# Baldur's Gate 3! {finally Released August 3rd, 2023} **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [February 28, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681 "2020-02-28T23:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/141 "2023-07-28T19:55:57Z")
Jokes on him, I’m playing a Rogue/Barb! For real: Every tabletop game I play I wind up taking a support caster role. My last four TTRPG characters were a Sorc/Cleric (5e), Bard (5e), Technomancer (Starfinder), and currently Wizard (Pathfinder). It will actually break the mold for me to specialize in poking stuff with swords instead of casting spells. Plus, between the very relaxed BG3 rules for multiclassing (no min stats) and them allowing Barbarian skills to work on Dex-based attacks, this is the perfect time to roll that Dex-based barbarian I always wanted to try but which would have kind of sucked in a real 5e game. Guess I better watch the video anyway though so I can tell my companions what to cast 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/142 "2023-07-28T20:07:59Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Guess I better watch the video anyway though so I can tell my companions what to cast 😉 Not mentioned in the video above but I have read that the Grease spell punches above its weight in value (hint: you can set grease on fire if you want…but also lots of value not on fire). ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/143 "2023-07-28T20:18:52Z")
Oy, I might be in over my head. My husband is a “plan everything down to the minutest detail for the maximum possible power” and I’m a “let’s just put a point here and see what happens.” Hopefully I don’t get myself into too much trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/144 "2023-07-28T20:19:10Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > (hint: you can set grease on fire if you want…but also lots of value not on fire). I was pretty disappointed that I couldn’t blow up grease or burn away web in PF: WOTR. Looking forward to those shenanigans in a week! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/145 "2023-07-28T20:26:26Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Oy, I might be in over my head. I imagine you’ll be fine. What little I’ve seen of the game from a character building standpoint gives reasonable advice on what to do (“As a paladin, you’ll want Strength, Constitution and Charisma…”). Even if more experienced players might say “I’ll make a Dex based paladin and dip Warlock and…” you won’t go wrong in just following the obvious path. Plus, as I understand it, there’s a “Story Mode” style difficulty setting if that’s your thing. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/146 "2023-07-28T20:28:08Z")
Thanks, that’s reassuring. I’ll probably be a Paladin. I’m always a Paladin. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/147 "2023-07-28T20:30:13Z")
Paladins are good as the “face” of your party (the one engaging in dialog with NPCs cuz charisma is a Paladin thing). Also good fighters with some support. There are always min/maxers like your husband. I think BG3 will work well for both of your styles. That’s kinda what they are after…you do you. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/148 "2023-07-28T20:32:22Z")
I’m thinking a melee focused bard, because I want Speak With Animals and Speak With Dead… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/149 "2023-07-28T20:37:37Z")
I’ve read speak with animals is almost a must do thing. You can certainly get by without it but will miss out on a lot of content (talking with the animals). Dunno about speak with dead. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/150 "2023-07-28T20:43:49Z")
If you’re experienced in 5e, you might find this Wiki page handy/interesting detailing differences between BG3 rules and 5e rules [https://bg3.wiki/wiki/D%26D\_5e\_Rule\_Changes](https://bg3.wiki/wiki/D%26D_5e_Rule_Changes) Almost every change I see makes the game easier than a 5e equivalent (played by the rules and the DM doesn’t ignore things like rations and encumbrance). Not having a Dodge action or ability to Ready an action are exceptions but not major ones. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/151 "2023-07-29T01:25:01Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’ll probably be a Paladin. I’m always a Paladin. I’m going that route, Paladins are very much not boring in this game. With Smite, they hit like a truck. They’re not just fighters with a bit of healing. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/152 "2023-07-29T15:49:40Z")
I think I’m going bard, because it’s been about 20 years since I did a longterm bard character, and also because I really want to max out my dialogue options. But it sounds like you don’t need to worry too much about going down the wrong character path, as respeccing will be easy: > **[Yes, you can respec your character in Baldur's Gate 3](https://www.eurogamer.net/yes-you-can-respec-your-character-in-baldurs-gate-3)** > > Baldur's Gate 3 will allow players to re-spec their characters and create "multiclasses" in order to "avoid having to r… I read someone else’s advice _not_ to plan out too far in advance, due both to the respeccing, and also to the lack of challenge that a minmaxed character can create. With a bard, I don’t think I’m in too much trouble 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/153 "2023-07-29T15:50:42Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > and also to the lack of challenge that a minmaxed character can create I would assume there are always higher difficulties that can combat that. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/154 "2023-07-29T15:51:22Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > But it sounds like you don’t need to worry too much about going down the wrong character path, as respeccing will be easy: Oh good. That sets my mind at ease a bit that I won’t do something irreversible to break my build. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/155 "2023-07-29T16:03:23Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I would assume there are always higher difficulties that can combat that. Fair point! I tend to play on default difficulty in all games, but minmaxing might be important for surviving the higher difficulty levels. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/156 "2023-07-29T18:50:30Z")
Actually, Warlocks can get beast speech, too. On tbe other hand I did play NWN2 as a Warlock on the playthrough I actually completed (NWN1 as a Druid) so I’m not sure if I want to do that class again. It WAS like 10 years ago, and 5e warlocks are pretty different, but… ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/157 "2023-07-29T21:56:17Z")
I saw a PC Gamer article last week with “Don’t Minmax or you’ll be playing wrong” as the topic and the author got dragged pretty hard. Anyone skilled enough in the game to minmax a character already knows what they’re doing and is planning on facerolling the enemy. I doubt anyone will be saying “Oh no, my Warlock-dipped Paladin (quasi-)Hexblade is TOO good! Whatever will I do?” ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/158 "2023-07-31T13:02:48Z")
For those who have not played BG3 yet (and maybe even for them) the 10 minute video below has some helpful tips (game mechanic tips, QoL tips): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/s3C--0c1U_Y/maxresdefault.jpg "Baldur’s Gate 3: 9 Tips and Tricks I Wish I Knew Before I Started Playing") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3C--0c1U_Y) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/159 "2023-07-31T13:31:50Z")
Does that video have any spoilers, or anything that wouldn’t be found by the kind of player who actively investigates menus and stuff prior to getting started? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681/160 "2023-07-31T13:57:25Z")
Certainly no spoilers (some random gameplay is shown but no story points or dialog). I guess it is showing how to use hot keys and shows some menu items, manage inventory, fast travel and such. Never heard of anyone who thought that was a spoiler though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baldurs-gate-3-finally-released-august-3rd-2023/848681.md?page=9)