Summary
- Baldur's Gate 3 has been highly praised for its strong storytelling, player choice, and unique NPCs, but it is the recruitable companions that define the game's identity.
- While the game offers a wide range of races and classes for the player, some options are not represented among the companions, including Dragonborn, Dwarf, Half-Orc, Halfling, and Gnome.
- Certain classes, such as Monk, Sorcerer, and Bard, are also missing from the party.
Baldur's Gate 3, the latest widely praised CRPG from Larian Studios has carved its own spot at the top of the entire gaming industry. Built around strong storytelling and player choice within its single-player-focused experience, Baldur’s Gate 3 has found positive reception by filling a niche in the RPG space. The world of Faerun explored throughout the game is filled to the brim with unique NPCs and interactions, but a certain set of characters have truly defined the title’s identity.
Featured prominently within key art and promotional material in place of the customizable protagonist, the recruitable companions of Baldur’s Gate 3 have likely become the game’s most recognizable aspect. From the popularity of Astarion’s famous romance scene with Halsin to the return of Jaheira and Minsc from the original titles of the franchise, companions have come to represent Baldur’s Gate 3 as a whole. A wide range of both the races and classes available to the player is covered across the game’s 10 companions, but some of the game’s options aren’t present at all.
Races Not Represented by Baldur's Gate 3's Companions
The mysterious Drow, otherworldly Githyanki, and devilish Tieflings made it into the party through Minthara, Lae'zel, and Karlach respectively, but the rest of the party is really just the standard Human and Elf fantasy fare. Despite the game's boasting of some of the most unique race options to have ever graced an RPG, several didn't get the companion treatment.
- Dragonborn - One of the races most endemic to the Forgotten Realms universe, Dragonborn are anthropomorphic reptilian beings descended from various kinds of elemental dragons. Even very few NPCs of this kind show up throughout the game, a scarcity that would have made a companion stand out all the more.
- Dwarf - Resilient and hardy in line with the typical fantasy classification of the races, the Dwarves of Baldur's Gate 3 can be one of the best defensive forces. Featuring the subterranean Duergar subrace that was added with the game's official release, there is plenty of unexplored Dwarf lore that a companion could have delved into.
- Half-Orc - Likely the most naturally intimidating of the playable races, unions between Human and Orc have created a shunned people of social outcasts and poor reputations within the society of either. Essentially only significant to players in gameplay, Half-Orcs lack the voice of a companion's perspective.
- Halfling - Often confused with the similarly diminutive Gnomes and Dwarves, Halflings are typically the smallest race of all in Dungeons and Dragons. Lacking the same depth of races like Githyanki or even vampires in the party, a smaller companion would have made the party more in line with the demographics of the world.
- Gnome - Considered the counterpart to Halflings as Elves are to Humans, Gnomes are known for a sense of craftiness and humor that would have had a welcome place in the party.
Classes Missing From Baldur's Gate 3's Party
The core gameplay options that the companions lack, respeccing someone into any of these doesn't quite line up with the class-influenced narratives that surround each party member.
- Monk - Spiritually tempered and straightforward, the Monk class has become a popular choice for players seeking alternative gameplay. Tough to find outside the player character, this typically more challenging class could have been the role of a meditative companion.
- Sorcerer - With chaotic power distinct from the proper magic education of Wizards or deals with entities that Warlocks make, Sorcerers are natural-born spellcasters unbound by such rules.
- Bard - The most memorable and distinct class available to many players, Bards bring a completely different playstyle to the battlefield with their supportive songs and diverse skillset. The Dark Urge's story teases a Tiefling Bard party member, but its inability to pan out makes the lack of one apparent.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC, with a PS5 version releasing on September 6.