Baldur's Gate 3 Beginners Guide for New Players: How to Play Baldur's Gate 3?
Updated Aug 04, 2023
Baldur's Gate III
Baldur's Gate III is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons. The game allows players to create their own characters and form a party to explore the world of Baldur's Gate. It features turn-based combat, similar to Larian Studios' previous games, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin II, but this time, it is based on the D&D 5th Edition rules. The game offers a deep and immersive role-playing experience, with players making choices that affect the outcome of the story and the relationships with various characters.
During its early access phase, players were able to experience a portion of the game's content while providing feedback to the developers to help improve and refine the final release. The full release of Baldur's Gate III on PC offers a complete and polished version of the game, with additional content and improvements.
The game's release on other platforms, such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, is also anticipated to bring the immersive RPG experience to a wider audience. As a result of the game's popularity and the dedicated efforts of Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate III has become a highly anticipated entry in the beloved Baldur's Gate series.
Baldur's Gate 3 Beginners Guide for New Players
Welcome to the vast and thrilling world of Baldur's Gate 3! As a newcomer, navigating through this expansive game may feel overwhelming, but fear not, for we have some tips to get you started on your adventure. After years of development, Baldur's Gate 3 is finally live worldwide, offering an immersive experience filled with 174 hours of cutscenes and over 17,000 ending variations.
While formal reviews are yet to surface, we're here to share some valuable tips, tricks, and thoughts to help you navigate the first 20 hours of the game. Even if you're new to the Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition tabletop game, don't worry; we have insights that will ease your journey. So, let's dive in and explore the secrets of Baldur's Gate 3 together.
In this beginner's guide, we'll cover essential aspects to ensure a smoother start to your adventure. From tactical approaches like initiating combat with stealth and surprise, to mastering character customization by making informed choices for race, class, and subclass, we'll equip you with the knowledge to create a well-rounded character.
Additionally, we'll guide you on leveraging the environment to your advantage during battles and maximizing combat efficiency through movement and positioning. We'll also delve into enhancing dialogue chances and skill checks to influence the game's narrative and interactions.
How to Play Baldur's Gate 3?
Ensure Your System Meets the Recommended Specification.
Make sure your system meets the recommended specifications for Baldur's Gate 3, which requires around 120GB of space. If your computer is relatively new with an Intel i5-10400 processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card, you should be between the minimum and recommended requirements set by Larian Studios.
While the game may run smoothly on such a setup, it's worth noting that BG3 is resource-intensive, as evident from the constant sound of desktop fans. To fully enjoy the game's experience, it's essential to have a capable rig that surpasses the minimum requirements or consider waiting for the console release on September 6th for PS5 and later for Xbox.
Ignore Early Access Saves
Farewell to your early access saves! During its three-year early access phase, Baldur's Gate 3 provided fans with a chance to experience fragments of the game's development while granting Larian Studios additional time and resources to complete this ambitious project. However, now that the game is officially released, Larian advises players to delete their early access save files to avoid potential save corruption issues.
According to a blog on BG3's Steam page, Larian has implemented measures to ensure a smooth transition into the launch version of the game. Despite these efforts, it is still recommended to delete in-game Early Access save files if you have access to the early access version of the game.
In addition to removing early access saves, Larian also suggests uninstalling any mods and the early access version of the game before reinstalling the live version. However, it is not yet confirmed if early access mods will be compatible with the final release.
Save the Game Often
Ensure you save the game regularly in Baldur's Gate 3, as the game's autosave feature is limited, which can lead to frustration, especially in the early stages. Unlike some other games that allow you to progress quickly from one encounter to the next, BG3 presents challenging fights, and your party can easily perish. This aspect of the game can result in frequent deaths if not handled carefully.
To avoid losing progress and facing repeated setbacks, make it a habit to manually save your game often. This way, you can reload from a previous point if your party meets an untimely end or encounters a difficult situation.
Saving before important decisions, battles, or interactions can also give you the opportunity to experiment and try different strategies without having to replay large portions of the game. So, be proactive in saving your progress to enjoy a smoother and less frustrating experience in Baldur's Gate 3.
Avoid Emotions
In Baldur's Gate 3, it can be overwhelming to navigate the various races, classes, subclasses, domains, archetypes, and spells, especially for players unfamiliar with Dungeons & Dragons or the Baldur's Gate series. However, it is not necessary to have an in-depth understanding of every detail to be effective in the game. Instead of getting bogged down in complex mechanics, focus on the practical aspects of your party's abilities and their effectiveness in different situations.
For new players, it is okay to rely on a general understanding of your party's roles, such as identifying characters who excel in ranged combat ("pew pew") or close combat ("stabitty stab") and those who are skilled in healing ("heal-y heals"). The game does a good job of presenting information about your party's abilities when needed, allowing you to make strategic decisions in the moment.
Emphasize the fun of exploring the game world, experimenting with your characters, and adapting to different challenges, rather than stressing over intricate details. With time and experience, you'll become more familiar with the game's mechanics and can delve deeper into the intricacies of your party's abilities.
Baldur's Gate 3 Gameplay
They have the freedom to create and customize their own characters, choosing from various races, classes, and subclasses, each with unique abilities and traits. The game offers both a single-player mode, where players can embark on their adventure alone, and a cooperative multiplayer mode, allowing them to team up with others and form a party to explore the game's story together.
Unlike previous installments in the series, Baldur's Gate III features turn-based combat, similar to Larian Studios' previous games, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin II. The combat system is based on the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition ruleset, adding strategic depth and tactical elements to the battles. Players must carefully plan their actions, considering positioning, abilities, and the environment to overcome challenging foes and succeed in combat.
Tips for Baldur's Gate 3 Beginners
For beginners diving into the world of Baldur's Gate 3, there are several essential tips to make the journey more enjoyable and rewarding. Firstly, keep in mind that the game supports up to 4 playable characters in your party. Take advantage of this by selecting a diverse group with complementary abilities and skills. Having a balanced party will help you tackle various challenges and encounters throughout the game.
Understanding the game's basic terminologies is crucial for a smooth gameplay experience. Familiarize yourself with terms like hit points (HP), armor class (AC), saving throws, and different types of actions available during combat. Knowing these mechanics will aid in making informed decisions during battles and interactions with NPCs.
One of the great features of Baldur's Gate 3 is that you are not on a time limit. Take your time to explore the vast and immersive world at your own pace. Engage in side quests, interact with various characters, and uncover hidden secrets without feeling rushed.
Character creation is a pivotal aspect of the game. Pay attention to race, class, and subclass options, as they significantly impact your character's abilities and playstyle. Consider starting with even ability scores across different attributes to maintain versatility in various situations. Additionally, designate one ability score as a "dump stat," an attribute that may not be as essential for your character's role, allowing you to allocate more points to other vital stats.
Lastly, don't hesitate to experiment and learn from your mistakes. Baldur's Gate 3 offers a rich and dynamic world with countless possibilities. Embrace the challenges and enjoy the process of uncovering the story and unfolding your character's destiny. With practice and determination, you'll become a seasoned adventurer in no time.
Baldur's Gate 3 Beginners Guide for New Players - FAQs
The game supports up to 4 playable characters in your party.
No, there is no time limit, allowing players to explore the world at their own pace.
Pay attention to race, class, and subclass options, as they significantly impact your character's abilities and playstyle.
Yes, starting with even ability scores across different attributes provides versatility in various situations.
Yes, don't hesitate to experiment and learn from your mistakes, as the game offers numerous possibilities for your adventure.