Baldur's Gate 3 how to get started BG3? Beginner’s tips 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) is one of the most immersive and expansive role-playing games of 2023. It’s a deep, turn-based RPG with plenty of character customization, strategic combat, and a wealth of choices that will affect how you experience the game. Whether you’re brand new to the world of Dungeons & Dragons or a seasoned RPG player, there’s a lot to learn when diving into this epic adventure. In this article, I’ll guide you through the key fundamentals you need to know to get started in Baldur’s Gate 3 and give you some helpful beginner tips to make your experience smoother.

1. Creating Your Character: Race and Class Choices

When starting BG3, one of the first things you’ll do is create your character. This is where the game really begins to allow you to shape your experience, as you’ll need to choose your race and class.

Race and Subrace

Your race choice significantly impacts the role-playing experience. While races in BG3 no longer offer specific stat bonuses, they still have a profound influence on your interactions with the world and other characters. Some races come with unique abilities, and certain races will be treated differently by NPCs, allowing you to approach situations in varied ways.

The available races are:

  • Elf
  • Tiefling
  • Drow
  • Human
  • Githyanki
  • Dwarf
  • Half-Elf
  • Halfling
  • Gnome
  • Duergar
  • Half-Orc
  • Dragonborn

For example, a Tiefling, with their fiendish ancestry, may experience unique reactions from other characters or face different challenges than a Human. Although the racial stat bonuses have been removed in the full game, race still plays a key role in how you interact with the world.

Class and Subclass

There are 12 main classes to choose from in BG3, each offering different playstyles and abilities:

  • Barbarian
  • Bard
  • Cleric
  • Druid
  • Fighter
  • Monk
  • Paladin
  • Ranger
  • Rogue
  • Sorcerer
  • Warlock
  • Wizard

Each class has unique strengths, and the choice should align with your preferred playstyle. For example, Barbarians are often seen as tanks, but with multi-classing, you can create hybrid builds, like a spell-casting Barbarian. Wizards, on the other hand, are versatile spellcasters with access to an extensive array of spells, while Sorcerers have more power but fewer spells and can use Metamagic to alter how their spells work.

Once you’ve chosen your primary class, you’ll pick a subclass, which further specializes your abilities. For instance, a Wizard might choose the Evocation subclass to specialize in destructive magic, or a Cleric might opt for the Life Domain to focus on healing and support.

Baldur's Gate 3, How To, Get Started, BG3, Beginner’s Tips 2023
2. Understanding Ability Scores

Once your race and class are selected, you’ll assign points to your character’s abilities. These are core attributes that affect how well you perform various actions in the game:

  • Strength: Important for melee combat, carrying capacity, and physical feats.
  • Dexterity: Affects ranged combat, stealth, and your Armor Class (AC).
  • Constitution: Impacts health and your overall survivability.
  • Intelligence: Important for spellcasters like Wizards and affects your skill in knowledge-based tasks.
  • Wisdom: Impacts perception and insight, useful for certain spells and skills.
  • Charisma: Essential for social interactions, influencing persuasion, intimidation, and leadership.

For instance, as a Barbarian, you’ll want to focus on Strength for powerful attacks and Constitution for extra hit points. Meanwhile, Bards might prioritize Charisma to enhance their spellcasting and performance.

3. Skills and Backgrounds

Your choice of skills will determine your character’s proficiency in different areas like Athletics, Acrobatics, Stealth, or Sleight of Hand. Additionally, your background offers further customization, providing advantages in certain skills and shaping your character’s backstory. There are 13 backgrounds in BG3, such as Charlatan, Urchin, and Soldier, each providing unique bonuses.

For example, if you want to excel at Sleight of Hand, you might choose the Charlatan or Urchin background, both of which boost your proficiency in this skill.

4. Cantrips vs Spells

As a magic user, you’ll have access to Cantrips and Spells. Cantrips are magic abilities that can be used repeatedly without expending spell slots and don’t require a rest to recharge. They’re great for dealing damage or utility on the fly.

Spells, on the other hand, are more powerful and often have limited uses before you need to rest. It’s wise to have a combination of Cantrips for consistent damage and Spells for impactful moments during combat or problem-solving. For example, Firebolt (a damage-dealing Cantrip) and Magic Missile (a spell) would both serve you well.

5. Combat Basics

BG3 uses a turn-based combat system, inspired by Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules. Each character and enemy takes turns, and actions like attacking, casting spells, or using items count as one action per turn. However, you can perform Bonus Actions, which are additional actions available to certain classes, like jumping, dipping (coating a weapon with poison), or shoving an enemy.

Understanding your Action Economy is crucial. Be sure to use your Bonus Action before ending your turn, as it can give you a tactical advantage, such as positioning yourself or setting up for an attack.

6. Multi-classing: Hybrids and Flexibility

BG3 allows multi-classing, which means you can combine levels from different classes to create a hybrid character. For example, a Fighter/Wizard could be a formidable warrior who also casts spells. However, multi-classing comes at the cost of not being able to reach higher-level abilities from a single class. So, while multi-classing opens up many possibilities, it can make you a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Choose wisely based on your playstyle.

7. Role-Playing and Dialogue

One of the standout features of BG3 is the incredible depth of role-playing opportunities. Your race, class, and background all influence the dialogue options available to you. Whether you’re intimidating a foe, charming an ally, or making a difficult moral decision, the game’s dialogue system is rich with branching paths. Sometimes, the way you approach a situation will depend on the strengths of your character or even their race.

8. Exploration and Problem Solving

As you explore the vast world of Faerûn, you’ll encounter puzzles, hidden items, and a range of characters who can either help or hinder your progress. Use your environment to your advantage. If you’re facing a challenging battle, consider climbing to higher ground or using stealth to approach undetected. Don’t forget to loot every chest and interact with objects to uncover secrets or unlock special quests.

9. Resting and Resources

In BG3, resting is essential for recharging your spell slots and healing. There are two types of rests: Short Rest and Long Rest. A Short Rest can be taken in the middle of your journey and lets you recover a bit of health and use some abilities. A Long Rest, on the other hand, is necessary to restore all your abilities and spell slots, but it also advances the in-game time and can affect certain story events.

Final Thoughts

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a deep, rewarding experience for players who are willing to invest time in learning its systems. Whether you’re crafting the perfect character or engaging in intense turn-based combat, there’s a lot to discover. Keep experimenting with different class combinations, take your time to explore every corner of Faerûn, and most importantly—have fun. The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 is vast, and your choices truly matter. Happy adventuring!

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