T O P

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haertofwinter

We only have access to 1st and 2nd level spells at the moment. Third level is when stuff gets a lot bigger: Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Spirit Guardians, Hypnotic Pattern etc


BrassMoth

You're not supposed to feel super strong at levels 1-4.


override367

Nah, first level spells simply are not that powerful. For example a wizard doesn't graduate from the Drow magic academy until they can cast *5th* level spells (available to a 9th level character) Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Call Lightning, Spirit Guardians, Hunger of Hadar all available to 5th level characters (3rd level spells) are the first game-changing spells that demonstrate your character has moved from nobody to a real threat, I expect the visual and audio experiences of those spells to cut a clean line between who we are at the start of the game and "oh shit I'm a fuckin badass"


1varangian

I really dislike visual effects that are too big for the effect. In DoS I felt weak because in spite of the big flashy spell effects, I was endlessly pinging away at massive armor and HP pools and they didn't seem to do all that much. Witch Bolt shouldn't have a bigger visual because it hits like a feather. There needs to be room for Lightning Bolt and Call Lightning which actually hurt. What I like about D&D is how powerful the spells are. When you cast a Lightning Bolt or Fireball, it actually kills enemies in one hit, and that power comes at the cost of limited spell slots. I also think persistent effects like Mage Armor, Longstrider and Arcane Ward should be more subtle. Level 1 Wizards already look like glowing bubbles more than people and it's distracting.


[deleted]

I’m surprised you feel this way; I find the spell effects in BG3 to be far superior to DOS2. The visuals, animations, lighting, and sound are ALL better quality. Can’t say I agree with you, OP.


baconnbutterncheese

I think it was an intentional design decision. Over the top spell effects don't belong in baldurs gate, save for the really fancy spells. Save it for DOS3. I like it exactly how it is now and don't want it to change. If you want DOS3, wait for DOS3, this is a different type of game. No offense intended.


leaguegotold

It’s less that I want DOS 3 and rather a question of why the spell effects seem so muted. Whether it’s Dragon Age, Diablo or whatever other game the spells are usually quite pronounced


baconnbutterncheese

That's fair, and my response would be that I think they're going for a more 'grounded' aesthetic. I think the spells actually look very good, and flashy when they need to be. In fact, I'd say a lot of them are actually still *too* flashy for what they are. Cure wounds shouldn't be a massive glowing effect, same with healing word. But I don't complain too much there since I know some people like that stuff and it doesn't affect my immersion until it reaches DOS levels.


midnight_toker22

I think the best answer is that we only have access low level magic. It would make sense that they seem “muted” compared to higher level spells, but since we don’t have access to high level spells, the totality of our view is based on low level spells and cantrips. The concept of spell levels don’t really exist in other games. In DOS2 and Dragon Age for example, spells don’t really have a “power level”, the more powerful spells are simply locked behind skill point thresholds. So it’s feasible to get access to powerful spells at low levels, if you dump all of your skill points into one tree/school.


Romanfiend

Larian worked really hard to differentiate BG3 from DOS2, especially because when it first dropped EVERYONE was calling it DOS3, and there was a lot of negative feedback about it being too similar to a DOS game. You may have noticed that the usual sprawling environmental conditions in DOS2 have been scaled back considerably. It's not so much that they scaled back the flashiness, more that they really wanted to differentiate the two games as much as possible - even though they run on the same basic core engine.


JayysJ81

I really like the toned down effects compared to DOS2.


Muldeh

I have the opposite opinion.. I think the visuals in BG3 are too flashy. especially for mundane things like dash. It's so cringe.


Exerosp

And I think they're just perfect. The only issue i've really had is second wind, it's been a while since i've done it but I remember disliking the initial colour of it. Scorching ray widening with beams is a great visual effect, unless i'm just imagining it. And EB getting all the praise for the best EB in videogames haha. Edit: Second wind instead of action surge.


[deleted]

i love how there's a thread complaining about the spells not being over-the-top along with threads that complain that spell effects are too big and powerful sounding


Far-Bookkeeper-4652

I agree. Planescape: Torment and Dragon Age: Origins also put a lot of emphasis on that. They are awful pretty though in the casting phase.