A significant custom campaign mod for Baldur's Gate 3, titled 'Act Two Expansion,' has been released in beta, introducing a new region and numerous quests. This mod, developed over nearly two years by SquallyDaBeanz, aims to provide an expanded adventure situated between the game's second and third acts.
The Chionthar Wilds, the mod's new region, is designed to be comparable in scope to Baldur's Gate 3's initial wilderness area. It features new quests, dungeons, and combat encounters intended for players who have reached mid-to-high levels, specifically between levels eight and ten. The mod's narrative progression involves finding a method to cross the Chionthar River and subsequently engaging in a large-scale battle against the Absolute's forces in Rivington.
According to the modder, the 'Act Two Expansion' is playable from beginning to end, fulfilling all planned features in its first implementation. However, the developer notes that the experience may be unpolished and recommends frequent saving to mitigate potential game-breaking bugs. It is also advised to have a method to bypass to Act 3 in case the mod's finale encounters issues, such as softlocking the game due to unfinished camp events like the Oathbreaker questline.
The mod aims to offer new characters and custom creatures for players to encounter. Currently, these new non-player characters feature subtitled dialogue, with no immediate plans for voice acting. The modder also stated that the 'Act Two Expansion' should support multiplayer mods, provided all participants have the mod installed correctly and without file conflicts.
Future updates for a potential 1.0 release are planned to include improvements to writing, dialogue, and character development, along with more specific character background and skill-based dialogue. The modder also intends to implement mechanical overhauls for boss encounters.
Players interested in trying the mod can choose between a Main Download, intended for new playthroughs, or a Quickstart version that places players directly into The Chionthar Wilds. Instructions for accessing the new region are available in the mod's description for those who opt for the Main Download.