Fans ofLarian Studios’Baldur’s Gate 3might have found themselves left hanging with its short Early Access preview. The game’s take onDungeons and Dragonsin a CRPG format might be considered its most faithful iteration ofD&D 5ein a game yet. Additionally, fans might find themselves craving for someD&DTTRPG by the time they discovered thisBaldur’s Gateentry. Thankfully, playingD&D 5ewhile waiting forBaldur’s Gate 3might serve as the best way to acquaint themselves with the potential intensity of the game’s story in its full release.
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However, how exactly should newcomers approach theirD&Dexperience? Moreover, how canBaldur’s Gatefans upgrade their tabletop experience by the time they playD&Dwith friends?
10Take Full Advantage Of Strong Stats
In a stats-based RPG likeD&DandBG3, playersoften pay attention to their statsin the context of combat. For instance, strong Strength and Dexterity Scores enable Fighters and Rogues to deal better damage with higher Modifiers, respectively. However, players should try to use their strong statistics outside of combat as well.
For instance, just because certain Skill Checks demand a certain Skill doesn’t mean there’s no other way to solve it. Players that can think of ways of creatively applying their strong Ability or Skill to a Check should suggest their idea as soon as it pops up, as it just might work.
9Pay Attention To Calculations
As a game that followsD&D’s mechanics,BG3 needs to present the calculations it makes to determine the chances of a Skill Check succeeding or failing. In the real world,D&D 5eplayers should pay close attention to calculations regarding Checks - be it Ability or Skill Checks, Attack and Damage Rolls, and even Saving Throws.
Despite the simple nature of this advice, a lot of players neglect a valuable number that maymake a huge difference in boss fightsor critical situations. Players often forget to add their Proficiency Bonus to rolls that involve Skills they’re proficient in. Auto-successes (Natural 20s) and critical fails (Natural Ones) don’t apply to Ability and Skill Checks unless house-ruled.
8Take Note Of Passive Checks
Players ofDivinityandBG3know their characters can end up surprised, detect hidden objects, or do activities without Skill Checks. Why do some characters need to make Skill Checks to do these tasks, while others don’t? The difference lies in Passive Checks. In essence, characters have natural Passive Abilities that DMs use to determine whether characters can “naturally” do things without having to make Checks - such as swimming, hiding, or running.
Normally, Passive Abilities come in the form of 10 + all modifiers that Check requires. In turn, DMs can use this Passive Ability Score and compare it to the difficulty of the task at hand. Likewise, players may ask if their Passive Ability Score can be enough to surpass the need for a Check or to produce a certain effect.
7Optimization Helps Technical Parties
Interestingly,BG3reveals that both ordinary gamers andD&D 5eplayers have generally two approaches to their parties. Some enjoy the creative experience that comes with creating a character, so they make one to their liking and they go with the flow. Others who want to test their nogging will want to create characters that fit an archetype and a party role. Players can ask: should theirCleric wield the staple mace, or should they try a new gimmick?
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In order to avoid conflicts, players should decide whether they prefer optimizing their party or going all-out with their creativity. The latter allows for more creative freedom and challenges sub-optimal parties with difficult battles. Meanwhile, an optimized party might restrict player choice but can at least ensure a stable party in combat.
6Always Consider Assists, Group Checks
In the face of difficult Skill Checks, players actually have the option of making Assisted Rolls and even Group Checks. These aim to help the entire party or some members of the party succeed in tasks thanks to the guidance of their comrades. For instance,a Ranger can help their team navigatea new environment.
Characters doing a Skill Check can receive the assistance of a skilled party member. This factor may come in the form of the assisting member’s Proficiency, their Background, or even their presence. In this case, the Assisted Roll gets an Advantage.
Likewise, a Group Check will have party members skilled in the Check involved help their comrades who aren’t. In this case, the Group Check becomes a success if at least half the team succeeds the Check.
5Bring The Disadvantage To The Enemy
If party members can make Assisted Rolls and Group Checks, players may find ways to help with Contested Checks as well. Contested Checks happen when two creatures need to make opposing rolls - such as arm-wrestling or grappling. Interestingly, players may be able to bring the enemy at a disadvantage with some creative thinking.
For instance, players should consider creating distractions during Checks they can’t participate in. Likewise, players that aren’t in a particular Skill Check may want to look around the area to see if they can help in other ways.
4Look Beyond The Battle Map
Thanks to Larian Studios' environments, players can jump over surfaces, start fires, and use pretty much any aspect of the environment to their advantage. If players think they can do something to the map, it’s likely possible. Theoretically, players can apply this logic to their tables in real life as well.
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Players should try making it a habit to look “beyond” the battle map. Are there parts of the environment they can utilize to spare their Spell Slots but still wreak havoc on enemies? Is there a way to exit battles, be it through negotiations or running away?
3Never Abandon A Dump Stat
Thanks toD&D’s array system, Abilities get distributed fairly to a character. As withBG3, the resulting Ability Array would likely have strong Abilitiessuited for certain Classes. Meanwhile, certain Abilities get lower values to balance the set. In turn, players get “Dump Stats” or low-numbered Attributes that will almost always “fail” them during Skill Checks.
However, players shouldn’t necessarily neglect a Dump Stat. After all, in liveD&D, players can use a Dump Stat creatively to add more flavor and emotional depth to their characters. A low Constitution score might explain why the party’s Wizard gets sick often despite their overwhelming power, for instance.
2Roleplaying Is Half The Experience
Despite the rather strategic nature of combat inD&D5e, socially-oriented players know that navigating around NPCs can become an exercise in themselves - similar toBG3and Larian’snarrative take onDivinity: Original Sin 2. After all, games set in settings that have political allegiances and social structures need players to buddy-up with NPCs as they best could. Moreover,BG3’s Early Access builds already demonstrate how social-focused Skills can mean the difference between making friends and enemies.
For instance, players can use Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Persuasion to convince NPCs to be on their good side. They can also use Perception and Investigation to glean insights on various individuals and situations. In turn, characters should allot some focus on their Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Abilities to maximize their character’s roleplaying potential.
1Get Creative Everywhere
Fans of Larian Studios’Divinityseries appreciate the CRPGfor its take on extremely modifiable environments. In turn, players can get crazy experimenting with Skills to get different results. It’s this exact quality that makesDivinity- and this time,BG3- such a landslide hit toD&Dfans. For anyD&Dplayer, they should never forget to try and get creative whenever presented with a problem or situation.
Most DMs only present players with the barest minimum information to form a mental image of a situation. However, players should try maximizing this “generalized” view with their skill sets. For instance, an icy lake unfit for Athletics (Strength) doesn’t make it non-navigable. Perhaps players can get on an ice floe and ask their winged Tiefling to spread their wings, as the icy winds may blow on them like a sail.
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