Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General Eurogamer Interview - Only PHB classes

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...impressions-and-an-interview-with-larian

Some highlights:

Perfectly acceptable, if a bit disappointing. 12 classes - 24+ subclasses - is already a lot and Larian seems to have their hands full with the 8 classes released so far. Perhaps they'll eventually release Artificer and/or more subclasses in a DLC. Though I'd hope that such a DLC has more than just classes: additional areas and/or raised level cap.

And yeah, it was clear from that past video interview (and the patch frequency/content) that 2022 wasn't going to happen. Swen said "he'd be happy with a 2022 release date" which actually means "no way barring a miracle." Better delayed and good than rushed and bad.

Yeah, Larian has been fairly clear on that they're not aiming to go beyond the PHG, anything else has been wishful thinking. I'm glad to hear they aren't afraid to say that's what the plan is either. Clear answers are always preferred in my book.

And yeah like mrfuji I think it's entirely reasonable.

I wonder... what do you guys think are the chances for Death Domain clerics? Strictly speaking it's in the Dungeon Master's Guide, and not PHB.... but... it would be weird to have options to play a cleric worshipping Bane, Bhaal or Myrkul and NOT have Death Domain, right?

Can someone tell me if Monks, Bards and Barbarians have a chance of showing up?

In spirit I agree that it would be nice. However with all the domains it really covers mostly everything.

Knowledge, Life, Light, Nature, Tempest, Trickery, or War.


Death was really meant to be an BBEG NPC domain. While PC Clerics that were aligned with Bane, Bhaal or Shar would really go with Tempest, Trickery or War.

Still, it would be cool to have that.


Yes all three are in the PHB, so the chance is 100% that all three will be there.

Also Paladins.

In addition we can expect Dragonborn, Gnomes, and Half-Orcs.

Well here is hoping that when we choose monk or barbarian we can play has heavily muscled characters.

Personally, I think a bit more lean, but muscular build suits a monk better. Seeing monks in DnD are supposed to be the epitome of mastering mind and body . Arnold Schwarzenegger muscles are not what I think of when I envision Grand Master Kane or Afrafrenfere xD.

Well, whatever is coming next is going to take a while, anyway:



When "Around the corner" is two months later and "sooner than you think" almost three months after the last update, you can't help but wonder what "several months" will mean for the next update.

Probably 4-6 months. I mean being optimistic I count on a december 31st 2022 release. But more realistic would be to hazard a guess at August-september 2023. I mean, 4 classes might not seem like a lot, but they all need to be fleshed out with subclasses (wizard has 7-8 alone? I think), then they have to work out multi-classing etc. I assume a lot is already done at a basic level, but I doubt any of it is ready to be seen/used by us.

I hope they do monk a bit of justice and give the class some nice animations. I always thought monk was a bit underwhelming animationwise in BG 1-2. Although those were, 2d sprites.

I also hope they manage to make Baldur's gate somewhat recogniseable for those of us who played the originals. I know it has been many years since Abdel walked the realms, but I hope to see at least the old Iron Throne Tower somewhere in there . Even if it is in a delapitated state and cannot be entered. Going to be hard to make a city for Larian methinks. Don't think (or recall) Divinity Original SIn 1 and 2 featured any cities comparable to Baldur's Gate.

and I'd prefer them to leave Jaheira and Minsc where they belong, in the old folks home. No way they will be able to capture the performance of OG series, even if they get the original actors. Said actors are now also 20 years older, lol.

Means that i will never buy another 'EA' from Larian, that's what it means.


Well, people datamined that Jaheira is/was married to Halsin, so i can only imagine what's in store for Minsc. Maybe that he never really cared for Dynaheir, who knows.

So ...
I read it ... and i kinda cant help the feeling that nothing new was told. O_o
Maybe except the fact that now it will take some time to create new patch ... but honestly, anyone expected something else?

I mean since AMA on Reddit, Larian clearly stated that they are focusing on implementing classes and sub-classes from PHB ... and they look to other materials, just for inspiration (or something like that) ...
Wich we should know both in Dragon-Sorcerer case, and Ranger. o_O

I admit it sadens me a little to see that there will probably be missing Circle of Shepherd Druid, or Oathbreaker Paladin.
But i will hold my hopes until full release. :P

Anyway, good article thanks for sharing.

That's an interesting way of looking at it. It's been about a hundered years since Khalid's death and in BG2 she is a romance option for PC. Why wouldn't she find another mate by now? That's quite a change in taste though. I also felt a great disturbance, as if millions of thirsty Tavs suddenly cried out in terror.

I don't remember there being any romance between Minsc and Dynaheir, unless his right of passage job as a bodyguards comes with unmentioned benefits.

Could have gone without being reminded of people's thirstiness for body-type 2.

But anyway, frankly it's about respect. Even if it was their story and their character, which they aren't, i don't see what anything of the like would grant, other than sourness, to all those who've grown attached to that story and that character for the past 20 years.

As for Minsc, i was being coy. I'm sure they can butcher him without some deep digging into his backstory.

This is fine. If they do this right and improve the UI etc. we can be satisfied. If you wanna have much more classes you can play the Pathfinder video games with their advantages as well as disadvantage.

I'm fine with the PHB classes. They can even take another couple years before releasing.

The only thing that I'll never understand is the releasing classes and updating the first act sets them back on finishing the game... all of that is part of the final game, yeah? Like I've said a hundred times. They need to prioritize getting the base stuff out first since it can all impact later act layouts, world building, quests, etc.

Narrative, quest branching, general planning and locations can be done in reverse, but everything else?

Rather, what takes the most time is cutting out what shouldn't be found in EA.
It isnt surprising that classes dont have high priority.
It is more important that all content is completed than adding another class that will have little impact on the rest of the game.
Creating locations, quests or models is much more time consuming than a new class.
Another thing is that they certainly have most, if not all, specific dialog lines for each class.

And what shouldn't be in EA? I can't imagine anything in an introductory act that shouldn't be in EA when the goal is feedback and testing. Or do you mean removing content that people could datamine?

As for classes having little impact on the rest of the game, I'd wholeheartedly disagree. How they function mechanically could absolutely have a rather large impact on the design of encounters, locations, placement of objects, size of areas, etc.

If you don't have that stuff ahead of time, you either find yourself needing to completely rework that material or saying screw it and having shit encounters. Though to be fair they have the more important classes in for those designs right now.

I'd argue that classes, balancing and gameplay mechanics (like leveling) are the most crucial elements in the EA, followed by feedback on things like how companions were altered.

I'm all for this game taking years before launch and them spending time making it the best they can, but I'm certainly not for a single class taking 6 months and an entire year passing without another companion being added. At their current rate it'd take until Oct. 2023 for all of the classes in EA and even then that gives zero time for testing and feedback on that last class.

I´m not really worried about the subclasses TBH, the moment they put the base class I´m sure that the subclasses would come on as mods eventually (there are even in the EA) and the subclasses do not have unique dialogues anyway so...

Once they increase it they have to deal with all the new spells and abilities - but I think it would be good to not delay it too long. The new area feels like you shouldn't be level 4 when doing it, but let's see.
Or maybe it´s that I really want to start throwing fireballs, It does not feel a D&D game without them =D

It's understandable. Otherwise, the game would be in Early access for three years. Fewer, well-balanced options are better than a huge variety of imbalanced mess.