Baldurs Gate 3 Difficulty Settings, Modes, Options and more
by Ushapriyanga
Updated Aug 03, 2023
Baldur's Gate III
Baldur's Gate III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main installment in the Baldur's Gate series, which is based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system. Initially, a partial version of the game was released in early access format for macOS, Windows, and the Stadia streaming service on October 6, 2020.
The early access phase allowed players to experience the game's development and provide feedback. The full release on PC is scheduled for August 3, 2023, with the PlayStation 5 version following shortly after on September 6, 2023. An Xbox Series X/S port is also in development. Unfortunately, the Stadia version was canceled due to Stadia's closure.
Baldurs Gate 3 Difficulty Settings
During the final Panel From Hell, hosted on Larian Studios' YouTube channel prior to the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, several crucial topics were covered. These included character creation, the available character origins, romance options, and combat difficulty.
It had been previously revealed that Baldur’s Gate 3 would feature three difficulty modes: Balanced, Explorer, and Tactician, and this information remained unchanged. Each of these difficulty modes promises a distinct experience for players, and the flexibility allows them to adjust the difficulty level during gameplay, ensuring that players are not locked into a specific setting once they start their game.
Balanced Mode
Matt Holland, the senior combat designer for Baldur’s Gate 3, revealed during the Panel From Hell that every combat encounter in the game is meticulously crafted as a unique puzzle for players to solve. Each scenario demands a different strategy, considering the multitude of classes and party compositions available.
The default difficulty mode, known as Balanced mode (previously Normal mode during early access), strikes a balance between challenging combat and enjoying the unfolding narrative. Players will need to employ tactical thinking without facing overpowering enemies, allowing them to immerse themselves in the story while engaging in thought-provoking battles.
Difficulty settings in Baldur’s Gate 3 affect not only combat but also impact the ease or difficulty of progressing through other challenges, such as speech checks and saving throws. The early access version demonstrated that the balance in Balanced mode has been well-managed throughout, offering players an enjoyable and challenging experience.
Explorer Mode
The second difficulty setting, known as Explorer mode, is tailored to cater to players who prioritize the story and narrative experience over intense combat. In this mode, friendly NPCs are harder to kill, and trading prices are more favorable. However, the most significant change comes in the form of a boost to the player’s proficiency bonus.
In Explorer mode, players receive an extra +2 to their proficiency, granting a total of +4 from level one. This significant bonus aids in combat encounters, as well as other rolls, making progression smoother and reducing the fear of failure. It allows players to indulge in roleplay-heavy experiences similar to traditional tabletop Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaigns, emphasizing storytelling and enjoyment over challenging battles.
Tactician Mode:
The final difficulty setting, Tactician mode, caters to players seeking a more strategic and challenging combat experience. This mode is designed for those who want to approach battles with careful planning and thoughtful tactics.
The combat design team at Larian Studios went beyond simple adjustments to enemy health and AC. Tactician mode introduces "little bits of spice" to each combat encounter, analyzing them on two layers. The first layer involves global adjustments, increasing enemy hit points, and tweaking enemy types for a greater challenge.
However, the second layer is where Tactician mode truly stands out. Combat encounters are carefully crafted individually, with enemies using more potent weapons, ammunition, and abilities. Environmental factors also play a crucial role, with positioning becoming even more critical.
The Brutal AI feature further enhances the challenge, making enemies behave more tactically and strategically, providing players with an experience akin to facing a real Dungeon Master (DM). Tactician mode elevates the difficulty to a new level, forcing players to adapt, think critically, and strategize effectively to overcome the toughest of challenges.
Difficulty Setting in Baldur’s Gate 3
The easiest difficulty setting in Baldur's Gate 3 is Explorer mode, designed to significantly weaken the enemies and provide players with a barrier-free experience, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the game's captivating story.
Key features of the Explorer difficulty in Baldur's Gate 3 include:
- Friendly NPCs are more resilient, making them harder to kill.
- Players receive discounts while trading with merchants, making resources more accessible.
- Characters gain a +2 proficiency bonus at level one, enhancing their skill capabilities from the start of the game.
Baldur's Gate Gameplay
Baldur's Gate III is a role-playing video game that offers both single-player and cooperative multiplayer modes. Players have the option to create one or more characters and assemble a party with computer-generated companions to embark on the game's story. Additionally, players can team up online with others, using one of their characters to form a cooperative party.
In contrast to previous entries in the Baldur's Gate series, Baldur's Gate III features turn-based combat, similar to Larian Studios' earlier games Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin II. However, this time, the combat system is based on the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, adding depth and strategy to the gameplay.
Baldurs Gate 3 Difficulty Settings-FAQs
Baldur's Gate III was released in early access format for macOS, Windows, and the Stadia streaming service on October 6, 2020. The full release on PC is scheduled for August 3, 2023, with the PlayStation 5 version following on September 6, 2023.
Baldur's Gate III is a role-playing video game that offers both single-player and cooperative multiplayer modes. Players can create characters and form a party with computer-generated companions to embark on the game's story. The game features turn-based combat based on the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, adding depth and strategy to the gameplay.
Yes, in Explorer Mode, players experience an easier combat difficulty, making battles less challenging. Additionally, characters receive discounts while trading with merchants, and they gain a +2 proficiency bonus at level one, enhancing their skills from the beginning of the game.
Yes, during the early access phase, players were encouraged to provide feedback on the game's development to help improve and refine the final release.
Yes, unfortunately, the Stadia version of Baldur's Gate III was canceled due to the closure of the Stadia streaming service. However, the game remains available on other platforms, such as PC and PlayStation 5.