u/BaldursGate2Best

When Hitler first came to power, many people respected him, saying that he's only trying to restore Germany's rightful place in the world. During the Munich Conference in 1938, Hitler promised that Sudetenland was going to be the last of his demands. Chamberlain fell for it like a little child. In 1939, Hitler occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia. He therefore "dropped his mask" – no one could pretend anymore that he was simply a strong, determined leader who wanted to bring his country back to glory. Nobody could hold any delusions by that point.

Could Trump have a moment where he "drops his mask"? As of right now, the narrative is that he is simply a strong leader who has introduced some controversial policies for "short term pain, long term gain". Could he have a moment when "all appearances are undone?

For example, Trump claims to care about Americans. Could he eventually "drop his mask" and reveal (via some deed) that he only cares about himself and his family/friends? Or that he does not really care about the economy of the USA despite claiming that he does?

Similarly, could the United States be revealed to be working with Russia or China against Europe, therefore betraying long-standing allies? And it would be so blatant no one could deny it?

I am European, not an American, and have not been to the USA yet, but I was curious about this and decided to post. I am sorry if my knowledge on American politics leaves a lot to be desired.

I was curious what you thought? Could something like that happen to Trump?

Hello everyone. I don't have as much time for gaming as I would like to, since I am focused on graduating. However, I am currently replaying Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition (first finished 3-5 years ago) and playing Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous for the first time.

I am also kind of considering picking my first Pillars of Eternity playthrough back up. I left it some years ago, also losing some saves due to a cloud backup failure. However, I am confident that with a concentrated effort, I would be able to restore my progress within 10 hours. Indeed, I think I might play it today.

I am also in the middle of playing Dragon Age Origins for the first time and replaying Disco Elysium (finished for the first time roughly 2 years ago). However, I consider these to be of a lower priority, so I am not planning on finishing these endeavours until I am done with at least the first two.

Overall, I have unfinished playthroughs in at least 6 cRPG's, most likely many more, but currently, I am only seriously playing WoTR and BG2.

I was wondering, does anyone else play multiple cRPG's at the same time? Or am I the only one? How many would you consider playing concurrently?

Hello everyone. I am a massive fan of old cRPG games, particularly the classic Fallout games and the Infinity Engine titles – Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale 1 and 2. If you want the essence of my post, skip to the paragraph with the strikethrough.

I had very high expectations for Baldur's Gate 3. I was so excited to try it out... But it kind of wasn't what I was looking for? It's not like Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 at all. It does not feel like a game made for the fans of these games, but instead like one that is aimed at the wide market. The party has been decreased to 4 characters, which I don't like at all, the combat is turn-based only, which I absolutely hate, and they removed so many cool things. Like for example, learning spells from scrolls. In this game you automatically unlock all spells upon levelling up. I have never really played tabletop RPG's, but from the little I understand about D&D, I genuinely dislike the Fifth Edition. It feels like it was chosen not because it's a good system, but because it's the most recent and most widespread, so it's easier for people to get into it. The Advanced Edition seems way cooler!

Now, it might sound ridiculous, because I have 149 hours in that game, but a large portion of that was spent on fixing a certain technical issue that I was troubled with, and the game is simply very, very long. Even though I've spent so much time in the game, I wouldn't say I "loved it" or anything. It's just I really wanted to play through it so I could understand discussions about on the Internet, and it's technically the "sequel" to some of my favourite games of all time, so I would feel strange not having played through it.

Now, this game has attracted way more attention than any other cRPG (unless you count something like Morrowind or Oblivion as cRPG's). It won many awards, sold more than 20 million copies, and it's brought up constantly on "mainstream" gaming spaces (not dedicated communities like this one). But is it, like, actually of a unique quality?

I have recently started playing Pathfinder WOTR. I am still early into the game, I am lvl 4, but I am enjoying it so much! It's MUCH closer to what I would have wanted than Baldur's Gate 3. It feels much more like BG1 and 2! Again, I am still early into the game, but if it keeps the current level of quality up, it might become a top 5 game for me. Like, I don't know, I feel so much more at home with it?

I would NOT say that WOTR is a game of worse quality than BG3, but it sold so many copies fewer. Why? Well, I do not think BG3 is a game of "unique quality" in the genre. It's not significantly better than other games that have released in the last decade. Instead, it has an extremely high production value. The interface and the graphics are pleasing, it is fully voice acted, everything is HYPER accessible.

Like, if you put many people in front of Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 or Pathfinder WotR... some would not manage it. Baldur's Gate 3 would be extremely difficult for someone like my parents, who've never gamed... But pretty accessible to people coming over from FPS or sports games. But I would not say that BG3 is better than them. Maybe I am wrong, but I just didn''t enjoy it as much with the turn based system, lack of connection to BG1/2, and a 4 character party...

Is the production value the thing that makes BG3 unique? Or does it possess any unique quality compared to other games from the genre?

Thank you!

Let's imagine the following scenario. Someone like Kelly or Newsom becomes President. They hold the office for two terms and manage to obtain decent results when it comes to healthcare or taxes. However, the right wing part of the electorate starts becoming disgruntled over immigration, abortion rights, not subsidizing farmers etc. Influencers like Joe Rogan start picking up on this. Eventually, a new Republican candidate is elected, one who swears to follow the example set by Trump. And the cycle repeats any time the public becomes slightly annoyed by the economy or social policies under the Democrats. So the MAGA movements DOES not disappear after Trump, instead it reappears regularly.

Do you think that is a plausible scenario?

I am not an American and haven't been to the USA, but I was curious if the above is possible?

Hello guys. I am a huge fan of the Infinity Engine games. For a very long time, I have been searching for a game just like them, but more modern, and I have finally found one I enjoy a lot – Pathfinder: WoTR! This game is insane! I am still early into the game (lvl 4) but I am liking it so much! It's PRECISELY the game I wanted! Just like BG1 and and 2!

And I love fantasy, it's one of my favourite genres... But, for a change, I would like to see a game similar to these, BUT set in a very dark, far-future setting.

I am thinking of something along the lines of Dune? Like, imagine a world in which all of humanity is ruled by an absolute monarchy in a galaxy-spanning empire. And humanity is surrounded on all sides by existential threats.

Like, I would KILL for such a game! HOLY FUCK!

I was curious about what you guys thought, would you also like such a game?

Hello guys. I am a 24 year old male from from Europe, roughly 180 cm tall.

I have always been sort of ashamed because I have never been very strong. Like, I don't know if I've ever encountered a male who was less strong than me... Like, for example, I have been curling a 5 kg dumbell at home, and, like, it's not heavy, but it doesn't feel "feather-light" if you know what I mean? I don't know if I could force myself to do 20 reps easily. I have always wondered if I am stronger than women.

I was curious if it's even possible to build muscle with scoliosis? I would like to gain at least some muscle to not look like an idiot when I am shirtless. Is that possible?

I have never had my scoliosis "measured" or anything...

Do you think that there's any AWP-er in CS2 that's basically just playing a different game compared to the others? Casually raking in trophies and MVP's like mementos?

Hello guys. I am a huge fan of older cRPG games, such as the Infinity Engine games – Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2. For a very long time, I have been searching for a MODERN game that plays similar to these games. I am still very early into the game (I am lvl 4), but I am happy to say Pathfinder: WotR may be the one I was looking for all this time! This game is incredible!

But, I do want to ask. Do you think that the possible similarities between these games are intended? Like did the devs play the Infinity Engine games and were inspired? Or is there no link?

Or maybe there are no similarities and I am tripping?

Do you think someone like me is the "target audience" for these games?

Thank you for your time!

Hello guys. I am a huge fan of older cRPG games, such as the Infinity Engine games – Planescape Torment, Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Icewind Dale 1 and 2. For a very long time, I have been searching for a MODERN game that plays similar to these games. I am still very early into the game (I am lvl 4), but I am happy to say Pathfinder: WotR may be the one I was looking for all this time! This game is incredible!

But, I do want to ask. Do you think that the possible similarities between these games are intended? Like did the devs play the Infinity Engine games and were inspired? Or is there no link?

Or maybe there are no similarities and I am tripping?

EDIT Do you think someone like me is the "target audience" for these games?

Thank you for your time!

Are there any countries in Europe where buying property is EXTREMELY difficult unless you inherit it or get a top 20% highest paying job and save for many years?

I bought this game on Steam a while ago and holy shit, it's so amazing when you use it with a DualSense controller! It feels so good! Like the vibrations are incredibly cool. For example when you aim the Leviathan Axe and hold it for an extended period of time. It's just so cool.

I wonder, has anyone noticed that? It feels like this game was meant to be experienced with a DualSense controller.

For a very long time, cRPG's used to have a text-based presentation. It might alternatively be referred to as text box presentation. TBP is present in Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Planescape Torment, Fallout 1 and 2 and many other games, including some first and third person games like Morrowind (I really felt like mentioning Morrowind for some reason). It's also present in modern games like Disco Elysium or Pathfinder WoTR.

I LOVE TBP. It's slick, relaxing, respects the player's intelligence. I don't know how to describe it... It's just so nice looking at a wall of pure text, with deep lore etc. It feels like it respects the player's intelligence and doesn't try to steal attention with superficial things. You can convey really deep dialogue and story without cheap embellishments. For example, Baldur's Gate 2, my favourite game, has TBP and it ROCKS. As does Planescape!

And the art! TBP has such nice art that you can look at. Look at the potraits in Disco Elysium! They are so well done! I would pay money for a piece of art like this! Holy fuck it's so good!

CBP is... I mean, I don't know what to say. First of all it's boring as hell. Like yeah, cool, we have motion capture technology. Does that mean I am supposed to be particularly impressed because a character made a subtle jaw move? It's not exactly a tech novelty to show off. It's also not necessary to tell a story. Baldur's Gate 2, Planescape Torment or Disco Elysium are masterpieces without any of that! As are Fallout 1 and 2! Why fix something that isn't broken? I have been enjoying the genre fine with TBP.

Second of all, and I think this point might anger some people... It's going to age like shit. Let's be frank here. Fallout 1 and 2 are timeless with their TBP. Fallout 3 and New Vegas basically feel like a joke compared to that. They look ridiculous. The Witcher 3 was released 11 years ago and is basically impossible to gaze at. One would be naive to assume differently about Baldur's Gate 3.

To me, CBP feels like it's primarily designed with the lowest common denominator in mind. It is meant to appeal to Twitch or Youtube audiences. It's easier to stream or make shorts if a game has that. People start watching it and it explodes. Harder to do that with a TBP that requires you to use a little bit of your brain.

Now, here's the thing. I expect different things from pieces of art/entertainment of different genres. I am a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's works in general. Does it bother me that he, as a devout Catholic, never described sex and only mentioned full nudity once or twice? No, because that's not what I read his works for. If I wanted that, I would purchase an Asoiaf box set, right? I like cinematic presentation in some games, like Metal Gear Solid, God of War, Red Dead Redemption – it totally works in those genres! But that is NOT what I am looking for in a cRPG! That's NOT the genre it fits in! CRPG's deal in text and lore and deep stories!

One of the reasons why I hated my time with Baldur's Gate 3 and was forcing myself all the way to finish it was this fucking CBP bullshit. Anytime there was dialogue, I went like, "oh fuck. This again"? Yeah cool we have motion capture technology. Can I just read the text and look at art? Like why not simply include high quality art like with Disco Elysium? Holy shit look at this picture of Cuno? I am currently playing Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous and I am so happy because this game has actual TBP! I feel at home! Like I don't know... All of those cinematics where making me very angry and sad... Now I feel calm and relaxed with text and beautiful art.

Divinity Original Sin 2 had really nice TBP and yet they decided to dump it.

I understand I am going to attract hate and people are going to be mean to me. But I wanted to express my opinion. Please don't be mean to me as I never take it well... I understand if you don't care about me but I would like to be able to engage with people in a friendly way...

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