{"id":395964,"date":"2023-08-10T16:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T21:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jbsgame.com\/?p=395964"},"modified":"2023-08-10T15:37:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T20:37:31","slug":"its-worth-embracing-a-few-failed-rolls-in-baldurs-gate-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jbsgame.com\/its-worth-embracing-a-few-failed-rolls-in-baldurs-gate-3\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s worth embracing a few failed rolls in Baldur’s Gate 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Baldur’s Gate 3\u00a0<\/em>is a massive role-playing game, rife with decisions and choices that can come to a die roll. Consequences of a failed roll in\u00a0Baldur’s Gate 3\u00a0<\/em>can ripple out across the game, ranging from small changes to big shifts in the story. And even though you’ve got modifiers and tools, you’re still always beholden to the die.<\/p>

To that end, I get why we are now rehashing the age-old save-scum debate<\/a>. In some ways, it’s a little silly; it’s your game, so you should play it how you want.<\/p>

What I would like to do, though, is encourage a few of you file perfectionists out there to embrace the failed roll. I come to you as a documented save-scummer myself\u2014my\u00a0XCOM Enemy Unknown\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0Fire Emblem\u00a0<\/em>files more than verify as much\u2014saying that failure isn’t just entertaining in\u00a0Baldur’s Gate 3<\/em>. It’s actually led to some really interesting, clever moments of role-playing that make me appreciate all the more what Larian Studios has made.<\/p>

Settle in for story time<\/h2>

So let’s lay out an example. Skip ahead to the next header section if you’d like to stay scot-free on spoilers; I’ll keep out of anything major, but I know some folks are avoiding any info about\u00a0BG3\u00a0<\/em>in general.<\/p>

While adventuring in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, I came across a distillery where a grotesque bartender had taken up shop for a ghoulish clientele. I could tell, just from his general stature and aura, that this dude could easily become a boss encounter if I did not play it right.<\/p>

As my companions pointed out to my main character, our big guy seemed about ready to burst from all the dangerous-looking elixir he was downing. So if I could keep him talking and drinking, I could get some info\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>skip the fight altogether. The problem was, he wasn’t easily impressed. To keep the good times rolling, I need to weave some good tales from my own adventures. How did I do? Well…<\/p>

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Screenshot by Destructoid<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Yeah, I rolled a natural 1. What I really love about the die system is that, by having these extremes, it encourages a little risk taking now and again. No matter what the stat check is, you have a 1-in-20 shot at passing it with a natural 20. You also have a 1-in-20 shot of blowing it, no matter what. Nothing is truly guaranteed, so you can have your hopes lifted or crushed at any time.<\/p>

With a DC of 21 and only two Inspiration, which you can expend to re-roll, I could either save-scum it or take it on the chin. I did the latter, expecting a boss fight. Except, it didn’t happen. The bartender just made fun of my story. He mocked me bragging about touring through the Hells, when he was basically already living in a hellscape. So then I had to roll a Deception check to tell an even taller tale that would impress him, and keep him drinking.<\/p>

The entire encounter was this: me trying to weave in stories and failing to impress, but stringing him along just enough with my charm (and sleight of hand in feigning my own drinks) to keep the conversation going. I got my information, and the boss burst, without a single Eldritch Blast fired. The whole time, I was dancing a careful edge, trying to keep a crocodile smile while narrowly skating through check after check.<\/p>

Playing out losses<\/h2>

Making failure feel good is an incredibly tricky thing in role-playing game. I feel like I always go back to\u00a0Mass Effect\u00a0<\/em>when I think about this topic. It’s amazing that you can “fail” a dialogue in\u00a0Mass Effect 1\u00a0<\/em>and lose Wrex, a party member that can otherwise become a Krogan leader and central figure for major quests in\u00a0ME2\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0ME3<\/em>. It’s something I really like, but also something I’ve never really wanted to play out myself, if I’m being honest.<\/p>

And for the sake of transparency, it’s not like I’m letting every die roll play out. I’ve absolutely save-scummed a few sequences. Here are Eric’s Golden Rules to when it’s okay, in my eyes, to roll back a save:<\/p>