Completing Baldur's Gate 3: Solving the D&D Rules for Newbies

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Playing Baldur’s Gate 3 for the first time can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with Dungeons & Dragons. With so many systems in play, you might spend the first 10-15 hours just figuring everything out, not to mention the time you’ll spend in the detailed character creator.

Baldur’s Gate 3 uses a modified version of the D&D 5E rules, so if you’re not used to tabletop role-playing games, many terms and features might feel strange. Concepts like spell slots, enemy types, and the difference between short and long rests can be confusing. Even after two years, some players still have a hard time grasping all the game’s features.

New Players Are Getting Tripped Up By Baldur’s Gate 3’s D&D Rules

The game’s popularity shows that new players are still jumping in today. While many of us have figured it out through multiple playthroughs, new players are still trying to understand it all. One of the biggest hurdles is spell slots.

I was also confused about why my wizard couldn’t cast spells, so I definitely understand the frustration. A Reddit user pointed out that getting the hang of how spell slots work with rests isn’t easy. This issue is made worse by the fact that various items can help you use spell slots more effectively, but it’s hard to take advantage of those benefits if you don’t grasp the basics.

Another challenge for newcomers is understanding enemy classifications. For instance, a beholder may look like a monster but it doesn’t fall under that category. There are specific classifications based on where the creature comes from. In the case of the beholder, it’s known as an Aberration. That’s why another Reddit user had difficulty resurrecting a beholder with Sovereign Glut’s Animated Spores spell; they didn’t realize they could check an NPC’s details.

Baldur’s Gate 3 contains many complex features, and you might not learn how to use them effectively until your second or third playthrough. However, given how replayable the game is, you will eventually learn to master these features.