Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Suggestions & Feedback Why Halsin should't have more spell slots than any other druid could

I don't see a reason why NPC's must follow the same spellcasting rules as a player. Sure, the majority of casters in 5e Monster Manual follow have comparable spell slots to players, but at the same time we have creatures with Innate Spellcasting, and some (like drow) that have spellslots and Innate spellcasting at the same time, allowing to cast way more spells than a player can. Plus, although they are not present in BG3 there are feats and class abilities in 5e that allow players to do similar thing (like the Tasha's Ranger, Fey Touched feat, etc.), albeit at a much more limited scope.

In terms of using CR - it is as much of an abstraction as a level. Plus, encounter difficulty is much more than the sum of creature CR anyway. Creature abilities have much more impact than their CR: throw a basilisk at a party that relies on attack rolls for their damage and they will struggle to hit as they avert their eyes. Anyway, my point is this: Why use CR, a concept that only PnP players understand, if we can use level, which everyone playing video games will understand. Particularly if both Level and CR are inaccurate.

Whether or not we should indicate creature level/cr - I'd prefer not to see that, but understand how some players want to see it. So, reiterating many threads on various topics - give me a toggle to turn it off. At least this one should be easy to implement.

Consistency, for one?
It's far more enjoyable to know that all the pawns on a board are playing by the same exact ruleset.

it's the same reason a lot of people absolutely despise when the AI in Civilization cheats and creates new units out of thin air, regardless of how difficult is the game.

But these are ALL implementations of the rules, not arbitrary exceptions to them.

Also if most creatures follow the rules, those that deviate from the rules will actually stand out more. Cause consistency actually is what gives deviations meaning.

What consistency are we talking about? NPC's, like many creatures, have special abilities than a player does not have. Some have pack tactics (thug), some have extra damage (gladiator) etc. Are those abilities similar to what some races/classes have - sure. But by extension why can't "archdruid" have the abilities that Halsin has.

That said, even the "archdruid" from Volo's Guide (CR 12) is weaker than what a PC archdruid (lvl20 druid) is - both in stats, health, abilities, with only spells and wild shapes being somewhat equal. They are both called "archdruids" but are fairly different beasts.

So I really don't get why NPC's in BG3 need to play by the same rules players are, if there is plenty 5e published material that says otherwise. Especially when we talk about a named NPC.


Sure, there is a difference on paper between an NPC having 7 first level spell slots and an NPC having 4 first level spell slots and 3 free castings of "entangle". But when fighting against them that will pretty much feel the same. That said, combat generally doesn't take enough rounds for the NPC caster to use all of its spells anyway.