Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3’s translation ofDungeons and Dragons' rules and guidelines to the video game medium was fundamental and successful in many ways. One of the biggest areas of success was in its execution ofDungeons and Dragons' classes.Baldur’s Gate 3only had the 12 classes that came with 5e’s base game, along with select subclasses for each class, but this still provides many classes and the opportunity for a variety of builds, multiclassing, and the opportunity for many playthroughs.
As some of the original classes have been around for decades, stereotypes of characters based on the class have formed. This often translates to character design and implementation, butBaldur’s Gate 3did a great job of avoiding many of the stereotypes associated with its classes. By working within the limits of the classes, such as the necessity of a deity for a cleric, Larian was able to push its creativity to the limits while remaining true to the spirit of the archetype of the character.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Origin Characters Subvert Class Expectations
Shadowheart
Clerics are devotees to a god and gain their magic by channeling their god’s power. Worship of their god is central to a cleric’s character, with prayer often a core component of a cleric’s life. The cleric spell list and subclasses also include healing spells, meaning they’re often assigned as the party’s healer. It’s because of their religious nature that clerics are often stereotyped as Lawful Good healers.
Shadowheart, the cleric ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s party, neatly avoids this trope as she worships Shar, one of the most evil deities in theForgotten Realms. While Shadowheart’s spell list does include healing spells and spells such as Turn Undead, her personality is a far cry from that of a Lawful Good cleric, expressing indifference to the suffering of others, or surprise that she would help others in need.
Karlach
Barbarians enter a battle rage that fuels their attacks and are often stereotyped as massive and stupid. While Karlach’s physique fits thebuild required of a Barbarian, her positive attitude and thoughtful nature give her emotional intelligence that’s not often associated with Barbarians as a class in general.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Creativity Flourishes With Class Expectations
Wyll
Rather than being a dark and edgy character typical of Warlocks, Wyll is instead the closest to a fairytale hero inBaldur’s Gate 3. Despite his pact with Mizora, he constantly endeavors to do the right thing and makes dramatic proclamations of heroic deeds. Wyll’s contract and dynamic with Mizora could be interpreted as an exploration of abuse dynamics, with Mizora in a position of power over Wyll as he tries to do the right thing while under her control. This is adeparture from the typical Warlockstereotype, who typically has a Chaotic alignment and an edgelord attitude.
Astarion
Rogues have a reputation for being lone wolveswho don’t work well with others. Astarion immediately decides to join the group rather than striking out on his own, and his personality is more affable than the Rogue stereotype would suggest. Astarion’s outfit is also colorful rather than the black and gray more commonly associated with Rogues.
Lae’zel
Fighters are arguably the most basic class in bothBaldur’s Gate 3andDungeons and Dragons, and the default male human Fighter has become a meme in some parts of the community.Lae’zel is a githyanki, a race that originates from a different plane, and one of the least popular choices inBaldur’s Gate 3for players. Her personality is closer to what most would associate with a Paladin, with devotion to a cause and a strong sense of purpose.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
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 EXPERIENCEChoose 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 EPICForged 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.
