Baldur’s Gate 3 has achieved many things in its relatively short lifespan so far, but becoming a worthy homage to Dungeons & Dragons might sum it up. From extensive worldbuilding and character backstory to accessible and interesting turn-based mechanics, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a success story through and through.
Yet there are certain ways BG3 interacts with D&D that make it more interesting. On the one hand, some BG3 mechanics might enhance tabletop gameplay. On the other, it simply reiterates the strength of something—in this case, Wizards. This fine beacon of magic and mystery is a highlight of the Forgotten Realms, and Baldur’s Gate 3 proves it.
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Baldur’s Gate 3: The Unwritten Rules of Playing a Wizard Explained
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D&D Wizards Retain Their Powerful Reputation in BG3
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Abundance of Magic is a Wizard’s Dream
The best Wizard feature is arguably their ability to copy spell scrolls into their own spellbook for a small amount of gold, especially in Baldur’s Gate 3. The sheer number of spell scrolls BG3 provides makes this feature worth it, despite good scrolls being somewhat rare in D&D 5e. Scrolls can be found on most humanoid enemies and bought at almost every merchant.
To gain so many new spells is particularly powerful in a game like BG3, where adaptability and strategy matter. And despite 5e preparation rules, Wizards (and other prep-based casters) can access and change their spells at any time, not just after a long rest, molding them to BG3’s interesting environment made for combat planning.
When Wizards can get all of their spells, they are treated to a variety, arguably better than what other prep-based classes like Druids and Clerics have access to (that is, every spell in the class). For one, Druids and Clerics are still notably limited in some ways. Druids’ greatest strength is their Wild Shape feature, and many of their spells are meant for battlefield manipulation. Most Cleric spells, and certainly the best ones, require concentration. Wizards can get the most spells, have a wide range of utility within them, and can do heavy ranged damage (often without the need for concentration).
BG3’s Wizards Exemplify the Ultimate Magic-User Fantasy
A most beloved feature of RPGs is to sink into an immersive world and become something else entirely. For those drawn to the waving robes and intellectual prowess of the Wizard, Baldur’s Gate 3 allows them to do nearly everything, provided they have the resources.
And resources in BG3 aren’t much of an issue with the way magic is so neatly distributed. Wizards’ Arcane Recovery feature allows regular recovery of spell slots (only available to Circle of the Land Druids otherwise). There’s an abundance of Arcane Cultivation potions, or their necessary alchemical components, that restore different levels of spell slots.
There are also a few powerful magic items in BG3 that make casting easier. The Spellcrux Amulet restores spell slots, and the legendary Markoheshkir staff found in Lorroakan’s Tower allows its wielder to cast any one spell of any level without expending the slot, once per long rest. It’s also interesting that the number of spell scrolls in the game often means some encounters can entirely subsist on them, meaning spell slots can last much longer with good resource management.
Baldur’s Gate 3 does many tabletop/video game things extremely well, but where it shines most is how it makes each class so good at what they do, so much so that D&D’s newest Player’s Handbook was inspired by BG3. But Wizards are undeniably the game’s most iconic caster, and Larian ensures they’re memorable with a few clever mechanics.
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
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OpenCritic
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Critics Recommend:
98%
- Released
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August 3, 2023
- How Long To Beat
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100+ Hours
- Number of Players
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1-4