Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 - tips, tricks & helpful information

[Desiderius]

Seems like levelling really slows down after reaching level 3.

It slows down for only act 1, act 2 starts you showering with XP. Even some places in act 1 gives lots of xp.

Feels like I want to hit lvl 4 before starting to fight much underground, which means completionistic for what I've gotten to so far overground. This playthrough is no Illithid so missed EXP on ship for killing Commander and Flayer (could probably Void Bulb them into chasm, will try next playthrough). Haven't explored Gnoll area yet so maybe EXP there. Will hit lvl 4 after taking out first Gob cave/freeing Snazza.

 

[whydoibother]

Feels like I want to hit lvl 4 before starting to fight much underground, which means completionistic for what I've gotten to so far overground.

My curve ended up like this:

• level 2 when the tutorial on the ship is done
• level 3 when i get the basic companions, crypt guy and go to the druid cove
• level 4 when i get wyll, karlach, scout around and do the quests in the first goblin plundered village/hyenas

I ended up level 7 in Act II, and had to return to do the Mountain Pass to get more items/level 8 before I can fight the necromancer boss guy from the main quest. I guess its because I skipped the other big boss guys in that settlement, there's a few in the bank, hospital and bar (no spoilers).

 

[Morgoth]

IRL Lae'Zel is smoking hawt as hell.

 

[PapaPetro]

IRL Lae'Zel is smoking hawt as hell.

Yeah def.
Plus Githyanki women hit the wall pretty early.
La'z had a lot a creases in her face if you catch my drift.

 

[PapaPetro]

Faerie Fire is a super cheap way to get ez attack advantage against crowds early on.
It's the Glitterdust of 5e.

 

[Haplo]

Faerie Fire is a super cheap way to get ez attack advantage against crowds early on.
It's the Glitterdust of 5e.

Hmm, yes, sounds neat. A shame wizards/sorcs and most clerics have no access to it.

 

[PapaPetro]

Faerie Fire is a super cheap way to get ez attack advantage against crowds early on.
It's the Glitterdust of 5e.

Hmm, yes, sounds neat. A shame wizards/sorcs and most clerics have no access to it.

Yeah 5e was noticeably unkind to the quintessential quadratic wizard:

Drow is a convenient path to the SLA version.
Who doesn't want to play as a Drizzit...?

 

[whydoibother]

I'm playing as Gale in the co-op campaign I recently stated, and I'm not actually sure how to play a generic human wizard.
Big AC and throw fire at people? Seems to be what works best from the spell selection we have. Of course, some mobility, some Hold Person, etc.
And just as I am writing this, it occured to me that a human wizard can wear a shield. I think this works with Mage Armor?

 

[whydoibother]

IRL Lae'Zel is smoking hawt as hell.

She's a bulgarian actress, she was in some cable TV shows before this. Could be a big breakthrough for her actually.

 

[Desiderius]

IRL Lae'Zel is smoking hawt as hell.

Yeah def.
Plus Githyanki women hit the wall pretty early.
La'z had a lot a creases in her face if you catch my drift.

Facial expressions for that companion are pretty good. Typical Western grown wamen. Pass her 15-20 Intimidation check and let her play her little dominance games on some chump that probably needs the practice and you’re good.

If you want the perky tits (fresh eggs) either beat the troon to the punch (when you’re young yourself) or you’ve got your work cut out for you.

 

[PapaPetro]

I'm playing as Gale in the co-op campaign I recently stated, and I'm not actually sure how to play a generic human wizard.
Big AC and throw fire at people? Seems to be what works best from the spell selection we have. Of course, some mobility, some Hold Person, etc.
And just as I am writing this, it occured to me that a human wizard can wear a shield. I think this works with Mage Armor?

Yeah as long as you have Civil Militia background feat for humans & half-elves.
(They completely gutted out the <5e armor arcane spell failure mechanics in 5e)

Either that or go multiclass and splash a level of fighter for all the proficiencies.

This game is gr8 4 gishes.

 

[PapaPetro]

IRL Lae'Zel is smoking hawt as hell.

She's a bulgarian actress, she was in some cable TV shows before this. Could be a big breakthrough for her actually.

Well she voice acted well; I enjoyed her character.
Though I thought it odd they had two "shrew" characters paralleling each other the whole game (Shadowheart being the other "I can change her" girl).

 

[Longes]

I'm playing as Gale in the co-op campaign I recently stated, and I'm not actually sure how to play a generic human wizard.
Big AC and throw fire at people? Seems to be what works best from the spell selection we have. Of course, some mobility, some Hold Person, etc.
And just as I am writing this, it occured to me that a human wizard can wear a shield. I think this works with Mage Armor?

Control wizard is where it's at. Pick Divination as your school and focus on illusion, enchantment, and necromancy spells. Hold Person followed by your melee goons unloading into the target is worth infinitely more than whatever Scorching Ray could get you.

 

[whydoibother]

Though I thought it odd they had two "shrew" characters paralleling each other the whole game (Shadowheart being the other "I can change her" girl).

And they both have a mid point where you can take them one way or another; both can feel deceived by a higher power, both are themed around medium armor and melee attacks. Both are essentially young people for the first time on their own, in the deep and full of unfounded arrogance and being too sure of something they can't possibly know. Both tied to the main quest and plot. One wants to go the underground way from Act I to Act II, the other wants to go the overground way.
At least one is about jumping far, the other about sneaking? But neither is actually good at it. And also one puts out 3 days after meeting you, the other is the slowest burn romance.

The more I type this out, the more it looks like they should've been differentiated. We didn't need both of them fulfilling this social role.

 

[Cyberarmy]

Yeah 5e was noticeably unkind to the quintessential quadratic wizard:

Mace is good for apllying Faire fire but it is only once a time per short rest.

 

[Yosharian]

Abjuration Wizard is your Sorcerer but he doesn't die in three hits on Tactician.

Divination Wizard has cheat codes activated.

The rest are pretty meh

 

[Longes]

Though I thought it odd they had two "shrew" characters paralleling each other the whole game (Shadowheart being the other "I can change her" girl).

And they both have a mid point where you can take them one way or another; both can feel deceived by a higher power, both are themed around medium armor and melee attacks. Both are essentially young people for the first time on their own, in the deep and full of unfounded arrogance and being too sure of something they can't possibly know. Both tied to the main quest and plot. One wants to go the underground way from Act I to Act II, the other wants to go the overground way.
At least one is about jumping far, the other about sneaking? But neither is actually good at it. And also one puts out 3 days after meeting you, the other is the slowest burn romance.

The more I type this out, the more it looks like they should've been differentiated. We didn't need both of them fulfilling this social role.

Gale and Karlach are both about impending doom from a bomb lodged in their chest.
Lae'zel, Shadowheart, and Astarion are all about abuse from their authority figure and experiencing physical and mental freedom for the first time.
Shadowheart and Astarion are both about sacrificing humanity for the sake of power.

Why yes, it does very much feel like the writers' room at Larian wasn't talking to each other.

 

[PapaPetro]

Though I thought it odd they had two "shrew" characters paralleling each other the whole game (Shadowheart being the other "I can change her" girl).

And they both have a mid point where you can take them one way or another; both can feel deceived by a higher power, both are themed around medium armor and melee attacks. Both are essentially young people for the first time on their own, in the deep and full of unfounded arrogance and being too sure of something they can't possibly know. Both tied to the main quest and plot. One wants to go the underground way from Act I to Act II, the other wants to go the overground way.
At least one is about jumping far, the other about sneaking? But neither is actually good at it. And also one puts out 3 days after meeting you, the other is the slowest burn romance.

The more I type this out, the more it looks like they should've been differentiated. We didn't need both of them fulfilling this social role.

Yeah looks like you noticed it too.
Frankly I don't even know who asked for this digitized para-social romance stuff to begin with?!
It's really really weird.

I just remember that first long rest at the camp where everyone/thing wanted to fuck.
Jeez, I just want to save your world...

Why yes, it does very much feel like the writers' room at Larian wasn't talking to each other.

Compartmentalization is a bitch.

 

[whydoibother]

Frankly I don't even know who asked for this digitized para-social romance stuff to begin with?!
It's really really weird.

The Bioware audience. People who really got into The Witcher for that stuff too. Its an existing audience, hungry for their prefered meal, and full of artistic energy. These people all have blogs, all draw and animate, write, make web comics, draw porn, have YouTube channels. Good market. Also I am sure, more than a few of them are on Larian's development team.

 

[PapaPetro]

Frankly I don't even know who asked for this digitized para-social romance stuff to begin with?!
It's really really weird.

The Bioware audience. People who really got into The Witcher for that stuff too. Its an existing audience, hungry for their prefered meal, and full of artistic energy. These people all have blogs, all draw and animate, write, make web comics, draw porn, have YouTube channels. Good market. Also I am sure, more than a few of them are on Larian's development team.

Jesus Christ... there's a perfectly good real world out there!

You know the messed up thing is that their irrationality in preferences can make sense in the logic of their own worldview/mindset.
Like I get why. Just baffled it's come to this with this much demand; the feedback loop.

 

[whydoibother]

Divination Wizard has cheat codes activated.

Just for the Portent Dice? Is that even more useful than the no-friendly-fire for AOE spells for Evokers?
Baldur's Gate 3 has a lot more enemies than your average tabletop module. 2 dice is weaker for that reason, where as big fireballs are stronger.

 

[whydoibother]

Frankly I don't even know who asked for this digitized para-social romance stuff to begin with?!
It's really really weird.

The Bioware audience. People who really got into The Witcher for that stuff too. Its an existing audience, hungry for their prefered meal, and full of artistic energy. These people all have blogs, all draw and animate, write, make web comics, draw porn, have YouTube channels. Good market. Also I am sure, more than a few of them are on Larian's development team.

Jesus Christ... there's a perfectly good real world out there!

Real world drow futa dommy mommies smell bad.

 

[Jermu]

Divination Wizard has cheat codes activated.

Just for the Portent Dice? Is that even more useful than the no-friendly-fire for AOE spells for Evokers?
Baldur's Gate 3 has a lot more enemies than your average tabletop module. 2 dice is weaker for that reason, where as big fireballs are stronger.

turn based game so aiming aoe attacks is not too big of an deal
divination is indeed ridiculously strong can make guaranteed disabling spells unless enemy is totally immune

 

[PapaPetro]

Divination Wizard has cheat codes activated.

Just for the Portent Dice? Is that even more useful than the no-friendly-fire for AOE spells for Evokers?
Baldur's Gate 3 has a lot more enemies than your average tabletop module. 2 dice is weaker for that reason, where as big fireballs are stronger.

Really the game is an exercise in Economics:
How much value can you maximize from each action each turn?

Mentally you just figure out what gives you the most value for the smallest cost in the given time.
Just like Chess.

 

[Longes]

Divination Wizard has cheat codes activated.

Just for the Portent Dice? Is that even more useful than the no-friendly-fire for AOE spells for Evokers?
Baldur's Gate 3 has a lot more enemies than your average tabletop module. 2 dice is weaker for that reason, where as big fireballs are stronger.

It's much easier to Git Gud at positioning than at making the computer roll the dice you want.