D&D General Baldur's Gate 3 will now be releasing August 3rd on PC and September 6th on PS5, increased level cap, race & class details and more

[Henadic Theologian]

I disliked DoS2 so much, I never even played through Fort Joy. I hate the Forgotten Realms. I don't even particularly like 5E. Yet, from what I experience in EA, I love this game already. It's not really hard. Not even close to the extend where you have to "die over and over to figure it out".

This couldn't be further from the truth. This game offers an insane amount of freedom to the player.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Funny how so many of us plan to run a Bard for our first run. It's hard to pass up the utility and social skills they bring. I'm leaning towards valor bard with the criminal background so I can pick locks and us all those elemental arrows with a magic longbow...

Second run will probably be with a drow (class TBD), just because the social interactions with that species are interesting.

I definitely want to see what they've done to Swords before picking a Bard subclass. They've got Lore, Valour and Swords, and Swords would normally be ultra-redundant with Valour being there, because they're relatively similar (and both kind of weirdly melee-oriented for a Bard), but as Swords is a bit of an underperformer in 5E, one suspect Larian might have modified it.

 

[Lidgar]

I definitely want to see what they've done to Swords before picking a Bard subclass. They've got Lore, Valour and Swords, and Swords would normally be ultra-redundant with Valour being there, because they're relatively similar (and both kind of weirdly melee-oriented for a Bard), but as Swords is a bit of an underperformer in 5E, one suspect Larian might have modified it.

Really good point - forgot they included Swords. Will definitely give it a close look before selecting.

 

[Vael]

Funny how so many of us plan to run a Bard for our first run. It's hard to pass up the utility and social skills they bring. I'm leaning towards valor bard with the criminal background so I can pick locks and us all those elemental arrows with a magic longbow...

Second run will probably be with a drow (class TBD), just because the social interactions with that species are interesting.

Well, those are solid reasons to go Bard. A generalist that works well with any party configuration. I was thinking Street Urchin, because you get the same lockpick skills (they're off Sleight of Hand, IIRC) without the criminality and you get Stealth too. Hadn't locked in a subclass yet.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

Personally I once played through the EA with only Lae'zel and a male githyanki fighter as my character. It was hard, I died a lot, and I had to make good use of the horn that summons ogres, the iron flask, and the oil and fire AoE items, but it was super satisfying to me.

My favorite part was forcing some NPCs hiding from a large pack of gnolls to join the fight by using pushing attack to knock a gnoll on a ledge through the air and into the cave the NPCs were hiding in.

Also I always make it a point to wait until the cambion fighting the mindflayer on the nautiloid is dead before going to the helm as the flaming sword it drops is very good. It usually takes a few tries because the mindflayer has to win and an additional group of cambions shows up after a few rounds.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I definitely want to see what they've done to Swords before picking a Bard subclass. They've got Lore, Valour and Swords, and Swords would normally be ultra-redundant with Valour being there, because they're relatively similar (and both kind of weirdly melee-oriented for a Bard), but as Swords is a bit of an underperformer in 5E, one suspect Larian might have modified it.

I think even as is Swords is stronger than Valour. Which is frankly rubbish. But the thing about Swords is it has an inspiration option it can use on itself. Which is a boon if you ever find yourself solo.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Actually, I've just noticed something interesting about Swords Mobile Flourish. ...you can also push the target 5 ft. away from you....

This ability has no saving throw or size limitation. You just have to hit and use an inspiration die. BG3 has lots of long drops...

 

[Burnside]

Actually, I've just noticed something interesting about Swords Mobile Flourish. ...you can also push the target 5 ft. away from you....

This ability has no saving throw or size limitation. You just have to hit and use an inspiration die. BG3 has lots of long drops...

Another thing that closes the gap between Swords and Lore bard, at least in EA, is that the way Cutting Words is currently implemented isn't as good as the P&P version - instead of a clutch reaction, it's a bonus action you have to hope isn't a waste.

 

[Demetrios1453]

I tried it played it for about 12 hours and then got a refund. It's not Baldurs Gate. It's Divinity (and I never liked that game) with 5e rules wrapped around it. The fact that your first encounter's at first level are Mind flayers and intellect devourers that can one shot even your tanks is silly if you are trying to sell it as a dnd game. It's plays like some of the ancient RPG's where you are supposed to die over and over to figure out each scene. I'll be really surprised if they manage to pull out a huge success on this one. I think this one is going to be like the DND movie. They'll scream thier succes to the heavens till they have to admit defeat. (unless all the old divinity fans like the dnd stuff wrapped around divinity. they might save it)

I just fired it up again last night after having not playing it for a couple of years, and it's a completely different game now than it was then. Judging a game by an early beta seems a bit premature.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Another thing that closes the gap between Swords and Lore bard, at least in EA, is that the way Cutting Words is currently implemented isn't as good as the P&P version - instead of a clutch reaction, it's a bonus action you have to hope isn't a waste.

You sure about that?

The way it worked in the EA when I played was that it applied to ALL APPLICABLE d20 ROLLS that the target made from when you used it until your next turn. Saves, attacks, etc. Absolutely destroyed any "boss" monster.

That was wacky OP of course so I wouldn't be shocked if they changed it.

Actually, I've just noticed something interesting about Swords Mobile Flourish. ...you can also push the target 5 ft. away from you....

This ability has no saving throw or size limitation. You just have to hit and use an inspiration die. BG3 has lots of long drops...

Ohoho very nice. And yes it does.

I have a feeling I will play Berserker Barbarian the first time though so I don't just pass every skill and speech check as I likely would with a Bard, and that's amazingly upgraded with the special throw there, but that is a nice one if the implement it the same way.

Looking at both more carefully I do actually agree Valour is the one which needs more help. I kind of hope they pull the L14 abilities down to 12 so they're in the game.