Not content with causing an earthquake in the world of video games in 2023, Baldur's Gate 3 also has a significant influence on the rules of the monolithic role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.
To date, Baldur's Gate 3 is the video game that most faithfully and masterfully adapts the complex rules of Dungeons & Dragons into a video game format. So much so that the creator of the legendary role-playing game decided to modify some of them after playing Larian Studios' brilliant masterpiece.
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Baldur's Gate 3 changed a lot of things, including the very rules of D&D.
After six years of development and three years of early access, Baldur's Gate 3 was released in 2023 with a bang and was covered in prestigious awards. With this title, independent studio Larian Studios sent a superb love letter to role-playing games, and more specifically to Dungeons & Dragons. Few games offer such freedom in writing the story and interacting with the world, with the possible exception of their previous title, Divinity Original Sin 2. Despite a few exceptions for a more enjoyable video game experience, the game was a scrupulously faithful adaptation of the rules of the 5th edition of the most popular role-playing game to date.
So faithful that it is said to have greatly influenced Jeremy Crawford, creator of Dungeons & Dragons, in updating the said D&D rules after playing Baldur's Gate 3. He wanted to modify the functioning of many popular spells, which had not been changed for ages. The game from Larian Studios has indeed made him realize a certain frustration regarding their use. This is notably the case of the popular area spell Dagger Clouds, which can now be moved. Even when I was casting him in Baldur's Gate 3, I wanted to move him every turn. ” The same goes for the minor spell “Flame Production”. It was thanks to the independent title that he realized how tedious its use was.
A landmark masterpiece, but Larian Studios wants to move on
To the great displeasure of some players like druids, Baldur's Gate 3 has also motivated nerfs in the rules of Dungeons & Dragons. This is particularly the case for metamorphosis spells, which will no longer allow you to obtain a life bar completely separate from that of your character. Instead, it will be a question of additional temporary life points. Transforming yourself will therefore now require some thought as to the relevance of such an action.
Baldur's Gate 3 has left a lasting mark on both the world of video games and the world of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing games. However, Larian Studios has decided to turn the page to focus on other projects, which we are obviously monitoring with great interest. Will the fourth opus, which will be developed by a completely different team, manage to brilliantly take up such a meaningful torch? That's all we wish for them, but the undertaking promises to be… draconic, to say the least.
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