Summary
Fans of bothBaldur’s Gate 3andD&D 5elove their treasure, but the latter title has long thrown more cash at players than they know what to do with. WhileD&D 2024’s upcoming revision of theDungeon Master’s Guidelooks to solve this problem, DMs should take note of howBaldur’s Gate 3attacks the issue.
Looting is key toBaldur’s Gate 3, primarily because itsD&Dbase has that very element at its core. When earlier editions ofD&Dwere first moving away from wargames, looting dungeons was the core mechanic that set the fledgling TTRPG apart. In fact, earlier editions saw the amount of gold procured from a dungeon directly factor into how much XP players gained. Gold, magic items, and other valuables were so important that the game’s rules advised DMs switch to a separate hexcrawl ruleset after the dungeon, making getting the loot back to a safe point its own minigame.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Solves D&D 5e’s Loot Problem
However, loot has become far less important inD&D—thanks in no small part toD&D 4e. This edition prioritized heroics over treasure hunting, making gold and magic items far less valuable. The same philosophy has partially carried over into the fifth edition; magic items are back on their feet, but the lack of robust stronghold mechanics from prior editions leaves DMs struggling to create decent money sinks. Luckily,Baldur’s Gate 3offers many solutions, from a more diverse loot pool to an alchemy system where gold can be readily invested.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Brings Better Money Sinks
Magic items, plate armor, and consumable items are about the be-all-end-all for stuff most players spend gold on inD&D 5e. Many DMs default to giving players piles of gold after a job well done, but the aforementioned items don’t offer much in the way of constant spending. That’s if players can even get the magic items they want, as low-magic settings will be a particular anathema to this issue.D&D 2024playtest materials included bastionsto give more spending options, and the mechanic seemed extremely promising. Regardless, players that aren’t interested in base upgrades will need more options.
Outside the solutions offered bythird-partyD&Dmaterial,Baldur’s Gate 3’s alchemy system would work wonders in most campaigns. The game offers a huge list of consumables to create with this system, many of which are original to the title. There are also multiple traders who sell alchemical ingredients that are defined, unique items.
That last condition marks a key difference betweenBaldur’s Gate 3andthe crafting system coming toD&D 2024. The new crafting system, combining elements from the 2014Player’s HandbookandXanathar’s Guide to Everything, is certainly more detailed than it ever has been in5e, but it still handwaves ingredients. It costs 25gp of ‘raw material’ to make a healing potion inD&D 2024, as opposed to the Rogue’s Morsel mushrooms ofBaldur’s Gate 3. Not only doesBaldur’s Gate 3give players more to craft, it grants the agency of allowing players to circumvent purchasing if they so wish. This makes the ingredients more recognizable and more desirable, looping back around to players being more willing to purchase.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Knows When To Give Out Different Loot
Aside from alchemy making common plants, fungi, and monster parts valuable loot,Baldur’s Gate 3also grants many magic items. This is a great substitute for just endless piles of gold and silver, but the game’s unique magic item mechanics also gain some nice synergy here. Thanks to the game ditching attunement in favor of its own system, players end up getting more use from more items.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
