I can just start a game without previously reading a Doctoral Thesis about character optimization to not end up with crappy character? - Awesome
To be fair, it's very hard to make a (single-classed) bad character in 5e. Pretty much the only two places where you can go wrong are: - Choosing poor stats. BG3 should indicate what your important stats are though, and when in doubt boost your main score to 16, and Dex and Con to 14 or maybe 12. - Choosing poor spells. Luckily, every level up you can choose new spells. Additionally, there are plenty of scrolls to use throughout the game.
One feature of 5e is that you don't make that many choices when leveling up. You essentially only choose your spells, your subclass at level 3, and your ASI/feats at levels 4, 8, and 12. D&D 5e doesn't really have the whole "there are so many options, but many of them are trap options resulting in your building an ineffective character" that earlier editions/pathfinder had.
I love that one of your very first choices is one of the easiest ways to ruin a character lol
It's simple in that it requires few clicks, but also very easy to avoid by learning a small amount about the system. And as I said, the game indicates which stat is most important. I'm rejecting the "reading a Doctoral Thesis about character optimization" point. If you're at all familiar with D&D games, or take maybe 5 minutes to google "which stats are important in 5e," then you'll be fine.
That said, BG3 needs to do a much better job with its tutorial - including on the character creation screen. You should be able to hover over/click each attribute to get a useful summary of each stat along with examples of what types of characters would want it. And lowering your Dex or Con below 12 should probably come with a warning "Dex is important for AC in characters that won't wear Heavy Armor, and Con is important for your HP. Are you sure you want to proceed with these stats?"
