Highlights
- Baldur's Gate 3 offers a unique gaming experience with 12 character classes and 46 subclasses, giving players a wide range of options for specialization.
- The game draws inspiration from the cultural impact of Dungeons and Dragons, incorporating elements of magic and fantasy that are popular among gamers.
- Fans would like to see additional subclasses like Circle of Stars Druid, Divine Soul Sorcerer, Oath of Conquest Paladin, Way of the Kensei Monk, and Phantom Rogue added through DLC.
Few games in history have enjoyed fanfare on the scale of Larian Studios' hit project Baldur's Gate 3, and its far-reaching success, can be attributed to its richly varied gameplay. RPGs in the past typically put a lid on the number of classes available to players, relying on the depth of skills and abilities to do the heavy lifting of gamer satisfaction, but Baldur's Gate 3 walked a daring road by giving its player base 12 unique character categories to choose from, each of which had a number of sub-classes for increased specialization. There are 46 sub-classes in the game, and choosing one to wander through the Faerun continent could pose a challenge, but there are still a few specializations fans would love to see added to the title in a DLC.
The cultural impact of Dungeons and Dragons cannot be understated, as its influence is evident in games like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and Baldur's Gate 3, despite their vastly different focuses. The fixation of the gaming community with elements of magic doesn't seem to be in danger of waning any time soon, and more titles are lining up to incorporate the dynamic. The D&D 5e Player's Handbook was a source of inspiration for the Larian Studios trailblazer, and with the prospect of DLCs, the developer could expand BG3's experience with a few additions.
Circle of Stars Druid
Druids aren't the most powerful class in Baldur's Gate 3, but their spellcasting and transformation magic is used widely in fantasy-themed RPGs like Diablo 4. The Circle of Stars is notably missing from the class lineup, and their usage of the power of constellations to transform into majestic starry figures could light up the current Druid landscape. The omen-reading abilities of the sub-class can have great implications for a party, and at the ultimate Full of Stars level, players can gain a degree of immunity to slashing and piercing damage.
Divine Soul Sorcerer
Although some popular options were guaranteed to miss out on Baldur's Gate 3, the Divine Soul Sorcerer's omission caused quite a stir in the Dungeons and Dragons fan base. One of the most influential subclasses in DnD 5e, the Divine Soul Sorcerer has access to divine powers, of which BG3 players could choose the source (Good, Evil, Law, Chaos, or Neutrality). Its extraordinary healing abilities are handy for grave wounds, and the Angelic Form's spectral wings could be an aesthetic addition to Baldur's Gate 3.
Oath of Conquest Paladin
Baldur's Gate 3's Paladin class has many interesting subclasses with unique Oaths, and players can even become an Oathbreaker. However, the Oath of Conquest is absent in the title, and its theme of personal ambition is a refreshing change of scenery from the righteous paths of the other subclasses. Dubbed Knight Tyrants, these Paladins thirst for war, and their Aura of Conquest and Invincible Conquerors offer unique enemy-crushing potential by inflicting psychic damage and resistance to all types of harm.
Way of the Kensei Monk
The Monk class appeals to gamers who enjoy traditional physical combat, and the Way of the Kensei has a proficiency with weapons that make the other subclasses pale in comparison. Their third level requires players to choose two weapons (one ranged and one melee), and as gamers increase in rank, they can extend their ki into these tools. Players can gain Unerring Accuracy thanks to their proficiency, and with Baldur's Gate 3's bevy of weapons, this Monk subclass could make for exciting playthroughs.
Phantom Rogue
Death and Rogues are frequent bedfellows, although only the Assassin Rogue subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 seems to embrace its life-taking theme, with the Thief and Arcane Trickster more concerned with risking their lives. The Phantom subclass has the ability to dabble in Necromancy in addition to other Rogue staples. Players can walk the lands of Faerun like a ghost, take physical tokens from dying souls, and even deal necrotic damage at higher levels.
Baldur's Gate 3 is out now for PC and PS5 with an Xbox Series X/S version in development.
