Community Update #20: A Dragonborn, a Half-Orc & a Monk Walk Into a Tavern
Where to begin.
This week has seen you take to the streets of the Lower City as amateur sleuths in Blood in Baldur’s Gate, a
community murder mystery to uncover the hidden darkness that lurks just beneath the city's surface. Where will the investigation lead? Keep digging, detectives, you’re leading us all to the Panel From Hell, where untold surprises await you:
July 7th
.
In the meantime, it’s time to talk about Baldur’s Gate 3. But not as you know it. We’re going to go in depth about some of our most-anticipated details: races & classes (we see you Ctrl+F Dragonborn),
new Origins and Companion characters
, the
official level cap
, new
Difficulty Settings
, and
much, much more
.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has been a game nearly 6 years in development. When Divinity: Original Sin 2 launched, we were 120 people, across a 3 year development. Now we’re 400. Since releasing in Early Access, we’ve been joined by nearly 2 million of you. Together, with your invaluable support, we’ve created a game that eclipses the depth & breadth of our previous RPGs.
- We’ve over doubled DOS2’s five races, bringing 11 to life in BG3 with 31 subraces.
- DOS2’s 10 ‘schools of spells’ is eclipsed by the 12 classes & 46 subclasses in BG3.
- You caused chaos with the 225 player spells & actions in DOS2, so just imagine the havoc you’re about to unleash upon Faerûn with the over 600 spells & actions, excluding upcasts, in BG3.
- Characters in DOS2 enjoyed 45 talents, against BG3’s 308 passive features, which are comparable to talents.
There’s a lot more where that came from, but this is already going to be a long one. We’ve been busy. We’ve grown, and so too has Baldur’s Gate 3. Let’s get into a little detail about what you can expect to see in the Panel From Hell: Release Showcase, just in time for the release of the game
on August 3rd for PC, and September 6th for PS5
.
YOU READ THAT RIGHT
We will be releasing the game in order of platform readiness. Baldur’s Gate 3 will first come to PC on
August 3rd
, before launching on PlayStation 5 a few weeks later on
September 6th
.
This means the PC version of Baldur’s Gate 3 will be released at a time where you’ll have more time to play it.
The PlayStation 5 version will be released roughly a week later than its originally scheduled date of August 31st. Baldur’s Gate 3 is targeting 60 frames-per-second and we’re close to achieving that on the platform but need a bit more extra time. We don’t want to compromise on quality, and feel it would be a shame to downscale to 30fps or make other compromises to hit an arbitrary date.
We understand that folks may be disappointed with this but we're close enough to reaching new heights for RPGs on the system that the benefits of a short delay outweigh the downsides of rushing the PS5 release and having to downscale. The full Mac version will also be released at a later date, and we’ll update you as soon as we have a target.
More on those new heights: Baldur’s Gate 3 has more cinematic dialogue than three times all three Lord of the Rings novels combined. It has 174 hours of cinematics, making it more than twice the length of every season of Game of Thrones combined.
All that content serves to give you a tremendous amount of choice and consequence, ensuring everyone’s adventure will be unique. And what’s more, you’ll be able to enjoy that content not only in single player, but also in online multiplayer or local co-op with split screen. At the Panel From Hell: Release Showcase, you’ll really get a first glimpse of how it all comes together.
We’ve said before that our goal is to bring our games to as many platforms as possible. We’re optimistic about Baldur’s Gate 3 on the Xbox Series X, but in order to announce and release the game on Xbox, we need to ensure that the game is performing without compromise across the entire Xbox X|S ecosystem, in multiplayer and with split-screen. We already put a lot of effort into making it work and will continue to do so. Like with the PS5 version, we’ll release it when it’s ready. We’ll update you as soon as we can.
Now for something completely different
So what can you expect from Baldur’s Gate 3 when we launch this Summer? Well, this’ll be a long one.
New Level Cap: Unleash Your Full Potential At Level 12
While we originally planned for Level 10 to be the highest character level in the game, too many rad high-level spells would have been left just out of reach had we done so. Instead, Baldur's Gate 3 players will be able to reach
Level 12
, unlocking
Planar Allies, Otto’s Irresistible Dance
, and
Chain Lightning
.
Races
Play as a human if you want, but by no means do you have to! Baldur’s Gate 3 features 11 races, with 31 subraces.
And we can now reveal
Dragonborn
and
Half-Orcs
will round out our list of races that will be playable at launch.
Hailing from Toril’s distant sister-world of Abeir, Dragonborn are rare in the realms. And they’re hard to miss. Hulking in size next to any other humanoid creatures, they bear the unmistakable mark of their draconic heritage - with chromatic and metallic scales reminiscent of the majestic dragons from which they trace their lineage.
A Dragonborn's subrace determines their damage and resistance. For Silver Dragonborn that's cold damage; for Red Dragonborn it's fire. In Baldur's Gate 3, there are 10 subraces to choose from:
Black, Blue, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, Green, Red, Silver
and
White
, more subraces than any other race in the game.
Your draconic ancestry also determines your breath weapon: a gift from ancestral Dragonborn, giving you the power to unleash an unholy burp of destructive energy from your very maw - Thanks grandpa!
Tune into the
Panel From Hell: Reveal Showcase
on July 7th to see Dragonborn in action.
With a fierce physique and an underbite that would make a dentist cry,
Half-Orcs
are an intimidating addition. Generally more inclined to act before they think, these are creatures of intense emotion who are propelled by that inner fire. Sometimes it surfaces through acts of protection, loyalty, and selflessness. But often it appears in a rage that compels them into battle. Harnessing
Savage Attacks
, Half-Orcs do some of the highest weapon damage in the game - dealing extra damage crits using triple the dice.
Half-Orcs are also one of the most resilient races in the game. To quote from the prose of Chumbawumba: They
get knocked down, but then get up again. Thanks to their key ability,
Relentless Endurance
, Half-Orcs are able to beat death once per long rest. This means instead of outright dying when your health is drained, you'll drop to 1 HP.
A smaller addition to our lineup, but no less significant: Duergar are coming to Baldur’s Gate 3. The third Dwarf subrace will be playable at launch, adding a stoic and subterranean cousin to the dwarven family tree. We’ve also added a ton of reactivity around these characters, with over 200 new dialogue responses tailored to Duergar-kind.
New Classes and Subclasses
For every class we introduced in Early Access, we'll be launching with at least one new subclass. That's a total of
46 subclasses
, nearly half of them new, across all
12 classes
- including the
new Monk class
.
Zen And The Art of Punching: Monk Class Revealed
Monks are masters of manipulating the field of combat - pushing, pulling, and stunning enemies across the battleground using forceful Ki-powered punches. Their combat style is a balance between Fighter and Rogue, allowing them to traverse the map effortlessly - with
Step of the Wind
- and then strike out with powerful melee blows.
Beginning the game with
Unarmoured Defense
, Monks receive an AC of 10 + their Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers at Level 1. Monk weapons are neither heavy nor two-handed, with this class opting instead for lighter fare like clubs and quarterstaves - or forgoing weapons altogether in favour of a classic knuckle sandwich, punches that scale up in damage as they level. In combat, they combine light, quick unarmed attacks with weapon attacks - producing beautifully distinctive and stylised combat animations.
And we've got to say, the animation, VFX and SFX for this class are on a whole other level. We've pulled inspiration from the rulebook to create a stunning audio visual experience which lives up to Kung-Fu cinema classics.
We also did a lot of work house-ruling this class, re-balancing Monks and giving them more Ki to ensure they feel powerful next to our other classes. So we're introducing brand new actions to play with.
Baldur’s Gate 3 features a trio of Monastic traditions to choose as your subclass. Monks of the
Open Hand
excel at close combat, using special unarmed techniques to manipulate the enemies at hand. At mid levels, this subclass can charge their attacks with Psychic, Necrotic or Radiant damage (representing mind, body and soul). At higher levels, we give them Ki Resonating Blast, which infuses punched targets with Ki and can create a chain reaction of explosions across all in-range targets who have also been touched by Ki.
Shadow
monks are stealth ninjas who teleport to and from the shadows, a skill that allows them to stealthily strike enemies then return to the safety of darkness. And finally, Monks from the
Four Elements
subclass are casters who unleash Monk variants of spells followed up with a rapid bonus action punch.
Through
Martial Arts
, a Monk's attack damage using Monk Weapons and unarmed attacks will scale with their level. This also gives the Monk a bonus unarmed attack after they attack by punch or weapon. And if their Dexterity is higher than their Strength, their Dexterity will be used to determine their Monk Weapon attack rolls and damage.
Should your Monk become the target of ranged attack, Deflect Missiles will allow them to deflect a range weapon or thrown item back at their attacker using the new Interrupt system added in Patch 9.
You'll also soon find new magic items throughout the world designed to further support the Monk's playstyle.
Meet Your Companions For The Journey Ahead
Whether exploring the streets of Baldur’s Gate from the perspective of a vampire spawn or investigating the driving force behind Gale’s strange gastrointestinal urges, each Origin character brings their distinct personality, background, and story to the game.
With the addition of
Karlach
, our number of Origin characters now rises to six. She will join
Astarion, Gale, Shadowheart, Lae’zel
, and
Wyll
like a well-meaning, devil-fighting bat out of hell, rounding out the moral spectrum of playable characters from good to bad, and the shades of grey between. But she won't be our final Origin - you'll have to tune in to next week’s Panel From Hell: Release Showcase for that.
Along with your Origins, you can also expect to find four Companion characters who can join you on your journey:
Halsin, Jaheira, Minsc
, and
Minthara
. While we initially planned to lock players in with a core crew of companions past Act I, we nixed that plan in favour of a buffet-approach to team selection. You’ll be able to mix and match any of these characters into your group throughout. And, yes, you’ll be able to romance almost all of them (ask us sometime about
that
Halsin scene).
From the Fires of Avernus: Karlach Joins The Party As A New Playable Character
After brawling her way out of the scorched battlefields of the Blood War, Karlach now joins your party. Long-time players will recognise this battle-worn Tiefling Barbarian from Early Access, but come launch you’ll finally get to unlock her full story as a playable Origin story.
Karlach's battle history is written across her body in scars, burns, and tattoos, the indelible marks of a legendary warrior with unyielding resilience. After finally escaping from this endless war between devils and demons, she is determined to live life to the fullest. Or at least as much as she can given the unholy machine pumping hellish fire through her veins. This little present from the archdevil she served makes her a beast in battle, but if she gets too worked up, she'll destroy anything she touches - including you.
In the words of writer Sarah Baylus: “In a 2023 setting, [Karlach would] roll in on a Harley with shades and a cigar between her teeth, blaring Sabbath - a diesel-soaked dynamo with a heart of gold. She seeks justice for the oppressed, camaraderie, and revenge on the bastard who sold her to Hell.”
Finding Your Feat
Every so often as you level, you'll have the chance to improve your ability score with a new Feat: an upgrade that gives unique advantages to your character. At launch, you'll have a total of 37 possible feats to choose from - and most of those will be completely new to the game at launch.
NEW
- Actor
- Alert
- Charger
- Crossbow Expert
- Dungeon Delver
- Durable
- Elemental Adept
- Heavy Armour Master
- Lucky
- Mage Slayer
- Medium Armour Master
- Observant
- Performer
- Polearm Master
- Resilient
- Ritual Caster
- Savage Attacker
- Sentinel
- Sharpshooter
- Spell Sniper
- Tavern Brawler
- War Caster
New Spells Coming in 1.0
Baldur's Gate 3 will have over 600 player spells and sub-spells at launch, and that doesn't even include upcasting.
New spells coming at launch include:
Difficulty Levels & Rules
In D&D, picking the right DM is key to defining the journey you want to embark on. In Baldur’s Gate 3, we’ve created three modes of play that essentially act as different types of DM: the forgiving, narrative driven DM, or the DM that isn’t afraid to let you die if your glass-cannon wizard decides to tickle an owlbear.
At launch, in addition to ‘Normal mode’ (which can be considered our default), players may avail of the following:
In
Story mode
, combat has been made more forgiving so players can fully immerse themselves in the narrative layer of this adventure. In this mode, friendly NPCs are harder to kill, trader prices are at a 20 percent discount, and you'll begin the game with a +2 starting proficiency bonus.
Hardcore mode
, then, is where to test your mettle. In this mode, enemy lethality is cranked up to Brutal, ensuring that enemy AI are stronger, will prioritise squishier targets with low AC, and will seize opportunities to go in for the kill. Additionally, many adjustments have been made to the fights themselves specifically for Hardcore mode, with certain enemies receiving additional support through reinforcements, spells, or consumable items.
A Truly Global Release
With a script roughly 2,000,000 words in length, translating Baldur's Gate 3 was no easy task. But thanks to an incredible team of over 200 strong, we’re proud to reveal Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC will be available in 13 subtitled languages: English, French, German, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), Turkish, Portuguese-Brazil, Italian, and Ukrainian.
The Collector’s Edition
With the release of the game brought forward on PC and delayed by a week on PlayStation 5, those of you who pre-ordered our gargantuan Collector’s Edition probably have questions. We have answers!
The Collector’s Edition should make it to you around the 31st of August, the original release date. For those who ordered on PC, your Steam code will be emailed to you earlier so you can start playing sooner. (Quick note: save games will not transfer from your Early Access build to release, but within the 72-hour period prior to launch, they will).
On PlayStation 5, to ensure you’re ready for your Digital Deluxe Edition 72-hour Early Access period, your code will be sent to you via email before the 72-hour period starts, so you can jump in right on time to claim your rewards. Phew!
You can still buy the Collector’s Edition over on the official website,
ce.baldursgate3.game. It’s ma-hoosive. We’ll show you at the
Panel From Hell: Release Showcase
.
35 DAYS TO LAUNCH
We’re eternally grateful for your patience as we reach the final milestones of development. There’s still some work to be done, but we know you’ve waited a very long time for confirmations on many of the topics discussed in the community update today.
We didn’t want to spoil anything, though. We’ll reveal more content - and more numbers - on July 7, as we explore the breadth and depth of Baldur’s Gate 3, at the final
Panel From Hell: Release Showcase.
It’s been real.
