In video games, crafting a compelling narrative is often considered an art form. With the release of complex, story-driven RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3, the task of creating a captivating story became even more challenging.
In an interview, Larian Studio’s Lead Writer Adam Smith shed some light on the efforts his team went through to ensure the game’s narrative integrity. To check all the story plot lines and threads of a single aspect, he had to do 18 playthroughs of the game.
The Quest for Narrative Perfection by Larian Studios
Baldur’s Gate 3 is renowned for its dynamic storytelling, where players’ decisions shape the world around them. From moral decisions to character interactions, every choice in the game has consequences that not only affect the immediate narrative, but are permanent for the whole playthrough.
Smith knew it wouldn’t be an easy task to achieve this kind of narrative mastery, so he decided that every aspect of the story from the romantic lines (A single person was tasked with this), to every companion background got a separate writer. This way, the team made sure that every choice felt organic and connected to the story. In the interview, he said:
We were running through the origin characters, testing permutations with them, and saying, ‘Have we seen this aspect? Have we seen this aspect?’ I realized that for one of them, just to test every branch of this story, I needed to play the game 18 times.
To perfectly balance the story of the origin character according to the player’s choice, Smith decided to play the game 18 times as a single run wouldn’t show all the dialogues or choices a character can have in the game. This also showed the amount of work the studio put in, for a single character.
The goal of the testing was to ensure that every origin character had a compelling story as they are important parts of the game. Every player’s decision will influence these characters’ decisions, and even their life and death are dependent on these choices. That’s why Smith went out of his way to test each of them extensively.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Refining the Art of Storytelling
In an industry often criticized for singular scripted narratives and always ending at specific outcomes, Larian Studios’ dedication speaks volumes about its commitment to refining and creating immersive stories.
Baldur’s Gate 3 now serves as a testament to the freedom a player can have in shaping their own destiny. The game offers a personal journey that is as unique to each player, as it is rare to make the exact same choices as someone else. With this Smith reached his goal: “By the time you reach the ending, you’ve told your own story”.
Even the exhaustive playtesting undersells the efforts put in by Larian Studios’ developers to deliver a truly immersive and dynamic RPG experience.
As gamers continue to explore the rich Baldur’s Gate 3’s world, they can rest assured, knowing that their decisions truly matter, shaping the fate of not only their characters but the very fabric of the game story itself.
