Summary
ThoughBaldur’s Gate 3brings a lot of its own ideas to the table, the game still borrows its broad system and many of its mechanics fromD&D 5e. However, there’s one aspect ofD&Din particular thatBaldur’s Gate 3does better than other videogame adaptations of the tabletop system.
Baldur’s Gate 3captures the spirit ofD&Dnot only with an epic story interwoven with some left-field hijinks, but with its mechanics. The game adapts the ruleset ofD&D 5ein a way that’s faithful but willing to break with convention. It makes some sweeping changes to spellcasting, rest mechanics, and potion rules. Its gameplay is a testament to how a beloved TTRPG should be adapted into a videogame, taking what works and changing what doesn’t work for the medium.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Gets The Magic Of Dice Right
Where the game does a lot of justice toD&Dis in its skill checks—where visible d20 rolls can be seen.Baldur’s Gate 3’s dice rollsdo a lot to adapt aD&Dbase into a video game, bringing one of the TTRPG medium’s hallmarks to the forefront. Making these dice rolls visible to the player presents them as more than just an RNG calculation, and rightfully so; dice are so pivotal to TTRPG systems that they envelop multiple sub-hobbies into themselves. The math, jargon, and mechanics surrounding them are at the bedrock ofD&Dand its sister games.
The Tangibility Of Dice In Baldur’s Gate 3 Is A Huge Asset
The sound ofrolling a d20 inBaldur’s Gate 3is almost resonant of a slot machine, and it’s linked to a prolonged animation that adds proficiency/ability bonuses with a flourish. It’s a bit more fantastical in presentation than something like the dice roller on D&DBeyond, but it nonetheless captures the fun of rolling dice in a TTRPG. Its sound design and presentation really invoke the anticipation of crowding around a die roll to see the result, as well as the satisfaction of hearing the d20 tumble about. The extended animation is well suited to the format of skill checks, giving them an air of importance when compared to other rolls that are handled automatically.
Making skill checks a visible dice roll also comes with the advantage of letting players visualize the degree to which they’ve failed or succeeded a task. This can be done with automatic rolls too, but the immediacy of thedie roll inBG3provokes far more satisfaction (or schadenfreude, if a roll is failed). It also gives the players a chance to more eagerly witness critical successes and fails, whichBaldur’s Gate 3makes use of in its skill checks. This more readily recreates the excitement a Nat 20 or Nat 1 produces at the table.
Dice Skins Are Perfect For Dice Goblins
Thedifferent dice skins ofBaldur’s Gate 3are another way the game captures the fun of dice. The many different dice available, from simple plastic sets to elaborate metal polyhedra, are a favorite obsession of many players and DMs. Sprawling cottage industries have formed not only over different dice, but accessories like dice trays, dice boxes, dice towers, dice jails, and more. Having an assortment of dice skins inBaldur’s Gate 3is a fun way to appeal to dice fanatics everywhere.
Future D&D Games Can Go Further
The formatting ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s skill checks would make doing every die roll manually slow the game down. However, it would be greatto see futureD&Dgamesdelve more into this concept. Many players would love to see the fun of rolling a handful of d6s for Fireball damage translated into a video game.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
