The freedom of RPGs can be the breeding ground for bad habits, and when something offers the opportunities thatBaldur’s Gate 3does, I’m afraid my worst tendencies come out. I’m still capable of restraining myself in many ways — I tend to be good about morality, for example, aside from treating myself to a little theft here and there. It’s just hard to be good about everything, and my weaknesses start to show when inventory is involved.
Like a lot of people,I’m classically prone to potion hoarding in RPGs,Baldur’s Gate 3included. It doesn’t stop at potions, however,andBaldur’s Gate 3provides way too many avenues to let things get out of control. Two years after the game’s full release, my inventory management has gotten worse than ever, all thanks to how much the gameenables my bad behavior.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Makes Hoarding Way Too Easy
My Inventory Is Just The Start
I’m not obsessive about gear in RPGs, and if most of the game’s pickups come in the form of shop purchases, I probably won’t end up with a ridiculous inventory. If the world is cluttered with items, however, things can take a very quick turn. My firstSkyrimplaythrough was largely characterized by constantly veering into overburdened territory, even after installing a mod for modestly expanded pouches.
Baldur’s Gate 3is just as generous with random loot as Bethesda games are, but with one big difference. While you have to shoulder most of the weight yourself in a game likeSkyrim, with perhaps a companion or two to aid you,Baldur’s Gate 3gives you an array of extra packhorsesin the form of your ever-present party.
The ability to send items to camp takes things to another level, asI can also pack battlefield pickups off for my camp inventorywithout a second thought. Companions in camp also have their inventories open to constant item deliveries, a feature that was pulled for a while but restored in Hotfix 21 in March 2024. Minsc doesn’t even have to be around to take care of my heaviest items, and he’s not the type to refuse any odd requests.
I’m Still To Blame For My Baldur’s Gate 3 Inventory
Abusing The System Is Entirely My Choice
Baldur’s Gate 3certainly makes it easy to hoard, but it also makes it easy to get rid of items.you may mark items as wares when picking them up, allowing them to be offloaded to traders en masse with the click of a button. I’d like to say that this takes care of my problem, but unfortunately, I’ve never been as diligent about wares as I should be.
The problem is that I’m not collecting most items in a central location, making it difficult to stay organized. With my own inventory stretched to bursting, it can be a bit of a toss-up where my pick-ups go.I’ll often pile armor on Karlach, but when the fight is all said and done, the odds that I beeline to a shop are unfortunately low.
None of this is a complaint aboutBaldur’s Gate 3’s approach, to be clear.My hoarding is entirely my fault—Baldur’s Gate 3just enables it, however accidentally. In anElder Scrollsgame, weight limits simply prevent things from getting this bad, whileBaldur’s Gate 3doesn’t truly punish me for my stockpiling sins.
At this point, the idea ofdoing a clean inventory sweep fills me with dread. I could definitely rake in a ton of cash, but sorting through everything might be a tougher battle than facing down Raphael. With plenty of good equipment and resources already, going through all the trouble tostockpile more goldhardly feels worth it.
But A Little Judgment Wouldn’t Hurt
I’ll keep offloading things where I canas this campaign nears its end, even as I keep picking up more, lured by the promises of major financial windfalls. It’s a lot easier to ignore enemyloot in Act Onethan Act Three, as you progress from ill-equipped underlings to well-armored foes bearing fortunes on their flesh. The scaling might never get as ridiculous asOblivion’s aristocratic late-game bandits, but it’s nothing to sneeze at.
At any rate, I’d rather have too much to loot than too little, andBaldur’s Gate 3peppers plenty of unique gearamong its more routine finds. I just picked up a new bow for Astarion, which I’m pretty excited about putting into practice. Even complete junk can be worthy fodder for Karlach’s Enraged Throw, whether I get around to selling it off or not.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s freedom is a huge part of its appeal. If that freedom leads me to be entirely irresponsible about looting, that’s on my head. Next time I pick up an RPG, however, it might actually feel a little refreshing if it admonishes me for being the disorganized mess that I am. My party of Forgotten Realms miscreants is all too accommodating, and it’s time for someone to finally put their foot down.
