Baldur’s Gate 3 Fan Puts Together Cheat Sheet Of Rules For Newcomers

Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t like your typical RPG. Being heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, developer Larian has gone above and beyond to make sure the actions of its players are accounted for, no matter the outcome. As a result, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a very unique experience, and one that bucks a lot of the trends and tricks that more standard RPGs typically abide by, meaning RPG lovers might need to unlearn a whole bunch of video game tropes if you want to get the most out of it.

Never fear though, as one Baldur’s Gate fan has forseen that the new game’s recent release will bring with it a bunch of newcomers now the series‘ popularity is at an all-time high. First posted to the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, u/MaralDesa has put together a handy little cheat sheet full of rules you’ll want to unlearn that standard RPGs will have drilled into you throughout the years.

There are five rules that u/MaralDesa says you need to unlearn in total, most of which have to do with interactivity. Instead of simply checking containers and chests for loot, they explain that you also need to check the ground, shelves, and tables, as key items can just be left lying around in fairly obvious places. They also encourage you to think outside of the box, like using candles to light your arrows and to stack crates to reach certain areas.

They also stress that there is no such thing as failing a quest in Baldur’s Gate 3. Just because you did something that doesn’t result in your desired outcome, it doesn’t mean that the quest has failed. A lot of RPGs these days have set routes, but Baldur’s Gate 3 allows you to decide how you go about completing a task or mission, and the game usually accomodates for it. Similarly, u/MaralDesa explains that everything is in the environment is there for a reason, so don’t be afraid to comb an area in case there’s a squirrel you haven’t talked to.

Finally, and possibly most importantly, they stress that nothing is impossible. If you want to pickpocket your money back after buying an expensive item, you can do so. They list a number of other strange circumstances that can be solved with a bit of clever thinking and some handy spell manipulation. If you’re a newcomer to Baldur’s Gate yourself, go into the game armed with this knowledge, and you’ll find yourself having a much better time than if you were having to learn on the fly.