what a wonderful distraction you are

Round 1 — Match 2 / 152 — Hellfire Orb vs. Shield

Hellfire Orb is a level 6 evocation spell. It allows spellcasters to unleash a streak of fire from their hands that ignites into a large explosion at a chosen point within range.

"20d6 fire damage. twenty. d. six. i know bigger number = better is caveman logic but unfortunately i am a caveman. also the fire straight up ignores resistance AND immunity which is just rude 😭 like what do you mean being immune to fire doesn't help."

"regular fire was apparently not doing the job so somebody invented EVIL FIRE"

vs.

Shield is a level 1 abjuration spell. It allows spellcasters to avoid being hit by an enemy attack at the last possible instant. It also nullifies Magic Missile damage against them.

"+5 AC as a reaction is kind of nuts for a level 1 spell"

First issue is the entire thing with Descent into Avernus, which has to have happened before BG3 given that BG3 references those events. However, Descent into Avernus references the fact that it is 1494. Which. Hmm.

There is also the issue with Mystra and Bhaal. Bhaal is said to have not just fathered the Dark Urge, but actively created him. But Bhaal was dead until 1482, and the entire Absolute plot, that had the Dark Urge involved since the beginning, has been in the making for at least a couple of years. So when was the Dark Urge created?

Mystra as well. Mystra only revived in 1479, but was very incoherent at first, which lasted at least a year or two. But the Gale backstory makes you think that he could not have been older than 20 when she made him her chosen. But Gale is 35.

And apparently it was originally meant that BG3 would happen in the late 1490s, which would allow some of this stuff to make more sense. And it also would in a sense make more sense because the other DnD stuff that released in 2022 and 2023 was already set in the late 1490s.

the arguably most iconic part of Drow culture is that it's a matriarchal society, with gender roles essentially flipped from most in real life, with women being seen as superior to men

in that cultural context, a transmasculine Drow would likely seem nonsensical to most, 'why transition and lose all your feminine privilege in the process?'

and a transfeminine Drow would be seen as more sensible but likely as a 'vain attempt at gaining privilege'

exploring this idea would be so very compelling, as for one, the opposite nature recontextualizes and holds up a mirror to the arbitrary nature of binary gender roles, social privilege and influence, and sexism, and further emphasizes that transitioning truly is not about privilege, but personal fulfillment, comfort, desire, and expression

and I'm not even getting into all of the fascinating storytelling that could be done with intersex, nonbinary, gender fluid, bigender, etc. Drow!!!

Quasit

Concept art for Baldur's Gate 3

I’m crine I mean I’m FINE and also I’m very good at games and arguing and never have a meltdown about any of it