Highlights

  • Baldur's Gate 4 may benefit from Larian's foundation and adapt DnD rules for a CRPG experience.
  • Starting at level 1 and gradually reaching level 12 allows for character growth and new player learning.
  • A higher starting level in Baldur's Gate 4 could offer more build variety and power scaling, but may be more complex and demanding for players.

While there's an unavoidable challenge that awaits whichever developer ends up committing to the Baldur's Gate 4 project, this title's production will also reap the benefits of building upon the foundation established by Larian. With several key changes to the Dungeons and Dragons formula, however, the next game will have to consider whether it's best to continue with Baldur's Gate 3's approach to leveling.

From potions as bonus actions to the effects of certain Feats, Baldur's Gate 3 sees Larian having taken several liberties when it comes to adapting the ruleset of DnD 5e the game was originally based on. These generally seem to serve the purpose of condensing systems into an enjoyable CRPG experience, with capping level progression at 12 being one of the biggest examples. Beginning at level 1 and slowly reaching this limit has become a normal part of play for fans, but several tabletop players are also no strangers to starting campaigns at higher levels in order to facilitate a more exciting campaign.

Baldur's Gate 3 Undead
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Baldur's Gate 4's Pacing Would Feel Natural if It Starts at Level 1 Again

Introducing a Generation of Gamers to DnD's Mechanics

There's enough depth in BG3 to support ongoing discovery and experimentation related to different character builds, but the game also takes its time with introducing these options. By creating their character at the lowest possible level and customizing all the granular details of their starting skills and attributes, even some players who are totally unfamiliar with DnD have been able to learn about it through the relatively leisurely pace of Baldur's Gate 3's three acts.

Slowly Building Up a Party's Bond

Apart from the gameplay impact of learning about each companion's respective class as the story progresses, beginning the narrative with a team who are all on equally lowly footing provides a natural feeling of growth alongside them. Assuming Baldur's Gate 4 features a new cast of its own, featuring a starting level of 1 once more might be the most ideal setup for their character development while also creating a forgiving environment for new players.

A Higher Starting Level for Baldur's Gate 4 Could Mean New Heights of Power Scaling

The Potential to Capture an Appeal Which Many Tabletop Campaigns Struggle to Harness

Within the tabletop community, higher-level Dungeons and Dragons campaign sessions have earned a somewhat negative reputation for ironically being far less exciting than their earlier counterparts. Handling a lot of calculations and accounting for every player's powerful skills can slow games down significantly on the DM's end, but the virtual context of BG4 wouldn't share the same problems. Players would theoretically be able to live out a more realized high-level character fantasy, and this would best be facilitated by beginning the game at a level beyond 1 to begin with.

More Build Variety Comes From Greater Complexity

It would be more demanding for players to have to allocate stats and skills for multiple levels from the start, but featuring a higher starting level in the next Baldur's Gate would also continue the franchise's legacy of emphasizing player choice. If the level cap goes up as well, there will be vastly more options available in terms of both multiclassing and delving deeper into a single class than level 12. This could end up being intimidating to those who enjoyed the more casual presentation that BG3 has become known for, but it may just as easily feel like an evolution that goes further than its predecessor. Depending on the direction its developer takes, the intensity of starting at a higher level could end up complementing or distracting from the inevitably different vision of Baldur's Gate 4.