The Sorcerer class has been added to Baldur's Gate 3, which originated in Dungeons & Dragons. The Sorcerer in Baldur's Gate 3 is different than the one in D&D, as its class abilities have been tweaked, making them a little stronger than they currently are in the tabletop RPG. Sorcerers are spellcasters with a natural affinity for magic, with many of them sharing a bloodline with a mystical being, whose power has awakened in them.

There have been some amazing video games based on tabletop RPGs over the years, including the original Baldur's Gate games, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. The problem with adapting tabletop RPGs to the video game format is that changes will have to be made in the process. A tabletop RPG rulebook tries to account for the possibilities of an entire fictional universe, which is interpreted by the minds of the DM and the players, while a computer game will always be restricted by technology.

Related: Baldur's Gate 3 Release Window: When The Full Game Is Coming

Although the Sorcerer class is now part of Baldur's Gate 3 it's not quite a direct copy of the version in Dungeons & Dragons. The Baldur's Gate 3 Sorcerer has been tweaked to fit the video game format, while also receiving some balance changes that aren't present in D&D.

Metamagic Is Now Acquired At Level Two In Baldur's Gate 3

A D&D sorcerer using magic, eyes full of flame.

One of the key defining class features of the Sorcerer in Baldur's Gate 3 is Metamagic, which allows them to spend sorcery points to alter spells. Sorcery points are usually spent on additional spell slots, but they can also be used to make existing spells stronger. In D&D, the Sorcerer class doesn't gain access to the Metamagic ability until level three, when they gain access to two of the features, with an additional one gained at level ten, and another at level seventeen. In Baldur's Gate 3, the Sorcerer selects two Metamagic abilities from a smaller selection (Careful Spell, Distant Spell, Extended Spell, and Twinned Spell) with an additional choice at level three (the options from level two, including Heightened Spell, Quickened Spell, and Subtle Spell). Baldur's Gate 3 caps at level four, so it's unclear if further changes are planned for Metamagic progression.

The change to Metamagic development in Baldur's Gate 3 is a positive one. It gives the Sorcerer a taste of their full capabilities a level earlier, while still saving some strong choices for level three. This is the kind of change to D&D rules that should make its way into the upcoming 5.5 edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which is set to launch in 2024 and will alter the existing rules of the game.

D&D's Empowered Spell Has Been Cut & Subtle Spell Is Weaker

baldur's gate 3 Sorcerer patch

There have been some changes made to how Metamagic spells function in Baldur's Gate 3. The most notable is that one of the strongest ones from D&D has been cut, or is at least being saved for the full version of the game. In D&D, Sorcerers can choose the Empowerer Spell Metamagic ability at level three. This allows them to spend one sorcery point to reroll a number of damage dice equal to their Charisma modifier, while also still applying other Metamagic abilities. Empowered Spell is one of the best choices in a combat-focused D&D game, but it's currently not available in Baldur's Gate 3.

Related: Why Baldur's Gate 3 Draconic Bloodlines Could Change The Game

The Subtle Spell Metamagic ability is also slightly weaker. In D&D, Subtle Spell allows the caster to ignore the somatic or verbal components of a spell. This means a caster can still use spells while bound and gagged. In Baldur's Gate 3, Subtle Spell simply allows the caster to ignore the effects of a silence spell, or similar effect. Hopefully, this will be improved in the full version of the game, and it will allow Sorcerers to use spells while bound, such as when affected by the web spell.

Quickened Spell Is Considerably More Powerful In Baldur's Gate 3

Sorcerer magic in Baldurs Gate 3 Social Media Size

One of the most easily-missed rules in D&D involves how spells work when cast as a bonus action. The rule is missed so often that it's highlighted in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything and Xanathar's Guide to Everything. In D&D, when a spell with a casting time of bonus action (like healing word) is used, then the only other spell that the caster can use that turn has to be a cantrip. This rule exists for balance reasons, as spells like healing word would be overpowered if it could be cast in the same turn as another spell, such as cure wounds, as they would be able to heal a ton of damage in a single round.

Baldur's Gate 3 skipped this rule, which has drastically altered the effectiveness of Quickened Spell. In Baldur's Gate 3, Quickened Spell now costs three sorcery points to cast, while it only costs two in D&D. This is offset by the fact that Quickened Spell allows the Sorcerer to cast two full spells during a single round, making it far more useful than it is in D&D. This means a Sorcerer can throw out a mage armor on a turn when they are surprised, can fire double magic missiles at an enemy spellcaster to take them out straight away, or fire a web with one action and set it on fire with the next. Quickened Spell is going to become even stronger in the full version of Baldur's Gate 3, once Sorcerers gain access to more sorcery points and higher-level spells. A Sorcerer that can throw out two fireballs on the same turn is going to be a terror to behold.

Wild Magic Surge Results & Tides Of Chaos Are Different In BG3

D&D Aberrant Mind Sorcerer

One of the subclasses available to Sorcerers in Baldur's Gate 3 is Wild Magic. These Sorcerers can tap into the power of chaos itself, allowing them to bend the rules of reality in their favor. This comes with a cost, however, as there is a chance that a spell can result in a Wild Magic Surge. These cause a random effect to play out, alongside the original effect of the spell. In D&D, there is an entire page dedicated to Wild Magic Surges, with fifty possible outcomes. In Baldur's Gate 3, there are only ten available in the Early Access version of the game, though it's possible that more could be added in the full version of the game.

The Tides of Chaos feature of the Wild Magic Dungeons & Dragons subclass has also been tweaked. This allows the user to gain advantage on one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. In D&D, this can only be used once per long rest, while in Baldur's Gate 3, it replenishes on both a short or long rest. This is another positive change to the Sorcerer class that should be brought into the 5.5 edition of D&D, as casters are less likely to save it for a theoretical moment of need, and will get more use out of the ability. Baldur's Gate 3 has made some interesting changes to the Sorcerer class, and it will be interesting to see if they make their way into D&D. 

Next: Baldur's Gate 3: How Wild Magic Changes The Game