Baldur's Gate 3 for Beginners - What You Should Know to Have a Better Time

Even RPG fans may feel a slight disorientation while launching Baldur’s Gate 3 for the first time. Larian Studio's game can overwhelm with a multitude of options and richness of various mechanics. For the beginners, I have some information that may be useful. Sooner or later one can of course get to them on their own, but why make life more difficult? These are not any spoilers, so you can safely read on.

1. A story character or created from scratch – which choice is better?

In Baldur's Gate 3, you can play as a story character or one created by yourself. The power of the first option lies in the fact that this type of character already has a defined past and characteristics. They exist in this world not from the moment we take control over them and can thereby ensure better immersion into the story.

However, it should be kept in mind that a hero chosen from a prepared by the developer list, will not appear later as our companion. Moreover – you cannot change its class, race, or gender. The only exception to this rule is Dark Urge. This kind of character will appear in the game only if we decide to play it. You can decide about its class, race, gender and appearance. So it seems to be the most interesting variant, but at the same time, due to character's biography, also gives the impression of someone perfect for this production as an evil and eagerly violent hero. That's because they are affected by intrusive thoughts, directing them down a path full of cruelty.

So, who to play – you have to decide for yourself. One correct answer just doesn't exist. I chose the hero created from scratch myself, but I already feel that the Dark Urge will tempt me in a second approach.

1. You can read more about character creation in our game guide.

2. (In)visibile informations

The game obviously explains the basic concepts, but it does it in a way that is not entirely clear at the beginning. It's worth knowing that descriptions of skills can be expanded by pressing "T.” The mentioned information shows keywords. You can see what they mean by hovering over them with the mouse cursor.

It’s seemingly simple, at the beginning you may feel overwhelmed and not instantly notice the option. And it's even more important as it clarifies what each of the abilities you choose when developing a character consist of.

3. You can switch to camp mode almost at any moment

The camp regime is not bound by any rigid rules. You can visit your camp at any stage of the journey, as long as you are not in the middle of a fight or conversation. This convenience is very important because it allows for quick reshuffling within the team. Are you approaching a point critical for some companion's mission, and you don't use their services on daily basis? Enter the camp mode, inform your current companion that you are temporarily removing him from the team, and start talking to this character, who will soon come in handy, to be in the main, maximum four-person, team.

After completing the task in the same way as mentioned, you change the companion to an old one and...this is it! Of course, it's also worth spending more time at the camp – it's a best place to build relationships with the rest of the team.

4. Food is essential for rest, but it weights

Gather every piece of food you come across. It's through this you will be able to go to the full rest at your camp. Lack of food means a lack of rest, and consequently, a lack of opportunity for regeneration and resetting of special abilities.

Rest can also be an opportunity for important interactions in the team, for example some sort of confrontation. Without it, there is no way around it. However, it's important to remember that food has its own weight, which brings us to the next point.

5. Overburdened character is slow

Each character has a specified weight limit they can carry. Be careful not to exceed it, otherwise they will move at a slow pace, which will reflect both in moving around the world and will cause trouble during the fight. Things vary in weight and even food can overly burden our hero.

In such a situation, it is best to distribute the load among team members. Each of them can carry something – objects can be freely moved from one character to another. You just have to drag the item from the backpack to the portrait of the character who is to take on the role of a porter. Trinkets, unnecessary weapons collected from your enemies, etc. you should sell as quickly as possible, so they don't clutter up the equipment and don't take up space for something more valuable.

1. You can read more about the load limit in our game guide.

6. Combat is turn-based, so take your time

You don't have to rush anywhere during confrontations with opponents. The combat in Baldur’s Gate 3 is turn-based, so you can calmly consider your move without rushing anywhere. It's worth using your turn as efficiently as possible, using both the traditional action and some additional moves as well. It may also be profitable to make the move itself if you do not have the action points needed for such an action as an attack. Indeed, it's possible that in this way you will cut the distance to the enemy fleeing from you, or...you will get out of his reach.

7. All characters can fight melee and ranged

The hero doesn't have to be limited to one type of weapon. Of course, not everyone will be equally proficient in using bows and axes, but it's worth having both types of weapons assigned to the character.

Thanks to this, when the opponent is out of range, for example, of a warrior trained in sword slashing, one will not have to wait for the next turn to attack. You just need to shoot from a crossbow or bow (depending on what the given character has). Sure, the offensive might fail, or the damage could turn out to be minor, but you'll do something at least! You will use your turn in the most effective way and begin reducing the enemy's health bar to zero.

8. Stealth attacks are powerful

Honestly, I won't be surprised if stealth attacks will be nerfed in some update, but I don't want to speculate. In the current version of the game, they're simply awesome. I discovered it completely by accident, deciding that I would prefer to make one of the companions an assassin.

It turned out to be a recipe for success. My tactic took the following form – I send melee characters into direct confrontation, and I keep the assassin in the back. My natural – born murderer carries out a stealth attack – which he can also do from a safe distance, shooting with a bow or crossbow! It's known that the attack draws attention, but you can hide again and then finish your turn. If everything goes according to plan, the opponents will still be absorbed by the team members who are in sight and clash with them in close contact.

1. You can read more about the fight in our game guide.

9. The game rolls the dice even when you don't see it

The success of various actions depends on dice rolls – this is a standard mechanic in classic RPGs. Randomness may cause you to fail even in an activity you are trained in, although the risk of failure will be lower.

In the case of actions taken during a dice roll conversation, the roll is visible, for example, when you're trying to use persuasion on someone. This can increase the chance of success with various additional bonuses. A dice roll also occurs at other times when you don't have the possibility to see it. These are so-called passive throws performed during tests, e.g. for perception, if your team encounters a trap.

The chances of detecting a trap are greater the more highly developed one of your characters' perception is. Remember to have someone like this on your party!

10. Use inspirations – you can have only four

Based on the backstory (origin) of a given character, certain appropriate goals can be reached for them. For example, such a goal could be convincing someone to spare his victim or a successful scam. As part of the award, you will receive so-called. "Inspirations" that come in handy during dice rolls.

If the dice roll visible on the screen ended in failure, nothing is lost. Provided that you have the inspirations that allow you to repeat the activity – with the hope that this time you will achieve success. Use this option. Inspirations get used up, but you can have a maximum of four of them, so you shouldn't worry about it.