Highlights

  • Larian Studios' decision to hand Baldur's Gate back to Wizards of the Coast disappoints fans, removing the potential for DLC.
  • New Player's Handbook offers 12 classes, 48 subclasses, and gameplay-balancing rules, perfect for DLC collaboration.
  • New subclasses could enhance replayability and balance for underrepresented classes in Baldur's Gate 3.

The announcement from Larian Studios that it is handing Baldur's Gate back to Wizards of the Coast after Baldur's Gate 3 is unfortunate. This removed the possibility of any Baldur's Gate 3 DLC, and was a disappointment for many fans who wanted more from the RPG. Larian had created characters with a lot of potential, and 2024 is an exciting time for Dungeons and Dragons thanks to the release of the new Player's Handbook, creating the perfect opportunity for a collaborative DLC.

The new Player's Handbook brings with it 12 classes and 48 subclasses, along with a myriad of new rules aimed at equalizing gameplay. Baldur's Gate 3 DLC would have been the perfect place to showcase the new rules and subclasses, and would have given Baldur's Gate 3 something fun and unique for fans of Dungeons and Dragons to play before implementing it in their own games.

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The New Subclasses and Rules in the 2024 Players Handbook

The main classes for the 2024 Player's Handbook have remained the same, and Wizards of the Coast have controversially made the decision to exclude the Artificer from the new Player's Handbook class list, which will presumably be added in a later expansion. It's under the subclasses that the Player's Handbook sees the biggest changes, with several new additions to each class. A new rule has also been added that only lets all classes choose a subclass at Level 3, instead of specializing at different levels depending on class.

Classes with New Subclasses that Aren't Included in Baldur's Gate 3

Classes

Subclasses

Barbarian

  • Path of the World Tree
  • Path of the Zealot

Bard

  • College of Dance
  • College of Glamour

Druid

  • Circle of the Sea
  • Circle of Stars

Fighter

  • Psi Warrior

Monk

  • Warrior of Mercy

Paladin

  • Oath of Glory

Ranger

  • Fey Wanderer

Rogue

  • Soulknife

Sorcerer

  • Aberrant Sorcery
  • Clockwork Sorcery

Warlock

  • Celestial Patron

Most of these subclasses were included in other sources from Dungeons and Dragons, such as Xanathar's Guide to Everything and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, but weren't included in Baldur's Gate 3. These subclasses weren't accessible to players who didn't have access to source books outside the Player's Handbook, but now there will be one place where everyone can access them.

Implementing the New Player's Handbook in Baldur's Gate 3

A DLC with these new rules and subclasses doesn't need to be massive or even story-based, but just an added bonus with the new content from the Player's Handbook. Releasing the new Player's Handbook in collaboration with Baldur's Gate 3 would be a lucrative opportunity to advertise the Player's Handbook and encourage players to transition from 5e to 5.5e. Some struggle with bringing classes and characters to life, and Baldur's Gate 3 is a great way to bridge that gap, just as it brought many new players to Dungeons and Dragons when it launched in 2023.

New subclasses would be a great boon for Baldur's Gate 3 for replayability, especially with Baldur's Gate 3's level cap. The new Player's Handbook also takes steps to balance the classes better by adding some popular subclasses from other sources to classes that need a boost, such as Druid, Rogue, and Monk. Although these classes are already implemented well in Baldur's Gate 3, they can feel overshadowed by other classes such as Sorcerer, Bard, and Cleric, which have more powerful spells and greater flexibility in gameplay. More unique subclasses such as Circle of Stars for Druid and Soulknife for Rogue could make these classes more versatile, unique, and appealing to players, especially on a replay.