Summary
- Baldur's Gate 3 lacks companions from the shorter races like gnomes, but Barcus Wroot could fill that void.
- Barcus plays a key role in the Ironhand storyline, potentially leading the gnomes towards a more peaceful future.
- Gnomes like Barcus are neglected in the party, as most companions are humans, elves, or half-elves, making him a refreshing choice.
Like any good RPG, Baldur's Gate 3 offers players a wide variety of companions to choose from. There's a fiery barbarian, a roguish vampire spawn, a ranger and his hamster companion, and many more potential party members. However, Baldur's Gate 3 lacks companions from the shorter races, a void that could be filled by dry-witted but well-meaning gnome NPC Barcus Wroot.
Who Is Barcus Wroot?
Barcus Wroot is a deep gnome who is associated with the Ironhand clan. He is first encountered tied to a windmill, captured by goblins after attempting to find his friend Wulbren Bongle. Should players save him, he can later be rescued a second time from captivity in Grymforge in the Underdark. Rescued there, Barcus will join players as a Camp Follower until he meets up with Wulbren and the other Ironhand gnomes.
Barcus Plays A Key Role In The Ironhand Storyline
Once players reach Baldur's Gate, they can become involved in a conflict between the Ironhand gnomes and their Gondian rivals. Wulbren Bongle is an extremist who wants to see the Gondians eradicated. If Barcus is kept alive, he can be persuaded to lead the gnomes towards a more peaceful future. Should Barcus die in Act 1 or 2, players will have a harder time keeping Wulbren from killing the Gondians.
Gnomes Like Barcus Are Neglected In The Party
Of the ten possible party members in Baldur's Gate 3, most are either human, elf, or half-elf, with githyanki Lae'zel and tiefling Karlach as the only exceptions. While there are many races available for players to choose, several are not represented among the companions. These include:
- Dragonborn (all colors)
- Dwarfs (Gold Dwarfs, Shield Dwarfs, or Duergar)
- Gnomes (Deep Gnomes, Forest Gnomes, or Rock Gnomes)
- Halflings (Lightfoot or Strongheart)
- Half-Orcs
Most notably, none of the companions come from the Small races (dwarfs, gnomes, or halflings). Therefore, Barcus Wroot could rectify this if he was made a full companion rather than simply a camp follower.
Barcus's Story And Personality Make Him A Great Companion Choice
Of the many gnomes, dwarfs, and halflings met in Baldur's Gate 3, Barcus Wroot stands out as a quirky and memorable character with a surprisingly deep story. He is liked by players for his deadpan sense of humor, dropping lines such as "I'd kiss you, but neither of us deserve that" and "If we meet again, then we will have met again." In a party that contains the sly Astarion, the secret-hoarding Shadowheart, and the wordy Gale, Barcus' straightforward personality could be quite refreshing.
Adding Barcus as a companion would also allow for a deeper exploration of the Ironhand vs. Gondian gnome storyline, which plays a surprisingly large role in Act 2 and Act 3 of the game. Barcus could give players a deeper understanding of how the animosity between the two factions began and could give the story a more satisfying ending than its current petering out after players have rescued the Gondians from the undersea prison Iron Throne and the Steel Watch factory.
Of course, there is the question of what class Barcus Wroot would represent as a companion since he describes himself as not much of a fighter. Perhaps he could take on one of the classes not currently filled by a party member, such as Baldur's Gate 3's Monk or Bard. Alternately, Barcus could be a secondary Rogue because he prefers to go unnoticed and avoid danger. Regardless of class, Barcus would make an excellent choice to fix the current lack of a Small race companion in Baldur's Gate 3.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
