Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Recommend Prep "Work" Prior to Launch?

Good day. I've tried to avoid spoilers as much as possible and really didn't do much within the early access. I'm rather excited here, though, and have some time available to do a good bit of prep "work" to try to get the most out of my experience within Baldur's Gate 3. Three options that I'm considering are replaying the original saga in its entirety, getting more familiar with DOS and DOS2, and/or trying to find that wonderful guide for the Forgotten Realms here that looks to have been buried. I've played through the original saga and am pretty familiar with those titles. I understand, though, that the lore here will be tied to the Baldur's Gate novels and tabletop campaigns? Having no real access to a pause for single player was enough of a frustration that I shelved DOS and DOS2, barely touching them. I've recently picked up an external utility that *should* hack into these titles and pause them properly. To have a better experience in Baldur's Gate 3, would anyone recommend that I dive into DOS and DOS2 to get familiar with how the engine works for Larian's titles? How far has Larian strayed from the 5th edition ruleset? Would I be better off reading up on the player manual and such there to get an idea of how the Dungeons and Dragons rulesets have evolved since the original saga? Or has Larian changed enough here that I would learn more from playing DOS and DOS2 than I would from reading up on the 5th edition? Thank you in advance for any suggestions and feedback.

DOS and DOS 2 are set in different worlds with completely different game systems so I don't think they would help at all.
BG 1 and 2 are set in the same world but again with very different game systems from 5e.
The Larian system is reasonably close to 5e with a variety of implementation changes but the core concepts and class roles remain. If you haven't played Solasta: Crown of the Magister it is a pretty good 5e implementation.

All you need to do is just be excited, that's how much 'prep work' you need to do.

Bg3 plays quite diffeent from DOS2. DOS2 is a good game but don't play it thinking it'll ease you into bg 3.

I'd unironically recommend lwatching the new movie.

Browse the fextralife site to learn your options at chargenesis and later.
There is no player manual that I know off ... yet?

We've had a couple of threads like this recently that you might want to take a look at, eg https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=861045.

I'm sure there was at least one more as well, if anyone recalls it and is able to link here.

Well. I promised myself I'd finish a No-reload SCS hardcore w/ Ascension - and finish it. As much as I like to call myself an expert, I never managed that, and I've been trying for months. I'm almost there now, but if I die, not doing it again. I stopped going on Youtube, that is all way too spoilery whilst not offering anything I didn't already know. If that makes sense.

I tried figuring out what the deal is with Amaunator in the current setting, but that just confused me.
I'm going to do a *lot* of groceries in advance...

But now I just refresh this forum every other minute that I'm awake until August third hits. Aside from my dog, no one will know I'm still alive from that point forward.

Thank you all for the quick replies. I completely understand that actual ruleset and setting for BG3 will be quite different than those found in DOS and DOS2. I'm quite unfamiliar with how any of the titles created with these engines actually work, though. Again, the lack of a real pause was a real game killer for me, but I believe that I've found a "fix" for this. I'm trying not to watch videos to avoid spoilers, but would playing DOS and/or DOS2 help me get familiar with how the "system" works here in BG3? The way in that several things are constantly happening in real time, for instance, regardless if I have the menu open or am using full turn based mode? I didn't get very far in early access, but the turn based party mechanics worked quite differently here than any other turn based titles that I've played. NPCs, party members or not, could all be doing their own thing in real time, when I was supposed to be paused in order to queue my character's actions. Those are the sorts of things that I don't understand yet. I'd certainly like to get more familiar with the lore, setting, and actual ruleset being used. But, more importantly, perhaps, would be to get somewhat familiar with how the game will actually play out. Is the actual game play within Baldur's Gate 3 different enough from DOS and/or DOS2 that it wouldn't be recognized? No real access to pausing, linking/unlinking party members from working in turn based vs real time, how the environment will work, how beneficial and/or detrimental spells count down in real time? Those sorts of things? I could easily reinstall BG3 EA to find answers to most of these questions, but I'm unsure how I could go about learning how the game play works without spoiling too much. Thank you all again!

No, not really. Contrary to what some have said over the past years, DOS is an entirely different animal. If anything, go unto Youtube and find the Dungeon Dudes to get a rough idea for classes and races, or find some lore videos so you understand the setting.

But. The BG3 is pretty forgiving for newcomers, and if you stick to a single class - you'll get the hang of it and become powerful regardless of what you pick. There are premade characters with their own stories and backgrounds if you don't feel like making something yourself yet; and they look very cool.

The combat in this game is rather forgiving, and even if you struggle there is a story mode to make it more so.

I'd say just make sure you have enough space on your storage drive for the download, it's at least 150 GB, and you want to have space left over.

I recommend you go to https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Main_Page and learn all the game mechanics there, like attack and damage rolls etc.

5e and Bg3 is not hard to learn the basics, but there is a LOT of nuance to playing the game that can trip you up if you are not aware of it.

I put together this "10 simple rules for playing Bg3."

First though – go to Settings and turn OFF Karmic Dice. It won’t help and will only make things harder. See this discussion for why if you want the details:

Karmic Dice Info

Let's start with the basics:
1. Understanding what ability score helps to land spells with the different classes A) Cleric/Druid/Ranger spells WISDOM - B) Wizard Spells INTELLIGENCE C) Sorcerer, Bard, Paladin, and Warlock spells CHARISMA.

2. It’s important to understand what attributes affect your ability to hit with different weapon TYPES: DEXTERITY for FINESSE weapons (daggers, scimitars, short swords, bows) - STRENGTH for all other weapons. (The dex rules are really optional - IF your dex is higher with finesse weapons the game will use that instead of STR)

3. You can ONLY concentrate on one “Concentration” spell at a time per player. So READ descriptions of spells carefully. If you cast a second spell that requires concentration you lose the original spell you were concentrating on. (Not all spells require concentration - Like Fireball doesn't require it, but Bless does

4. Avoid Using ODD numbered attribute levels such as 11, 13, 15, 17. With a few minor exceptions this is a waste of points. Example: 10 and 11 are functionally the same (+1 proficiency) for everything but strength - Strength odd numbers only affect carry weight.

5. Using weapons you are not proficient in gets you a -2 to hit- you can check your weapon proficiency under the character sheets. Fighters, Rangers, Paladins, Barbarians and Valor Bards are proficient in everything. Everyone else is more limited.

6. Same for armor, if you are not proficient in that armor you will get locked out of abilities and spellcasting. You CAN cast if you have the proficiency, even as a Wizard. Some races start with armor proficiency.

7. Trying to run away from an enemy that is engaged with you WITHOUT using the DISENGAGE action will result in them getting a FREE opportunity attack against you. Also ending your turn with a ranged weapon in hand, instead of melee weapon when an opponent is engaged with you means you don't get an Opportunity attack against them. It's a free action to switch in Bg3.

8. Being Threatened and trying to use a ranged spell or ranged attack. If any enemy is within 5 feet of you then you become "Threatened" - which means you have DISADVANTAGE* on any ranged spell or ranged attack (Bows) against any enemy. In these cases switch to a Melee Spell (Inflict Wounds, Thorn Whip, Shocking Grasp**) or Melee weapon attack.

9. Light Matters! Darkvision as a racial trait is important - as it is related to accuracy of attacks underground/inside - in darkness. Knowing what races have darkvision and what races don't is important. Elves, Half-elves, Dwarves, Tieflings, Gnomes have Darkvision (60 feet). Drow, and Deep Gnomes have Superior Darkvision (120 feet) and Human, Githyanki and Halflings DON'T have it - so they will need to have a light source or magic or a magic item that grants it. Clerics have a handy Light spell that can be cast on Characters and lasts 100 rounds. If your TARGET is obscured because of the lack of light you have DISADVANTAGE* against that target.

10. Your most important keys: "TAB" - shows all character sheets and inventory. "K" - shows your abilities in case you lose one off the hot bar and need to put it back. Also you can (and should) LOCK your hotbar!

Finally – take your time. Explore, read books, go slow and pay attention. Study your enemy. This isn't Diablo.

If you want to start out with some solid character builds, here are some that will help you:

These all go to the Larian Forums:
Githyanki Battle Wizard - Githyanki/ Evocation Wizard - Can wear medium Armor, and gets high Intel so High DPS and 17 AC.
Githyanki Battle Wizard

The Dark Sniper - Drow/Rogue (Thief Subclass) very high dps (you can solo the game with this one)
Dark Sniper

The Radiant Tank - Cleric of Light/Half Wood Elf - A nearly Unkillable Tank with crazy high DPS and Fireball at level 5.
Radiant Tank

Finally, the best way to learn is to play with others. Larian has a Discord to play multiplayer runs.
https://discord.gg/larianstudios

Just head to Bg3-lfg and you should usually be able to find groups.

*DISADVANTAGE - means you roll two dice and take the lower one, it's equivalent to a -5 on your attack.

**Shocking Grasp is the greatest cantrip in all of D&D besides Eldritch Blast.