Fans of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 might have found themselves left hanging with its short Early Access preview. The game's take on Dungeons and Dragons in a CRPG format might be considered its most faithful iteration of D&D 5e in a game yet. Additionally, fans might find themselves craving for some D&D TTRPG by the time they discovered this Baldur's Gate entry. Thankfully, playing D&D 5e while waiting for Baldur's Gate 3 might serve as the best way to acquaint themselves with the potential intensity of the game's story in its full release.
However, how exactly should newcomers approach their D&D experience? Moreover, how can Baldur's Gate fans upgrade their tabletop experience by the time they play D&D with friends?
10 Take Full Advantage Of Strong Stats
In a stats-based RPG like D&D and BG3, players often pay attention to their stats in the context of combat. For instance, strong Strength and Dexterity Scores enable Fighters and Rogues to deal better damage with higher Modifiers, respectively. However, players should try to use their strong statistics outside of combat as well.
For instance, just because certain Skill Checks demand a certain Skill doesn't mean there's no other way to solve it. Players that can think of ways of creatively applying their strong Ability or Skill to a Check should suggest their idea as soon as it pops up, as it just might work.
9 Pay Attention To Calculations
As a game that follows D&D's mechanics, BG3 needs to present the calculations it makes to determine the chances of a Skill Check succeeding or failing. In the real world, D&D 5e players should pay close attention to calculations regarding Checks - be it Ability or Skill Checks, Attack and Damage Rolls, and even Saving Throws.
Despite the simple nature of this advice, a lot of players neglect a valuable number that may make a huge difference in boss fights or critical situations. Players often forget to add their Proficiency Bonus to rolls that involve Skills they're proficient in. Auto-successes (Natural 20s) and critical fails (Natural Ones) don't apply to Ability and Skill Checks unless house-ruled.
8 Take Note Of Passive Checks
Players of Divinity and BG3 know their characters can end up surprised, detect hidden objects, or do activities without Skill Checks. Why do some characters need to make Skill Checks to do these tasks, while others don't? The difference lies in Passive Checks. In essence, characters have natural Passive Abilities that DMs use to determine whether characters can "naturally" do things without having to make Checks - such as swimming, hiding, or running.
Normally, Passive Abilities come in the form of 10 + all modifiers that Check requires. In turn, DMs can use this Passive Ability Score and compare it to the difficulty of the task at hand. Likewise, players may ask if their Passive Ability Score can be enough to surpass the need for a Check or to produce a certain effect.
7 Optimization Helps Technical Parties
Interestingly, BG3 reveals that both ordinary gamers and D&D 5e players have generally two approaches to their parties. Some enjoy the creative experience that comes with creating a character, so they make one to their liking and they go with the flow. Others who want to test their nogging will want to create characters that fit an archetype and a party role. Players can ask: should their Cleric wield the staple mace, or should they try a new gimmick?
In order to avoid conflicts, players should decide whether they prefer optimizing their party or going all-out with their creativity. The latter allows for more creative freedom and challenges sub-optimal parties with difficult battles. Meanwhile, an optimized party might restrict player choice but can at least ensure a stable party in combat.
6 Always Consider Assists, Group Checks
In the face of difficult Skill Checks, players actually have the option of making Assisted Rolls and even Group Checks. These aim to help the entire party or some members of the party succeed in tasks thanks to the guidance of their comrades. For instance, a Ranger can help their team navigate a new environment.
Characters doing a Skill Check can receive the assistance of a skilled party member. This factor may come in the form of the assisting member's Proficiency, their Background, or even their presence. In this case, the Assisted Roll gets an Advantage.
Likewise, a Group Check will have party members skilled in the Check involved help their comrades who aren't. In this case, the Group Check becomes a success if at least half the team succeeds the Check.
5 Bring The Disadvantage To The Enemy
If party members can make Assisted Rolls and Group Checks, players may find ways to help with Contested Checks as well. Contested Checks happen when two creatures need to make opposing rolls - such as arm-wrestling or grappling. Interestingly, players may be able to bring the enemy at a disadvantage with some creative thinking.
For instance, players should consider creating distractions during Checks they can't participate in. Likewise, players that aren't in a particular Skill Check may want to look around the area to see if they can help in other ways.
4 Look Beyond The Battle Map
Thanks to Larian Studios' environments, players can jump over surfaces, start fires, and use pretty much any aspect of the environment to their advantage. If players think they can do something to the map, it's likely possible. Theoretically, players can apply this logic to their tables in real life as well.
Players should try making it a habit to look "beyond" the battle map. Are there parts of the environment they can utilize to spare their Spell Slots but still wreak havoc on enemies? Is there a way to exit battles, be it through negotiations or running away?
3 Never Abandon A Dump Stat
Thanks to D&D's array system, Abilities get distributed fairly to a character. As with BG3, the resulting Ability Array would likely have strong Abilities suited for certain Classes. Meanwhile, certain Abilities get lower values to balance the set. In turn, players get "Dump Stats" or low-numbered Attributes that will almost always "fail" them during Skill Checks.
However, players shouldn't necessarily neglect a Dump Stat. After all, in live D&D, players can use a Dump Stat creatively to add more flavor and emotional depth to their characters. A low Constitution score might explain why the party's Wizard gets sick often despite their overwhelming power, for instance.
2 Roleplaying Is Half The Experience
Despite the rather strategic nature of combat in D&D 5e, socially-oriented players know that navigating around NPCs can become an exercise in themselves - similar to BG3 and Larian's narrative take on Divinity: Original Sin 2. After all, games set in settings that have political allegiances and social structures need players to buddy-up with NPCs as they best could. Moreover, BG3's Early Access builds already demonstrate how social-focused Skills can mean the difference between making friends and enemies.
For instance, players can use Deception, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Persuasion to convince NPCs to be on their good side. They can also use Perception and Investigation to glean insights on various individuals and situations. In turn, characters should allot some focus on their Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Abilities to maximize their character's roleplaying potential.
1 Get Creative Everywhere
Fans of Larian Studios' Divinity series appreciate the CRPG for its take on extremely modifiable environments. In turn, players can get crazy experimenting with Skills to get different results. It's this exact quality that makes Divinity - and this time, BG3 - such a landslide hit to D&D fans. For any D&D player, they should never forget to try and get creative whenever presented with a problem or situation.
Most DMs only present players with the barest minimum information to form a mental image of a situation. However, players should try maximizing this "generalized" view with their skill sets. For instance, an icy lake unfit for Athletics (Strength) doesn't make it non-navigable. Perhaps players can get on an ice floe and ask their winged Tiefling to spread their wings, as the icy winds may blow on them like a sail.