How Baldur's Gate 3 is Confusing New D&D 5e Players

Explaining the rule changes made in BG3 that are not the same in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition.

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Baldur's Gate 3 is a role playing video game based off of the popular TTRPG, Dungeons and Dragons, more specifically 5th edition. While BG3 uses 5e as inspiration for the mechanics and playstyle, there are some major rule changes, and mechanics added, in Baldurs Gate 3 that are not apparent in D&D 5e, which can lead to transitioning into dnd 5e be a bit confusing for first time players. Here we will be explaining the Ruiling differences between dnd 5e and BG3

One Shot Questers is a sketch comedy channel dedicated to tabletop role-playing games, encompassing a range of titles such as Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition (DnD 5e), Pathfinder (PF 1, PF 2), City of Mist, and DC20. Our content covers a variety of TTRPG topics, including news, class or character stereotypes, guides & how to’s on gameplay, rules, tips, tricks, and much more, all presented in a humorous and entertaining skit. For a quick taste of our most popular content, check out our short-form videos on platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels.

[OneShotQuesters]

Slight Clarification: Feather Fall is a REACTION in 5e which would have made the players suggestion legal to cast, but the player would of had to jump off the cliff first and then used his reaction to cast IF he didn’t cast a spell as a bonus action. Feather fall might have been the wrong example to use in this video but it still gets the point across.

[esteban]

This is the equivalent of someone who watches the Yugioh anime playing the game and realizing that you don't draw the exact card you need to get out of a pinch every other turn.

[VivaLaDnDLogs]

I've used jump more in BG3 this morning than I have in 5+ years playing D&D. If anything, BG3 showed us we need more options for Bonus Actions in D&D.

[helwar]

the fact that drinking potions as a bonus action isn't an official rule yet shocks me I've been using that rule in my campaigns for so long I forgot it was a homebrew rule lol

[greeninja]

We had a player who kept trying to throw healing potions to up a downed player.

[mekadeth]

As someone who's played DnD since the AD&D era, played 5th edition, and Baldur's Gate, I think it would be good if a publishing group like Kobold Press got with the guys at Larian Studios and wrote a book that outlined the differences between 5th Edition and the modified ruleset that BG3 uses, that way both players and DMs could have a comprehensive look at the differences so that can pick and choose for their table.

[jonathanstern]

Feather fall is a reaction, not a bonus action, so he can cast magic missile, run off the cliff, then use his reaction to cast feather fall. He starts floating gently to the ground.

[lycidaes]

You know some things wouldnt be the worst to implement in dnd

[PenguTheKing]

To be honest I found it very helpful in certain situations. I am pretty new to DnD and am playing a sorcerer in my current campaign, I didn’t realize how good sorcery points were till I started using them in BG3

[RoseKindred]

"But you sure need them for DnD."
Well, that explains why I haven't played in years...

[RedScar-Nova]

I actually had the reverse problem of assuming many DnD rules is how it works in BG3. I didn't know you could change your prepared spells outside of a longrest or level up until late in my first playthrough. I made the game so much harder for myself on MANY accounts.

[GammaRaz]

Potions as a bonus action are a classic homebrew rule I will FOREVER incorporate in my games.

[czms]

…. Did the dm like being called the narrator

[emperortime]

As someone who played a lot of 5e before jumping into BG3, Baldur’s gate has better combat for martials. I said it. It’s not even realistically close. I can throw a goblin at a goblin. I can shove as a bonus action. I have multiple attack options just for weapon proficiency. There are some quality of life improvements for casters, like not needing Warcaster to use a shield, but the difference can really be felt for martials and especially Barbarian.

[jacka]

The beauty of homebrewing “that doesn’t exist in D&D … yet”

[GusCraft]

Understanding Baldur’s Gate’s rules and mechanics is a good starting point for learning 5e though. One of the scariest things about learning how to play TTRPGs is how much there is to learn, even if they won’t need to know all of it. Getting some experience with very similar mechanics in BG3 makes getting into 5e a lot easier.

[gabrielcornejo]

I really wish someone made like a BG3 player handbook. Written down like any other 5e book, like addind the shove bonus action and being like "you push away a creature a number of feet equal to 5 * your strenght modifier, etc" and so on with the rest of the BG3 action economy and items, would be fun to try

[linussyren]

I like the homebrew that…

1 full action potion = max role because you take time to drink it.

Bonus action you hastily shot it down and have to roll normally.

[elliotgandersen]

I really appreciate how Narrator is supportive and willing to help the other dude learn, even if it was from different grounds.

[MudakTheMultiplier]

Fun fact: the 5e rules let you cast as many spells as you want in a turn, *unless* one of them is a bonus action spell. A dip into PHB fighter to get action surge means that you can get a second full action, and then you are allowed to cast a levelled spell with both of them. (Note that this doesnt work with the OneDND preview because that version of the fighter can't action surge to cast spells, other ways of getting a second action still work, not that there are many)