Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General How do I create Bilbo from LotR?

I can't wait to play this game in August, but I'm a bit overwhelmed! Having never played D&D, or deep CRPG games in general, I'm having a hard time making a character.

I noticed somebody else posting about LotR, and thought I'd ask too since everyone seems so friendly! I want to live out my fantasy by playing a character like Bilbo (starting quite skittish, but slowly becoming brave), but no idea where to even begin! Any help would be greatly appreciated! 🙏 It sounds ridiculous, but I'm just ecstatic to play a Hobbit! 😆

Take rogue and halfling. Take the thief subclass. Dump strength. Put as many points as possible into dexterity. Pump moderate points across Wisdom and Charisma to make him clever and persuasive. Take stealth, performance, sleight of hand, deception, and persuasion.

I was thinking about the alternatives, then realized you just nailed it perfectly.

Thanks for your help! When you say dump strength, does that mean put no points there?

Yes, dumping a stat means only putting the points there if you can't do it elsewhere.

I've read that the default is 8, and it gives -1? Is that bad, should I make everything at least 10? 🤔 Sorry if I've just made no sense, I'm still at the D&D confused phase! 😆

If you have space for more skills, consider the following:

Insight (Wisdom roll)
Perception (Also Wisdom roll)
Acrobatics (Dexterity roll)
Investigation (Intelligence roll)

Bilbo Baggins has no use for strength, which concerns physical prowess and athletic feats. I would make it 8. Set dexterity to maximum. Make everything else at least 10. Put your remaining points across charisma, wisdom, and constitution.

-1 in ability means that you'll get 1 subtracted from any dice you roll trying to succeed in the skill checks associated with this ability. With -1 in Strength for example, you'll get -1 on your dice when rolling for athletic checks, like pushing (shoving) someone or trying to lift a heavy object during a cutscene and so on. Since you'll have companions (unless you want to play solo), they can also cover some of the things with their own abilities and skills, so don't worry if you leave something at 8.

How do I get space for more skills? I'm still yet to play the game, so your brilliant suggestions are just words to me at the moment haha! 😆 Thank you so much though, I can't wait to learn and understand everything you've suggested!

The amount of skills you can take is predetermined by the race and the class you choose. If we exclude racial skills from the formula, then every class can get proficient in a limited pool of skills associated with that class in particular, but you can still choose from that pool. For example a wizard can take Arcana or History for his skills but can't take Athletics, because it is a skill associated with martial classes like warriors or rangers. However, apart from racial skills and class skills there are those that can be granted by choosing a background. It can be done in the far left tab of the character creation screen.

Ah I see, thank you so much! So do I gain more points throughout the game? These replies are making me so excited, I can't wait! I'm guessing Bilbo would be a bit difficult to play solo, I'll probably have to recruit some party members right haha? 😆

You can use all skills, but having proficiency in these skills, or high attributes (like wisdom or strength) in each skill's related attribute makes you more likely to succeed on these kinds of rolls. So, you want to make sure you have high dexterity (top priority) for good stealth, acrobatics, and sleight of hand rolls. You want to make sure you have high charisma (second priority) for good performance, persuasion, deception, and intimidation rolls. You want to make sure you have decent wisdom (third priority) for good insight and perception rolls.

Certain backgrounds can grant you certain proficiency. You can also choose some proficiencies. Here: https://baldursgate3.wiki.fextralife.com/Backgrounds

You get to put either +2 in a single ability or +1 in two different abilities when you reach level 4. Note, that only even scores in ability actually do something useful. That means you can either start with an odd number in two abilities and round them out to be even by adding +1 to each at level 4, or you can start with all even abilities and add +2 to a single one.

I'll have to read more to get my head around skills haha! 😆 Which background do you suggest for Bilbo? 😀

Ah okay, thank you! What's the maximum level? After level 4, is that my abilities done then? 😄

I suggest entertainer since it gives Acrobatics and Performance skills, exactly those Zerubbabel suggested. Folk Hero can be interesting, if you want your Bilbo to be at ease with animals.

Currently the game is still in the Early Access and the maximum level you can reach is level 5. In the release version you'll be able to increase your abilities three times max, at level 4, level 8 and level 12.

I like the Folk Hero one, but does that mean people will treat me like a hero? I'm hoping to slowly become one, but I want to start as a scared, skittish Hobbit.

As a non-origin player character, you will start as a nobody. By the end of the story, you will be a hero if you play your cards right.
Make sure that you take stealth though. Hiding and not getting caught is Bilbo's thing. Same with sleight of hand and deception. "What have I got in my pocket?"