Grab your dice, and pray to your deities as we’re diving into the realm of Dungeon and Dragons (D&D.) The past two Baldur’s Gate games have used the same DnD ruleset, which is pretty old. With Baldur’s Gate III being the third game in the series, does it still use the same ruleset, or does it switch it up to become a modernized tabletop experience? I’ve got the answers to what version of D&D Baldur’s Gate 3 uses.
What version of D&D is Baldur’s Gate 3?
Baldur’s Gate 3 uses the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) ruleset, and Larian Studios has confirmed this. Those familiar with D&D’ll know that the 5th edition ruleset is like a breath of fresh air—straightforward yet rich enough to fuel countless nights of monster-slaying and total party kills.
From my numerous run-ins with Mind Flayers and hobgoblins, I can tell you that Baldur’s Gate 3 faithfully translates the spirit of the 5th edition. You’re thrust into a story teeming with tension and brimming with possibilities, just like when your Dungeon Master flips open their screen, and the first dice roll echoes around the table, involving rocks falling on you, and you die, as it’s a Nat 20.
Related: Baldur’s Gate 3 – What is Advantage & Disadvantage, Explained
What version of D&D did Baldur’s 1 and 2 use?
Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 used Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd edition as the ruleset, which is vastly different from 5th edition in many, many ways. Armor Class used a system called THACO back then, where the lower your AC (Armor Class) was, the better it was. It even went into the minuses! THACO was discontinued in Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition.
Main Differences between D&D 5th edition and AD&D 2nd Edition
Here is a concise and simple table that summarizes the main differences between D&D 5th edition and AD&D 2nd Edition:
| Feature | D&D 5th edition | AD&D 2nd edition |
|---|---|---|
| Character creation | Simpler | More complex |
| Combat | Streamlined | Complex |
| Magic system | Simplified | Complex |
| Skill system | Streamlined | Complex |
| Focus | Narrative and roleplaying | Combat and tactical gameplay |
What is the combat system in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The combat system for Baldur’s Gate 3 is entirely turn-based. This means everyone, friend or foe alike, will get a turn in battle. Well, unless they meet their demise before their turn begins. For more information, we have an article (Baldur’s Gate 3: Is It Only Turn-Based?) that goes into more detail.
Sure, the rules of 5th edition to the BG3 ruleset are not 1:1. Liberties have been taken to transform the rules into a balanced medium for gamers as Baldur’s Gate 3 is a video game, and balance is needed. For example, when playing Dungeons and Dragons, a character’s action is about six seconds, but you have ample time (depending on your Dungeon Master) to make decisions. In turn-based, you get all the time in the world to carefully consider your options and what to do, but everyone gets the same treatment.
When in real-time, everything is more automatic, and you need to pause whenever you need to issue orders. This would not translate well in a traditional D&D game and would be improbable. Overall, turn-based, in my opinion, translates better into the D&D 5th edition system rather than real-time and is the better adaption of an authentic D&D experience.
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