughs of it. I very much intend to play it first chance I get. I've been getting more into DND over the past couple of years (I've got a druid take on my main boy Tahmos classed as a half-elf water-based druid in a current campaign), and BG3 has made me more excited to explore maybe getting involved in other campaigns with some of my other OCs

Oh, Astarion—he became an instant fave of mine. I can't wait to try out the dynamics with different character interactions with him once I get a chance. Without going into spoilers myself, I can say that I relate a bit to some of the trauma he's had to go through. Astarion also kind of reminds me of Tahno from Legend of Korra—so of course I'd be drawn to him.

I've even been debating shelling Astarion as a bjd. So many opportunities....

No—get your head out of the gutter. It's not because of that.

 

I also considered giving my incoming doll an Astarion cosplay, since he's got fangs and elf ears
Not quite pale enough, but that's what photoshop is for, right?
But yeah, commissioning these outfits would cost a pretty penny... perhaps I'll put him in the special outfit I picked up at Sharess's Caress

 

I haven't been able to play much (my computer can't handle it so I'm only able to play on my husband's while he's not using it or out of town xD) but I'm enjoying it! I wouldn't say I'm doing well in the game, but it is fun! A lot of the time with stat based video games or visual novels i get frustrated trying to build stats and/ or failing checks, but I think since I've played a lot more dnd over the last couple years that i don't really mind when i fail a roll and find them more amusing. It's very clear to see how you failed checks in the game compared to others games where the stats and things that feed into them are kind of more behind a screen.

The one thing i don't really like is the false sense of urgency they emphasized in the first act. I keep feeling like i need to do everything right away or everything is going to go wrong, but that's really just not the case. I also keep forgetting to try to jump to get to places when i get stuck on the map xD
I adore Astarion. The feeling isn't mutual, sadly xD I'm not far enough along to have solid relationships with any of the companions yet, so most of them are neutral towards my characters (I've made 3 which hasn't helped me get further in game, but one technically *is* my dnd character because i wanted to make her in the CC and i'm using her as a sort of tutorial mode, since this isn't really her story anyway). Karlach is also a lot of fun and I'd be lying if I said i didn't gun for the find Halsin quest at the first opportunity lol. Gale and Wyll have the most positive view of my characters so far and they seem very nice too. I'm more neutral towards Shadowheart and Lae'zel, but some of my friends have really liked Shadowheart's storyline, especially if you play DUrge.

 

I have not played BG 1 or 2 so I kinda jumped blindly to the 3rd one. I mainly got interested about it 'cause I like to play D&D homebrew campaings, combat was something I got my eyes on and reminds me of that.

Now, I have played 113 hours BG3 and I have not even finished the game (I really enjoy the exploration, I'm in 3rd act). My first campaign character is thiefling bard, I absolutely have enjoyed killing some bosses only with words, haha. One of my favorite aspect is combat, as it's turn based, I can freely take my time thinking about next move. I think I wouldn't be this interested of the game if it was action based combat like Diablo (I have played 3 and little for 4th one but it didn't catch my interest).
For an original characters my favorites might be Astarion and Karlach (even tho I'm romanced with Gale in this first playthrough, but it happened kinda accidentally ). I have so many planned combinations I'm going for the next runs (started few of them already tho). Now in my main campaign my group have my bard, Astarion, Gale and Karlach, I find it very balanced combination. I do savescum a lot, but some decicions I just leave as they are, tho some I regret a bit, but maybe in next one I will choose differently . Like for example, my Lae'zel died accidentally when I long rested and couldn't ress her anymore (and didn't want to play hour again to retrieve her xD) and my Shadowheart left 'cause I did some things I didn't include her with me. Oops. Halsin also died in this first campaign, so those characters I will include to my next one to see their stories more.

 

I hope I didn't come off that there's something wrong with savescumming
It's a perfectly valid playstyle, some people would rather reload until they get their desired path, some like to reload to see all the possibilities at once (my sister is this type, and when she really wants to I will run around pickpocketing people while she save scums for her desired dialog outcome )
But you know, sometimes I get tired of reloading and would rather just let my adventure be what it is. But for those of us who choose not to save scum, usually our "reward" is that we just miss out on a big chunk of content or make our own game harder
In BG, I don't feel like I've punished myself, when someone gets killed or a situation went awry, there is some story and surprises tailored to my own experience

Hahaha, I was soooo shocked when I was playing an evil-aligned campaign with my cousin and nephew, when Karlach and Wyll both yelled at me and left!!! Ummm, excuuuuuse me?! I thought we were pals!
Interestingly I've also been able to manipulate Shadowheart and Astarion to reluctantly go along with things they've disapproved of, without running off Astarion yells at me a lot, despite us being close friends. Because my ranger goes along with whatever feels like a fun idea at the time (Something Gale seems to always approve of, lmao)
Sometimes you can really push their limits. But if it's what I'm thinking of....

Spoiler: Shadowheart Act 2 spoilers

You didn't leave her at camp twiddling her thumbs while you did Shar's temple, did you? Oh, no big deal, it's only the only thing she ever talks about!!!
I brought her along with me, buuuuut let's just say, I totally screwed this up for her, just to see how far I could push her I managed to keep her in my party, and for my ranger who lives for shenanigans, it. was. hilarious.
My ranger, Brynntny: "Why did you do that, Shadowheart? Girl you craaaazy!"
Shadowheart: ""
I haven't yet done her Act 3 content.... I've run into a few people looking for her, but I'm not ready to commit to something yet Maybe I will work on that today.

I was very pleased to bring Halsin into Act 3, but keeping him alive in Act 2 can be a challenge. My tips to anyone who wants to party with him:

Spoiler: Halsin Act 2 spoilers

Don't tell him about Art Cullagh at Last Light Inn and send him there, if you're going to talk to Isobel before hitting Moonrise towers. That's how my sister got him killed in her solo game. I actually ignored Isobel here because I had another workaround for the shadow curse and Astarion was being whiny about trusting the Harpers. But you could leave him at camp becaaaaaause....
Art Cullagh is pretty much gonna be chilling at Last Light Inn even after all the Harpers run off. You could bring Halsin at that point when there is not going to be a big conflict there anymore, whether you skip it like I did or just finish that before you bring Halsin. And you will still be able to do that Art Cullagh quest.

If you got him killed at the portal thingy, I kind of cheesed it by keeping darkness and fog up around the portal, and stacking around the portal within it. Darkness is better as it will not allow any ranged attacks into it. But fog works in a pinch if you don't have a spell slot or scroll to use Darkness again if concentration breaks. This forces the shadowcursed fighters to waste their time moving into the heavily obscured area, and conveniently also makes them sitting ducks for rogue assassins, or Shadowheart's Spirit Guardians spell, etc

After this event, I think that's when you should be able to convince him to join up with you. And you would be able to rez him at Withers-kun if he gets slapped too hard So you could bring him with you for whatever shenanigans at the end of Act 2 you have planned.

 

*taking notes on how to keep Halsin alive* Thanks for sharing the tips!

 

I actully just did what you mentioned with Shadowheart, haha! But she didn't fit to my comp and I wanted to have my favorite teammates for though battles . Somehow I was naive that game would "move" Shadowheart there if there was something important, it didn't haha! But I don't mind, I just grab her next time with me! I usually save during some rolls or dialogues I want to go in "certain way". And keep rolling until I have the desired outcome. I'll probably do a run where I just leave things how they go, might be interesting to see also.

 

Heree I'm obsessed too, nearly finished with Act3.
In love with so many people in this game... first of all Astarion... anyone interested in a head? I'm doing one.

Then Halsin, Raphael..... so many cool people. So inspiring.
I will replay with Astarion as main character and many mods to make him look even more gorgeous.

 

If you were to do one in the 65-70cm range with a 10-11cm neck, I'd seriously consider ordering one

 

I'm also completely obsessed! A friend recommended it to me because I've played D&D, but never been quite comfortable with the social roleplaying in a group. And it's perfect for me.

My favourite character's also Astarion.

My second character is stuck in Act 3 though. There is a loading scene after a cutscene that keeps crashing the game for me. I've tried different solutions I found online and nothing's worked. Hoping it will be fixed in an upcoming patch so I can progress. Will put which cutscene it is in a spoiler, just in case.

Spoiler: Potential Act 3 Spoiler

The loading scene after we escape The Iron Throne

Also wish I could use rope to climb, lasso and strangle enemies! Otherwise, I love the game.

 

He's finished now. His neck is 12,5 cm - but maybe still of interest for you?

 

He's gorgeous!!

 

Wow he's gorgeous!

I'm totally obsessed with this game too. I've created so many campaigns (gotta have at least one for each character's romance and other fun storyline decisions). I have not finished a single game yet...I almost don't want to. And yes, every campaign I've created has gone different/encountered new things and I freaking love it!

I really want dolls of the characters and dolls of my personal characters, even if that means articulated action figures. They did an amazing collectors edition for Dungeons and Dragons honor among thieves, very realistic - I was tempted! I've seen a few cosplay dolls and while they do look nice and somewhat recognizable as the character... they don't really look like the character - if that makes sense? I'm hoping after its success that they'll create some collectors edition action figures that really resemble them.

 

HI I'm obsessed with Baldur's Gate 3 too! The character I'm gone on is Halsin, but I love Astarion a lot too (actually most everybody's grown on me), and @DeanDynamite your doll is absolutely stunning

I actually only have about 140 hours and one campaign started, but that's because I always get too attached to my characters and am procastinating on the final quests a bit lol. I've never played turn-based or anything DnD-related before (though I did know some things about it beforehand, and I've played games like DA:I which it's sometimes compared to?). I'm having the time of my life fr, it's just such a good game with awesome characters, the best cast ever and a supportive, helpful fandom with incredibly talented creators
I'm not thinking of having a doll inspired by the characters just yet, but I am rotating multiple tattoo ideas in that vein