Can someone explain to me why reactions are so critical to 5e gameplay? It seems to play fine without them, and I don't remember reactions in BG1+2 (but I might not have fully utilized everything.) It just seems like what people are describing might slow combat down even more (yikes) and make the game all choppy. Why are reactions so essential (genuine question, not sarcastic belittling)?
It's a concept that exists in DnD 5E, not sure if it was in earlier editions (as in, I'm close to 100% sure the concept didn't exist in 3E or earlier, and I don't know jack squat about 4E, but I suspect almost everyone here doesn't know anything about that either).
Reactions are basically a class of abilities and spells that allow you to perform some kind of action in response to something an enemy is doing during their turn. You only get one reaction per turn, just like you only get one bonus action per turn. Right now in BG3, the most common reaction you can use are the Attacks of Opportunity. Most other reactions are either not yet implemented at all, or changed entirely. IIRC the only other reactions implemented in BG3 right now consist of the following:
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Hellish Rebuke: 2d10 fire damage in retaliation to an enemy attack. Normally you can choose whether to use this or not, but in BG3 you pre-cast it and it's automatically discharged against the first enemy that attacks you.
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Bardic Inspiration/Combat Inspiration: The Bard grants another party member a 1d6 bonus to either attack rolls, saving throws, damage rolls, or AC (the latter two are Combat Inspiration only). You can only pick one effect per Inspiration use. Normally the party member gets complete control over when they want to use the die in applicable situations, but in BG3, the die is automatically discharged in the first applicable situation. Using it for saving throws/AC is currently toggled off by default, meaning if you intend to use it for defensive purposes, it won't help against anything acting in between the Bard and the party member in the initiative order.
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Cutting Words: In the simplest terms, it's basically the Bard using a reverse version of the above against an enemy. Normally, it's the Bard doing an OBJECTION in reaction to something an enemy is doing, with a single penalty related to whatever that enemy was doing. Right now in BG3, it's something that the Bard pre-casts on an enemy, and all of the possible penalties affect that enemy until the start of the Bard's next turn.
Other examples of lower level reactions currently not in BG3 (as in ones you would have access to by level 4 among the currently released classes):
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Shield: A level 1 spell that grants the caster +5 AC against an incoming attack, with the AC boost persisting until the start of the caster's upcoming turn.
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Protection fighting style: An option for Fighters and Paladins wielding shields. If a party member standing next to them is being targeted by an attack, and the character with this ability is currently wielding a shield, they can react to impose disadvantage on the incoming attack (think of it as the shield wielder trying to block the attack directed at their ally).
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Ready Actions: Instead of using any main action attack, ability, or spell, a character has the option to hold their action until the condition to discharge the action is met. The simplest example is if Lae'zel is unable to reach anything to smack with a melee attack during her turn, so you can have her ready a swing for the first enemy that comes within melee range during their turn. Right now in BG3, you're usually either just going to end turn without doing anything or use some kind of projectile attack instead, which Lae'zel isn't nearly as strong in.
You also normally get to control when you want to use an attack of opportunity, instead of immediately using it against the first enemy that leaves your zone of control if you are wielding a melee weapon. But again, it is worth noting that you only get one reaction per turn, so a Wizard probably wouldn't want to use an opportunity attack if they may want to save it for an emergency Shield instead.
Right now, BG3's handling of the reaction system is to either ignore/not implement many of the abilities utilizing that concept, automate them to immediately use them against the first thing that can trigger the reaction, or change it into something that's pre-cast instead. It's also worth noting that enemies should be able to use reactions against you as well, so properly implementing them won't mean that the game will get easier.
It's really not an exaggeration to say that omission of a proper reaction system is basically missing 1/3rd of the combat system, and it consists of the majority of defensive options that exist in the overall 5E system too. Right now, it's not that much of a major thing, but the long term implications for the overall balance are rather dire.
