Rather than have multiple threads and review links I Figured Id start a megathread to pin to the top for the release of Baldur's Gate 3
https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-everything-we-know/
General Articles:
https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-has-a-hidden-skill-tree-for-illithid-powers/
https://www.gamesradar.com/news/live/baldurs-gate-3-launch-coverage-live-blog/
Guides:
https://www.pcgamesn.com/baldurs-gate-3/classes
https://www.pcgamer.com/9-things-you-should-know-about-the-city-of-baldurs-gate-before-you-start-baldurs-gate-3/
https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-cellar-door-ornate-mirror-answers/
Reviews:
https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-review-in-progress-oh-boy-its-good/
Minimum:
OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
Processor: Intel i5-4690 / AMD FX 4350
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 780 / AMD Radeon R9 280X
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space
Recommended:
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel i7 4770k / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB / AMD RX580
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space
Played around 80h of Early Access and I even bought the old games and played through them before release to catch up on the world. I enjoy Baldur's Gate 3's combat a lot more, but that's mainly because I loathe real-time-with-pause combat and only suffered through it in Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity and Planescape:Torment because the story and characters grabbed me enough to keep going. The game is very different and makes many changes from PnP DND ruleset, and has many "Larianisms" (spells causing surfaces, water making you weaker to lightning/cold but resistant to fire height giving advantage/disadvantage to attacks) but none of them detract from the experience. If you're not a D&D purists you will probably enjoy it after some getting used to it. As for the story and characters, it's hard to say much as we only had access to the small portion that is (not even the entirety of) Act 1 during Early Access, but what's there has been incredible.
In short, it's not like the old games, but I think considering it's been 23 years since the last game and this one is developed by an entirely different studio, it would be incredibly unfair to judge it based on that.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed reply!
You'll think i'm crazy but I love real time with pause haha. I think I'll need to watch a decent chunk of game play footage, and try to wrap my head around the mechanics to see if it's up my alley.