Baldur’s Gate 3 has introduced thousands of new players to the world of tabletop roleplaying, giving many their first taste of Dungeons & Dragons. The game brilliantly captures the spirit of rolling dice, making tough decisions, and weaving a story alongside a cast of companions. But for all the ways Larian Studios’ masterpiece echoes the tabletop experience, some major differences can surprise players when they finally sit down at the table.
The transition from a polished, cinematic CRPG to the boundless unpredictability of D&D can be both exciting and overwhelming. While Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a streamlined version of the 5th Edition rules, a DM-led campaign has a level of flexibility (and sometimes chaos) that even the best video games can’t replicate. Understanding what’s similar, what’s different, and where expectations need adjusting is key to enjoying D&D as more than just BG3 without the cutscenes. For new adventurers making the leap, here’s a breakdown of the biggest rule changes, roleplay differences, and mindset shifts that will help bridge the gap between Baldur’s Gate 3 and the tabletop game it’s based on.
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What’s Familiar: Why BG3 Players Have a Head Start When Playing Dungeons & Dragons
Baldur’s Gate 3 may not teach everything a player needs to know about Dungeons & Dragons, but it does give fans a pretty solid foundation. The rules of the game, the rhythm of combat, and the spirit of roleplay all carry over, meaning BG3 players won’t feel like complete newcomers when sitting down at their first session.
Structural and Technical Similarities
Luckily, BG3 players have the basics under wraps. Players who have undertaken a Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough come to the D&D table knowing all the technical details that might challenge total newbies. The core mechanics of Baldur’s Gate 3 have 5e written all over them: making dice rolls, advantage/disadvantage modifiers, classes, subclasses, spell slots, and ability checks second nature to BG3 players who have swapped the controller for a dice tray.
Similarly, the combat structure of a D&D game should feel all too familiar. When in combat, players are faced with turn-based initiative, actions, bonus actions, and movement that will remind them of some of the best fights in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Roleplaying Is at the Heart of D&D and BG3
If roleplaying in BG3 as a Tav or Durge was a highlight for a player, that player will probably excel in playing D&D. Dialogue choices, background stories, and companion interactions in BG3 serve as training wheels for collaborative storytelling. While D&D doesn’t have a dialogue wheel, it thrives on the same core idea: knowing a character so well that players get to make choices that shape the world around them.
Party Dynamics and Teamwork
Another familiar element is the emphasis on the party. In BG3, success depends on building a balanced team, leaning on different strengths, and combining abilities to overcome challenges. It came naturally to most players, especially given the fact that BG3’s cast of characters is so memorable and diverse. D&D is no different. Teamwork is critical, memorable characters will stand out, and players who understand how to complement one another’s abilities will thrive. BG3 veterans already know the importance of a well-timed Guidance cantrip, a rogue who scouts ahead, or a cleric who keeps everyone standing.
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Where Things Differ: Dungeons & Dragons vs. Baldur’s Gate 3
Players of Baldur’s Gate 3 enjoy a significant edge over those who have never played the game when it comes to translating skills into D&D. However, not all is the same. The differences between a video game and a living, breathing tabletop campaign can be just as striking as the similarities. This difference is often what makes D&D so challenging and yet rewarding.
The Dungeon Master
In Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios was the Dungeon Master. Through the Narrator voiced by Amelia Tyler, players interacted with the world and were presented with the gameplay and role-playing options. In tabletop D&D, the DM fills that role. But unlike a video game, no script or coded responses limit the experience. The Dungeon Master has the power to change encounters, invent NPCs on the fly, or bend the rules for the sake of storytelling. Instead of pre-written dialogue options, players can try absolutely anything and see how the DM responds. This narrative give-and-take is one of the best aspects of a D&D campaign.
No Save Scumming
Players who have avoided Baldur’s Gate 3’s Honour Mode have likely depended on save scumming before. An unlucky roll, a fight not going as planned, or disapproval from a cherished companion may prompt a quick rewind to avoid consequences. But at the D&D table, there’s no reloading a save file.
Once a dice roll hits the table, the outcome stands—good or bad. This can feel harsh at first, but it also makes victories that much more satisfying, since nothing can be undone or replayed until it works out perfectly. Sometimes, with enough Inspiration Points, players may have the chance to test their luck again. But most decisions and missteps are simply final.
Exploration and Freedom
The world of Baldur’s Gate 3 unfolds across three Acts, each vastly different from the others. However, this variety is scripted. Although the world that Larian created may seem expansive and alive, it was carefully designed within certain coded limits. Players are definitely rewarded for their creative thinking, but every so-called “unpredictable” or uncouth approach to a problem was planned for in advance during development. Solutions for different situations were thought of from the start. And ultimately, the borders of a map define what exploration is possible in Baldur’s Gate 3.
At a D&D tabletop, players get a taste of true freedom. As the Dungeon Master commits to building the D&D campaign, players are free to try anything, even break the plot. As long as the DM allows players to run wild, in a truly chaotic campaign, anything can happen.
Rest Mechanics
BG3 players are used to the convenience of long rests and the magical replenishment of spell slots at the click of a button. In D&D, resting is far less predictable. Long rests may not always be available, and a DM can introduce consequences for overusing them, such as missed encounters, story complications, or ambushes. Resource management becomes increasingly pressing, too, with the lack of endless food or BG3 camp supplies. D&D players must strategize about when to push forward and when to take a breather.
Death
Death is immediately reversible in Baldur’s Gate 3. Whether through a quick plea to Withers or a Scroll of Revivify tucked away in a backpack, most losses are temporary. While reviving characters in BG3 is a given, at the D&D table, death carries more weight. While resurrection spells exist, they’re not guaranteed. Components can be costly, failure chances can be high, and sometimes a DM may rule that a character's death is final. The result is a higher sense of risk and emotional payoff, where every dangerous fight carries real consequences.
Baldur's Gate 3
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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
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
