Going on a Quest

An overly sappy post about Baldur's Gate 3

Part One: Taking it easy? Never heard of her.

I’ve been stuck for a while. Mind you, I kind of did it to myself.

Writing is a passion, yes, but it is also something I’m professionally pursuing. Which means it is not only a hobby but also work. I deal with anxiety and a few other stressors in life that I’m not going to get into, but it all informs how I spend my free time and how much effort I put into craft. I put a lot of time into writing. To add to that, I have a hard time getting into new passions, especially because my perfectionism makes me feel let down if I’m not immediately good at something. I’m aware that this isn’t healthy!

Part Two: Someone give me a side quest, I beg!

All this to say I’ve been looking for something to spark joy, hit me with inspiration, and provide an escape—other than books, that is. I read a ton (but, again, I can’t turn off my writing brain, so it does feel like an extension of work), and I enjoy going on walks, but I can’t do that all day (especially in this cold!). My experience with games is…not vast. I played The Sims when I was younger, and it will always be such a nostalgic game for me, but I get bored of it pretty easily. I played every otome under the sun! But that leaves me with less (free) options, and I’m also extremely picky.

Some of you might know I’ve been trying to get a new computer for a while, due to the fact that my current one has been around for ten years (and was my boyfriend’s first), is slow, and also falling apart. We’re DIY wizards and managed to get some screws holding it together, plus taped the charger. As you can guess, this laptop isn’t ideal for gaming—storage, performance wise, etc. Games were out of the question as a hobby for a while. And I was losing my mind! I needed something.

Part Three: Romancing this dude was a great choice!

For all of you who haven’t met Companion 1, let me tell you that he (my boyfriend, duh) is pretty great. He has his own computer and lets me use his desk when he’s at his workplace since I don’t have a desk myself. A while back he offered to lend me his computer to play The Sims, but you already know how that went. You also already know that I’m not well versed in games, which means for a while there I had no idea what to play, even though I had access to his computer. Man, is anyone still reading this? I swear this is going somewhere. Anyway, have you heard about Baldur’s Gate 3?

Part 4: I’m friends with the hottest gamers/best upcoming writers!

It seems like all my friends play Baldur’s Gate. Again, due to my lack of resources, I didn’t think I’d join them. I also didn’t get it. What’s so great about this game that makes everyone and their mothers become obsessed about it? I’m not great at thinking tactically, I was never super passionate about gaming, and I also have literally no experience with games that involve any sort of battle skills. In short, I thought I wouldn’t like it.

Oh boy, was I wrong.

Like I said, I love being on my boyfriend’s route. He’s the best. You know where this is going. I started playing Baldur’s Gate and I love it. I don’t simply love it—I can’t stop thinking about it, I dream about it, I play it whenever my boyfriend isn’t using his computer. This is the immersive, whimsical, exciting thing I was waiting for!

Part Five: The little things can improve your life drastically.

I know how silly this must all sound, but I tend to find solace online. I’ve been meeting friends on the internet since I was a teen, when I was the only queer person I knew and my interest in writing wasn’t something my irl friends shared. The internet let me develop my books, find an agent, and meet people all over the world that are now my dearest friends! My imagination was always very fertile, and I’m not pragmatic. I tend to dream big, and I tend to get what I want, so I don’t count it as a flaw. Dreaming brings me joy! And let me tell you, this silly little game is bringing me lots of joy.

I don’t want to get too emotional, but I was going through a rough patch. My mind thinks too much, my anxiety makes me catastrophize, and I’m prone to melancholy. I can’t begin to explain how nice it is to go on a series of adventures with three dumb bitches like me companions, exploring new, fascinating worlds, learning about fictional history and religion, building relationships, romancing Gale, and journeying with a found family of parasite-infected supernatural beings.

What’s perfect about this game, for me, is that I genuinely love the narrative side of it. I even love the combats! Big fan of rolling dices, haha. The characters are loveable, the dialogue choices give me numerous possibilities, and the game isn’t too hard to play as a newbie (granted, I’m a beginner playing in the easiest mode). Because I’m a writer, I like to pay attention to the characters’ backstories and make choices based on personality more so than focusing on beating the game. Above all, my favorite thing about BG3 is the sense of wonder. It gives me the same feeling that watching Star Wars does—it’s so magical, and I get lost in the story, immersed. I want to visit! And while I’m playing, I feel like I am.

I think I’ll write more about this topic another day, maybe once I’ve organized my thoughts a bit better and played for longer. Knowing that lots of people share this fascination with me, I want to know why others are so drawn to it. Pray for my last fighting braincell! I want to analyze this story and try drawing some conclusions. Hopefully it’ll make for a fun read—if not, it’ll certainly be a good distraction from the world, in a time where the world is feeling a bit too heavy for me. I’m so happy to be this excited for something again! Being in a slumber wasn’t doing me any favors.

Let me know if you’re also playing BG3 and who your favorite character is! Kiss me, Shadowheart, please please please.