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

[Rhobar121]

Of those of you who finished on Tactician, how many took Alert as their first feat for most characters?

Since the game has so much charisma check I decided it would be better to invest in skilled on the main character.

 

[volklore]

Of those of you who finished on Tactician, how many took Alert as their first feat for most characters?

Didn't finish (finished act 2) but I took alert as first feat on SH and gale. Took GWM on my barb since barb has a lesser version of alert built in at lvl 7 (gave him all the initiative and dex gear though). And I took and ASi on lae'zel and alert at 6. Though if I had to redo, i'd pick alert first for lae'zel as well. Since I have alert or equivalent on my chars. I think I did not go first on all of them maybe twice (one of my char rolls really bad and gets beaten). And Looks like initiative is fucked (like it uses a d4 instead of a d20, hard to know if intentional) but I would probably pick this way reagardless. Stats from ASI is just not gonna compete with being able to combo properly between teammates.

 

[Fedora Master]

ASI > All that other shit, at least as the first feat.

Also I told you 5e is garbage and progression largely a straight line.

 

[Rhobar121]

BG3 Fixed - Features work as intended
some good stuff here

1. Haste now only grant you those possible actions each turn: Attack (one weapon attack only, but with both weapons if you're dual wielding to keep it competitive), Dash, Disengage or Hide by adding a new spell container with those specific actions while under haste
2. You can no longer cast 2 spells per turn (1 on Action and 1 another on Bonus Action). It's still possible with Action Surge to cast 2 leveled spells or 2 cantrips. In one word, it's like the PnP rule
3. Pact of the Blade ability named Thristing Blade no longer stack with other sources of extra attack

Increased Level EXP requirements

Tactician Plus

Stronger Bosses and Enemies

Im currently doing ironman run so I test these later

Quite a lot of good stuff. I really like the tactician plus scaling option they have in that mod, I wish they had that for health to rather than a flat boost.
Might actually restart with exp reduced by 10 percent, tactician plus scaling, and 60 percent health boost and see how it goes. Probably not gonna use the stronger bosses and enemies. Not sure how it's going to pair with flat boosts from tactician plus.

I tested some mods on a few more difficult fights and came to the conclusion that the best is to increase hp by 100% and choose flat plus 2 and then modify it.
4+ to attack bonus & spell dc with +2 to ac and saving throw felt like the best value.
I tried increasing the AC and saving throws even more but I came to the conclusion that it's pointless because some fights become more annoying than difficult.
Enemies with 23-24 AC and high saving throws are way too much.

You also need to remember that tactician increases hp by 30% by default so if you install a 60% buff it will replace the default

 

[Grunker]

Of those of you who finished on Tactician, how many took Alert as their first feat for most characters?

I never took it on anyone

 

[Grauken]

When you kill Aunt Ethel, it makes a slight difference whether you loot her corpse before using Speak of the Dead with her. If you don't loot her corpse before, her charm allows her spirit to be a bit livelier during the interrogation and you get more options to choose from.

Also if you kill here before she runs away and then move underground, the 4 people who usually attack you there were still strangely marked as enemies (though passive and didn't attack) and I couldn't talk to them (no menu option for this). Weirdly enough, not sure if this is a bug or not, I exchanged one of my characters with Astarion and he was able to talk to them, though only one of the was lucid enough to be happy to be free from the hag.

 

[Grunker]

When you kill Aunt Ethel, it makes a slight difference whether you loot her corpse before using Speak of the Dead with her. If you don't loot her corpse before, her charm allows her spirit to be a bit livelier during the interrogation and you get more options to choose from.

Also if you kill here before she runs away and then move underground, the 4 people who usually attack you there were still strangely marked as enemies (though passive and didn't attack) and I couldn't talk to them (no menu option for this). Weirdly enough, not sure if this is a bug or not, I exchanged one of my characters with Astarion and he was able to talk to them, though only one of the was lucid enough to be happy to be free from the hag.

The talking might be because the mask wearers actually roll saving throws against the effect

 

[Grauken]

When you kill Aunt Ethel, it makes a slight difference whether you loot her corpse before using Speak of the Dead with her. If you don't loot her corpse before, her charm allows her spirit to be a bit livelier during the interrogation and you get more options to choose from.

Also if you kill here before she runs away and then move underground, the 4 people who usually attack you there were still strangely marked as enemies (though passive and didn't attack) and I couldn't talk to them (no menu option for this). Weirdly enough, not sure if this is a bug or not, I exchanged one of my characters with Astarion and he was able to talk to them, though only one of the was lucid enough to be happy to be free from the hag.

The talking might be because the mask wearers actually roll saving throws against the effect

I'm not sure, it might be that they are in (passive) enemy mode against everyone who was in the group that killed Ethel, but not against a character from the camp. Maybe I try another camp character to see if he is able to talk to the four as well. Might just be a bug

 

[Yosharian]

Alert is better than increasing your main stat? Hmm dunno about that

 

[Rhobar121]

Alert is better than increasing your main stat? Hmm dunno about that

Depends technically allows you to move first in the turn, and since enemies have a low amount of HP it allows you to assassinate the toughest enemies before they become any threat.
The better the stats the enemies have (more AC and so on) the better the main stat will be.
The strongest enemy in the game probably only had 20AC

 

[Desiderius]

Depends technically allows you to move first in the turn, and since enemies have a low amount of HP it allows you to assassinate the toughest enemies before they become any threat.

Don't need Alert for that if you use subpar classes like Ranger and Rogue.

On a related note, If game isn't punishing you for neglecting mental saves you don't need stat bloat you need more enemy casters/hybrids that can attack those. A few Invis Umbral Stalkers up high could give you real headaches (that's STR save but with built-in disadvantage, and SH for instance isn't so hot on the STR saves).

As far as the people prancing around saying I haven't gotten far enough into the game yet I got the same shit for testing Wrath on Core/Hard from those who rushed into Unfair, then I spammed pics owning Unfair with what I'd learned on Core/Hard. If you have experience in this sort of game you can tell what's going to work going forward and what isn't. If the game is missing those threats then that sux, wouldn't be surprised if they get added at some point on Tactician. Or that's something you can mod in yourselves.

 

[Rhobar121]

Depends technically allows you to move first in the turn, and since enemies have a low amount of HP it allows you to assassinate the toughest enemies before they become any threat.

Don't need Alert for that if you use subpar classes like Ranger and Rogue.

They don't even come close to the burst that sorcerers and other classes can do without even using broken haste.
To be honest, rogue seems to be the weakest class right now, although I haven't tested all of them yet.

 

[Desiderius]

Of those of you who finished on Tactician, how many took Alert as their first feat for most characters?

Since the game has so much charisma check I decided it would be better to invest in skilled on the main character.

Just... use the companions with high CHR. Even Gale can usually handle most dialogue with Detect Thoughts and all his other stuff, with decent Persuasion if you have to.

 

[Rhobar121]

Of those of you who finished on Tactician, how many took Alert as their first feat for most characters?

Since the game has so much charisma check I decided it would be better to invest in skilled on the main character.

Just... use the companions with high CHR. Even Gale can usually handle most dialogue with Detect Thoughts and all his other stuff, with decent Persuasion if you have to.

The problem is I don't like to play that way. It kills the feeling of being the main character of the story for me.

Also counterspell literally kills the danger of fighting enemy mages. If you have 2 characters that can use it, you don't have to worry about anything.
A fireball? counterspell. Mind flayer is trying to use domination? counterspell.
Although I have to admit that some enemies also use it.

 

[Zeltak]

Depends technically allows you to move first in the turn, and since enemies have a low amount of HP it allows you to assassinate the toughest enemies before they become any threat.

Don't need Alert for that if you use subpar classes like Ranger and Rogue.

On a related note, If game isn't punishing you for neglecting mental saves you don't need stat bloat you need more enemy casters/hybrids that can attack those. A few Invis Umbral Stalkers up high could give you real headaches (that's STR save but with built-in disadvantage, and SH for instance isn't so hot on the STR saves).

As far as the people prancing around saying I haven't gotten far enough into the game yet I got the same shit for testing Wrath on Core/Hard from those who rushed into Unfair, then I spammed pics owning Unfair with what I'd learned on Core/Hard. If you have experience in this sort of game you can tell what's going to work going forward and what isn't. If the game is missing those threats then that sux, wouldn't be surprised if they get added at some point on Tactician. Or that's something you can mod in yourselves.

Tactician is WotR on normal stop talking out of your ass already. Nobody cares about your convoluted way of getting surprise damage with your shitty ranger because a hasted auto attacking fighter can end the encounter faster. It’s just a question of how you want to faceroll the content.

 

[Desiderius]

Yeah we already agree that if you can own the game playing the braindead MMO in your head without having to reload then its too easy. I’d assumed there would be more fights like Harpies and the Mud fight where a more varied approach might be better going forward but as you’ve noted I was apparently mistaken.

As for the tired old Ranger suxxors nonsense yet again we’re in the position of one or us getting there (and more as far as I can tell) with both and one of us confusing sucking at a class with class sucking.

I’m convinced that’s a product of growing up with Gold Box vs phone game era.

The problem is I don't like to play that way. It kills the feeling of being the main character of the story for me.

Case in point. Gold Box, Icewind etc party is the main character.

 

[Zeltak]

oooo I'm asoooming you can't just run spirit guardians through entire act 2, i asoooom this bless ring doesn't work on targets, im asooooming my super special ranger build matters to beat tactician, ooh i haven't played past level 5 yet but im gonna use my +40 years of rpg experience to asooom the difficulty aligns perfectly with my arguments ooh im asoooming its kinda like highest difficulties of WotR

Fine, stay retarded then.

 

[Raghar]

Of those of you who finished on Tactician, how many took Alert as their first feat for most characters?

Since the game has so much charisma check I decided it would be better to invest in skilled on the main character.

Just... use the companions with high CHR. Even Gale can usually handle most dialogue with Detect Thoughts and all his other stuff, with decent Persuasion if you have to.

The problem is I don't like to play that way. It kills the feeling of being the main character of the story for me.

Also counterspell literally kills the danger of fighting enemy mages. If you have 2 characters that can use it, you don't have to worry about anything.
A fireball? counterspell. Mind flayer is trying to use domination? counterspell.
Although I have to admit that some enemies also use it.

Yea, that's one reason why 5E is crap.

 

[Haplo]

There's a ton of items that give you the effect of war caster without having to take the feat. Apparently larian REALLY wanted to ensure nobody took any feats other than ASI.

I kinda like that Larian loaded so many passive-feat gear in the game; allows you to plan builds around those items for future runs.
Reminds me of replaying BG2 as a Kensai/Mage and remembering to go straight for Celestial Fury.

Plus build enabling uniques are

What you described is not build enabling, though. More like making builds meaningless.

 

[Desiderius]

oooo I'm asoooming you can't just run spirit guardians through entire act 2, i asoooom this bless ring doesn't work on targets, im asooooming my super special ranger build matters to beat tactician, ooh i haven't played past level 5 yet but im gonna use my +40 years of rpg experience to asooom the difficulty aligns perfectly with my arguments ooh im asoooming its kinda like highest difficulties of WotR

Fine, stay retarded then.

(1) Mobility Trickster was a thing in Wrath. It was uninteresting to me so I simply didn’t use it. If SG is WAI then that’s similar, if it isn’t then it will be adjusted. If game doesn’t have any Umbral Stalkers Ensnaring you then that’s poor design.

(2) There’s no extra special Ranger build. There’s nothing special about covering Perception and Rituals while using Bonus Action Hide, Extra Attack, High Ground, and Fighting Style Archery to generate consistently higher AB, control (disadvantage on Ensnaring save), and battlefield cover (and easier defense) than other on level options. If you don’t need that then yeah game’s too easy.

(3) D:OS games got too easy mid/late so I guess you got me there. Bad call.

 

[PapaPetro]

There's a ton of items that give you the effect of war caster without having to take the feat. Apparently larian REALLY wanted to ensure nobody took any feats other than ASI.

I kinda like that Larian loaded so many passive-feat gear in the game; allows you to plan builds around those items for future runs.
Reminds me of replaying BG2 as a Kensai/Mage and remembering to go straight for Celestial Fury.

Plus build enabling uniques are

What you described is not build enabling, though. More like making builds meaningless.

They effectively buy you feat slots so you can make synergies that were otherwise too build expensive without.
This way you can make more complex builds.

But yeah I get what you're saying, if everything is put into gear the specific class abilities/feats selections become less valuable; which is true if you don't build beyond what those combinations have to offer.
There's the more direct build uniques that do things no class can do organically.

 

[Zeltak]

oooo I'm asoooming you can't just run spirit guardians through entire act 2, i asoooom this bless ring doesn't work on targets, im asooooming my super special ranger build matters to beat tactician, ooh i haven't played past level 5 yet but im gonna use my +40 years of rpg experience to asooom the difficulty aligns perfectly with my arguments ooh im asoooming its kinda like highest difficulties of WotR

Fine, stay retarded then.

(1) Mobility Trickster was a thing in Wrath. It was uninteresting to me so I simply didn’t use it. If SG is WAI then that’s similar, if it isn’t then it will be adjusted. If game doesn’t have any Umbral Stalkers Ensnaring you then that’s poor design.

(2) There’s no extra special Ranger build. There’s nothing special about covering Perception and Rituals while using Bonus Action Hide, Extra Attack, High Ground, and Fighting Style Archery to generate consistently higher AB, control (disadvantage on Ensnaring save), and battlefield cover (and easier defense) than other on level options. If you don’t need that then yeah game’s too easy.

(3) D:OS games got too easy mid/late so I guess you got me there. Bad call.

1. Nothing in this game is like WotR, your brain is fried from putting thousands of hours into that game. This is Larian-modified 5e and on top of that you are stuck with 12 levels. Builds are braindead straightforward in BG3.

2. Enemies are too weak relative to your own powercurve for your choices to matter. Whether you wish to win with bashing your head with a fighter, ranger or whatever it doesn't fucking matter. All your ranger shit is completely irrelevant to the outcome. You aren't being clever with your strategy because there is nothing that will test you.

3. I said this from the start but you are too caught up in your own bullshit to notice it.

 

[notpl]

To settle the matter once and for all, since I don't think anyone has reported to this thread conclusively yet: Haste/Action Surge/Whatever other source of extra actions do not allow additional sneak attacks for rogues. The ability specifically says "only usable once per turn" even if you restore your main action somehow and will not function.

 

[Rhobar121]

To settle the matter once and for all, since I don't think anyone has reported to this thread conclusively yet: Haste/Action Surge/Whatever other source of extra actions do not allow additional sneak attacks for rogues. The ability specifically says "only usable once per turn" even if you restore your main action somehow and will not function.

So the rogue is even weaker than I thought.

 

[Desiderius]

oooo I'm asoooming you can't just run spirit guardians through entire act 2, i asoooom this bless ring doesn't work on targets, im asooooming my super special ranger build matters to beat tactician, ooh i haven't played past level 5 yet but im gonna use my +40 years of rpg experience to asooom the difficulty aligns perfectly with my arguments ooh im asoooming its kinda like highest difficulties of WotR

Fine, stay retarded then.

(1) Mobility Trickster was a thing in Wrath. It was uninteresting to me so I simply didn’t use it. If SG is WAI then that’s similar, if it isn’t then it will be adjusted. If game doesn’t have any Umbral Stalkers Ensnaring you then that’s poor design.

(2) There’s no extra special Ranger build. There’s nothing special about covering Perception and Rituals while using Bonus Action Hide, Extra Attack, High Ground, and Fighting Style Archery to generate consistently higher AB, control (disadvantage on Ensnaring save), and battlefield cover (and easier defense) than other on level options. If you don’t need that then yeah game’s too easy.

(3) D:OS games got too easy mid/late so I guess you got me there. Bad call.

1. Nothing in this game is like WotR, your brain is fried from putting thousands of hours into that game. This is Larian-modified 5e and on top of that you are stuck with 12 levels. Builds are braindead straightforward in BG3.

2. Enemies are too weak relative to your own powercurve for your choices to matter. Whether you wish to win with bashing your head with a fighter, ranger or whatever it doesn't fucking matter. All your ranger shit is completely irrelevant to the outcome. You aren't being clever with your strategy because there is nothing that will test you.

3. I said this from the start but you are too caught up in your own bullshit to notice it.

I mean all they have to do is add another caster or a shitty Ranger to each fight in Tactician and then you might have to use more than 10% of the game. OTOH seems like you can pretty easily Nahuelabeck your way out of bad situations so that end might be too easy as well.

One easy way to add some more challenge would be simply to not use pickpocket, but sounds like that’s simply delaying the inevitable.