#and talk to npcs

[piratespencil]

Maxwell and Olethra being young and awkward and nerdy fans of these fabled old timers is so fun. What a neat concept for an adventuring party. This season is gonna be soooo fun.

[missygoesmeow]

sign the contract, you'll be fineeeeeee.

clicking on it will make it look better

[riddlerosehearts]

former dorm leader cater save me... former dorm leader cater... save me former dorm leader cater

[wolfsong-the-bloody-beast]

Not to focus overly on my Rookanis feels, but I love the dialogue cutscene where Lucanis and Davrin are drinking together, sharing stories, and invite Rook to sit with them, for so many reasons.

I mean, I love the dialogue cutscene in general and both the guys in it. The mood is great. The dialogue is just so damn funny. It's a friendly dick measuring contest between our favourite boys. After the initial antagonism and tension, they've become friends. There are bizarre lore drops. The stories are entertaining and frankly wtf? A big writhing ball of angry nugs? Created through blood magic? The stuff of nightmares! I wish I could see Lucanis deal with that. I wish I could see Davrin figure out the big heap of tentacles. I love the way the guys are just a little tipsy in a cute way. Lucanis talks a little too loud in comparison with what we're used to. Davrin is starting to have trouble articulating. The "Of course we're getting along. We're PROFESSIONALS," as Lucanis raises his cup a little towards Davrin always cracks me up. Also, Lucanis, are you drinking wine from a coffee cup? The way they both invite Rook to stay and participate. The prospect of slightly drunk cooking and snacking and sharing stories. All in all, it's a beautiful scene that makes me smile every time.

But let me also yap about Lucanis for a moment. (Of course you will let me. It's not like you can stop me. No one can stop me. Not even me.) I want to focus on how Lucanis interacts with Rook in this scene.

It's obvious he's let himself relax a little. He's a bit intoxicated. Clearly he's having fun. He smiles easily and flutters his eyelashes at Rook. When you choose the dialogue option that mentions ruining Solas' ritual, Lucanis insists that Rook tells the story. "[Neve and Harding] don't tell it the way you would," he says, encouraging Rook to talk about something, from what he says, he seems to have already heard, because he wants to hear them tell it.

Then he decides he'll cook something while they chat, but he emphasizes that he will only do so "if Rook's staying," nudging them further. It couldn't be more clear that he wants them there and that he enjoys their company.

I feel like I don't see enough people feral about it, because come on, he's so sweet in this scene. He obviously wants Rook around and their presence makes him happy.

And, yeah, I know this scene also happens with "just" friendly Rook. The thing is, I don't give a fuck. I don't think it diminishes the interaction in any way. The context matters. It's sweet with friendly Rook and even sweeter when they're more. Also, I played Lucanis' romance first, and I did not know that. What I saw in this scene during that first playthrough was the man absolutely delighted by Rook's company, repeatedly and enthusiastically asking them to stay and spend time with him, and it made my day. Still does.

When I keep babbling about how much I love Lucanis' romance, it's not just about all the hearts I get to click to see where they lead or the beautiful post-Tearstone love scene, it's also interactions like this where you see how much he wants Rook to be there, all the more or less subtle signs of affection (and yes, also friendship, because that goes hand in hand) that happen throughout the whole game.

[rocketbirdie]

i want that twink obliterated

[m1ckeyb3rry]

when everyone headcanons nagi as a bad/lazy texter but he’s one of the only characters we’ve actually seen texting in the manga and he used full sentences w/capitals and punctuation + silly stickers to emphasize the mood

FREE MY MAN FROM THE ALLEGATIONS 🗣️

[napstawantstosleep]

as an expert womaen lover i just KNOW things got 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝔂 in that car |

[cupcakeshakesnake]

I personally think videogames need to offer more paths than just the linear progression of "ally > friend > love interest"

Like there needs to be a "really close friend" relationship option that isn't just a tier lower from "love interest"

Besties option, dare I say

[volvolts]

part 7: to town

first || prev / next

(content warning: self harm (no on screen action but placed emphasis). proceeds under the cut)

[wandering-tides]

Chapter 332 of Part 2 be like:

Cale here increasing Alberu's blood pressure but also easing his work load at the same time LOL 🤣

[goldensunset]

you know… i like that the pokémon series actually has such solid worldbuilding. you wouldn’t think a series of creature collecting games aimed at children that’s trying to make absolute bank off of marketable plushies and such would have like a whole entire lore bible but it does. every region is a separate place in the same world and they acknowledge that. people visit other regions and make note of cultural differences. they’re aware of the major news in other regions even though it doesn’t affect them or have anything to do with their own stories. it isn’t like one continuous story where you have to have played one game to understand another (like kingdom hearts) but it isn’t like a random inconsistent mashup of stories that contradict each other and reinvent the so-called timeline every game (like the legend of zelda). no shade to either of those franchises obviously i’m just saying i think pokémon kinda struck gold in that regard

[laurancezvahlslefteyebrow]

“i’m so, so sorry”

“shh, calm down, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

[avadaniels]

I am Mophandrix the Great, but my friends call me Momo. Mo. Mophan. Mo the Great. Great Mo! And a great mo-ment it is for all of us here at the Temple of Frozen Doom.

Brennan Lee Mulligan · Dimension 20: Dungeons and Drag Queens 2x04 ➝ requested by @professorfcknmoriarty

[rocketbirdie]

i wonder often.

[raviollies]

Rook projecting their period cramps onto Solas

[barilleon]

One thing that I've noticed about Baldur's Gate 3 is that sometimes it really does feel like your companions are being piloted by other players. Sure, there's the standard approval system that most CRPGs have nowadays, but there is an even more powerful mechanic at play here: giving the player the option to shut the fuck up.

There are tons of moments when your companions are forced to confront parts of their past they can't shake. You always have the option to speak up for them if you like, but most times you also have the option to say nothing (sometimes the prompt is literally "say nothing," sometimes it's "let [character] handle this."

And this is such an important tactic of playing at the table: turning the spotlight onto to another player and letting them handle it. Because the story isn't just about your player character, it's about all of you.

When you do choose that option, I've noticed more often than not that the character approves of you letting them take the wheel. When you try to speak up for them, they may not express disapproval, but it comes up in the fiction. I tried to defend Astarion once and an NPC was like, "You're letting swine speak for you now?" and Astarion shouted, "I don't need anyone to speak for me!" He's right! This is his moment! Why did I say anything?

Baldur's Gate doesn't have to do this! There's no actual person piloting your companions. And in games a lot of people will say it's usually best practice to keep the spotlight on the players. But BG3 is a video game based on a tabletop game, and I think this is one of the main differences between the two. Maybe it's a tiny detail, but giving the player the option to relinquish the spotlight (and oftentimes encouraging and rewarding it) is such an incredible detail, and faithful to the medium the game is trying to emulate.

It's also a great lesson for everyone who wants to be a good player at the table: if it's not your scene, consider shutting up and letting the spotlit player handle it.