Players of Divinity: Original Sin 2 will admire the title for its immersive narrative and creative combat. Additionally, some TTRPG fans might say Larian Studios' Original Sin series serves as the devs' unique take on a modern Dungeons & Dragons CRPG. Moreover, some fans see this comparison in play thanks to Baldur's Gate 3, the recent release from Larian Studios. However, unlike Original Sin, BG3 now actively uses D&D's D20 system given its place in the hit Baldur's Gate series.
Interestingly, players of BG3 early access may try certain Original Sin 2 strategies in the new Baldur's Gate entry. Moreover, fans of Original Sin 2 may enjoy employing some timeless tactics in BG3 for nostalgia. However, just which strategies from the Divinity game work in BG3?
10 Split The Party
Fans of D&D know "split the party" as prime meme material, as ordinary parties know things get effed-up easily when the party splits. However, in Larian games, AOE Skills can easily TPK a party too close together. As such, players end up splitting their characters to take full advantage of the environment. The same applies in BG3's tactical combat.
Ideally, a ranged character and a spellcaster should head to higher ground or within long range in order to attack an enemy from a distance. Likewise, rogues should hide first and plan their sneak attacks. Meanwhile, the player should control the party's main "talker" with the tank as an escort in order to talk with any hostile NPC they can reason with.
9 Positions Are Essential For Survival
As with Original Sin, BG3 players fight within a turn-based setup. For instance, Original Sin 2 grants creatures the ability to strike people moving within melee range with the Opportunist Talent. Moreover, ranged attacks get advantages or disadvantages thanks to cover as well as height. Additionally, attacking from the back grants extra damage thanks to Backstab.
Interestingly, BG3 has extremely similar but more exploitable rules. For instance, everyone can perform Opportunity Attacks to enemies moving out of their melee range. However, creatures can use the Disengage Action to sacrifice an attack in order to safely escape Opportunity Attacks. Likewise, ranged attackers get a disadvantage when attacking from the melee range. These elements open up a ton of tactical opportunities for Original Sin 2 fans.
8 Maximize Your Moveset
In the Original Sin titles, players easily get frustrated when they don't have enough AP (Action Points) to do what they want to do. As such, characters tend to skip turns so their leftover AP accumulates in the next round, unless they have a useful talent such as Glass Cannon that always fills their AP at the cost of defenses.
Interestingly, BG3 doesn't adopt Original Sin's AP system. As a D&D 5e game, players have a Standard Action, a Bonus Action, and Movement every turn. Moreover, different activities (e.g., attacks, spells, traits) cost certain action-types. Unfortunately, any unspent actions don't get carried over in the next turn.
As such, players should always treat their characters as though they're with the Glass Cannon Talent. If possible, players should use all their character's available actions to maximize their moveset in the field.
7 Use The Environment
Unlike other turn-based RPGs, Original Sin 2 enables players to use the environment to their advantage. They can trigger effects using surfaces, create unique surfaces with grenades and barrels, or even teleport objects (even NPCs!) to knock them down. Interestingly, BG3 uses D&D's mechanics to further make use of the environment. As a rule, if there's a way to use the environment, it's probably possible.
For instance, a Grease Bottle will further amplify the fire of small flames. Moreover, throwing an effect potion to nearby characters can chain its effects to creatures near them. In combat, extra Actions include Push, Dip, and even Throw - allowing players to do multiple thing with objects or even other NPCs.
6 Ready Melee, Ranged Combat Options
Unfortunately, Original Sin 2 doesn't allow players to change their equipment during battle. In turn, players are generally advised to stick with a weapon for an entire battle. Thankfully, BG3 enables everyone to have melee and ranged weapons equipped. Moreover, they can spend an Action to attack with either weapon type.
In turn, players should use this opportunity to maximize their combat options. As much as possible, everyone should have melee and ranged options available. For instance, long-ranged Rangers should be able to handle their own with a sword while they retreat to a better position. Likewise, Spellcasters should have both melee and ranged Spells, or at least a melee weapon to defend themselves within close combat.
5 Acknowledge Verticality
Fans of Original Sin 2 know that verticality plays a huge role in the game. For instance, ranged attackers will get increased damage when attacking from higher surfaces, while they get reduced damage trying to hit people on higher platforms. In BG3, Larian Studios fully acknowledges verticality and integrates it into the main game.
In turn, players now have an active Jump action that enables characters to leap to higher surfaces or vault across obstacles. However, characters should actively jump to get to better vantage points. Moreover, players should consider leaping past questionable ledges, as they might end up leading to interesting secret areas. These might even send players downward or upward high enough to disengage from combat.
4 Never Forget Dialogue
In Original Sin 2, players with high-enough Combat Abilities such as Persuasion may convince NPCs to stop being so hostile to them. As such, Original Sin 2 players may soon realize that they need to invest in these dialogue stats in order to diversify their options in the game. In D&D - and in turn, BG3 - dialogue also plays a huge role in most encounters.
Players should ideally have characters that focus on the "talking" aspect of BG3. In fact, most characters should at least have a way of talking with others - be it through Persuasion, Intimidation, or even Insight. That way, players will always have a way to talk themselves out of battle or better understand their NPCs.
3 Study, Save Spell Slots
Unfortunately, unlike BG3, Original Sin 2 has a straightforward magic system. All abilities - magical or not - take the form of Skills that need Action Points to use. In BG3, Spells, much like melee or ranged attacks, still take Actions (and sometimes, Bonus Actions) but also consume a resource called Spell Slots.
In BG3, players have access to Spells that use Spell Slots when used. Spellcasters who have access to powerful versions of a Spell can use a higher-level Spell Slot, denoting a "rank-up." This factor explains why there's a Fireball (Evocation) that can destroy a room and a higher-ranked, meme-worthy Fireball that destroys an entire forest. In turn, players who play Spellcasters should Prepare their spells carefully and maximize their Spell Slots in battle.
2 Cantrips Will Save The Day
Whereas Fighters and Rangers have their standard melee attacks, Spellcasters have Cantrips like Eldritch Blast (Warlock), Firebolt (Wizard), and Sacred Flame (Cleric) they can use at their leisure. These Cantrips don't cost any Spell Slots, meaning they theoretically be cast forever. This is unlike in Original Sin 2, where all Skills - great or not - cost AP to use.
In turn, players should try maximizing the use of their Cantrips during battle. Granted, higher-ranked Spells can decimate battlefields in a single round. However, players would need to rest just to regain these Spell Slots. As such, players need careful calls of judgment whether to expend a Spell Slot in this battle at this instant or save it for later.
1 Throw A Scroll At It
Players of Original Sin 2 would have fond memories of hoarding useful skill scrolls and using them only in special situations, as they don't pop up a lot in Original Sin 2. However, in BG3, players can see spell scrolls quite a lot in Faerûn, and they should use them whenever they can.
Remember, most powerful spells use valuable Spell Slots just to cast them. A handy scroll will only cost an Action to cast, which makes this a more economical option compared to wasting a Spell Slot. Moreover, spell scrolls of spells from other Classes can further diversify a player's arsenal of abilities they can use in any battle.